THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed an all-Cameroonian refereeing crew to oversee Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 clash between Nigeria and Mozambique, as the Super Eagles prepare for a crucial knockout test. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that according to CAF, Abdou Abdel Mefire will serve as the centre referee for the encounter, assisted by Elvis Noupoue and Carine Atezambong. The officiating team will be responsible for managing what is expected to be a fiercely contested fixture as both teams battle for a place in the quarter-finals. The match will be played at the…
Author: Peter Noah KC
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TEN-MAN Mali rode their luck and showed remarkable resilience to defeat Tunisia 3–2 on penalties and book a place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), setting up a blockbuster clash with defending champions Senegal. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in a dramatic late match that swung wildly in the closing stages, El Bilal Touré converted the decisive penalty after Tunisia’s Ali Abdi blazed his effort over the bar, while Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra emerged the hero by saving successive spot-kicks from Elias Achouri and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. The shootout drama came after a…
NIGERIA’s impressive showing in the group stage of the AFCON tournament has been underlined by individual and technical recognition, with Ademola Lookman named Team of the Group Stage standout and Eric Chelle emerging as Coach of the Group Stage. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Lookman played a decisive role throughout the group matches, providing attacking thrust, energy, and key moments, earning himself two goals and two assists in just two appearances, which shaped Nigeria’s performances. According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday, the Atalanta man ”was a constant threat with his direct running, creativity, and eye…
A STAR-STUDDED cast comprising Victor Osimhen, Achraf Hakimi, and Mohamed Salah switches to knockout fare from Saturday, when the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Paris Saint-Germain defender Hakimi was crowned 2025 African player of the year in November. Liverpool attacker Salah and Galatasaray striker Osimhen were the runners-up. After 36 matches spread across six groups, the 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls clash in eight second-round matches over four days. Fit-again Hakimi is set to lead title favourites Morocco against Tanzania, Salah will captain Egypt against Benin, and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria tackle Mozambique. Here…
THE Super Eagles will take on Mozambique in the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in their hunt for a fourth continental title. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Nigeria defeated Uganda 3-1 on Tuesday to maintain their perfect record in the continental showpiece after victories against Tanzania and Tunisia earlier in the tournament. While Coach Eric Chelle’s side had nine points, their opponent finished as third in Group F, guaranteeing them a place as one of best losers. The Southern Africans lost 1-2 to Cameroon in their final match on Wednesday, they finished with three…
NIGERIA wrapped up their Group C campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in emphatic fashion on Tuesday, defeating Uganda 3–1 at the Fez Stadium in Morocco to finish the group stage with a perfect record. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Super Eagles, already assured of qualification before the encounter, produced a commanding performance that underlined their status as one of the tournament’s early favourites, ending the group phase with nine points from three matches. Nigeria’s dominance paid off in the 28th minute when striker Paul Onuachu opened the scoring. The towering forward reacted quickest inside the…
THE knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations took clearer shape on Tuesday night as Senegal topped Group D, DR Congo were handed a daunting last-16 clash against Algeria, and Tanzania made history by qualifying for the knockout phase for the first time in 45 years. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Senegal produced a commanding display to defeat Benin 3–0 in Tangier, finishing top of Group D on goal difference ahead of DR Congo. Goals from Abdoulaye Seck, Habib Diallo, and a late Cherif Ndiaye penalty ensured the Lions of Teranga ended the group stage unbeaten with…
TWO close friends and long-time team members of world-renowned Nigerian-British boxing star Anthony Joshua have been identified as the victims of the fatal road accident that occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the victims, Sina Ghami and Abdullatif “Latz” Ayodele, were confirmed dead in an official statement issued by Matchroom Boxing, Joshua’s promotional company, bringing global attention and deep sorrow to the tragedy. “With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, have tragically passed away,” Matchroom Boxing said. The company also confirmed…
HOSTS Morocco and South Africa booked their places in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday night after contrasting but equally dramatic victories in Rabat and Marrakesh, as the group-stage battles intensified across Morocco. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in front of a raucous home crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Morocco delivered a commanding performance, easing past Zambia 3–0 to finish top of Group A, while South Africa needed a late penalty to edge Zimbabwe 3–2 and secure qualification from Group B. Ayoub El Kaabi stole the spotlight for the Atlas Lions,…
THE top-of-the-table encounter between Nigeria vs Tunisia ended with a nervy 3-2 victory for the Super Eagles in the Group C game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). News Point Nigeria Sports reporsts that the showdown was the seventh time the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles had faced each other at an AFCON. Nigeria won three times, and Tunisia once. Another two meetings went to penalty shootouts, with each nation winning one. With the win, the Super Eagles are guaranteed top spot in Group C but will want to maintain their 100 per cent record. Tunisia knows…
