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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Anxiety as Super Eagles know foes today

    Anxiety as Super Eagles know foes today

    The 2018 World Cup draws will be done today in Russia to determine which teams square up against one another in the first round. Super Eagles’ fans hope for a favouarble draw. The consensus is that the Eagles will have to beat the best teams to do well at the tournament next summer, writes ADEYINKA ADEDIPE.

    Nigerians are anxious to know the group in which the Super Eagles will land as the 2018 World Cup draws are made today in Russia. There are growing concerns over the pedigree of the teams that will draw the Super Eagles. Some Nigerians hope their darling team will get a “favourable” draw. Their prayer is for the Super Eagles to go beyond the group’s stage and qualify for the latter stages of the competition. Others believe that the Eagles should be ready to play against the best teams from the group stage if they hope to do well at the World Cup.

    With the Eagles in Pot Four, meant for the weakest qualifiers, it is certain that the Nigerian side will meet two super teams in the group stage. The Super Eagles have beaten the likes of Spain, Bulgaria and Greece at the group stage of the previous World Cup tournaments. They also had memorable outings against Argentina, a couple of times. But the team lost to Italy in the second round in its first appearance in 1994.

    In the past, the Nigerian qualified for the second round thrice – 1994, 1998 and 2016, recording spectacular results along the way – the 3-0 spanking of Bulgaria in 1994 and the 3-2 win over Spain in 1998 – top of the bill. A Nigerian side on the way to its sixth appearance at the world football showpiece needs not fear any foe. The 4-2 win over Argentina in a friendly game in Russia last month, though seven months away from the World Cup, shows that the Eagles can become world beaters in Russia if preparations are done the right way.

    It is common knowledge that the World Cup is where the best nations gather to showcase their skills and know-how as they pursue the coveted prize Jules Rimet trophy. So, the Eagles must be ready for a tough time in Russia if they hope to soar above their opponents and advance beyond their second round finish.  Qualifying for the tournament is a testament that the Super Eagles are one of the top 32 national teams in the world, irrespective of their ranking. So, no matter what happens at the world Cup next summer, the Eagles can revel in their achievement.

     

    How the Eagles qualified

     

    No one would have thought that the Eagles would be home and dry after five games, when the draws were made, pitting Nigeria against reigning Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) champions Cameroun and past winners, Algeria and Zambia. The group was labelled the proverbial ‘group of death’ with many predicting that the fight for the sole ticket would go down the wire. The prediction was right considering that the four teams have strong pedigree in African football with Zambia – the only team yet to play at the World Cup.

    The Super Eagles started the campaign with a 2-1 away win over Zambia in Ndola. It was a surprise, bearing in mind that Coach Gernot Rohr, had just taken over the team and the thinking was that he would need some time to put together a solid squad that would learn as the qualifiers’ progresses.

    However, the coach and his players had other ideas and they recorded two home victories over Algeria (3-1) and Cameroun (4-1) in Uyo for a 100 per cent record in the first round of the qualifiers. The indomitable Lions of Cameroun promised to avenge the defeat in Uyo, but could only force the Eagles to a one all draw in the reverse fixture.

    Surprisingly, the Chipolopolo of Zambia got back to reckoning after two wins over Algeria and all of a sudden, they were three points behind the Eagles, which got many panicking when the Zambians came calling on match day five in Uyo. The fans knew it was going to be a difficult match, but were hopeful that the Eagles will win and qualify with one game left. The Eagles got the needed 1-0 win to book their passage to the World Cup amid a lethargic performance, which confined many to the edge of their seat throughout the game. The Zambian team hassled the Eagles throughout the game and even had a goal disallowed for offside before Alex Iwobi finally scored the decisive goal in the second half.

    The last game against the Algerians was inconsequential, but Rohr was determined to end the qualifiers on a high, so he assembled the best players available for the away game. And the Nigerian team got the opening goal through John Ogu before the Algerians levellled up with a spot kick.

     

    Rohr, players talk tough

     

    The major actors Coach Rohr and his ‘boys’ are in a boisterous mood ahead of the draws later today. They are not scared of any opposition. This could be as a result of the perfect blend that has been achieved between the experienced and the new players. A mix that culminated in good results for the Eagles.

    Unlike most foreign coaches who will be hoping to avoid their country of birth at a championship, Rohr has indicated his preference for Germany, his home country and France, the country he played most in his professional career.

