The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CAF U-23 championship

  • Dream Team returns Monday

    Dream Team returns Monday

    Nigeria’s victorious team to this year’s U-23 African Nations Cup in Senegal will return to the country on Monday morning, officials have said.

    Nigeria’s Dream Team VI clinched the 2015 U-23 AFCON title Saturday night after defeating Algeria 2-1 in the final, africanFootball.com reports.

    Nigeria, Algeria and South Africa will represent Africa at next year’s Rio Olympics.

    Meanwhile, the team’s three foreign-based professionals – skipper Azubuike Okechukwu (Turkey), Junior Ajayi (Tunisia) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Germany) – returned to their clubs immediately after Saturday’s final.

  • Nigeria wins CAF U-23 championship

    Nigeria on Saturday night clinched the 2015 U-23 African Nations Cup after defeating Algeria 2-1 in the final in Dakar, Senegal.

    Nigeria, Algeria and South Africa, who pipped hosts Senegal on penalties in a third-place final, will automatically represent Africa in next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, africanFootball.com reports.

    Two goals by the tournament’s top scorer Oghenekaro Etebo was only halved by an own goal by Nigeria defender Segun Oduduwa to leave the tie delicately balanced.

    However, there were no goals in the second half of a very exciting rematch after both teams played out a goalless draw in the group phase of the competition.

    The Nigerians were rewarded for their daring attacking football and they could have gone ahead in the first five minutes through FIFA U-17 World Cup hotshot, Victor Osimhen, who made his first start at the championship after substitute appearances in the previous two games.

    However, Nigeria finally took the lead after 14 minutes from the penalty spot after Etebo drove into the Algeria goal area and was brought down by Ayoub Abdellaoui for a penalty.

    The lively Warri Wolves midfielder dusted himself up and tucked the penalty home after sending goalkeeper Sahli the wrong way.

    Nigeria continued to boss the possession, but Algeria fought back to draw level on the half hour, when Zinedine Ferhat’s dangerous cross from the right was headed by Oduduwa into his own net.

    Etebo will then restored Nigeria’s lead in the 41st minute, when he again drove into the Algerian defence before firing past the onrushing goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the competition.

  • CAF U-23 championship: Awoniyi out of Senegal match

    CAF U-23 championship: Awoniyi out of Senegal match

    Germany-based striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has been ruled out of Wednesday’s CAF U-23 championship semi-final against hosts Senegal in Dakar because of injury.

    The match, which will decide one of the tickets for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, will kick off at 4:00pm Nigerian time at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar, with Nigeria also missing suspended skipper Azubuike Okechukwu and injured Stanley Dimgba.

    The Olympic Team Coach, Samson Siasia, disclosed that Awoniyi has now added to the team’s injury woes.

    “Two important players are out and (Taiwo) Awoniyi is also injured,” Siasia told africanFootball.com.

     

  • CAF tourney: Osimhen gets Dream Team’s no 9 shirt

    CAF tourney: Osimhen gets Dream Team’s no 9 shirt

    The FIFA U-17 World Cup hotshot, Victor Osimhen, will wear the Number 9 shirt for the Dream Team at the CAF U-23 championship starting in Senegal, Saturday.

    Osimhen, who is replacing Isaac Success in the Olympic Team, also wore the No 9 shirt for the Golden Eaglets at the U-17 World Cup in Chile, africanFootball.com reports.

    Skipper Azubuike Okechukwu, who is based in Turkey, will maintain his number 14, jersey,  while Taiwo Awoniyi keeps the No 18 shirt, which he worn for the Flying Eagles at the African Youth Championship in Senegal in March.

  • Siasia unveils squad for CAF U-23 championship

    Siasia unveils squad for CAF U-23 championship

    Dream Team VI Coach, Samson Siasia, has listed four overseas-based professionals in his final 21-man squad for the CAF U-23 championship in Senegal.

    The four foreign-based players are – Taiwo Awoniyi from German second division side, FSV Frankfurt, Junior Ajayi of Tunisian club CS Sfaxien, Isaac success from La Liga side Granada and Azubuike Okechukwu, who is based in Turkey, africanFootball.com reports.

    There are no players for seven-time champions Enyimba after the coach dropped Kingsley Sokari and Etor Daniel for insisting on leaving training camp to play a final league game with their club in Lagos.

    Nigeria will begin its campaign against Mali on Sunday.

    The team will also battle Egypt on December 2 and play Algeria in the final group B game three days later.

    The top three teams will qualify automatically for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The squad:

    Goalkeepers: Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers), Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland).

    Defenders: Sincere Seth (Supreme Court FC), Seun Oduduwa (Nath Boys), Zaharadeen Bello (Kano Pillars), Seun Olubayo (Sunshine Stars), Chizoba Amaefule(Dolphins), Ebuka Iroha (Diamond Football Academy).

    Midfielders: Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors), Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba),Tiongoli Tobara (Bayelsa United), Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United), Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves), Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Matalatyaspor/Turkey), Godspower Aniefiok (Kano Pillars), Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves).

    Forward: Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien/Tunisia), Taiwo Awoniyi (FSV Frankfurt/Germany), Isaac Success (Granada CF/Spain).

  • Granada stop Success from CAF U-23 championship

    Granada stop Success from CAF U-23 championship

    Ex-Flying Eagles striker, Isaac Success, will not be released by his Spanish side, Granada, for next month’s CAF U-23 championship in Senegal, his agent told allnigeriasoccer.com on Saturday.

    “Success will not come, he will not be released. It is a problem, he is one of their top strikers and the coaches should look for alternatives,” the agent said.

