AFCON

ONIGBINDE GOES DOWN MEMORY LANE ON NIGERIA’S OUTING AT 1984 AFCON

Published

4 years ago

July 8, 2020

Record-setting Chief Adegboye Onigbinde became the first indigenous coach to take the Super Eagles, then known as the Green Eagles, to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when he led the West African country to the finals in 1984 in Cote d’Ivoire.

Undoubtedly one of the greatest coaches to come out of the continent, Onigbinde, now 82, reminisces with fond memories his journey with the Eagles in 1984 where they reached the final in Cote d’Ivoire, before losing 3-1 to rivals Cameroon.

The loss to the Indomitable Lions notwithstanding, the experienced Nigerian tactician remains proud of his achievements.

“I would have love to come back from Cote d’Ivoire with the gold medal, but there was so much that happened behind the scenes right away from Nigeria. Despite that, it was a memorable occasion for me,” the teacher-turned coach states.

“I did not disgrace Nigeria and that was then, our best effort at the AFCON outside Nigeria”

“Being the first Nigerian to lead the national team to the AFCON and coming second on the continent at the first attempt was a personal achievement. I did not disgrace Nigeria and that was then, our best effort at the AFCON outside Nigeria. As such, I see myself as an achiever.”

The veteran coach is a synonymous figure in Nigerian football and remains a point of reference not only in his country but the entire continent as well.

He was the fourth Nigerian coach to handle the national team after Dan Anyiam, Peter ‘Eto’ Amaechina and Carl O’Dwyer, but he ensured the hand of history rested on his shoulder when he led the team to the continental showpiece event.

“Being the first Nigerian to lead the national team to the AFCON and coming second on the continent at the first attempt was a personal achievement,”

Onigbinde started his coaching career in the 1960’s and was reportedly trained by then national team coach, Berti haLevi from Israel. He rose to the role of assistant when British Allan Hawks led Shooting Stars of Ibadan to Nigeria’s first club continental victory when they clinched the 1976 CAF Cup the African Winners’ Cup, now CAF Confederation Cup.

Adegboye Onigbinde, standing fifth (L-R). At the extreme left is Berth haLevi, the Israeli coach of Nigeria . Standing at the extreme right is the legendary Tesilimi ‘Thunder” Balogun.

He stepped up to the head coach role when he took charge of the defunct Water Corporation Football Club of Ibadan and guided them to the quarter finals of the African Cup of Champion Clubs, now CAF Champions League, where they lost 5-4 on aggregate to eventual winners Hafia FC of Guinea.

With his work getting noticed from all corners of Nigeria, he took over the national team job after Brazilian Otto Gloria who guided Nigeria to their maiden AFCON title on home soil in 1980, was fired for failing to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup as well as the defence of the AFCON title at the 1982 finals in Libya.

Known for his ultra-defensive style, Onigbinde in his two spells with Nigeria, had a relatively impressive records and picked up 13 wins, 17 draws and seven losses out of the 37 matches he took charge of.

But among his victories, one against eternal rivals Ghana remains the most memorable.

“In October 1983, Nigeria beat Ghana in Accra and that was the first time a Nigerian team defeated Ghana away from home. But what was impressive about my team was the fact that some of the players came from nowhere when I discovered them and gave them national team debuts,”

Some of these players include the late African Player of the Year Rashidi Yekini, Chibuzor Ehilegu, Tarila Okorowanta, Ademola Adesina among others,” he notes.

Onigbinde is also best remembered for his formidable Shooting Stars squad that narrowly lost to Egyptian side Zamalek in the final of the 1984 African Cup of Champions Clubs.

The tactician was also called upon on short notice to guide the Super Eagles squad to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan after the previous technical bench led by the late Shaibu Amodu was sent packing following what was considered a dismal performance at the 2002 AFCON in Mali.

His experiences working around the continent for over four decades has affirmed the belief in him that more faith should be shown on African tacticians, arguing that given time and resources, they can be successful.

“Africans are intelligent but how we use and improve upon the intelligence of African coaches should be the most important thing to the African football administrators.

“To improve the standard of the game in Nigeria and in Africa as a whole, we have to develop the instructors and coaches so that they can impact meaningfully to the upcoming players, something that will in turn improve the general playing standards,” he noted.

-Cafonline

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