Tag: CAF

The Confederation of African Football (CAF)  has clarified that the 800 match balls to be sent to the Nigeria Football Federation in the framework of the CAF African Schools Football Championship project will be for all the schools that took part in the male and female National Finals held in the Federal Capital, Abuja within the period 2nd  – 9th  November 2023.

National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu won the male tournament that had in attendance 11 schools from Yobe, Enugu, Plateau, Borno, Oyo, Ogun, Taraba and Kwara States as well as the FCT. In the female category, FOSLA Academy emerged champions of a three-team competition.

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Representatives from Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and host Togo have converged in Lome since Thursday for the four-day WAFU B zonal finals that will end on Sunday, with matches at the Stade Municipal de Kegue.

The winner in Lome will fly WAFU B’s flag at the continental finals slated for April 2024.

Five-time winner and Super Falcons’ captain Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and four other members of the national  women’s team, have been shortlisted among 30 players listed for the preliminary nominees of the CAF Female Player of the Year by the continental football ruling body.

CAF yesterday unveiled the preliminary nominees for the various women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023 with Barcelona striker Oshoala, Atletico Madrid’s Ajibade and Paris FC goalie Nnadozie making the cut.

Other Super Falcons players that made the list of nominees include Christy Ucheibe (Benfica), Osinachi Ohale (Alaves/Pachuca), Toni Payne (Sevilla) and Uchenna Kanu (Tigres/Racing Louisville).

Also, Falconets’ stars Deborah Abiodun (Pittsburg Panthers) and Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Delta Queens) have been listed among the 10 nominees for the Young Player of the Year.

Super Falcons’ coach Randy Waldrum has been nominated for the coach of the year while Nigeria’s Super Falcons was also nominated for the National Team of the Year.

A distinguished panel made up of CAF Technical Experts, Legends, and selected media representatives selected the nominees, taking into consideration their performances at all levels from December 2022 to November 2023.

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Just as in the men’s category, the best women’s goalkeeper will be rewarded for the first time to celebrate the heroic efforts of the shot-stoppers and Super Falcons’ Nnadozie topping the list of the 10 players nominated for the first-ever CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

In the other categories, 30 players will vie for the prestigious Player of the Year, which Nigeria’s Oshoala claimed for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.

Ten nominees each have been pencilled for the Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Young Player of the Year, limited to players not more than 21 years.

The finalists of the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League Cote d’Ivoire 2023 have each been rewarded with a place in the Club of the Year category.

The winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches & Captains of Member Associations and clubs involved at the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

The Awards Gala is to be graced by the crème de la crème of African football on December 11, 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Rivers United scored two late goals to seal their place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup for the second straight season following their 2-0 home win over Burkinabes’ Etoile Filante yesterday in Port Harcourt.

The Pride of Rivers lived up to their nickname and subsequently edged Etoile Filante 2-0 on aggregate to become the country’s sole surviving team on the continent after the elimination of Bendel Insurance on Friday in Morocco by former CAF Confederation Cup winners, RS Berkane.

Rivers United had played a goalless draw in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire the venue of the first leg played two weeks ago but the Burkinabe side made the job difficult for the 2022 NPFL champions with a tough disposition and rough tackles.

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The visitors committed several infringements and it was no surprise they conceded a penalty kick in the 65th  minute but Alex Oyowah missed from 12 yards.

With minutes ticking away, Rivers United were awarded another spot kick after another infringement in the Etoile Filante’s vital area in the 89th  minute but Oyowah stepped out again and was able to drill the ball beyond the reach of the Burkinabe goalkeeper.

Rivers United sealed the win with the second goal a minute later from the spot again through Oyowah again who bagged his brace and handed the Nigeria’s representatives a place in the group stage of the competition.

The draw for the group stage of the Africa’s second tier club competition will be held on 6th  October 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 16 winners of the second round of qualifying rounds will be drawn into four groups of four.

It is now mandatory that to sit on the bench during matches, all Head Coaches of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs must possess the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) B Licence.

As part of its rollout activities for the start of the 2023/24 season, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi announced that the requirement is part of the league’s bid to improve the quality of technical performance of the clubs

“One of the areas of the league we seek to improve in the new season is the area of technical performance of our teams through the players and this can only be achieved by having competent Managers on the bench.

“For this season, we will only allow Head Coaches with a minimum qualification of the CAF B Licence to sit on the bench. This may be reviewed upwards next season “, Owumi told NPFL Media.

