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Tag: CAF

  • AFCON 2023: Nigeria a country after my heart – CAF President, Patrice Motsepe

    AFCON 2023: Nigeria a country after my heart – CAF President, Patrice Motsepe

    President of The Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has heaped praises on the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their performance so far at the AFCON 2023 tournament.

    Motsepe also described Nigeria as a country after his heart.

    According to the South African, Nigeria is a beautiful country with  millions of good people doing their lawful business everywhere in the world.

    The 62-year-old made this revelation while speaking at a media parley at Palais de la Culture, Trenchielve, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire on Saturday, evening.

    Motsepe used the opportunity to address some vital issues concerning the ongoing AFCON 2023.

    He added that the 2023 AFCON has been the best in terms of Organization and even financial rewards to participating countries.

    Motsepe noted that whatever progress being recorded at the 2023 AFCON will be extended to other continental competitions like the CAF Champions League, Super League, CAN and the Women AFCON.

    He however, praised the efforts of media men on ground, saying they hace projected the image of the competition positively to the world.

    He added that CAF is studying some lapses noted in the competition and would fix them in the next competition slated for Morocco in 2025.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will slug it out with the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire on Sunday in the finals of the 2023 AFCON.

    Whilst South Africa will battle DR Congo for the third place match on Saturday.

     

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles defender, Semi Ajayi picked by CAF for drug test

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles defender, Semi Ajayi picked by CAF for drug test

    Semilogo Ajayi one of the Super Eagles outstanding defenders so far in the tournament  has revealed that he was not present for head coach Jose Peseiro’s post-game team talk after Nigeria defeated South Africa in the semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tie on Wednesday because he was being drug tested by Confederation of African Football, (CAF) officials shortly after the match.

    Ajayi put up a very impressive performance in the semi-final clash against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday night in Bouake.

    The Super Eagles won it 4-2 on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes and extra time.

    Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the game, Ajayi said:

    “I was not there [Peseiro’s team talk], I was getting tested so I missed everything,” he remarked.

    He added, “Amazing. We came here to win, we are one step away from that now.

    “As much as we need to enjoy today we need to fully focus on Sunday because we’ve got one last push to bring the Cup home to Nigeria.”

  • AFCON 2023: Prophet’ Odegbami sees Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire finale on February 11!

    AFCON 2023: Prophet’ Odegbami sees Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire finale on February 11!

    Dr. Olusegun Odegbami won the Africa Cup of Nations gold and two bronze medals in seven years of energetic and diligent service to Nigeria in international football at senior level. The team was then known as Green Eagles. He was the star of the 12th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Nigeria in 1980, scoring two excellent goals in a Final that saw Nigeria spank the Fennecs of Algeria 3-0 at the National Stadium, Lagos.

     

    During that tournament, he scored three goals, just as he did at the 1978 finals in Ghana, where Nigeria picked up bronze medals after Tunisia abandoned the classification match as a result of Baba Otu Mohammed’s equalizer. He also played at the 1976 edition in Ethiopia, where the Green Eagles finished third behind Morocco and Guinea – the only AFCON played on league basis till date.

     

    Prior to the 34th edition in Cote d’Ivoire, the one named ‘The Mathematical’ had told everyone who cared to listen that Nigeria would be champions of Africa after February 11 – the day of the Final match scheduled for the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara. Very few believed him.

     

    Even as he addressed the Super Eagles at their Pullman Hotel in Abidjan on the eve of their encounter with Guinea Bissau (final match of the group phase), some persons who were there did not quite share in his conviction that the Eagles would be champions. Today, many have been ‘converted’, and the 71-year- old legend says he is happy that things are going according to his expectations.

     

    “I said long before the finals that we would be champions of Africa. Many people thought I was just sounding off. Now, they are seeing their light. Everyone appears to believe now that the Super Eagles can do it.

     

    “Now that we are in the semi-finals, I am seeing that we are going to be playing the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire in the Final. We are beating South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire will beat Democratic Republic of Congo. The stage is set for a classic Final match on February 11.”

  • 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: 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: No Nigerian listed as CAF releases group stage best 11 (Full List)

    AFCON 2023: No Nigerian listed as CAF releases group stage best 11 (Full List)

    One of the tournament favourites, Morocco has dominated the AFCON 2023 group stage with four players, thus becoming the footballing nation with the most representatives’.

