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Tag: AFCON 2019

  • Super Eagles 70 per cent ready for AFCON – Rohr

    Super Eagles 70 per cent ready for AFCON – Rohr

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr feels his team is ’70 per cent’ ready for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals, AFCON following Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Egypt on Tuesday.

    Paul Onuachu’s first minute strike separated both teams in Asaba as the Super Eagles recorded their second straight win after a 3-1 win over Seychelles in their final qualifying match on Friday.

    The three-time champions are set to return to the continental stage after missing the last two editions and the victory over the Pharaohs, host of the competition, sums up a great match for the west Africans.

    However, Rohr has also called for more improvement ahead of the commencement of the AFCON finals on June 21.

    “The match was a great match for us and when you play a great team like Egypt which for me are one of the favourites for the AFCON and win it is good,” Rohr told the media.

    “All the time we must improve but let us enjoy this wonderful moment.

    “We scored a wonderful goal. Tomorrow, we will analyse this game and go back to work on the team we have to make them better. I think the team is 70% ready but I like the number 69.

    “We decided to make a fast start. It was a planned goal from the kickoff. We have a tall striker from Denmark (Onuachu), he did very well but he has to improve still.

    “We made five changes with two local players making their debut. It will be good for them and their career.

    “What was interesting for me also in Asaba was that we had three wonderful victories. First, we beat Seychelles they the U23 team also trounced Libya and now we beat Egypt. So it was a good week for us.”

    In preparation for the biennial tournament, Nigeria are expected to play two more friendly matches in the next FIFA window scheduled for June 3 to 11.

  • NFF reacts as Super Eagles coach, Rohr says team not favourites to win AFCON 2019

    NFF reacts as Super Eagles coach, Rohr says team not favourites to win AFCON 2019

    Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, president, Amaju Pinnick has disagreed with the Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, over the latter’s comments that Nigeria is not one of the favourites to win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Egypt.

    Recall that, Rohr had disclosed that Egypt and Morocco are the favourites to win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    Rohr said: “We are not among the favourites to win the Nations Cup trophy and it would be stupid for me to believe that we are going to win it.

    “So, I am very optimistic that we will do very well and challenge for the cup, but the main favourites are Egypt and Morocco.

    “Morroco are currently number one in Africa going by the latest FIFA ranking. Also, Egypt will be playing at home, with a large home crowd behind them.”

    But reacting to Rohr’s comments, Pinnick said he was expecting Gernot Rohr’s men to go for the ultimate prize at Egypt 2019.

    “When you have a child and prepare him for an exam, your expectation is for the child to excel and that is the same expectation I have for the Super Eagles at the upcoming Nations Cup in Egypt. I expect them to go and compete for the trophy, nothing more, nothing less,” Pinnick was quoted by AllAfrica as saying.

    “My expectations are not overreaching because they are amongst the top four countries on the continent, which if they play to their best strength should guarantee them a place in the semifinals and from that position, the cup is within their reach”.

  • AFCON 2019: Super Eagles need to prepare well – Ighalo

    AFCON 2019: Super Eagles need to prepare well – Ighalo

    China-based Super Eagles forward, Odion has said that Super Eagles clash with Egypt is good preparation for the team ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The Shanghai Shenhua striker believes the games will help the team tremendously as they prepare for the tournament.

    “We are in a good direction, we just want to continue to work hard together as a team, not to feel relaxed just because we have gotten the ticket to the AFCON,” Ighalo said.

    “It’s one thing to qualify and it’s another thing to go there and perform and that is what we want to do.”

    He added that “We want to compete, we want to do better than what the Eagles before us have done in the past, I just want us to keep the concentration level high, and who knows – everything is possible.”

  • Host, Egypt picks six venues for AFCON 2019

    Egypt has chosen six venues across five cities to host this year’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) finals.

    After a board meeting, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed that Cairo Stadium, Borg el Arab Stadium in Alexandria and Ismailia stadium are among the venues chosen for the tournament.

