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Tag: CHAN

  • CHAN 2024 postponed over uncompleted facilities

    CHAN 2024 postponed over uncompleted facilities

    The African Nations Championship (CHAN) has been postponed just weeks before it was due to kick off in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said.

    The 19-team tournament is for national teams made up of home-based players only and was due to kick off on Feb. 1 but will now take place in August because facilities are not ready.

    The three East African countries are due to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals and the CHAN is supposed to serve as a test event.

    “Good progress has been made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with the construction and upgrading of stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities for the hosting of a successful CHAN,”  CAF said a statement. “However, the CAF technical and infrastructure experts have advised that more time is required to ensure that the infrastructure and facilities are at the levels necessary for hosting a successful CHAN.”

    Read Also: Meet Éric Sékou Chelle the new head coach of Super Eagles

    The delay comes just weeks after CAF president Patrice Motsepe travelled to Kenya for a meeting with the country’s president William Ruto to try and speed up the process.

    CAF will go ahead with the finals draw, scheduled for Nairobi on Wednesday, it added, and said the exact dates in August for the tournament would be announced “in due course”.

    CHAN was first launched in 2007 to give more opportunity to home-based players as the number of foreign-based players in African national teams increased dramatically.

    But the tournament, of which there have been seven editions, has attracted sparse interest over the years and CAF had recently considered culling it from its calendar.

    Some major African countries like Algeria, Egypt, South Africa and Tunisia did not enter the qualifiers, which concluded last month.

  • We’re sorry for losing CHAN trophy- Osas Okoro

    We’re sorry for losing CHAN trophy- Osas Okoro

    Nigeria home-based Super Eagles, Osas Okoro has apologized to fans who were expecting them to clinch their first-ever CHAN trophy yesterday against the host, Morocco.

    The former Heartland player revealed this on his Twitter page.

    Read Also: Yusuf: Super Eagles’ll go far in CHAN

    Osas who plays for Enugu Rangers in the Eastern part of the country admitted that the entire team was bad after their lacklustre display against their North African counterparts who were more than prepared.

    “We really wanted to win for every Nigerian out there but we are sorry about the end result.”

    “A lot to learn from this and we thank you for your endless support.”

    Morocco became the first country to host and win the CHAN tournament since it began in 2009.

  • Mind your business on the pitch Kaoje tells Eagles

    Mind your business on the pitch Kaoje tells Eagles

     

    Eagles must mind their business on the pitch, remain disciplined and ignore possible act of antagonism if they are to emerge victorious Sunday in Morocco.

    Former Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC) Hon. Bala Kaoje who gave the charge hailed the CHAN Eagles for making it this far, noting that what is needed ahead of the final is complete focus and determination.

    Kaoje is making the submission amidst fears expressed by analysts that the Eagles will be playing not just against the Moroccan team but against the entire host nation in the 80,000 Grand Stade de Casablanca

    “The Eagles have done well so far and have improved while progressing to the final. What they need now is focus.  The players and coaches must work together and avoid distractions. They just have to ignore effect of home support for their opponents and mind their business on the pitch,” he said

    Prior to Eagles defeat of Sudan and eventually qualification for the final,  a cross section of soccer fans in the country had expressed their preference to meet Libya in the final, noting that playing the hosts will not be a tea party as the vociferous home fans and their antics may be intimidating.

    CHAN Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf has however dismissed the fears insisting that his boys are ready to take the bull by the horns on Sunday.  Despite having about four players sidelined by injury and caution, Yusuf who admitted that the clash will not be easy however said his boys are determined to hold their own.

    “We are happy to be in the final and we are determined to play and achieve victory. Yes we have some players sidelined but we good to go,” he enthused

    DR Congo won the maiden edition of the Championship reserved for players plying their trade at home in 2009 in defeating Ghana 2-0 in Abidjan. Tunisia claimed the second edition hosted by Sunday in 2011 defeating Angola 3-0. Libya who incidentally will be playing the third place match against Sudan in Morocco clinched the third edition hosted by South Africa beating Ghana  4-3 on penalty after the encounter ended 0-0 at regulation time.

    The 2016 edition in Rwanda provided DR Congo another opportunity to clinch the title for the second time beating Mali 3-0 at the Stade de Amahoro.

    Both Nigeria and Morocco are playing in the final of the championship for the first time.

  • CHAN: Dalung congratulates Super Eagles

    CHAN: Dalung congratulates Super Eagles

    Minister of Youth and Sports Development Solomon Dalung has congratulated Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles for qualifying for the finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Dalung, who spoke with the Correspondent of the News in New York, urged the team to ensure, they bring the trophy to Nigeria.

