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Tag: Algeria 2023

  • CHAN 2023: Five major talking points of the tournament

    CHAN 2023: Five major talking points of the tournament

    CHAN 2023 will get underway today in the North African nation of Algeria, with the host nation scheduled to slug it out with neighbour Algeria at the Algiers international stadium in the country’s capital.

    TheNewsGuru brings you five talking points of the 2023 edition of the tournament

    ALGERIA  2023

    Championnat d’Afrique des Nations (CHAN) is a CAF tournament organized yearly to promote the continent’s domestic league and by African-basedican based players.

    The purpose is to organize an international competittion for African players who ply their trade in their own domestic leagues..

    That means, for example, that Nigeria  can’t solicit the services of Victor Osimhen and Senegal won’t be able to call upon Chelsea’s Goalkeeper Edourd Mendy.

    CHAN 2022 POSTPONED TO 2023

    You might be wondering why the 2022 CHAN is being played in January 2023.

    Algeria 2022 was meant to hold last year but the tournament suffered postponement due to backlog in the international football calendar, with the CHAN being pushed back six month as a result.

    Algiers’ Nelson Mandela stadium seats 40,784 and will host several important matches during the competition including the opening match and the final on 4 February.

    It’s the first major football continental tournament held in Algeria in a long while and it’s long overdue.

    This is the seventh edition but Algeria’s first time hosting. The country is unveiling a brand new football-specific stadium to mark the occasion.

    GHANA AGAIN QUALIFIED AHEAD OF NIGERIA

    After qualifying for the FIFA Men’s world Cup at Nigeria’s expense Ghana again qualified ahead of Nigeria for the 2022 tournament starting today in Algeria.

    Despite a dramatic fight back from the home-based Super Eagles of Nigeria, it was not to be as the Salisu Yusuf-led side lost on penalties to the Black Galaxies of Ghana and miss out on qualification for the 2022 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Ghana defeated Nigeria 5-4 on penalties in the second leg of their second round qualifying tie at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja after playing a 2-2 draw.

    WHY MORROCO PULLED OUT

    Morocco are the two-time defending champions, but the North Africans will not participate at the tournament in Algeria over political row with the host nation.

    Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) decided to withdraw – just one day before the opening ceremony.

    Relations between Morocco and Algeria have been strained for many decades – due largely to the twists and turns of several different disputes over territory – but in August 2021, when Algeria broke off diplomatic ties entirely, it also closed its airspace to Moroccan aircraft.

    Last month, on 27 December, FRMF president and budget minister delegate Fouzi Lekjaa announced that unless the team could land directly in host city Constantine, where they would be playing their matches, on board a Royal Air Maroc flight, the Atlas Lions would pull out.

    A stand-off ensued, with neither nation willing to budge. Caf also remained silent on the issue, which eventually worsened the crisis.

    It was the FRMF who finally broke cover on 12 January, releasing a statement that said: “The Moroccan national team is unable to travel to Constantine (Algeria) to play the 7th edition of the African Nations Championship and defend its title insofar as the final authorisation of the Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight, official carrier of the Moroccan football team, from Rabat to Constantine has not been confirmed.”

    The ramifications of the withdrawal are yet to be announced but Caf’s rulebook seems to suggest Morocco could be banned from the next CHAN.

    UGANDAN AND LIBYA TOO

    Uganda and Libya also threatened to withdraw from the 2023 edition of  CHAN with a few days to go although not for political and legal reasons, their own excuse was largely financial reasons  but their respective issues were resolved and the rest of the teams are expected to compete.

    After increasing the number of participating teams to 18 the withdrawal of Morocco at the dying minute has again altered the formation and the settings of the tournament.

    Now, CAF is expected to rejig its format in the tournament to give room for a smooth process in the tournament.

