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Tag: AFCON

  • AFCON 2023: Angola govt shower players with cash, iPhone, others to beat Super Eagles

    AFCON 2023: Angola govt shower players with cash, iPhone, others to beat Super Eagles

    Ahead of Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal clash with Nigeria, players of the Angola national team have been showered with cash and material gifts.

    The Palancas Negras, who are fresh off a commanding 3-0 victory over Namibia in the Round of 16, were also promised cash gifts if they advanced to the final.

    As reported by Angola Press Agency, Banco Angolano de Investimento, a bank in Angola, announced that it would reward each Angola player and coaching staff with the sum of five million Kwanzas (equivalent to approximately N5.41 million).

    Aguinaldo Jaime, the President of the Board of Directors of UNITEL, a private Angolan mobile phone company, also gave an iPhone 15 with free calls, SMS, and internet for a year to every member of the Angolan delegation in Cote d’Ivoire.

    The company Sodiam EP also pledged a substantial amount of $250,000 to both the national team and technical team if Angola secured a spot in the final of the 34th edition of the Nations Cup.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Angola at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, on Friday, February 2, 2024, by 6 pm.

    Both teams come into this match with an unbeaten record in the tournament.

    Nigeria had victories against Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and four-time champions Cameroon in the quarterfinals.

  • AFCON 2023: Go for the trophy, Speaker Abbas charges Super Eagles

    AFCON 2023: Go for the trophy, Speaker Abbas charges Super Eagles

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has charged the Super Eagles with bringing home the trophy at the ongoing African Cup of Nations.

    Speaker Abbas, in his message to the Nigerian male national team, said the Super Eagles have the potential to win the AFCON, especially with the array of stars and experienced players in the team.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria are billed to play against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the Round of 16 on Saturday at 9.pm.

    The Speaker noted that football and several other sports have been a potent tool for uniting Nigerians across ethno-religious lines, adding that the citizens show more patriotism, unity and love through their passion for the national teams.

    Speaker Abbas also expressed his appreciation to the delegation of the House, comprising some members and several former Super Eagles players who are currently in Cote d’Ivoire to cheer the youngsters to victory.

    The Speaker urged the relevant government agencies and officials who are managing the Nigerian team at AFCON to ensure that their welfare is given the utmost priority, saying it would go a long way to motivate the nationals.

    The Speaker wished the Super Eagles a successful outing at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

    Signed:

    Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • AFCON 2023: Cameroon train in Abidjan ahead clash with Nigeria

    AFCON 2023: Cameroon train in Abidjan ahead clash with Nigeria

    Cameroon’s indomitable lions have landed in Abidjan ahead of Super Eagles clash  round of 16 encounter meant to hold at the stade Felix Hougpouet on Saturday, January 27th.

    The indomitable Lions have had a feel of the turf after having their first training in preparation for their clash with Nigeria.

    The two teams will clash to fight for  quarter-final ticket of the ongoing AFCON 2023.

    Rigobert Song’s side jetted into Abidjan from Bouake on Thursday night.

    The former African champions were based in Yamassoukro for their opening two games against Guinea and Senegal.

    They will train at the Stade Municipal de Bingerville on Friday.

    Cameroon finished in second place in Group C, behind the title holders, the Teranga Lions of Senegal after they defeated Gambia 3-2  on Monday at the Bouakke stadium.

  • AFCON 2023: Rema on same level with Burna Boy, Davido – Osimhen

    AFCON 2023: Rema on same level with Burna Boy, Davido – Osimhen

    Super Eagles striker and current African footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen has rated artiste, Rema very high, thus putting him on same pedestal with Burna Boy and Wizkid in the global music industry.

    According to Osimhen, Rema is currently one of the “biggest artists” in the world.

    Speaking further, the reigning African player of the year, however, said Grammy-nominated singer, Asake; Seyi Vibez, and Omah Lay are still scratching the surface of their careers in terms of global domination.

    Speaking in a recent interview with CBS Sports Golazo, the striker expressed optimism that Asake, Seyi Vibez, and Omah Lay would be as big as Wizkid and Davido in a few years.

