AFCON

No AFCON Target For Eguavoen – NFF
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

No AFCON Target For Eguavoen – NFF

The interim handler of the three-time champs has only been directed to do his best at the ongoing competition. The Nigeria Football Federation reveals no target has been set for Nigeria’s interim coach Augustine Eguavoen at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Eguavoen – who represented the Super Eagles for 11 years – was named as interim manager of the West Africans in December following the sacking of Gernot Rohr after five years. He will be replaced by Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro after the 33rd edition of the biennial African football showpiece in Cameroon. Following victories over Egypt and Sudan, the country has booked a place in the Round of 16 with a match to spare. In the wake of the 56-year-old’s fine start at Afcon 2021, GOAL asked the NFF Director of Communicatio...
Musa: Super Eagles Ready To Face Any Team
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Musa: Super Eagles Ready To Face Any Team

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa insists the team is ready to face any opponent at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. The three-time champions progressed to the second round of the competition after a 3-1 win against Sudan on Saturday. Austine Eguavoen’s led side still have to wait for the conclusion of the group stage games to know their opponent in the Round of 16. Read Also: Onuachu Wins 2021 Belgian Golden Boot Award Musa, who made his first appearance in the game against Sudan is adamant the Super Eagles can beat any team in the competition. “I’m happy with what we have achieved in this competition, two wins from two games is a perfect way to start for us, "Musa said after the team’s training on Sunday. “We want to maintain the momentum by winning our nex...
AFCON 2021: Why Referee, Janny Sikazwe Stopped Tunisia Vs Mali Early
AFCON, Africa, Mali, News, Sports, Tunisia

AFCON 2021: Why Referee, Janny Sikazwe Stopped Tunisia Vs Mali Early

Janny Sikazwe, the referee at the centre of the controversy at the end of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match between Tunisia and Mali on Wednesday, was suffering from heat stroke and severe dehydration. It has been revealed that Sikazwe was taken to hospital after the game. Tunisia have appealed for their Group F opening fixture to be replayed, after Sikazwe blew the final whistle after just 85 minutes and then again 17 seconds before 90 minutes were up. Mali eventually won the encounter 1-0. AFCON’s head of referees, Essam Abdel-Fatah, has now come out to defend the performance of Sikazwe, claiming he was suffering from the effects of the 34-degree heat level and 65 percent humidity in Limbe, Cameroon. “The referee suffered from heat stroke and very severe dehydration, wh...
Sudan Coach, Tia Says Match Against Nigeria Will Not Be Easy
AFCON, Africa, News, Sports, Sudan

Sudan Coach, Tia Says Match Against Nigeria Will Not Be Easy

Sudan national team head coach, Burhan Tia, has made an honest confession ahead of his side’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, tie with Nigeria on Saturday. Sudan will take on Nigeria in their second Group D fixture at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua, this weekend. The Falcons of Jediane head to the game following a 0-0 draw against Guinea-Bissau in their first game on Tuesday, while the Super Eagles defeated Egypt 1-0. Asked about facing Nigeria in their next group game, Tia said it would not be easy. “It will not be easy, as well as facing Egypt, but these are matches that we have put in our minds and our program before the tournament,” Tia was quoted by Filgoal as saying. Meanwhile, Nigeria are on top of Group D with 3 points from one game, while Sudan are in the thi...
Kelechi Iheanacho Fires Super Eagles To Group D Win
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Kelechi Iheanacho Fires Super Eagles To Group D Win

Even despite the perceived lack of firepower in the Nigeria squad prior to the tournament, the Super Eagles launched their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with relative ease following a dominant win over Egypt. Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half goal, a superbly struck half-volley, was enough to see Nigeria through the Group D opener in what a disappointing outing for Egypt. Moses Simon, Joe Aribo and Iheanacho caused their opposition all manner of problems and should really have added to the scoreline. The Leicester star in particular could well have had a hat-trick had his touch not deserted him. Still, as impressive as Nigeria were, Egypt saw their forwards flounder. To blame Mohamed Salah that entirely would be unfair given the lack of service he was offered but the Liverpool st...
Day Two Fixtures At AFCON 2021 In Cameroon
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Day Two Fixtures At AFCON 2021 In Cameroon

