AFCON
SUPER EAGLES: WILL THIS BE THE TURNING POINT?
BY DOUGLAS BAYE – OSAGIE
No one needs a reminder that the Super Eagles are in town – the paparazzi sessions, social media feeds, gossip blogs, radio and television stations are awash with all the happenings around the players and officials as they take to the field in Porto Novo this Saturday
To some of us who have almost religiously followed this team all our lives, there is the need to be cautiously optimistic about the outcome of both encounters.
With players from some of the best and competitive leagues in the world, the Super Eagles are always condemned to win every game they play in the African continent.
And to say Gernot Rohr has maximized the pool of talents in this team will be turning the truth on its head.
The last round of games in the AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone – a team ranked 116th in the FIFA rankings proved to all, how much this team under Rohr has failed to hit top gear.
Like a leaking roof, the Eagles failed to manage a four goal lead in Benin City against Sierra Leone and settled for a four all draw. The return leg in Freetown was a lacklustre goalless draw that resulted in large sections of the media questioning the capacity of Rohr to bring out the best in the players.
Nigeria must be weary of looking down on her less fancied neighbours who always save up so much energy for a fight. Benin are on the verge of booking their place at next year’s continental showpiece
Michel Dussuyer’s men bounced back in style from an opening defeat to Nigeria, picking up seven points from the next nine available.
Speaking in a news conference on Monday, Dussuyer said his side has respect for Super Eagles but they will approach the game with everything they have.
“We have respect for Nigeria but we also have our assets. We will approach the game with a lot of seriousness and determination.
“We know what we have to do on Saturday our ambition is to win. It will not be an easy task. We have hopes,” he said.
The coaches of both teams are yet to win any silverware of note in their careers. Like Gernot Rohr who has handled Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso, Michel Dussuyer is a journeyman cum hustler in African football – with different stints as head coach of Guinea, Cote D’Ivoire and Benin Republic from 2002 till date.
They bring their organizational prowess and grind out results during qualifying games. It is in the tournament proper, where the acid test of their coaching credentials are scrutinized that they are found out.
In this Saturday’s game, Rohr has an extra advantage because of the avalanche of talents at his disposal.
The problem has been getting the best out of his players who seem to play very well for their clubs but fail to hit the same frequency on the green and white jerseys.
The big question again is: will this be the turning point?
Nigeria has been very predictable under Rohr, we must annoyingly admit. The coach has built his attacking strength on the strength of his wingers from the days of Victor Moses.
We have struggled to score goals and when goals eventually comes, we can’t defend it.
For an African team that can boast of strikers like Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Sam Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu, Ahmed Musa and Henry Onyekuru, goals shouldn’t be scarce because of the quality of players.
What the team lacks is the balance and formation to make the attackers score.
Coaches have known for a fact that to stop Nigeria, you must stop their wide players from running into the box.
The alternative, which is using your central midfield players to open up pocket of spaces through the middle, is limited due to the formation that is played. In a 4-3-3 formation, the attacking midfield player is the spine of the team and must have the ability to go pass players in a sublime manner.
Joe Aribo looks like the only natural playmaker in the team but he looked terribly out of place, in physicality and chemistry in the double header against Sierra Leone.
African football is still a learning curve for Joe Aribo, a player who will come well with time.
If and only if Alex Iwobi can be more consistent, we might have solved some of the problems of the present Super Eagles.
When France won the World Cup in 98 and Euro Cup in 2000, they had a Youri Djorkaeff taking playmaking responsibilities from Zidane when the opponents closed the great Zidane up.
I believe the strikers in this team will enjoy a smooth operator like Kelechi Nwakali whose absence in the team is largely dependent on getting a descent club and playing regularly.
His buddies at U17 level, Osimhen and Chukwueze are the biggest players in the National team at the moment and it can be said that he was the best player when Nigeria won the U17 world cup in Chile 2015.
The midfield duo of Ndidi and Etebo are very solid defensively and can provide a good cover but seem to do more than necessary on the National team colours. Making sure they keep to their functions of breaking play, mopping up and playing out from the back will help the team function efficiently.
Benin are undefeated at home in more than eight years, showing the herculean nature of the task facing the Super Eagles will be facing. Nigeria have struggled in defence in recent years, suggesting that goals could be scored at both ends.