    “Aside from Wizkid and Davido, we have Asake, Seyi Vibez, Omah Lay, and Rema. Rema is one of the biggest artists now in the world,” he said.

    “Rema is there [top of global music] but these guys that I called, Omah Lay, Asake, and Seyi Vibez are also on the come up. In a few years, they are really going to burst out just like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy.

    “So, for me, it’s really good to be coming from Nigeria.”

  • AFCON 2023: Come watch us live – Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa tells President Tinubu

    AFCON 2023: Come watch us live – Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa tells President Tinubu

    Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has called on Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to watch the team on television anymore but to come over to Ivory Coast and cheer them at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

    Musa, who spoke on behalf of the Super Eagles players, said this during the team’s Zoom meeting with the Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, on Wednesday.

    Musa also thanked Enoh for his words of encouragement to the Super Eagles as they prepare to tackle Cameroon in the AFCON Round of 16 fixture on Saturday night.

    Musa said: “We have a message that we are going to send to you [Enoh] to the President.

    “We don’t want him to watch the game on TV anymore, we want him over here [Ivory Coast] to come and cheer us together. So this is our own message to the President.”

    Enoh responded, “The president will come. I can assure you the president will come. He has told me when he wants to come and my prayer is that gradually we are going to get to the point where the President can come. He will come. I will bring the president, he will come,” he assured.

    Musa then said: “Finally, we really appreciate your words of encouragement to the team, thank you.”

    Super Eagles finished second in group A behind Equatorial Guinea and will slug it out with the Cameroonians on Saturday, at Felix Houghpouet Stadium, Abidjan.
  • AFCON 2023: Double Injury boost for Cameroon ahead Super Eagles clash

    AFCON 2023: Double Injury boost for Cameroon ahead Super Eagles clash

    Vincent Aboubacar and winger Clinton N’Jie have fully recovered from injuries and are back in training for the indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

    Both players are yet to taste action at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as they have been recovering from injuries.

    It was gathered that the duo trained with their teammates in Bouake on Wednesday night without any difficulties.

    Rigobert Song’s side has stormed Abidjan on Thursday  ahead of the highly anticipated Round of 16 clash against eternal rivals Nigeria.

    Saturday’s encounter is slated for the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.

    Cameroon finished second in Group C behind holders Teranga Lions of Senegal.

    The Super Eagles also came second in their group behind the surprise package, Equatorial Guinea.

    The winner will face either Angola or Namibia in the quarter-final.

  • AFCON 2023: History favours Super Eagles as Cameroon’s Lions arrive Abidjan

    AFCON 2023: History favours Super Eagles as Cameroon’s Lions arrive Abidjan

    History, pedigree, current form and turf familiarity are factors weighing heavily in favour of the Super Eagles as they confront the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the Round of 16 at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

     

    Five-time champions Cameroon prosecuted their group phase games in Yamoussoukro, and have now arrived in Cote d’Ivoire’s commercial and industrial capital for Saturday’s potentially-explosive encounter with three-time champions Nigeria.

     

    In effect, Nigeria and Cameroon have clashed in 17 competitive matches since their first of such matches in the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah Cup on 8th December 1962, which Nigeria won 3-1. Of those 17 matches, Cameroon have won only 4 – three of these in the Final matches of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984, 1988 and 2000. The only other time Cameroon have beaten Nigeria in a competitive match was on 27th August 1989, when Francois Omam Biyick scored the only goal in Yaounde that eliminated Nigeria from the race to the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals in Italy.

     

    Nigeria have won nine of the other 13 matches, including a 2-1 defeat of Cameroon in the bronze medal-match of the 1992 AFCON; a 2-0 triumph in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Ibadan; a 3-2 win in Yaounde in a 1970 World Cup qualifier; a 2-1 win in Monastir in a 2004 AFCON quarter-final; a 4-0 win in Uyo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier and; a 3-2 win in Alexandria in a 2019 AFCON Round of 16 clash.

     

    More than the above, the Super Eagles presently boast the Africa Player of the Year in Victor Osimhen, and the Super Eagles have more familiarity with the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, where they pipped Guinea Bissau 1-0 on Monday to make sure of their place in this competition’s Round of 16.