Following is the schedule of matches to be played at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon on Monday: Group B Senegal vs Zimbabwe, 2 p.m. Read Also: Why Ighalo Won’t Be Part Of Eagles At AFCON 2021 –NFF Guinea vs Malawi, 5 p.m. (Both matches are to hold at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam) Group C Ghana vs Morocco, 5 p.m. Comoros vs Gabon, 8 p.m. (Both matches are to hold at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde) Source: Punch
Musa, Chukwueze On Target As Super Eagles Beat Coton Sport In Practice Match
AFCON, Africa, Cameroon, News, Nigeria, Sports

Musa, Chukwueze On Target As Super Eagles Beat Coton Sport In Practice Match

A goal in each half by Ahmed Musa and Samuel Chukwueze, earned the Super Eagles a 2-0 win against Cameroon club side Coton Sport in a practice game in Garoua on Friday. The game was arranged as part of preparation for the Eagles ahead of their 2021 AFCON Group D opener against Egypt on Tuesday. Musa opened scoring in the first half before Chukwueze doubled the Eagles’ lead in the second half. Starting for the Eagles in the friendly were Maduka Okoye in goal, Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo and Zaidu Sanusi in defence. The midfield had Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo and Chidera Ejuke while Kelechi Iheanacho, Musa and Taiwo Awoniyi led the attack. See Also: Ashleigh Plumptre Switches Nationality To Nigeria In the course of the first half Musa was replaced by Alex Iwobi...
Why Ighalo Won’t Be Part Of Eagles At AFCON 2021 –NFF
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Why Ighalo Won’t Be Part Of Eagles At AFCON 2021 –NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo will not feature at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. This was revealed this morning by the NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire in an interview with Brila FM. Read Also: 2021 AFCON: Super Eagles To Depart For Garoua Today Via Charted Flight Recall that Ighalo was still expected to arrive the Super Eagles camp as at yesterday and was handed the number 9 jersey by Austine Eguavoen on Wednesday night ahead of the tournament. The veteran striker was widely expected to lead the Eagles attack in the absence of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. However, in a new twist, Olajire confirmed that Ighalo’s Saudi Arabia club, Al Shabab has refused to release him for the the bi-annual showpiece. ...
2021 AFCON: Super Eagles To Depart For Garoua Today Via Charted Flight
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

2021 AFCON: Super Eagles To Depart For Garoua Today Via Charted Flight

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will depart for Garoua, Cameroon, today January 5th 2022, via chartered flight ahead of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations. This was revealed by the Eagles’ media officer Babafemi Raji. According to the spokesman, the Eagles will depart Nigeria at 8pm for the venue of their Group D games. Read Also: AFCON: Ndidi, Iwobi, Troost-Ekong, Iheanacho Five Others Arrive, 23 Players Now In Camp Meanwhile, Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo is the latest player to arrive the team’s Abuja camp. Aribo hit camp on Tuesday night which has taken the number of players to 24. Also, the four players still expected are Samuel Chukwueze, Odion Ighalo, Jamilu Collins and Tyronne Ebuehi. Source: CompleteSports
Ashleigh Plumptre Switches Nationality To Nigeria
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Ashleigh Plumptre Switches Nationality To Nigeria

Nigerians are excited after former England youth international Ashleigh Plumptre got approval to switch her allegiance to the Super Falcons. The 23-year-old defender, who plays for Women's Super League side Leicester City, is eligible to represent the African women's football powerhouse because of her father's Nigerian heritage. After joining training camps in Austria and Abuja, she has now been cleared by world football's governing body Fifa and is eligible for Nigeria's tricky 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations play-off against Ivory Coast in February. "We are happy to receive Ashleigh's official clearance from FIFA," NFF director of communications Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport Africa. "It was only possible because of her commitment and dedication. She made the federation's ...