    The coach told NationSport from France en route Russia on Wednesday that he would be happy if the Eagles draw world number one, Germany, or number nine, France. The Franco-German coach said that his team is not afraid of any opposition, as he is in charge of an ambitious side that can surprise any side.

    He also noted that since Nigeria is already in Pot 4, there is no escaping a strong team either from Europe or South America. Rohr, however, believes that his team is improving in every game.

    “My expectation is to be in a group of strong teams and being in Pot 4, we are naturally ambitious outsiders. Personally, I would like to play against Germany or France,” he stated.

    Speaking in the same vein, Eagles’ and Anderlecht striker cum winger, Henry Onyekuru boasted that Nigeria is ready to face any of the teams, regardless of their pedigree ahead of the draws. The on-loan Everton striker, who has been in top form for Anderlecht this season, said he believes the Eagles must play the best to become the best.

    Onyekuru said: “We are the Super Eagles; we don’t fear any team; but seriously, if we can’t compete with the best teams in the world, then we would not have qualified for the World Cup in the first place.

    “So, I am looking forward to playing against the very best teams. The World Cup is a very big event and I believe only the best teams and players will be present. Nigeria has a very good football pedigree and I believe it’s our time to take the world by storm.”

    The former AS Eupen striker also stated that the idea to pay the players’ bonuses before the World Cup is a laudable one, but Nigerians should not judge the team on that as the players only have the interest of the nation at heart.

    “To be honest, I don’t think money is the motivation for us because from what I see from other players, everybody seems motivated by the opportunity to represent the country and perform well. Anything else is out of our hands,” Onyekuru stated.

    Sivasspor of Turkey left wing back, Elderson Echiejile, is confident that the Eagles will show class against any team at the tournament. Speaking ahead of today’s draw, the 29-year-old defender expressed confidence in his team, saying, “we are not afraid of anyone or any team.

    “We just want to keep our preparation in top form, play quality friendly games and we will be ready for anyone in our group. This could be our time. Right now, we have things going well for the team. So, we are not afraid of anyone,” Echiejile added.

    He said the stunning comeback win against Argentina is just sample of what the Super Eagles would do at the World Cup.

    “The win is enough motivation for everyone in the team that we can actually dispose any team at the World Cup without fear or jitters.”

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has also maintained that he is open to any group the Super Eagles will draw today in Moscow. The NFF President, who led a nine-man delegation to the draw, told SCORENigeria: “Any team that qualifies for the world Cup is potentially capable of winning the World Cup.

    Pinnick said: “To me, we would just pray, work hard and keep our faces off the people in our group. There is no weak team among the teams that qualified. If countries like the United States (U.S), Holland, Chile, Italy did not qualify, then, we must understand that the dynamics of football has changed.”

    One of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medalists, Joseph Dosu, said it would be better for the Eagles to be drawn in the ‘Group of Death’ and play the tough teams in the group stage if they hope to secure a passage to the knock out stages of the global fiesta.

    He said: “The Super Eagles is a team that thrives when placed in a tough group. I have also noticed that they struggle when they are in a group made up of weaker pedigree. If we are in a group which includes the likes of Germany, Portugal and so on, the Eagles would do well. With teams such as these, we tend to be at our best.”

    Who’s who IN Russia 2018?

    From Europe, hosts Russia and group winners Belgium, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Spain are joined by play-off victors Croatia, Denmark Sweden and Switzerland. Africa’s representatives are Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia. From North and Central America and the Caribbean, it is Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama. South America’s sides are Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay. And the Asian qualifiers are Australia, Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

    According to the organisers of the event, the World Cup finals draw will be hosted by former England striker and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and Russian sports journalist, Maria Komandnaya.

    “As a player, I was fortunate enough to take part in the World Cup finals on two occasions,” Lineker told Fifa.com.

    “It’s quite special to be involved in yet another tournament now on the stage, unveiling the results of the draw. I have been on the other side, waiting to find out my opponents, and I know how exciting this occasion is.”

    Teams will be seeded based on the October 2017 FIFA world rankings. There are four pots – each containing eight teams. Russia will be joined in pot one by the seven highest-ranked teams, with the next eight in pot two, the following eight in pot three and the lowest ranked eight in pot four. No teams from the same confederation, with the exception of UEFA, will be drawn in the same group. A maximum of two European countries can be in any group.