    Group below

    Groups

    Group A (Algiers): Algeria, Libya, Ethiopia, Mozambique

    Group B (Annaba): DR Congo, Uganda, Côte D’Ivoire, Senegal

    Group C (Constantine): Sudan, Madagascar, Ghana, Morocco (withdrew)

    Group D (Oran):Mali, Angola, Mauritania

    Group E (Oran):Cameroon, Congo, Niger

  • Algeria 2023: Black Galaxies eliminate Nigeria from CHAN race

    Algeria 2023: Black Galaxies eliminate Nigeria from CHAN race

    The Super Eagles B came pretty close but eventually lost out on penalties after a flaming battle with the Black Galaxies of Ghana ended in penalty shoout-out heartache at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday evening.

    Ghana won the first leg in Cape Coast 2-0 courtesy of a penalty kick award early in the second half and a late goal scored on the counter, and opted for a contain-and-counter strategy in Nigeria’s administrative capital. The plan worked for large swathes of an encounter dominated by the Eagles B, but two well-taken second half goals by Muhammed Zulkifilu and Chijioke Akuneto drew the fixture level and meant the lottery of penalties would decide the winner.

    Substitute Morice Chukwu crashed his kick, Nigera’s third, against the crossbar in the shootout to hand Ghana the ticket to be at next year’s 7th African Nations Championship finals. He was the only one who failed to score from the spot as Ghana won 5-4.

    Nigeria created a hatful of chances in a ferocious first half, but Babatunde Bello’s long-range shots either failed to find target or were punched away by goalkeeper Ibrahim Danladi, and free headers presented to Valentine Odoh and Zulkifilu were wasted.

    The introduction of Akuneto in the second half brought more urgency to Nigeria’s game, and the Eagles B shot ahead in the 77th minute after Zulkifilu connected home gloriously from a pull-out.

    With the seconds running out, in the fourth minute of time-added-on, Akuneto powered home after a corner kick was flicked into his path by Samuel Amadi.

  • Algeria 2023: CHAN Eagles in make or mar encounter against Ghana

    Algeria 2023: CHAN Eagles in make or mar encounter against Ghana

    Super Eagles B team will today square up against Ghana’s Black Galaxies for a place at next year’s  CHAN tournament holding in Algeria.

    Eagles B already trail Black Galaxies after succumbing to a 2-0 loss in Cape Coast last week.

    Today’s encounter will take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    The Nigerian Home based Eagles would have to score 3 unreplied goals to be able to proceed to Algeria next year for the tournament.

    Annor Walker’s side arrived in Abuja from Accra on Friday morning and have a feel of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in the evening.

    Salisu Yusuf’s charges are targeting a return to the CHAN after missing out the last time in Cameroon

    Ghana on the hand has missed the last three editions of the competition.

    CHAN tournament is designed for home based players in African countries.

  • Algeria 2023: Home based Eagles beaten 2-0 by Black Galaxies

    Algeria 2023: Home based Eagles beaten 2-0 by Black Galaxies

    Ghana’s Black Galaxies shot into the driving seat in their 7th African Nations Championship final qualifying fixture against Nigeria after a 2-0 win over Super Eagles B at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday evening.

    After an evenly-balanced first period, during which goalkeeper Adeyinka Adewale quickly redeemed himself after dropping the ball with a Ghanaian forward lurking, Daniel Barnieh shot the Galaxies ahead in the 50th minute from the penalty spot as Beninoise referee Issa Mouhamed punished a Nigerian infringement in the eighteen-yard box.

                  The Super Eagles fought valiantly to get even as the game wore on, to no avail, and were then open to a sucker punch as Seidu Suraj unleashed a shot from close range that Adewale could only punch into his own net with four minutes left.

    The result leaves the Super Eagles B with some work to do ahead of the return leg, as both teams square off again at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday evening.

  • Algeria 2023: Troost-Ekong calls Eagles in Ghana, declares total support

    Algeria 2023: Troost-Ekong calls Eagles in Ghana, declares total support

    Super Eagles deputy captain, William Troost-Ekong has called the Super Eagles B camp in Ghana to underline his total support for the team as Nigeria battles with Ghana for a place in the 2023 African Nations Championship holding in Algeria. The high-profile game against the Galaxies will kick off at 4pm Ghana time (5pm in Nigeria) in Cape Coast on Sunday.

