Sport

Super Eagles Crash Out on Penalties

By Web News 214

Oluwakayode Banjo

Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to make it back to back appearance at the African Cup of Nations, AFCON final, after losing 4-2 on penalties to the 2025 Host Nation, Morocco in the semi finals.

The Super Eagles, who were hoping to continue their perfect record in the ongoing tournament, were second best all through the game as they battled to a goalless draw in regulation time.

The game stretched to penalty shootout after both teams could not still find the back of the net after extra time.

Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemeachi both missed their spot kicks as Nigeria fell to a 4-2 defeat to Morocco.

The Super Eagles will now settle for a third place battle on Saturday with Egypt, who had earlier lost 1-0 to Senegal in the first semi final game.

The final will be between the Host Nation Atlas Lions of Morocco and the Terenga Lions of Senegal on Sunday.

Edited by Adetutu Adetule

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Sport

AFCON Quarter Finals Begins Friday

By Web News 224

By Oluwakayode Banjo

The quarter final stage of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, AFCON in Morocco begins Friday.

The first fixture of the quarter finals will see neighbouring countries Mali and Senegal lock horns together at five o’clock in the evening.

In the second quarter final fixture, Host Nation Morocco will battle Cameroon at eight o’clock tonight.

The quarter finals will round off Saturday as the Super Eagles of Nigeria tackle the Desert Warriors of Algeria, while the Pharaohs of Egypt take on the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

Edited by Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Sport

S. Eagles, Mambas, Face Off in Round of 16 Clash

By Web News 244

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Super Eagles of Nigeria will on Monday face the Mambas of Mozambique in their round of 16 clash of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Morocco.

The encounter will kick off at 8:00 p.m. on Monday at the Fez Stadium, Fes.

Also, Egypt will lock horns with Benin Republic in another round of 16 fixtures at five o’clock in the evening.

Meanwhile, Cameroon and host nation Morocco are through to the quarter finals after both securing victories on Sunday.

Morocco defeated Tanzania by a lone goal, while Cameroon beat South Africa 2-1.

Both teams join Senegal and Mali in the quarter finals.

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Sport

Tinubu Urges Super Eagles to Refocus on AFCON

By Web News 211

By Maxwell Oyekunle

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for what he described as a determined effort in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite Sunday’s playoff loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president urged the team to put the disappointment behind them and immediately begin preparations for the 2026 African Cup of Nations, scheduled for January to February in Morocco.

Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended on Sunday after the Super Eagles lost 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo in Morocco, following a 1–1 draw after extra time.

The defeat marked the second consecutive time Nigeria failed to reach the Mundial.

President Tinubu acknowledged the pain of missing out but said the players deserved praise for pushing deep into the qualifiers, especially after winning their first playoff match.

“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” he said.

He called on football authorities and stakeholders to address lapses exposed during the qualifiers.

“We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board,” he said.

President Tinubu added that national attention should now shift to the upcoming AFCON.

“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” he said.

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Sport

Peseiro Confirms Exit, Describes Coaching Super Eagles Honour

By Web News 552

Jose Peseiro has confirmed he is no longer the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

This comes following the expiration of his contract just after the recently concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON).

The Portuguese tactician, in a series of tweets on his X account on Friday, described it as a pride and honour to have coached the Super Eagles.

Peseiro, who would be leaving alongside his backroom staff, conceded that they would miss the team “but we will always be there for you.”

He wrote, “Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF.

“It was a pride and honour to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfilment.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure.

“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you.”

Meanwhile, the Algeria Football Federation has shown interest in hiring coach Jose Peseiro who led Nigeria to the finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

This came after Djamel Belmadi was fired following a dismal performance at the just-concluded AFCON tournament.

Belmadi was fired after the nation failed to advance beyond the Group stages.

Peseiro led Nigeria to the final of the 34th AFCON, where they lost 2–1 against the host team, Ivory Coast.

According to an Algerian publication, DZ Foot, the president of the Algerian football federation, Walid Sadi, is impressed by Peseiro’s credentials and is willing to have a chat with the Portuguese tactician about taking over their national team job.

“Not made public, the shortlist established by the ad-hoc commission set up by the FAF, is made up of three names, namely José Peseiro (63 years old), Vladimir Petkovic (60 years old) and Carlos Queiroz (70 years old),” the website wrote.

