AFCON
NIGERIA AND LAST MINUTE GOALS AT AFCON
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Sunday’s last minute goal for Algeria was not the first of such to be conceded by Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, even though, Super Eagles have also profited from the cliff-hanging situations as the clock ticked down.
It is well known that it was the last minute goal against South Africa that shut them into the semi finals. Also in 2008, it was the late minute goal that Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored against Benin Republic that earned Nigeria a passage into the knockout stage on goal difference over Mali.
Two years earlier in Egypt, even though Nigeria had won their two group games against Zimbabwe and Ghana, the Super Eagles were at the risk of possible elimination going into the third match with Senegal.
Senegal had beaten Zimbabwe 2-0 before losing 1-0 to Ghana. With that scenario, all possibilities were open for Zimbabwe to advance, should they beat Ghana and if Nigeria beat Senegal silly.
Similarly, Nigeria’s advancement was at risk had they lost to Senegal by at least two goals and also Ghana beating Zimbabwe by the same margin or more. The three tops teams would have ended with six points apiece.
Nigeria would have been eliminated on goal difference. Zimbabwe did the unexpected beating Ghana 2-1 in Ismalia. With the match and that of Nigeria and Senegal going on simultaneously, Senegal took an early lead before Nigeria leveled up 11 minutes to regulation time.
But a win was needed for Nigeria to advance. The needed goal only came two minutes to end the game. That was not the first time Nigeria had a late goal against Senegal.
On their home soil in Dakar, Stephen Keshi fired a long range shot that enabled Nigeria get a 89th minute goal with which the host team was defeated in the opening game of 1992 Africa Cup of Nations.
Was it history repeating itself at the semifinals when a dying minute robbed Nigeria a place in the final on Sunday? It was also so in 1976 when Guinea’s Papa Camara’s last minute goal confined Nigeria to struggle for third a third=place match with Guinea.
Africa’s football heavyweights have wasted little time asserting their pedigree at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with former champions dominating the opening round of group matches.
On a busy Tuesday of four fixtures, Tunisia joined fellow past winners Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Senegal in posting opening-game victories.
Tunisia’s 3–1 defeat of Uganda in Rabat capped the day’s action, following DR Congo’s hard-earned 1–0 win over Benin and Senegal’s convincing 3–0 triumph against Botswana. Earlier in the week, Egypt and South Africa also began their campaigns with wins, while hosts Morocco set the tone by beating Comoros 2–0 in Sunday’s tournament opener.
With half of the 24-team field having previously lifted the AFCON trophy, early results have largely followed historical lines. After three days of competition, the only former champion yet to record an opening victory is Zambia, who required a late equaliser to salvage a draw against Mali on Monday.
As the group stages unfold, the early momentum gathered by Africa’s traditional powers is already shaping the narrative of Morocco 2025, setting up intriguing battles between pedigree and ambition across the continent.
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Former champions Tunisia continued the trend of victorious starts by past Africa Cup of Nations winners at the Morocco 2025 finals with an emphatic 3–1 win over Uganda in Rabat on Tuesday night.
Playing in driving rain at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah complex, the 2004 champions struck early when Ellyes Skhiri ghosted in unmarked at the back post to power home a header from a corner after just 10 minutes.
Tunisia’s dominance was underlined five minutes before the break as Elias Achouri volleyed home a cross from Ali Abdi, capitalising again on lax Ugandan marking. The Carthage Eagles could have been further ahead moments later, but Elias Saad dragged a good chance wide.
Achouri completed his brace in the 64th minute after Salum Magoola parried Abdi’s effort, with the winger reacting quickest to tap in the rebound and effectively put the contest beyond reach.
Uganda found a late consolation deep into stoppage time when Denis Omedi fired home a deflected effort in the 92nd minute, denying Tunisia a clean sheet but doing little to alter the outcome.
The victory lifts Tunisia to the top of Group C, above Nigeria, who had earlier edged Tanzania 2–1 in Fes. Notably, the win already surpasses Tunisia’s modest two-point return at the last finals in Côte d’Ivoire, where they exited in the group stage.
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Sudan’s coach James Kwesi Appiah aims to turn the Africa Cup of Nations into a source of joy amid war for the Sudanese people, vowing that every player will give their all to achieve success in the continental tournament in Morocco.
Sudan has been in the grip of conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, with around 150,000 people killed and almost 14 million displaced, creating the largest displacement crisis in the world.
Ghana-born coach Appiah, however, succeeded in steering the team to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations despite having to play all their qualifying matches away from home.
“I’m happy that Sudan is part of such a big tournament,” Appiah told a press conference on Tuesday, on the eve of their Group E game against Algeria.
“We all know there’s a war in Sudan, and I believe this tournament will put some smiles on the faces of all Sudanese.
“We are here to make sure we do our best to entertain everyone who comes to the stadium.”
The coach said that even as he carries out his tactical job, sometimes they learn that a team member has lost someone in their family due to the conflict. But they remain patient, he said, as they aim to make every Sudanese proud.
“We all know there has been no league in Sudan for the past three years, but we make sure the team represents itself very well.”
Sudan’s biggest teams – Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, as well as Al Ahli Wad Madani – will participate in the Rwandan league next season.
Sudan captain Bakhit Khamis said that while the situation at home was catastrophic, the side were happy to be in Morocco for the tournament.
“The situation Sudan is going through is truly disastrous in every sense of the word. Thank God we managed to qualify,” he said.
-Reuters
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