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He said the measure is coming into force to trigger the coaches to acquire trainings that will improve what they offer to players.

“The idea is to encourage our coaches to improve themselves through higher certifications by participating in reputable courses”, explained Owumi.

He described coaching as one of the problem areas that the league must solve in order to grow the game and produce highly technical players

The season is scheduled to kick-off on Saturday, September 30 at eight centres with the fixtures in Port Harcourt and Aba postponed due to continental fixtures of Rivers United and Bendel Insurance.

Both are facing Algerian and Burkina Faso opponents in the elimination round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

While Insurance were to face Cup holders, Enyimba International in Aba, Rivers United were to host last season’s runner-up, Remo Stars in Port Harcourt.

Flying Eagles media officer Sharif Abdallah has been appointed a media officer by CAF for the inaugural African Football League.

NationSports reports that Abdallah will serve as CAF Media Officer when Enyimba host to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco on the 24th of October at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

Abdallah, a Mass Communications graduate from ABU Zaria, boasts a fine CV that includes Head of Sports Cool/Wazobia/Info Radio, La Liga Nigeria Media Projector as well as media officer for the Olympic Eagles.

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This year, the energetic journalist covered the Flying Eagles at the U20 AFCON in Egypt as well as at the U20 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.

Speaking about the appointment, an elated Abdallah said: “I feel honored and I believe this recognition is for hard working Nigerian sports journalist so I am dedicating it to my colleagues across the nation.”

130% prize money increase for Super Cup winners approved by CAF Executive Committee

Published

Monday, 18 September 2023

The CAF Executive Committee of CAF has approved a 130% increase in the prize money of the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup competition.

Newly-crowned TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup champions, USMA from Algeria will now take home USD 500 000 following their victory against Al Ahly of Egypt during their Friday night fixture in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

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Previously, winners of the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup took home USD 200 000.The 2023 runners-up, Al Ahly will get USD 250 000. Previously the runners-up got USD 125 000.

In 2022, the total Prize Money of TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup was USD 325 000 but the total Prize Money has gone up to USD 750 000 in 2023.

The increase is in line with CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe’s commitment to increase prize money across all CAF Competitions thus ensuring that football Clubs and Teams become self-sustaining in the mid-to-long term.

In the last two years, there has been prize money increases across the board including the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, CAF Women’s Champions League, TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, amongst others.

The 2022 Nigeria Premier Football League Champions, Rivers United last night held Etoile du Filante of Burkina Faso to a goalless draw in Yamousoukro, Cote ‘d’ Ivoire in the second round, first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup tie

The game was moved from Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou to neighbouring Cote ‘d’ Ivoire because of lack of quality stadium to host the game in the West African nation and also due to the country’s tense  political millieu.

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Rivers United deployed an ultra defensive approach with a few forays in the attack so that they were caught on the counter attack.

Both teams meet in Port Harcourt’s Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium for the return leg in the weekend of September 29th to October 1st.

The winner on aggregate will progress to the group stage of the competition.

• By Ojieva Ehiosun

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki will on Saturday afternoon lead teeming supporters of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin to Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as they tackle Renaissance Sportive de Berkane Football Club of Morocco in the 2nd round preliminary first leg of CAF Confederation Cup today.

Briefing Journalist at the media Centre of the  Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin, Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission Yusuf Alli , Olympian, and former Captain of Team Nigeria and the press Secretary to Edo State governor, Mr. Andrew Okungbowa, expressed confident that Mr. Governor Godwin Obaseki will be at the forefront on Saturday to give massive supports to the Benin Arsenal, ensuring that it is nothing but total victory against the Moroccan side.

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“Let me on the behalf of the government of Edo State and our amiable governor Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, appreciate the people of Edo State, including the civil servants for the massive support given to Bendel Insurance FC against their opponents from Algeria ASO Chief FC in the first preliminary round game last month. The rhyme of that massive support still echoes. We are ready for the second round first leg again.

“The State government is offering free ride for spectators coming to the Stadium the same way we did in the first round match. We have also thrown the gate open with free tickets. Our Governor has put all machinery in place to ensure victory for Bendel Insurance.”

Bendel Insurance who are Nigeria’s Federation Cup holders, secured their second round of the CAF Confederation Cup after an impressive first and second- leg performance against ASO Chlef of Algeria, who are the 2022/23 Algeria Cup winners