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Tag: African Nations Championship

  • CHAN: 2018 finalists Morocco, Nigeria on the march again!

     

    Defending Champions of the African Nations Championship otherwise called CHAN, Morocco and finalists Nigeria begin their quest for a place in the 2020 edition on Friday.

    The two soccer power houses clashed in the finals of the 2018 edition at the Stade Hohamed V in Casablanca on the 4th of February with the hosts clinching 4 -0  victory over the Eagles.

    Can both teams make it all the way to the finals and have rematch in the 2020 edition to be hosted by Cameroon?

    Only time will tell as the qualifiers begin on Friday across the continent.  While Morocco flag off their first leg campaign against Algeria in Algiers, Nigeria will take on Togo in Lome.

    A total of 15 games will take place across the African continent on Friday with all matches set to kick-off simultaneously at 5pm.

    CHAN defending champions Morocco

    Two time champions Democratic Republic of Congo will face Central African Republic in the second round Central Zone qualifiers.

    Uganda’s Patrick Kaddu is the top scorer in qualifying with four goals and he will be hoping to add to his tally when the Cranes take on Burundi in a Central Eastern Zone clash. Sixteen teams will qualify for the championship, only Cameroon as

    hosts already have a place in the final leaving space for 15 teams to make up the list of qualified countries.

    The sixteen teams will then be pitched into four groups of four teams, with two teams emerging from each group to head into the quarterfinals.

    Nigeria finished 3rd in the 2014 edition in South Africa, exited in the group stage in the 2016 edition in Rwanda under former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh and finished as runners up in the 2018 edition in Morocco under coach Salisu Yusuf

    Friday’s Full Fixtures:

    Algeria vs Morocco

    Burundi vs Uganda

    Central African Republic vs DR Congo

    Equatorial Guinea vs Congo

    Eswatini vs Zambia

    Ethiopia vs Rwanda

    Ghana vs Burkina Faso

    Madagascar vs Namibia

    Mauritania vs Mali

    Niger vs Ivory Coast

    Senegal vs Guinea

    Tanzania vs Sudan

    Togo vs Nigeria

    Tunisia vs Libya

    Zimbabwe vs Lesotho

     

     

  • Niger 2019: Aigbogun names squad for Burundi kick off

     

    Coach of Nigeria’s Under 20 team Paul Aigbogun is finally set to begin campaign in the 2019 Under 20 Nations cup holding in Niger, after releasing his 21-man squad Wednesday.

    The squad includes captain Ikouwem Udo Utin, who won a silver medal at the African Nations Championship in Morocco last year, as well as highly-rated forwards Yahaya Nazifi and Effiom Maxwell. Also included are foreign base trio of

    Igoh Ogbu of Rosenborg, Afeez Aremu of IK Stat FC, and Nazifi, who recently signed contract with Danish club Sonderjyske.

    Nigeria has been drawn in Group A of the competition, which runs from February 2 to 17. The team will open hostilities   against Burundi on February 2, followed by games against hosts Niger and South Africa on February 5 and 8 respectively.

    Group B is made up of Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana.

    The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, as well as secure qualification for the U-20 World Cup to be held in Poland in May.

    Nigeria has won the U-20 AFCON a record seven times: 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2011 and 2015.

    Full squad:

    Goalkeepers: Akpan Udoh (Unattached); Olawale Oremade (Oasis FC); Detan Ogundare (Kogi United).

    Defenders: Mike Zaruma (Plateau United); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba International); Igoh Ogbu (Rosenburg FC, Norway); Solomon

    Ogberahwe (El-Kanemi Warriors); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba International); Olasunkanmi Aliyu (Emmanuel Amuneke Academy).

    Midfielders: Peter Eletu (Prince Kazeem Academy); Quadri Liameed (36 Lions); Aniekeme Okon (Akwa United); Jamil Muhammad (Kano Pillars); Afeez Aremu (IK Stat, Norway).

    Forwards: Adamu Alhassan (Kano Pillars); Yahaya Nazifi (Sonderjyske FC, Denmark); Ibrahim Aliyu (Oasis FC); Adeshina Gata (Wikki Tourists); Ibrahim Abubakar (Plateau United); Okoh Victor (Real Sapphire FC); Maxwell Effiom (Enyimba International).

  • Schools sports? No, future jobs

    Schools sports? No, future jobs

    Not a few were excited by the wonderful exploits of Dele Ajiboye, between the sticks, as the Nigerian Eagles brushed aside Sudan to book the final ticket — their very first — in the current African Nations Championship (CHAN).  The final is against hosts Morocco on Sunday.

    Ajiboye sure made exciting saves, in the absence of injured captain and safest pair of hands, Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

    But how many remember the no less exciting “Ajiboy”?  That was Ajiboye’s famous moniker, courtesy one of the excited pundits and commentators, watching the young Nigerian braves, under Coach Yemi Tella (God bless his soul!), brush aside the rest of the world to emerge the FIFA World Cup U17 champions, in South Korea, 2007.

