TheNewsGuru

Tag: AFCON 2023

  • Ghana fire head coach after exit from AFCON 2023

    Ghana fire head coach after exit from AFCON 2023

    Chris Hughton has been sacked as coach of the Black Stars of Ghana following the team’s group stage exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced this on Tuesday shortly after the team’s elimination was confirmed.

    “Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the senior national team with immediate effect.

    “The executive council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars,” the GFA said.

    The elimination was sealed after Cameroon defeated Gambia 3-2 to ensure that Ghana could no longer progress to the round of 16.

    Cameroon’s win on Tuesday meant Ghana could not finish among the four best third-place teams from the six groups.

    The Black Stars ended the group stage with just two points from draws with Mozambique and Egypt after an opening loss to eventual group winner Cape Verde.

    “The Ghana Football Association will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars,” the GFA added.

    Hughton, 65, won four of his 13 matches in charge of the Black Stars and has been under pressure even before the tournament.

  • AFCON 2023: Salah makes U-turn over decision to abandon Egypt in Cote D’Ivoire

    AFCON 2023: Salah makes U-turn over decision to abandon Egypt in Cote D’Ivoire

    Pharaohs of Egypt captain, Mohammed Salah has made a U-turn about leaving the national team for rehabilitation at Liverpool.

    Salah cropped an injury whilst playing for Egypt in the second group B encounter against the Black Stars of Ghana.

    Recall that the player and the Egyptian FA agreed that he should leave for United Kingdom to be assessed by the   Liverpool medical team.

    Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp has also made a statement concerning the player’s returm to Liverpool, saying that he would be welcomed for rehabilitation at the club.

    However, reports from the Egyptian camp says that Salah has had a last minute change of heart and has chosen to remain, motivate and inspire the national team.

    Salah was captured motivating the team when the Pharaohs of Egypt clashed with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on Monday night.

    The Pharaohs of Egypt finished second with just  3 points behind the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde who finished first with 7 points in group B.

  • AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea remain humble despite heavy Elephants defeat – Emilo Nsue

    AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea remain humble despite heavy Elephants defeat – Emilo Nsue

    Current AFCON 2023 highest goal scorer, Emilo Nsue of Equatorial Guinea has noted that the Nzalang Nacional  will stay very humble despite inflicting a heavy defeat on Ivory Coast at the Alasanne Quattara stadium, Ebimpe Abidjan on Monday night.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Captain Nsue scored twice as the underdogs stunned the hosts 4-0 on Monday to qualify for the last 16.

    “We want all our people to be proud of us,” said Nsue, after a result which could eliminate the Ivorians.

    “We have to go step by step, game by game. We are very humble. We have to keep being humble and trying our best.”

    The National Thunder finished fourth when they hosted Afcon in 2015 and beat holders Algeria on their way to the quarter-finals at the 2021 edition of the tournament.

    However, Equatorial Guinea had previously never won a game by more than two goals at the finals and had lost both of their previous Afcon meetings with Ivory Coast without scoring a goal.

    The hosts, meanwhile, had been considered strong contenders for the title before the group stage began and, at 49th in the world, are ranked 39 places above the Equatoguineans in Fifa’s standings.

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Captain, Williams Troost-Ekong gives update on injury

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Captain, Williams Troost-Ekong gives update on injury

    Super Eagles stand-in captain, Williams Troost-Ekong has said that he hopes to be back in training this week after missing  the last group A encounter against the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau.

    The centre-back didn’t make the team list after cropping an injury in training.

    Troost-Ekong sustained the injury in Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over hosts Cote d’Ivoire last week.

    Kasimpasa defender, Kenneth Omeruo replaced him in the starting line-up against Guinea-Bissau

    “I am getting better, I am looking to be back in training on Wednesday, ‘” he told reporters.

    “I am not out of the tournament.”

    The Super Eagles secured their passage into the Round of 16 after a 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.

  • AFCON 2023: Nwabali opens up on replacing Uzoho as Nigeria’s number one goalie

    AFCON 2023: Nwabali opens up on replacing Uzoho as Nigeria’s number one goalie

    Stanley Nwabali, the Super Eagles goalkeeper at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, has dispelled insinuation that he is now Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper.

    The Chippa United FC of South Africa goalkeeper said this on Tuesday in Abidjan.

    Nwabali said he got an opportunity to represent his country, adding that he would deliver whenever he got the nod to play.

    “I am still not seeing myself as number one; I always say this. I only have an opportunity and I just want to play and give my best,” Nwabali said.

    He also said that he was not under any pressure while in goal for the Super Eagles but was rather happy with his performance so far in the competition.

    Nwabali, who was favoured ahead of Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, has so far kept two clean sheets in the three games the Super Eagles have played so far in the AFCON.

    He also appealed to Nigeria’s football fans to be calm as the goals would soon start coming to the delight of all.

    “For me, the goals will come when you have someone like Victor Osimhen; for me we are not worried about goals, but about the three points. And now we have qualified.

    “Monday’s win is a nice feeling for me and the team,” Nwabali said.

    Recall that the Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated their counterparts from Guinea Bissau 1-0 to qualify for the next round of the competition.

