NIGERIAN journalists who were involved in an accident on Wednesday in Ivory Coast are in stable condition but are on admission and still nursing some injuries after escaping death while covering the ongoing tournament. They were returning to Abidjan from the Ivorian capital Yamoussoukro after covering one of the last Group C games between Senegal and Gambia as well as the Group D clash between Angola and Burkina Faso at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro. Eleven Nigerians were among the over 50 journalists on board the vehicle which reportedly collided with a wall at about 2:30am Ivory Coast…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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MOROCCO did host nation Ivory Coast a colossal favour by beating Zambia to send the Elephants into the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 by the back door. Zambia needed a point from the Group F finale to deny the hosts the fourth and final qualification spot for the group stage’s best third-placed teams. But Hakim Ziyech slammed in from close range to send Zambia home, Ivory Coast through and help Morocco top the group. The Atlas Lions will face South Africa in the knockout stages on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast, who sacked boss Jean-Louis Gasset earlier on Wednesday after…
NAMIBIA booked a first ever appearance in the last 16 of the African Cup of Nations by holding a Mali side who topped Group E by virtue of the point. The draw puts Namibia, who came closest to scoring when Prins Tjiueza hit the post, through as one of the group stage’s four best third-placed teams. The Brave Warriors will take on Group D winners Angola in the first knock-out round while Mali face Burkina Faso. The result kept host nation Ivory Coast sweating over their progression hopes. The Elephants, who finished third in Group A, are left relying on…
SUPER Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has assured that his team will start scoring goals following their qualification to the round of 16 of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. The Eagles will face Group C runners-up Cameroon and Peseiro is confident his side would score against them. Nigeria progressed to the last 16 of the tournament after finishing second in Group following their 1-0 victory over Guinea Bissau in their last group game on Monday. An Opa Sangante’s 37th-minute own goal at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium was the difference as Joseiro Peseiro’s men recorded their second…
ALGERIA crashed out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as minnows Mauritania claimed a famous first ever win at the finals to snatch a spot in the last 16. Centre-back Yali Dellahi swept home the winning goal late in the first half to stun the two-time Afcon winners. Defeat means 2019 champions Algeria exit the tournament at the group stage for the second successive edition. They finish bottom of Group D while Mauritania will definitely progress as one of the best third-placed teams. In the other group match, Angola beat Burkina Faso 2-0 to clinch top spot in Group…
DEFENDING champions Senegal secured top spot in Group C at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Guinea 2-0 in an ill-tempered encounter. Abdoulaye Seck headed the Teranga Lions in front from a free-kick and Iliman Ndiaye sealed victory with a fine low finish in the final minute. Guinea knew they would go through before kick-off and finished third after Cameroon beat The Gambia 3-2. Senegal progress from the group stage as the only side with a 100% record. Aliou Cisse’s side will stay in Yamoussoukro and face a third-placed side from Group A or F in the last…
NIGERIA star Moses Simon dismissed concerns about the Super Eagles’ misfiring attack after they needed an own goal to beat minnows Guinea-Bissau 1-0 and secure a place in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations. “We don’t care if we score 20 goals, the most important thing for us is the victory,” Nantes forward Simon said after collecting his award for man of the match. The only goal of Monday’s encounter at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan came in the 36th minute, as a low cross by Simon was emphatically turned into his own net by…
EGYPT made it through to the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations after drawing 2-2 with Cape Verde following a dramatic finale to Group B in Abidjan. Egypt had looked set to finish third behind the Blue Sharks and Ghana before stoppage-time goals in both games. Pharaohs forward Mostafa Mohamed netted what looked to be a 93rd-minute winner. However, Cape Verde levelled six minutes later but the Pharaohs secured second spot as Ghana threw away a 2-0 lead in added time against Mozambique. Mozambique scored twice in second-half stoppage time to almost certainly send Ghana crashing out of…
SUPER Eagles of Nigeria progressed to the last 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after beating Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in the last group match. Bissau’s Sangante put the ball in his own net after a good cross from Nigeria’s Simon Moses for the only goal of the match. In the other group match, the host, Cote D’Ivoire suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat in the hands of Equatorial Guinea, who topped the group with seven points same as the Eagles but with a better goal difference. The Super Eagles will face the second-placed side from Group C, which will…
HAVING defeated hosts and one of the tournament’s favourites Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles will be on course for a last 16 place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when they face Guinea-Bissau later today. igeria began the competition on a shaky note, drawing Equatorial Guinea in their first match. But the team recorded a statement win in their 1-0 victory over Cote d’Ivoire in front of their home crowd. Coach Jose Peseiro’s boys are second on the group log, inferior only to Equatorial Guinea on goals differences. A point today will be enough for the Nigerian side…
