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Tag: AFCON 2023

  • AFCON 2023: CAF gives reasons why Nigerian referees are below par

    AFCON 2023: CAF gives reasons why Nigerian referees are below par

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has explained why Nigerian referees are not selected to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and other football tournaments on the continent.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Noumandiez Desire Doue, a top official of the African soccer governing body gave the explanation.

    No Nigerian referee was selected among the officials for the biennial competition, a decision that has been debated among football stakeholders within the country.

    Doue who also doubles as CAF’s Head of Refereeing and Football Technology further explained that Nigerian referees are good but they need to do more.

    According to him, CAF goes for the best on the continent and not just average referees.

    Doue made this disclosure during an interaction with journalists at the CAF AFCON Referees’ Open Day that took place at the Asec Mimosa club’s training pitch on Thursday.

    “You have good referees in Nigeria and to come to AFCON you have to be the best.

    “Good referees are for the Zones, you have to be the best to come to the CAF Competitions.

    “Nigeria referees are improving but they need to do more to be among the best because the selection has started in the last one and a half years.

    “We are in the scouting process of evaluating and to the end of selection.

    “We have different stages, you start from young talent to elite B, elite A and professional, it’s among the elite B we picked for the AFCON”, he said.

  • AFCON 2023: What Roger Milla said about Nigeria v Cameroon second round clash

    AFCON 2023: What Roger Milla said about Nigeria v Cameroon second round clash

    Cameroon legend, Roger Milla has finally lent his voice concerning the second round tie between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

    Both continental heavyweight will slug it out in a Round of 16 contest at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, on Saturday.

    The Super Eagles won the last two meetings between both teams at the AFCON finals.

    The West Africans knocked out the Indomitable Lions at the quarter-final stage in 2004 in Tunisia.

    The Super Eagles were also responsible for Cameroon’s exit in the Round of 16 at the 2019 edition of the AFCON hosted by Egypt.

    However, Milla who was part of the Cameroon side that defeated the Super Eagles in the final in 1984 and 1988, refused to stick out his neck on who will the game.

    “It’s going be an intense game. It’s a game between two brothers who know each other very well,” Milla said on RTI.

    “It’s difficult to predict who is going to win the game at the moment.”

  • AFCON 2023: Ivorians hit streets to celebrate last minute second round qualification

    AFCON 2023: Ivorians hit streets to celebrate last minute second round qualification

    The Ivorians stormed the streets of Abidjan, Bouake, San Perdo and other cities in the country to celebrate the last minute entry of the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire into the last 16 of the 2023 AFCON.

    The nationals of the country gathered in their hundreds at different locations late in the night and till early Thursday morning, singing and dancing over their qualifications to the round of 16.

    There were initial fears that the Elephants would exit the competition after losing scandalously to the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea and finished third with three points on the group standings.

    However, when it seems all hope was lost, the group F encounters where Morocco defeated  Zambia and Congo and Tanzania played out a goalless draw helped the Elephants secure the last spot for best third placed team in the competition.

    The Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire will now slug it out with the Teranga Lions of Cameroon in the round of 16 for a quarter-final ticket.

  • AFCON 2023: See all qualified teams and round of 16 pairings

    AFCON 2023: See all qualified teams and round of 16 pairings

    The 2023 Total energies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has officially entered the knockout stages and it will begin on Saturday, January 27th, 2023.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports 16 teams from the initial 24 have secured qualifications to the round of 16.

    Eight winning teams will make it to the quarter-final stage of the competition from the round of 16.

    Below is the list of all qualified teams and next fixtures:

    AFCON 2023 Round of 16 tie

    1) Nigeria vs Cameroon

    Date: Saturday, January 27

    Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet, Abidjan

    2) Angola vs Namibia

    Date: Saturday day, January 27

    Venue: Stade de la Paix, Bouake

    3) Cape Verde vs Mauritania

    Date: Monday, January 29

    Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet, Abidjan

    4) Morocco vs South Africa

    Date: Tuesday, January 30

    Venue: Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro

    5) Mali vs Burkina Faso

    Date: Tuesday, January 30

    Venue: Stade Amadou Coulibaly, Korhogo

    6) Senegal vs Cote D’Ivoire

    Date: Monday, January 29

    Venue: Stade Charles Banny, Yamoussoukro

    7) Egypt vs DR Congo

    Date: Sunday, January 28

    Venue: Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro

    8) Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea

    Date: Sunday, January 28

    Venue: Stade Ouattara, Abidjan

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles tipped to win trophy

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles tipped to win trophy

    The head coach of the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau, Baciro Cande has expressed his belief that Nigeria’s Super Eagles has what it takes to win the title.

    Recall that Nigeria earned a place in the Round of 16 after defeating the Djurtus at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Monday night.

    Djurtus defender, Opa Sangante’s own goal separated both teams on the night.

    The Guineans exited the competition without recording a win and scored twice in three games.

    The West Africans are also yet to win a game at the AFCON finals.

    Cande, who masterminded Guinea-Bissau’s victory against Nigeria in the qualifiers has backed the Super Eagles to go all the way.

    ‘”Nigeria have a good team, a lot of quality players including Victor Osimhen who is the Africa’s best player,” Cande said during his interaction with the media after the game.

    “It is a team I know very well and I believe they will go far in this competition.

    “I believe they can win it. They are now among the favourites.”

    The Super Eagles will meet the Indomitable lions of Cameroon at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday, January 27th.

