Tag: AFCON

  • AFCON 2025: Rwanda vs Nigeria – Match

    AFCON 2025: Rwanda vs Nigeria – Match

    By   Milcah   Tanimu

    After a commanding victory against Benin Republic, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are gearing up to face Rwanda in their second match of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. The game is set to take place on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at the 45,508-seat Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 PM Nigerian time.

    This match holds extra significance as both teams are not only competing in the AFCON qualifiers but also share a group in the 2026 World Cup qualification, adding to the stakes.

    Rwanda currently leads the group and will aim to continue their strong run by capitalizing on their home advantage. Nigeria, on the other hand, is looking to secure essential qualification points and reassert their dominance after some recent challenges.

    Historically, Nigeria and Rwanda have faced each other five times in international matches. The Super Eagles have won twice, with the other three encounters ending in draws. Rwanda, yet to secure a win against Nigeria, hopes to change that narrative and make a statement in this crucial fixture.

     

  • AFCON: Super Eagles Suffers Embarrassing Loss to Guinea Bissau

    AFCON: Super Eagles Suffers Embarrassing Loss to Guinea Bissau

    Nigeria have lost top spot in Group A of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

    The Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Guinea-Bissau on Friday evening.

    Mama Balde scored the only goal of the game in the first half.

    Jose Peseiro’s men dominated the second of proceedings but failed to find an equalizer.

    Guinea-Bissau are now top with 7 points, while Nigeria have six points after three matches.

    Both sides will face each other again in three days’ time.

  • CAF Pushes Back 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations

    CAF Pushes Back 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations

    The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to be held in June and July next year in Ivory Coast has been pushed back to January-February 2024 in a bid to avoid the rainy season, it was announced Sunday.

    Patrice Motsepe, head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said the body didn’t want to take the risk of staging the tournament “under a deluge”.

    Speaking at a CAF executive committee meeting in Morocco, playing host to the women’s Cup of Nations, Motsepe said: “We cannot take that risk.

    “January is not the ideal time because European clubs are not keen to release some of their best players.

    “As it is now we really have no choice, it’s the only time we have in terms of developing and growing African football.” (AFP)

  • Senegal Beat Egypt on Penalties to Win First AFCON Title

    Senegal Beat Egypt on Penalties to Win First AFCON Title

    Senegal have defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Senegal and Egypt went into extra time in Sunday’s AFCON final with the score 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes.

    Sadio Mane squandered the chance to put Senegal ahead inside seven minutes in Yaounde when his penalty was saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal.

    However, Mane made up for his first-half penalty miss by converting the winning spot-kick in a shoot-out as Senegal defeated Egypt to win a maiden AFCON title on Sunday.

    Mohamed Salah’s Egypt were chasing a record-extending eighth AFCON title.

    Salah and other Egyptian players wept as Senegal players and fans jubilated.

  • AFCON: Cameroon come back from 3-0 to beat Burkina Faso, win bronze

    AFCON: Cameroon come back from 3-0 to beat Burkina Faso, win bronze

    The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in the Africa Cup of Nations to save themselves from what would have been an embarrasing end to their campaign, coming from three goals down to draw level and winning 5-3 on penalties against Burkina Faso in the third place play-off on Saturday.

    Ambroise Oyongo scored the decisive penalty in Yaounde as the Indomitable Lions atoned for missing three kicks when losing a semi-final shootout against Egypt 48 hours ago.

    Goals by Steeve Yago and Djibril Ouattara either side of an Andre Onana own goal gave the Burkinabe a 3-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining.

    Stephane Bahoken reduced arrears and then substitute Vincent Aboubakar netted on 85 and 87 minutes to force a shootout.

    The Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Egypt, with Liverpool stars Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah on opposite sides, will be staged on Sunday in Yaounde (1900 GMT).

    Cameroon coach Toni Conceicao made nine changes to the team that lost on penalties to Egypt after extra time just two days ago at Stade Olembe, the main Yaounde stadium.

    The Portuguese retained only goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Samuel Oum Gouet, who was replaced at half-time by leading tournament scorer Aboubakar.

    Burkina Faso boss Kamou Malo altered five of the team that started a 3-1 semi-final loss to Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal 24 hours before Cameroon played.

