TheNewsGuru

Tag: AFCON 2023

  • 2023 AFCON: Kit company, Nike unveils new Super Eagles Jerseys

    2023 AFCON: Kit company, Nike unveils new Super Eagles Jerseys

    Kit manufacturing company, Nike recently unveiled the two new set of jerseys to be worn by Nigeria’s Super Eagles  for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cote D’ Ivoire.

    The Jerseys will also be used to pursue competitive and friendly games for another period of time.

    According to the unveiled kits, home jersey is designed in Nigeria’s green and white colour, while away jersey is designed with a white background and a touch of green.

    The Super Eagles have been drawn in group A alongside host Cote D Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

    The Nigerian boys are looking to win a fourth title at the 2023 AFCON finals.

    The West Africans will kick-off their campaign on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea at the Alssanne Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan.

    They face hosts Cote d’Ivoire four days later at the same venue in what will be a repeat of the 2013 edition quarter-final that saw them overcome Cote d’Ivoire 2-1.

    They conclude the Group A campaign with a tie against Guinea-Bissau on January 22.

    The best two teams will automatically qualify for the second round of the competition but opportunities will be given to four best third place teams across all groups in the tournament.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria last won the AFCON in 2013 when the tournament was hosted in South Africa.

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles 40-man provisional list unveiled

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles 40-man provisional list unveiled

    As the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire, draws nearer, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled the provisional squad of the Super Eagles, consisting of 40 talented players poised to represent the nation in the prestigious tournament starting in January 2024.

    In the list sighted by TheNewsGuru.com and still subject to review, it comprises of seasoned professionals and emerging talents of  Six goalkeepers, 13 defenders, eight midfielders, and 13 forwards.

    Noteworthy inclusions in the squad feature the return of goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye, and Stanley Nwabali. Defenders William Troost-Ekong and Kevin Akpoguma make a prominent comeback to bolster the squad’s defensive line.

    Fulham’s  Alex Iwobi and Leceister’s  Wilfred Ndidi, headline the midfield while the attacking unit is spearheaded by notable names like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze, Lookman, Emmanuel Dennis, and Kelechi Iheanacho.

    Although the NFF has not officially confirmed the final selection, football enthusiasts are abuzz with excitement as the Super Eagles prepare to navigate through Group A, clashing against Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau in pursuit of AFCON glory.

    The list will be pruned down to 27 few days to the start of the competition.

    See  provisional List Below

    1. Francis Uzoho

    2. Adebayo Adeleye

    3. Ojo Olorunleke

    4. Stanley Nwabali

    5. Amas Obasogie

    6. Christian Nwoke

    Defenders

    1. Ola Aina

    2. Bright Osayi-Samuel

    3. Tyronne Ebuehi

    4. Jamilu Collins

    5. Zaidu Sanusi

    6. Bruno Onyemaechi

    7. William Troost-Ekong

    8. Semi Ajayi

    9. Calvin Bassey

    10. Kenneth Omeruo

    11. Kevin Akpoguma

    12. Chidozie Awaziem

    13. Jordan Torunarigha

    Midfielders

    1. Wilfred Ndidi

    2. Frank Onyeka

    3. Joe Aribo

    4. Alex Iwobi

    5. Alhassan Yusuf

    6. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

    7. Raphael Onyedika Nwadike

    8. Kelechi Nwakali

    Attackers

    1. Victor Osimhen

    2. Victor Boniface

    3. Terem Moffi

    4. Umar Sadiq

    5. Ahmed Musa

    6. Paul Onuachu

    7. Cyriel Dessers

    8. Ademola Lookman

    9. Nathan Tella

    10. Moses Simon

    11. Emmanuel Dennis

    12. Samuel Chukwueze

    13. Kelechi Iheanacho

  • CAF announces date to start selling AFCON 2023 tickets

    CAF announces date to start selling AFCON 2023 tickets

    Online tickets sales for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 to hold in Cote d’Ivoire will launch on November 11, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed.

    A statement on the CAF website on Thursday, said it is aimed at attracting football fans across the continent and beyond for the African football event.

    “Sales will go online on Nov. 11, with the first phase open exclusively for VISA payment card holders. Two days later, thus Nov. 13, public sales will go live on the platform.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports tickets for AFCON 2023 can be purchased on http://tickets.cafonline.com/AFCON.

    It said the move seeks to provide fans the opportunity to secure their tickets well in advance for the tournament scheduled for Jan. 13 to Feb. 11, 2024.

    The federation said a dedicated fully functional and user friendly platform has been developed on the CAF website, to create a pleasant and seamless fan experience for interested persons.

    Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF General Secretary said  the federation was  committed to creating access to thousands of football fans, who will travel to Cote d’Ivoire to watch the event.

