AFCON

South Africa’s Match is Nigeria’s 100th Afcon Qualifier

Published

7 years ago

June 5, 2017

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

If the five annulled Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches involving Nigeria are excluded, the Saturday fixture with the Bafana Bafana will be Nigeria’s 100^th qualifying match in the history of the competition, Sports Village Square can assert.

The figure could have been higher as the encounter with Chad on June 13, 2015 in Kaduna could have been the milestone 100^th Africa Cup of Nations match involving Nigeria, but CAF technically annulled the match owing to later withdrawal of Chad from the competition.

The same principle is therefore applied to other matches which results were later annulled by CAF. These were the qualifying matches Nigeria played in the quest for 2000 Africa Cup of Nations that was originally slated for Zimbabwe.

Sports Village Square recalls that before the revocation of the hosting rights that were later jointly given to Nigeria and Ghana, the Super Eagles had played away matches with Burkina Faso and Senegal as well as a home game against Burundi in Abeokuta.

The results were cancelled just like the 1961 away qualifying match with Tunisia. The later match was awarded to Tunisia on account of Nigeria’s walkout for poor officiating. Score line at the time stood at 2-2 with Nigeria leading 4-3 on aggregate.

Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Matches

1962, Africa Cup of Nations, Ethiopia

April 8, 1961, Lagos: Nigeria 0-0 Ghana
April 30, 1961, Accra: Ghana 2-2 Nigeria [Nigeria won on lots*]
November 25, 1951, Lagos: Nigeria 2-1 Tunisia

December 10, 1961, Tunis: Tunisia 2-2 Nigeria (Match annulled, awarded to Tunisia)

1963 Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana

July 27, 1963, Lagos: Nigeria 2-2 Guinea
October 6, 1963, Conakry: Guinea 1-0 Nigeria * Guinea disqualified, Nigeria qualified

1965 Africa Cup of Nations, Tunisia

Nigeria withdrew from prelims

1968 Africa Cup of Nations, Ethiopia

March 12, 1967, Lagos: Nigeria 0-0 Cote d’Ivoire
April 2, 1967, Lomé: Togo 1-0 Nigeria
April 15, 1967, Lagos: Nigeria 4-2 Togo
May 7, 1967, Abidjan: Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 Nigeria

1970 Africa Cup of Nations, Sudan

Niger w/o Nigeria

1972 Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon

November 8, 1970, Ibadan: Nigeria 0-0 Congo
November, 22, 1970, Brazzaville: Congo 2-1 Nigeria

1974 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt

September 16, 1973, Khartoum: Sudan 1-1 Nigeria
September 30, 1973, Lagos: Nigeria 2-1 Sudan
October 28, 1973, Lusaka: Zambia 5-1 Nigeria
November 11, 1973, Lagos: Nigeria 3-2 Zambia [Zambia qualify]

1976 Africa Cup of Nations, Ethiopia

October 26, 1975, Brazzaville: Congo 0-1 Nigeria
November 9, 1975, Lagos: Nigeria 2-1 Congo [Nigeria qualify]

1978 Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana

June 12, 1977, Dakar: Senegal 3-1 Nigeria
June 25, 1977, Lagos: Nigeria 3-0 Senegal [Nigeria qualify]

1980 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria

*Automatic as hosts

Africa Cup of Nations, Libya

*Automatic as defending champions

1984 Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire

April 9, 1983, Lagos: Nigeria 2-0 Angola
April 24, 1983, Luanda: Angola 1-0 Nigeria
August 14, 1983, Benin: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco
August 28, 1983, Rabat: Morocco 0-0 Nigeria [Nigeria qualify 4-3 on pen.]