While the name of Carlos Queiroz has come back in force in recent days as being the final choice of the FAF, according to our information this would ultimately not be the case and José Peseiro becomes the preferential choice of Walid Sadi.

“Indeed the one who took Nigeria to the CAN 2023 final would be in direct contact with the president of the Algerian football federation who would have been seduced by his profile and his speech without forgetting the financial aspect.”

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Sport

AFCON: Tinubu Showers Super Eagles with National Award, Houses 

By Web News 639

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, rewarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a national award (Member of the Order of the Niger, MON) flats in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and a piece of land.

President Tinubu made the pronouncement when he received the players and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation is led by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh.

The Super Eagles finished as runners-up in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Côte d’Ivoire.

All the team members, clad in green attire, and officials were in attendance, including Alex Iwobi, who had faced cyber attacks following Nigeria’s loss to Cote d’Ivoire at the final of the just concluded African Cup of Nations.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu commended the team, the coach, the crew, and the entire management team for their hard work, assiduity, and sacrifice to come this far in the tournament, acknowledging the hurdles they consistently surpassed with steadily improving performance as they pulled through to the finals.

The President had urged Nigerians to be of good cheer, emphasising that we won a great victory in the hearts of Africa and the world with our grit, rigour, and determination in the field of play.

“Let this passing event not dispirit us but bring us together to work harder. We are a great nation bound as one by the green-white-green banner of resilience, joy, hope, duty, and untiring love.

“To those cherished Nigerian youths expressing their gifts in communities, drawing lines in the sand as they play football in their humble rectangles of play, you can be our heroes tomorrow, do not relent in your pursuit. My administration is here to make dreams come true,” the president said.

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Sport

Check your blood pressure before watching AFCON Finals – Expert

By Web News 623

By Olawale Asake

Nigerians particularly, football lovers who are planning to watch Sunday’s 2023 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, final match between Super Eagles of Nigeria and Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire, to know their health status, especially, to their blood pressure before watching the match.

A sports promoter and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Kayrom Lee Gym and Fitness Centre, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Ambassador Romoke Ayinde who gave the advice while speaking with Radio Nigeria said, it would be out of place for anyone with heart-related diseases or blood pressure illnesses to engage in activities that can trigger shock like watching a tension soaked game.

She noted that blood pressure related illness could be hypertension or hypotension, saying when the blood pressure is high, it is known as hypertension, while describing hypotension as when blood level is low.

Ambassador Ayinde stressed that both the hypertension and hypotension are dangerous if not properly managed, as they could trigger stroke or even cause sudden death.

The entrepreneur appealed to Nigerians who are not health-wisely fit not to watch the live match, to stay away and wait for the final l results to celebrate as a way to show patriotism to their fatherland.

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AFCON Mishap: SWAN Wishes Oyediji Babatunde Speedy Recovery

By Web News 437

By Olusegun Folarin

Ogun State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has sympathized with one of its members involved in a motor accident in Ivory Coast where he is covering the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde.

According to reports, the accident happened with the convoy of journalists while returning from Yamussoukro to Abidjan after covering the Guinea vs Senegal match.

The SWAN chairman in the state, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji in a statement through his Secretary, Olusegun Folarin was full of gratitude to God for His mercies on Oyediji and other journalists who were injured and shocked from the accident. 

The SWAN Chairman urged the injured journalists to ensure adequate treatment and sufficient diagnosis of any pain or injury to ensure proper healing. 

He charged Oyediji and others not to be deterred by the temporary discomfort but to continue to give adequate coverage to the Nations Cup and Nigeria’s participation in particular. 

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Sport

AFCON: Super Eagles Take on Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire

By Web News 459

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Super Eagles of Nigeria will be looking for their first victory in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, AFCON, tournament when they face host nation Cote d’Ivoire today.

The game will kick off at six o’clock in the evening at the Alassanne Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan.

Having drawn their opening game with Equatorial Guinea, Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has said his players must show good organisation and put up a strong showing against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.

Other matches slated for today are Equatorial Guinea versus Guinea Bissau and Egypt versus Ghana.

Meanwhile, in matches played yesterday, morocco thrashed Tanzania by 3 goals to nil, while Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo played out a 1-1 draw 

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Sport

AFCON: Super Eagles Versus Equatorial Guinea Match Ends 1-1

By Web News 603

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first game of the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast on Sunday.