    Two of them were enforced with injured goalkeeper Herve Koffi replaced by Farid Ouedraogo while suspended midfielder Adama Guira gave way to Ismahila Ouedraogo.

    The countries had met three times before in the flagship African tournament with Cameroon winning twice, including in the opening match of this Cup of Nations, and drawing the other.

    It was the third bronze medals play-off for both teams with each winning and losing once in a fixture that Africa has retained while Europe has ditched.

  • AFCON: Egypt Beat Host Country On Penalties To Book AFCON Final Against Senegal

    AFCON: Egypt Beat Host Country On Penalties To Book AFCON Final Against Senegal

    Egypt beat Cameroon 3-1 on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final on Thursday after their last-four tie in Yaounde finished goalless at the end of extra time.

    Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out before Cameroon’s Clinton Njie missed, sending the record seven-time African champions through to Sunday’s final against Senegal.

    Mohammed Salah’s Egypt will play Sadio Mane’s Senegal in Sunday’s AFCON final.

    Details later…

  • AFCON FINAL BILLED FOR STADIUM WHERE 8 DIED IN STAMPEDE

    AFCON FINAL BILLED FOR STADIUM WHERE 8 DIED IN STAMPEDE

    The final of the Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Sunday lifted its suspension of the venue where eight people died in a crush on January 24.

    CAF’s announcement means that the second semi-final scheduled for February 3 will go ahead at the ground along with the February 6 final.
    “Having noted the recommendations and undertakings from the government in regard to additional security provisions…the CAF Organising Committee unanimously agreed to lift the suspension imposed on the Olembe Stadium,” African football’s governing body said in a statement.

    “The Local Organising Committee and the government of Cameroon having significantly increased security and resources at the Olembe Stadium, (CAF) are confident that the safety and security of spectators and visitors will be assured.”

    The disaster happened prior to last Monday’s last-16 tie between hosts Cameroon and the Comoros when supporters were caught in a crush at the south entrance gate of the stadium.

    The eight dead included a child, while 38 people were also injured.
    The semi-final to be played at Olembe will see Cameroon play Egypt.
    The other semi-final will be played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, also in Yaounde, on February 2.

  • 10-man Burkina Faso knock Tunisia out of AFCON

    10-man Burkina Faso knock Tunisia out of AFCON

    Dango Ouattara scored on the stroke of half-time as 10-man Burkina Faso completed a hat-trick of Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final victories over Tunisia with a 1-0 win in Garoua on Saturday.

    Hero Ouattara turned villain eight minutes from time when a yellow card for elbowing Ali Maaloul was changed to a red after the Botswana referee checked the touchline VAR monitor.

    Burkina Faso held on to repeat 1998 and 2017 last-eight triumphs over Tunisia and advance to a semi-finals showdown with Senegal or Equatorial Guinea in Yaounde on Wednesday.

    Success for the Stallions came five days after the landlocked west African country was plunged into political uncertainty when President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was ousted in a military coup.

    “I’m very emotional. Allow me to dedicate this win to our people who are being tested by current events,” said Burkina Faso coach Kamou Malo.

    “The Burkinabe people will always stand up, just like the team. We put in the time today and we want to go all the way in this competition.”

    Earlier, hosts Cameroon beat giant-killers Gambia 2-0 in Douala and await the winners between Egypt and Morocco on Sunday in the other semi-final.

    Burkina Faso started with captain and Aston Villa forward Bertrand Traore among 12 substitutes while an injury ruled out vice-captain and central defender Issoufou Dayo.

    In the absence of the first and second-choice skippers, long-serving Belgium-based goalkeeper Herve Koffi led a country that came closest to glory in 2013 when finishing runners-up to Nigeria.

    After being hard hit recently by a coronavirus outbreak, Tunisia were back to near full strength with regular captain Wahbi Khazri among those returning to the starting line-up.

    Despite the presence of former Premier League forward Khazri, the Carthage Eagles were captained by veteran forward Youssef Msakni, who is appearing at a Cup of Nations tournament for the seventh time.

    The Burkinabe Stallions kicked off boosted by the knowledge that they won all three previous Cup of Nations quarter-finals, including two against Tunisia.

    Tunisia had been much less successful at the same stage of the flagship African tournament, winning just four of 10 last-eight matches.

    After Tunisia dominated the early exchanges, Burkina Faso gradually matched them at the Stade Roumde Adjia in the northwestern city.

