The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Morocco 2025: Super  Eagles gave  good answer  against Uganda, says Chelle

    Morocco 2025: Super  Eagles gave  good answer  against Uganda, says Chelle

    • Officials sweat over injured  Alebiosu, Dessers

    Coach Eric Sekou Chelle has admitted that the Super Eagles did an excellent job following  their emphatic  3-1 win over the Cranes of  Uganda in their last Group C  match at the ongoing Afria Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.

    Speaking at his press conference after the team’s successive  victories at the AFCON, The 48-year-old tactician  said he’s  already  accustomed to the pressure of the Super Eagles’ job, adding the team  would keep improving  as  the tournaments  heads to the decisive knockout phase.

     “Of course, there is pressure but I’m fascinated by  that,”  the Franco Malian coach  said with  smiles. “Since we  came, I have faced a lot of pressure but I feel good because as I said the town (Fes) is perfect, the hotel is good  and the atmosphere is perfect.

    “ We are calm and if you watch the game, I I’m calm  and  just want to stay focused  during the game. I have my vision  though sometimes it’s very good and sometimes it’s very bad.”

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    Yet Chelle was full of praises  for the team’s display against  the East Africans, adding  they did a good game.

    “We work every day; the group  works and we gave  a good answer today (against Uganda)  because  the players who have not started before  started today’s match,” he  further said.

     “They showed something today  and we scored three goals ; and I’m very happy for that . now, I have a little pain  in my head  because  I have a lot of choices since anybody can play in the team ; and it’s perfect for me.

    “Of course, I’m happy over the three goals but we  have  to improve again if we want to be ambitious ; we have to keep improving.”

    Ahead of next Monday’s  Round of 16 match with the third-placed team from Group F, Chelle said the  Super Eagles  are already  at home in Fes.

    He said:  “I’m very happy to stay in Fes  because the town is good and calm; the people are very nice and I’m happy to stay here.”

    Meanwhile, officials have given  the injury updates  on the Super Eagles  with confirmation  that  Blackburn defender, Ryan Alebiosu, who made his debut  against Uganda  may have played  his last game of the tournament  after  he sustained  ‘a deep cut on his right leg’.

     While there is so much uncertainty over  Alebiosu,  striker  Cyriel Dessers reportedly  has a thigh problem and  he is scheduled for a scan today  to ascertain the severity of his injury.

  • Nigeria 3-1 Uganda: Two-goal hero Onyedika scoops Man of Match Award

    Nigeria 3-1 Uganda: Two-goal hero Onyedika scoops Man of Match Award

    Raphael Onyedika was  named the official Man of the Match after he netted twice for the Super Eagles to shoot down the Cranes of Uganda 3-1 in a final 2025 AFCON Group C clash in Fes on Tuesday.

    Read Also: PROFILES: Anthony Joshua’s two friends, Sina and Latif, who died in Monday crash

    The Club Brugge defensive midfielder struck twice in the second half after he was set up by Samuel Chukwueze as the Super Eagles crowned another dominant display to win their first round group with a perfect score of nine points. He has now scored three international goals.

    He thus becomes the third Nigerian player to win the official award after Semi Ajayi (vs. Tanzania) and Ademola Lookman (vs. Tunisia).

    Raphael Onyedika of Nigeria celebrates goal with teammates during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Uganda and Nigeria at Complexe Sportif de Fes in Fez, Morocco on 30 December 2025 © Abd El Kader Cherradi /BackpagePix
  • AFCON 2025:  Oliseh lauds Osimhen on captainship against Uganda

    AFCON 2025:  Oliseh lauds Osimhen on captainship against Uganda

    Former national team captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has  applauded Victor Osimhen’s overall  contribution as the Super Eagles  handed out a  3-1 defeat to the Cranes of Uganda in  their last Group C match at  the on-going  Africa cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco  2025.

    Osimhen who was  named as  the  Super Eagles’ vice-captain  to  Wilfred Ndidi on the eve of the  continental showpiece, skippered the team  on Tuesday in Fes-a day after his 27th birthday- and played  a pivotal role in the team’s  emphatic  win.

    Despite not been among the goals against the  East Africans, Oliseh  who captained the Super Eagles  at the 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments, said  he was impressed  with  the rare  leadership qualities displayed by the Galatasaray  striker in yesterday’s victory.

