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Tag: CAF

  • CAF Champions League: How Nigerian clubsides impressed

    CAF Champions League: How Nigerian clubsides impressed

    Nigeria  Professional Football  League (NPFL) Champions, Rivers United showed class over reigning CAF Champions League holders Wydad Casablanca in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    The Port Harcourt-based side were 2-1 winners over the defending champions on Sunday.

    Motivated  by a $40,000-a-man promise by Governor Nyesom Wike  if they reach the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition, the Nigerian champions came from behind to grab the win, putting them in good stead for the return leg in the North African nation of Morocco.

    Senegalese forward, Sambou struck in the 32nd minute to give Wydad the lead. But Rivers United levelled the score line, just two minutes later via a Malachi Ohawume’s  goal.

    Rivers United forward, Paul Acquah scored in the 53rd minute to put the home side up and send the spectators at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt into wild jubilations.

    Similarly at the M.KO. Abiola Stadium,  Abuja, Plateau United conceded first against Esperance with Anice Badri finding the net after 27 minutes. Ifeanyi Emmanuel put the Peace Boys back on level terms seven minutes later as the Tunisians were unable to deal with Daniel Itodo’s long throw-in. On the stroke of half time, Mustapha Yuga put the home team ahead and that served as the winner of the thrilling encounter.

    Recall that Nigeria’s only representative in the CAF confederations cup Kwara United also defeated RS berkane or Morocco by 3-1 in Lagos to put one leg in the group stage.

    All the reverse fixtures will be played next weekend away from homes.

     

  • CAF withdraws 2025 AFCON hosting rights from Guinea

    CAF withdraws 2025 AFCON hosting rights from Guinea

    Guinea has been stripped of the rights to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Saturday.

    This development means fresh bidding for the tournament’s hosting rights is set to be reopened on Saturday.

    The rights withdrawal followed a meeting on Friday in Conakry between Guinea’s interim president, Col. Mamady Doumbouya, and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

    The meeting had discussed the withdrawal after the west African country, among the poorest of the continent, said it was not ready to host the 24-nation tournament.

    Guinea’s inability was due to its infrastructure and facilities not being ready to host a world-class AFCON competition.

    Motsepe was accompanied during his meeting with the Guinean leader by CAF General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba.

    The development is expected to ginger Guinea into working towards bidding with other competing nations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    The 2022 edition of CHAN is being hosted by Algeria in 2023.

    The CAF Executive Committee will be meeting on Saturday in Algiers, Algeria and will take a decision to re-open the bidding process for the 2025 AFCON.

    The 2023 AFCON is already scheduled to hold in Côte d’Ivoire.

  • CAF disqualifies Volcan Club de Moroni from Champions League

    CAF disqualifies Volcan Club de Moroni from Champions League

    The Interclub Organising Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disqualified Volcan Club de Moroni from the ongoing 2022/2023 CAF Champions League.

    The club from Comoros were disqualified after they failed to arrive and honour their Champions League first preliminary round fixture.

    They were to play against hosts La Passe FC of Seychelles.

    After the conclusion of the preliminary first round matches, their case was brought before the committee which went on to apply the competition’s Regulations, basing its decision on Article IX 10.5.

    The Article reads: “It is the duty of the visiting team to organise its travel arrangements in a way that permits it to arrive in the venue of the match at a reasonable time ahead of the scheduled date of the match.”

    La Passe FC have now automatically progressed to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

    NAN

  • Continental Football: Three Nigerian teams progress, Remo Stars lose

    Continental Football: Three Nigerian teams progress, Remo Stars lose

    Three out of four Nigerian club sides are through to the next round of CAF competitions on the continent.

    Rivers United lost 0-1 to Watanga of Liberia but qualified for the next stage of the CAF Champions League after defeating the same opponent in the first leg 3-0.

    Farsedu Logan scored the only goal of the game from the spot on 16 minutes.

    Stanley Eguma’s side will face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the first round on October 7th.

    The country’s other representative in the CAF Champions League, Plateau United also scaled through to the next after a 1-0 win against Stade Mandji of Gabon at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    Haggai Katoh netted the winning goal for the home team in the 63rd minute.

    Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side won the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

    They will slug it out with Tunisia’s Esperance in the second round of the Champions League qualification series.

    Kwara United is the last Nigerian club side to book a place in the second round of the confederations cup after playing out a goalless draw with AS Douanes of Niger Republic.