    They also got seven points from available nine to finish second on the log behind group leaders, Equatorial Guinea.

    Equatorial Guinea, who also have seven points from three matches, are with a better goals difference than the Nigerian senior national male team.

  • AFCON 2023: How Ivorian fans reacted after Elephants 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea (Video)

    AFCON 2023: How Ivorian fans reacted after Elephants 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea (Video)

    Angry Ivorian  fans stormed the street to protest embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea on Monday.

    The result meant that Jean-Louis Gasset’s side on the brink of elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    It was Cote d’Ivoire’s heaviest defeat since the 5-0 annihilation at the hands of Netherlands on June 4, 2017.

    Police threw tear gas to disperse protesters who destroyed any valuable item in sight.

    The official bus of the Elephants was also destroyed by the angry protesters.

    Attempt to burn down the office of the Cote d’Ivoire Football Federation was averted by the police.

    An official statement has not been issued by the Confederation of African Football, CAF, but the organisers may take punitive measures against the hosts.

    See video below:

  • AFCON 2023: Why Equatorial Guinea defeated us 4:0 – Côte d’Ivoire coach explains

    AFCON 2023: Why Equatorial Guinea defeated us 4:0 – Côte d’Ivoire coach explains

    Côte d’Ivoire head coach, Jean-Louis Gasset has explained why his team were thrashed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their final match of Group A in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday.

    Gasset, who described the outcome of the match as a nightmare, suggested that Ivory Coast were not efficient in front of goal against Equatorial Guinea.

    According to him, Equatorial Guinea gave his team a real lesson.

    “It is a nightmare,” Gasset said at his post-match press interview.

    “We had prepared well for this match and we got into this match well by going after them and setting the pace.

    “We had possession and opportunities, but we couldn’t score. On the other hand, the slightest mini-chance for our opponents turned into a goal.

    “In football, you have to be efficient. Equatorial Guinea gave us a lesson in realism.”

    He added, “Do I still believe we can qualify? Obviously.

    “We won one match out of three, we have people who are behind us. But when you wait for the results of others, that is not a good sign.”

    Ivory Coast will still secure a place in the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams if Cameroon fail to beat Gambia on Tuesday.

  • AFCON 2023: Cape Verde, Egypt play 2-2, secure qualification, Ghana, Mozambique share spoils in group B

    AFCON 2023: Cape Verde, Egypt play 2-2, secure qualification, Ghana, Mozambique share spoils in group B

    Egypt managed to secure second round qualification after playing out three draws in the group B of the ongoing 2023 AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Mostafa Mohamed thought he was the hero for Egypt when he scored in stoppage time to put them 2-1 up over surprise group leaders Cape Verde, but there was more drama to come as Bryan Teixeira levelled in the 99th minute.

    Both Egypt and Cape Verde progressed to the knockout stages as Ghana surrendered two goals in 2 minutes to Mozambique in the other group B encounter.

    Egypt sneaked into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on a night of crazy drama in Group B.

    There were four injury-time goals across the two Group B games, with Mozambique scoring twice to draw 2-2 with Ghana.
    Results from both centers  meant a draw was enough for Egypt to finish second and qualify – but many of their players didn’t know the Ghana score and were devated when Cape Verde equalized in the 99th minute.
    Both Egypt and Cape Verde anxiously await their round of i6 opponents today, while the Black stars of Ghana will have to wait to know if they will go through as one of the best third best place teams in the tournament.
  • AFCON 2023:Super Eagles ready to take on any opponent – Moses Simon

    AFCON 2023:Super Eagles ready to take on any opponent – Moses Simon

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Monday night secured automatic qualification following their 1-0 victory against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday night.

    Opa Sangate diverted Aina’s  cross into his own net in the 36th minute if the encounter to give Super Eagles the win.

    The Super Eagles will face the second-place team in Group F in the Round of 16, which is likely to be either Cameroon or Guinea,

    After emerging as man of the match in yesterday’s game, Moses Simon has now said that the team is not afraid to take on any opponent.

    “It was a good win for us. To make it from the group was a good one for us, “Simon told a press conference in Abidjan.

    “We are not thinking about the opponent we will be facing in the next round. I can’t even say we have any preference for a team we want to face.

    “We have to be ready for all opposition if we want to win the title. Any team that we draw in the next round, we are ready for them and all other teams too.”

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles likely round of 16 opponent known

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles likely round of 16 opponent known

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria finished as group A runners-up after  their 1-0 win over the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Opa Sangante’s own goal made the difference in the last group A game  for the Super Eagles.

    However, despite the victory, Jose Peseiro’s men finished as second behind Equatorial Guinea, who hammered hosts Ivory Coast 4-0.

    This means Nigeria will face the team that finishes in second place in Group C.

    The teams likely to finish second are either Guinea Conakry or the indomitable lions of Cameroon.

    Senegal currently top of Group C with six points, while Guinea are second with four points. Cameroon have one point and Gambia have lost all their fixtures so far.

    Super Eagles will play its round of 16 games on Saturday 27th of January at the stade Felix Houghpouet Boigny, Abidjan.