    “I’m really impressed  with  Osimhen; he’s really playing as a captain and I’m really  loving it,” Oliseh  who  served as a colour  commentator for the  tie between Nigeria and Uganda.

    Read Also: PROFILES: Anthony Joshua’s two friends, Sina and Latif, who died in Monday crash

    As a colour commentator provided expert insights, analysis and context during the live  broadcast as he filled in the gaps with strategic details, player histories and anecdotes to enrich the viewing experience beyond just describing the action.

    He further said of Osimhen :“Despite being the top striker and captain,  he has been so unselfish in this match.”

     Osimhen who had previously appeared at two previous AFCONs in 2019 and 2023, scored his first goal at the tournament  in  last Saturday’s  3-2 win over the Tunisia’s Eagles of Carthage.

  • AFCON 2025: FC Ebedei celebrates Onuachu’s, Onyedika’s  scoring feats against Uganda

    AFCON 2025: FC Ebedei celebrates Onuachu’s, Onyedika’s  scoring feats against Uganda

    FC Ebedei celebrated a monumental achievement as its products, Paul Onuachu and Raphael Onyedika, propelled Nigeria to a resounding 3-1 victory over Uganda, concluding the AFCON 2025 group phase with a perfect record of three wins out of three in Fez on Tuesday.

    Three FC Ebedei products are all participating in the AFCON, Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Frank Onyeka (Brentford -England) and Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge- Belgium).

    Both Onuachu and Onyedika, made their impactful starts in the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco. It was an emotional moment for Trabzonspor of Turkey’s lanky striker, who broke through to score Nigeria’s opening goal in the 28th minute, ending a four-year international goal drought for the Super Eagles. This marked Onuachu’s first goal since 2021 and his fourth while donning the green-white jersey.

    The Super Eagles dominated the second half, showcasing brilliance as Onyedika exploded onto the scene with a stunning brace in just five minutes, both sets of assists coming from Samuel Chukwueze. He netted his first goal of the tournament with a powerful run that doubled Nigeria’s lead against Uganda.

    He replicated this feat with his second goal, once again benefiting from Chukwueze’s precise assist to stretch Nigeria’s lead to three goals.

    Read Also: PROFILES: Anthony Joshua’s two friends, Sina and Latif, who died in Monday crash

    Onyedika has now scored three goals in his last three competitive starts for the Super Eagles, surpassing Wilfred Ndidi’s tally of just one goal in 52 competitive games.

    The Club Brugge midfielder delivered an outstanding performance, earning him the well-deserved title of Man of the Match (MOTM).

    Furthermore, with Onuachu, Onyedika, and Frank Onyeka representing the current Super Eagles at the 2025 AFCON, it’s worth noting that since 1995, Barrister Churchill Oliseh has consistently played a pivotal role in contributing players to every trophy, medal, and accolade won by Nigeria’s national football teams. Today, it is rare to find any Nigerian Premier League team that does not include a graduate of his renowned FC EBEDEI, or hasn’t benefited from its legacy in the recent past.

    Recall  that FC Ebedei burst onto the scene in 1998 but the groundwork for its establishment was laid as early as 1993.

    In the many interviews the Nigerian sporting media have had with the President of FC Ebedei, Barrister Churchill Oliseh, one of his quotes which is now a fact:  “In the last 20 years of Nigeria’s football, the success recorded by Super Eagles or the age-grade teams in any international competition has a product of FC Ebedei.”

  • Morocco 2025: Cameroon’s coach tips  Mbeumo to succeed with Indomitable Lions

    Morocco 2025: Cameroon’s coach tips  Mbeumo to succeed with Indomitable Lions

    Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo loves to play with freedom but is putting too much pressure on himself in search of success at the Africa Cup of Nations, coach David Pagou said.

    Mbeumo, who switched allegiance after playing for France as a junior, carries the hopes of Cameroon at AFCON in Morocco as they seek the African title for the first time since 2017.

    The 26-year-old Manchester United forward provided an assist for the five-times African champions in a 1-0 win over Gabon in their opening game but is yet to score.

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    “He’s putting too much pressure on himself, but I think he will manage that. He’s a great footballer, a great player, even for this country. He loves this team and really wants to commit to being as effective as possible,” he told a press conference.

    “So today, again, in our little chat with him, the desire is there, to be present, to step up, and to do great things.”

    Mbeumo has netted seven times in 29 national appearances.