    He said the team’s qualification, after edging Sudan 1-0 in the semi-final in Marrakech, was ‘historic’, being their first ever.

    “I want to congratulate the Super Eagles ‘B’ for their successful prosecution of the African Championship ongoing in Morocco with successive victories that have led them now to the finals.

    “This is historic and they have the support of the Nigerian Government, they have the support of the Ministry and they have the support of the Nigerian people.

    “The only justice in the circumstance is for them to lift the trophy and bring it to Nigeria.

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    “This is because Nigeria appears to be the only place that has accommodation for the trophy now.

    “I want to also thank Nigerians for their support and encouragement and for standing by the team. Let’s ride on, Nigeria will be great again,” Dalung said.

    The minister urged the home-based Super Eagles and their coaching crew to remain focused and determined until they win the CHAN trophy on Sunday.

    Gabriel Okechukwu scored Nigeria’s winning goal in the 16th minute.

    Nigeria will meet Morocco, the hosts, who earlier dispatched Libya 3-1 in the first semi-final played in Casablanca.

    NAN

  • Super Eagles Players to Pocket $20,000 Each from CHAN 2018

    Super Eagles Players to Pocket $20,000 Each from CHAN 2018

    Eagles on $20,000-a-man to win 2018 CHAN

    Each player of the home-based Eagles will earn about $20,000 should they win the 2018 CHAN in Morocco, officials have disclosed.

    As gathered, the sum is a total payment the Nigeria Football Federation earmarked to cover the players win-bonus and allowances for the ongoing tournament.
    Additional information obtained from www.scorenigeria.com reported that each players of the national team will paid $2000 for a win in the group stage and they will get $3,000 each if they won their quarterfinal match.
    The glasshouse planned to pay $4,000 per player for a victory in the semi-final while they will receive $5,000 each if they won the championship.
    They will also be paid $100 daily as camp allowance.
    Read Also: Yusuf: Super Eagles’ll go far in CHAN

    Thus far it is calculated that the players would have pocketed $4,000 after the draw with Rwanda was approved by the sports ministry as a win.

    They will earn another $2,000 each with an expected win over Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday night.
    The prize money to the CHAN champions is $1.25 million.
    The federal government has approved 500 million Naira for the team to Morocco.
    The 2018 CHAN Eagles Bonus in summary – $2,000 per group game – $3000 q/final – $4,000 semifinal- $5,000 final- Daily allowance $100 per player.
  • What if Eagles lose today in Tangier?

    What if Eagles lose today in Tangier?

     

    The flourish with which the Super Eagles qualified for Russia 2018 has forced many to put aside the calculator with which we work out   points for and against to determine our chances of progressing during competitions.

    But the ongoing CHAN in Morocco (a competition strictly for home based Eagles and for players plying their trade in the continent) may force a return to the permutation vocation.

    The Salisu Yusuf tutored side hoping to fly in Morocco started on a shaky note after pulling a goalless draw against 2016 hosts Rwanda in Tangier. The result has boxed the Nigerian side into a corner, which implies that they need to beat Libya today to have a chance of surviving the group stage.  The Libyans who incidentally won the tournament in 2014, started on a better footing after a resounding 3-0 defeat of Equatorial Guinea. As it stands, Libya has in the kitty three points going into today’s match with Nigeria and Rwanda having a point each and Equatorial Guinea with no point.

    Will the Libyans looking to consolidate by earning another three points before the last group match against Rwanda allow loopholes that will give Eagles an edge and perhaps their first three points?

    In the second match Will Rwanda who held their own against Eagles not insist on compounding the woes of Equitorial Guinea who are the only team in the group without a point?

    Should Eagles lose today, they will remain on a point and should Rwanda win Equatorial Guinea they will go second with four points behind group Libya with six points. Technically Nigeria will be out unless of course they go on rampage and whitewash Equatorial Guinea with superior goal difference to upstage Rwanda in the second place, that is if Rwanda losses the last group match to Libya who would have ended on nine points without losing a match.

    What this means is that Eagles have no option but to go for victory against The Mediterranean Knights. How they go about doing that is the headache of the technical crew. The wastages as witnessed in the first match against the Amavubis cannot provide the needed magic.

    So while Nigerians have been forced to pick up their calculators again, Moroccans, Sudanese, Zambians and Namibians are already looking forward to the next stage after their teams did the needful earning six points in two matches in Groups A and B respectively.

    So for the Atlas Lions of Morocco, Falcons of Jediane of Sudan, Chipolopolo of Zambia and Brave Warriors of Namibia the last group matches are just mere icing on the cake as they are not in any way in danger of being upstaged by other contenders in their groups.

