The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AFCON

  • NTA secures right to transmit all AFCON matches

    NTA secures right to transmit all AFCON matches

    The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has announced that it has obtained the rights to broadcast the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to commence on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

    The NTA made this known on its official X account on Wednesday, January 10, stating that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Afro Sports to transmit the 52 matches at the tournament.

    Read Also: Six alternative channels to watch AFCON 2023 matches

    The Africa’s largest TV network tweeted, “NTA signs Memorandum of Understanding with Afro Sports for transmission of 52 matches of Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire,” the statement read.

    The Nation had reported that Multichoice, the parent company of DStv, last wednesday, said the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament would not be broadcasted on its platform.

  • AFCON 2023: Sanwo-Olu hosts Super Eagles in Lagos

    AFCON 2023: Sanwo-Olu hosts Super Eagles in Lagos

    The Super Eagles on Tuesday, January 9, had a dinner with the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu before departing for Côte d’Ivoire for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

    The team arrived at the State House in Marina about 10pm. 

    They were in high spirits, dressed in tops inscribed with the slogan ‘Let’s do it again’. 

    Read Also: FULL LIST: 24 teams participating in AFCON 2023

    President of  Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and his immediate predecessor, Amaju Pinnick as well as former Nigeria international and Green Eagles captain Dr. Segun Odegbami and several  other board members of the  current NFF Board , were on hand to welcome the team with the Governor Sanwo-Olu.

    Coach Jose Peseiro and other members of the technical team were also in attendance at the event. 

    Leceister City’s forward Kelechi Iheanacho was absent bu it was gathered he would join the team in Côte d’Ivoire.

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  • FULL LIST: 24 teams participating in AFCON 2023

    FULL LIST: 24 teams participating in AFCON 2023

    The 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will begin on Saturday, January 13.

    West African giants, Ivory Coast, who are the host nation for the 2023 AFCON, will be opening the competition with their match against Guinea-Bissau.

    The competition will take place from 13 January to 11 February, 2024.

    Senegal are the defending champions after beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the 2021 AFCON final.

    Here are the 24 teams participating in AFCON 2023

    1. Ivory Coast,

    2. Guinea-Bissau,

    3. Nigeria,

    4. Equatorial Guinea,

    Read Also: 2023 AFCON:  Two-star Guinea beat Eagles in final warm up

    5. Egypt,

    6. Mozambique,

    7. Ghana,

    8. Cape Verde,

    9. Senegal,

    10. Gambia,

    11. Cameroon,

    12. Guinea,

    13. Algeria,

    14. Angola,

    15. Burkina Faso,

    16. Mauritania,

    17. Mali,

    18. South Africa,

    19. Tunisia,

    20. Namibia,

    21. Morocco,

    22. Tanzania,

    23. Zambia and

    24. DR Congo.

  • CAF jacks up AFCON prize money to $7m

    CAF jacks up AFCON prize money to $7m

    · Super Eagles to get owed allowances

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a 40 per cent increase in the prize money for the Winner of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

    CAF said on its official website that the winner of the TotalEnergies AFCON will receive seven million dollars.

    It said the runner-up will now get 4 million dollars while each of the two Semi-finalists will receive 2.5 million dollars and each of the four Quarter-finalists will get 1. 3 million dollars.

    The President of CAF, Patrice Motsepe said: “CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the prize money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions.

    “We have increased the prize money of the AFCON Winner to seven million dollars which is a 40 per cent increase from the previous prize money.

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    “I am confident that a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our member associations with their administrations, ”he said.

    In a related development, NFF will reportedly deliver a massive cash boost for the Super Eagles by clearing all bonuses and allowances of the team’s 26 matches that have been outstanding since 2021.

    These bonuses and allowances date back over three years covering 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFCON qualifiers and include a long list of friendly matches involving the Super Eagles.

    A top sports ministry official informed SCORENigeria that these outstanding payments were covered in the budget approved by the Federal Government for the forthcoming AFCON.

    “All the bonuses and allowances pending for the team will now be cleared after this budget approval,” he reportedly said.“This will be a big incentive for the team leading up to the AFCON.”

    The Super Eagles bonuses and allowances at the 2023 AFCON are guaranteed on account of this budget approval.

    The 2023 AFCON will kick off on Jan. 13 to Feb. 11 in Cote d’ Ivoire with 24 nations participating.