     

    Nigeria have reached the Round of 16 after scooping seven points, unbeaten in their three matches; Cameroon were battered 3-1 by Cup holders Senegal and fought hard to overcome The Gambia in added time to make sure of a place in the knock-out rounds.

     

    As both teams prepare for the big day, thenff.com takes a cursory look at the SEVEN previous clashes involving Nigeria and Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations – the continent’s flagship football championship:

     

    1) 1984 AFCON FINAL MATCH: Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan

     

    Coach Adegboye Onigbinde brought in Patrick Okala for Peter Rufai, who was injured in a bruising semi-final encounter with Egypt, which went to penalties in Bouake four days earlier. Bala Ali, who got the equalizer in that match, started in place of Chibuzor Ehilegbu. Rapid winger Clement Temile, two-goal hero against Malawi in the group phase, also started from the bench, with Stephen Keshi, Kingsley Paul, Paul Okoku, Muda Lawal, Humphrey Edobor, Yisa Sofoluwe and James Etokebe among the starters.

     

    Etokebe sprinted to a through pass by Edobor and made a pull-out that Antoine-Bell fumbled for Muda Lawal to lash in for Nigeria’s goal. A free-kick late in the first half brushed Keshi’s head to fly past Okala for the equalizer, and Abega put Cameroon in front before Eugene Ekoule’s winner. The Lions deployed their huge experience and exposure at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, where they exited at group phase without losing any of their matches against Poland, Peru and eventual winners Italy.

     

    2) 1988 AFCON GROUP PHASE MATCH: Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat

     

    Samuel Okwaraji, who only joined the team the previous year, scored with a scorching left-footed shot after only two minutes, but Cameroon equalized 20 minutes later with a header by Roger Milla, with the Nigeria defence thinking they had kept him offside. The draw followed a 3-0 defeat of Kenya, and meant Nigeria only needed a draw in their next match against Egypt (which they got) to reach the semi finals.

     

    Goalkeeper Peter Rufai, defenders Yisa Sofoluwe, Andrew Uwe, Sunday Eboigbe and Bright Omokaro, midfielders Henry Nwosu and Ademola Adeshina, and forwards Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini were among those involved.

     

    3) 1988 AFCON FINAL MATCH: Stade King Mohamed V, Casablanca

     

    Nigeria, who had survived another bruising semi-final, in which they went to penalty shootout with Algeria after a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time, started brightly with Ndubuisi Okosieme installed on the right, Humphrey Edobor on the left and livewire Henry Nwosu all over the place.

     

    Henry Nwosu’s powerful header from Sam Okwaraji’s pull-out on the right sailed past Antoine-Bell, but referee Idrissa Sarr from Mauritania ruled off the strike. Cameroon scored with 10 minutes into the second half, when Eboigbe impeded Roger Milla and Emmanuel Kunde fired past Peter Rufai from the spot.

     

    3) 1992 AFCON BRONZE MEDAL MATCH: Stade de l’Amitie, Dakar

     

    Both teams needed to self-motivate after losing their semi-final matches, with the Eagles bumped by Ghana and Cameroon ejected after a penalty shootout by eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire. Coach Philippe Redon had dropped goalkeeper Antoine-Bell, who lost the crucial penalty against the Ivorians, and brought in Jacques Songo’o. The Lions’ squad also included Emile Mbouh, Benjamin Massing, Cyril Makanaky, Jean-Claude Pagal and Kessack Maboang.

     

    Nigeria had Alloy Agu in goal, and also included Emeka Ezeugo, Isaac Semitoje, Nduka Ugbade, Reuben Agboola, Victor Ikpeba, Friday Ekpo, Mutiu Adepoju, Finidi George and Rashidi Yekini. Ekpo fired home from a 22-yard free-kick to give Nigeria the lead with 15 minutes to go, but the Lions equalized in the 85th minute through Bahoang. Yekini, who had scored three goals earlier in the tournament (two against Kenya and one against Zaire), got the winner from an acute angle with two minutes left.  

