TheNewsGuru

Tag: AFCON 2023

  • AFCON 2023: Angola will be beaten – Ademola Lookman

    AFCON 2023: Angola will be beaten – Ademola Lookman

    Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman has bragged that the Palancas Negras of Angola will bite the dust when both teams clash for a place in the semi-final of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cote d’Ivoire.

    The two teams will slug it out in a quarter-final contest on Friday.

    The match will hold at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan the venue where the Super Eagles ousted the indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

    According to Lookman,  the Super Eagles are up for the battle and will go all out for a win against Pedro Goncalves’ side.

    “We have worked so hard to get to this stage of the competition and we will continue pushing hard to achieve our objective,” Lookman told reporters.

    “The objective for us is to go back home with the trophy. We know we are not there yet, but it is something that is achievable.

    “We know how strong the Angola team is even before the start of this competition. They have done well here and they have a lot of quality players in their squad.”

  • AFCON 2023: Peseiro to retain 3-4-3 formation against Angola

    AFCON 2023: Peseiro to retain 3-4-3 formation against Angola

    Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles head coach has said that he would retain his 3-4-3 formation against the palancras Negras of Angola.

    The quarter-final clash between Nigeria and Angola will take place at the Felix-Houghpouet Boigny stadium on Friday, February 2nd.

    According to Peseiro, the Angolans will be forced to switch to the pattern of the Super Eagles, saying he believes the tactics will work.

    The Portuguese gaffer also added that he’s wary of the threats posed by the potent attack of the Angolans, adding that the Super Eagles defenders will see to that.

    Peseiro also assured Nigerians not to expect much changes to the last starting XI that played against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

  • AFCON 2023: Injury scare as two Super Eagles players set to miss Angola clash

    AFCON 2023: Injury scare as two Super Eagles players set to miss Angola clash

    Two Super Eagles  players,  captain Ahmed Musa and right-back, Bright Osayi-Samuel will miss the team’s quarter-final clash against Angola due to injury.

    It was gathered that Musa injured his thigh in training this week, while Osayi-Samuel is nursing a knee injury.

    Winger Musa is yet to feature for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Osayi-Samuel has made two appearances for the three-time African champions in the competition.

    The Super Eagles will have their final training session ahead of the clash with the Palancas Negras at the Police College, Cocody, Abidjan on Thursday.

    The last eight fixture is slated for the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Friday by 6pm Nigerian time.

  • AFCON 2023: South Africa evict tournament favourite Morocco, to play Cape Verde in quarter-final

    AFCON 2023: South Africa evict tournament favourite Morocco, to play Cape Verde in quarter-final

    The Bafana Bafana of South Africa yesterday made a statement with their wonderful display against Morocco at the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

    Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena scored two second half goals that ended the dreams of the Atlas Lions of Morocco.

    Achraf Hakimi became a Villain after missing  a crucial penalty late in the game to equalize for the North Africans and change the tempo of the game.

    Tebiho Mokoena tooK advantage of Hakimi’s miss to convert a late freekick to seal victory for the South Africans.

    The North Africans, touted as tournament favourites became the latest major casualty 24 hours after defending champions, Senegal, were also dumped out.

    Sofyan Amrabat received the marching orders in the 92nd minute after fouling an onrushing South African forward who was clearly goal bound, the resultant freekick was taken and converted by Tebiho Mokoena for Bafana Bafana’s second goal.

    Bafana Bafana go through to a quarter-final on Saturday in Yamoussokro against tiny Cape Verde, who have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament so far.

    South Africa will test the might of the Blue sharks of Cape Verde next week in the quarter-final fixture at the ongoing AFCON tournament.

  • AFCON 2023: Mali defeat Burkina Faso 2-1, cruise into quarter-final

    AFCON 2023: Mali defeat Burkina Faso 2-1, cruise into quarter-final

    The Eagles of Mali on Thursday night zoomed into the quarter-final of the 2023 AFCON after defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 at the Stade Laurient Pokou, Korogho.

    Burkina Faso’s Edmond Tapsoba gave the Eagles a third-minute lead, and Mali had several chances to add to their advantage before half-time.

    Lassine Sinayoko scored the second for Mali after slotting the ball in between the legs of goalkeeper Herve Koffi, but Bertrand Traore pulled a goal back for the Stallions from the penalty spot just before the hour mark.

    Issoufou Dayo thought he had equalised for the Burkinabe in the final minute, but his header from a free-kick was ruled out for offside and Mali saw out eight minutes of added time.

    The Eagles have reached the last eight for the first time since 2013, and Eric Chelle’s side will now face the Ivorians on Saturday (17:00 GMT) for a place in the semi-finals.

  • AFCON 2023: Try not to be complacent – Peseiro tells Super Eagles players

    AFCON 2023: Try not to be complacent – Peseiro tells Super Eagles players

    Jose Peseiro the head coach of the Super Eagles has urged his lads to keep up the good work and try not to underrate the Angolans on Friday.

    The Super Eagles and the Palangras Negras  will clash at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Friday night.

    Peseiro’s side recorded an impressive 2-0 victory against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon last Saturday.

    The Portuguese stated that it is important for the team to manage the euphoria of their victory against their perennial rivals.

    “I am telling them that we are only in the quarter-finals, that we still have some way to go, and that the farther we go, the tougher the opposition becomes. We have played four matches and won three, so we must keep level heads as we go forward,” he told thenff.com.

