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Category: AFCON

  • AFCON: Akpabio hails Super Eagles, charges them to conquer Africa

    AFCON: Akpabio hails Super Eagles, charges them to conquer Africa

    Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has applauded the Super Eagles of Nigeria for beating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to qualify for the quarter finals of the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations.

    Akpabio, in a congratulatory message to the Nigerian team signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh said with the Saturday’s triumph over Cameroon, the Super Eagles have proven they have the wherewithal to beat any team in Africa.

    The resourcefulness and industry of the Super Eagles from Godswill Akpabio International Stadium(nest of champions)in Uyo to Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan is never in doubt.

    Praising the Super Eagles for their resilient, tactical discipline, and team work, the Senate President said “I felt proud watching the Super Eagles demobilize the lions.

    “Apart from dominating the Indomitable Lions, the Super Eagles tamed the Lions and made them looked ordinary. That is the Nigerian spirit. I congratulate you for making million of Nigerians proud”, he stated.

    The Senate President noted that the Super Eagles opponents in the quarter finals, the Palancas Negras of Angola is not a pushover but expressed optimism that Nigeria will triumph over them.

    “Your opponents in the quarter finals are also a strong side. But I strongly believe that with determination, right tactics and team work, you will subdue them.

    “While I congratulate you for advancing to this stage of the competition, I urge you not to be complacent but continue to be focused and resilient. We are behind you and all Nigerians are supporting you.

    “Do not look back but go on and bring home the trophy”, he charged the Eagles.

  • AFCON: ‘Tinubu not impressed with your performance’, minister tells Super Eagles players

    AFCON: ‘Tinubu not impressed with your performance’, minister tells Super Eagles players

    President Bola Tinubu has urged the Super Eagles to improve their performance and do better in the final stages of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

    Tinubu’s message was through the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, who spoke to the players from Abuja via Zoom on Wednesday night in Abidjan.

    According to Enoh, the President was not too impressed with the showing of the team during the group stage.

    He said, “I had a meeting with the President yesterday. I went to the villa for something else and the President cornered me and said we (Eagles) managed to qualify and I said that’s how we are going to keep going until we win the tournament.

    “He said that I should tell the players that he wasn’t too impressed with the last match but he knows that now that they are off the group stages, they are going to impress him more.

    “That’s what the President told me and it means that the President is actually watching your matches. Would you believe this? And the President is urging you and also showing an understanding of the game because he knows that there is a lot of caution at the group stage and from the round of 16, you are going to be more impressive.

    “I remember that in 2022 in Cameroon, Egypt as a country struggled to qualify but they went ahead to play the finals.”

    Responding, team captain, Ahmed Musa, thanked the sports minister but also called on the President to come to see them play live saying it would serve as a motivation to the players.

    The Super Eagles will play the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the last 16 of the tournament on Saturday at the Felix Houphouet -Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

  • Senegal Coach Hospitalized After AFCON Cameroon Game

    Senegal Coach Hospitalized After AFCON Cameroon Game

    Senegal coach Aliou Cissé was hospitalised after falling ill following his team’s 3-1 win over Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations.

    The 47-year-old Cissé was admitted to a local hospital after the game in Yamoussoukro late Friday and he remained there overnight. He was expected to be released later Saturday after his condition improved.
    “He’s doing well,” Senegal team spokesperson Kara Thioune said.

    Cissé showed no obvious sign of illness when he spoke to reporters during the post-game news conference Friday.
    Senegal, the defending champions, had just booked its place among the last 16 with its second successive win in Group C.

    Senegal plays Guinea in its final group game in Yamoussoukro on Tuesday.

    Cisse, who stayed overnight at the hospital, according to French television channel Canal Plus, has been the coach of his country since 2015 and led them to victory at the last Cup of Nations two years ago.

    The 47-year-old also coached them at the last two World Cup finals.

  • AFCON 2023: Gallant Eagles Humble Mighty Ivorian Elephants In Hard-Fought Win In Abidjan

    AFCON 2023: Gallant Eagles Humble Mighty Ivorian Elephants In Hard-Fought Win In Abidjan

    The Super Eagles ran out comfortable winners in their highly anticipated clash with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in their second game of the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Abidjan on Thursday.