THE 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continued to deliver a compelling blend of star quality, historic breakthroughs and high-stakes drama as holders Ivory Coast were held by Cameroon, Algeria sealed early qualification, and Mozambique and Sudan kept their knockout hopes alive with landmark victories. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in Marrakech, Manchester United forward Amad Diallo once again proved decisive for defending champions Ivory Coast, scoring his second goal of the tournament in a pulsating 1-1 draw against Cameroon in a clash befitting two continental heavyweights. The much-anticipated Group F encounter lived up to expectations, with Amad breaking the…
THE top-of-the-table encounter between Nigeria vs Tunisia ended with a nervy 3-2 victory for the Super Eagles in the Group C game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the showdown was the seventh time the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles had faced each other at an AFCON. Nigeria won three times, and Tunisia once. Another two meetings went to penalty shootouts, with each nation winning one. With the win, the Super Eagles are guaranteed top spot in Group C but will want to maintain their 100 per cent record. Tunisia knows…
THE 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continued to deliver a compelling blend of star quality, historic breakthroughs and high-stakes drama as holders Ivory Coast were held by Cameroon, Algeria sealed early qualification, and Mozambique and Sudan kept their knockout hopes alive with landmark victories. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in Marrakech, Manchester United forward Amad Diallo once again proved decisive for defending champions Ivory Coast, scoring his second goal of the tournament in a pulsating 1-1 draw against Cameroon in a clash befitting two continental heavyweights. The much-anticipated Group F encounter lived up to expectations, with Amad breaking the…
NIGERIA’s Super Eagles booked a place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after outscoring Tunisia 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Fez Stadium on Saturday. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Super Eagles were cruising to victory when leading 3-0 through goals from Osimhen, captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman. But Tunisia refused to surrender in the top-of-the-table Group C clash and Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi scored to set up a tense finish. Tunisia had two chances to level during seven minutes of added time, but a header from captain Ferjani Sassi…
THE race for places in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) intensified on Saturday as Senegal, DR Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Benin Republic and Botswana all featured in dramatic group-stage encounters marked by late goals, missed penalties and historic milestones. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Senegal were forced to come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in a fiercely contested Group D clash in Tangier, with star forward Sadio Mane once again proving decisive. The Leopards struck first just after the hour mark when Cedric Bakambu pounced from close range, finishing…
SEVEN-TIME champions Egypt booked their place in the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare after Mohamed Salah’s first-half penalty secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over South Africa, despite the Pharaohs playing the entire second half with 10 men. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in another dramatic night of AFCON action, tournament hosts Morocco were held to a 1–1 draw by Mali in Rabat after a tense encounter dominated by VAR interventions, while Zambia and Comoros played out the first goalless draw of the competition in a subdued Group A clash in…
THE atmosphere around Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign has received a major boost ahead of Saturday’s group-stage showdown against Tunisia, with tickets for the high-stakes encounter at the Fez Stadium completely sold out. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that ticket information on the Confederation of African Football’s official platform confirmed that all three ticket categories for the match were fully booked, a surprising development given the concerns over low attendances that have characterised several fixtures at the tournament so far. Category 1 tickets were sold at 300 Moroccan dirhams, Category 2 at 200 dirhams, while Category 3 tickets went…
NIGERIA may not have put the game beyond doubt on the scoreboard, but their 2-1 performance against Tanzania sent a strong message to the rest of the continent. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Super Eagles, playing their opening Group F fixture of AFCON 2025, dominated proceedings and showed flashes of the quality that makes them genuine title contenders. Deservedly, they took all three points thanks to goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman. In the wake of the Group C clash, here are six takeaways from the encounter. Nigeria Show Dominance: Coming into the tournament, the Super Eagles…
AFRICA’s football heavyweights wasted little time asserting their credentials at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as Ivory Coast, Algeria and Cameroon all recorded victories in their opening group matches on Wednesday, sending an early warning to rivals across the continent. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that in Marrakesh, defending champions Ivory Coast began their title defence with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mozambique, thanks to a second-half strike from Manchester United winger Amad Diallo. Diallo found the decisive breakthrough in the 49th minute of the Group F encounter, finishing off sustained pressure from the Elephants, who dominated possession and…
NIGERIA began their quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title with a hard-fought victory over Tanzania in wet conditions in Fes. News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the Super Eagles took the lead in the 36th minute when defender Semi Ajayi glanced home a header from Alex Iwobi’s inviting right-wing cross. Nigeria largely controlled proceedings in the first half and went close to doubling their advantage before the break, only for Samuel Chukwueze’s deflected effort to be tipped over the bar by Tanzania goalkeeper Zuberi Foba. Tanzania responded shortly after the restart, drawing level in the 50th…