    “Online tickets will enhance ticketing experience for fans of African football and the general public.

    “The support from the stakeholders has been great and we are hopeful of meeting the increasing demands of the fans and the general public,” he said.

    It said  25 per cent of the tickets for the group stage will be available for this phase of sales for fans to secure their seats for the 34th edition of the biennial football fiesta.

    Ticket prices range from 5000 FCFA (about 8 US Dollars) for Category Three (3), 10000 FCFA (about 16 US Dollars) for Category Two (2) and 15000 FCFA (about 24 US Dollars).

    Fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the group stage with an opportunity of six tickets for each household.

    The African football fiesta is scheduled to kick-off in the Ivorian cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11, 2024.

  • Cote D’Ivoire 2023: CAF unveils official match ball for AFCON

    Cote D’Ivoire 2023: CAF unveils official match ball for AFCON

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday,  unveiled the official match ball for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Ivory Coast.

    The Official match ball has been christened pokou, it’s named after Ivorian legendary forward Laurent Pokou.

    The unveiling is yet another milestone in the countdown to the official kick-off of the competition.

    The official ball, POKOU, features the three main colours of the Cote d’Ivoire flag—white, orange, and green—while incorporating the latest technology that will revolutionise the game on the continent and beyond.

    The 2023 AFCON will run from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro.

    Host Cote d’Ivoire will take on the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau in the opening fixture at the Alhassan Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, on January 13.

  • AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Super Eagles host Guinea Bissau in Abuja March 24

    AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Super Eagles host Guinea Bissau in Abuja March 24

    The Super Eagles will host the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau in a Match Day 3 fixture of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification series in Abuja.

    The match will hold on March 24 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

    The visiting team’s national federation, Federação de Futebol da Guiné-Bissau, is however yet to pick a date for the reverse fixture.

    The match could be on either March 27 or March 28 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.

    This is because Guinea Bissau does not have a Confederation of African Football (CAF)-approved playing turf in the country of slightly over two million people.

    NAN reports that on Match Day 1 of the qualifying series, the Super Eagles fought back from an 11th minute goal by Jonathan Morsay to defeat the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone 2-1 in Abuja.

    This was after goals by Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen.

    On Match Day 2, away in the Moroccan city of Agadir and in only the second competitive match for coach José Santos Peseiro, the Eagles set a new international win-record.

    They defeated Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 with four of the goals coming from Osimhen and two from Terem Moffi.

    Moses Simon, Oghenekaro Etebo, Ademola Lookman and Emmanuel Dennis completed the carnage.

    Victory in both matches against Guinea-Bissau in March will earn the Eagles the ticket to the 2023 AFCON billed for Cote d’Ivoire in January

  • Egypt 2023: Flying Eagles land in Morocco to continue preparations

    Egypt 2023: Flying Eagles land in Morocco to continue preparations

    Nigeria’s  Flying Eagles left the country yesterday for Morocco to continue their preparation for AFCON under 20 tourneys meant for Egypt later in the month.

    The Flying Eagles of Nigeria has won the tourney seven times in their history and will be gunning for their eight title.

    Ladan Bosso’s side will spend a few days in Morocco for the final stage of their preparations for the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

    The 2023 U-20 AFCON will start in Egypt next weekend and run till March 11 across three cities: Cairo, Ismailia and Alexandria.

    The Flying Eagles are the most successful side in the history of the competition with seven titles.

    Much is expected from the West Africans after their exploits at the WAFU B U-20 Championship last May where they emerged winners after strolling past neighbours, Benin Republic 3-0 in the final.

    Talented forward, Adams Olamilekan is confident they will return home with the trophy.

    “We have a strong team and have what it takes to beat the other teams in Egypt,”

    “We will take it game by game and I believe the quality in our team will see us through,” he said.

    Olamilekan’s view was corroborated by goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu.

    “We are going to Egypt to conquer Africa again,” he stated.

  • CAF postpones 2023 AFCON tournament

    The 2023 African Cup of Nations  initially slated  for June 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire has been postponed till January – February 2024.

    The decision was taken due to unfavourable weather conditions during the summer in the West Africa country.

    CAF was of the opinion that it was going to rain heavily and it could disrupt the tournament hence it postponement till january of the following year.

    CAF Executive Committee led by Patrice Motsepe took the decision in Rabat, Morocco, today (Sunday)

    “We are considering it; it is one of the possibilities.

    “We asked Ivorian meteorologists to report to us on rainfall history in Côte d’Ivoire in June and July, but also to share their projections with us.”

    Aside the decision to postpone the 2023 AFCON, the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup finals were reverted back to home and away format.

    Also, the newly introduced African Super League will kickoff in August 2023 with the winner to get $10million.