  • CAF increases AFCON prize money by 40%

    CAF increases AFCON prize money by 40%

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has  announced a 40 per cent increase in the prize money for the Winner of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

    CAF said in its official website on Thursday  that the winner of the TotalEnergies AFCON will receive seven million dollars.

    It said the runner-up will now get 4 million dollars while each of the two Semi-finalists will receive 2.5 million dollars and each of the four Quarter-finalists will get 1. 3 million dollars.

    The President of CAF, Patrice Motsepe said: “CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the prize money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions.

    Read Also: Multichoice bars AFCON 2023 on SuperSport

    “We have increased the prize money of the AFCON Winner to seven million dollars which is a 40 per cent increase from the previous prize money.

    “I am confident that a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our member associations with their administrations,”he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2023 AFCON will kick off on Jan. 13  to Feb. 11 in Cote d’ Ivoire with 24 nations participating.(NAN)

  • Injury-hit Mali add two newcomers to AFCON squad

    Injury-hit Mali add two newcomers to AFCON squad

    Injury-hit Mali have named uncapped Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Boubacar Traore and Lorient striker Sirine Doucoure in their squad for this month’s African Cup of Nations finals.

    Traore, who joined Wolves from Metz in France last year after an initial loan spell, has previously played for Mali at junior level, including winning the African under-20 championship in 2019.

    Doucoure has served mainly as a substitute this season and has scored one goal in Ligue 1.

    Coach Eric Chelle, who will be without several key players in the Ivory Coast, brought in both players as replacements in his 27-man squad named ahead of the deadline.

    Read Also: JUST IN: SuperSport will not broadcast AFCON 2023 – Multichoice

    Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure misses out after having surgery on an Achilles tendon injury while Atalanta forward El Bilal Toure has still not recovered from a serious thigh injury.

    Also sidelined are Spain-based Ibrahima Kone, fullback Massadio Haidara from Racing Lens and former Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo, now at Standard Liege in Belgium.

    Mali face Guinea-Bissau in a friendly in Bamako on Saturday before heading across the border to Cote d’Ivoire  where they will begin their Group E campaign against South Africa on Jan. 16. They will also meet Tunisia and Namibia in the group stage.

    Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Doumbia (Afrique Football Elite), Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Malmo)

    Defenders: Amadou Dante (Sturm Graz), Moussa Diarra (Toulouse), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens), Boubacar Kiki Kouyate (Montpellier), Sikou Niakate (Sporting Braga), Falaye Sacko (Montpellier), Hamari Traore (Stade Rennais)

  • AFCON 2023: Wild Dogs’ Semedo confident of upsetting Nigeria, others

    AFCON 2023: Wild Dogs’ Semedo confident of upsetting Nigeria, others

    While Nigerians  dwell  on the uncoordinated Africa Cup of Nations preparation of the Super Eagles  towards the AFCON 2023,  Guinea Bissau’s midfielder Alfa Semedo  believes his side’s stability over the years can help them  ruffle some feathers in Cote d’Ivoire.

    The  Djurtus (Wild Dogs) who lost to Nigeria  in  the preliminary group match the last term at Cameroon 2021,have yet been drawn in Group A  against the Super Eagles along with  Equatorial Guinea as well as the hosts Cote d’Ivoire with whom they  begin  their campaign on January 13.

    But  the 26-year-old is determined to help propel Guinea-Bissau to the knockout stages for the first time after  playing against some of the most decorated players of all time including  Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and others in the Saudi Pro League club.

    “Last time I was locked down in my room for 10 days,” Semedo, the  Al-Tai  player told BBC Sports of his Covid-19 enforced quarantined. “It was my first Africa Cup of Nations and I didn’t get to help the team. This time, I want to be ready and I hope the coach calls on me.

    Read Also: JUST IN: SuperSport will not broadcast AFCON 2023 – Multichoice

    “It means a lot every time I play for Guinea-Bissau because this is where I grew up, watching the national team. There is nothing like playing for your country.”

    He added  that  there had  been a shift in the quality of players responding to call-ups because of the improved professionalism of Guinea-Bissau’s football federation in recent years, even as he praised  the progress of the Wild Dogs under coach  Baciro Cande who has been  in charge  since 2016.