    “Bryan is a player who loves freedom, he has those qualities. So we are not going to deprive him of that and stop him from expressing himself on the pitch the way he wants,” Pagou said.

    “It’s intentional that we let him express himself across the whole field. It’s true he’s had some difficulties flourishing.”

    Cameroon drew 1-1 against Cote d’Ivoire  in  their second Group F match and today,  take on Mozambique, who have already reached the knockout stage.

    “We will play without complexes, but we must respect this opponent, which is improving and recently beat Gabon,” Pagou said.

  • AFCON 2025: Eyes on goalkeeper Zidane as  Algeria face Guinea today

    AFCON 2025: Eyes on goalkeeper Zidane as  Algeria face Guinea today

    Algeria will be looking to make it a perfect Africa Cup of Nations group phase when they face Equatorial Guinea  today, particularly if they keep another clean sheet as goalkeeper Luca Zidane shines in Morocco.

    The two-time African champions started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Sudan followed by a 1-0 victory against Burkina Faso to secure top spot in Group E in which Zidane made crucial saves to keep Vladimir Petkovic’s side in the game.

    Algeria kept one clean sheet in their previous six games at AFCON, where they were eliminated in the group stage in 2021 and 2023 respectively after being crowned African champions in the 2019 edition in Egypt.

    However, since Luca Zidane, son of French World Cup-winning great Zinedine, switched international allegiance in September after playing for France as a junior, Algeria have kept two clean sheets in three games with him in all competitions.

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    The 27-year-old Granada goalkeeper has adapted quickly since becoming first choice, Petkovic remarked.

    “Zidane contributed significantly to both victories. He began to integrate and gain experience in a short period of time,” the coach said.

    Despite only being with the team since October, Zidane has not been shy about instructing his new teammates, defender Rayan Ait-Nouri said.

    “Luca is a fantastic person. He integrated quickly into the group, he’s very talkative on the pitch, and he gives us great support. He’s a player and a person who fits the team perfectly,” Ait-Nouri added.

    Another clean sheet should not be too difficult against an Equatorial Guinea side who have been eliminated from the tournament having scored once in two games.

  • AFCON 2025: Injured Aubameyang to miss international swansong with Gabon

    AFCON 2025: Injured Aubameyang to miss international swansong with Gabon

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s international career looks to have ended with a whimper as he headed back to France on Tuesday and will miss Gabon’s last game at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

    After losing their opening two matches in Group F to Cameroon and Mozambique, Gabon have been eliminated with one match left to play against holders Cote d’Ivoire in Marrakech.

    At the age of 36, it was expected the clash against the Ivorians would bring down the curtain on his 16-year international career but he will skip the last group game as he returns to his club Olympique de Marseille.

    A thigh injury on the eve of the tournament in Morocco meant his participation was in doubt, but he came on after 30 minutes against Cameroon in Gabon’s opening game on Christmas Eve and played the full game against Mozambique on Sunday, scoring in the 3-2 defeat.

    “Following the established medical protocol between Marseille and Gabon medical staff regarding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, clinical examinations were conducted daily,” said a statement on Tuesday from the Gabon football federation.

    “The most recent examination confirmed the discomfort he experienced in his left thigh the day after the Gabon-Mozambique match. Given the disappointing results, which cut short Gabon’s participation, the medical staff, in consultation with his club, agreed to protect the player’s physical well-being by exempting him from the final, inconsequential match.”

    Aubameyang has long been Gabon’s talisman, electing to play for the team his father had captained, even after playing for France, where he was born, at junior level.

    He made his debut for Gabon in 2009, scoring against Morocco in a World Cup qualifier, and went on to win 82 caps and score 39 goals.

    Aubameyang helped Gabon reach the Cup of Nations quarter-final when they hosted the tournament in 2012 but was the only player to fail to convert his penalty in a post-match shootout loss to Mali.

    The tournament in Morocco was Aubameyang’s sixth Cup of Nations finals appearance. He was African Footballer of the Year in 2015.

    Earlier this year, he helped Gabon finish as one of the four best runners-up in the World Cup qualifiers, including four goals in the game against Gambia in October. Gabon, however, lost in last month’s Africa playoffs, ending hopes of qualifying for a first-ever World Cup finals appearance in North America next June.

  • Morocco 2025: Diallo & Co brace up for Gabon clash

    Morocco 2025: Diallo & Co brace up for Gabon clash

    Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon will compete in their final Group F assignment at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations this week, with the game set to commence at Stade de Marrakech tonight.

