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Tag: AFCON 2023

  • AFCON 2023: South Africa edge Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties, set up semi-final clash with Super Eagles

    AFCON 2023: South Africa edge Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties, set up semi-final clash with Super Eagles

    Goalie Ronwen Williams became the hero of the night as he saved four penalties to deny Cape Verde their first ever semi -final placement at the AFCON.
    The Bafana Bafana of  South Africa defeated the Blue Sharks 2-1 on penalties to advance to the semi-final of the AFCON 2023.
    Chances were few and far between over 120 minutes at Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro, though the best fell to Cape Verde.
    Williams came to the rescue to keep out Garry Rodrigues in the 56th minute, and produced a fantastic reflex save to deny Gilson Benchimol in stoppage time.
    Vozinha produced heroics at the other end early in extra time, thwarting both Mihlali Mayambela and Evidence Makgopa as the match came down to penalties.
    Teboho Mokoena and Mothobi Mvala were successful for South Africa and although Bryan Teixeira was on target for Cape Verde, Williams denied Bebe, Willy Semedo, Laros Duarte and Patrick Andrade to send Bafana Bafana into the last four.
    The result meant that the Bafana Bafana of South Africa will play the Super Eagles of Nigeria to secure a place in the final of the competition.
  • AFCON 2023: I feel pressure playing for Nigeria – Ademola Lookman

    AFCON 2023: I feel pressure playing for Nigeria – Ademola Lookman

    Super of Eagles  of Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman has revealed that he feels pressured playing for his country.

    Lookman is Nigeria’s current highest goal scorer at the tournament  with three goals after putting two past Cameroon in the second round  and scoring another against quarter-final opponent Angola to reach the height.

    The 26 year-old is already in the books for the tournament’s most valuable player owing to his heroics so far at the competition.

    However, Lookman insists it is not easy to deliver for the three-time African champions.

    “I feel the pressure wearing this [Nigeria] shirt,” Lookman said as quoted by the BBC.

    “Every single time I put on the jersey, that’s just what comes with being a Nigerian and playing for the country, so I’m proud to do that, to take that responsibility.”

  • AFCON 2023: Nigeria, Congo, others know semi-final opponents

    AFCON 2023: Nigeria, Congo, others know semi-final opponents

    All four teams that have made it to the semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations have been confirmed.

    Nigeria, Congo, South Africa and Ivory Coast all secured semi-final placement after defeating their opponents in the quarter-final of the competition.

    South Africa became the last team to book their spot after eliminating Cape Verde via penalty kicks.

    The game ended goalless in 120 minutes.

    Bafana Bafana will face rivals Nigeria for a place in the final.

    Earlier in the day, hosts Ivory Coast pulled off a dramatic 2-1 win over Mali, to progress into the last four.

    They play DR Congo in their semi-final.

    Both semi-final matches will be played next Wednesday, February 7.

  • AFCON 2023: Diakite reacts after helping Cotê d’Ivoire into Semis

    AFCON 2023: Diakite reacts after helping Cotê d’Ivoire into Semis

    Ivorian midfielder Oumar Diakite has credited home fans for their comeback win over Mali on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

    Diakite, who scored the winning goal, admitted the game was a difficult one but they had their home fans who supported them throughout the 120 minutes.

    “The supporters did what they had to do and since this tournament started, we have seen the support of Ivorians, they have been pushing.

    “Today, we had a difficult time in the game including the red card, but they continued to push us and for us as players, when things begin to go like that, we only have the option to give our very best and look out for the victory and it is the reason why we were the winners,” he said.

    Cotê d’Ivoire had a player sent off in the first half before going down by a goal to nil.

    They however managed to come back into the game and won it at the closing stages of extra time.

    Diakite added that they knew the game was going to be difficult after the red card.

    “We knew it was going to be complicated, it made it difficult for us, but we were able to do what we wanted with our mentality in place.

    “We ran and we made efforts and I think we were paid at the end of the day, and we all went out to get this particular victory.

    “We are happy, because I scored the second goal. With this goal, I think I put happiness on the faces of about 30,000 Ivorian fans who were at the stadium.

