Tag: AFCON 2023

AFCON 2023: Our aim is to win the trophy – Super Eagles goalie, Ojo Olorunleke

One of the three goalkeepers in the super Eagles camp, Ojo Olorunleke has said that Super Eagles is in Cote D’Ivoire to win the trophy.

According to the Enyimba number 1 shot stopper, everybody in camp is really fired up to ensure that the team reach the final and win the tournament.

However, Olorunleke asked Nigerians to keep supporting them, saying the team need the energy to continue to perform well and progress in the tournament.

On what to expect against last group A opponent, Guinea Bissau, Olorunleke said Nigerians should expect nothing short of victory in the match on next week Monday.

January 19, 2024
AFCON 2023: What earned Super Eagles victory over Cote d ‘Ivoire – Finidi

Super Eagles assistant coach, Finidi George says discipline and tactical switch in formation earned the team victory over Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON.

Finidi told NAN after a pulsating match that the boys played to instructions in a very tactical game against the hosts.

“We are very happy with the victory but nothing has been done yet.

“It was a tactical game, we switched formation and had to defend most of the time and using counter attacks from the flanks.

“It’s a team (Cote d’Ivoire) that is very good on the ball, so we had to sit back a bit, close the spaces and go on counter attacks,” he said.

The coach said in spite of the win, the boys will not get carried away but work harder in their next match against Guinea Bissau on Monday.

“We will keep our cool in the next match because nothing has been achieved yet, we go all out again,” he said.

Nigeria who are currently second in Group A will face Guinea-Bissau on Monday at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan for their third and final round of Group A matches from 5.00 p.m. (local time)

January 19, 2024
AFCON 2023: Egypt, Ghana draw in thrilling clash

The Pharaohs of Egypt and the Black Stars of Ghana on Thursday in Abidjan played to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

West Ham United star, Mohammed Kudus scored a brace on his return from injury.

Ghana went ahead twice, late in the first half and in the second half but we’re pegged back twice after individual errors by Iñaki Williams and Osman Bukari late in the second half

The game was played in front of 20,808 at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

Kudus, just back from injury dazzled with his all round play wriggling away from Mohamed ELneny, and Mohamed Fathy outside the Egypt box before firing home a long range shot from a Salid Abdul Samed pass.

The goal came in the third minute of added time in the first half and barely a minute after Liverpool star winger Mohamed Salah went off through injury.

Before that the Egyptians had dominated possession without threatening Ghana goalie Richard Ofori’s goal.

Rui Vitoria, the Pharaohs coach speaking after the match said he was still confident in his boys.

“I have full confidence in my team, I saw men this evening who fought to the end only victory eluded us.

“We showed great qualities this evening against a revitalized Ghana. The players applied our instructions perfectly. There was room to win the match”, said Vitoria.

On his part Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton expressed his frustrations after the match.

“We will continue to fight. It is true that at the moment there is a lot of frustration in the locker room.

“Our team deserved more, but football is like that. It’s frustrating. In a similar performance, we would surely have won. Two errors cost us the match. We didn’t take this opportunity to take the three points,” he said.

January 19, 2024
AFCON 2023: What Osimhen said after Super Eagles win over Côte d’Ivoire

Nigeria’s forward, Victor Osimhen has expressed his delight after emerging as the standout player in the thrilling encounter against hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, securing a 1-0 victory for the Super Eagles.

Named Man of the Match, Osimhen shared his elation during a post-match press conference, emphasising the significance of overcoming the formidable host nation.

Following a lacklustre 1-1 draw in their opening match against Equatorial Guinea in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria exhibited resilience and determination, clinching a crucial win against Cote d’Ivoire, who were hosting the tournament.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 55th minute when Osimhen, donned in green and white, earned a penalty, expertly converted by William Troost-Ekong to secure the lead.

In the post-match press conference, Napoli’s prolific striker, Osimhen, openly expressed his joy at the outcome of the game.

“It’s a beautiful victory; we knew we would face a strong Ivorian team,” he said.

Acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge posed by Cote d’Ivoire, Osimhen added,

“This match was a significant test for us, and we are thrilled to have overcome it.”

Assuring a consistent approach in upcoming matches, Osimhen emphasised adopting the same mentality displayed against the Elephants.

“In the first match, we had numerous chances that we didn’t capitalise on.

“Today wasn’t different; we maintained the same mentality,and we hope this victory brings joy to everyone.

“We will carry this mindset into the remainder of the competition,” he pledged.

Looking ahead, the Nigerian team shifts their focus to the upcoming third match against Guinea-Bissau scheduled for Monday at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan.

“We aim for a strong performance against Guinea-Bissau.

“They will undoubtedly approach the game with determination, and we won’t underestimate any team, considering what they’ve done to qualify,” he said.

January 19, 2024
AFCON 2023: Super Eagles soar high over Elephants, win 1-0 to go second

Stand -in captain, Williams Troost Ekong converted a 54th minute penalty to give the Super Eagles of Nigeria the lead in a tension soaked group A encounter against the host, Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

After playing out a drab 0-0 draw in the first half, the Super Eagles posted an improved performance in the second half and it immediately produced a goal.

The Nigerian side had caught their opponent on the counter and made effort to score when Victor Osimhen was fouled in the 18 yard box.

Center referee, Mustapha Ghorbal from Algeria had allowed play to continue, but Video Assistant Referees (VAR) called him to re-check.

After Checking, Ghorbal was convinced Osimhen was fouled and he pointed to the spot.

All efforts by the Nigerian side to add to the tally proved abortive, while the Ivorians quest to equalize also didn’t materialize.

The result meant the Super Eagles are second on the group A log, trailing leaders Equatorial Guinea on goal difference, While the Ivorians are lying on third position with just three points.

Super Eagles will play bottom placed Guinea Bissau on the 21st of January at the

January 18, 2024
AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea go top of group A after beating Guinea Bissau 4-2

Equatorial Guinea thrashed group A opponent Guinea Bissau 4-2 in their second game of the ongoing 2023 AFCON.

The first half of the thrilling encounter ended 1 goal apiece with the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau equalizing via a own goal in the 28th minute.

Few minutes after, a penalty was awarded to the Djurtus but it was later chalked off when VAR showed the Guinea Bissau forward wasn’t fouled.

Upon resumption of second half, the Nzalang Nacional scored three more goals to increase their tally to 4 while the Djurtus were able to pull one back to reduce their deficit to just 2.

The result meant the Nzalang Nacional will go top of the group pending when the Super Eagles will clash with Ivory Coast.

The Djurtus of Guinea Bissau are presently rooted on the bottom of Group A.

January 18, 2024
AFCON 2023: Former Lagos governor, Ambode, Okocha visit Super Eagles camp ahead today’s clash

Ahead of today’s must win encounter against the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire, former international Austin Jay Jay Okocha handed the Super Eagles a boost by visiting and gearing the players up.

However, Okocha was not the only prominent personality who visited the team ahead of the Ivory Coast clash.

Former Lagos State government Akinwunmi Ambode also stormed the Super Eagles camp with words of encouragement for the boys.

The players were urged to put their best feet forward and anticipate a win from the blast of the whistle.

A win for Nigeria against Ivory Coast will see them qualify for the competition’s second round and automatically top the group.

The Nigeria vs Cote D’Ivoire encounter holds by 6pm Nigerian time.

January 18, 2024
AFCON 2023: Abidjan agog as Super Eagles tackles Côte d’Ivoire today

The streets of Cote d’Ivoire’s commercial capital Abidjan was agog on Wednesday, as fans discuss and anticipate the epic clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.

The match is the second for both teams in Group A of the on-going 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Ivorian fans draped in their orange-white-and-green flags were seen dancing, while joints blare music and big screens dot all corners of the city.

“We are ready for the match (tomorrow) against Nigeria, this is going to be a very interesting match because both countries are super powers in African football.

“I am confident we will beat Nigeria tomorrow,” Yao Kouassi who owns a bar in the city told NAN.