    The Watford FC of England defender assured that he would be watching the game live. He then volunteered any form of support the team desires to win the all-important home-and-away cracker and grab the ticket.

    Ekong reached out to the players through team captain Tope Olusesi while they were on the flight to Ghana on Friday.

    He said: “Hello captain, this is Ekong and I just want to wish you and the guys and the staff all the best in the game against Ghana. I know it won’t be easy but I believe in you guys.

    “Continue to make us proud. Every time you put on the green and white jerseys, it’s something very special and as players, we can’t be there to support you guys now but we will be watching the match and I am praying for victory for you guys. So, keep working hard like you have been doing; we are following you and I’m following all the news and I will be watching the game and I look forward to meeting with you guys.

     “Wishing you all the best and just know that I am supporting you guys one hundred percent and if there’s anything I can do to help you guys please let me know. Up the Super Eagles! Take care and all the best. Speak with you again soon.”

    The return leg is scheduled for Saturday, 3rd September at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

  • Algeria 2023: CHAN Eagles off to Cape Coast on Friday

    Algeria 2023: CHAN Eagles off to Cape Coast on Friday

    Nigeria’s contingent to Sunday’s 7th African Nations Championship qualifying match against Ghana will storm the city of Cape Coast on Friday.

    Head Coach Salisu Yusuf and his assistants have been working on 34 invited players for the past few weeks, and a final list of 22 players for the trip and for the return leg in Abuja on Saturday next week will be released just before the squad jets out on Friday morning.

    Sunday’s clash will take place at the Cape Coast Stadium, starting from 4pm Ghana time (5pm Nigeria time).

    The Confederation of African Football has picked Beninoise officials to take charge of the encounter, with Issa Mouhamed as the referee. His compatriots Eric Ulrich Ayimavo will be assistant referee 1, with Koudogbo Kougbemede as assistant referee 2 and Tanisla Ahomlanto as fourth official.

    Prince Kai Saquee from Sierra Leone will be match commissioner while Sanusie Rashid, another Sierra Leonean, will be referee assessor.

    The return leg will hold at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 3rd September.

  • Int’l Friendly: Super Eagles to square up against Desert foxes of Algeria

    Int’l Friendly: Super Eagles to square up against Desert foxes of Algeria

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will square up against the Desert foxes of Algeria in a grade A friendly slated for Oran in the North African country of Algeria.

    The match scheduled to hold on the 27th of September has been confirmed by the Algeria football Association, (AFA)

    AFA also announced that the two-time African champions will face Syli Stars of Guinea in their first friendly on Friday, September 23.

    This will be the third time the North Africans will face Nigeria under coach Djamel Belmadi.

    In the first encounter, Belmadi led his team to go past the Super Eagles 2-1 in the semifinal of the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

    Algeria then pipped Nigeria in a friendly in Austria in October 2020.

    The two matches will be played at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran.

    Algeria won its last two meetings with the Super Eagles.

    The Desert Foxes also defeated the Super Eagles in their semi-final clash at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    Algeria won 1-0 the last time both teams met in a friendly in 2020.

    The Nigeria Football Federation has promised to get more friendly games for Nigeria ahead of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers that will get underway again in March 2023 after a few months of break.

    Recall that CAF postponed the AFCON from June 2023 to January 2024 in Cote d’ Ivoire due to weather conditions.

  • Algeria 2023: Onazi backs Eagles B to overpower Ghana’s Galaxies

    Algeria 2023: Onazi backs Eagles B to overpower Ghana’s Galaxies

    Nigeria’s World Cup midfield star Eddy Ogenyi Onazi is fully backing the Super Eagles B to overwhelm the Black Galaxies of Ghana when both teams clash for a spot at the 7th African Nations Championship coming up in Algeria early next year.

