AFCON

Egypt, Gabon, Ghana Qualify for AFCON 2021
AFCON, Africa, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, News, Sports, Youths

Egypt, Gabon, Ghana Qualify for AFCON 2021

Egypt and Ghana have both qualified for the African Cup of Nations on Thursday and were joined by Comoros and Gambia, who will make surprising debuts at next year’s tournament. Egypt drew 1-1 in Kenya, enough to see the record seven-time champion clinch one of the two qualifying places in Group G. That result also helped Comoros take the other spot. Comoros had earlier drawn 0-0 at home against Togo but Kenya needed to win in order to maintain its hopes of qualifying in the last round of matches next week. Comoros, an archipelago of volcanic islands off the east coast of Africa, is one of the continent’s smallest countries and has a population of less than a million. But it had some memorable results in the qualifying campaign, including victories over Togo and Kenya and a 1-1 dra...
Super Eagles to Relish Boat Trip to Benin – Rohr
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Super Eagles to Relish Boat Trip to Benin – Rohr

The Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr has said his players will relish the boat trip to Cotonou for Saturday’s vital 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Benin. The gaffer allayed fears raised over the trip to the neighbouring country, assuring it was the best means to make the trip. Rohr expressed optimism it is the best way to travel to Cotonou for the game. He said, “It will be the best way to go there. Last Saturday, I made the trip and we were flying on the water. “It was so quick and calm.” The team will leave for Cotonou on Saturday morning.
Why Onuachu was Placed on standby – Rohr
AFCON, Sports, Youths

Why Onuachu was Placed on standby – Rohr

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr during a media parley in Lagos clarified several issues in the national team, ahead of their AFCON qualifiers versus Benin and Lesotho. On the Super Eagles vs Benin Republic match, he said: Everyone wants to beat Nigeria, it is normal. We also want to win there (Porto Novo), so it’s a big challenge because they’ve not lost a match at home in eight years. You should expect a team (Eagles) that wants to play good football first, who are going to show Nigerians that they are fighting for their country and are able to do well in Porto Novo against the team who haven’t lost a game at home, since losing 3-1 to Algeria in a World Cup qualifier in 2013. It’s a huge challenge for us to go and try to win, knowing a point will earn us qualification. We’ve had a go...
19 Super Eagles Players Arrive Camp For AFCON Qualifiers, Begin Training Tuesday
AFCON, Africa, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

19 Super Eagles Players Arrive Camp For AFCON Qualifiers, Begin Training Tuesday

Over 19 Super Eagles players have arrived at camp for the remaining two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Lesotho. According to the team’s media officer, Babafemi Raji, the players were already in camp late Monday night. The players in camp are captain Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Henry Onyekuru, Oghenekaro Etebo, Adekunle Adeleke, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi Shehu, Anayo Iwuala, John Noble, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Tyrone Ebuehi, Maduka Okoye, Jamilu Collins, Francis Uzoho and Paul Onuachu. “Update! 18 players now in camp. Musa, Troost-Ekong, Aina, Ajayi, Onyekuru, Etebor, Adeleke, Awaziem, Shehu, Iwuala, Noble, Iwobi, Balogun, Aribo, Ebuehi, Maduka, Collins, Onuachu,” Raji tweeted. “Update! Francis Uzoho ...
AFCON Qualifiers: Rohr Must Pick Fit Players to Battle Benin – Chukwu
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AFCON Qualifiers: Rohr Must Pick Fit Players to Battle Benin – Chukwu

Former Nigeria international Christian Chukwu has tasked Super Eagles German tactician, Gernot Rohr to prioritise the selection of fit players for the crucial 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin in Port-Novo. The Super Eagles presently lead Group L on eight points, while Benin trail on seven points with both teams set to lock horns on March 27 in a decisive encounter that could decide the fate of the two West African nations. Chukwu who won the 1980 AFCON in an interview with Guardian said that Rohr has the players to beat and pick the maximum point against the Squirrel of Benin. He said, “I don’t think there is anything to fear ahead of the AFCON qualifier against the Benin Republic. “Nigeria has players that can beat Benin, and all that is needed is for Rohr to...
CAF Approves 10,000 Spectators to Watch Nigeria vs Lesotho Game
AFCON, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Sports