    “Honestly, I think the most important part is organisation,” he explained. “When there is good organisation, you can bring good players in because they enjoy going to play for the national team.

    “The coach has been here for a long time and so he knows the players well,” he noted.

    “He knows the system, the organisation. He has been able to build a good dynamic with the players.

    “When someone new comes, he knows how to welcome them in. He knows the processes and he really understands us; we have a good relationship.

    “It is great because he knows the country, he feels every moment on the pitch.

    “He feels inside him that he wants to do something for our country. You can see this.”

  • Peseiro coach admits tough test awaits Super Eagles at AFCON

    Peseiro coach admits tough test awaits Super Eagles at AFCON

    Coach Jose Peseiro has reiterated his desire to win the 2023 African Cup of Nations slated to start in a few days in Cote d’Ivoire even as he admitted that winning the competition won’t be easy.

    Peseiro in an interview with NFF TV, reaffirmed what he said when he signed to become the Super Eagles to qualify the team for the AFCON and win the competition in Cote d’Ivoire.

    He noted that the Eagles would be up against difficult group A opponents with the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire having the support of their fans and Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau having commendable outings at the last AFCON in Cameroon.

    But he said with the support of Nigerians, the Super Eagles can re-enact what Nigeria did in the 1980, 1994 and 2013 editions with another title.

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    “When I signed to become the coach of the Super Eagles, the objective was to qualify for the AFCON and do well there. My goal and objective is to win the AFCON. It is not going to be easy because there are other teams that have been dubbed favourites for the trophy,” Peseiro said.”We want to repeat what Nigeria has done before but it won’t be easy right from the group stage with Equatorial Guinea getting as far as the quarter final of the last edition.

    “Cote d’Ivoire are the host and will have the support of their fans while Guinea Bissau beat the Super Eagles in Lagos during the Qualifiers even though we later topped the group.

    “We need the support of everyone. We know pressure may start coming if we fail to do well as from the first game,” he added.

    The former Venezuelan coach offered insights into the Super Eagles pre AFCON camping programme in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and the two friendly games with Cape Verde and Burkina Faso before the team jets off to Cote d’Ivoire.

    “We will go to Abu Dhabi for six days for development, process and organisation until on the eighth January.” he said.”I can change some players from the 25 man list in case of injuries or any other things from now till January 10th.”

    The Super Eagles are seeking a fourth AFCON title following previous successes in 1980, 1994 and 2013.

  • Sociedad won’t replace Umar despite AFCON duties

    Sociedad won’t replace Umar despite AFCON duties

    Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar  would surely be delighted over news that his Spanish side, Real Sociedad,  would not be busy  during the January Transfer Window while he’s on duty  with Nigeria  at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)  holding between January 13  and February 21 in Cote d’Ivoire.

    Real Sociedad  will miss services of two African players in its fold during the AFCON  after  Nigeria called up Umar and Mali included Hamari Traore in its squad. 

     The club  is also going to miss the  services of Japan international  Kubo Takefusa  who  has been invited  for the Asian Cup  holding  in Qatar  between  12 Jan  and 10 Feb 2024.

    Read Also: Super Eagles can win AFCON, says Frank Onyeka

    The coach Imanol Alguacil-led  outfit have relatively  been impressive  in the current campaign sitting  sixth in the  La Liga at the moment with  four points behind rivals Athletic Club and eight away from Barcelona in fourth  but the Txuri-Urdin (The White and Blues) have surpassed expectations  in  UEFA Champions League  where they fantastically qualified for the knockout stages as group winners.

    Some 22 players  are set  to leave La Liga  during the AFCON  but Real Sociedad  could be badly hit  since the tournament will finish just two days before the Champions League knockout stages, which could affect their clash against Paris Saint-Germain. 

    The club’s Champions League ‘s  first leg  against  away to PSG at the Parc des Princes will take place on the 14th of February, and if  Umar (Nigeria) and Traore (Mali) go all the way, then they could be without two important players for that tie. In addition, Takefusa may only finish up a day before if Japan go all the way in the Asian Cup.

    Even at that, La Real reportedly  have no plans to sign anyone during the upcoming winter transfer window with words rife  that club bosses are happy with the current squad as  they are backing on  the likes of Alvaro Odriozola, Arsen Zakharyan and Andre Silva to step up in the trio’s absence.