    Cyrille Bayala came close midway through the opening half when he found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said, who stuck out his left leg to foil the Burkinabe.

    Khazri then stung the fingers of Koffi with a free-kick from well outside the box which the goalkeeper pushed over the crossbar to concede a corner.

    Burkina Faso were looking the more menacing side and Djibril Ouattara should have done better as half-time approached with a close-range shot, which was aimed directly at Ben Said.

    The deadlock was broken three minutes into first-half added time with Dango Ouattara putting the Stallions ahead.

    A pass from the centre circle found the midfielder from French Ligue 1 club Lorient on the right flank and he proved too quick for Oussama Haddadi before checking his run and firing into the net.

    Tunisia coach Mondher Kebaier reacted to falling behind by taking off Haddadi at half-time and bringing on Ali Maaloul, who plays his club football with African giants Al Ahly of Egypt.

    Saudi Arabia-based Naim Sliti was also introduced for the second half in place of Anis Ben Slimane on the right side of midfield.

    As Tunisia pushed forward in pursuit of an equaliser they were exposed at the back early in the second half, but unmarked Blati Toure fired straight at Ben Said.

    Maaloul is not only among the most polished left-backs in Africa, but also a set-piece expert and Koffi did well to push away a low free-kick from the Tunisian at the expense of a corner.

    AFP

  • Super Eagles Crash Out Of 2021 AFCON After Loss To Tunisia

    Super Eagles Crash Out Of 2021 AFCON After Loss To Tunisia

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria are out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

    They lost 1-0 to Tunisia in their Sunday encounter in the AFCON Round of 16.

    Barely two minutes after he was brought into the game, Alex Iwobi was sent off for a bad tackle.

    This is after Tunisia shocked the Super Eagles of Nigeria by scoring two minutes into the second half.

    A long-range shot from Youssef Msakni gave the Carthage Eagles their first goal in the game.

    The goal came after Msakni’s shot from outside the 18-yard box was poorly parried into the net by Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye.

    Super Eagles had faced a tough challenge in the first half of their encounter against Tunisia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

    A cagey opening controlled by Nigeria became tough in the 21 minutes as the Tunisian attackers put pressure on Nigeria’s defenders.

    Skilful attackers Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho failed to sparkle as they barely got a chance on the pitch this evening in the tough game.

    Simon played a major role when the Super Eagles won their group matches against Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau.

    Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) is shown a yellow card in the 20th minute.

    Struck by many absences, including 12 players testing positive for COVID-19, Tunisia proved tougher for the Super Eagles than expected.

    While Tunisia have two goals on target, Nigeria had none in the first half.

    The Super Eagles were the only side to get the maximum points in the group stage.

    Nigeria started the campaign with a 1-0 win over record champions Egypt, followed by a 3-1 victory over Sudan, and concluded the group with a 2-0 win against Guinea Bissau.

    Champions in 1980, 1994, and 2013, the group stage maximum tally and entertaining performances are expected to give the Super Eagles the needed morale boost in their hunt for a fourth AFCON title.

    Nigeria and Tunisia are meeting for the sixth time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with four of the previous five matches being played in knock-out games. Nigeria are unbeaten in all five (W3 D2, excluding shoot-outs).

    Tunisia’s only successful AFCON meeting with Nigeria came in 2004, when they progressed via penalties in the semi-finals after the match finished level, going on to win the competition that year.

  • AFCON: Gbajabiamila congratulates Super Eagles for qualifying for the knockout stage, obtaining maximum points

    AFCON: Gbajabiamila congratulates Super Eagles for qualifying for the knockout stage, obtaining maximum points

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria for qualifying for the knockout stage of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in Cameroon in grand style.

    Gbajabiamila expressed delight that the Super Eagles qualified for the next stage by obtaining the maximum points in the group stage after defeating Guinea-Bissau two goals to nil.

    The Eagles defeated all their opponents in Group D, namely Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau, and obtained nine points in the process.

    Gbajabiamila said the spirit with which the Super Eagles have been playing at the tournament showed they are ready to come back home with the trophy.

    He commended the players for working as a team and lauded the technical crew for giving them the right guidance to confront their opponents.

    The speaker, who is the leader of the Federal Government’s delegation to cheer up the Super Eagles during the tournament, wished them well in their next encounter.