    The Ilorin-based club side had already won 3-0 in the first leg of the encounter to progress on a 3-0 aggregate scoreline.

    They will battle Berkane of Morocco in the second round of the competition.

    However, Remo stars of Ogun state failed to secure qualification after losing 0-1 to FAR of Morocco at the Remo Stars stadium.

    The result meant just three Nigerian teams will progress to the next round of the competition.

  • Rivers United, Kwara United win big in CAF competitions

    Rivers United, Kwara United win big in CAF competitions

    One of Nigeria’s representatives on the continent, Rivers United thrashed visiting Watanga FC of Liberia 3-0 in the first leg of the CAF  Champions League encounter at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    Plateau United striker, Kenechukwu Agu scored in the 8th minute before the goal was doubled on the 18th minute.

    Black Stars of Ghana defender, Paul Acquah added the third goal in first minute of added time to put the game beyond the reach of the Liberians.

    All three goals came in the first half of the game.

    Meanwhile Nigeria Representative in the CAF confederations cup, Kwara United secured a home win after defeating AS Douanes of Niger Republic by 3-0 .

    Kwara United will play the return leg of the encounter in Niger Republic in a forthnight.

    Earlier Plateau United secured one point after playing out a 2-2 drae with Gabonese side AS Manji.

  • Bayelsa Queens to know opponents as CAF Champions League draws holds on Friday

    Bayelsa Queens to know opponents as CAF Champions League draws holds on Friday

    Bayelsa Queens of Nigeria will know its group stage opponents in the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League on Friday.

    According to a statement on CAF’s official website, the draw ceremony will take place at the Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Rabat, Morocco.

    The Nigerian Champions earned a place in the group stage after coming out tops at the WAFU B Women’s Champions League in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire last weekend.

    Bayelsa Queens defeated Ampem Darkoa Ladies of Ghana 3-0 to win the maiden edition of the tournament in Cote D’Ivoire.

    .Seven other teams will participate in the tournament scheduled to hold from October 31 to November 13 in Morocco.

    The teams are Green Buffaloes of Zambia, Determine Girls FC of Liberia, and Simba Queens FC of Tanzania.

    Others are  Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, AS FAR of Morocco, and Wadi Degla of Egypt.

    This is the first time that the women’s edition of the CAF Champions League will be organized on the continent.

  • NFF Election: Akinwunmi lists 4-point agenda to lift Nigerian football

    NFF Election: Akinwunmi lists 4-point agenda to lift Nigerian football

    The 1st Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi, on Sunday unveiled a 4-point agenda of his bid to become the President of the the body in the September presidential election.

    Akinwunmi revealed the 4-point agenda at a media interactive session held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Lagos.

    The NFF 1st Vice President has declared to run for the NFF presidency scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30, in Benin-City, Edo State.

    Akinwunmi is hoping to take over the baton from the incumbent, Amaju Pinnick, who came into office eight years ago

    Akinwunmi who doubles as the Chairman, Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) said that as an experienced football administrator, he possessed the right credentials to take over the mantle of leadership at the NFF.

    “I am equipped for this job; I have gone through all the cadre of football administration in Nigeria.

    “I started as a grassroots mobiliser, after which I served as the Legal Adviser on Football matters in Lagos State and also appointed into the Presidential Football Development by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “I was also appointed as the Legal Adviser to the then Minister of Sports on Football matters and I intervened when FIFA wanted to ban Nigerian Football over some infraction.

    “I was elected as the Chairman of LSFA and during this time I initiated many projects like, Eko Football Festival, Soccerres and the CAF Beach Soccer in Nigeria and then, the 1st VP of NFF,” he said.

    Akinwunmi said as an administrator, he had been the light of moving the football administration forward in Nigeria.

    “I came through the ranks to the top hierarchy in Nigerian football and the present board has come a long way from where we met the football administration.

    “There are some things we have done right and also things we need to improve upon, I know that history will be our judge. I take responsibility for anything we did not do well and glory for things well done.

    “The past circumstances should not hinder me to drive my passion to reach the goals I think Nigerian Football can get to as I will bring my all to the administration of Nigerian football.

    “My desire is to put Nigerian Football at par with any competing football federation in the world,” he said.

    Akinwunmi also gave the 4-point agenda which are based on football development, business of football, infrastructure and technology.

    “I desire to achieve my ambition in NFF on four pillars. The first is football development, which includes grassroots restructuring and development of the league.

    “Second is the business of football, such as investments that can yield return, we also need partners and sponsorships which is the icing on the cake and not the cake itself.

