ADEMOLA Lookman’s first half goal was enough as the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat Angola to advance to semifinal of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Lookman, scoring his third goal of the knockout stage courtesy of Moses Simon’s perceptive pass during a rare instance of Angola’s defence leaving too much space inside their box. The Super Eagles are the new tournament favourites but their opponents looked confident and created occasional danger. This is the first time Nigeria have won four consecutive matches at a single Afcon edition without conceding a goal. Lookman has become the fourth Nigerian to…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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THE Super Eagles of Nigeria are up against Angola in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final game on Friday, aiming to reach the semis of the competition for the first time in five years. Nigeria defeated arch-rivals Cameroon 2-0 in their last game to book a last-eight clash with the Palancas Negras of Angola. On the other hand, the South Africans smashed Namibia 3-0 to reach this stage of the competition. The Super Eagles started the AFCON on a shaky note, drawing Equatorial Guinea before slim wins over hosts Cote d’Ivoire and then Guinea-Bissau to reach the knockouts…
WITH the crunch quarter-final tie between Nigeria and Angola in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching, Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has asked Nigerians to support and pray for the team to come out victorious on Friday. Following the second round win over Cameroon on Saturday, the fitness of the Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali remains a big source off worry to millions of Nigerian football fans. Nwabali was stretchered off with an injury in the second round encounter against Cameroon and was replaced with second choice Francis Uzoho, who completed the game in the 2-0 win over…
SUPER Eagles players worked on their breathing techniques and run-ups for taking penalties should their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Angola go to shootouts on Friday. The training session took place at the Police College, Cocody. Jose Peseiro’s team will be facing an Angolan side at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan equally matched for records in the history of the tournament. Both teams have one win each and two draws in their last four meetings at the tournament. Nigerian duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Kenneth Omeruo were the most successful during the practice session as they scored all…
EIGHT teams have so far booked their places in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as of Tuesday. Angola were the first to qualify after the Parancas Negras (Black Sable Antelopes) thrashed Namibia on Saturday evening. The attacking-sided team will now face the Super Eagles of Nigeria, believed to be one of the favourites of the competition, after beating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The surprise of the tournament was the Round 16 match between the hosts, Côte d’Ivoire, and the defending champions, Senegal, as the hosts advanced to the last eight, thanks to Frank Kessie’s penalty that…
SUPER Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali may still be available for selection for the quarter-final match against Angola on Friday if he passes a late fitness test set for Wednesday (today), the Nigeria Football Federation has said. After being excluded from the group’s training session on Monday, Nwabali returned to full training on Tuesday, boosting his chances of an early return ahead of the test. Nwabali was injured in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Cameroon on Saturday, making him doubtful for the next game on Friday. The Chippa United goalkeeper was fouled by Georges-Kevin N’Koudou while saving a cross in his box.…
ACHRAF Hakimi missed a late chance to equalise from the penalty spot as South Africa shocked 10-man Morocco to set up a quarter-final against Cape Verde at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Evidence Makgopa produced a neat finish to score the opener in the 57th minute, surviving a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check for offside and putting Bafana Bafana on their way to a surprise victory over the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists. Hakimi was afforded a golden opportunity to level when Mothobi Mvala was adjudged to have handled Ayoub El Kaabi’s shot, only to fire his 85th minute…
MALI booked a quarter-final meeting with hosts Ivory Coast by holding on to beat Burkina Faso at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. An own goal from Edmond Tapsoba gave the Eagles a third-minute lead, and Mali had several chances to add to their advantage before half-time. Lassine Sinayoko did make it 2-0 early in the second half with a finish through the legs of goalkeeper Herve Koffi, but Bertrand Traore pulled a goal back for the Stallions from the penalty spot just before the hour mark. Issoufou Dayo thought he had equalised for the Burkinabe in the final minute,…
PLAYERS and officials of the Angolan team were rewarded with cash and phone gifts after reaching the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast. The Palancras Negras outclassed Namibia 3-0 in the round of 16 last Saturday to set up a quarter-final clash against Nigeria, who also beat Cameroon 2-0 on Friday for a place in the semi-final at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan. According to Angola Press Agency, Banco Angolano de Investimento, a bank in Luanda, Angola, announced that it would reward every player and coaching staff with five million Kwanzas (approximately N5.41m). Aguinaldo…
HOSTS Ivory Coast eliminated reigning champions Senegal in a penalty shootout to book their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Yamoussoukro. Franck Kessie, who had scored from the spot four minutes from the end of normal time, converted the winning penalty to seal an extraordinary victory for the hosts, who redeemed themselves after a humiliating group-stage display which culminated in two defeats. Senegal had made a dream start when Habib Diallo struck in the fourth minute from a Sadio Mane cross. The Elephants’ quarter-final on Saturday (17:00 GMT) will…