    Onazi, who has enjoyed quality training time with the 2018 CHAN runners-up in Abuja says he is comfortable with the quality of players and their fitness, as well as the quality of the coaching crew.

    He said: “I think the coaches have put together a very strong team that is capable of nicking the ticket at the expense of Ghana. I have seen the players are very fit and good enough to make Nigeria proud. I know Coach Salisu Yusuf is well-informed in the domestic league and has assembled the best players in the league, and I can also see that the other members of the technical crew are positioned to help the Head Coach.”

    The former Lazio player featured in the team’s first friendly match against Mahanaim FC which the Eagles came from two goals down to win 3-2.

    “It was a very good test for the Eagles. They are preparing for a very big game and I liked the level of the game. We had to fight back to win,” he said about the game.

    Onazi is warming up in Abuja for another club outside the country.

    “I am actually here to collect my passport to travel and then I heard the team was training here. I like the opportunity to train at this high level and so I grabbed it. It is the best way to stay fit.”

    The Eagles B have continued their build-up for the matches against the Galaxies of Ghana billed for Sunday, 28th August in Cape Coast and Saturday, 3rd September in Abuja. The winner on aggregate will qualify for Algeria 2023.

  • Algeria 2023: Adeyinka’s arrival completes Super Eagles B camp

    Algeria 2023: Adeyinka’s arrival completes Super Eagles B camp

    The arrival of goalkeeper Adeyinka Adewale at the Bolton White Apartments in Abuja on Sunday afternoon has completed the body of invited players to the camp of the Super Eagles B, as Head Coach Salisu Yusuf and his assistants perfect strategies for the African Nations Championship qualifying match against Ghana in a fortnight.

    The Akwa United FC first choice goalkeeper got clearance from the team’s management to sort out a few family matters before joining his teammates. The goalkeeper who was in the Super Eagles A squad for the friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador earlier in the year, as well as the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe in the month of June was full of elan and zest on arrival.

    Head Coach Yusuf on August 8 called to camp 35 players to battle for shirts ahead of the 2023 African Nations Championship qualifying fixture.

    The first set of 31 players arrived at the Bolton White Apartments on Wednesday, 10th August while the other three joined the following day.

    The Eagles B will square up to the Black Galaxies in the first leg in Cape Coast on Sunday, 28th August with the return encounter billed for the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday, 3rd September.

    The winner on aggregate will earn a berth at the 7th African Nations Championship finals to be staged in Algeria early next year.

    The players will resume full training on Monday, 15th August after being allowed rest on Sunday.

    ALL THE PLAYERS IN CAMP:

    Goalkeepers: Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Adeyinka Adewale (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC); Nathaniel Nwosu (Flying Eagles)

    Defenders: Tope Olusesi (Rangers Int’l); Kazie Enyinnaya (Rivers United); Sani Faisal (Katsina United); Samson Gbadebo (Akwa United); Ebube Duru (Rivers United); Christopher Nwaeze (Akwa United); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Tosin Adegbite (Enyimba FC); Temple Emekayi (Rivers United); Andrew Ikefe (Plateau United)

    Midfielders: Babatunde Bello (Akwa United); Philip Ozor (Enyimba FC); Maurice Chukwu (Rivers United); Hafeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Zulkifilu Mohammed (Plateau United); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Jide Fatokun (Kwara United); Kenechukwu Agu (Rangers Int’l); Joseph Onoja (Rivers United); Haggai Katoh (Plateau United); Uche Onwuasonaya (Rivers United)

    Forwards: Abdulazeez Yusuf (Gombe United); Sadiq Abubakar (Enyimba FC); Chidiebere Nwobodo (Rangers Int’l); Promise Amadi (Akwa United); Chijioke Akuneto (Rivers United); Valentine Odoh (Abia Warriors); Andy Okpe (Remo Stars); Adams Yakubu (Akwa United); Godspower Aniefiok (Kano Pillars); Ossy Martins (Rangers Int’l)