    “Thirdly, infrastructure, we need to encourage people to invest in the league by building small stadium, which they can improve upon, and also in housing scheme,” he said.

    “Fourth is the use of technology for match tickets, to identify the hooligans from the genuine fans,” he said.

  • 2025 AFCON: CAF strips Guinea of hosting right, Nigeria set to benefit

    2025 AFCON: CAF strips Guinea of hosting right, Nigeria set to benefit

    Insinuations are rife that the Confederation of Africa Football, (CAF) has stripped Guinea of the 2025 AFCON hosting right.

    The decision and subsequent announcement were made at the CAF secretariat in Cairo, Egypt after due consultations.

    CAF announced Guinea as the tournament’s host on November 30, 2018, but the continent’s football body has withdrawn the mandate after the Executive Committee approved the decision to strip Guinea of the hosting rights.

    CAF said that considering happenings and preparations so far on the ground and time frame, Guinea is not prepared to host the continent’s most glamorous competition.

    The Guinean government was toppled sometime a few months ago by the country’s military and the west African country is still very much unsettled.

    However, there are indications that Nigeria and Republic du Benin  may get the nod.

    “The Executive Committee was unanimous that Guinea will not be ready to host the competition.

    “The Executive Committee took a unanimous decision based on the report as submitted that the tournament is withdrawn from Guinea.

    “The President suggested that a delegation be sent to Guinea to inform them of the decision taken by EXCO.

    “Resolution: The Executive Committee resolved to send a delegation to Guinea to inform them of CAF’s decision to withdraw the Africa Cup of Nations Guinea 2025 from Guinea,” CAF noted in a release made available to the media.

    Recall that President of Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) Amaju Pinnick had hinted a few weeks ago that Nigeria and neighbour Benin Republic could get the hosting right of the tournament.

    However, CAF hasn’t officially announced the new host of the tournament but plans to reveal it in due course.

    CAF has not however made any official statement on the replacement if Guinea loses the hosting rights.

  • AFCON Qualifiers: CAF postpones Nigeria, Guinea Bissau match

    AFCON Qualifiers: CAF postpones Nigeria, Guinea Bissau match

    The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has postponed Nigeria’s AFCON double header qualifier games against Guinea Bissau due to some circumstantial issues.

    The second phase of the AFCON qualifiers was originally scheduled for September, but it suffered a postponement with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar holding for the first time in the winter. it will hold between November and December 2022.

    According to a statement released by CAF  matchdays three and four that were initially scheduled for September have now been pushed to March 2023 to allow African teams that have qualified for the 2022 World Cup to prepare adequately.

    Recall that the 2023 AFCON billed to hold in Cote d’ Ivoire has been postponed to January 2024 because of the weather conditions in that country.

    “The Confederation of African Football Executive Committee has approved a revised Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 revised qualification calendar,” read part of the statement on CAF’s official website.

    “This was necessitated by the Executive Committee’s commitment to making room for the African nations that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in November/ December 2022 to prepare adequately.”

    The statement continued: “Consequently, the September 2022 Africa Cup of Nations match day three and match day four qualifiers have been moved to March 20-28, 2023.

    “Match-day five will now be on June 12-20, 2023 while match day six will be played on September 4-12, 2023.”

    24 teams will qualify to compete at the 2024 AFCON slated for  Cote d Ivoire in January- February  2024.

  • AFCON 2025: CAF dismisses Nigeria/Benin Republic Joint bid

    AFCON 2025: CAF dismisses Nigeria/Benin Republic Joint bid

    The Confederation of African Football CAF has dismissed reports that Guinea will be stripped of the 2025 AFCON hosting rights and given to Nigeria/Benin Republic.

    It was gathered that football stakeholders have been doubting the readiness of Guinea to stage the biennial events.

    Recall that the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick on Tuesday said Nigeria and its neighbor the Benin Republic are set to take over from Guinea.

    CAF top official who remained anonymous told BBC Sports Africa that Guinea remained the host.

    “We’ve not discussed anything about a replacement or received any communication from Guinea about the inability to host. At this very moment, everything is on track for Guinea to host and there is no reason to suggest otherwise,” he told BBC Sports Africa

    Nigeria last hosted AFCON in 2000 when they co-hosted with Ghana.

    Meanwhile, CAF has postponed the 2023 AFCON  billed for Cote d’ Ivoire to January 2024, it remains unclear if the 36th edition will hold in 2025 or not.