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.…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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…
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…
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…