    Boxed to the corner after Equitorial Guinea shot to the leadership of the group courtesy of their comprehensive 4-2 victory over Guinea-Bissau in an earlier fixture in the day, the Eagles knew they needed to add more fire to their game if they were to come out with a decent result against the Ivorians who had won their first game last Saturday.

    But against the prediction of the bookmakers, the Eagles who drew their first game against Equitorial Guinea on Sunday would steal a much needed win courtesy of a 56th minute penalty scored by captain William Troost Ekong following a foul on Victor Osimhen in the Elephants’ vital area.

    Ekong had been brutal as he gave Ivorian keeper Yahia Fofana no chance, blasting a thunderous effort into the top right corner for the much needed curtain-raiser.

    The goal had energised the Ivorians who fought vainly to come back without success.
    The Super Eagles, however, had goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali to thank for a series of saves he made to thwart the forays of the Elephants who apparently sought an early lead.

    The keeper who is the only home based player in the squad made of top Euro-based players was a bright spark in an otherwise tentative Eagles team in the early stages.

    The Eagles who are now second in the group with 4 points, next play group whipping boys, Guinea-Bissau in their last game of Group A as they seek a consecutive knockout stage appearance.

    FULL TIME SCORE

    Cote d’Ivoire 0, Nigeria 1
    √ Troost Ekong 56′

  • Kelechi Iheanacho Gears Up for Crucial Clash In AFCON Group Stage

    Kelechi Iheanacho Gears Up for Crucial Clash In AFCON Group Stage

    Leicester City’s forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, has declared his readiness for the Super Eagles’ upcoming 2023 AFCON group stage match against hosts Ivory Coast. 

    Despite arriving late to the camp due to fitness concerns, Iheanacho was spotted training with the team ahead of the clash scheduled for Thursday, January 18, at 6 p.m.

    Having sustained an injury while playing for Leicester in December, Iheanacho faced doubts about his participation in Ivory Coast. 

    Coach Jose Peseiro opted to bench him in the Eagles’ recent 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on January 14.

    In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Iheanacho emphasized his readiness to contribute to Nigeria’s success, stating, “I am feeling really good… I am 100% ready to serve the country.”

    Acknowledging the challenges, he added, “We want to go all the way in this AFCON, but we have to take it one game at a time. We just need to keep working hard and keep believing.”

    Looking ahead to the crucial clash against Ivory Coast, Iheanacho highlighted the need for thorough preparation, recognizing the strength of the host team. 

    “Going into the next game, we need to be ready to face the Ivorians. They are the hosts, and they are going to go out strong. So, we need to be well-prepared to face them.”

  • Injury Blow for Super Eagles As Alhassan Yusuf Is Ruled Out for 2023 AFCON Clash Against Ivory Coast

    Injury Blow for Super Eagles As Alhassan Yusuf Is Ruled Out for 2023 AFCON Clash Against Ivory Coast

    The Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, has confirmed that Alhassan Yusuf will miss the crucial 2023 AFCON match against Ivory Coast due to an injury sustained in the opening game.

    Yusuf, who replaced the injured Wilfred Ndidi, impressed in the first match but had to be substituted in the 69th minute after suffering a knock.

    Despite his impactful performance in the game against Equatorial Guinea, Yusuf won’t be fit for the upcoming clash.

    Peseiro expressed disappointment but hinted at the possibility of Yusuf returning for the team’s last group game.

    The absence of the Belgian-based midfielder poses a challenge for the Super Eagles, especially in the defensive midfield role. 

    Fans are eager to see if Southampton’s Joe Aribo, who played as a substitute in the previous match, will step up to fill the void.

    As Nigeria faces Ivory Coast, who secured a 2-0 victory in their opening game, the team aims to overcome this setback and secure a positive result in the highly anticipated fixture at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

  • Seun Kuti Knocks Super Eagles Over Performance At AFCON

    Seun Kuti Knocks Super Eagles Over Performance At AFCON

    Afrobeat sensation Seun Kuti has voiced his disappointment over the perceived lack of commitment from Super Eagles players during national duty. 

    Following Nigeria’s underwhelming 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Kuti took to Instagram to express his concerns.

