AFCON

AFTER THE SCARE, SUPER EAGLES SET FOR OPENING MATCH

Published

5 years ago

June 22, 2019

BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE

Nigerians were rattled by news from the Super Eagles’ camp last night. While still grappling with the report that many players reacted adversely to the weather condition in Egypt, they also got a more disturbing one that Bordeaux forward Samuel Kalu collapsed in training. Exaggerated stories followed in torrents.

But it turned out that the 21-year-old Eagle suffered dehydration during training and had been confirmed okay after treatment.

The Super Eagles, three-time champions, are expected to put that scare behind them when they face Burundi this evening in Alexandria.

Although they created an earlier panic among their critical fans by losing their last friendly to Senegal 0-1, Gernot Rohr’s team shouldn’t sweat so much over Burundi, who are making their debut in the tournament.

Known as the Swallows in the War, Burundi were lined up against Mali, Gabon and South Sudan in Group C of the qualifiers and managed to win two matches and drew the remaining four to pick Egypt 2019 ticket behind Mali.

Their unbeaten run in that phase should however send danger signals to the Super Eagles and other teams in Group B of this AFCON. Burundi lost their last friendly to Tunisia 1-2 after playing Algeria 1-1.

In the other fixture of the group, Guinea will go up against another debutante Madagascar, the country of CAF President Ahmad.

The farthest Guinea had travelled in Africa’s No 1 tournament was being runners-up when Morocco lifted the crown in Ethiopia 1976 following a final phase round-robin that also involved Nigeria (bronze medalists) and Egypt.

Despite boasting an unbeaten run in the qualifiers (won 3, drawn 3) in a group that paraded log leaders Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde Islands and Rwanda, Guinea lost their last two friendlies: 0-1 to Benin Republic and 1-3 to Egypt.

Madagascar were among the first set of qualifiers for Egypt 2019. In Group A with the continent’s highest rated side Senegal, the Barea proved they are up to the task winning three of the six matches after coming through the preliminary round by beating São Tomé e Príncipe 4-2 aggregate.

In the friendlies for AFCON 2019 however, Madagascar lost two of the three matches (0-1 to Kenya and 1-3 to Mauritania) and forced Luxembourg to 3-3 stalemate.

In Group A, one of the 10 former champions on parade in Egypt 2019, DR Congo will step out against Uganda to start the campaign to win the title for the third time.

The last two times (as Zaire in 1968 and 1974) had been so long away that the present generation of football fans might have forgotten.

In the buildup to this tournament, the Congolese played two friendlies, each ending in deadlock: goalless against Burkina Faso and 1-1 versus Kenya.

With hosts Egypt the next opponents after this match, coach Jean-Florent Ibenge and his squad will like to make the best of this opening fixture.

Uganda’s best performance in this competition is being runners-up way back in 1978 when Ghana hosted and won the title for the third time.

The Cranes may however prove ready this time going by their run in the qualifiers for Egypt 2019.

Uganda posted one of the most inspiring statistics – four wins out of six matches with just one defeat to Tanzania, coached by ex-Nigerian international Emmanuel Amuneke.

Since concluding the qualifiers, Uganda had featured in the COSAFA Cup, the annual tournament for Southern African national teams organised by Council of Southern Africa Football Associations.

They lost 4-5 to Lesotho and 2-4 to South Africa, both via penalties. Last Saturday however, the Cranes beat Côte d’Ivoire by a lone goal in their last friendly before Egypt 2019 commences.

Today’s fixtures…

Group A:

DR Congo v Uganda (3:30pm)

Group B:

Nigeria v Burundi (6pm)
Guinea v Madagascar (9pm)

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