The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AFCON

  • Russia 2018: Nigeria deserves to be in the World Cup – Green

    Russia 2018: Nigeria deserves to be in the World Cup – Green

    Chris Green, member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said on Monday that the Super Eagles worked hard and deserved to be at the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Nigeria topped group b with 14 points to qualify for the World Cup. Other countries in the group, tagged the group of death are, Algeria, Cameroon, and Zambia.

    Green, the chairman, player’s status of the Federation, said this in Lagos that comments made by Stuart Baxter, Coach of the South African national team about Nigeria were unfair.

    Baxter, in a post-match reaction after losing 2-0 to Senegal, said that Nigeria and Senegal are not better than South Africa.

    “ Maybe, I am being blue-eyed, but I don`t think Senegal or even Nigeria were much better than us,” Baxter said.

    Green said that he sympathized with the South African coach for his inability to qualify the team for the World Cup.

    “ First of all, I sympathize with Stuart Baxter for his inability to qualify South Africa to play in the World Cup. He tried very much for his team, but, it did not work out.

    “ But as sportsmen, he cannot say that a team that qualified ahead of you, that you are better than that team,” he said.

    According to Green, there is no reason to say that South Africa is better than Nigeria when Nigeria qualified ahead of them.

    “ The World Cup is bigger than AFCON, CHAN, and so, it is the biggest stage and so, you cannot rightly say that you are better than Nigeria, that is not right, and that is not sportsmanly.

    “Much as one will want to respect the South African team, as one of the teams that are emerging in African football, it will not be right for anybody to say that his team is better than the other team,” he said.

    Green stressed the need for coaches to show respect to one another adding that he did not expect a coach like Baxter to make such comments.

    “ We should remember that Nigeria is the first in Africa to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

    Read Also:  Nigeria 1-1 Algeria: Super Eagles Finish 2018 W/Cup Qualifiers Unbeaten

  • Kenya Forfeits AFCON Hosting Right, CAF Shops for New Country

    Kenya Forfeits AFCON Hosting Right, CAF Shops for New Country

    Confederation of African Football (CAF) is now faced with getting a new host country for  the January 2018 African Nations Championship.

    This development came as Kenya were stripped on Saturday of the right to host the African Nations Championship after CAF executive committee meeting in Accra.

    The decision was announced at a media conference after a one-day meeting of the African football “cabinet” headed by President Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar.

    Slow preparations for the January 12/February 4 tournament led to a decision widely anticipated for several weeks.

    A CAF inspection team departed Kenya in September to report that only one of the four venues was ready to stage the tournament restricted to home-based footballers.

    Some CAF officials in Accra also expressed concern about the political situation in Kenya, where recently annulled presidential elections are set to be rerun late October.

    It is the second time the regional economic powerhouse has lost the right to stage a CAF competition after being replaced by South Africa as 1996 Africa Cup of Nations hosts.

    Kenya would have been the second successive east African country to stage the CHAN after Rwanda in 2016.

    Other hosts since the 2009 inception of the Nations Championship were the Ivory Coast, Sudan and South Africa.

    There has been media speculation that Morocco or South Africa may replace Kenya.

    Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia have qualified for the 2018 finals.

    Kenya completed the line-up as the host nation — a position they now forfeit.

  • Eagles defeat stuns stakeholders day after

    Eagles defeat stuns stakeholders day after

    Some football enthusiasts are still shell-shocked to find words to describe the Super Eagles defeat by Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the campaign to qualify for the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

    Según Odegbami, a former Green Eagles player told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that he was yet to find words to explain what went wrong.

    “Honestly I’d be lying if I said anything much concerning this match. I can’t comprehend what really happened.

    “It’s so sad that we lost on our own turf. Nothing could salvage it,’’ he said.

    Nduka Ugbade, Captain of the U-16 squad that won the 1985 FIFA Championship also told NAN that he was still in shock.

    “I don’t know what to say. It’s very sensitive. As passionate as I’m  about football, I can’t tell you exactly how I feel. I am still in a state of shock.