    The guests at the draw will include representatives from each of the eight nations to have won the World Cup: Laurent Blanc (France), Gordon Banks (England), Cafu (Brazil), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Diego Maradona (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain) and Miroslav Klose (Germany).

    Whatever group the Eagles find themselves, with good preparation, they can ruffle some feathers and better their second round performance in Russia. However, for those who do not consider the Nigerian team a force to reckon with at the World Cup, the Eagles have this message for them: ‘We fear no foe’.

  • Super Eagles Not Afraid of Germany, Spain, Others, says Rohr

    Super Eagles Not Afraid of Germany, Spain, Others, says Rohr

    Super Eagles ’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has said he is calm ahead of Friday’s Final Draw for the 21st FIFA World Cup finals as his team has no fear of any team.

    According to a statement by the Communications Department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday, Rohr spoke from the Crowne Plaza World Trade Centre in Moscow.

    It quoted him as speaking in the morning after he landed in the Russian capital for the showpiece event.

    “There is no weak squad in the 32-team field, and anyone hoping to play so-called `average teams’ in the group phase is only guilty of wishful thinking.

    “All the teams that are in the Final Draw, except host nation Russia, played qualifying matches. They all emerged from tough encounters and, therefore, none can be tagged `weak’.

    “In the next 24 hours, we will enter the State Kremlin Palace for the Final Draw and a couple of hours later, everyone will know their opponents.

    “There is no apprehension. If you have to be listed among the best, you have to conquer the better teams and even beat some of the best.’’

    Nigeria emerged from a truly tough qualifying group, which included three of Africa’s five flagbearers at the 2014 World Cup.

    The other one — Zambia — won the Africa Cup of Nations only few years before.

    Also, all four were former Africa Cup champions, and Cameroon were even the Cup holders.

    Between them, they had won 10 African titles — Cameroon (5), Nigeria (3), Algeria (1) and Zambia (1).

    During the week, statistical analysis of the teams in the Final Draw revealed that Nigeria used the youngest squad to qualify for the finals.

    About two weeks ago, the three-time African champions came from two goals down to beat two-time world champions Argentina 4-2 in a friendly game.

    “We don’t see that as more than a friendly, but what we took away was the capacity of the boys to respond appropriately to adversity, and I loved their reaction,” Rohr reflected.

    The win brought back memories of Nigeria’s 4-1 spanking of the Argentines in another friendly in Abuja on June 1, 2011.

    “Seriously speaking, every team has the right to dream. But we have our heads on our shoulders and our feet on the ground, and whatever draw comes, we will take it one match at a time.”

    Friday’s Final Draw at the State Kremlin Palace will start at 6 p.m. Moscow time (4 p.m. Nigeria time).(

  • Super Eagles Player to Build Orphanage in Edo

    Super Eagles Player to Build Orphanage in Edo

    Super Eagles player, Odion Ighalo, has promised to build an orphanage in Edo as a means of giving back to the people of his state.

    Ighalo, a striker with Changchun Yatai Football Club in China, gave the promise in Benin on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Philip Shaibu in his office.

    He appealed to the  Edo State Government to provide him with a portion of land in order to fulfill his promise.

    He said the orphanage would have a football pitch to enable football lovers train.

    Responding, Shaibu, thanked the striker for remembering his home.

    He said the present administration would welcome any initiative that would help it deliver its electoral promise on sports.

    He said Gov. Godwin Obaseki was determined to build 20 stadia across the 18 local government areas of the state.

  • W/Cup Draw: Who is afraid of facing past winners?

    W/Cup Draw: Who is afraid of facing past winners?

     

    With barely 48 hours to the much awaited World Cup draw billed for the Kremlin in Russia, the feeling across the globe especially within the countries that qualified for the Mundial is that of anxiety.  It is like waiting in front of the labour room awaiting the delivery of a child after nine months of gestation. The qualifiers has separated the men from the boys and the 32 countries that survived the qualifiers are about to know their group opponents that will determine to a great extent how far they can go in the month long battle of supremacy.

    In Nigeria the feeling among soccer fans and analysts alike is a mixture of fear, anxiety, optimism and pessimism with a strong desire to be patriotic no matter the feeling.