Equatorial Guinea drew first blood in the 37th minute when Iban Salvador scored a well-placed shot, leaving the Super Eagles’ goalie, Stanley Nwabali, motionless.

An instant response from Nigeria following a kickoff saw Victor Osimhen head an equalising goal for Nigeria before the break.

Despite many chances, Nigeriafailed to get the winning goal. Although Osimhen scored his first AFCON goal on his first appearance, he, in the 75th minute, missed a big chance.

Nigeria, in Group A, will further challenge Ivory Coast, and Guinea Bissau later in the tournament.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Sport

Super Eagles AFCON Camp Opens 

By Web News 357

The Super Eagles Camp for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has opened in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

Coach Jose Peseiro has already named 25 players for the competition which begins mid-January in the West African Nation of Cote d’Ivoire.

Barring one home-based player, the other invitees are expected in camp from their different European bases.

But Samuel Chukwueze of AC Milan, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, William Troost-Ekong, and Sadiq Umar of Real Sociedad have been granted permission to feature for their sides in games later Tuesday. They will then hit the camp on Wednesday.

Nigeria will be in the oil-rich nation for a week as they fine-tune plans for the biennial football showpiece. The Super Eagles are in Group A of the competition alongside hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.

Their first game is against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 15th, 2024 before they square off against Cote d’Ivoire four days later. After this, the three-time AFCON winners take the battle to Guinea-Bissau on Monday, January 22.

Nigeria are coming into the competition on the back of a poor start to the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. The Super Eagles only managed two points from the same number of games against lowly-rated Lesotho and Zimbabwe in late 2023.

The development, as expected, triggered calls for the sack of Peseiro with many fans and pundits questioning the Portuguese gaffer’s tactical acumen to lead one of the continent’s most talented football teams.

Despite this, football authorities in Nigeria say sacking the Portuguese weeks before a major tournament is an unwise move.

While Peseiro is going into the competition under pressure, the former Al-Ahly coach is upbeat about the Super Eagles’ chances of taking another continental title eleven years after Nigeria won it in South Africa.

“We will fight to win the Africa Cup even though it won’t be easy,” Peseiro told NFF TV.

“Our group is not easy because we are up against the Ivory Coast, who have a good squad and are playing at home.

“Equatorial Guinea reached the quarter-final at the last AFCON, better than Nigeria, while Guinea Bissau beat us at home (in the qualifiers). We have to be at our best in our trainings and in our matches.”

Channels TV / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Sport

AFCON Group: Morocco Likely Opponent of Nigeria, South Africa

By Web News 477

Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco could be placed in the same group when the Africa Cup of Nations draw is made in the Ivory Coast on Thursday.

The six top seeds include Morocco, who created history at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by becoming the first semi-finalists from Africa.

Nigeria is among the second seeds while South Africa has had to settle for a place among the third seeds for the draw in Abidjan, the Ivorian economic capital.

Add surprise 2021 Cup of Nations quarter-finalists Gambia from the fourth seeds and it would be a striking “group of death,” the term given to particularly tough sections.

Nigeria, three-time winners of the premier African football competition, and former champions South Africa were unlucky not to be seeded higher.

The Super Eagles lie sixth in the continental rankings and, ordinarily, would have been a top seed, avoiding Morocco, title-holders Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt in the group stage.

But host countries not only automatically qualify for the two-year tournament, they are also always among the first seeds.

To accommodate the ninth-ranked Ivory Coast, sixth-placed Nigeria had to give way and now share second-seed status with Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

South Africa had been ranked above DR Congo for some time but, in the rankings that decided the seedings, they were placed one place below the Congolese.

It was an ironic change of positions as South Africa defeated DR Congo in a friendly match just a couple of days before the rankings were released.

The other third seeds are Cape Verde, Guinea, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea and Mauritania while the fourth seeds include Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Gambia and Tanzania.

Shock 2012 champions thanks to a penalty shootout victory over Didier Drogba-inspired Ivory Coast, Zambia are back at the Cup of Nations after three straight failures to qualify.

Zambia and Mozambique, whose last appearance was in 2010, are the only qualifiers who have not featured in at least one of the last two tournaments.

Despite a poor Cup of Nations record, Morocco is set to be installed as favourites to win the January 13-February 11 competition.

They have been champions just once in 33 editions topping a 1976 group in Ethiopia in one of only two editions where a mini-league determined the champions.

