Tag: Guinea Bissau

  • Nigerian Presidents who have chaired ECOWAS

    Nigerian Presidents who have chaired ECOWAS

    President Bola Tinubu was elected Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States Authority of the Heads of State and Government over the weekend.

    Tinubu, who attended the forum of West African leaders for the first time at the 63rd Ordinary Session was formally elected as the Chairman In Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.

    Tinubu succeeded President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau as the leader of the sub-regional political and economic body.

    Tinubu will be responsible for guiding the ECOWAS member states toward economic growth, political stability, and cooperation in his capacity as chairman.

    However, Tinubu is not the first Nigerian president to emerge as chairman of the sub-regional African body.

    Here is a list of Nigerian presidents who have chaired ECOWAS and the periods they led the body:

    1: Olusegun Obasanjo – (1978–1979).

    2: Muhammadu Buhari + (1985 – 27 August 1985).

    3: Ibrahim Babangida – (27 August 1985 – 1989).

    4: Sani Abacha – (27 July 1996 – 8 June 1998).

    5: Abdulsalami Abubakar – (9 June 1998 – 1999).

    6: Umaru Musa Yar’Adua – (19 December 2008 – 18 February 2010).

    7: Goodluck Jonathan – (18 February 2010 – 17 February 2012).

    8: Muhammadu Buhari – (31 July 2018 – 29 June 2019).

    9: Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria (9 July 2023 till date).

  • Why Guinea-Bissau President Visited Tinubu – Presidency

    Why Guinea-Bissau President Visited Tinubu – Presidency

    Guinea Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló paid his solidarity during Saturday’s visit to President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence, said the Special Adviser to the President, Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, Dele Alake.

    “He came to pay his solidarity and bond with a brother African Head of State, in the first instance, and in particular as a brother Head of State in West Africa,” Alake revealed.

    The presidential adviser also noted that the visit allowed Embaló, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, to reinforce the fraternal relations between the two countries.

    Alake addressed State House Correspondents moments after the two leaders met in the privacy of Tinubu’s residence, according to a statement by the State House Director on Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye.

    He told reporters that while the visit was of a private nature, President Embaló took the opportunity to express his solidarity and willingness to cooperate with Nigeria under the leadership of President Tinubu.

    “President Embaló commended the laudable policy initiatives of President Tinubu in the last one month and added that everyone in the international community has been commending the giant strides of the Nigerian leader,” Alake said.

  • In Guinea Bissau, Buhari Vows To Defend Democracy As He Returns To Daura

    In Guinea Bissau, Buhari Vows To Defend Democracy As He Returns To Daura

    President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the commitment of Nigeria to work with Guinea Bissau and other countries towards sustaining and strengthening democracy and good governance in the sub-region and the entire African continent.

    The President spoke on Wednesday in the course of a one-day State Visit to the embattled West African country.

    He gave words of encouragement to the people of the country for standing with the democratically chosen administration of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló against threats by undemocratic forces.

    President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, welcomed the conferment of the country’s highest national honour, the Amilcar Cabral Award upon him and the naming of a major street in Bissau, the capital city, after him.

    On his part, the President of Guinea Bissau praised Nigeria for always standing with them in their 20 years of instability.

    President Embalo promised to re-invite President Buhari to commission the new Presidential Villa, now under construction even after leaving office, and the edifice is to be named Muhammadu Buhari Villa.

    Nigerian officials that received the country’s merit award are: Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari and Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency.

    The others were Sarki Abba, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.

    The President landed in Katsina and is now in Daura, his hometown.

  • AFCON 2023: Nigeria draw Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau in Group A

    AFCON 2023: Nigeria draw Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau in Group A

    The draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series was conducted on Tuesday evening.

    Nigeria have been put in Group A alongside Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe.

    The Super Eagles failed to get past the Round of 16 in the last edition of the tournament played in January/February this year.

    Current holders Senegal are in Group L with Benin Republic, Mozambique and Rwanda.

    There are 12 groups with the top two teams of each group automatically qualifying for the tournament.

    The qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON will kick-off across the continent in June 2022.

    See full draws below:

    Group A

    Nigeria
    Sierra Leone
    Guinea Bissau
    Sao Tome & Principe/Mauritius

    Group B

    Burkina Faso
    Cape Verde
    Togo
    Eswatini

    Group C

    Cameroon
    Kenya
    Namibia
    Burundi

    Group D

    Egypt
    Guinea
    Malawi
    Ethiopia

    Group E

    Ghana
    Madagascar
    Angola
    Central African Republic

    Group F

    Algeria
    Uganda
    Niger Republic
    Tanzania

    Group G

    Mali
    Congo Brazzaville
    Gambia
    South Sudan

    Group H

    Cote d’Ivoire (Hosts)
    Zambia
    Comoros Island
    Lesotho

    Group I

    DR Congo
    Gabon
    Mauritania
    Sudan

    Group J

    Tunisia
    Equatorial Guinea
    Libya
    Botswana

    Group K

    Morocco
    South Africa
    Zimbabwe
    Liberia

    Group L

    Senegal
    Benin Republic
    Mozambique
    Rwanda

  • Guinea-Bissau: How Coup Plotters Killed 11 Youngsters, Attempted President Mbalo’s Life – Minister

    Guinea-Bissau: How Coup Plotters Killed 11 Youngsters, Attempted President Mbalo’s Life – Minister

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday got a comprehensive briefing on the coup attempt to oust President Umaru Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, but which was aborted by loyalist forces.

