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Tag: AFCON 2023

  • AFCON 2023: Cross River gov, Otu gifts Terem Moffi N10m

    AFCON 2023: Cross River gov, Otu gifts Terem Moffi N10m

    Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has gifted the Super Eagles forward, Terem Moffi N10million for winning the silver ware with the Super Eagles at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

    Moffi received the gift Thursday night in Calabar alongside his father and younger brother.

    Otu also commended the player for being a good ambassador of Cross River and fot leading an exemplary life for the youths of the State to emulate.

    The governor promised continued support for the Nice of France player, adding that his administration remained committed to youths and sport development as a way of curbing youth restiveness and creating opportunities for them.

    “I am particularly delighted that you represented the State well and the fact that you have been a good ambassador of the youths in the State and beyond.

    “Like you, we have so many talents across the State and we will continue to create opportunities for them to blossom.

    “It is for that reason that we are making a lot of investment on youth and sports development,” Otu stated.

    He also commended the Super Eagles players for his support to sport development in the State.

    Ealier, Moffi had donated N1million to Pelican Stars FC, in addition to the donation of 25 balls each to the team and Calabar Rovers.

    Silver medal winning Eagles player who currently plays for Nice of France.

    He moved to Nice in 2023 after playing for FC Lorient of France and Belgian club, KV Kortrijk.

    Moffi, who is among the players invited for the Eagles world cup qualifying matches with South Africa and Benin Republic in June, debuted for the senior national team in 2021.

  • AFCON 2023: Kogi state governor, Ododo honours Super Eagles goalie, Olorunleke Ojo, others

    AFCON 2023: Kogi state governor, Ododo honours Super Eagles goalie, Olorunleke Ojo, others

    Alhaji Usman Ododo the Kogi State governor on Wednesday welcomed Super Eagles goalkeper, Ojo Olorunleke, team manager, Dayo Enebi Anchor and chief security officer, Frank Adejoh to his private residence in Lokoja.

    The trio were honoured for the feat recorded by the Super Eagles at the just concluded 2023 AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Olorunleke, Enebi and Adejoh all hailed from Kogi state in the North central region of Nigeria.

    Olorunleke, who plays for Nigeria Premier Football League champions, Enyimba FC  was Super Eagles third choice goalkeeper at the competition.

    The shot stopper was also the only local player in the squad.

    Olorunleke’s wife, Tosin accompanied the goalie  to the governor’s residence.

    Mallam Hassan Wada and Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Monday Anyebe were also in attendance at the glamorous event.

    Recall that the Super Eagles finished second at the AFCON 2023 finals after losing 2-1 to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

     

  • BREAKING: Tinubu confers national honours on Super Eagles

    BREAKING: Tinubu confers national honours on Super Eagles

    Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has conferred national honours on the Super Eagles for their outstanding performance at the just concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Tinubu awarded national honours of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) to each Super Eagles player at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Conferring the honours on the Super Eagles, Tinubu also presented them with residential units in Nigeria and a parcel of land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “This gesture serves as a token of appreciation for your outstanding service,” President Tinubu said.

    The Super Eagles had represented Nigeria at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire were they won the Silver medal.

     

    Details shortly… 

  • AFCON 2023: Watch moment Super Eagles arrive in Nigeria from Côte d’Ivoire [VIDEO]

    AFCON 2023: Watch moment Super Eagles arrive in Nigeria from Côte d’Ivoire [VIDEO]

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have finally arrived in the country from Côte d’Ivoire where they took part in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Super Eagles arrived in the country via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).

    The Super Eagles were beaten by The Elephants of Ivory Coast to come out second in the 2023 AFCON.

    Watch moment the Super Eagles arrived in Nigeria from Ivory Coast below:

  • AFCON 2023: Okocha reacts to cyberbullying of Iwobi

    AFCON 2023: Okocha reacts to cyberbullying of Iwobi

    Former Super Eagles captain and playmaker, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has rallied round his nephew Alex Iwobi, following the latter’s cyberbullying and threats to life  on Social Media.