    “If the competition was held during the summer break, he would have had no problem honouring the call – up. He is doing well now.

    “We are praying for the club to release him, but it will be hard. We went through hell before he was released for the FIFA U- 20 World Cup.”

    Granada team manager, Javi Jimenez, added: “I don’t think he will be released, but I’ll let you know later.”

    Granada will play against Malaga, Leganés, Atlético Madrid and Levante around the same time the Nigeria Olympic Team will be competing at the CAF U-23 championship.

  • Iheanacho, Simon, Awoniyi invited for CAF U-23 championship

    Iheanacho, Simon, Awoniyi invited for CAF U-23 championship

    Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Taiwo Awoniyi have been included in the list of 51 players invited by coach Samson Siasia for next month’s CAF U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

    The tournament is the final qualifying round for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

    The top three teams will qualify for the Olympic Games.

    The list included 35 players from the domestic scene and 16 players based abroad.

    Manchester city’s Iheanacho, Gent’s Simon and FSV Frankfurt’s Awoniyi will be joined by Isaac Success of Granada, Junior Ajayi of CS Sfaxien and team captain Azubuike Okechukwu of Yeni Malatyaspor among many others, Goal reports.

    From the home-based group, Chima Akas of Sharks, Kingsley Sokari of Enyimba, Oghenekaro Etebo of Warri Wolves and Zaradeen Bello of Kano Pillars made the list..

    The home-based players are expected to resume camp immediately, while the foreign-based players will join the team before the tournament.

    Nigeria plays in group B alongside Egypt, Algeria and Mali, while hosts Senegal, South Africa, Zambia and Tunisia are in group A.

    The tournament starts in November 28 and runs till December 12.

    Foreign based players:

    Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Taiwo Awoniyi (FSV Frankfurt, Germany), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England),  Moses Simon (KAA Gent Belgium), Wilfred Ndidi (Genk, Belgium), Isaac Success (Granada, Spain), Dele Alampasu (Estoril, Portugal), Shehu Abdullahi (Uniao Da Madeira, Portugal), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovenia), Vin Solomon Otabor (Birmingham, England),  Uche Ikpeazu (Port Vale FC, England), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense, Portugal),  Aminu Umar (Osmanlispor, Turkey), Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjylland, Denmark).

     

    Home based players:

    Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers Int Enugu), Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland F. C), Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys), Sincere Seth Rhapsody, Erhun Obanor (Abia Warriors), Chima Akas (Sharks F C), Daniel Etor (Enyimba FC), Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves FC), Godwin Aguda (Rangers FC),Usman Mohammed (Taraba FC), Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors FC),  Chukwuebuka Iroha (Diamond FC),  Austine Oladapo (FC Ifeanyi Ubah),  Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC), Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves FC), Semiu Liadi (Warri Wolves FC),  Godspower Effiong (Kano Pillars FC),  Ifeanyi Mathew (El Kanemi FC), Bright Onyeadikachi (FC Ifeanyi Ubah), Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars FC), Mustapha Abdullahi( Sport Light FC), Muritala Adamu (Kano Pillars FC), Zaradeen Bello (Kano Pillars FC), Dayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars FC), Seun Olulayo (Sunshine Stars FC), Tiongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa United), Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves FC),  Kingsley Eduwo (Sunshine Stars FC),  Stephens Eze (Sunshine Stars FC),  Anaezemba Nzube (Enyimba FC),  Charles Chukwudi (Plateau United), Daniel Enmanson (Akwa United ),  Ibrahim Alhassan (Heart FC Kano),  Adebayo Ajadi (36 Lions).

     

     

  • Siasia to overhaul Dream Team for CAF championship

    Siasia to overhaul Dream Team for CAF championship

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, will overhaul his team ahead of the African U-23 Cup of Nations, which will serve as qualifier for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Siasia said he is happy that the worst has happened at the All-Africa Games and will correct his mistakes.

    “We will make corrections after the All-Africa Games. I plan to travel to talk to some players I have already penciled down, then hopefully, the team should be assembling in first week of October to prepare for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations,” he told africanFootball.com.

    “Certainly, some of the players I brought to Congo Brazzaville will have to give way.”

    He added: “I never imagined losing to Burkina Faso, but then my midfielders played so well, my defenders and attackers let me down, can you imagine my attackers not being able to convert about eight chances that came their way?

    “To make matters worse, the defenders were asleep on a day they should have been up and doing. Who told the central defenders to keep offside trap the way they did?

    “I am totally disappointed, we can’t play like this in Senegal and expect to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. No way!

    “We were so bad that anytime the ball beat the defenders, even my goalkeeper could not stop any of the shots fired at him.

    “Football is a team work where errors are bound to occur, but it’s the ability of fellow team mates to cover for one another that makes a team great, that I didn’t see on Tuesday.”

     

     

  • U-23 championship: Nigeria to meet Egypt, Algeria, Mali

    U-23 championship: Nigeria to meet Egypt, Algeria, Mali

    Nigeria was on Monday paired with Egypt, Algeria and Mali in Group B of the CAF U-23 championship taking place in Senegal, November.

    The tournament will produce the continent’s representatives for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Goal reports.

    Hosts Senegal is placed in Group A alongside South Africa, Zambia and Tunisia.

    The opening game will take place between Senegal and South Africa, while Nigeria will play its first game against Mali on November 29 at the 5,000-seater Caroline Faye Stadium, Mbour.

     

    The pairings:

    Group A – Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Tunisia

    Group B- Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Mali