1986 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt

August 10, 1985, Lagos: Nigeria 0-0 Zambia
August 18, 1985, Lusaka: Zambia 1-0 Nigeria [Zambia qualify]

1988 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco

March 28, 1987, Ibadan: Nigeria 2-0 Togo
April 2, 1987, Lomé: Togo 1-1 Nigeria
July 4, 1987, Ibadan: Nigeria 3-0 Sierra Leone
July 18, 1987, Freetown: Sierra Leone 2-0 Nigeria [Nigeria qualify]

1990 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria

April 9, 1989, Conakry: Guinea 1-1 Nigeria
April 22, 1989, Ibadan: Nigeria 3-0 Guinea
July 15, 1989, Ibadan: Nigeria 3-0 Zimbabwe
July 29, 1989, Harare: Zimbabwe 1-1 Nigeria [Nigeria qualify]

1992 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal

August 19, 1990, Lagos: Nigeria 3-0 Togo
September 1, 1990, Accra: Ghana 1-0 Nigeria
September 30, 1990, Cotonou: Benin 0-1 Nigeria
January 13, 1991, Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso 1-1 Nigeria
January 27, 1991, Lomé: Togo 0-0 Nigeria
April 13, 1991, Lagos: Nigeria 0-0 Ghana
April 27, 1991, Lagos: Nigeria 3-0 Benin
July 27, 1991, Lagos: Nigeria 7-1 Burkina Faso

1994 Africa Cup of Nations, Tunisia

August 16, 1992, Khartoum: Sudan 0-0 Nigeria
August 29, 1992, Lagos: Nigeria 2-0 Uganda
April 11, 1993, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia 1-0 Nigeria
April 24, 1993, Lagos: Nigeria 4-0 Sudan
July 17, 1993, Kampala: Uganda 0-0 Nigeria
July 24, 1993, Lagos: Nigeria 6-0 Ethiopia

October 4, 1998, Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso 0-0 Nigeria [annulled]
January 23, 1999, Abeokuta: Nigeria 2-0 Burundi [annulled]
February 28, 1999, Dakar Senegal 1-1 Nigeria [annulled)

Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa

*Automatic as defending champions, but withdrew

1998 Africa Cup of Nations, Burkina Faso

*Banned

2002 Africa Cup of Nations, Mali

September 2, 2000, Lagos: Nigeria 4-0 Namibia
October 7, 2000 Antananarivo: Madagascar 0-0 Nigeria
January 13, 2001, Lagos: Nigeria 1-0 Zambia
March 24, 2001, Chingola: Zambia 1-1 Nigeria
June 2, 2001, Benin: Nigeria 1-0 Madagascar
June 16, 2001, Windhoek: Namibia 0-2 Nigeria

2004 Africa Cup of Nations, Tunisia

September 8, 2002, Luanda: Angola 0-0 Nigeria
March 29, 2003, Blantyre: Malawi 0-1 Nigeria
June 7, 2003, Abuja: Nigeria 4-1 Malawi
June 21, 2003 Benin: Nigeria 2-2 Angola

2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt

June 5, 2004, Abuja: Nigeria 2-0 Rwanda
June 20, 2004, Luanda: Angola 1-0 Nigeria
July 3, 2004, Abuja: Nigeria 1-0 Algeria
September 5, 2004, Harare: Zimbabwe 0-3 Nigeria
October 9, 2004 Libreville: Gabon 1-1 Nigeria
March 26, 2005, Port Harcourt: Nigeria 2-0 Gabon
June 5, 2005, Kigali: Rwanda 1-1 Nigeria
June 18, 2005 Kano: Nigeria 1-1 Angola
September 4, 2005, Oran: Algeria 2-5 Nigeria
October 8, 2005, Lagos: Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe

2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana

September 6, 2006, Abuja: Nigeria 2-0 Niger
October 8, 2006, Maseru: Lesotho 0-1 Nigeria
March 24, 2007, Abeokuta: Nigeria 1-0 Uganda
June 2, 2007, Kampala: Uganda 2-1 Nigeria
June 17, 2007, Niamey: Niger 1-3 Nigeria
September 8, 2007, Warri: Nigeria 2-0 Lesotho

