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Tag: AFCON 2019

  • Iheanacho needs to leave Leicester City – Obuh

    Former Nigeria U17 and U20 coach John Obuh has advised Kelechi Iheanacho to search for a new club in a bid for regular playing time after he was left out of the Gernot Rohr’s quad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

    After playing no part in Nigeria’s goalless draw against Zimbabwe on Saturday, Iheanacho was axed from the provisional squad alongside Rotherham United’s Semi Ajayi as Rohr confirmed his 23-man squad for the Afcon on Sunday.

    Iheanacho’s struggle for form has been a talking point among Nigerians who have voiced their concerns with Rohr claiming that he still lacks confidence despite his change in attitude to training.

    But Obuh thinks his lack of playing time at Leicester City during 2018-19 season limited his chances of making it to Africa’s foremost football competition.

    “He hasn’t been participating actively in the league, it will be difficult for us to fault the coach because whatever decision he’s making for this Afcon, he’s doing it based on club performance,” Obuh told Goal.

    “If you remember, Mikel has not been in the national team for a while but he has been playing for his club so he has a different case to deal with even though some people try to talk about that.

    “Iheanacho is a young, talented footballer and we all know that. I think what he really needs to do is to look for a club that will grant him a regular playing time so that he won’t go into too much competition with anybody that will cause him not to play.

    “That’s the simple thing he needs to do because it will help him. I think the coach’s decision is okay and he should accept it in good faith and think for a way forward for himself.”

    During the just-concluded campaign, Iheanacho made only nine starts in 30 league matches for the Foxes, with just a goal to his credit.

  • AFCON 2019: Moses reacts after being included by Rohr in Super Eagles squad

    AFCON 2019: Moses reacts after being included by Rohr in Super Eagles squad

    Levante forward, Simon Moses has expressed his happiness over the decision of Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr, to include him in the Super Eagles’ final 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

    Rohr, on Sunday included Moses in the Super Eagles’ final 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Egpyt.

    The 23-year-old, who missed out from Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup squad in Russia due to injury, told Brila FM: “It’s not easy to make the final 23-man list, am happy and we all are still fighting for a place in the first XI.

    “The next stage now is to fight for your position in the team, and I believe the coach has the right players to put in the right place to make a good result.”

    This year’s AFCON will be held from 15 June to 13 July 2019.

  • Iheanacho’s exclusion didn’t come as a surprise says Fuludu

    Ex-international Edema Fuludu on Monday said that the exclusion of Super Eagles striker. Kelechi Iheanacho from the 23 man list by Coach Gernot Rohr didn’t come as a surprise to him.

    Fuludu, a member of the victorious 1994 AFCON squad, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    “I wasn’t surprised really, he’s not in his best form, and if you are not in form there is nothing anyone can do about it.

    “I believe the coach gave it serious thought; why take a player who is struggling when you have those that are in top form.

    “He needs to give players fair opportunity, Iheanacho being on the list would have come as a shock to many.

    “Because the coach made it clear that players performance at club level will determine players inclusion in the AFCON list.

    “Kelechi has not been fantastic, but this happens to players at some point in their career, it’s just sad that it came at a time when he would have been valuable to the team if he was in great form,” he said.

    The Leicester City forward Iheanacho has been dropped by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr ahead of Nigeria’s campaign at the 2019 Nations Cup in Egypt.

    Asked about his views about Rohr’s selected player for the Nations Cup, the former Julius Berger player, told NAN that the selected players should justify their inclusion.

    “There is nothing I’d include or take out from that list, only a coach knows and understands the strength of each of his players.

    “I just want to urge the selected ones to make their inclusion count by playing cohesively and listening to instruction and also being disciplined will help them,” he said

    Semi Ajayi, who plays for English Club Rotherham FC was also reported to have been dropped by Gernot Rohr who was not impressed with his performance.

    At the just-concluded Premier League season, Iheanacho struggled for form and was left on the bench for most games for his club.

    He got a chance to face Manchester City in week 37 of the Premier League season and saw a good chance to score against Pep Guardiola’s men which could have ended their title hope.

    The rest of the squad will travel for the tournament which kicks off June 21, in Egypt.