    At 17 or less, Ajiboye was U17 World Cup champion.  Now, in 2018, he has helped put Nigeria in the final of CHAN.  Why, on a Brilla Sports Radio phone-in programme, not a few are calling for Eagles manger, Gernot Rohr, to include Ajiboye among his final 23, bound for Russia, for the FIFA World Cup in June.

    So, Ajiboye had a passion as a youth.  Now, as an adult, he has a job — and exciting one at that!  That is the promise of schools sports, with a philosophy to catch them young.

    True, the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation has the mandate to nurture sports — athletics, swimming, football, basket ball, tennis, ping-pong (called table-tennis here), volleyball, etc.

    So, each time the federation stages a national schools sports festival, it is developing sports, very early in the lives of young Nigerians. That is the right path to follow.

    Doing that, you instill so early, discipline, sacrifice, focus and determination, vital traits everyone needs to successfully navigate life.  You also build friendship and fair-mindedness, also key sports components, in youths from all over the country, gathered in a particular state, at a particular spot, over a number of days.

    By such gathering, you could be eliminating, very early, future ethnic chauvinists and irredentists, fed negative tale of others, by their parents and guardians.  Again, that is the way to go, using sports to burn off these steady problems, plaguing contemporary Nigeria.

    Still, on the economic plane, you are doing much more.  You’re providing future jobs, in which youths like Ajiboye would cash in on their passion, to make a future living.

    Among those teeming youths are future Ajiboyes, Kelechi Iheanachos, Azizat Oshoalas, Rasheedat Ajibades, among the myriads of other promising young Turks, set to discover their niche as professional sports people, and drag themselves and their parents and other descendants outside the poverty line.

    That is what the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation does, each time it stages its championships, which really is a function of funding by sponsorship — developing the ethos of sports-with-education and education-with-sports.  It’s a complete package in youth development.

    And the sponsors that positively respond?  They not only cash in on a short-term niche to advertise and sell their products and services,  they also create the elite of a future market, that have enough purchasing power to buy their goods and services.

  • Eagles will be in the final, says Salisu Yusuf

    Eagles will be in the final, says Salisu Yusuf

    Super Eagles head coach Salisu Yusuf has reiterated his team’s desire to play in the final of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco.

    To achieve this feat, Nigeria need to surpass Sudan’s hurdle in the semi-final clash today at the Grand Stade de Marrakech by 8:30 pm (Nigerian time).

    In a chat with SportingLife, Salisu said his boys are ready and they will approach the game with full of determination.

    Read Here: Dayo Ojo cherishes Eagles’ victory over award

    “It has been a long journey, from qualifiers to semi-finals. We are in the semifinal and we are focused to face Sudan. We want to do a good job and be in the final. The feeling in the camp is very great. The mission of any team in the competition is to be the best and to be the best, you have to be ready to beat the best team,” Salisu said to SportingLife.

    He added: “We will respect the Sudan team because they are a good side. In their game against Morocco. Everybody thought they would be beaten easily but they held Morocco to a goalless draw. We won’t take anything for granted knowing full well that whoever wins on Wednesday will be in the final which is our target.”

  • Dayo Ojo cherishes Eagles’ victory over award

    Dayo Ojo cherishes Eagles’ victory over award

    Super Eagles B midfielder, Ekindayo Ojo has told SportingLife that his topmost priority in the ongoing African Nations Championship in Morocco is to help Nigeria win the tournament.

    The Sunshine of Akure playmaker, who was included in the starting line up by coach Salisu Yusuf in the game against Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match following his outstanding display in the 3-1 win over Ngalang National.

    Ojo scored a stunning goal from 25 yards, which has been tipped among the best goals of the tournament, to give Eagles 2-1 lead before Rabiu Ali scored the third goal from the spot. Anthony Okpotu scored the first goal for Nigeria.

    Read Also: Coach: Sudan can shock Nigeria

    Ojo said he would love to sacrifice personal glory for the team’s success in Morocco, insisting they want to return to Nigeria with the trophy.

    “I am happy we won the game against Equatorial Guinea which is very important to our aspiration in this competition. the most important thing for me is victory and award is a personal thing. The reason why we are here is to win our matches and go ahead to lift the trophy which is our aim for this tournament and we will try all our best to achieve it,” Ojo said to Sporting Life.

     

  • Yusuf: Super Eagles’ll go far in CHAN

    Yusuf: Super Eagles’ll go far in CHAN

    Away on international duties at the African Nations Championship otherwise known as CHAN in Morocco, Super Eagles’ coach, Salisu Yusuf would apparently missed his domestic chores on the home front.

    Days before flying out  for  the tournament, Yusuf  said he was very much involved with everyday tasks in the recess  of his home once out of the pitch, insisting  he’s a thoroughbred Hausa man.

    “I have been coaching since 2002;It’s part of my life,” stated Yusuf who clocked 56 on January 10.