2010 Africa Cup of Nations, Angola

June 1, 2008, Abuja: Nigeria 2-0 South Africa
June 7, 2008, Freetown: Sierra Leone 0-1 Nigeria
June 15, 2008, Malabo: Equat. Guinea 0-1 Nigeria
June 21, 2008, Abuja: Nigeria 2-0 Equat. Guinea
September 6, 2008, Port Elizabeth: South Africa 0-1 Nigeria
October 11, 2008, Abuja: Nigeria 4-1 Sierra Leone

2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea/Gabon

September 5, 2010, Calabar: Nigeria 2–0 Madagascar
October 10, 2010, Conakry: Guinea 1–0 Nigeria
March 27, 2011, Abuja: Nigeria 4–0 Ethiopia
June 5, 2011, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia 2–2 Nigeria
September 4, 2011, Antananarivo: Madagascar 0–2 Nigeria
October 8, 2011, Abuja: Nigeria 2–2 Guinea

2013 Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa

February 29, 2012, Kigali: Rwanda 0-0 Nigeria
June 16, 2012, Calabar: Nigeria 2-0 Rwanda
September 8, 2012. Monrovia: Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
October 13, 2012, Calabar: Nigeria 6-1 Liberia

2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon

September 6, 2014, Calabar: Nigeria 2-3 Congo-Brazzaville
September 10, 2014, Cape Town: South Africa 0-0 Nigeria
October 11, 2014, Khartoum: Sudan 1-0 Nigeria
October 15, 2014, Abuja: Nigeria 3-1 Sudan
November 15, 2014. Pointe-Noire: Congo-Brazzaville 0-2 Nigeria
November 19, 2014, Uyo: Nigeria 2-2 South Africa

2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea

June 13, 2015, Kaduna: Nigeria 2-0 Chad (annulled)

September 5, 2015, Dar es Salaam: Tanzania 0-0 Nigeria
March 25, 2016, Kaduna: Nigeria 1-1 Egypt
March 29, 2016, Alexandria: Egypt 1-0 Nigeria
September 3, 2016, Uyo: Nigeria 1-0 Tanzania

2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon

June 10, 2017, Uyo: Nigeria vs South Africa

AFCON

Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 fixtures almost in same pattern with World Cup qualifiers

Published

2 weeks ago

July 12, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has now released the full fixtures of the qualifying series for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The fixtures for the Nigerian team is almost in the same pattern with that of the 2026 World Cup qualification which has seen the Super Eagles wobbling.

Like that of the World Cup, the Super Eagles will begin their quest for qualifcation for AFCON with a home game in Uyo as they will host Benin Republic.

As it was in the World Cup, they will then head to Rwanda. Last November, their second match was played in Rwanda which hosted Zimbabwe home match. This time the Super Eagles will be facing Rwanda, the same team they will meet when the World Cup qualification series resume in March next year.

On Match Day 3, the Super Eagles will host Libya and will have the reverse fixture immediately after that of Match Day 3.

Later they travel to Benin for Match Day 5 before hosting Rwanda on the last match day.

The Fixtures

September 2 – Nigeria vs Benin Republic; Libya vs Rwanda

September 6 – Rwanda vs Nigeria; Benin Republic vs Libya

October 11 – Nigeria vs Libya; Benin Republic vs Rwanda

October 16 – Libya vs Nigeria; Rwanda vs Benin Republic

November 11 – Benin Republic vs Nigeria; Rwanda vs Libya

November 15 – Nigeria vs Rwanda; Libya vs Benin Republic

The top two teams qualify for AFCON 2025

AFCON

Rohr roars warning to Benin; Nigeria, Rwanda will not be easy

Published

3 weeks ago

July 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Former Nigeria manager, Gernot Rohr now handling Benin Republic has warned The Cheetahs of Benin not to expect an easy match when the team meet Rwanda and Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.

