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Tag: 2019 AFCON

  • CAF appoints new referee for 2019 AFCON final

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF), announced on Thursday the replacing of the referee of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final, scheduled for Friday between Algeria and Senegal.
    CAF assigned the Cameroonian Sidi Alioum instead of South Africa’s Victor Gomez without giving any reasons, after the African confederation announced on Tuesday that Gomez will arbitrate the game.
    The Cameroonian referee Alioum moderated three matches in the biennial tournament, including the opener game between Egypt and Zimbabwe, then the group stage match between Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire, and then the quarter final game between Tunisia and Madagascar.
    The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final will be held at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday between Algeria and Senegal, with the presence of FIFA’s chief Gianni Infantino.
    Algeria reached the final after achieving a dramatic 2-1 victory against Nigeria in the semi-final. While Senegal booked their seat in the final by defeating Tunisia 1-0.
    The two teams have met each other in the group stage of the same tournament and the counterpart ended with Alegria’s 1-0 victory.

  • Senegal beat Tunisia to book AFCON final ticket

    Senegal and Sadio Mane are through to the African Cup of Nations final after beating Tunisia 1-0 in an extra-time thriller on Sunday.

     
    In a game of high drama, both teams missed penalties within a few minutes of each other in regulation time at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
    Tunisia was then given another penalty late in extra time only for referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa to check the VAR TV screen on the sidelines and dramatically reverse his decision — to the dismay of the Tunisians.

    Senegal and Sadio Mane will play for a first African Cup title on Friday. Nigeria faces Algeria in the other semifinal.
    Tunisia should have gone ahead after winning the first penalty in the 73rd, when Ferjani Sassi’s shot hit the upper arm of Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly as he threw himself in the way to block it.
    Sassi took the penalty himself but it was weak and Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis saved easily.
    Senegal had its chance almost straight after, with Ismaila Sarr hacked down by Bronn in the area.
    Henri Saivet took the spot-kick instead of Mane, who missed two penalties earlier in the tournament.
    Saivet’s penalty was low and hard to the bottom right corner, but Hassen dived full-stretch and brilliantly deflected it away with his left hand.
    Hassen was responsible for giving away the game-deciding goal, though, and deciding Tunisia’s fate.
    In extra time, he went to punch away a free kick swung over from the right wing, but only forced it onto Bronn’s head and it rebounded into the net.
    The most contentious moment of a scintillating game came right near the end after Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye was initially penalized for another handball in the area. The ball was headed down by a teammate and struck Gueye’s hand as he tried to pull it away at the side of his body.
    Ethiopian referee Weyesa awarded the penalty, then decided to make the long run over to the sidelines to check with the VAR video review system, which is being used at the African Cup for the first time.
    After a tense delay, he ran back onto the field waving his arms to signal no penalty.
    Senegal has never won the African Cup and has made just one final, in 2002 when the team also reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Current Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was a member of the 2002 team and he dropped to his knees with arms held aloft in celebration at the final whistle.

  • 2019 AFCON: Nigeria to play Algeria in Semi-final on Sunday

    Striker Wilfried Bony and midfielder Serey Die missed penalties in the shootout as Algeria sealed a 4-3 victory over Cote d’Ivoire following an entertaining 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final draw on Thursday.
    Algeria will now meet Nigeria in the semi-finals at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday as they seek to end their long wait for continental success that stretches back to 1990.
    Sofiane Feghouli put Algeria ahead in the first half, but they failed to increase that advantage when Baghdad Bounedjah missed a penalty early in the second period.
    Cote d’Ivoire striker, Jonathan Kodjia equalised just past the hour mark, after which both sides created chances and had efforts cleared off the line, but were unable to be separated in 120 minutes.