Aminata Kouadio who owns a restaurant close to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, said business has been good since the start of the tournament.

She expressed confidence in the ability of the Elephants to trample on the Super Eagles on Thursday.

“Our team will trample on your Eagles tomorrow,” she said in a smattering of English.

Some Nigerians resident in the city also said the Super Eagles had all it takes to defeat Cote d’Ivoire, only if they up their game.

Emmanuel Okafor, a business man resident in the city said the Nigerian community will be going to the stadium to support the Super Eagles, in spite of the economic crunch.

“I have been living here for more than six years, so I know the city very well, it is always like this when there is a major football match.

“So I want to appeal to our players to do us proud tomorrow. We’ll be going to the stadium to support them all the way,”he said.

The match comes up at 5 pm (local time) at the 60,000 capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.

January 18, 2024
AFCON 2023: Eagles believe Elephants will fall under intense firepower in Ebimpe

Nigeria and hosts Côte d’Ivoire clash in one of the most anticipated matches of the 34^th Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, in a 60,000-capacity stadium that organisers say will be filled to the brim just before kick-off. It is the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe, outside Abidjan, where both teams played their first games of the competition with differing fortunes.

The Elephants celebrated a 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs on the opening day of the tournament, while the Eagles forced Equatorial Guinea’s Thunder to a 1-1 draw on Day 2.

It has been 40 years since Cote d’Ivoire last hosted African football’s flagship championship. That year, a youthful Nigerian team prevailed over Cup holders Ghana and drew with Malawi and Algeria to reach the semi-finals of an eight-nation competition, before coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Egypt’s Pharaohs and then emerge victorious on penalties in Bouake. They lost the Final 1-3 to Cameroon. Today, the AFCON is a 24-nation final tournament.

There was no Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire clash in 1984, with the Elephants given the heave-ho in the group stages, but Cote d’Ivoire has been an ever-present in all AFCON competitions in which Nigeria has emerged champions. The two countries clashed in 1980 (also the second match of the group phase as will be Thursday’s encounter), in 1994 (semi-finals) and in 2013, when Cote d’Ivoire’s golden generation shockingly fell to the Super Eagles in an epic quarter-final in Rustenburg.

Nigeria’s goal against Thunder came from the head of Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, who made his account 21 goals in 28 matches for homeland at senior level, and the Eagles will still set much store by him as they hunt for three crucial points against the two-time champions.

Osimhen was top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals, and is expected to be eager to add to his one goal at the AFCON, having only played a cameo role in 2019 and then missed outright the 2021 finals in Cameroon.

On the two previous occasions that Nigeria had arrived at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Africa Player of the Year (1994 and 2000; Rashidi Yekini and Nwankwo Knau respectively), they made it all the way to the Final, winning one and losing the latter on penalties.

At Wednesday’s pre-match conference in Abidjan, Coach José Peseiro disclosed that hard-as-nails midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, who impressed against Thunder on Sunday, is out of reckoning due to injury he copped in the encounter. “Yusuf is out of the game tomorrow. He is fine but not ready for tomorrow’s match. He will be ready for the last group match.”

Peseiro stated further: “We have what it takes to win the game tomorrow and there’s nothing to change in my team because we created lot of goalscoring opportunities in our game against Equatorial Guinea and we hope to utilise the opportunities this time and score goals.”

Captain Max Alain Gradel, who has 105 caps and was part of the Elephants’s squad that won the trophy in Equatorial Guinea in 2015, said: “We are Cote d’Ivoire. We respect all our opponents. But we fear nobody. We will do what we have to do.

“It is a special moment for us to play the Africa Cup of Nations in our home, with the support of our people. We will do everything to make the people proud. We have super players in the squad, especially for what they bring to the group. It is a decisive match; it is an important match. We know what we have to do.”

Coach Jean-Louis Gasset said: “We are relieved; the pressure was so strong. We had seven players who started the match (against Guinea Bissau) who were playing in their first AFCON. Not everything went well, but we are relieved. All the matches we have seen have a different scenario. In the match of Nigeria, they had one or two opportunities against Equatorial Guinea. If you don’t make your superiority count, the opponent will become confident. There are no more small teams.”