    The flourish with which the Super Eagles qualified for the Russia 2018 has given many a lot of confidence that the Gernot Rohr tutored side can go all the way to spring a surprise in Russia. Again a recent report published by Bleacher claims that Nigeria is taking the youngest team to the Russia with average age of the team put at 24.9, beating Germany, who are second with 25.7.

    The National team under Rohr has seen the infusion of younger players like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Francis Uzoho, Ola Aina, Tyrone Ebuehi and Brain Idowu among others. If the report is true, then it means the team should boast of speed and stamina, and with experience the likes of captain John Obi Mikel and the older players will bring to the table should be able to hold their own against any team. Qualification for the World cup is not a mean feat and is an indication that the team that so emerged is ready to prove itself among the bests.

    The big question is why the fear in some quarters over the draw and the possibility of facing the likes of Germany, Argentina, Brazil, France, Uruguay, Spain, England and Italy? Perhaps one of the reasons aside from their legion of stars is the fact that they are the only winners of the world cup since its inception in 1930. Interestingly for the first time Italy who won the title in 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 will be missing having failed to qualify, but the remaining seven past winners Brazil, Germany, Spain, England, Argentina, France and Uruguay made it to Russia and all eyes will be on them in their attempt to re-enact the achievement they made in the past. Granted they have the experience garnered over the years but it is also safe to say that the rest of the world has not been sleeping as upsets are no longer strange in football.

    Qualifying for world cup final is open announcement that such a team is ready to compete for honours among the bests. At every new edition of the world cup, what has been achieved in the past remains in the past but remains relevant to history. Every edition provides an opportunity for a past winner to prove it has what it takes to retain or reclaim the title and also an opportunity for a fresh winner to emerge. In the final analysis qualification for the world cup is an open declaration that a team is ready to fight for honours the pedigree of the opponents notwithstanding.

    The Eagles landed in Russia with panache and the job must have to be done. Come Friday, the opponents will emerge and no matter their pedigree, the Eagles must not panic but fight to the finish.

  • NFF sets Quarter/Semi finals target for Rohr

    NFF sets Quarter/Semi finals target for Rohr

     

    As Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr smiles to the bank following the payment of his December Salary plus 2-year contract offer, the German tactician has been told aim for quarter of semi final spot in Russia.

    Nigeria has been at the World Cup five times and the best performance has been the round of 16 achieved at the 1994 edition in USA, 1998 edition in France and the 2014 edition in Brazil. The remaining two were poor outings that saw the Nation book her exit in the group stage in Korea 2002 and South Africa 2010 respectively.

    Spokesman of the Glass House Demola Olajire who revealed the charge given to Rohr, said the NFF is offering the team all the needed support in the hope that it can better the record already on ground.

    “The round of 16 is the highest we have reached and we are looking at something better than that like the semi finals,” he said adding that Grade A friendly matches will be organised for the team after the World Cup draw on Friday.

    Nigeria like the remaining 31 countries that booked their place for the Showdown in Russia eagerly await their opponents at the draws to be held at the Kremlin on Friday.

    Some fans and analysts in the country have been expressing hope that Eagles will get a favourable draw. Favourable those who spoke with thenationonline.net say, means avoiding the super powers of football especially former winners of the World cup at the group stage.

    Eagles have played a total of 18 matches in the finals of their world cup appearances, four matches in USA 94 which ended with round of 16 exit, after losing to the Azzuris 2-1 after extra time. Four matches in France 98 ending in the round of 16 after a 4-1 loss to Denmark, three matches in Korea which ended with a goalless draw against England in the group stage after initial lone goal loss to Argentina in the opener and 2-1 win over Sweden. Three matches in South Africa 2010 which ended at the group stage after a 2-2 draw against South Korea in Durban after initial 1-0 loss to Argentina and 2-1 loss to Greece in Bloemfontein and finally four matches in Brazil ending in the round of 16 with a 2-0 loss to France in Brasília.

    Argentina appears to be recurring decimal in the draws against Eagles and may again be pitched against the Rohr tutored side on Friday. The rejuvenated Eagles however believe they will have the better of the South Americans should they feature among opponents again especially after handing them a 4-2 defeat in a recent friendly in Russia.