  • 2019 AFCON: Super Eagles will face tricky, tougher tie against Bafana Bafana

    2019 AFCON: Super Eagles will face tricky, tougher tie against Bafana Bafana

    The former Technical Director, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Olatunde Disu OFR, on Monday warned that the Super Eagles would face a tricky and a tougher encounter against the Bafana Bafana in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
    Disu gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on his reflection about the crunchy and grudge match against the South African side.
    NAN reports that the Gernot Rohr tutored-side will on Wednesday face the Stuart Baxter-side in the quarter-finals duel in Cairo.
    The Bafana Bafana got a 1-0 surprised win over the host Pharaohs of Egypt in the round of 16
    While the Super Eagles got the quarter-finals through a 3-2 win over their eternal rivals, Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Alexandria Stadium in Egypt.
    It is on record that the Super Eagles had failed to beat Bafana Bafana in during the qualifiers as the first meeting at the Nest of Champions in Uyo went the way of the Baxter side.
    Tekelo Rantie and Percy Paul goals condemned Nigeria to defeat while the return leg in South Africa ended one goal at piece.
    Disu, a former Green Eagles Assistant Coach, said that the Bafana Bafana now know the Eagles pattern of play better than before, adding that the team should brace up for tougher challenge.
    “The Eagles must not be careless against this South Africans because they now know us better than before. We need to play with caution because they can outwit us.
    “We should remember that they defeated us right here in Nigeria and we also failed to defeat them in South Africa that should mean something to us.
    “I am not saying that the Eagles cannot beat them, no, we have a stronger team to beat them, but technically we must not rely on that, we should play better than them.
    “The Eagles are better now, with what they have displayed so far in AFCON, not minding the Madagascar debacle, they are at their best,’’ he said.
    Disu said the technical crew should look into the goalkeeping department, adding that the current first choice goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi could be suspect.
    “Technically, I may not be supporting the idea of putting Akpeyi in between the sticks because the South Africans knows him better, he plays in their league.
    “Akpeyi remains a suspect in goal for the Eagles because he sometimes fumbles with the balls which resulted in our first defeat in the hands of the Bafana Bafana during the qualifiers.
    “The goalkeeping area remains an issue because the South Africans can shoot from outside the box because they understand our keeper very well, he himself may be too cautious against them,’’ he said.
    Disu also said that he preferred Kenneth Omeruo to be in the heart of the defence with the pairing of Troost Ekong or Leon Balogun.
    “I will prefer Omeruo to be at the heart of the defence because he is strong and has a lot of tackles won, maybe anyone between Ekong or Balogun can pair him.
    “So far so good, the Eagles have showed character in this AFCON, but they should not be careless, they have good ball distribution and well organised defence.
    “I will want them to attack more instead of defending; they need to play to attack the South Africans because they make use of the middle while the Eagles play from the flanks.
    “They should also be more disciplined to win the AFCON which is within distance, they can win the competition,’’ he said.

  • 2019 AFCON: Players snub training over outstanding match bonuses

    Uganda’s players boycotted training on Tuesday because of a pay dispute, according to the country’s Football Association (FUFA).
    It is the latest of such disputes to break out at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations following issues with Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Cameroon.
    The Cranes finished second in their group and are preparing to face Senegal in the last 16 on Friday.
    FUFA says the players are trying to “renegotiate” the terms of a deal signed between the two parties.
    They claim the arrangement was agreed before the tournament and detailed the payments that had already been made to the players.

    “As of 2nd July 2019, each player has received up to $14,600, with more daily allowances and winning bonuses awaiting to be earned,” a FUFA statement read.

  • Hamstring injury ends 2019 AFCON run for Ghana’s Atsu

    Christian Atsu has been ruled out of the rest of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a hamstring tear, Ghanaian team officials said on Tuesday in Suez.
    He has returned to England for treatment at his club, Newcastle United, hours before the Black stars were due to complete their Group F campaign against Guinea Bissau in Suez.
    Atsu went off just 15 minutes into Ghana’s goalless draw against Cameroon in Ismailia on Saturday and doctors have said he is unable to play the rest of the tournament.
    Meanwhile, Guinea’s Naby Keita has gone back to Liverpool for treatment on thigh and shin injuries sustained against Nigeria.
    He made his first full comeback after the adductor injury that left him side-lined for two months, including the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League final match.
    However, Keita is expected back in Egypt for the knockout round.

  • 2019 AFCON: Field your best players, Fuludu urges Rohr

    2019 AFCON: Field your best players, Fuludu urges Rohr

    Nigeria’s ex-international, Edema Fuludu, on Tuesday advised the Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, to field his best players at the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16.
    Fuludu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
    He said fielding the best players is the only way to get the desired result.
    NAN reports that the team suffered a 0-2 defeat in the hands of the Barea of Madagascar, in Sunday’s final Group B match in Alexandria, Egypt.
    “Truth be told that was a very painful defeat; it’s hard to come to terms with that defeat.
    “Again, that’s football; you lose some, you win some, some are just so painful.
    “I believe we have good players but I need the coach to play the best players out of the quality players that we have.
    “We need to always secure our win,’’ Fuludu said.
    According to him, quality players should always kick-start the match to get the result and we can then make substitutions if necessary.
    “This defeat was so uncalled for; the margin at which we were defeated is daunting,’’ he said.
    Nigeria, as runners-up in Group B with six points behind Madagascar on seven, will now play against the second-placed team in Group F which comprises Cameroon, Ghana, Benin Republic and Equatorial Guinea.