    “Our philosophy is that there are no small teams here at the Africa Cup. Every team qualified to be here, and every team in the knockout phase qualified from the group phase.

    “Any team in the last eight is good enough for the trophy. We believe we are good enough for the trophy, but we must continue working and putting out our best on match days.”

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles goalie, Nwabali not ruled out against Angola – NFF

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles goalie, Nwabali not ruled out against Angola – NFF

    Nigeria Football federation NFF has downplayed the speculation that goalie, Stanley Nwabali will not be available for the quarter-final clash against Angola on Friday, 2nd January.

    Stanley Nwabali may still be available for Nigeria’s quarter-final duel with the Palancas Negras of Angola, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the 27-year-old, sustained a mild ligament injury during the Super Eagles quarter-final clash with Cameroon on Saturday.

    Nwabali will undergo another test on Wednesday to ascertain his fitness level ahead of the game with Angola.

    “The doctors have been working on him to see if he will come good in a late fitness test 48 hours before the cracker with the southern Africans,” reads the statement.

    “Fingers crossed. If all goes well, he might be available for selection.”

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

  • AFCON 2023: Injury scare hits Super Eagles camp as Osimhen, Ekong sit out training

    AFCON 2023: Injury scare hits Super Eagles camp as Osimhen, Ekong sit out training

    There are palpable fears that the Super Eagles duo of Victor Osimhen and William Troost-Ekong may have been injured after both players were made to sit out in training ahead of the quarter-final clash against the Palegras Negras of Angola on Friday.

    Recall that Osimhen was replaced late in the Round of 16 win over Cameroon by Paul Onuachu.

    But captain Troost-Ekong played the entire duration of the encounter.

    However, sights from the Super Eagles training, show that the two players had bandages strapped to their legs and did not train with the group on Monday.

    Although, there has been no confirmations as to why both players didn’t train with the team, it could just be a precautionary move to help both players recover fully ahead of the game on Friday.

    Jose Peseiro still has three days  left to train ahead of the encounter with the Palengras Negras of Angola.

  • AFCON 2023: Cape Verde pip Mauritania 1-0 to book quarter-final placement

    AFCON 2023: Cape Verde pip Mauritania 1-0 to book quarter-final placement

    The Blue sharks of Cape Verde have secured quarter-final placement at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Mauritania 1-0 in a thrilling encounter on Monday.

    The encounter was heading into extra time before Mende’s clinical finish in the 88th minute separated both sides.

    The precision of the shot to the middle left the Mauritanian goalkeeper with little chance to make a save.

    Cape Verde showed superiority in the game after amassing 70% percent of ball possession in the thrilling encounter.

    Although, Cape Verde came close to breaking the tie on several occasions during the match. In the 70th minute, they capitalized on a corner kick that the Mauritanian defense failed to clear, but the goalie came to their rescue.

    The 60th minute equally saw Anne’s shot veering off to one side of the goal, prompting a response from Mauritania. However, both teams struggled to convert opportunities into goals.

    Mauritania’s most dangerous moment occurred in the 57th minute, with a free-kick sailing wide near the goal. Despite the proximity, the shot lacked the precision to pose a real threat to Cape Verde’s goalkeeper.

    The result meant the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde will slug it out with the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire in the quarter-final of the encounter.

  • AFCON 2023: Elephant of Cote D’Ivoire send Senegal packing from tournament, qualify for quarter-final

    AFCON 2023: Elephant of Cote D’Ivoire send Senegal packing from tournament, qualify for quarter-final

    Hosts, Cote d’Ivoire pulled off a monumental upset by defeating defending champions Senegal 5-4 on penalties, after extra time to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals.

    In front of a raucous home crowd at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, Senegal made a blistering start and took the lead just four minutes into the match.

    A superb cross from Sadio Mane found Habib Diallo, who calmly chested the ball down before firing a rocket into the top corner.

    Stunned by conceding so early, the hosts gradually grew into the game with neat interplay in midfield between Franck Kessie and Jean Michael Seri.

    Ibrahim Sangare posed a constant threat on the wing while strikers Sebastien Haller and Nicolas Pepe stretched Senegal’s defence.

    The Elephants had the better of the first half but in spite of several near misses, a Senegalese wall of Kalidou Koulibaly and Abdou Diallo,  repelled everything thrown at them.

    Senegal almost doubled their lead early in the second half when a spectacular Ismaila Sarr’s effort forced a fingertip save. Cote d’Ivoire were unfazed and continued pressing.

    The game turned on a pivotal 86th minute moment. Pepe burst into the box and was clumsily brought down by Edouard Mendy.

    After a VAR-reviewed incident, Franck Kessie coolly sent Mendy the wrong way from the spot to equalise,  sending the home crowd into a frenzy mood.

    In extra time, chances came and went for both sides but the scores remained level.

    In the shootout, each side netted their first four penalties.

    But when Kalifa Coulibaly’s effort came off the upright, Kessie stepped up to smash home the winning kick, capping a remarkable turnaround for the hosts.

    After a disastrous group stage, Cote d’Ivoire showed tremendous resilience and spirit to dethrone Senegal, who will have to relinquish their title.

    The Elephants march on, redemption complete.

    Few gave the Elephants hope coming into this last 16 clash against star-studded Senegal.

    However, led by captain Serge Aurier, the spirited hosts fought until the end and rode their luck at times against profligate opponents.

    This result blows the tournament wide open.

    The defending champions are out, and the unfancied hosts march on in dramatic style.