In the last Cup of Nations, hosted by Cameroon in 2022, Morocco was eliminated by Egypt in the quarter-finals.

Morocco coach, Walid Regragui, mastermind of the stunning World Cup campaign after taking charge just a few months earlier, says he will quit if his team fails to at least reach the semi-finals.

“We must be at least in the semi-finals of the CAN (Cup of Nations). If I do not go to the semi-finals, I will leave on my own,” he told the Moroccan media.

“I told my players that we cannot be kings of the world before being kings of our continent. Everyone wants to beat Morocco after our results in Qatar.

“This makes it more difficult for us to win, but it also motivates the players to improve and I welcome that.”

All six top seeds plus Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, DR Congo, South Africa and Zambia have won the Cup of Nations. The other champions Ethiopia, Sudan and Congo Brazzaville did not qualify.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Nigeria Sports Minister Arrives Egypt over AFCON 2027

By Web News 509

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has arrived with representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation in a bid to host AFCON in 2027.

Recall Nigeria and the Republic of Benin presented a joint bid to host the tournament.

All countries who submitted bids to host the AFCON tournament in 2025 and 2027 respectively are expected to attend the meeting during which the Independent Assessment Committee of CAF will submit their reports for assessment and discussions by CAF EXCO.

The CAF team had previously visited Nigeria to assess facilities at different proposed host venues around the nation.

In a post via Enoh’s official X account on Tuesday, he wrote, “With representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), I have arrived in Cairo, Egypt. We are here to attend the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee meeting, as representatives of the Nigerian Government.

Stating further the reason for his arrival in Egypt, he wrote, “Our attendance is because Nigeria and the Benin Republic submitted a joint bid to host AFCON in 2027. Other Governments and Member Associations bidding to host AFCON in 2027 will also be in attendance.

“Prior to this meeting, all countries bidding to host this tournament were visited by the Independent Assessment Committees of CAF to assess the state of their readiness to host this continental tournament.

“As part of the assessment process, each bidding country is expected to make a 10-minute presentation and will be granted another 15 minutes to respond to questions that may arise.

“Thereafter, a comprehensive report would be submitted for assessment and discussion by the CAF Executive. The meeting is slated for Wednesday, 27th September 2023. We look forward to a positive outcome for the Nigeria-Benin Republic joint bid,” he stated.

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles Top Group with Win over Leone Stars

By Web News 484

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored in the 95th minute to earn Super Eagles of Nigeria a 3-2 victory over the Leone stars of Sierra Leone in their African cup of Nations qualifiers yesterday.

The match played at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex saw Nigeria race to a two goal lead courtesy of a Victor Osimhen brace in the 19th and 32nd minutes.

However, Mustapha Bundu pulled one back for Sierra Leone in the 41st minute as the first half ended 2-1.

The Leone stars thought they had snatched a point when Augustus Kargbo made it 2-2 in the 84th minute.

But, it was Leicester city forward, Kelechi Iheanacho who would have the final say as he found the back of the net in the 95th minute to send Nigeria back to the top of Group A with 12 points.

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U-17 AFCON: Burkina Faso Defeats Cameroon

By Web News 1681

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Burkina Faso defeated Cameroon 2 -1 in their final group game of the ongoing Under 17 African Cup of Nations, AFCON tournament in Algeria.

Burkina Faso finished second in Group C with 3 points and are through to the quarter final stage of the tournament.

Other teams, who had already qualified for the knockout stages are Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco, Mali and Congo.

The quarter-finals will begin on Wednesday.

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U-17 AFCON: Victory for Senegal as Nigeria battles Morocco Wednesday

By Web News 2058

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Senegal continued their flying start to the 2023 Under 17 African cup of Nations, AFCON tournament with an emphatic 3 – 0 victory over Host Nation Algeria.

Mamadou Savane scored an hat-trick as the Senegalese team demolished Algeria on Tuesday to go top of Group A with 6 points.

In the other Group A game played on Tuesday, Congo and Somalia played out a 1 – 1 draw to remain winless in two games.

Meanwhile, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will be in action on Wednesday when they take on Morocco in their second Group B match.

The match will kick off at five o’clock in the evening.

Also, Zambia and South Africa will lock horns together in the other Group B match at eight o’clock tonight.

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AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria Seeks Revenge against Guinea Bissau

By Web News 390

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Super Eagles of Nigeria will Monday play the Wild dogs of Guinea Bissau in the second leg of their African cup of Nations, AFCON Qualifiers.