January 17, 2024
AFCON reporter’s diary: How life is in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire [Part 1]

Abidjan is one of the major cities of Côte d’Ivoire. The city presents two beautiful stadiums for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and by extension houses eight of the teams participating in the tournament.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reporter, Abimbola Fabunmi currently in Abidjan for the coverage of Africa’s most glamorous competition, gives readers insights about happenings and day to day events in Ivory Coast.

According to statistics made available to TNG reporter, there are over two million Nigerians living in various cities in Ivory Coast.

Yoruba: The domineering tribe

Findings by this reporter show that the Yorubas are the domineering Nigerian tribe in Ivory Coast and followed distantly by the Igbos.

The number of Nigerian Hausas living in the West African country are very minute, compared to the Yorubas and Igbos living in the country.

It was gathered that Osun State in Nigeria has the largest share of Nigerians living in the country with the bulk of them forming a community known as Temidire and St Mitchel by the locals of Ivory Coast.

Ejigbo in Osun State is the most popular Nigerian town here in Ivory Coast as the bulk of Nigerian Yorubas living here are from that part of Nigeria.

Businesses Nigerians do in Ivory Coast

Checks by TNG reporter in Abidjan show that Nigerians are involved in petty businesses as well as big trade.

It was observed that many of the big shops selling clothes, raw food items, drinks and what have you are owned by Nigerians.

It was further learned that many tailoring and cobbling shops in Abidjan are being operated by Nigerians.

Nigerian food on high demand

In Ivory Coast, food is largely available as the nationals as well as the foreigners sell food at every corner and junction.

There are different types of Nigerian and Ivorian food on display and the prices are relatively cheap and very affordable.

Chicken and Fish very plenty in Ivory Coast

Roasted Chicken and fish are readily available at every nook and cranny in Abidjan and other cities in Ivory Coast.

A full roasted and spiced chicken goes for as low as 4000 CFA while the half of it costs 2000 CFA.

A full roasted fish goes for 2000 CFA and it’s visible everywhere in the country.

Power Supply is 24/7

Since the arrival of the TNG reporter in Abidjan, power supply has been 100% stable. Upon enquiry, it was realised that the country’s power system is one of the best in Africa.

Ivorians who are on estimated bills pay once in two months for power, while those on pre-paid meter use their cards the way they like it.

Water supply by the government

No boreholes or wells in the country. The Ivory Coast Water Corporation supplies all houses water and it runs for 20 hours a day.

People living here pay for water bills once in three months to the Ivorian government.

Ivory Coast: Home of many African nationals

Apart from the two million Nigerians currently residing here in Ivory Coast, there are other nationals living and earning a living in the country.

Persons from Guinea, Mali Senegal, Mauritania, Ghana Togo and Benin are scattered all over the country going about their lawful activities in the country.

Naira no longer a darling

The Nigerian currency has not only lost its value against the dollar, it has also lost its battle against virtually all currencies on the continent.

In time past the Nigerian Currency was in high demand in the country, according to reports from Ivorians, Nigerians and other nationals in the country.

The TNG reporter was told that anyone was free to trade with the Naira because of its high value.

However, the reverse is now the case as the Naira now exchanges for 1000-500 CFA, thus making the CFA twice as powerful as the Naira.

Transportation system similar to that of Lagos

There is public transport in the country and it offers cheaper fares compared to private and taxi in the country.

It was surprising to see that there are conductors too in Abidjan as many of them scamper for passengers like their counterparts in Lagos, Nigeria.

Yango like Uber in Ivory Coast

In Ivory Coast, the transportation app is known as Yango. It’s the equivalent of Uber, Bolt and Taxify in Nigeria.

However, the Yango charge exorbitantly here that many prefer to use public transportation.

Here in Abidjan, they also have their own version of BRT buses, but unlike in Nigeria where you have to obtain a bus card, you pay for a ticket on entering the bus in Ivory Coast.

Watch out for Part 2

January 17, 2024