AFCON

NIGERIA AND LAST MINUTE GOALS AT AFCON

Published

6 years ago

July 15, 2019

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 89^th 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.

AFCON

CAF’s analysis of AFCON 2025: Nigeria and Tunisia face tricky Group C challenge

Published

1 month ago

February 3, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, is set to witness a thrilling contest in Group C, where Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania will battle for a place in the knockout rounds.

With two former AFCON champions and two East African teams eager to make their mark, this group promises to be one of the most competitive in the tournament.

Nigeria Begins Campaign Against Tanzania, Tunisia Faces Uganda

Group C action kicks off on December 23, 2025, with Nigeria taking on Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès.

The Super Eagles, three-time AFCON winners, will aim to start strong against Tanzania, who are still seeking their first-ever knockout stage qualification.

The same day will also see Tunisia facing Uganda at Stade Annexe of Prince Moulay in Rabat, a key encounter that could determine the early group leaders.

The Carthage Eagles, winners of the 2004 AFCON, will look to assert their dominance, while Uganda’s Cranes will be eager to cause an upset.

Super Eagles Face Tunisia in a Crucial Clash

One of the standout matches in Group C will be the Nigeria vs Tunisia showdown on December 27 at Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès.

This fixture revives an old rivalry, with Tunisia having famously knocked Nigeria out of AFCON 2021 in the Round of 16. The Super Eagles will be determined to exact revenge.

Meanwhile, the East African derby will unfold on the same day as Uganda battles Tanzania at Stade El Bardi in Rabat.

The encounter will carry extra significance as both nations will co-host AFCON 2027, and this match will serve as an early test of their competitiveness.

Final Group C Showdowns on December 31

The last round of Group C matches will take place on December 31, with Uganda facing Nigeria at Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès.

By this stage, Uganda may need to pull off an upset to secure a place in the knockout rounds.

At the same time, Tunisia will take on Tanzania at Stade Annexe of Prince Moulay in Rabat, a fixture that could be crucial for both teams’ qualification hopes.

With only two automatic qualification spots and a possible third-place route to the Round of 16, Group C is set to be one of the most unpredictable groups in AFCON 2025.

Group C Fixtures – AFCON 2025

Matchday	Fixture	Date	Stadium	City
1	Nigeria vs Tanzania	23 Dec 2025	Complexe Sportif de Fès	Fès
1	Tunisia vs Uganda	23 Dec 2025	Stade Annexe – Prince Moulay	Rabat
2	Uganda vs Tanzania	27 Dec 2025	Stade El Bardi	Rabat
2	Nigeria vs Tunisia	27 Dec 2025	Complexe Sportif de Fès	Fès
3	Uganda vs Nigeria	30 Dec 2025	Complexe Sportif de Fès	Fès
3	Tunisia vs Tanzania	30 Dec 2025	Stade Annexe – Prince Moulay	Rabat

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AFCON

Match schedule for Africa Cup Nations now available for download

Published

2 months ago

January 31, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Africa’s football governing body, CAF has released the full fixtures for the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco.

Click here to download the full match schedule

Nine stadiums, the highest so far, will be used. They are spread across six cities for the continent’s greatest football show.

Morocco and Comoros will kick off the tournament on 21 December 2025 with a Group A fixture at the newly-built 69,500-seater Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, a fitting stage for the grand opening.

Rabat will have four match venues, with other host cities Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier to have one each.

The four quarter-final fixtures will be played at the Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, as well as in Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir.

The semi-finals will be in Rabat and Tangier, with the third-place play-off set for the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.

There will be 52 matches over 29 days in a feast of football for fans that showcases the skill and passion of African football.

Click here to download the full match schedule

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AFCON

Coach of Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 first opponents, Hemed Suleiman Ali talks tough

Published

2 months ago

January 30, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Head coach of the Taifa Stars, Hemed Suleiman Ali has admitted that his team has zero options after being grouped with two former champions, Nigeria and Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

In an interview with CAFOnline, Ali remarked that his team was condemned to overcome the two tough opponents to get beyond the group stage.

Morocco 2025 will be Tanzania’s fourth outing having debuted in Nigeria in 1980 and qualifying for a second time at Egypt 2019 after being guided by a Nigerian coach, Emmanuel Amuneke.

They made their third outing at Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

The Tanzania head coach was reacting to Monday evening’s AFCON Morocco 2025 draw in Rabat which saw the East Africans drawn in an interesting group that pairs them with neighbours Uganda, as well as two former African champions Nigeria and Tunisia.

He remarked that every group of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 presents its challenges and that their Group C pool is no different to any of the other five groups.

Tanzania, a fast-growing African football nation is headed to its Africa Cup of Nations, with their third in Cote d’Ivoire.

“We are ready. We saw who we are going to play with. I think it’s a tough group but it’s tough for all of them. There is no easy group. If you have qualified for this stage of the competition, you have to prepare. We know who we are facing, and we know how we will prepare for them. There is no other way, we have to prepare well and represent our people well at this tournament” said the 54-year-old coach.

The Morocco finals mark the coach’s second consecutive appearance as head coach of the Taffia Stars.

Suleiman Ali took over the reins from as Interim Coach at the Cote d’Ivoire finals after the dismissal of Adel Amrouche in the group stages.

Under his guidance, Tanzania qualified for the finals through back-to-back victories against Guinea and Ethiopia, including a crucial 1-0 win over Guinea, sealed by Saimon Happygod Msuva’s decisive goal.

Tanzania will also be hoping to secure their first win of the competition, having played 9 matches, drawn three and lost six.

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