  • Super Eagles coach Rohr praises Mikel ahead of AFCON 2019

    Super Eagles coach Rohr praises Mikel ahead of AFCON 2019

    Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr has praised Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel after the midfielder’s early arrival at the national team’s get-together in Asaba.

    The German said that Mikel had demonstrated commitment to contribute to the team’s success at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

    The number 10 had not played for the Super Eagles since he went the distance in the 1-2 loss to Argentina on June 26, 2018, and there were fears that he had called time on his international career.

    ”Mikel has at all times been a professional and the fact that he arrived here early means that he is very committed to do well and to lead us,” Rohr said.

    ”We expect 25 players here but some of them cannot come in today because they had games– like Ighalo came yesterday from China — Alex Iwobi is also being expected.

    ”So, the team will be complete in two days but already 18 players have arrived here in Asaba. Training will start immediately on Tuesday to get our players ready.”

    The Super Eagles will be having two training sessions on Monday, with the morning and evening workout starting 1000 hours and 1645 hours respectively.

  • AFCON 2019: Rohr returns to Nigeria for Eagles’ preparation

    AFCON 2019: Rohr returns to Nigeria for Eagles’ preparation

    Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr is already in Nigeria to begin the team’s preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

    The training for the biggest football competition in Africa begins on Sunday, June 2 in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

    “The coach is around now and the preparation is on top gear. He looks very focused and determined for the team’s success in Egypt. Everything is working as planned and everything is set for camping in Asaba on Sunday,” spokesman for the team Toyin Ibitoye said.

    “The coach will be in Asaba on Sunday likewise the players too. Majority of them are already in town and we are expecting successful camping.”

    The AFCON will be held from 21 June to 19 July, and the three-time African champions are in Group B alongside Guinea, Madagascar, and Burundi.

  • Man Utd defender Bailly out of AFCON 2019

    Manchester United defender Eric Bailly will miss the final two games of the season and this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations after sustaining a knee injury in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

    The Ivory Coast international, 25, injured his medial ligament in a collision with Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic during the second half.

    Bailly was starting his first Premier League game since 3 February.

    The Africa Cup of Nations is from 21 June to 19 July in Egypt.

    Ivory Coast are one of the favourites for the tournament and have been drawn in a group that also contains Morocco, South Africa and Namibia.

  • AFCON 2019 will be tough, Super Eagles’ll give 100% fight – Media Officer

    AFCON 2019 will be tough, Super Eagles’ll give 100% fight – Media Officer

    The Media Officer of Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye, on Saturday predicted an acid test for the team as they seek their fourth time glory in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

    Ibitoye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that though the 32nd AFCON tournament would be tough, the team would give a 100 per cent fight to win the title.

    NAN reports that the Eagles will begin their campaign in the Group B that includes Madagascar, Guinea and Burundi with a game against Burundi on June 22 at the Alexandria Stadium.

    Ibitoye told NAN that though many opinions had tilted towards Eagles going through the knockout stage in a group that looks seemingly easy, yet it could be a tricky one.

    “The fight is to defend the integrity of Nigeria and try to win our games in the qualifiers before we can be champions. The other teams in our group are not there for a picnic or vacation, they also want to win.

    “It will be the battle of those that are well prepared, so we need to go the extra mile and push towards getting results because there are lots of teams that will want to spring surprises in Egypt.

    “The AFCON tournament is now bigger and will be tougher because of the new format of 24 teams which means that we will have to play more games. It is not going to be easy.

    “The good news, however, is that we are going there to give our 100 per cent fight in it. We will take the matches one at a time, we are in a group where if we work hard, we can top them,” he said.

    Ibitoye said that the Eagles would camp in Asaba where they will play a game and then play another friendly match against Senegal in Egypt.

    “The team will have few weeks of camping in Asaba, but we want to be in Egypt early to start preparations. By the end of May, we would have the full details of the preparations.

    “The plan is for us to get to Egypt at least seven or eight days before our first match. So, in Egypt, we will play a friendly against Senegal because we want to really focus on getting our players fresh.

    “There is a need to understand that AFCON is coming up at the end of European football season, so the trick is to get the players fresh and keep them away from injuries.