    “I know so many football fans will take a long while to get over this loss and I’m certainly not an exception,’’ he added.

    Bright Omokaro, a former Super Eagles defender told NAN that the players’ fitness level was low.

    “If you watch the match, you will understand that the players were not fit at all, apart from inexperience and all. It was sad to watch.

    “Even the technical crew, it wasn’t like they knew what they were doing. After the first half, I was expecting some drastic change,  but the match went on without much difference. It’s sad,’’ he said.

    Super Eagles lost 0-2 in its bid to qualify for the 2019 Nations Cup.

    The Nigerian team last qualified for Africa’s most prestigious tournament in 2013, which they won.

  • AFCON Qualifiers: Cape Verde vs. Uganda postponed for 24 hours

    AFCON Qualifiers: Cape Verde vs. Uganda postponed for 24 hours

    The‎ Group L Day One clash between Cape Verde and Uganda, originally scheduled for Saturday in Praia, has been postponed for 24 hours.

    The decision was taken by the Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to the difficulties faced by the Ugandan team in arriving in Praia.

    The ‎flight of the Ugandan team did not take off as expected from Dakar in Senegal, where they held a training camp, due to a technical problem.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the situation constitutes a case of force majeure.

    The match will therefore take place on Sunday at the same‎ time and venue with the same officials.

  • Fans liken Eagles’ 2-0 loss to earthquake

    Fans liken Eagles’ 2-0 loss to earthquake

    Uyo fans have said the Super Eagles’ 2-0 loss to Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the 2019 AFCON qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium struck them as an earthquake.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after watching the match on Saturday, the Secretary of Akwa Ibom  Football Association, Joseph Eberefe, said that the loss struck him “like earthquake”.

    “It is disappointing, we did not expect this, it is very frustrating.

    “The absence of regular players like Victor Moses, Mikel Obi and the others were felt on the pitch,

    “These ones have tried but they are not experienced as the usual Eagles players,” Eberefe said.

    In his reaction, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, said that he was short of words to describe the shock of the loss.

    “I cannot comment, it is simply no comment from me,” Luke said.

    Former Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Uwem Udoma, said that the Eagles’ performance disappointed the entire fans.

    “We should always use the best, we should not use our second eleven and expect to win.

    “This is a lesson for Nigeria to do enough to defend well and win its matches.

    “Our goalkeeper is inexperienced, he left the goalpost and caused the second goal,” Udoma said.

    He, however, said that football was a game and the fans enjoyed themselves during the match.

    Another fan, Tom Odiong, said that the South African team was technically better than the Eagles players.

    “We missed Victor Moses and Mikel Obi in the match, their experience matters,” Odiong said.

    NAN reports that Bafana Bafana team scored in the 56th minute and 83rd  minutes by  Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau respectively.

    The South African second goal sent cold shivers on football fans while some of them left the stadium abruptly in frustration with sighing on their lips.

  • AFCON qualifiers: Bafana Bafana arrives Wednesday

    AFCON qualifiers: Bafana Bafana arrives Wednesday

    • As Eagles commence training

    The South African Football Association has confirmed that the Bafana Bafana delegation will fly to Nigeria on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles slated for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

    Meanwhile, 21 invited  Super Eagles players, alongside their  technical crew and backroom staff, have commenced training sessions today ahead of  Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    Although the Bafana Bafana have never beaten the Super Eagles in a competitive game, Nigerians would remember that a 2-2 draw at the same venue between both teams in November 2014 meant the Eagles missed the cut for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

    Tokelo Rantie scored both goals, before left –sided midfielder Sone Aluko also replied with a brace – something that is a usual occurrence in matches between both nations.

    Before Rantie and Aluko, Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), pacy wingers Tijani Babangida and Osaze Odemwingie and forwards Uche Nwofor and Ejike Uzoenyi had bagged braces in matches between both nations at senior level.

    Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, who will lead out the Super Eagles on Saturday in the absence of recuperating captain Mikel John Obi, told thenff.com on Tuesday: “It is a big game, and we are one for the big occasion.

    I have confidence in the group that we have now and the ambition oozing in the camp. We want to go to the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. Starting well on Saturday will be key to our aspiration

    Winger Ahmed Musa, who netted a brace in a 3-0 defeat of Togo in a friendly in Paris on Thursday, alongside defender Kenneth Omeruo and newly–wed wing back Elderson Echiejile were the only squad members given until Tuesday to arrive camp.

    Nigeria’s army on Saturday will include former junior international Kelechi Iheanacho, who has scored in seven of his last eight matches for the Super Eagles, as well as record scorer in the FIFA U17 World Cup, Victor Osimhen. There are also this season’s top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga, Olanrewaju Kayode, the pacy Moses Simon and the nimble –footed Alex Iwobi.

    The last outing between both teams was a friendly match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit two years ago, which ended 1-1. Ahmed Musa scored a late goal in a game in which Daniel Akpeyi (likely to start in goal for Nigeria on Saturday) saved a penalty, but there was still time for the Bafana Bafana to draw level.

    Eagles for Battle
    Daniel Akpeyi
    Ikechukwu Ezenwa
    Dele Alampasu
    Kenneth Omeruo
    William Ekong
    Abdullahi Shehu
    Tyronne Ebuehi
    Elderson Echiejile
    Chidozie Awaziem
    Maroof Youssef
    Ogenyi Onazi
    Wilfred Ndidi
    Oghenekaro Etebo
    John Ogu
    Uche Agbo
    Mikel Agu
    Alhassan Ibrahim
    Ahmed Musa
    Kelechi Iheanacho
    Moses Simon
    Alex Iwobi
    Henry Onyekuru
    Victor Osimhen
    Olanrewaju Kayode

     

    NIGERIA & SOUTH AFRICA AT SENIOR LEVEL

    10 Oct 1992: Nigeria 4 South Africa 0 – Lagos (World Cup Qualifier)
    16 Jan 1993: South Africa 0 Nigeria 0 – Jo’burg (World Cup Qualifier)
    10 Feb 2000: Nigeria 2 South Africa 0 – Lagos (AFCON semi final)
    31 Jan 2004: South Africa 0 Nigeria 4 – Monastir (AFCON group stage)
    17 Nov 2004: South Africa 2 Nigeria 1 – Jo’burg (Mandela Challenge)
    1 June 2008: Nigeria 2 South Africa 0 – Abuja (World Cup Qualifier)
    6 Sep 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 – Port Elizabeth (World Cup Qual.)
    11 Aug 2013: South Africa 0 Nigeria 2 – Durban (Mandela Challenge)
    19 Jan 2014: South Africa 1 Nigeria 3 – Cape Town (CHAN group stage)
    10 Sept 2014: South Africa 0 Nigeria 0 – Cape Town (AFCON Qualifier)
    19 Nov 2014: Nigeria 2 South Africa 2 – Uyo (AFCON Qualifier)
    29 Mar 2015: South Africa 1 Nigeria 1 – Nelspruit (Friendly)

  • Eagles are Now Battle Ready for AFCON Qualifiers – Official

    Eagles are Now Battle Ready for AFCON Qualifiers – Official

    The Super Eagles are now set to get off to a winning start in the AFCON 2019 qualifying campaign against South Africa on June 10 in Uyo.

    The National Team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye made this after the Thursday friendly match gainst the Hawks of Togo in Paris, France.

    According to Ibitoye fall outs from the match indicates that the Eagles will not settle for anything less than a winning start as the qualifiers campaigns beckon.

    He said, though the Eagles were ruthless in front of goal and so took their chances against Togo on Thursday night, which was not the case against Corsica, a team official has said.

    Nigeria raced to a 3-0 win within 30 minutes against Togo in the friendly game with Leicester City forward Ahmed Musa scored a brace and fellow Premier League star Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City bagging the third goal.

    “We took our chances, which was not the case against Corsica,” said Eagles spokesman Toyin Ibitoye.

