AFCON
WITH NIGERIA’S 5-STAR PERFORMANCE, AFCON U-23 FIELD IS COMPLETED
The roll call for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 is done and dusted after the final round of matches of the qualifiers on Tuesday.
Host Egypt will be joined by Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia for the final tournament scheduled for 8-22 November in Cairo, where the top three finishers will qualify to represent Africa at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Of the octet, host Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are the only teams to have participated at every edition of the quadrennial championships since its inception in 2011.
Nigeria were champions at the last edition in Senegal in 2015, whilst Senegal finished third, which also had Mali and Zambia. Ghana, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire have qualified for the finals for the first time.
Away joy for quintet
It was victory away from home for the quintet of Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia who coughed out impressive outings to secure their tickets.
After a narrow 1-0 win from the first leg in Yaounde last week, Cameroon went down 2-1 to Tunisia in Tunis, but advanced via the away goal rule after a 2-2 tie on aggregate. Les Lions U-23, guided by legendary Cameroonian captain Rigobert Song, took the lead courtesy Ignatius Ganago from the spot after 15 minutes.
The Tunisians leveled through Wajdi Salhi midway before Habib Oueslati netted the winner on 71 minutes but fell short of taking the North Africans through.
In Conakry, Italy-based duo Christian Kouame and Hamed Junior found target n either half as Cote d’Ivoire overcame a lone goal in the reverse in Abidjan to edge Guinea on away goals after a 2-2 tie. Moussa Traore scored in between for Guinea.
Ghana’s Black Meteors confirmed their place at the finals for the first time after shocking Algeria to a 1-0 win away in Setif. Captain Yaw Yeboah scored the only goal late in the game as the West Africans went through 2-1 on aggregate.
After a huge 5-0 win in the first leg, South Africa held Zimbabwe to a barren in Bulawayo to make it three out of three finals, thanks to a 5-0 aggregate win.
Elsewhere in Brazzaville, Zambia survived a scare from Congo to share the spoils with the latter in a 3-3 draw.
It was one-all at half time with Zambia’s Enock Mwepu canceling Guy Mbenza opener early in the game.
Fashion Sakala, who was sent off in the dying embers after second yellow card whilst on the bench gave the visitors the lead on 51 minutes before the Congolese scored twice through Temopele Medina and Gaius Makouta.
Mwepu completed his brace five minutes from time to stun the home crowd and ensure passage 5-4 on aggregate.
With defeat staring in their face after a lone goal loss in the first leg, Nigeria put up a five-star performance to sink Sudan 5-0 in Asaba and 5-1 on aggregate to make it a hat-trick of appearances at the finals.
Ndifreke Udo scored a first half brace before a goal each from Taiwo Awomiyi, Sunday Falaye and Seth Mayi sealed victory.
Mali’s young and enterprising squad kept alive their Olympic hopes after beating Morocco 1-0 in Bamako.
Aly Malle’s 56th minute penalty separated the two sides as Les Aiglons advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
Results
Sunday
- Brazzaville Congo 3-3 Zambia (1-2)
Tuesday
- Bulawayo Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa (0-5)
- Setif Algeria 0-1 Ghana (1-1)
- Tunis Tunisia 2-1 Cameroon (0-1)
- Conakry Guinea 1-2 Cote d’Ivoire (1-0)
- Asaba Nigeria 5-0 Sudan (0-1)
- Bamako Mali 1-0 Morocco (1-1)
Qualified teams: Egypt (host), Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia
-cafonline
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria Super Eagles hope to consolidate their lead in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series which enters matchday 3.
Sports Village Square brings you some points of interest in the encounter that will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
AUGUSTINE EGUAVOEN
Nigeria’s head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, debuted as senior national team manager in a Super Eagles match with Libya. That was a friendly match played on 17 August 2005. Nigeria won 1-0 in Tripoli.
MILESTONE
The match in Uyo will be Eguavoen’s 25th match as Nigeria’s head coach in the four periods he has had to manage the team. His first tenure ran from 22 June 2005 to 6 February 2007. His second tenure was 22 July to 4 November 2010. He was called up again for the third time and was in charge of Nigeria’s matches from 11 January 2022 to 29 March 2022. His current tenure began with the Nigeria versus Benin Republic match on 7 September 2024.
MIKEL OBI
Nigeria’s former captain, Mikel Obi made his international debut in a friendly match with Libya. That was when Eguavoen handed him his first Super Eagles shirt in the 63rd minute as a substitute for Nwankwo Kanu. Mikel had previously played under Eguavoen at the U-17 World Cup in Finland in 2003.
TARIBO WEST
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West played his last international match when he was featured in a friendly duel with Libya in 2005. When he was substituted in the 67th minute of the match by Obinna Nwanneri, he took his final exit from the Super Eagles.
Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign stuttered again as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Sudan at Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Ghana could not find a breakthrough.
The Black Stars now sit third in Group F with just two points from three matches, while Sudan’s point lifts them to second with four points.
Angola leads the group with six points from two games, while Niger is bottom with one point. Angola will face Niger on Friday.
In a frustrating match for Ghana, Mohammed Kudus and Iñaki Williams came closest to scoring, but Sudan’s defence, marshalled by goalkeeper Mohamed Al Mustafa, stood firm.
Ghana’s attacking players struggled to break down a resolute Sudanese side that managed to keep the game scoreless despite intense late pressure.
DR Congo maintained their perfect record in Group H of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with a narrow 1-0 victory over Tanzania at Stade des Martyrs, thanks to a second-half own goal by Clement Mzize.
The mishap occurred in the 53rd minute when Mzize inadvertently deflected a Congo cross into his own net, giving the hosts a crucial lead.
This win propels DR Congo to nine points from three matches, firmly establishing them at the top of the group.
Tanzania, meanwhile, remains in second place with four points, while Ethiopia and Guinea, both yet to win a game, sit in third and fourth, respectively, ahead of their upcoming clash on Saturday.
The match was a tense affair, with Tanzania creating chances but failing to convert.
Mbwana Samatta and Feisal Salum tested the DR Congo defense, but the hosts stood strong, while Arthur Masuaku nearly doubled the lead for Congo, hitting the bar from a free-kick late in the second half.
The result leaves Tanzania needing a positive result in their next match to keep their qualification hopes alive.
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