Category: AFCON - Page 7 - African News Today

Osimhen Ruled out of Nigeria Vs Sierra Leone Encounter

15Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sports, Youths

Osimhen Ruled out of Nigeria Vs Sierra Leone Encounter

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Napoli forward Victor Osimhen will miss the second leg encounter of their 2022 AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone on Tuesday. Rohr also stated how Leon Balogun and Samuel Chukwueze are recovering well and should make the trip to Freetown. Osimhen suffered a dislocated shoulder at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Friday and was immediately replaced by Paul Onuachu while Club Brugge forward Emmanuel Dennis did not feature in the 4-4 draw because of a swollen ankle. Balogun and Chukwueze were substituted in the game due to varying injuries, but they are working with their teammates to be in good shape.

AFCON Qualifier: “We Will Work to Put Things Right” – Iwobi Begs Nigerians After Disappointing Draw

14Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifier: “We Will Work to Put Things Right” – Iwobi Begs Nigerians After Disappointing Draw

Super Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi has expressed disappointment over the team’s display in their African cup of Nations qualifiers match against Sierra Leone on Friday in Benin City. The team threw away a four-goal lead to allow their opponents draw the match 4-4 on home soil. Although the Everton of England forward banged a brace, it went unnoticed as the Super Eagles went on to surrender their four goals advantage and share the spoils at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Friday. Iwobi in a post on social media on Friday described the result as disappointing and pleaded with Nigerians that the team will work even harder to achieve a better result in the return leg on Tuesday. He said, “Deeply Disappointed, we’ll Work to Put Things Right.” The second leg is scheduled to take pla...

Eagles in a Humiliating 4-4 Draw With Sierra Leone

13Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sports, Youths

Eagles in a Humiliating 4-4 Draw With Sierra Leone

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Friday even were forced to to settle for a disappointing 4-4 draw after leading with a 3 goal deficit in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Friday at the new Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State. The Super Eagles were leading their West African neighbours Sierra Leone with a 4-1 scoreline in the opening half-hour of Friday’s tie before they blew the lead and ended up with a 4-4 draw. It was Alex Iwobi that opened the flood gates of goals in the 4th minute before Victor Osimhen doubled the lead. The Everton midfielder made it 3-0 in the 27th minute and then Samuel Chukwueze increase the tally three minutes afterward. When Kwame Quee reduced the deficit to 4-1 late in the first half, many saw it just as a face-saving goal b...

12Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sports

We Won’t Underrate Leone Stars – Rohr

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has promised that the Leone Stars will not be underrated when both clash in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Friday. Nigeria will qualify for the next AFCON tournament should they win both games against Sierra Leone. The Eagles currently lead Group L with six points from their opening two games. “We do not in any way under-rate the Sierra Leoneans that we play over two legs within these four days, but we have our focus and objective for the matches,” Rohr said in a statement made available to The PUNCH from the Nigerian Football Federation media “We want to win both games so we can have the ticket and be able to be a little more relaxed for the final games. You know that next year, we also ha...

11Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

We Need To Be Tough – Etebo

Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has stressed that they must be mentally and physically ready for the Friday 2021AFCON qualifying game with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone slated for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. The Galatasaray midfielder who breezed into the Eagles camp in Benin City yesterday, has therefore, enjoined his teammates to take the whole 90 minutes seriously so as to brighten their chances of qualifying for the 2021 AFCON fixed for Cameroon. “Nigeria and Sierra Leone, competitive wise we all know Nigeria is more ahead of them, but now it is football and anything can happen,” Etebo told NationSport. “But the most important thing is that we must be mentally and physically prepared. We should do what we know how to do best and hope for a better game. ...

16 Eagles Train Ahead of AFCON Qualifier, Osimhen Absent

11Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, Nigeria, Sports

16 Eagles Train Ahead of AFCON Qualifier, Osimhen Absent

Ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sierra Leone in Benin City on Friday, the Super Eagles had their first leg of training session on Tuesday. 16 out of the 23 invited players took part in the training session, News Agency of Nigeria reports. Despite earlier confirmation that Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen had arrived the Eagles’ camp, he was suspiciously a absent from the training prompting questions ahead of the crucial match. According to a statement by Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday Osimhen had arrived the team’s camp despite having flight challenges. He said “Osimhen called me two days ago complaining that an airline could not carry him because of XYZ.. and asked if he could get another ticket and I said...

Confusion in Eagles Camp As Akpeyi and Ezenwa Hit Eagles Camp

10Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Confusion in Eagles Camp As Akpeyi and Ezenwa Hit Eagles Camp

There is a mild confusion in the Super Eagles camp in Benin city following the arrival of goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi who was earlier reported to be having Visa issues into the country. The development led to the invitation of third choice goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa. Ezenwa had earlier arrived the camp on Tuesday on invitation by the team handlers in a precautionary measure to fill the void left by Daniel Akpeyi. However, the Kaizer Chiefs shot stopper arrived Lagos today, quelling all speculations about his unavailability for the match. Ikechukwu Ezenwa was originally on the standby list of the team but has not played professional football since March following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19: No Fans for Eagles Vs Sierra Leone Clash – FG

4Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Covid-19, Nigeria, Safety, Sierra Leone, Sports

COVID-19: No Fans for Eagles Vs Sierra Leone Clash – FG

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 have advised the Edo State Government and the Nigeria Football Federation against allowing fans into the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, during the 2021 AFCON qualifier between the Super Eagles and Sierra Leone on November 13. Edo State Government had earlier announced that the gates would be thrown open for fans to watch the game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. The ministry said admitting fans into the match venue would amount to a breach of the COVID-19 protocols. In a letter addressed to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, the ministry stated that the game “will not have any audience and no gathering.” The letter read in part, “The ministry wishes to bring to your urg...

CAF President Tests Positive for COVID-19

30Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Covid-19, Sports

CAF President Tests Positive for COVID-19

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Mr Ahmad Ahmad has tested positive for COVID-19. A statement on the website of the continental football governing body on Friday read:”the president after his arrival to Cairo on Oct. 28, presented mild flu symptoms and submitted to the COVID-19 protocol. ”Today, the test results are positive and the president immediately self-isolate for at least the next 14 days at his hotel. ”All those who have come into contact with Ahmad over the past seven days, especially during his trip to Morocco for the Confederation Cup, have been informed and requested to take the necessary measures.”

AFCON Qualifiers: Akpeyi, Etebo, Uzoho, Osihmen Return

29Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifiers: Akpeyi, Etebo, Uzoho, Osihmen Return

The coach of Nigeria's super eagles Gernot Rohr has submitted the list of players who will feature in the AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone on November 13. OwngoalNigeria reports that Daniel Akpeyi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Joel Aribo, Francis Uzoho and Victor Osihmen are among the five players who are set to stage a return to the team following their absence in the team's double friendlies early October. Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will make the list public next week but it was gathered that invitations are already being sent to the players invited. The Super eagles will host Sierra Leone in a double header AFCON qualifier with the first being played in Benin city, Nigeria before the second leg encounter in Freetown, Sierra Leone.