The encounter, which will be played at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Guinea Bissau, will kick off at five o’clock in the evening.

Guinea Bissau currently sits top of Group A with 7 points following their 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the first leg on Friday at the Abuja National Stadium.

Nigeria are in second position with 6 points but a victory Monday evening would see them return to the summit of Group A.

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U-23 AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria Fires Blank against Guinea

By Web News 550

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles were held to a goalless draw by Guinea in their first leg Under 23 African cup of Nations, AFCON Qualifiers.

The encounter played on Monday at the M.K.O Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, saw both teams aiming for victory but none could make the most of chances created.

The reverse fixture will be played next week Tuesday in Morocco.

Winner of the tie will secure a place in the 2023 Under 23 AFCON tournament slated for June in Morocco.

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U-20 AFCON: Senegal Emerge Champion

By Web News 697

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Senegal have been crowned champions of the just concluded 2023 Under 20 African cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.

The young lions of teranga defeated Gambia 2 nil in the final on Saturday to clinch their first ever AFCON under 20 trophy.

Goals from Lamine Camara and Mor Faye were enough for the Senegalese team to win this year’s edition.

They had previously finished second on three occasion in the 2015, 2017 and 2019 editions.

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U20 AFCON: Flying Eagles Book Q/final Spot

By Web News 679

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Flying Eagles of Nigeria are through to the quarter final of the ongoing Under 20 African cup of Nations, AFCON in Egypt after finishing second in Group A.

The Ladan Bosso tutored team, on Saturday, defeated Mozambique by 2 goals to nil in their final group game to finish behind Senegal, who trashed Hosts, Egypt 4 goals to nil.

The defeat to Senegal means that the Egypt is out of the tournament having managed just a single point in three games.

he Group stage continues on Sunday, with Uganda taking on South Sudan, while Congo battles Central African Republic.

News

AFCON: Flying Eagles Trade Tackles with Egypt

By Web News 533

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Flying Eagles of Nigeria will hope to secure their first win at the 2023 Under 20 African cup of Nations, AFCON when they face Host Egypt Wednesday.

The Flying Eagles, who lost their opening game to Senegal, will play the Host Nation at six o’clock in the evening.

Before then, Senegal, who top Group A, will hope to make it two wins out of two games when they face Mozambique at three o’clock in the afternoon.

In matches played on Monday, Gambia defeated Tunisia by a lone goal, while Benin Republic and Zambia played out a 1-1 draw.

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U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles Lose First Game

By Web News 468

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Flying Eagles of Nigeria began their campaign at the 2023 Under 20 African cup of Nations, AFCON tournament in Egypt with a loss.

The Ladan Bosso tutored team Sunday evening lost their opening game to Senegal.

Souleymane Faye scored the only goal of the game to give the Senegalese side a one nil victory and go top of Group A.

It went from bad to worse for the Flying Eagles when substitute Ahmed Abdullahi was sent off in stoppage time.

Earlier, Host Egypt played a goalless draw with Mozambique in the opening game of the tournament.

In today’s fixtures, Uganda will play Central African Republic at three o’clock in the afternoon, while South Sudan and Congo will lock horns at six o’clock in the evening.

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AFCON: 2023 Finals Moved to 2024 over Weather Concerns

By Web News 401

The next Africa Cup of Nations will be played in Ivory Coast in 2024, and not 2023, Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe said on Sunday.

The tournament was to be hosted in June-July 2023, which is the height of the rainy season in Ivory Coast.

“We cannot take the risk,” the South African said in the Moroccan capital Rabat.

With the World Cup in Qatar taking place in November and December this year, the decision has been taken to postpone the finals rather than bring them forward.

It means the Nations Cup will be held in January and February for the second time in a row, after this year’s tournament in Cameroon.

In 2017, Caf announced that it would move the finals from their traditional January-February slot to June-July in a bid to avoid repeated disputes with European clubs forced to release players in the middle of the season.

“January is not the ideal time because of the European clubs, but it is the only choice we have,” Motsepe added.

Under former Caf president Issa Hayatou, who was overthrown in 2017, African football’s ruling body refused to countenance any possible change of date for the months the continent’s flagship sports event is hosted.

Yet just four months after taking charge, Hayatou’s successor – Ahmad of Madagascar – turned this policy on its head following consultation with the continent’s officials.