     

  • AFCON 2023 fallout: Ghana fires coach after failure to qualify

    AFCON 2023 fallout: Ghana fires coach after failure to qualify

    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has relieved Chris Hughton of his duties as head coach of the Black Stars following their early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    “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.

    Hughton’s men started the group stage with a 2-2 draw against Mozambique and a goalless stalemate with Egypt before falling 1-0 to surprise group winners Cape Verde.

    The team’s elimination was sealed after Cameroon defeated Gambia 3-2 to ensure that Ghana could no longer progress to the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

  • AFCON 2023: Nigerian Journalists, others covering tournament involved in bus accident

    AFCON 2023: Nigerian Journalists, others covering tournament involved in bus accident

    Nigerian Journalists and others covering the 2023 AFCON were on Wednesday morning involved in an accident on their way back from Yamoussoukro a three hour journey from Abidjan.

    The Journalist left the Media Center in the bus attached to media men covering the tournament  in Abidjan to travel to Yamoussoukro to watch Senegal vs Guinea in order to give reports.

    However, on their way back home around 2;30am  the media bus collided with a building  and it got damaged.

    Report has it that many of the journalists who were already asleep woke up to a loud bang and suspecting explosion decided to escape through the bus window.

    As a  result of the accident, many journalist onboard suffered severe and mild injuries but were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for proper medical care.

    One of the affected Nigerian journalist, Oyediji Oluwaseun  took to twitter to relay his experience, while also thanking God for sparing their lives.

    See TWEET Below:

  • AFCON 2023: Peseiro says Nigeria determined to take first place in group A

    AFCON 2023: Peseiro says Nigeria determined to take first place in group A

    Coach José Santos Peseiro insisted on Sunday that despite looking good for a spot in the Round of 16 with their four points following the defeat of host nation Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, Nigeria will not take their feet off the pedal when they clash with Guinea Bissau on Monday evening.

     

    “We defeated Cote d’Ivoire, but that is already in the past. We know that in football, what counts is the moment. We must temper our confidence, and put in more work as required. We must not rest.

     

    “We want to take the first place and for that, we must do battle. We must do what is necessary to accomplish our mission tomorrow,” Peseiro said at the pre-match conference at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan on Sunday.  

     

    Peseiro will lead Nigeria to come face-to-face with the only team to have beaten his Super Eagles in a competitive match since he took the reins of the three-time African champions 20 months ago.

     

    With four points from their first two matches, including a morale-pumping victory over the host nation and one of the favourites, the Eagles are walking with springs in their steps at their Pullman Hotel Abidjan and at their training sessions at the École National de la Police. But Peseiro cautions that the work is not yet done and there is utmost need for level heads.

     

    “We have to forget that we defeated the host nation. There is a lot more work to be done. We want to be here for the long haul,” he told thenff.com after the press conference.

     

    Peseiro won his first two competitive games with the Super Eagles – a 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in Abuja and a record-breaking international win of 10—0 against Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco in June 2022.

     

    However, the Wild Dogs stepped on Nigeria soil and pipped the Eagles 1-0 in an AFCON 2023 qualifier. Nigeria repaid the compliment a few days later in Bissau, but the Portuguese trainer says the Portuguese-speaking nation still owes him a clapback.

     

    “We are not thinking about revenge but we are here to top the group and they are in our sights. We must do what has to be done. Guinea Bissau have no point and will play with freedom, and that is when a team becomes dangerous.”

     

    Both teams clash at the Stade Félix Houphoüet-Boigny in central Abidjan from 5pm CIV time on Monday, which is 6pm Nigeria time.

     

    In their other competitive games under Peseiro, the Eagles have defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 in Monrovia, beaten Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 in Uyo, drawn 1-1 with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in FIFA World Cup qualifiers and drawn 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea while pipping Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 here at the AFCON.

     

    Monday’s crucial game, which will be Nigeria’s 100th match at the Africa Cup of Nations since a group phase encounter against Egypt in nearby Ghana in 1963, will see the Super Eagles finish top of group A with a win, as long as Equatorial Guinea, also on four points, do not humiliate host nation Cote d’Ivoire at an encounter holding simultaneously at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe.