The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)

  • Ugbade confident Eagles will impress in London

    Ex-Interational Nduka Ugbade has thrown his weight behind the Super Eagles as they gear up for the two international friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

    Ugbade made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by a telephone interview on Wednesday in Abuja.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles will engage Senegal at Barnet Football Club’s ground ‘The Hive’ on Thursday and then play the Etalons of Burkina Faso four days later.

    The two friendlies in London are being used to get the team ready for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which start in June and the resumption of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in August.

    Ugbade, the first African to lift a World Cup when he captained the U-17 to win the cadet championship in 1985, noted that the team was a mixture of young talents and experience.

    He further told NAN that the friendlies would be a good test for the Eagles, adding that Senegal and Burkina Faso were worthy adversaries.

    “I’m happy we secured the games against some of Africa’s toughest teams.

    “Senegal with all their stars will be a very good test for Nigeria, while Burkina Faso are also tough as they showed at the last Africa Cup of Nations,” Ugbade said.

    “Both teams possess technical and tactical strength as we witnessed in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

    “So, the games will help prepare the team for the tough tasks ahead as we have to do all we can to qualify for the World Cup and Nations Cup.

    “These kinds of games are good for the players and the coaches too, to enable them see areas that need to be worked on.

    “I believe Nigeria will do well in the games as the new coach, Gernot Rohr, has shown what he can do in the few games he has been in charge.”

     

  • Broos, Siasia apply for Bafana Bafana job

    Broos, Siasia apply for Bafana Bafana job

    Cameroon’s coach Hugo Broos has applied to coach South Africa, just days after winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

    The Belgian, who coached the Indomitable Lions to victory about 11 days ago, is one of over 60 applicants for the job.

    Several big names have applied, including Italians Roberto Mancini and Giovanni Trapattoni as well as Germans Lothas Matthaus and Bernd Schuster.

    Hassan Shehata, who led Egypt to three Nations Cup titles, and former Super Eagles’ coach Samson Siasia are also on the list.

    The names of the coaches were revealed by the South African Football Association (SAFA) on Thursday.

    SAFA also revealed that former internationals Lucas Radebe and Benni McCarthy would form part of the committee to find the new national coach.

    Radebe was a long-standing captain of Bafana Bafana while McCarthy, who has just completed his UEFA Pro A coaching licence, is South Africa’s record goal scorer.

    “The committee will draw up a short list, deliberate (on) it before naming the suitable candidate in (the) coming days,” a SAFA statement said.

    Clive Barker, who guided South Africa to its sole Africa Cup of Nations win in 1996, and Neil Tovey, who captained the side that day, are also on the committee.

    “We want to have the process expedited as Bafana Bafana have a bumper 2017 season in which they need to compete and qualify on three fronts,’’ said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.

    “We need the coach to be in place when we play two friendly matches in March,’’ he added.

    South Africa have to participate in the qualifying competition for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Nations Cup.

    They will also try to reach next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN), the tournament for Africans who play in their own domestic league.

    South Africa’s coaching job became vacant in December when Ephraim “Shakes’’ Mashaba was sacked for “gross misconduct.’’