AFCON

AFCON BOSS, AMAJU PINNICK CONFIDENT EGYPT 2019 WOULD BE A SUCCESS

Published

5 years ago

January 28, 2019

The 1^st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football, who is also the President of AFCON Organizing Committee, Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick has assured that the continental football –ruling body is doing everything within its power to ensure that the 32^nd Africa Cup finals holding in Egypt this summer is a huge success.

Speaking in Lagos on Monday, Pinnick, who is also President of the Nigeria Football Federation, said CAF is aware of the apprehension of the African football stakeholders, and is putting measures in place to tackle those fears and guarantee a seamless continental house party that everyone would be proud of.

“CAF is not unmindful of the reservations being harboured in some quarters, and feelings of anxiety being expressed in several fora by some individuals and groups. What is important is that we are taking note of all these and putting measures in place to tackle these genuine fears.

“At the end of the day, football would be the winner. We are very positive that those measures we have put in place and those we have lined up will culminate in an occasion that every African would be proud of, and which will leave the average football follower elsewhere enthralled.”

There has been widespread anxiety within the African football community over the hosting of the first –ever 24 –nation AFCON, following CAF’s decision to strip Cameroon of the hosting right at the end of November last year, with new host Egypt announced only early this month.

On Saturday, CAF’s Emergency Committee announced that the draw ceremony for the championship, scheduled for 21^st June – 19^th July in eight Egyptian venues, would hold in Cairo on 12^th April. That is exactly 10 weeks to the opening match of the championship.

In previous years and decades, host nations of Africa’s flagship tournament had been privileged to have more time to prepare for the various obligations involved in staging the competition, with the exception of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon (the last two host nations) who had few months to step in after originally –designated hosts balked late in the day.

“We are assured that Egypt would be ready and would put up a good show. CAF is also monitoring preparations on all fronts to ensure that nothing goes wrong.”

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, three –time champions, have already booked their place at the 24 –nation fiesta.

THE CHANGING FACES OF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

1957: Three participating countries, hosted by Sudan, won by Egypt

1959: Three participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Egypt

FIRST CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 3 TO 4

1962: Four participating countries, hosted by Ethiopia, won by Ethiopia

SECOND CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 4 TO 6

1963: Six participating countries, hosted by Ghana, won by Ghana

1965: Six participating countries, hosted by Tunisia, won by Ghana

THIRD CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 6 TO 8

1968: Eight participating countries, hosted by Ethiopia, won by Congo Kinshasa (Later Zaire and now DR Congo)

INTRODUCTION OF 2 YEAR INTERVAL AND IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS

1970: Eight participating countries, hosted by Sudan, won by Sudan

1972: Eight participating countries, hosted by Cameroon, won by Congo

1974: Eight participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Zaire (now DR Congo)

1976: Eight participating countries, hosted by Ethiopia, won by Morocco

1978: Eight participating countries, hosted by Ghana, won by Ghana

1980: Eight participating countries, hosted by Nigeria, won by Nigeria

1982: Eight participating countries, hosted by Libya, won by Ghana

1984: Eight participating countries, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, won by Cameroon

1986: Eight participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Egypt

1988: Eight participating countries, hosted by Morocco, won by Cameroon

1990: Eight participating countries, hosted by Algeria, won by Algeria

FOURTH CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 8 TO 12 & INTRODUCTION OF QUARTER FINALS

1992: Twelve participating countries, hosted by Senegal, won by Cote d’Ivoire

1994: Twelve participating countries, hosted by Tunisia, won by Nigeria

FIFTH CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 12 TO 16

1996: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by South Africa, won by South Africa

1998: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Burkina Faso, won by Egypt

2000: Sixteen participating countries, co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, won by Cameroon

2002: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Mali, won by Cameroon

2004: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Tunisia, won by Tunisia

2006: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Egypt

2008: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Ghana, won by Egypt

2010: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Angola, won by Egypt

2012: Sixteen participating countries, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, won by Zambia

CHANGE OF CALENDER TO ODD NUMBERED YEARS

2013: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by South Africa, won by Nigeria

2015: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Equatorial Guinea, won by Cote d’Ivoire

2017: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Gabon, won by Cameroon

SIXTH CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 16 TO 24

2019: Twenty-Four participating countries, to be hosted by Egypt

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