    Other venues are the army-owned June 30 Stadium, on the outskirts of Cairo, and the Suez stadium.

    The 74 000-seater Cairo Stadium hosted the finals of previous Nations Cup tournaments in 1986 and 2006.

    The June 30 stadium replaces Al Salam, another venue on Cairo’s outskirts which hosts the domestic and African Champions League matches of the country’s most popular club, Al Ahly.

    The Port Said Stadium was closed for five years after the 2012 disaster that followed a league match between Al Masry and Al Ahly.

    Al Masry supporters were accused of inciting violence with many of the dead crushed when panicked spectators tried to escape from the stadium after a post-match pitch invasion by home supporters. Others fell or were thrown from terraces.

    Al Masry, the home club, were only allowed to return to the venue 12 months ago.

    This year’s Nations Cup kicks off on June 21 and has been expanded to include 24 teams. The draw for the group stage will take place in Cairo on April 12.

    Fourteen countries have already booked a finals berth, including first time participants Madagascar and Mauritania, with the remaining 10 places to be decided when the qualification campaign concludes in March.

  • AFCON 2019: Rohr lists conditions to accept fresh players into Eagles squad

    AFCON 2019: Rohr lists conditions to accept fresh players into Eagles squad

    Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has reeled out conditions that must be met by any player who hopes to gatecrash into his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, footballlive.ng reports.

    While affirming that the current set of players in the Eagles have already laid a strong foundation for a successful outing at AFCON 2019, Rohr said chances will be given only to newcomers with special qualities.

    The Franco-German gaffer added that any intending new member must also show an ability to offer something better than those already in the squad.

    An inside source, however, hinted that Rohr could be looking mostly at defenders during his build-up to the continental soccer showpiece, with a new goalkeeper also likely on the cards.

    The source disclosed that Rohr is not satisfied with his full-back positions and is already scouting for new faces that would bring competition into the fight for shirts in those departments.

    “Right now the full backs in the team don’t have stable clubs and the coach thinks they may not be ready psychologically,” he added.

  • Morocco opt out bid of hosting AFCON 2019

    Morocco will not bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the country’s sports minister said.

    The North African nation had been tipped as a replacement for Cameroon, who were stripped of the hosting rights last month due to poor preparations.

    “Morocco did not intend to run for the 2019 African Cup of Nations and will not do so,” Minister of Youth and Sport Rachid Talbi Alami told AFP.

    Interested parties have until 11pm on Friday to make an official bid.

    In June this year, Morocco failed with a fifth bid to host the World Cup – after losing out to a triple bid Canada, Mexico and the United States.

    The following month, Morocco did step in to host the 2019 African Games – formerly known as the All Africa Games – after original hosts Equatorial Guinea withdrew due to financial concerns.

    This was a twist on a story concerning the 2015 Nations Cup which Morocco had been due to host but which ended up being staged in Equatorial Guinea after the North Africans requested a postponement because of concerns over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

    Morocco – which had been widely tipped to step in to host next year’s Nations Cup – has only ever hosted Africa’s flagship football tournament once, back in 1988.

    The 2019 finals will be the first to feature 24 teams, rather than 16, and be held in June/July, as opposed to its traditional January/February slot.

  • 22 Super Eagles players in Asaba camp ahead of Bafana Bafana clash

    Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and 21 other players trained at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Tuesday evening ahead of Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Johannesburg.

    According to a statement by Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), there were goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi, Theophilus Afelokhai and Ikechukwu Ezenwa at the training.

    “At the training, we also had defenders Olaoluwa Aina, Adeleye Aniyikaye, Semi Ajayi, Bryan Idowu, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins.

    “There were also midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu and Mikel Agu, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Henry Onyekuru, Alex Iwobi, Isaac Success and Samuel Chukwueze.

    “Only France-based forward Samuel Kalu is expected on Wednesday,’’ he said.