    Yusuf reportedly  featured for Ranch Bees and El Kanemi Warriors as a box-to-box midfielder in his playing days, while as a coach he has since handled Enyimba, Kano Pillars, El Kanemi, Lobi Stars and FC Taraba. He has a CAF A license, has since won the NPFL championship with Kano Pillars in 2008, the FA Cup with Lobi Stars and Enyimba in 2003 and 2013 respectively. He qualified Nigeria to CHAN 2018 and guided Nigeria to the final of the 2017 WAFU Cup in Ghana and also assisted Gernot Rohr to qualify Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

    “My family don’t really see anything wrong in my coaching profession and they understand  the nature of the job and that I could be away for a very long time,” he affirmed. “But whenever I’m  at home, I  assist the domestic duties;  I’m a typical Hausa  man at home.  I’m an indoor type of  person and whenever I’m at home , I help with the domestic duties and ensure that everything is in order too.”

    Under Yusuf’s watch, the Super Eagles edged Benin Republic  2-1 to  reach the finals where they are drawn in Group C along with 2014 champions Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria would open her account at this tournament tomorrow against Rwanda at the Stade Ibn Batouta; tackle Libya at the same venue on Friday (January 19) and completed her schedule against Equatorial Guinea in Agadir on January 23rd.

    “As a unit we are ready for CHAN; if you look at the way the team has evolved from the CHAN qualifiers to the WAFU Nations Cup, you will agree with me that it is work in progress,” assured Yusuf on the crest of winning the NPFL Invitational tournament. “The team has done well because we tried to bring in new players and you can see the results; we won the NPFL Invitational and will continue to improve.”

    Nigeria is yet to win this particular championship and Morocco 2018 is the country’s fifth appearance at the CHAN after failure to qualify for the first two editions held in Cote d’Ivoire 2009 and Sudan 2011. Late  coach Stephen Keshi led  the team to the Bronze medal in 2014 while the class of 2015 under coach Sunday Oliseh failed to even progress  beyond the group phase.

    “ Yes, it’s true that  Nigeria is yet to win the CHAN; our major target  in Morocco is to  first qualify  from the group but I’m confident  we would go far in the tournament,” noted Yusuf who described himself as a positive person.

    He offered: “I’m a simple fellow, easy going man, a loving father and hardworking person.

    “Though I don’t have everything in life, I believe God perfects the path of man and makes it interesting. I love the positivity of life.

    “As a coach you always want to win but in football you win some and lose some but my message to Nigerians ahead of CHAN 2018 is to pray for us because we need their support to excel in Morocco,” he added.

  • Keshi invites 28 home-based players for Jordan game

    Keshi invites 28 home-based players for Jordan game

    Nigeria’s senior locally-based players will on Thursday, Oct. 17 begin preparations for the country’s first-ever appearance at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said on Tuesday.

    In a statement in Abuja by its Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire, the NFA said the home-based Super Eagles would open camp with 28 players.

    It said the team’s Head Coach, Stephen Keshi who also manages the `A’ team, had already invited the players to camp.

    “The players are to report in camp in Abuja as the Super Eagles’ Team B gets set for an international friendly with the full team of Jordan,’’ the statement said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match is billed for the Jordanian capital city of Amman on Oct. 28.

    Jordan is to use the match to prepare for their 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off fixture against the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifying campaign.

    Nigeria is also using the game to prepare for the 2014 CHAN taking place in South Africa in January.

    According to the statement, Keshi had invited three goalkeepers, eight defenders, nine midfielders and eight strikers.

    Ejike Uzoenyi, back home from a stint in France, as well as five regular members of the `A’ squad, are on the list.

    These are goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Benjamin Francis, and midfielder Sunday Mba.

    There are also other Team B regulars, such as goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Ebenezer Odunlami and Umar Zango, midfielder Etebo Oghene and forwards Muhammad Gambo, Ifeanyi Edeh and Ezekiel Mbah.

    “Team officials have advised all invited 28 players to arrive at the team’s Bolton White Apartments abode in Abuja on Thursday with their international passports,’’ the statement.

    It said this was necessary as the visa processing for the trip would commence on Friday, Oct. 18 as the delegation was expected to leave for Amman on Friday, Oct. 25.

    THE FULL LIST

    Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Rangers International); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC); Okemute Odah (Warri Wolves).

    Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Ebenezer Odunlami and Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars).

    Defenders: Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Yinka Adedeji (Sharks FC); Bright Esieme (Enyimba International FC); Solomon Babatunde (Nasarawa United FC).

    Midfielders: Sunday Mba, Ogonna Osuchukwu and Christian Oghiozor (Rangers International); Etebo Oghene (Warri Wolves) and Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars).

    Midfielders: Mohammed Garuba (Abia Warriors); Douglas Achiv (Lobi Stars); Olayinka Oyeleke (Crown FC) and Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC).

    Forwards: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba International); Barnabas Imienger (Lobi Stars) and Osadiaye Joseph (Warri Wolves).

    Forwards: Sani Mohammed (Gombe United); Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers International); Victor Namo (Nasarawa United) and Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United)