CAPE Verde beat Mauritania with a Ryan Mendes penalty two minutes from time to book a second Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) quarter-final appearance in their history at the expense of the knockout stage debutants. Winger Mendes fired the only goal of the game past Babacar Niasse from the spot after the goalkeeper had brought down Gilson Benchimol Tavares. The Blue Sharks, who took seven points in the group stage, had all four attempts on target and dominated possession against the 105th-ranked side in the world in Abidjan. Cape Verde will meet Morocco or South Africa in the quarter-finals at…
GOALKEEPER Lionel Mpasi scored the 18th penalty of a nerve-shredding shootout as DR Congo produced the latest shock at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by knocking seven-time champions Egypt out to reach the quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra time. DR Congo went ahead for the first time at the finals when Meschack Elia nodded in Yoane Wissa’s cross to put the team ranked 67th in the world on course for the latest surprise result at a tournament which has been illuminated by underdog success in Ivory Coast. Their lead lasted nine minutes before Mostafa Mohamed converted a…
MOHAMMED Bayo headed a 98th-minute winner as Guinea reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with victory over 10-man Equatorial Guinea, who had earlier missed a penalty. Equatorial Guinea midfielder Federico Bikoro was dismissed 10 minutes after the break for catching Bayo in the ribs with his studs. The National Thunder were awarded a spot-kick midway through the second half after Sekou Sylla caught Iban Salvador, but captain Emilio Nsue hit the base of the right-hand upright. And, with the game set to head to extra time, striker Bayo stooped to guide Ibrahim Diakite’s cross from the right…
SUPER Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is doubtful for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final game against Angola next Friday at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The 27-year-old suffered an injury in the Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the last-16 of the AFCON as Nigeria advanced to the quarter-final. The goalkeeper collided with Cameroon winger Georges-Kévin N’Koudou in the 78th minute of the tie. Francis Uzoho replaced Nwabali in the 80th minute minute but he was not tested by the Indomitable Lions as the Nigerian defence was largely on top. Nigerians on social media have already…
NIGERIA reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after Ademola Lookman scored twice to beat a disappointing Cameroon 2-0 in the round of 16 in Abidjan. The Atalanta forward opened the scoring nine minutes before the break after Victor Osimhen forced Oumar Gonzalez into a mistake and then teed up Lookman to fire past goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, who was preferred against Andre Onana. Former England Under-21 international Lookman sealed the win in the 90th minute after one of the game’s best moves, volleying home Calvin Bassey’s cut-back to spark huge celebrations among the three-time champions. Despite introducing…
GELSON Dala scored twice as Angola shrugged off the early dismissal of goalkeeper Neblu to beat 10-man Namibia and reach the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Neblu was shown a straight red in the 17th minute for handling Bethuel Muzeu’s shot outside his box, but Dala put Angola in front with a tap-in seven minutes before the break. Namibia defender Lubeni Haukongo was soon sent off for a second bookable offence and two minutes later Dala doubled Angola’s lead by powerfully heading home Fredy’s free-kick. Mabululu’s neat finish following a swift counter-attack midway through the second half…
THE 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is holding in Cote d’Ivoire for the first time in about four decades. It began barely a week ago in a colourful spectacle of dance, and songs backed up by a mix of tradition and modernism, that showcased the true West African identity. President Alassane Ouattara’s insistence on the celebration of the talent and genius of young Africans was evident in an investment of about $1.5 billion in improving infrastructure to prepare for the tournament and the deployment of 17,000 police and soldiers to ensure security. After several days of actions, games, sensational…
WHEN the centre referee blows the whistle on Saturday night in Cote d’Ivoire, two of African football’s powerhouses will go head to head. Nigeria and Cameroon, with eight Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles between them, resume their rivalry in a Round of 16 game at the 2023 edition of the competition. Nigeria head into the game after finishing second – the same point as Equatorial Guinea – in Group A of the AFCON. Coach Jose Peseiro’s men won two matches including a victory over Cote d’Ivoire to reach this stage of the tournament. The Super Eagles have only conceded…
THE group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was nothing less than electrifying. It threw up some scintillating goals, an outpour of emotions and heartbreaks for those in the stands and others watching from their screens across the globe. Perhaps, one of the most defining features of this year’s tournament is not just the flamboyant display of African football artistry. Neither is it the crowd baying for goals. No. But with less fancied sides stunning to victories against the continent’s football powerhouses, many pundits have tagged the competition one for the underdogs From Ghana and Algeria failing…
CAMEROON duo Vincent Aboubakar and Clinton Njie are back in full training for the Indomitable Lions ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash against Nigeria at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Both players have been recovering from injuries before the start of the tournament but coach Rigobert Song has kept faith in them, leaving them out of the group stage. The Cameroonian Football Federation announced the return of both players via their Facebook page on Thursday. “The return to collective training of Vincent Aboubakar and Clinton Njie, now available for the…