    Okocha who is an Uncle to Iwobi has advised Nigerians to desist from attacking the player, saying he gave his best at the just concluded 2023 AFCON.

    Continuing, the ex-Bolton star, said him alongside other  well meaning Nigerians will continue to pray for Alex Iwobi.

    Okocha took to his Instagram page to express his grievances to some Nigerians who took to social media to abuse and threaten the player.

    His Post reads: ”I pray for my country Nigeria and the people that can only hate and see nothing good in others, when efforts count for nothing. Treat people the way you want others treat you.

    ”All we have in this life is eachother, we love you @alexiwobi and we keep going no matter what they say, the Lord is good all the times”

  • EPL side, Brentford comment on Onyeka’s AFCON outing

    EPL side, Brentford comment on Onyeka’s AFCON outing

    English Premier League side, Brentford Football Club has hailed the performance of Super Eagles midfielder, Frank Onyeka in the just concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports rock solid Onyeka bossed the defensive midfield position for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, beating the expectations of many.

    Onyeka made history as Brentford’s first player ever to feature in a major tournament final like the AFCON.

    “An incredible journey, Frank. You carried the hopes of a nation superbly. We are so proud of you,” Brentford commented on the outing of Onyeka at the 2023 AFCON.

     

  • AFCON 2023: Iwobi denies making plans to retire from Super Eagles

    AFCON 2023: Iwobi denies making plans to retire from Super Eagles

    Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi has denied reports emanating on Social Media that he plans to retire from the national team.

    There were speculations that Iwobi had plans to retire from the Super Eagles as a result of the Cyberbullying and threats he received from football fans over Super Eagles AFCON 2023 final loss to host nation Cote D’Ivoire.

    The 25-year-old also deleted his national team pictures on his platform X after receiving barrage of insults from fans.

    However, when contacted by former Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye  on Monday evening, the Fulham player denied ever making such statement.

    Meanwhile, senior player, Ahmed Musa has also  released a statement urging fans to desist from cyberbullying the player who offered himself to play for the national team.

     

  • I still can’t believe we won AFCON – Cote d’Ivoire’s coach

    I still can’t believe we won AFCON – Cote d’Ivoire’s coach

    Emerse Fae, coach of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, says he still finds it hard to believe that his team won Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.

    Fae, at the post-match press conference, said he was overwhelmed by the great feeling of guiding the Elephants to glory on home soil.

    Cote d’Ivoire came from behind to seal a 2-1 victory over Nigeria at a packed Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe on Sunday evening.

    The man who took over from Jean-Louis Gasset said it was hard to fathom that they came from almost being knocked out, to winning the title.

    “I still find it hard to believe it. We went through all the emotions. This competition will mark my life, that’s for sure.

    “I took the reins of the team on my birthday, and we were almost knocked out, yet things turned around.

    “Thanks to the hard work of these players and today they have been rewarded and more importantly, they rewarded our loyal people,” said the coach.

    Fae also took home the Best Coach of the Tournament award for showing tactical acumen in guiding the Elephants to trophy.

    Peseiro credits “remarkable job” by Cote d’Ivoire

    Super Eagles Head coach, Jose Peseiro has credited the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire for being the better team on Sunday night.

    This was after the hosts came from behind to seal a 2-1 victory in the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cote d’ivoire 2023 in Ebimpe.

    The Super Eagles after being well on course to a fourth AFCON gold medal were edged by the hosts who showed character in coming back from a goal down.

    Speaking after the match, the Portuguese who was coaching in his first AFCON said he was sad that his team could not go all the way but conceded to his opponents on the night.

    “They were better than us today, they managed the pressure better, and they did a remarkable job.

    “My team did not play at the same level. My team is sad but for me they did what they could.

    “We conceded goals from a few defensive errors, and we dropped the tempo against the Ivoirians.