  • 2019 AFCON: Tanzania will keep coach Amunike, says TFF Director

    Ammy Ninje, the Technical Director of Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), says Emmanuel Amuneke will be retained as the coach of that country’s national team.
    Tanzania, staging a come back after 39 years absence from the competition, lost all matches in Group C to Algeria, Senegal and Kenya to crash out of the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament.
    Ninje told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Cairo, Egypt, that Amuneke would be retained to continue with the good work he started.
    “Coach Amunike has done a fantastic job. It was not easy because he transformed our football. After 39 years, he came in and changed things and always, when you change things, you change people`s mentality.
    “ It takes time. We will take care of him and keep him here to continue with the good work,” he said.
    Ninje said the tournament afforded Tanzania the experience to learn football at the highest level.
    “ So, I hope if we qualify for the next AFCON tournament, we will do better,” he said.
    The technical director said that the team would go back and evaluate its performance and put an action plan for improvement.
    “We have learnt that when you play at international level like AFCON, you have to be ruthless, when you get the opportunity use it, and adopt a disciplined approach when you don’t have the ball.
    According to him, the team will be evaluated and younger players will be encouraged to continue in the building of a new national team.
    “ For some players who have been in the national team for a while, this may be their last outing.
    In modern football, you need youth, energy and tenacity. So, we will evaluate our squad and give a lot of young players the opportunity to shine for the future,.
    “But time will tell what will be the fate of the old players,” he said.
  • 2019 AFCON: Angola, Mauritania play out goalless draw

    2019 AFCON: Angola, Mauritania play out goalless draw

    Angola and Mauritania drew 0-0 in Group E of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, leaving both sides facing a battle to advance to the knockout stages.

    It was a second draw for Angola, while Mauritania who are making their tournament debut picked up their first point.

    Mali lead the group with four points from two games while Tunisia, who meet Mauritania next, have two.

    After 21 matches of the tournament in Egypt, the game was the first without any goals although both teams went close.

    Angola had an effort cleared off the line just after the 20-minute mark by Khassa Camara.

    That was after striker Fredy rounded the goalkeeper but was forced to shoot from a tight angle.

    Almost 20 minutes into the second half, there was an even more clear-cut opportunity .

    Gelson Dala passed across the face of the Mauritania goal, but substitute Wilson Eduardo steered wide of the target.

    Mauritania were much-improved after a 4-1 drubbing by Mali in their debut game at the tournament but did not create any clear chances.

    Their best effort fell to Adama Ba in the 60th minute but his effort, right in front of goal, was blocked by Angola full-back Bruno Gaspar.

    Ten minutes later, defender Paizo made a similarly vital tackle to deny Ismael Diakite.

    In the last minute, Angola’s Geraldo forced the ball into the net, but was correctly adjudged offside.

    Angola take on Mali in their last game on Tuesday at the same time when Mauritania meet Tunisia.

  • Mali player latest to be kicked out of 2019 AFCON

    Mali have expelled striker Adama Niane from their squad for indiscipline, the third player to be turfed out by his team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    “Adama Niane was excluded from the Eagles group for non-respect,” said the team’s media officer Ibrahim Coulibaly.

    Reports said the 26-year-old Belgium-based player had slapped a team mate in an altercation over queuing.

    The decision came on the eve of Friday’s Group E match against Tunisia in Suez.

    Earlier, Burundi had sent home 32-year-old midfielder Selemani Ndikumana for ill-discipline before their first game without offering any further details.

    On Wednesday Egypt sent Amr Warda packing for what the Egypt Football Association described as “disciplinary reasons”.

    Warda, who plays for Greek club Atromitos on loan from PAOK, has been widely accused of trolling women on social media.

    He has been the subject of a previous complaint, filed with Egypt’s Attorney General, of harassing a fashion model on Instagram.

    Warda has since posted a video on Facebook in which he apologised.

    He apologised to his family, his team mates, to the EFA and to “anyone who is upset at me or anyone I have upset” as his team mates rallied around him.

    Among them was Mohamed Salah who said: “Women must be treated with the utmost respect.

    “But I also believe that many who make mistakes can change for the better and shouldn’t be sent straight to the guillotine, which is the easiest way out.

    “We need to believe in second chances… we need to guide and educate. Shunning is not the answer.”