    Another title favourite and defending champion, Senegal also presented three players, whilst group A leaders, Equatorial Guinea with two, and Angola and DR Congo each contributing one player.

    The AFCON group stage 11 features no Nigerian on the list, but tournament’s current highest goal scorer, Emilo Nsue leads the pack.

     

    Below is the AFCON 2023 Starting 11

    Goalkeeper:

    Jesús Owono – Equatorial Guinea – Deportivo Alaves

     

    Defenders:

     

    • Achraf Hakimi – Morocco – PSG
    • Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal – Al-Hilal
    • Nayef Aguerd – Morocco – West Ham United
    • Arthur Masuaku – DR Congo – Besiktas

     

    Midfielders:

     

    • Azzedine Ounahi – Morocco – Olympique de Marseille
    • Sofyan Amrabat – Morocco – Manchester United
    • Lamine Camara – Senegal – FC Metz

     

    Forwards:

     

    • Gelson Dala – Angola – Al-Wakrah
    • Emilio Nsue – Equatorial Guinea – CF Inter City
    • Ismailia Sarr – Senegal – Olympique de Marseille
  • AFCON 2023: CAF gives reasons why Nigerian referees are below par

    AFCON 2023: CAF gives reasons why Nigerian referees are below par

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has explained why Nigerian referees are not selected to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and other football tournaments on the continent.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Noumandiez Desire Doue, a top official of the African soccer governing body gave the explanation.

    No Nigerian referee was selected among the officials for the biennial competition, a decision that has been debated among football stakeholders within the country.

    Doue who also doubles as CAF’s Head of Refereeing and Football Technology further explained that Nigerian referees are good but they need to do more.

    According to him, CAF goes for the best on the continent and not just average referees.

    Doue made this disclosure during an interaction with journalists at the CAF AFCON Referees’ Open Day that took place at the Asec Mimosa club’s training pitch on Thursday.

    “You have good referees in Nigeria and to come to AFCON you have to be the best.

    “Good referees are for the Zones, you have to be the best to come to the CAF Competitions.

    “Nigeria referees are improving but they need to do more to be among the best because the selection has started in the last one and a half years.

    “We are in the scouting process of evaluating and to the end of selection.

    “We have different stages, you start from young talent to elite B, elite A and professional, it’s among the elite B we picked for the AFCON”, he said.

  • 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: Why CAF banned Morocco coach, Walid Regragui

    AFCON 2023: Why CAF banned Morocco coach, Walid Regragui

    The Confederation of African Football, CAF has resealed why it banned the coach of Morocco, Walid Regragui for two games at the ongoing 2023 AFCON presently holding in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Regragui served one of the ban in Morocco’s last group game against the Chipolopolo of Zambia but his boys won 1-0.

    Regragui sat in the stands for the duration of the entire game, whilst his assistant took charge from the bench.

    According to CAF, the altercation between the captain of Democratic Republic of Congo  Chancel Mbemba during the last group F encounter between both sides led to his suspension.

    The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) revealed Regragui’s ban in a statement published on Wednesday, while confirming they intended to appeal.

    The statement said the FRMF had “decided to appeal this incomprehensible decision due to the fact that Regragui did not at any point contravene the spirit of fair play”.

    However, Regragui’s ban was effective for Wednesday’s final Cup of Nations group game against Zambia, with assistant coach Rachid Benmahmoud taking his place on the bench.

    The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists were already assured of a place in the next round before facing Zambia.

    The incident between Regragui and Mbemba came as players and staff from both sides brawled at the end of the 1-1 draw between Morocco and DR Congo in San-Pedro on Sunday,

    Regragui entered the pitch and appeared to have strong words with Marseille defender Mbemba, while also attempting to shake the player’s hand.

    The two men then had to be separated by several people.

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagles goalie, Nwabali wins CAF’s Save of the Day award

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles goalie, Nwabali wins CAF’s Save of the Day award

    Chippa united and Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, won  the Save of the Day prize in Nigeria’s win against Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.

    Recall that Nwabali made a superb save to deny Jean Philippe Krasso in the first half.

    It was the first time, the Chippa United goalie will be keeping a clean sheet in three outings for the Super Eagles.

    The 27-year-old exhibited confidence in the game despite his inexperience at the international level.

    Nwabali will hope to maintain same form when the Super Eagles confront Guinea-Bissau in their last group game.

    The game will hold at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, next week Monday.