Last month, he led his team to defeat both Rwanda and Nigeria in World Cup qualifying duels in Abidjan, where Benin Republic are compelled to play their home matches following inadequate facilities at home.

Benin’s 1-0 defeat of Rwanda was Rohr’s first victory with the team. Days later, he followed up with a 2-1 defeat of Nigeria, the first Benin Republic victory in over 65 years.

Those wins have put Benin in the frame of possible qualification for the World Cup. They are now to meet Nigeria and Rwanda again in World Cup qualifiers.

It won’t be easy, remarked Rohr. Hear the Franco-German as he spoke in French but translated into English for the Sports Village Square: “From September we will play against Nigeria before facing Libya and Rwanda.

“These are three difficult opponents. We had already played Rwanda and Nigeria but be careful, it’s not because we won Rwanda and Nigeria that it will be easy matches.

“ We know that it is possible to achieve good performances again. We know that Nigeria with its great players will want to take revenge against us.

“ I think it will probably be an interesting match in Uyo before continuing against Libya. I suppose in Abidjan because in September the Mathieu Kerekou friendship stadium will not be ready.

“Everything will be decided in three months in September, October and November. It’s a difficult group but it’s playable.

“You have to finish in the top two. We had a team that is becoming solid, where the players are like brothers, accomplices. I hope we will recover the players who were absent. We are confident.”

AFCON

Coaches react after intriguing Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Draw

Published

3 weeks ago

July 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The journey towards qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 shifted a gear higher on Thursday, after CAF officially conducted the draw of the qualifiers in Johannesburg South Africa.

A total of 48 nations will vie for the 24 places that will contests the 35th edition of Africa’s most prestigious competition.

This is what some of the coaches has to say in reaction to the draw outcomes.

Emerse Fae, Cote d’Ivoire coach

“I am satisfied because we are going to play against Zambia, a team that we know very well. In our last qualifying campaign, we lost against them. We know what mistakes to avoid.

“I am also satisfied because I did not want to have countries geographically far from Cote d’Ivoire which will lessen the travel load. That said, in Africa, there are no longer small teams. All the teams will want to challenge us because we are the reigning champions”

Leslie Notši

“The draw is very interesting because when you have the host in your group, it means they qualify automatically for the tournament, and you have to double your efforts to secure the remaining qualification spot which will be contested by the three other teams in the group.

“We will work very hard to see to it that we are competitive side and try as much as we can to get maximum points in matches against countries that are with us in our group. It will be very important to do well in our home games and I know all eyes will be on “Morocco as the hosts and a powerhouse in our group. We will draw inspiration from recent games where we played the likes of Nigeria as well as Cote d’voire and were able to frustrate them”

Amir Abdou, Mauritania Coach

“Quite a complicated draw. Egypt will be the big contender for qualification. They have a good track record that speaks volumes.

“Seven times African champions – that’s no small thing. We also have Cape Verde who eliminated us during the last AFCON.

“This team is made up of many quality players. We have Botswana, they are having a good qualifying campaign for the World Cup. We have a pretty strong group. It’s up to us to believe in ourselves. We will do everything we can to achieve our fourth participation in the AFCON”.

Kévin Nicaise, Chad coach

“We are already having the reigning African champions facing the last qualified team in the FIFA rankings. These will definitely be very difficult matches played at high intensity. We will fight to defend our nation’s pride. The group remains relatively open, and we will approach these qualifications with humility and ambition”.

Badou Zaki, Niger coach

“We have every chance of qualifying. For me, Ghana is a football country with a team that is blessed with great professionals. But this is not the team of 5 or 6 years ago. Even at home, they can lose.

“Angola had a good showing at the last AFCON with their beautiful, modern and fast football. It’s a team that shook up the big teams in Cote d’Ivoire.

“I know Sudan very well. They are first in their World Cup qualifying group. They are going to be dangerous, but we know our strengths and we know we can go far”

-CAF