AFCON
AFCON 2019: ECSTATIC FANS SHINE WITH STAR LAGER AS SUPER EAGLES ZOOM INTO ROUND OF 16
It was double celebration across the 10 Star Fan Parks in nine cities across the country as the Super Eagles of Nigeria zoomed into the knockout phase of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.
Kenneth Omeruo’s well –placed header from a Moses Simon’s corner kick earned all three points for Nigeria against Guinea at the Alexandria Stadium and it was enough to seal a berth for the Super Eagles in the Round of 16 ahead of all the other countries taking part in the biennial football competition.
Though it was another wet day in Lagos, fans in their numbers thronged the Star Fan Park at the National Stadium, Lagos and other outlets across the country to have a feel of the excitement happening far way in the Land of the Pharaohs.
Having watched the Super Eagles get the job done in their first match against debutants Burundi, expectations were high that coach Gernot Rohr’s men will earn an early ticket into the Round of 16.
As expected, the Star Lager-backed Super Eagles team did not disappoint as they delivered yet again this time against the Syli Nationale who may likely be going home earlier than anticipated.
Aside from the excitement oozing from the giant TV screen made available by Nigeria’s premium brand Star Larger, there was much more entertainment with a lot of fun games, trivia and of course good music to the delight of the fans.
The highpoint was the raffle draw where winners were rewarded for their passion for the Super Eagles and loyalty to Star Larger brand.
Chikwuka Ujunwa and Efico Edet were some of the lucky winners from Wednesday’s raffle draw and the duo thanked Star Larger for bringing them closer to the action at AFCON 2019 and still rewarding them with delightful prizes.
As promised by Nigerian Breweries through Star Lager, the carnival-like environment across the Fan Parks will be sustained to the final day of the AFCON tournament.
What a turn-around! After four previous competitive matches without a win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning mentality after a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The win also put the Super Eagles at the top of the Group D after both Libya and Rwanda played 1-1 draw last Thursday.
It is also the biggest win by the Super Eagles since their 2023 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe last year September.
Great man Ademola Lookman, he put in two goals straightening the possibility of his emerging as 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
The current title holder, Victor Osimhen proved his mettle coming off the bench in the second half to double Nigeria’s lead after Lookman’s late first half goal.
The Super Eagles will now honour their next fixture against Rwanda on Tuesday with the hope of consolidating their lead.
Benin Republic with no points and a deficit of three goals are rooted at the bottom of the log.
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea has called on all Nigerians to rally round and pray for the Super Eagles ahead of Saturday’s Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
Ikpea who is mobilizing support for the Super Eagles ahead of the clash in Uyo said that whatever Benin Republic come with both spiritually and physically in the game, we will surely overcome them.
“In the NFSC we have Christians, Muslims as well as those who believe in traditional worship and we respect the rights of freedom of worship of every member and all Nigerians.
“When we are faced with this kind of crucial game, we call on everyone to pray through their various believes because we foresee that Benin Republic are most likely coming to fall back on ‘black magic’ to enable them perfect a back-to-back victory over our Super Eagles after beating us 2-1 in our last meeting in a World Cup qualifier”
“We cannot underestimate the efficacy of the black magic” Ikpea further stressed, “but we believe that when we come together we can neutralize it’s efficacy.
“This is no time to sleep, we all have to rally round and do our best to support our Super Eagles because they cannot do it alone without the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
“While charging Nigerians to be positive with the team, we at the NFSC have done everything positive to overturn whatever plans they are coming with and we enjoin everyone to toe that path through prayers”.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is bubbling with training in Uyo, as team Coach Austin Eguavoen, has been working hard to perfect tactics with the boys and ensure the Super Eagles soar on Saturday.
The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th September 2023 in Uyo. That was their last qualifying match for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 played in 2024.
Since then, they have played four World Cup qualifying matches without a win despite being the overwhelming favourites at those matches.
A forensic analysis of their World Cup qualifying since that of Qatar 2022 will reveal they had played seven consecutive matches without a win starting from their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos which qualified them for the play off. In the play off with Ghana, the Super Eagles drew the two matches.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have gone four matches, getting three draws and a loss. The prospect of their getting a straight qualification from the group is doubtful as they have a mountain to climb by winning the remaining six matches, three of which are away duels of which are most likely to be played in South Africa, the home ground of their main rivals.
Zimbabwe and Lesotho play their home matches in South Africa and Nigeria also still have an away duel with Bafana Bafana.
The qualification series of AFCON 2025 presents the Super Eagles a new beginning. Starting from the semi-finals of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, the team has won none of their four competitive matches in regulation time. The players have a date with destiny in Uyo this Saturday to wipe off the sagging image they have had in recent time.
A win will give the team the confidence expected in anticipation for future fixtures.
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