AFCON
Lagos Wants Super Eagles Back
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
As Nigerians still feel the pains of a home loss to South Africa in the race to 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, opinions are being shaped on the future of the Super Eagles in the next assignments.
A somewhat crisis situation analysis meeting is scheduled to hold on Tuesday as the Nigerian sports minister, Solomon Dalung, meet with the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.
Before then, another meeting of the NFF Technical Committee will also hold with the technical adviser, Gernot Rohr in attendance.
Meanwhile, an official of the Lagos State Government, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye who is a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on sports told Sports Village Square that the NFF should consider returning the national team to its city of birth, Lagos.
He re-echoed the voice of Governor Ambode who had earlier in year while inspecting the derelict Lagos National Stadium called for the return of the Super Eagles to Lagos and that his government was ready to acquire and repair the fast degenerating Federal Government facility.
Adeboye explained to Sports Village Square that a good team should be able to win anywhere, especially within its national borders, but conscious efforts should also be made to maximise home advantage.
To him, Lagos offers that maximum advantage to the Super Eagles, considering the large football followership that the city commands and the enthusiasm shown when supporting teams.
“I realise Lagos fans are all willing to see Super Eagles play in the city state. In those days, no major team challenged the Super Eagles at home and go scot free not to talk of minors. Lagos remains the slaughter slab of visiting teams”, remarked Adeboye.
“We have good soccer pitch here at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and I am confident the Surulere National stadium will soon be in right order to host the giants of African football like it used to be in those days.”
Lagos last hosted the full strength Super Eagles on January 13, 2001 when the team beat Zambia 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The other matches played in April 2004 were in the experimental LG Cup tournament in which Nigeria and the other participating team, Jordan and Senegal fielded second-string sides.
AFCON
African champions Cote d’Ivoire ring changes with new backroom staff
Cote d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Fae has overhauled his backroom team following the Elephants’ Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, success earlier this year.
Fae, who took over from Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset during the tournament in January, has brought in three new faces as he builds towards qualifying for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup.
Former Cote d’Ivoire goalkeeper Gerard Gnahouan, 45, joins as goalkeeping coach after working in this role with French Ligue 2 side Sochaux.
Gnahouan, capped 10 times by the Elephants between 2002 and 2011, takes over as goalkeeping coach and will be tasked with getting the best out of first-choice Yahia Fofana.
Moroccan Samir Anba, previously with French club Nice and Morocco’s Under-17s, takes over as fitness coach, while Jeremy Antonio arrives as video analyst after working with Fae at French side Clermont.
“This new composition of the technical staff marks the start of a new era for the Cote d’Ivoire national team, and expectations are high,” said Fae.
Fae kept faith with assistant Guy Demel while former international Alain Gouamene joins as the second assistant coach of the AFCON-winning team.
The 40-year-old led an all-local setup to a surprise African title in March after being promoted from Gasset’s number two following their near exit at the group stage.
The new backroom additions have a huge challenge ahead, with Cote d’Ivoire facing crunch matches in June as they bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Elephants top their qualifying group after beating Gambia and Seychelles in the opening two matches in Group F of the qualifiers under caretaker Gasset.
-CAF
AFCON
Liberia, Eswatini hold upper hand in AFCON 2025 preliminary qualifiers –
After commanding victories in the first leg matches of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, qualifiers, Chad, Liberia, and Eswatini find themselves in advantageous positions as they gear up for the return fixtures scheduled for Tuesday.
As the second leg of the preliminary fixtures approach, all eyes will be on these teams as they vie for their coveted spots in the group phase of the qualifiers, with the hopes of making their mark on the continental stage.
Chad emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win over Mauritius, joining Liberia and Eswatini in the lead after their impressive triumphs earlier last week.
Liberia secured a 2-0 victory against Djibouti, while Eswatini displayed their dominance with a 3-0 win over Somalia.
The second leg promises to be fiercely contested, particularly for Chad, who will face a challenging encounter against Mauritius on the latter’s home turf.
Coach Kevin Nicaise’s players are keen to defend their slender lead and secure their spot in the next phase of the qualifiers but the trainer admits they have an arduous task.
“We are far from perfect, far from being a top team in the world. We are in the construction phase. There are still things to work on and improve,” coach Nicaise said after their first-leg win.
“It is not overnight that we will be a top team in the world, we are aware of that, however we are working hard with the group and the staff to achieve this goal.”
Meanwhile, Liberia will host Djibouti, aiming to build on their first-leg success and seal their progression to the next round.
Eswatini will host Somalia with confidence, seeking to maintain their winning momentum and secure passage to the next stage of the tournament.
South Sudan and Sao Tome and Principe will also face off in what is expected to be a closely contested encounter, following their goalless draw in the first leg.
With both teams eager for victory, the match promises to be a thrilling battle for supremacy.
-CAF
AFCON
Liberia and Eswatini take control of AFCON preliminary ties
Liberia and Eswatini took commanding leads in their respective Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, preliminary round ties after claiming impressive away victories on Wednesday.
Liberia captain Murphy Dorley scored one of two first-half goals as the Lone Stars defeated hosts Djibouti 2-0 in the opening leg in Marrakech.
Mohammed Sangare broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 23 minutes before Dorley coolly slotted home Sebastian Teclar’s cross 12 minutes later.
Djibouti struggled to lay a glove on their more illustrious opponents as the Lone Star side kept them at bay to take two away goals into next week’s second leg in Monrovia.
Eswatini were also celebrating after demolishing Somalia 3-0 in the Moroccoan city of El Jadida to put one foot in the group stage qualifiers.
Striker Sabelo Ndzinisa was the hero, netting twice either side of Felicio Figuareido’s 40th minute opener for the visitors.
Somalia now face an uphill battle to qualify when they travel to the Mbombela Stadium in the South African city of Nelspruit for the return on March 26th.
The opening leg victories give Liberia and Eswatini a huge advantage heading into the second legs as they target a place in the group stage on the road to next year’s finals in Morocco.
Back from the locker room, Somalia still couldn’t play its game.
Worse, Eswatini widened the gap with Ginindza who scored his double of the evening in the 56th minute. 3-0, the score remained unchanged on the scoreboard until the final whistle.
Victory for Eswatini which will still have to perform in the return leg to ensure its qualification for the qualifiers.
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