    “No words can describe how I’m feeling right now, but I’m happy,” he said.

    Cotê d’Ivoire will now meet DR Congo in the semi-finals at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Wednesday.

  • AFCON 2023: Why we lost to Super Eagles – Angola Coach, Pedro Goncalves

    AFCON 2023: Why we lost to Super Eagles – Angola Coach, Pedro Goncalves

    Pedro Goncalves, the Palancras Negras of Angola  coach has stated reasons why his side lost 1-0 to the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday night, at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

    Ademola Lookman scored in the dying minutes of the first half of the quarter-final encounter and it proved to be the only goal of the match.

    Speaking at his post-match interview after the game, Goncalves blamed his side’s loss for fatigue, as they had to play in three cities, unlike Nigeria, who have been camped in Abidjan throughout the tournament.

    The Portuguese also said that most Nigerian players play in high-level competitions in Europe, while most of his own players play in the Angolan domestic league, adding that they lack experience.

    “It is true that we played against a very strong opponent. But the Nigerian players were fresher than ours, and their physical display made them able to create more chances than us,” Goncalves said.

    “Most of their players take part in very high-level competitions, and they have never gone out of Abidjan. But we’ve gone to three different cities in the course of this tournament, so this triggered fatigue for my players.

    “Also, most of my players play in the home league, and some of them aren’t experienced playing in big competitions like the AFCON.”

  • AFCON 2023: How I handle criticisms – Jose Peseiro

    AFCON 2023: How I handle criticisms – Jose Peseiro

    Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles Coach  has hit out at critics ahead of today’s clash with the Palangras Negras of Angola.

    Recall that Peseiro had received criticism from fans and pundits in recent months over Super Eagles unimpressive performances.

    Some even suggested prior to the 2023 AFCON tournament that the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) should not renew his contract with the Super Eagles.

    However, when asked how he is handling criticism, Peseiro told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Thursday ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Angola: “I am 63; maybe 20 years ago, it will affect me.

    “I have taken enough vaccine against criticism.”

    Criticism doesn’t get to me anymore. What i try to do is stay determined and focus on the job.

    Peseiro will lead the Super Eagles to slug it out with Angola on Friday, February 2nd  for a placement in the semi-final of the ongoing AFCON 2023.

  • AFCON 2023: How I juggle being a police woman and international referee – Bouchra Karboubi

    AFCON 2023: How I juggle being a police woman and international referee – Bouchra Karboubi

    Female Moroccan referee, Bouchra Karboubi doubles as a police officer and an international  match official.

    Karboubi enforces law back  in her country, but uses her whistle and cards to maintain order on the field of play.

    She is an international football referee and a policewoman in Meknes, a city in northern Morocco.

    “Being a policewoman for me, means applying justice,” she told  Sport Africa in Cote D’Ivoire.

    “As a referee, it’s me who applies the law and it’s a win-win because it’s a job and it’s my passion and they are linked to each other.”

    Karboubi is the only referee out of the six female match officials at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

    The Morroccan has followed the footsteps of  Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda who made history  in 2022 by becoming the first woman to referee a men’s Afcon match in Cameroon.

    History beckoned when she became the second woman to officiate in the men’s game by leading all-female  team of officials in the match Nigeria vs Guinea Bissau at the ongoing AFCON 2023 currently holding in Cote D’Ivoire.

    The Moroccan’s central role in the ongoing tournament makes her the first North African woman to referee at a men’s Afcon.

    “The emotions were enormous. It is an honour for me, for my family, for my country and for African women in general,” she says about her participation.

    The 36-year-old, however, adds there is more to her identity than her two jobs.

    “It’s true that at work I’m a police officer and on the field I’m a referee. But at home, I am a woman, I am the woman of the house and the mother of a daughter.”

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles goalie, Stanley Nwabali sighted in training, set to play against Angola

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles goalie, Stanley Nwabali sighted in training, set to play against Angola

    Stanley Nwabali number 1 goalie Stanley Nwabali appeared in training today fully kitted and ready for tomorrow’s quarter-final clash against the Palancras Negras of Angola.