    On the sidelines of the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Nigerian President met with Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau, Suzi Barbosa, who gave graphic presentation of the attempt to overthrow the constitutional order in her country.

    “They attempted to kill President Embalo. They destroyed the presidential palace with bazookas, killed 11 young people. It took about five hours to restore order. It was a nightmare ,” she said.

    President Buhari pledged to consult with other ECOWAS leaders on how full normalcy could be restored to the embattled country at the shortest possible time.

  • AFCON: Super Eagles Beat Guinea-Bissau, Become First Team To Claim Nine Points

    AFCON: Super Eagles Beat Guinea-Bissau, Become First Team To Claim Nine Points

    Super Eagles of Nigeria completed their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D campaign with a 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau at Ominisports Roumde Adjia Stadium on Wednesday night.

    The result ensured that the Super Eagles topped the group with nine points from three games.

    In the thrilling encounter, Mama Samba Balde tried to capitalize on a moment of hesitation from William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi but Francis Uzoho came off the line to save in the 10th minute.

    Four minutes later, Semi Ajayi couldn’t divert his header home from Kelechi Nwakali’s cross. Another foray coordinated by the Super Eagles saw Sadiq Umar setting up Ajayi but Fali Cande made a timely clearance.

    On the half hour, Maurice Gomis stayed at the right place to stop a volley from Kelechi Iheanacho.

    The first half ended goalless in Garoua.

    The Super Eagles grabbed the curtain raiser through Umar after a lovely combination with Kelechi Iheanacho in the 55th minute.

    Defender William Troost-Ekong also did well to block a goal bound strike from Fali Cande on the hour mark.

    Braima Jorge also did well with a crucial block to foil Alex Iwobi who fired the canoon after a smart cutback by Moses Simon.

    The second goal arrived on 74 minutes after a review by VAR. Moses Simon went past three Guinea-Bissau players and pulled the trigger, but the ball hit the bar and bounced to William Troost-Ekong who reacted quickest to score.

    Super Eagles keeper Francis Uzoho dived at full stretch to frustrate Ladislau Alves.

    Frank Onyeka and Olisa Ndah were also thrown into the fray for their AFCON debut.

    Guinea Bissau tried to pull one back through Frédéric Mendy but Uzoho was up to the task with a decent save.

    Super Eagles top Group D with 9 points while Egypt came second with 6 points after defeating Sudan 1-0.

    Sudan and Guinea Bissau finished third and fourth respectively with one point each.

  • AFCON: No reason to under-rate Guinea Bissau – Eguavoen

    AFCON: No reason to under-rate Guinea Bissau – Eguavoen

    By Mike Oboh

    Head Coach Augustine Owen Eguavoen says his already-qualified Super Eagles have no reason to look down on their opponents or approach the game in a carefree manner when they take to the pitch of Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau on Wednesday.

    Nigeria have eased into the Round of 16 as group leaders, with a match to spare, courtesy of the wins over Egypt and Sudan in their two matches and the combination of other results, notably Egypt’s defeat of Guinea Bissau on Saturday.

    Yet, Eguavoen says his team will deduct nothing from their consolidated one-match-at-a-time and win-all strategy adopted for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations, even as there is no serious pressure going into that final group phase encounter.

    “It is important for us to sustain the winning mentality while we keep our heads on our shoulders. Just as I told the boys after the match against Egypt, we are yet to win anything here except points. Guinea Bissau need the three points because they have only one so far and we must be prepared for a massive fight.

    “If we let down our guard, we could be punished, and that would not be good for the team’s psychology. We will go for the three points.”

    Guinea Bissau drew 0-0 with Sudan in their first match, losing a penalty awarded to them late in the gane, and then fell to a Mohamed Salah goal in a match they gave their all and even felt they should have been awarded an equalizer that was cancelled late in the encounter.

    “With a little more luck, they could have beaten Sudan and could have drawn with Egypt. That is the kind of opposition we face on Wednesday. Nobody will tell me they’re pushovers,” added Eguavoen.

    Eguavoen, 56, is the only man to have coached Nigeria to win all three matches in the group phase of the AFCON since the country started participating at this level since 1963. He was head coach when the Eagles defeated Ghana 1-0, Zimbabwe 2-0 and Senegal 2-1 at the Al Masry Stadium, Port Said to sweep the stakes at the 2006 finals.

    In 14 previous matches across three stints, the 1994 AFCON winner and two-time FIFA World Cup defender has left the field victorious in 12 matches, losing only two – the 0-1 defeat to Cote d’Ivoire in the semi final of the 2006 finals and a 2012 AFCON qualifier in Guinea that was embroiled in circumstances of uncertainty, which the team lost by the odd goal.