CAF Approves 10,000 Spectators to Watch Nigeria vs Lesotho Game

The Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, has rectified an appeal for about 10,000 spectators to watch the crucial AFCON qualifying match between Nigeria and Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos. CAF approved the request after the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, had appealed to allow fans to be allowed to watch the match in Lagos on March 30. It, however, warned that strict COVID-19 guideline will be implemented at the stadium. CompleteSports quotes an NFF source to have said, “We are returning the Super Eagles to Lagos for the first time in 20 years and we felt it would not be fair to play in an empty stadium hence we applied to CAF to allow us to admit fans into the Teslim Balogun stadium for our game against Lesotho later this month. “Fortunately for us, CAF obl...
AFCON Qualifier: Rohr Invites Onuachu as Replacement for Injured Forward
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AFCON Qualifier: Rohr Invites Onuachu as Replacement for Injured Forward

Genk attacker, Paul Onuachu has been handed an invitation by the Super Eagles for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Benin Republic and Lesotho. Nigeria will face the Squirrels at the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto-Novo on Saturday, March 27 before battling the Crocodiles three days later at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Head coach Gernot Rohr had named Onuachu on the standby list despite his impressive form in the Belgian Pro League for KRC Genk this season. His invitation was announced by the Nigeria Football Federation in a post on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday. The tweet read, “Following the uncertainty regarding the availability of players based in France [due to COVID 19 laws guiding the country], Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr h...
2021 AFCON: Uzoho, Musa, Osimhen Among List of Invited Players For Crucial Benin, Lesotho Matches
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

2021 AFCON: Uzoho, Musa, Osimhen Among List of Invited Players For Crucial Benin, Lesotho Matches

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has shortlisted captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen who just returned from injury among a 24-man list for the upcoming 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Benin Republic and Lesotho later this month. The Nigerian side currently top of Group E with eight points take on the Squirrels of Benin at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo on Saturday, 27th March. They will battle the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State, three days later. Both games will round off proceedings for the qualifying rounds. Among the invitees are Enyimba FC of Aba goalie John Noble, Rangers defender Leon Balogun, Fulham defender Olaoluwa Aina and Kenneth Omeruo. There is a first...
AFCON Qualifier: It’s Not a Crime For Eagles to Travel by Boat for Benin Fixture – Pinnick
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AFCON Qualifier: It’s Not a Crime For Eagles to Travel by Boat for Benin Fixture – Pinnick

Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has said the performance of the Super Eagles won’t be impacted by their means of transportation for the decisive 2021 Africa cup of Nations qualifier against Benin at Porto-Novo. The NFF president disclosed this in an interview with Arise Television’s Morning Show News, while reacting to the possibility of the team making the trip to Benin by boat for the March 22, 2021 match. Pinnick said there is no big deal if the Super Eagles travel by boat. Head coach, Gernort Rohr had in February said the team may cross the border by boat so as to avoid the bad roads linking both countries. He has been backed by Pinnick who equally said that there is nothing wrong with exploring other forms of adventure in Nigeria. Pinni...
Super Eagles Would Have Won AFCON 2000 With VAR – Amokachi
AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Super Eagles Would Have Won AFCON 2000 With VAR – Amokachi

Iconic Nigerian forward, Daniel Amoachi has said that the Super Eagles would have been crowned the African Champions at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations if the current Video Assistant Referee, VAR, was in use at the time. Amokachi said this while reflecting on the 200 AFCON match where Victor Ikpeba’s penalty kick during penalty shootout against Cameroon was incorrectly ruled out. Tunisian referee Morad Daami did not award the goal despite replays showing the penalty had crossed the line. It allowed Cameroon to win the match 4-3 on penalties. Speaking on whether he would have welcomed VAR during his professional career, Amokachi, speaking in Monday’s edition of his radio programme ‘Bull’s Pit’ on Brila FM replied:”I would have welcomed VAR during my playing days because with VAR ...