AFCON

Burkina Faso name injured skipper in squad for Cup of Nations finals

Published

10 months ago

December 21, 2023

Bertrand Traore , playing for Aston Villa receives medical attention after falling over the advertising boards during the Premier League against Newcastle United (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Burkina Faso named injured captain Bertrand Traore in their squad for next month’s African Cup of Nations finals, with coach Hubert Velud confident he will be fit on time for the tournament in the Ivory Coast.

Traore was injured after scoring for Burkina Faso in both World Cup qualifiers they played in November and has not seen action at Aston Villa since but Velud said on Tuesday he was a confident the 28-year-old striker would be available for the tournament, which kicks off on Jan. 13.

“I’m not particularly worried about him. He is someone who is used to high levels,” Velud told a press conference as he revealed his 27-man squad.

If he plays Traore, 28, will be competing in his fifth Cup of Nations while fullback Steeve Yago and midfielder Adama Guira are back for a fourth.

There were few surprises in the squad but both Cyrille Bayala and Lassina Traore miss out because of inury.

Burkina Faso, who were semi-finals at the last Cup of Nations in Cameroon two years ago, compete in Group D and begin their campaign against Mauritania in Bouake on Jan. 16. They also play against Algeria and Angola in their opening group round.

They will warm-up for the tournament at a training camp in Abu Dhabi from Dec. 29-Jan, 10 and play two warm-up internationals. One is against the Democratic Republic of Congo but the other opponent is not yet finalised.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Herve Koffi (Charleroi), Hilel Konate (Chateauroux), Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag), Sebastien Tou (Sabadell)

Defenders: Issoufou Dayo (Renaissance Berkane), Nasser Djiga (Red Star Belgrade), Abdoul Razack Guiebre (Modena), Issa Kabore (Luton Town), Adamo Nagalo (Nordsjaelland), Valentin Nouma (FC St Eloi Lupopo), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol)

Midfielders: Sacha Banse (Valenciennes), Adama Guira (Racing Rioja), Stephane Aziz Ky (Young Africans), Ismahila Ouedraogo (Panserraikos), Dramane Salou (Urartu), Gustavo Sangare (Quevilly-Rouen Metropole), Blati Toure (Pyramids)

Forwards: Cedric Badolo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Hassan Bande (HJK Helsinki), Mamady Bangre (Toulouse), Mohamed Konate (Akhmat Grozny), Djribil Ouattara (Renaissance Berkane), Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth), Abdoul Tapsoba (Amiens), Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa).

-Reuters

AFCON

Remo Stars’ Franck Mawuena gets Togo’s call-up for AFCON

Published

10 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Franck Mawuena who recently renewed his contract with Remo Stars has received a call-up to the Togolese squad for this week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. He had previously featured in the Belgian League.

He was part of the Remo Stars squad that finished second in the Nigeria Premier league last season. He scored six goals.

Togo will be away to Algeria on Thursday before hosting the reversed fixture on 14 October.

AFCON

Malawi’s Nkhakananga to referee Nigeria – Libya AFCON clash

Published

11 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Referee Godfrey Philip Nkhakananga, of Malawian nationality, will be at the centre during Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

The Confederation of African Football has also appointed Nkhakananga’s compatriots, Clemence Kanduku and Joseph Nyauti as assistant referees 1 ad 2 respectively, while Botswanan Keabetswe Dintwa will serve as fourth official for the Matchday 3 clash starting at 5pm.

Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be the commissioner, while Issaka Boubacar from Niger and Mayowa Akingbemisilu will be in the roles of referee assessor and broadcast venue manager respectively.

AFCON

Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has called Captain William Ekong, rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, in-form winger Moses Simon and 20 other players for this month’s home-and-away 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battle with the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

Wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are included, as well as goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoya, defenders Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze.

Reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen is excluded on grounds of injury, just as South Africa-based centre-back Olisa Ndah, but defender Bright Osayi-Samuel makes his way back after missing the duels with Benin Republic and Rwanda last month, and in-form playmaker Chidera Ejuke returns to the fold after many moons.

Veteran forward Kelechi Iheanacho is also listed, as well as midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and Frank Onyeka.

The Super Eagles will host the Mediterranean Knights at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 11^th October, before flying to Benghazi to take on the Knights at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, 19 kilometres away from Benghazi on Tuesday, 15^th October.

All the players are expected to report in Uyo on Monday, 7^th October.

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, England)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)