    “There is a lot to build on, which is very positive. The long training camp in France will certainly pay off.”

    Akwa United striker Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Muazzam’ said Eagles dominated the game from start to the end.

    “We dominated the match from start to finish,” he said.

    Ibitoye said the Eagles are now set to get off to a winning start in the AFCON 2019 qualifying campaign against South Africa on June 10 in Uyo.

    “The team is now in excellent mood mentally and physically for the challenge ahead of us,” he said.

    “We want to start the AFCON qualifying campaign with a win.

    “We missed the last two AFCONs, we don’t want to miss a third one.”

  • Super Eagles Int’l friendly crucial says Disu

    Tajudeen Disu, a member of the 1983 Mexico FIFA World Youth Championship, says Super Eagles friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Senegal will be crucial in testing the fitness of the players.

    Disu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, advised the players to take the matches seriously.

    He added that the players’ fitness and current form should be well assessed.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles will be up against Senegal’s Teranga Lions on March 23 before taking on the Etalons of Burkina Faso four days later.

    Both matches will be played at The Hive, home ground of Barnet Football Club.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had said that the friendly was scheduled in preparation for the World Cup qualifier against the current AFCON champion, Cameroon in August.

    Disu said: “We have so much to gain in these friendly matches, it’s not particularly about winning, but to be assured that we have a capable team come August’’.

    When asked if the friendly was not too far from when the qualifiers would kick off in August, he said that the timeliness of the friendly matches was fair enough.

    “I believe the timing is okay as long as they can schedule another friendly match by June,’’ he said.

    Similarly, ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, advised handlers of the team to use the international friendly matches to test more players.

    Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr had listed goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and forwards Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho for the friendly matches.

    Also included are home-based goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.

    Experienced left back Elderson Echiejile, Portugal-based Chidozie Awaziem, Israel-based John Ogu and Watford FC of England forward Isaac Success are also called.

    Germany-based forward Noah Joel Bazee and Holland-based defender Tyronne Ebuehi will join up with the squad for the first time, while youngster Victor Osimhen, record top scorer at the FIFA U17 World Cup, returns.

    Shorunmu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the players should be assessed based on their performance during the friendly matches.

    The Super Eagles are ranked 41st in the world, 10 places below Senegal’s Teranga Lions and three places below the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

  • International friendly: Burkina Faso will seek revenge

    International friendly: Burkina Faso will seek revenge

    An ex-international midfielder, Waidi Akanni, says the Stallions of Burkina Faso would do everything possible to defeat the Super Eagles in their upcoming international friendly match on March 27.

    The former hinted this on Friday in Lagos that the Stallions would want to avenge their 2013 South Africa AFCON finals loss to the Super Eagles.

    “The fact that we also played them at the last Nations Cup final also mean they will want to come and take revenge.

    “So by and large I think they will want to come and play us with their full team thinking you know; it’s time for them to get revenge back on Nigeria.

    “So, it’s going to be an interesting game.’’

    Akanni, who was a member of the Flying Eagles squad that won the bronze medal at the Moscow 1985 FIFA U20 World Cup, added that the match would be a good tune-up for the Eagles.

     

  • Aftermath of 2017 AFCON: Cameroon to pocket US$4 million

    Winners at the just concluded 2017 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) held in Gabon are smiling home as  the  Confederation of Africa Football(CAF)   had reviewed the prize money for the competition.

    Champions of the tournament, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will cart home the cash prize  US$ 4 million,  which originally was  US$ 1.5 million, .However, Egypt pockets  US$ 2 million for being runners up.

    It was gathered that CAF was able to  increase the prize monies after a sponsor  French
    petroleum group Totalcame on board. The oil giant signed an eight-year contract for an estimated amount of a little over one billion dollars (EUR 915 million).

    Meanwhile, Ghana carted home  US$ 1.5 million for placing fourth at the biggest Africa football tourney.

    However, a total of nearly 16.5 million Dollars will be distributed among the 16 countries that started the tournament on 14 January.