    Kuti dismissed players’ claims of underperformance due to financial motivation, asserting that many are already financially stable and not dependent on payments from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

    “Nigerian footballers are not patriotic. They are more interested in their oyibo clubs and the glams. They might say it’s because the national football body doesn’t treat them well, but it’s our duty to do well for Africa because it is ours,” Kuti stated.

    He emphasized the disparity in focus, pointing out the contrasting dedication exhibited by European teams in major competitions. 

    Kuti urged Nigerian footballers to display the same level of seriousness during international events as they do at their respective clubs.

    “I watched Super Eagles last game. Do you guys watch the Euros and World Cup? Don’t you see how European teams enter fields? Don’t you see how focused their players are? Even Nigerian footballers, when they are at their clubs, they are always focused. But when they come to the Nations’ Cup, they are unserious. African footballers are the craziest of athletes. I’m sorry to say this.”

  • William Troost-Ekong Insists Super Eagles Can Still Do Well In 2023 AFCON

    William Troost-Ekong Insists Super Eagles Can Still Do Well In 2023 AFCON

    Super Eagles of Nigeria vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong is adamant that the players possess the proper mindset to do well in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    William Troost-Ekong stated this following the Super Eagles’ abysmal performance in their opening game at the 2023 AFCON which ended in a 1-1 draw against lowly-rated Equatorial Guinea.

    During the game, Troost-Ekong and his teammates had to fight from a goal down to grab a 1-1 draw courtesy of a header from the team’s talisman, Victor Osimhen.

    This terrible start from the three-time winners of the tournament has raised fear in the minds of football enthusiasts ahead of their second group stage game which is against the hosts, Ivory Coast on Thursday.

    Hence, Jose Peseiro’s men are currently under pressure ahead of their clash with the hosts, who already lead Group A with three points after winning their opening game 2-0 against Guinea-Bissau.

    After the 1-1 draw on Sunday, the attitude of the players towards winning a fourth AFCON title was questioned, but Troost-Ekong said they were not unaware of the task ahead as he confirmed that the team had a meeting ahead of their next game.

    “We’ve spoken about this so much, we have Kenneth (Omeruo) and (Ahmed) Musa who have won the AFCON with us and they told us exactly how that journey was. Some of the guys like myself, who were there in 2019, also explained exactly how it was to get to the semi-final and take the bronze,” William Troost-Ekong said.

    “You know in football, it’s not always when you want something that you get it. The other teams too, you have to respect them as well.”

    As it stands, the Super Eagles must not be defeated when they face Ivory Coast on Thursday. A draw or a win will keep them comfortably in the competition.

    If they beat Ivory Coast, a draw against Guinea-Bissau on Monday will be enough to seal a place in the round of 16. But if they lose to Ivory Coast, they must beat Guinea-Bissau and hope that Ivory Coast beat Equatorial Guinea.

  • AFCON 2024: Equatorial Guinea Coach Insists His Mission Is Not Over After Drawing With Nigeria

    AFCON 2024: Equatorial Guinea Coach Insists His Mission Is Not Over After Drawing With Nigeria

    The head coach of Equatorial Guinea, Juan Micha, has insisted that his team has an incomplete mission despite doing the unthinkable against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    On Sunday, January 14, the Super Eagles were expected to beat lowly-rated Equatorial Guinea in their opening 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) encounter.

    To the dismay of most football enthusiasts, the Super Eagles had to come from a goal down to draw 1-1 in front of over 8,000 spectators at the 60,000-capacity Alassane Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.

    Jesus Owono of Equatorial Guinea made over six fantastic saves to deny Victor Osimhen and the rest clear goalscoring opportunities. Due to his performance in the game, he won the best player of the match award.

    Despite the rave their performance has generated, the Equatorial Guinean coach refused to describe the outcome of the match as an accomplishment.

    He told reporters after the game that he and his team will continue to strive toward their aims for the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

    He said, “I think this selection that I lead is prepared day by day to compete in this tournament.

    “I am lucky to know the details of football, having been a high-level player.”

    Coach Micha added: “Our mission is not complete, we still have a lot to do.

    “We are in a group stage, this is the first match. We will try to reach the next stage before seeing what happens next.”