    “It is going to be a tough challenge in Egypt, so the coach has been talking to the players on his approach and the need for them to be fit so that we can come together to play the tournament with full blast,” he said.

    Ibitoye said that Egypt remained the tournament favourites considering the fact that they were the host nation and also have a good squad.

    “The tournament will be taking place in Egypt so they are the favourites and also have a good squad. Morocco also comes to mind and Senegal.

    “The likes of the defending champions, Cameroon and Ghana are potential winners and outsiders such as South Africa, Mali and Guinea; these are teams that can spring surprises,” he said.

  • AFCON 2019: Nigeria, Ghana friendly called off

    AFCON 2019: Nigeria, Ghana friendly called off

    In preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON, the proposed friendly match the Black Stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria has been called off.

    It was earlier report that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will host the Black Stars in a preparatory match ahead of the tournament in Egypt.

    However, it was gathered that the Ghanaian senior team would be in the UAE at the time of the match and it would be difficult making the trip to Nigeria to play the game.

    “They actually wanted to play us in Nigeria and they had discussions with only the Deputy Sports Minister, Perry Okudzeto,” said Ghana football official.

    “But we may be in the United Arab Emirates, which will be difficult.”

    Ghana had chosen to hold a three-week pre-Afcon 2019 camping in Abu Dhabi.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through the General Secretary, Dr. Muhammad Sanusi had confirmed that the International friendly between the Super Eagles and the Terranga Lions of Senegal would take place in Egypt.

    Sanusi in a chat with Sports247 said the Senegalese FA had made arrangements for a friendly match with us and the match would be played in Egypt.

    The Super Eagles have been drawn in group B alongside Madagascar, Guinea and Burundi seek its fourth African Cup of Nations title in Egypt later in June.

  • 2019 AFCON: Fans counsel Eagles against complacency with `favourable’ group

    2019 AFCON: Fans counsel Eagles against complacency with `favourable’ group

    Football fans on Saturday have counsel the Super Eagles against complacency with the group pairings they got at the draw of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin said they should not underrate the teams because there are no longer minors in football.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been paired in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi for the 2019 AFCON scheduled to hold from June 21 to July 19 in Egypt.

    Mr Tope Aderinoye said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should ensure they start preparation immediately and not think that the group stage would be easy.

    ”It might not be easy as everybody thinks, so it is better the NFF engage them now, so that by the time the tournament starts, they would have crossed the ‘t’ and dotted the ‘i’s.

    ”This is because we cannot afford not to come out of that group convincingly,” Aderinoye said.

    Another respondent, Mr Ibrahim Abdulrahman said the players and the coaching crew should clear the thoughts that the other teams in the group are minors.

    ”They should be prepared to play them as if they are playing the like of Cameroon, South Africa and Senegal.

    ”These so called small teams can spring up surprises when nobody expects, because there are no more minors in football,” Abdulrahman said.

    On his part, Mr Shona Ajala, said the pairing looks like a walk in the park but the Eagles should not take it for granted.

    ”Our group seems the easiest but we shouldn’t be complacent about that.

    ”Super Eagles have grown beyond qualification by calculations because it is when we have supposedly easy opponents that we struggle to qualify.

    ”So, that should take caution from now on,” Ajala said.

  • AFCON 2019: Super Eagles to face Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    AFCON 2019: Super Eagles to face Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn to face Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi in Group B of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The draw ceremony took place behind the famous Giza Pyramids, Cairo. The event was greeted with great fanfare that showcased the culture of the country.

    It was a spectacular treat that left mouths wide open including the crème de la crème of world football.

    Anthony Baffoe was in charge of the draw and was assisted by African football greats Ahmed Hassan, Yaya Toure and El Hadji Diouf.

    Guinea, who picked silver ahead of Nigeria at the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia, are making their 12th appearance with Nigeria going for their 18th appearance.

    Group A has hosts Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe, while Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania are in Group C.

    In Group D, Namibia face an uphill task against former champions Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa in what is seen as the group of death.

    Group E will have Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola battling, while current champions and five-time winners Cameroon, four-time winners Ghana, Benin and Guinea-Bissau are in Group F.