    As he surveyed his boys at training on Sunday morning and thereafter entertained questions from the media, the former defender smiled easily at a suggestion that his team could end up playing hosts Cameroon in the final match, as he also was involved as a player in the 1988 final against the Cameroonians in Morocco that Nigeria lost by a lone goal, and the bronze medal match of the 1992 edition that the Super Eagles won 2-1.

    “That is still a long way off. We are focused on the match against Guinea Bissau. One game at a time.”

    The Confederation of African Football has appointed Kenyan official Peter Waweru Kamaku as referee for Wednesday’s encounter. The 39 –year old has a doctorate degree in Pure Mathematics and is a university lecturer. He will be assisted by compatriot Gilbert Cheruiyot (assistant referee 1), Mozambican Arsenio Maringule (assistant referee 2) and Moroccan Redouane Jiyed (fourth official).

    The match commissioner will be Youssouf Guedi Guirreh from Djibouti.

  • FG Condemns Coup in Guinea, Demands Return To Constitutional Order

    FG Condemns Coup in Guinea, Demands Return To Constitutional Order

    Nigerian Government has condemned the coup d’etat in Guinea

    A statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, Mrs. Esther Sunsuwa read: “The Nigerian Government is saddened by the apparent coup d’état that has taken place in the Republic of Guinea today, in clear violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

    “The Government of Nigeria strongly condemns and rejects any unconstitutional change of government and therefore calls on those behind this coup to restore constitutional order without delay and protect all lives and property.”

    Heavy gunfire was reported near the Presidential Palace on Sunday as the military seized power in the West African country. President Alpha Conde was later seen in a video sandwiched by soldiers in a vehicle.

    Condé was re-elected for a controversial third term in office amid violent protests last year.

  • Senegal beat Togo as Guinea Bissau and Guinea draw

    Senegal beat Togo as Guinea Bissau and Guinea draw

    Senegal secured a 2-0 victory over Togo at the Lat Dior Stadium in Thies on Wednesday, in Group H’s opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

    Sadio Mane and Abdou Diallo scored the two goals for the Teranga Lions as they started their campaign for a ticket to Qatar on a high note.

    The Senegalese had a bright start to the match and asked the first questions from the Sparrow Hawks.

    Fifteen minutes into the game, Papa Matar Sarr should have done better with a pass off Gana Gueye, but his control let him down with good space in front of him.

    Mane and Boulaye Dia were also threatening for the Senegalese, but they could not find the back of the net, as the two teams went to the break tied at 0-0.

    Senegal came back with all claws on and they got into the lead in the 56th minute.

    Mane, the 2019 CAF African Player of the year, played a quick interchange of passes with Dia before controlling the ball with his left and firing home on his right.

    The Senegalese kept their command on the game but they had to wait till the 80th minute to seal the game.

    Diallo hit the back of the net with a sumptuous shot on his national team debut.

    The Senegalese, finalists at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held on for the win to earn an advantage from match day one.

    Namibia and Congo will play in the other group match on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, at Nouakchott’s Olympic Stadium in Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Guinea played to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining Group I fixture.

    Guinea Bissau’s Djurtus have been forced to play their home matches in Mauritania.

    This is because their home turf, the Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro, is yet to pass the necessary approvals to host international matches.

    In Nouakchott, Guinea Bissau found themselves trailing after seven minutes when Francois Kamano broke the deadlock for the Syli Nationale.

    But Guinea Bissau gave a fight and just a minute into the second half got back into contention with the equaliser, coming off Joseph Mendes.

    Morocco and Sudan, will play the group’s other match on Thursday.

  • Buhari Departs Abuja to Attend Guinea Bissau’s National Day

    Buhari Departs Abuja to Attend Guinea Bissau’s National Day

    President Muhammadu Buhari will Thursday depart Abuja for Bissau to attend events commemorating Guinea Bissau’s National Day.

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president would join the presidents of Senegal, Cote d’ Ivoire, Rwanda, Mauritania, Togo and Liberia to mark the 47th independence anniversary of Guinea Bissau.

    He said while in Bissau, Buhari will also commission a road named in his honour by the host government adding that the president and other invited leaders will also attend an official lunch to be hosted by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau.

    Adesina who said Nigeria and Guinea Bissau established diplomatic relations in 1974, added that following a military coup in that country, Nigeria in 2012 deployed troops under the auspices of ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) to maintain peace.

    He recalled that Buhari had in response to a request for assistance by the Government of Guinea Bissau, during its last legislative elections, donated $500,000, 17 vehicles and 350 electoral kits to support the country’s electoral process.

    He added that in May this year, the president hosted Embalo in Abuja, during which he congratulated him on his confirmation as president and assured him of Nigeria’s support to the new government in Guinea Bissau.

    The statement said Nigerian troops earlier deployed to the country were only withdrawn on September 10, 2020 after the return of stability to the West African country.

    According to the statement, the president will be accompanied by top government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd.), the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar,

    It added that Buhari will return to Abuja at the end of the ceremonies on Thursday