    Head coach Jose Peseiro revealed during his pre-match conference earlier today that the Chippa United shot-stopper will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the game.

    Nwabali was sighted in training as he was fulling involved in drills along with the duo of Francis Uzoho and Ojo Olorunleke.

    It appears Stanley Nwabali will pick up his starting shirt in tomorrow’s game against Angola.

    Nwabali has kept three clean sheets in four outings for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Friday’s encounter will be held at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.

  • AFCON 2023: Senegalese Sy to take charge of Nigeria, Angola duel

    AFCON 2023: Senegalese Sy to take charge of Nigeria, Angola duel

    Senegalese official Issa Sy will be the referee when Nigeria take on Angola in Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final encounter at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

     

    Sy will have compatriots Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura in tow as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively, alongside Mauritanian official Abdel Aziz Bouh as fourth official.

     

    Modibo Samake from Mali will serve as reserve assistant referee, while Ahmad Nazeer Hossen Bowud from Mauritius and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia will be in the roles of commissioner and referee assessor respectively.

     

    The match, which will commence at 5pm Cote d’Ivoire time (6pm Nigeria time) will be another of the rare occasions that Nigeria and Angola tango on the turf, with few clashes between both nations at senior level over the years.

     

    Nigeria edged Angola to reach the final round of the qualification series for the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals (2-2 in Luanda and 1-0 in Lagos), but the Angolans stepped on Nigeria to make their single appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals, when they won 1-0 in Luanda and held the Eagles 1-1 in Kano to edge the head-to-head contest that was the determining factor for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification series.

     

    Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is fit to start Friday’s encounter, though Coach Jose Peseiro has indicated he may not want to risk the safe hands if he is not fit enough for the tie.

     

    The winner of Friday’s encounter will square up with the winner of the clash between Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in one of the semi final matches, at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

     

  • AFCON 2023: Why we relocated to Ivory Coast – Nigerians reveal, praise Ivorian government

    AFCON 2023: Why we relocated to Ivory Coast – Nigerians reveal, praise Ivorian government

    Nigerians living in Ivory Coast have showered praises on the Ivorian governmnet for providing basic amenities and enabling environment for the people to eke out a living and make businesses thrive.

    Some Nigerians living in the country made it known that they made the decision to relocate fully to Ivory Coast after considering these factors.

    They added that the availability of electricity is making doing business in the country  very easy.

    Mr Johnson Abiodun who sells beverages and soft drinks in the country noted that he doesn’t have to bother about light to get his drink chilled and ready to be sold.

    ” Once I buy my drinks, I’m very sure it would be sold because the stable electricity makes it possible for them to get chilled and buyers would throng my shop to buy in their numbers”.

    Another business woman, Stella Amarue said she runs a computer center but doesn’t have to bother herself with generator or petrol, saying light hardly goes off in the country.

    ”I can always work freely without bothering myself with generator or fuel. The stable electricity here helps business to grow faster”.

    “The profit I have made in three years i have been here is much bigger than what i made in 10 years that i ran same business in Nigeria, reason is that much goes on fixing generator and buying of fuel”. She said.

    Mr Olaoye Akinbamidele runs a restaurant in Cocody, Abidjan and he disclosed that he can always buy raw food and store in his freezer knowing full well they will not get spoilt anytime soon.

    He added that ease of doing business is very okay in the country as compared to Nigeria where you have to provide some necessary amenities by oneself.

    However, Madam Titi  Amora a fashion designer in Liberte, Abidjan decried the expensive accommodation in the country, saying that what she pays monthly for accommodation can actually pay a good rent annually in Nigeria.

    Adekunle Karim popularly known as Benzema in Adjame, Abidjan noted that he relocated to the country because he was told the fashion designing business is booming in Ivory Coast.

    According to him, he charges his customers twice what he makes in Nigeria to sew a cloth, adding that the materials he uses are far cheaper in Ivory Coast.

    Akeem Janatu who fixes faulty electronics in Abidjan also praised the government for providing electricity and water for the people of the country. According to him these two things have made life very easy for him and others living in the country.