ROYAL Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf has said that he expects to be back for the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast after the match against Guinea-Bissau on Monday (today). Yusuf’s AFCON debut against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday lasted only 69 minutes as the 23-year-old was forced off due to injury after posting an impressive performance. Despite Nigeria’s underwhelming performance against the National Thunder, which drew scathing criticisms back home, fans reserved praises for the debuting Yusuf, who impressed in his first competitive game for the Eagles. His injury got a host of fans worried, and…
ONE-TIME Nigerian league champions Lobi Stars go into the second half of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League on top of the table, thanks to their 1-0 win over Plateau United at the Lafia Township Stadium on Sunday. Kumaga Suur’s 23rd minute goal was enough for Eugene Agagbe’s side to cement the win against their hard-fighting opponents, who have been in resurgent form recently. Lobi Stars’ only league title was won in 1999, and the closest they have been to claiming the title again was in 2018, when they only benefited a spot on the continent, no thanks to the…
THEMBA Zwane scored twice in 16 first-half minutes as South Africa thrashed Namibia to earn their first points of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). Percy Tau, who missed a spot kick in Bafana Bafana’s opening defeat to Mali, began the rout with an early penalty. Zwane met Thapelo Morena’s cross with a fierce finish and clipped in his second after an electric run into the box. Substitute Thapelo Maseko made it four when Lloyd Kazapua failed to handle his strike from Teboho Mokoena’s long ball. Both teams are guaranteed a place in the last 16 if they win…
PATSON Daka’s powerful header rescued a late point for 10-man Zambia and denied Tanzania a first ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). Leicester City forward Daka equalised from Clatous Chama’s inswinging corner to boost his side’s last-16 hopes. Simon Msuva’s early opener almost gave Tanzania an upset in the first match of manager Adel Amrouche’s eight-game ban. Zambia defender Rodrick Kabwe received a second booking after 44 minutes for an aerial challenge on Mbwana Samatta. With Amrouche absent because of his punishment from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) over remarks he made about Morocco, Tanzania almost…
SILAS Katompa Mvumpa’s clinical second-half strike earned DR Congo a deserved point against Morocco in Group F of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Morocco took the lead early on when Achraf Hakimi lost his marker and volleyed in a Hakim Ziyech’s corner. Cedric Bakambu missed a chance to equalise from the penalty spot for DR Congo shortly before half-time. But the Leopards levelled when Mvumpa calmly stroked the ball into the net from Meschack Elia’s cutback. Both teams had chances to win it late on with Morocco indebted to goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after he tipped Fiston Mayele’s rasping shot…
SUPER Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has told Nigerians not to wait for him to commit a mistake but to encourage him and the rest of the team as they chase a fourth Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Peseiro’s decision to name Nwabali as the team’s first choice caused a stir with some praising his move as ruthless, while others believe Francis Uzoho has been unfairly treated. But in two games at the AFCON, however, Nwabali has brought something of calm and confidence between the sticks that the Eagles team had lacked since the unfortunate retirement of Carl Ikeme…
SENEGAL coach Aliou Cisse rejoined his squad on Saturday after spending a night under observation in hospital in Ivory Coast, where the Lions of Teranga are defending their Africa Cup of Nations title, the country’s football federation announced. Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) president Augustin Senghor said Cisse had suffered from “a small gastric infection” on Thursday that “left him a bit tired”. Despite that, Cisse was on the touchline for Senegal’s 3-1 win over Cameroon in Yamoussoukro which allowed them to secure qualification for the last 16. “He was a bit weakened, and the doctors preferred to take him to…
HAMZA Rafia’s first-half strike gave 2004 champions Tunisia their first point at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations courtesy of a draw against Mali. Midfielder Rafia arrived first to send Ali Abdi’s cross squirming in via goalkeeper Djigui Diarra’s body. Mali had gone ahead through Lassine Sinayoko’s drilled opener and are on the brink of reaching the last 16. Kamory Doumbia almost restored the Eagles’ lead six minutes after the break, stabbing a shot narrowly wide.
GELSON Dala scored twice as Angola beat Mauritania to close in on the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations. Forward Dala reacted smartly to the rebound from a corner to put his side ahead, firing a shot against the turf and into the roof of the net. Sidi Amar levelled for the Lions of Chinguetti with a dazzling run and finish two minutes before half-time. Dala and Gilberto both struck to make it 3-1 before Aboubakary Koita’s spectacular consolation for Mauritania. More details shortly…
BAGHDAD Bounedjah’s equaliser deep into injury-time secured a draw for Algeria, denying Burkina Faso a second straight victory in the African Cup of Nations. It appeared Bertrand Traore’s second-half penalty had Algeria in real danger of a first-round exit from the tournament until the dramatic ending when Adam Ounas set up Bounedjah to score his second of the match. Algeria came into the match the favourites and had more of the play, but Burkina Faso looked dangerous on the break throughout and would not have been flattered by victory. The opening goal came just before half time and it was…