    “But I am proud of the way my players performed in this tournament”, he said.

    William Troost-Ekong, the captain of the Super Eagles who scored Nigeria’s only goal of the match, was awarded the Best Player of the Tournament award.

  • AFCON 2023: Highlights of Super Eagles’ loss to Cote D’Ivoire

    AFCON 2023: Highlights of Super Eagles’ loss to Cote D’Ivoire

    It’s no longer news that the Super Eagles of Nigeria lost by 2-1 to the bafana bafana of South Africa at the Alhassan Quattara stadium Ebimpe, Abidjan.

    Stand -in Captain, Williams Troost Ekong scored the opener in the 42nd minute but the Super Eagles conceded two second half goals from Frank Kessie, Sebestian Haller to lose the final.

    Highlights of the Game

    The Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire already studied the pattern and formation of the Super Eagles and worked on its weaknesses.

    They dominated the Super Eagles from start to finish winning all the stats available in the match.

     

    Coach Peseiro’s Wrong tactics

    Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro got his tactics wrong by sticking to his 3-4-3 formation even when it was found out by the South Africans in the semi-final of the tournament.

    In the Semi-final clash  against South Africa, the cracks in that setup began to show. And against the hosts, the Portuguese needed to switch it up again, possibly return to a back four.

    Many players seemed fatigued especially Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi and it slowed down the tempo of the game.

    Zaidu Sanusi returned to the starting XI, but remained unreliable. Ola Aina chose to have his worst game in the final.

    Alex Iwobi’s defensive abilities was again called to question when he lost many possesion to the opponents therefore contributing to Super Eagles conceding first goal.

    Samuel Chukwueze was virtually non-existent in the game as he was out marked by the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

    Calvin Bassey also displayed high level of indiscipline in the game as he was dispossed on many occasions.

    The match was  marked with poor officiating as the Mauritanian referee,  and assistants made too many questionable calls in the game.

    All  50-50 calls were given to the hosts thereby putting them at a big advantage to keep mounting pressure on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in both halves.

     

  • How Cote d’Ivoire won 2023 AFCON

    How Cote d’Ivoire won 2023 AFCON

    Hosts Côte d’Ivoire have emerged winners of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament they hosted.

    Cote d’Ivoire ended the dramatic tournament with an equally dramatic victory over Nigeriaon Sunday night in Abidjan.

    The hosts came from behind to win 2-1 after trailing at half-time to a William Troost-Ekong’s powerful header which gave Nigeria the lead in the 38th minute.

    The hosts however came back strongly in the second half.

    In the packed stadium with over 58,000 Ivorian fans behind the Elephants, Franck Kessie levelled scores in the 62nd minute.

    The Ivorians would have the last laugh as Sebastian Haller scored the winning goal in the 81st minute,  with a clever toe poke after a dangerous cross into the Eagles’ vital area.

    The result meant Cote d’Ivoire grabbed their third AFCON title.

    This was after they won for the first time in 1992 and then in 2015.

    The hosts had a very special campaign.

    Having qualified for the knockout stages only as one of the best representatives of the third position.

    They even qualified as the last best losers.

    Defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea led to the sacking of coach Jean-Louis Gasset.

    Emerse Fae then led Coted’Ivoire to the trophy.

    Nigeria’s stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament award.

    Troost-Ekong playing his last AFCON tourney had scored three goals in the tournament, including the beautiful header in the finals and stood as a “rock of Gibraltar” in the Nigerian defence.

    Mamelodi Sundowns Goalkeeper and Captain of South Africa, Romwen Williams won the best goal keeper of the tournament.

    The top goal scorer award went to Spanish-born Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea, who scored five goals three of which was a hat-trick against the champions, Cote d’Ivoire.

    South Africa collected its bronze medals having won the third place match against DR Congo.

    Earlier, the AFCON flag was transferred to Morocco which would host the tournament in 2025.