    Meanwhile, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have already won their first two games in 2023 AFCON qualifiers after defeating Sao Tome & Principe by 10-0 and Sierra Leone by 2-1.

    They top their group with four games remaining to the end of  the qualifiers.

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles kick off qualifying series against Sierra Leone in Abuja

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria is set to clash with the Leone stars of Sierra Leone on Thursday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja in the AFCON 2023 qualifying series.

    Super Eagles hasn’t beaten Sierra Leone in their last 5 encounters.

    In the last qualifying series, Nigeria ,Sierra Leone played out a 4-4 draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City and  a goaless draw in   the reverse fixtures in Sierra Leone.

    The three-time African champions, who are gunning for a third consecutive appearance at the continental showpiece, will hope to record their 10th win against their West African neighbours – whom they boast a better head-to-head record from their last 16 matches.

    Recall that football governing body FIFA has imposed a fine of over N63 million on Nigeria and playing their first home game behind closed doors over the violence that erupted at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, after a World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Ghana in March.

    Meanwhile Super Eagles has not recorded a win in five months – their last was a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the group stages of the 2021 AFCON on January 19.

    However,  Peseiro’s men have shown some good signs but will likely not have it easy against the Leone Stars, who will be eager to beat the Eagles for the first time in five meetings.

    They have lost three times and recorded two draws since a 1-0 win over the Eagles in 2001.

    While Sierra Leone will look to pick up a third consecutive victory and get their AFCON qualifier campaign off to a flyer, next up is the challenge of taking on an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of the last five meetings between both teams.

    Super Eagles coach Jose Paseiro said the Super Eagles looks good and refreshed.

    Paseiro Said:“We are about to begin an important journey at AFCON with motivation and a sense of pride,”

     

  • Super Eagles hold first training ahead clashes with Sierra Leone and São Tomé

    The Super Eagles’ preparations for Thursday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone continued on Sunday as 24 of the 27 invited players trained in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

     

    Friendly matches against Mexico (in Dallas on 28th May) and against Ecuador in New Jersey (2nd June) kickstarted the preparations as the Eagles seek a 20th appearance at Africa’s flagship tournament, this time holding next year summer in Cote d’Ivoire.

     

    With Head Coach José Santos Peseiro taking full charge, Skipper Ahmed Musa led the playing body that included goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Adewale Adeyinka and Adebayo Adeleye, and defenders Olaoluwa Aina, William Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, Chidozie Awaziem, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Leon Balogun, Sani Faisal and Kenneth Omeruo. There were also midfielders Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Innocent Bonke and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Cyriel Dessers, Ademola Lookman, Sadiq Umar, Terem Moffi and Emmanuel Dennis.

     

    As at lunch time on Sunday, only defenders Abdullahi Shehu and Calvin Bassey, and midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo were being expected in camp.

     

    During breakfast and lunch periods, Peseiro was able to meet and familiarize with invited players who were unable to make it to the United States for the friendlies, including skipper Musa, defenders Sanusi and Balogun, midfielder Etebo and forwards Chukwueze, Umar and Lookman.

     

    He also met with defender Omeruo, midfielder Onyeka and forward Osimhen, as well as Israel –based goal-tender Adeleye, who were not invited to the friendlies in America but have been called for the AFCON fray.

     

    The Eagles confront familiar foes Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Thursday evening, in one of the Day 1 matches of Group A of the qualification series. On Saturday, they will fly to Marrakech for a Day 2 game against São Tomé and Príncipe that will take place on Monday, 13th June.

     

    Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has appointed Ivorian officials to take charge of Thursday’s encounter in Abuja, with Ibrahim Kalilou Traore as referee. His compatriots Adou Desire N’goh, Nouhou Ouattara and Kouassi Francois Biro will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

     

    Moukaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be match commissioner while Serge Paulin Samuel from Burkina Faso will serve as referee assessor.

     

    SUPER EAGLES FOR SIERRA LEONE AND SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE

     

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

     

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sani Faisal (Katsina United);

    Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain)

     

    Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient, France); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

     

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England)

     

  • Nigeria Vs Sierra Leone: Coach paseiro drops six players

    Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has adjusted the team list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe in the coming days.

    The Portuguese gaffer has added and removed some names from the list.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Super Eagles will host the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone next week Thursday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    They  will travel to Marrakech, Morocco, to keep a date with the Falcons of Sao Tome and Principe four days later.

    Peseiro dropped six out of the eight home-based players that were part of the team to the United States of America for the friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador.

    SEE FULL LIST BELOW:

    SUPER EAGLES FOR SIERRA LEONE AND SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sani Faisal (Katsina United);
    Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain)

    Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient, France); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France)