Caf Secretary-General Veron Mosengo-Omba said there are no plans to permanently move the finals back to January-February given the contrasting weather patterns across the continent at different times of the year.

When asked why it took Caf so long to make a decision on this matter, given that June and July have been the rainy seasons in Ivory Coast for many years, Motsepe failed to directly address the question – saying the choice had been made ‘out of courtesy’ with Ivorian organisers.

Both Motsepe and Mosengo-Omba were speaking in Morocco, which is hosting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

African Super League

On the agenda since Fifa President Gianni Infantino hinted at its possibility in 2019, the African Super League will get underway in August 2023.

The tournament will feature 24 teams and carry total prize money of $100m, said Motsepe, adding that just over $10m will go to the winner.

Citing ‘financial challenges’ in Caf which he inherited from Ahmad, whom he replaced last year, Motsepe said that businesses are interested in sponsoring the event.

“The key issue for us is the abnormal interest we’ve been exposed to from some of the biggest and most prominent investors and sponsors,” he said.

Caf also said that the African Champions League, which is open to all countries in Africa, will continue alongside the new African Super League, where the top 24 teams will be determined according to their Fifa ranking.

Following huge criticism by beaten finalists Al Ahly following the decision to stage this year’s Champions League final in the home stadium of eventual winners Wydad Casablanca, Caf has also announced that the decisive clash will return to being a two-legged format.

“I appreciate the huge amount of unhappiness that the president of Al Ahly expressed in relation to the hosting of the African Champions League final here [in Morocco].”

After over half a century of staging two-legged finals, Africa’s leading club match became a one-off final from 2020-2022.

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

Sport

Radio Nigeria’s Olusegun Folarin Bags Outstanding Sports Reportage Award

By Web News 905

Sports Administrators in the nation’s football sector have been advised to regard the elimination of Super Eagles in the round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cameroon as a wake-up call for stakeholders to go back to the basics of grassroots development in soccer management in the country. 

A cross-section of experts in the industry gave the advice in Abeokuta at the draw ceremony for the fourth edition of the Egba Youth Football Championship and Ogun State Sports Media Award to outstanding individuals, including Olusegun Folarin of Radio Nigeria’s Paramount FM, Abeokuta. 

Speaking on Nigeria’s performance at the Nations’ Cup tournament, Former General Manager, Gateway United, Prince Tunji Onatolu maintained that nurturing the talents from the grassroots level would enable the handlers to build a formidable national team for the country. 

Also, the Chairman, Ogun State House Committee on Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Yusuf Adejojo reaffirmed the commitment of the 9th Assembly to the development of sports-friendly legislations for all-round development.

Mr Adejojo said the Sports Commission and Sports Trust Fund Bills, when signed into law, would bring a facelift to sports and youth development in the state.

Presenting the Outstanding Sports Reporter in Ogun State Award to Olusegun Folarin of Radio Nigeria Paramount FM, the President, Egba Youth Football Championship, Mr Olalekan Shoyinka said the body was honouring him for helping to promote rural sports through his reportage.

Responding, Mr Olusegun Folarin thanked the management of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, for the platform provided to enable him to exhibit his potential.

In the draw, a total of twenty-four teams were paired into six groups of four each, while the competition had fourteen debutants.

The top two teams in each group will automatically proceed to the second round, alongside the four best third-placed teams.

Olusegun Folarin

Sport

2021 AFCON: Burkina Faso Through to Quarter Finals

By Web News 556

Burkina Faso are through to the quarter finals of the 2021 Africa cup of Nations, Afcon, ongoing in Cameroon.

Burkina Faso won on penalty after playing a 1-1 draw with Gabon in regulation time.

Burkina Faso had the opportunity to take the lead in the 18th minute when they were awarded a penalty but star man Bertrand Traore missed his spot kick.

Bertrand Traore was not to be denied, however, in the 28th minute when he calmly slot pass the Gabonese goalkeeper to put Burkina Faso ahead.

Gabon defender, Sydney Obissa was sent off in the 67 minute after picking his second yellow of the game, but an own goal by Adama Guira in the 91st minute gave the Gabonese side an equaliser and took the game into extra time.

After 120 minutes of action, the match went into penalties and Burkina Faso won by 7-6 to set up an encounter with either Nigeria or Tunisia.

Oluwakayodeayode Banjo