    As it stands, Cote d’Ivoire  occupy top spot in Group F following their 1-1 draw with Cameroon during matchday two.

    Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon share an identical record of four points after two matches played, while a win against Gabon would secure their ticket into the next phase of the showpiece.

    Gabon on the other hand, have already been eliminated from the AFCON following their 3-2 defeat against Mozambique at Stade Adrar on Sunday. The Panthers are fourth in Group F, with two losses from their opening set of fixtures.

    The Elephants are in the running to claim their fourth AFCON title, while they remain one of the favourites this year as the reigning kings of African football.

    Read Also: PROFILES: Anthony Joshua’s two friends, Sina and Latif, who died in Monday crash

    Reflecting on Cote d’Ivoire’s campaign following their draw with Cameroon, the Elephants coach Emerse Faé believes that his side needs to be more efficient in seeing out games.

    “It’s for matches like these that we love the CAN—a hard-fought contest. Both teams brought intensity, created chances, and no one shut the game down,” Faé said.

    “A fair draw against a compact Cameroon side that challenged us tactically. I’m satisfied with the performance, with the result. My only regret from this match: we lacked a bit of guile after our goal.

    “Instead of going after them, we should have slowed the tempo, let the clock run down, forced Cameroon to open up and expose space, and then taken advantage. We conceded their goal too soon.”

  • DR Congo beat Botswana 3-0 to set up Algeria last-16 showdown

    DR Congo beat Botswana 3-0 to set up Algeria last-16 showdown

    Gael Kakuta scored two goals and laid on another as the Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Botswana 3-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash in Rabat on Tuesday, and in doing so set up a last 16 clash with Algeria on January 6.

    The Congolese finished level on seven points with Senegal at the top of the standings, but their inferior goal difference means they have to settle for second place in the pool and a meeting with the in-form 2019 winners in the knockout round.

    Nathanael Mbuku scored the game’s opener, set up by Kakuta’s back heel pass, before the latter netted a penalty and then a third for his side from close range in a comfortable win.

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    Botswana were already eliminated from the tournament heading into the match and have now lost all six of their Cup of Nations matches following their second appearance at the continental finals.

    DR Congo took the lead on the half-hour mark when Mbuku played a neat one-two with Kakuta, the latter returning the ball with a clever backheel, before Mbuku slotted the ball in at the near post.

    The Congolese were then awarded a penalty when Botswana defender Thabo Leinanyane handled the ball from Meschack Elia’s cross and Kakuta converted the spot-kick.

    Kakuta netted his second goal in the 60th  minute as he controlled Theo Bongonda’s pass and under no pressure from the Botswana defence, finished from seven yards.

    Congo had the ball in the back of the net again when Fiston Mayele rose to deflect the ball in, but a Video Assistant Referee review suggested he used his arm to direct the ball into the net.

  • Edun, Olopade sympathize  with  Joshua after road accident

    Edun, Olopade sympathize  with  Joshua after road accident

    The President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation and Honourable Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun , alongside the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, have expressed deep condolences to global boxing icon Anthony Joshua and the families of victims following a tragic road accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

    In a condolence message issued on behalf of the Nigerian boxing community, Edun conveyed sympathy to Joshua and the bereaved families, describing the loss of life as deeply distressing. He offered prayers for comfort and healing during the difficult period.

    The message read: “On behalf of the entire Nigerian Boxing family, I express my deepest condolences to our national treasure Anthony Joshua and the families of the two individuals who passed away. The loss of life is always deeply distressing, and our thoughts and prayers are with you, Anthony and the affected families at this difficult time.

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    “As a boxing community we pray for your speedy recovery and that the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.”

    Similarly Olopade, expressed profound sympathy to y Joshua and the families of the victims involved in the fatal accident, which occurred on Monday, December 29, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

    Olopade paid a visit to the former world heavyweight champion on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the entire staff of the NSC.

     He described the incident as tragic and deeply saddening, while thanking God for Joshua’s survival. Sadly, the accident claimed the lives of Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and his personal trainer, Kevin Latif Ayodele.

    The statement reads:  “On behalf of the National Sports Commission and the entire Nigerian sports family, I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate accident,” Hon. Olopade said.

     “We thank God for the life of Anthony Joshua. Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he recovers, and we wish him a full and speedy return to good health.”