AFCON

ROADS TO AFCON 2021 AND WORLD CUP 2022 EMERGE TODAY

Published

5 years ago

July 18, 2019

The path that teams will take to get to the 33^rd Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and the World Cup in Qatar 2022 will be drawn on Thursday.

Both preliminary competitions may be combined like the editions for 2006 and 2010.

The preliminary competition in Africa will begin in September with the lesser-rated teams contesting.

Almost every CAF member country entered for the competitions except Eritrea and Somalia. The seeding for the draw had been made earlier in the month.

At the end of the preliminary competitions, 24 teams will be at the Africa Cup of Nations while five will go the World Cup.

The draw for the preliminary competitions will begin with the eight teams in Pot 5 will be drawn into four pairings and the winners of the two-leg ties advance to the second stage to join Pot 4 in other to see each pot having 12 teams.

In the second stage of the draw, there will be 12 groups comprised of one team from pots 1-4 and the section winners and runners-up qualify for the finals.

Hosts Cameroon are guaranteed a place so only one other team qualify from their group

The seeding runs thus:

Pot 1: Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Cameroon (hosts), Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria

Pot 2: Guinea, South Africa, Cape Verde, Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritania, Niger, Kenya, Libya

Pot 3: Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Malawi, Togo, Sudan, Tanzania

Pot 4: Burundi, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Botswana, Comoros, Ethiopia and four preliminary-round winners

Pot 5: Liberia, Mauritius, Gambia, South Sudan, Chad, Sao Tome e Principe, Seychelles, Djibouti

Did not enter: Eritrea, Somalia

AFCON

Against Benin and officiated by Issa Sy, Osimhen equals Segun Odegbami’s feat

Published

9 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

13 November 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier: Osimhen’s 1st goal: Nigeria 1-1 Benin Republic; Referee: Issa Sy of Senegal

14 November 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier: Osimhen’s 23rd goal: Benin Republic 1-1 Nigeria; Referee: Issa Sy of Senegal

Victor Osimhen’s 81st-minute goal against the Benin Republic on Thursday night in Abidjan did not only save the face of the Super Eagles from a possible defeat, it is also a milestone goal.

It was his 23^rd goal for Nigeria in 37 appearances. With the goal, he becomes Nigeria’s joint-second all-time top scorer, having matched Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal record.

Only Rashidi Yekini with 37 goals scored more. Incidentally, Osimhen opened his scoring for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with Benin Republic in 2019 when he scored his first Nigerian goal, a penalty kick that brought the scoreline to 1-1 in the 45th minute.

Like it was on Thursday 14 November in Abidjan, the 13 November 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Benin Republic was also refereed by Senegal’s Issa Sy.

What an irony! Libya handed Nigeria AFCON ticket

AFCON

Osimhen saves the face of already qualified Super Eagles as Group D 2nd ticket goes down the wire!

Published

10 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Kunle Solaja

A late goal from Victor Osimhen saved the day for the Super Eagles who forced a 1-1 draw with Benin Republic at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan which had hitherto become Benin Republic’s slaughter ground of visiting teams.

After a ferocious opening by the Super Eagles, the Benin Republic suddenly turned the tide as defender Mohammed Tijani surged forward to beat the Nigerian defence line in the 16th minute.

With the goal, it was the first time that the Super Eagles had conceded in the series and it looked as if Benin had also picked a ticket, moving to a 9-point haul that would have been unassailable by either Rwanda and Libya even if they win their respective last matches on Monday.

As they held on tenaciously to the lead, Victor Osimhen leaped high in between two Beninese defenders to nod in a cross from Simon Moses from the left flank.

That changed the narrative as Benin will now have to play hard to pick a qualification ticket on Monday when they meet Libya.

But it is still advantage for Benin Republic owing to their better goal difference. Even if they are beaten by Libya and tie at seven points apiece, Libya will need a heavy scoreline to wipe off their current deficit of four.

The second ticket from Group D is still open to the trio of Benin, Rwanda and Libya. But it is advantageous Benin. All could end up with seven points apiece if Libya beat Benin Republic and Rwanda beat Nigeria in Uyo.

AFCON

What an irony! Libya handed Nigeria AFCON ticket

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The matchday 4 of Libya and Nigeria was akin to a war as the Super Eagles were literally held hostage for 20 hours at an abandoned airport. The treatment meted to the Super Eagles made it impossible for the match to go on.

The Libyan actions generated global outrage. The Confederation of Africa (CAF) consequently awarded the match to Nigeria.

Paradoxically, the award and Libya’s win over Rwanda have taken a lot of burden off the Super Eagles as they pick qualification tickets, even with two matches to spare. The worst-case scenario for them is to place second on the Group D log.

Libya snatched a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, thanks to a late strike by Fahd Saad Mohamed.

The game was closely contested, with both sides creating chances but struggling to find the back of the net.

Rwanda’s Innocent Nshuti came close on several occasions, but Libyan goalkeeper Bader Hassan stood firm.

The win pushed Libya up to four points, although they remain at the bottom of Group D, while Rwanda stays in third with five points