Author: Peter Noah KC

NIGERIA captain William Troost-Ekong believes his team’s “fighting spirit” will make them Africa Cup of Nations champions for a fourth time. The Super Eagles booked a place in the semi-finals in Ivory Coast by beating Angola 1-0 on Friday. “I believe in the mentality of this team, the fighting spirit and that’s the thing that’s going to make us champions,” Troost-Ekong said. They next play on Wednesday against South Africa. It is 11 years since Nigeria last won Afcon, having previously lifted the title in 1980 and 1994 – and they were pushed all the way by an Angola side…

RONWEN Williams saved four shootout penalties as part of an outstanding goalkeeping display to help South Africa reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a gruelling win over Cape Verde following a goalless draw after extra time. Bebe, Willy Semedo, Laros Duarte and Bryan Teixeira were all denied by the inspired Williams, who also made a spectacular late save to tip Gilson Benchimol’s first-time strike against the woodwork with extra time looming during a contest largely characterised by poor finishing. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha also made two exceptional saves in quick succession shortly after extra time…

HOST nation Ivory Coast produced another amazing Africa Cup of Nations escape act as Oumar Diakite’s 122nd-minute winner sent the 10-man Elephants into the semi-finals at heartbroken Mali’s expense. The hosts played the majority of the game at a numerical disadvantage after Odilon Kossounou’s dismissal for two first-half fouls on Lassine Sinayoko and they fell behind to Nene Dorgeles’ classy curler. But the Elephants equalised right on 90 minutes through Simon Adringa’s opportunistic finish – and won it with virtually the last kick of extra time when Diakite diverted home Seko Fofana’s shot. Diakite left the field with mixed emotions,…

NIGERIAN defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has revealed that players of the Super Eagles are yet to be paid their bonuses at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations despite the widely-publicised approval of their competition funding by Nigeria president Bola Tinubu. The Kasimpasa defender also dispelled reports (not in News Point Nigeria) that some senior players are unhappy with squad captain Ahmed Musa, accusing him of not representing their interests and threatening to take their case directly higher authorities. “The report is a joke,” Omeruo told ESPN. Musa showed us at lunch and we laughed about it. “We are focused on…

DR CONGO came from behind to beat Guinea 3-1 and book a semi-final spot at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Mohamed Bayo put Guinea ahead with a 20th-minute penalty after the forward was fouled by Chancel Mbemba, who then fired in from a narrow angle at the other end to equalise seven minutes later. DR Congo had a penalty of their own in the second half when Julian Jeanvier clipped the legs of Silas and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa converted to give the Leopards the lead with 25 minutes left. The West Africans had little in response after going…

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…

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…