  • NFF to Take 100 Fans to World Cup to Cheer Super Eagles

    NFF to Take 100 Fans to World Cup to Cheer Super Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) will be one of the big spenders for next year’s world cup in Russia as plans have been mapped out to spend whooping dollars- worth billions of naira- to sponsor 100 Nigerians to Russia to cheer the Super Eagles.
    The plan, which has been described as a special arrangement, following the division among the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, has reached advance stage.
    Even if the leadership crisis in the Nigeria football supporters club is resolved before the July 2018 world cup, The Glass House as further gathered, would not drop its already worked out special arrangement to ensure a massive support for the football national team in Russia.
    Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye reportedly explained that the football federation was mindful of the situation with the Supporters Club, which is a private body, and hence have to ensure that the crisis would not in anyway affect Eagles in the world.
    Ibitoye said, “the details of the fans engagement programme will be unveiled by the NFF in the next few days…. the NFF and its sponsors want to take 100 fans to Russia.”
    The Nigerian Football Supporters Club has splited into two factions with Rev. Ikpea and Vincent Okumagba laying claims to the leadership of the body.
    The Ikpea faction is backed by a majority of the members, including Rafiu Ladipo, who is the president general of the body, while Okumagba is supported by the younger elements, who want change in leadership from Ladipo’s over 20 years of controlling the body.
    The club could not travel with the Super Eagles to Ndola where Zambia hosted Nigeria in the opening game of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers, while the Ikpea-led group arrived in Cameroun by road on match day when the Indomitable Lions hosted the Super Eagles in Yaoundé.
    However, it was gathered that ‘elders’ of the body have been meeting to find a lasting solution to the Supporters Club’s leadership crisis.
    Meanwhile, Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro has urged the National team handlers to reconsider giving a recall to former Captain, Vincent Enyeama.
    Speaking ahead of the World Cup draws coming up on the 1st of December spoke, Babayaro said,
    “World Cup requires a lot of experience if we will have any chance of scaling, and Enyeama’s experience will be vital at this point,” Babayaro said.
    The former goalkeeper was widely known as the older brother of former Chelsea and Newcastle full-back, Celestine.
    He noted that irrespective of how Enyeama is been viewed, he can still pass on knowledge to the team. Stressing that
    conditions should be attached to his return, to avoid any form of rancor within the team.
    Emmanuel was a keen central midfielder as a child, but his younger brother Celestine would force him to play in goal,
    hitting him until he gave in. It was in this position that he was noticed.
    Babayaro was also part of Nigeria’s gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics, a side in which Celestine also appeared.
  • Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    The Chinese Super League has been the new pasture for many world and Nigerian football stars but Tianjin Teda of China and Super Eagles’ striker, Brown Ideye revealed that foreign players will find the league very difficult as the local players were now upping their play.

    The former junior international, who had been reported to have been in disagreement with management of Tianjin Teda said this on Tuesday in an interview on Sports Café.

    He also confirmed that he would be plying his trade away from the Chinese League next season.

    “I don’t think I will be playing football in China next season maybe Europe,” Ideye said.

    “The Chinese owners are doing their best, they are bringing more big names to the league.

    “Month by month it is really tight because most of the Chinese players are picking very fast. From next season, it’ll be a big task on the foreign players.”

    Ideye also discarded talks that he alongside Super Eagles captain – John Mikel Obi and other big stars joined the Chinese Super League because of the money.

    According to him, football was the reason he moved to China and he alongside the big names in the league were being rewarded based on their input to the league.

    On what took him to China, Ideye, said: “It is football. I’m not the only one playing there, Mikel too is playing and some other big names like Pato and Tevez.

    “They too have the same aim which is going to China and play football and enjoy every moment on the pitch.

    “People think it is that good but you have to work for it (money); nothing good comes easy. You work for it and get your reward.”

    The 29-year-old former Olympiakos player, who has been out of the Super eagles squad for over a year also added that he was looking forward to be part of the players that would represent Nigeria at the World Cup.

    He added, “I’m looking forward to Russia just like every other player looking forward to the World Cup and hoping to do their best.”

  • Super Eagles drop nine places in FIFA ranking

    Super Eagles drop nine places in FIFA ranking

    By Moses Emorinken

    In spite of the Super Eagles sterling performance in the World Cup qualifiers and its convincing defeat of Argentina – one of the world’s finest teams, Nigeria has dropped nine (9) places in the latest football ranking by the International Federation of Association Football ( FIFA ).

    FIFA made this latest ranking known on Thursday, putting Nigeria at 50th position in the world and 8th in Africa.