    Super Eagles of Nigeria need just one point from Saturday’s encounter inside the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg to be sure of a ticket.

    On Match Day 1 of the qualifying series, South Africa won 2-0 with goals from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau right inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    However the defeat, the first-ever loss to South Africa in a competitive match, stirred the formidable spirit in the Eagles.

    They went on to sweep all before them to earn a 2018 FIFA World Cup ticket with a match to spare.

    Also, since the 2019 AFCON qualifiers resumed in September, Nigeria has won all three matches to stand at the door of qualification with a match to spare.

    Nigeria’s delegation to Saturday’s big match will depart the country aboard a chartered flight from the Benin City Airport on Thursday evening.

  • Bafana will be ready for Super Eagles’ revenge mission – Baxter

    Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter says he and his team holds no fear over facing Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the FNB Stadium Johannesburg, CSN reports.

    Baxter who is gunning for his third win in three games when Bafana face the Super Eagles expects the three-time African champions to have vengeance on their mind ahead of the clash.

    The British gaffer led South Africa to a 2-1 win over Nigeria in 2004 in a Mandela Challenge before defeating the Super Eagles 2-0 in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017 – his first match in his second stint at the helms.

    “We do have Nigeria first‚ in the small matter of an African Nations Cup qualifier‚” Baxter told the Sowetan, A South African online newspaper.

    “Everybody knows the list of injuries that we have had.

    “Everybody knows what I said in the first press conference (a week ago) that despite that (the injuries) I want to speak about the players that we do have because even though we respect Nigeria, we do not fear them.

    “I think we have still enough talent‚ enough desire and if we can structure a game plan in the next three or four days‚ I think by the time we run out onto the FNB Stadium, we would be confident‚ we would not be complacent‚ because Nigeria have just come from a (2018) World Cup (in Russia).

    “They are undefeated since we beat them the last time (in the first qualifier in June last year) and they will certainly want to wreak their revenge.

    “So‚ we will be ready and I still believe that we have a very good chance of getting the result that we need.”

    After the matchday-five AFCON qualifier on Saturday in Johannesburg, the Bafana Bafana will travel to Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium to welcome Paraguay in the Nelson Mandela Challenge next Tuesday.

  • AFCON 2019: Eagles ready for Bafana Bafana clash – Uzoho

    AFCON 2019: Eagles ready for Bafana Bafana clash – Uzoho

    Ahead of next month’s crucial AFCON 2019 qualifier against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Super Eagles’ first choice goalie, Francis Uzoho has revealed the team is now beaming with so much confidence and will be ready for the challenge of coach Stuart Baxter’s boys, AOIFootball.com reports.
    Uzoho, who is yet to taste a defeat in the qualifiers after keeping two clean sheets, further admitted that the team will take the South Africa game with all seriousness.
    “We will take the game against South Africa seriously because we have never underrated any team we have come up against.
    We know it won’t be an easy game but we are ready for them,” Uzoho said.
    The on-loan Doportivo La Coruna shot-stopper, who is yet to start a match for Elche in the league will be hoping his national team form will earn him another appearance for the club, having been in goal already in the Copa del Rey.
     

  • I will name Super Eagles squad for AFCON 2019 qualifiers by February – Rohr

    Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has revealed he will name his squad for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in February.

    The draw for the tournament will be held on Thursday in Libreville, Gabon and Nigeria is likely to play their first game of the qualifying series in March.

    “I will make my list by the end of February,” Rohr said.

    “This will depend on what the players are doing at their clubs.

    “Some new players could come like fullback, we have somebody, but it’s too early to speak about that now.”

    Rohr also stated that he was willing to give players from the domestic league more chances.

    “I will watch tomorrow’s Super Cup (between Rangers and FC Ifeanyi Ubah) to see if I could see some players in the league,” he said.

    “It will be interesting for me to watch this game as I have already watched Ifeanyi Ubah during the Federation Cup final, now I will see the Nigeria champions.”