    The only group where you have a resemblance of the scenario in Group C where Eagles are fighting for survival is in Group D where Red Devils of Congo are the only team with three points in the kitty. The battle for survival in Group D Saturday will be breath taking as the Palencra Negras of Angola take on Lions of Cameroon who surprisingly have no points after losing their first match to Congo and Congo seek consolidation against Stallions of Burkina Fasso.

    Nigeria’s best performance in the championship which made its debut in 2009 has been the third place finish in 2014 where she earned the  third position  after beating Zimbabwe by a lone goal in third place match.

    The 2016 edition saw Nigeria crash out in the group stage led by then Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh. What will be the shape of the Nigerian story in the 2018 edition?

    That will be decided in the next few hours in the Moroccan city of Tangier.  The Ball in Eagles court!

     

     

     

     

  • CHAN 2018: Wasteful Super Eagles held by Rwanda’s Amavubi

    CHAN 2018: Wasteful Super Eagles held by Rwanda’s Amavubi

    The home-based Super Eagles failed to claim a win as they were held 0-0 by Rwanda in their opening match of the 2018 African Nations Championship ( CHAN  ) on Monday.

    Nigeria and Rwanda settled for a barren draw in their Group C opener at the Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangiers, Morocco.

    The stalemate leaves the Super Eagles in joint second position in the group, two points behind Libya who beat Equatorial Guinea 3-0 earlier on Monday.

    Libya maintains top spot of the group thanks to their 3-0 humbling of Equatorial Guinea in the earlier kick-off.

    It was a frustrating night for the West Africans who saw the post and crossbar deny them no less than three occasions.

    But superb saves from Rwanda goalkeeper Eric Ndayishimiye also added to their misery.

    The home-based Eagles were the better side, dominating possession in both halves but failed to do the most important thing – goal scoring.

    With veteran Rabiu Ali leading Nigeria’s onslaughts, youngster Sunday Faleye was unlucky to see his header from Osas Okoro’s assist bounce off the crossbar in the opening minutes with Ndayishimiye completely beaten.

    In the 38 minute, Ali wasted a golden opportunity to send Nigeria into the lead, volleying wide after the Rwandan goalkeeper had spilled a cross onto his path.

    The Amavubi will survive yet another scare from the Super Eagles four minutes before the interval, after a long drive from Ali came off the post with Ndayishimiye beaten yet again.

    The second half resumed on the same tempo with Rwanda coming into the picture following the introduction of nimble footed AS Kigali midfielder Savio Nshuti.

    In the 78 minute, the upright came to the rescue of Amavubi for the third time after substitute Ibrahim Mustapha’s header from an Ali corner kick hit the post to the relief of Rwanda.

    Nigeria next face Libya on Thursday whilst Rwanda battle Equatorial Guinea.

    The championship which began on Saturday is expected to end on Feb. 4.

  • CAF Approves Goal Line Technology for CHAN 2018

    CAF Approves Goal Line Technology for CHAN 2018

    Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used for the first time in a CAF competition at the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) Morocco 2018.

    The usage of the latest technology was okayed by the CAF Referees’ Committee at its meeting on Monday, 27 November 2017 in Cairo, Egypt.

    The experimentation of the technology will commence from the quarter finals stage of next year’s tournament scheduled for 13 January to 4 February in the Moroccan cities of Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangiers and Agadir.

    African referees shortlisted for FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 and with previous training in VAR will be called upon for the tournament designed exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic leagues.

  • 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

  • CHAN: Nigeria starts preparation with 30 Players

    CHAN: Nigeria starts preparation with 30 Players

    Plans to open Super Eagles Camp ahead of next year’s CHAN in Morocco have been completed as about 30 names have been listed to be invited.

    The bulk of the home-based squad as gathered are players who featured at the recent WAFU Cup in Ghana.

    It was learned that the Eagles will begin training by the second week of November in Kwara state ahead of oversee stint during which the team will play some warm-up matches.

    Has also learnt the Nigeria Football Federation has secured sponsorship for the Kwara training Camp.

    Morocco 2018 will begin on January 12 and this will be Nigeria’s third straight appearance in the competition exclusively reserved for players who feature in their domestic leagues.

    Total CHAN, Morocco 2018, scheduled for 12 January to 4 February 2018, will bring together 16 national teams composed exclusively of players playing in the national championships of their respective countries.

    The WAFU Nations Cup is an association football competition that is contested by representative teams of the West African Football Union.

    Ghana is the current champion of the competition. They thrashed Nigeria 4-1 to win the WAFU cup.