  • AFCON 2023: Nigerian fans call on Cameroon coaching crew to field Onana against Super Eagles

    AFCON 2023: Nigerian fans call on Cameroon coaching crew to field Onana against Super Eagles

    Nigerians on social media have jokingly called on the Cameroon coaching crew to give  Andre Onana  a chance to man the goal post when the indomitable Lions Cameroon face the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

    The question posted to the Cameroonian FA came after it was confirmed that the Indomitable Lions will be the Super Eagles’ opponents in the Round of 16 following the five-time Champions 3-2 win victory over The Gambia.

    Recall that the Man United’s goalkeeper Onana was benched during the last group C  encounter between Cameroon and Gambia.

    The 27-year-old has been the subject of trolls and criticism since signing for Man United in the Summer after several howlers in goal for the English giants.

    Taking to social media to react to the fixture, Nigerian football fans wished Onana will be fielded in the clash with Cameroon as they see it as an advantage for the Super Eagles attack led by reigning Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen.

    @SireNoble wrote, “Make Onana play this match against Nigeria, I want to check something.”

    @Eazilino said, “An appeal to Cameroon to play Onana against Nigeria on Saturday, we have a surprise for Him.”

    @IbkSports tweeted, “Petition to start Andre Onana against the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday.”

  • BREAKING: AFCON 2023 hosts Côte d’Ivoire sack head coach

    BREAKING: AFCON 2023 hosts Côte d’Ivoire sack head coach

    Hosts of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Côte d’Ivoire have fired their head coach, Jean-Louis Gasset.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Gasset was sacked by Ivory Coast after failing to qualify the host nation from the group stage of the AFCON 2023.

    This was confirmed by the country’s football federation (FIF) on Wednesday.

    “The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results,” the FIF said in a statement.

    Recall Gasset, 70, took charge of the side in 2022, replacing Patrice Beaumelle.

    The team were thrashed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their last Group A game on Monday.

    Gasset is not the first coach to leave their team halfway through the ongoing AFCON.

    Ghana’s coach Chris Hughton was sacked on Tuesday, while Tanzania’s Adel Amrouche was suspended.

    Gambia’s coach Tom Saintfiet resigned after his team suffered a group-stage exit.

  • AFCON 2023: How Mauritania sent Algeria packing

    AFCON 2023: How Mauritania sent Algeria packing

    2019 winner, Algeria, have been sent packing from the ongoing AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire after losing 1-0 to Mauritania  at the Stade de la Paixin Bouake on Tuesday night.

    Captain Mohamed Dellash Yaly scored after 37 minutes for the underdogs, who will fill one of four places reserved for third-placed finishers in the group stage.

    Mauritania have recorded by far the most shocking result of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

    All the odds favored Algeria to pick their first win in the but Mauritania came to the party, sending their North African opponents packing.

    Yali Dellahi controlled a rebound to produce a great strike which deflected to put Mauritania ahead.

    After taking the lead in the 37th minute, Amir Abdou managed situations and defended his lead throughout the game.

    Goalkeeper Babacar Niasse made heroic saves to keep the Lions of Chinguetti in the game. The win is Mauritania’s first in the history of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.

    With three points, Mauritania are through to the knockout stage and will play group B leaders Cape Verde on Monday, January 25.

  • AFCON 2023: See the list of already qualified teams for second round

    AFCON 2023: See the list of already qualified teams for second round

    Already 10 teams  have qualified for the round of 16 at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cote D’Ivoire have been confirmed.

    This is coming following the completion of matches in Groups C and D on Tuesday night.

    They are Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Cape Verde and Egypt have been joined by Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Angola, Guinea and Mauritania.

    Cameroon came from behind to beat Gambia 3-2 and will face Nigeria next on Saturday at the Felix, Houpghouet Boigny, Stadium, Abidjan.

    Angola beat Burkina Faso 2-0, but both teams finished in the top two spots in Group D.

    Mauritania shocked Algeria 1-0 to take the third place. They will progress as one of the best third-placed teams along with Guinea from Group C.

    The knockout stages begin on Saturday, January 27.

  • AFCON 2023: How struggling Cameroon set up round of 16 tie against Super Eagles of Nigeria

    AFCON 2023: How struggling Cameroon set up round of 16 tie against Super Eagles of Nigeria

    Five-time champions Cameroon lived up to their billing Tuesday in Bouake with a never-say-die display to advance to the round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The Indomitable Lions had looked down and out of contention in their Group C match day 3 fixture, especially after one draw from two earlier games and trailing 1-2.

    But they still mustered enough from their reservoir to score two late goals to beat The Gambia 3-2 and advance as group runners-up to book a date with old rivals Nigeria.

    They did take the lead in this game in the 56th minute through Karl-Toko Ekambi to look sure for third place and possible qualification as one of the best losers.

    But goals from Ablie Jallow (72nd minute) and Ebrima Colley (85th minute) turned the game round for a The Gambia lead.

    However, an unfortunate streak of events soon swung the situation back in Cameroon’s favour as James Gomez pushed the ball into his side’s net two minutes later.

    With Cameroon now buoyed by the own goal which drew them level, the Indomitable Lions surged forward.

    They were rewarded with the winning goal in the first minute of added time by Christopher Wooh for a 3-2 ending.

    Cameroon thus moved into second place behind group winners Senegal who beat Guinea 2-0 in the group’s other match.

    They displaced Guinea on goals scored after both sides had ended with four points each from three matches, and the same goals difference.

    The Indomitable Lions will now meet Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday in a round of 16 match at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.