    Read also: Nigeria moves up in latest FIFA Ranking

    It can be recalled that Nigeria occupied the 41st position in the last ranking. This did not augur well for the die-hard fans of the Super Eagles as they expected the recent exploits of the team to have levitated the Eagles to more desirable position in the upward direction.

    A few unexpected teams like Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo etc., ranked higher than Nigeria.

    However, we are very hopeful that the forthcoming ranking by FIFA scheduled for 21st December, 2017 should hold more serendipitous prospects for our national team.

    See below the list of the top ten (10) teams in Africa and the world:

    Africa

    1. Senegal
    2. Tunisia
    3. Egypt
    4. Congo DR
    5. Morocco
    6. Burkina Faso
    7. Cameroon
    8. Nigeria
    9. Ghana
    10. Côte d’Ivoire

     

    World

    1. Germany
    2. Brazil
    3. Portugal
    4. Argentina
    5. Belgium
    6. Spain
    7. Poland
    8. Switzerland
    9. France
    10. Chile
  • W/cup: Stakeholders warn NFF against distractions

    W/cup: Stakeholders warn NFF against distractions

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been warned against distractions that can take shine off Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup in Russia.

    A number of stakeholders who bared their minds onSuper  Eagles impressive qualification, probable opponents that will emerge from the December 1st draw and ultimate expectations in Russia, recalled how squabbles in camp, disagreement between players and officials and ego clash among officials had forced the nation to settle for less in the past, adding that sweet nature of qualification this time should be marched with impressive performance devoid of unnecessary in-fighting.

    Their reaction is not unconnected with brewing disagreement over the sharing formula for World cup largesse in which the Glass House has floated the idea of paying players according to minutes played. Another teething issue is the growing debate over whether or not to recall Vincent Enyeama to the national team.

    Those who reacted insisted that a player who has been invited to the national team is not the one to play himself, and should be paid because he has made himself available.

    Prominent among those who responded passionately about the issues include former international and 1980 Nations Cup champion Dr Felix Owolabi. He recalled that circumstances leading to the Enyeama’s exit from the national team is not very palatable adding the technical crew should be more concerned with training the goalkeepers available to the required level ahead of the Mundial.

    Owoblow as he was fondly called while in the national team said the nation cannot afford to allow any distractions in camp’’ My candid opinion is this leave Enyeama out of the squad. The goalkeepers trainers should be able to train the goalkeepers in camp and bring them to the level required. If they can’t do that we should look for those who can’’ he told sportsgist Tuesday.

  • CHAN: Eagles up against Libya, Rwanda and Eq. Guinea

    CHAN: Eagles up against Libya, Rwanda and Eq. Guinea

     

    Nigeria will tackle 2014 champions Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage at the 5th African Nations Championship taking place in Morocco, 13th January – 4th February 2018. The matches of Group C will be played in Tangier.

     

    Libya shocked the African football family by winning the 2014 edition in South Africa at the expense of Ghana, despite the North African nation being embroiled in political turmoil at the time. Nigeria finished third at the same competition.

     

    Rwanda was the last team to qualify for the finals, after edging Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate in a play –off that was necessitated by Egypt’s decision to forfeit her slot at the championship.

     

    Equatorial Guinea qualified for the finals following the withdrawal of Gabon, and a miffed CAF hierarchy has made it clear the Gabonese (as well as Djibouti that also withdrew after playing the first leg against Ethiopia) would not be part of the qualifying campaign for the 2020 finals.

     

    The Draw Ceremony held at the Hotel Sofitel Rabat on Friday evening also housed hosts Morocco, Guinea, Sudan and Mauritania in Group A, in the event pitting the Atlas Lions against Mauritania in the opening match of the competition, at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on 13th January.

     

    Hosts of the inaugural edition of the competition in 2009, Cote d’Ivoire head Group B that will be based in Marrakech, and have Zambia, Uganda and Namibia as group mates.

     

    Group D, based in Agadir, has 2011 runners-up Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.

     

    GROUP A (CASABLANCA)

    Morocco

    Guinea

    Sudan

    Mauritania

     

    GROUP B (MARRAKECH)

    Cote d’Ivoire

    Zambia

    Uganda

    Namibia

     

    GROUP C (TANGIER)

    Libya

    Nigeria

    Rwanda

    Equatorial Guinea

     

    GROUP D (AGADIR)

    Angola

    Cameroon

    Congo

    Burkina Faso