With qualifications almost a foregone conclusion, except a monumental capitulation takes place, Nigeria will be playing for pride. We expect that a game against our “little” neighbour’s will be taken very seriously
How much are the Super Eagles players ready to be at their very best? Will the coach be brave enough to start some players who haven’t had a chance to prove a point? Will this be the turning point? A victory in Cotonou will serve as a tonic with the Super Eagles expected back in Lagos to play Lesotho ?? after almost a decade away from the cathedral 0f Nigerian football.
- Douglas writes from Abuja
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially opened the bidding process for countries interested in hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2028, 2032 and 2036, with several member associations already submitting proposals.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe disclosed that the bidding exercise is progressing smoothly and described the level of interest from prospective hosts as encouraging.
“The bidding process is progressing very well, and numerous exciting bids have been submitted by potential host countries,” CAF said, adding that announcements on successful hosts will be made in due course.
Meanwhile, CAF confirmed that its 48th Ordinary General Assembly will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 21, 2026.
The continental governing body expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their cooperation in preparations for the event.
CAF said the General Assembly is expected to attract football leaders from across the continent and will play a significant role in shaping policies aimed at accelerating the development and growth of African football.
The organisation added that the Abuja gathering is expected to be one of its most significant assemblies in recent years as CAF continues implementing reforms across competitions, infrastructure development, youth football and governance.
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By Kunle Solaja
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have taken the first step towards jointly hosting the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations after submitting an expression of interest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Nigerien Football Federation announced that CAF had accepted the joint declaration submitted by the three West African nations, marking the opening phase of the bidding process.
However, the acceptance of the expression of interest does not amount to an award of the hosting rights, as the countries must still undergo CAF’s comprehensive evaluation process before a final decision is made.
The three football federations unveiled their joint project following a meeting with CAF President Patrice Motsepe in the United States during the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The proposed bid brings together the three members of the Alliance of Sahel States, reflecting their ambition to co-host one of Africa’s biggest sporting events and strengthen regional cooperation through football.
Earlier this month, CAF officially opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, inviting all 54 member associations to submit expressions of interest. The continental governing body said all bids would be assessed based on strict technical, financial and legal criteria.
As the next stage of the process, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso must prepare a comprehensive bid dossier outlining the proposed host cities, stadiums, training facilities, transport infrastructure, accommodation capacity and security arrangements.
CAF has yet to announce the timetable for selecting the 2032 host nation(s) or reveal the full list of countries expected to compete for the hosting rights.
Should the joint bid eventually succeed, the tournament would return to Mali for the first time since it staged the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. It would also mark a historic first for both Niger and Burkina Faso, neither of which has previously hosted the continent’s flagship football championship.
The bid underscores the growing trend of joint hosting arrangements for major football tournaments, allowing neighbouring countries to pool infrastructure and resources while expanding the reach of the competition across multiple nations.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, Brooklyn, NY
A document circulating widely on social media claiming that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has stripped Morocco of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and declared Senegal champions appears to be fabricated, with official CAS records showing no evidence that a final ruling has been issued.
The claim emerged months after the Senegalese Football Federation appealed a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to award Morocco a 3-0 victory in the controversial AFCON final. While Senegal’s appeal is genuine, the latest official information indicates that the case remains unresolved.
One of the clearest indications that the viral document is not authentic is its case number. The circulating image bears the reference CAS 2026/A/10857, whereas CAS officially confirmed that Senegal’s appeal was registered under CAS 2026/A/12295. Such a discrepancy would not be expected in a genuine final award.
The document also incorrectly identifies the dispute as being solely between the Senegalese Football Federation and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. CAS has officially stated that the appeal was lodged against both CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, since the challenged decision originated from CAF’s Appeals Board.
The purported ruling further claims that CAS issued its verdict on June 10, 2026, accepting Senegal’s appeal, overturning CAF’s decision and restoring the result achieved on the field, effectively awarding the continental title to Senegal.
However, a review of CAS’s official communications reveals no statement, judgment or announcement issued on that date regarding the AFCON final dispute.
The latest public update from CAS remains the statement released on March 25, 2026, in which the court confirmed only that Senegal’s appeal had been registered and that an arbitration panel had been appointed. CAS also stated that it was too early to determine a hearing date or indicate when a final decision might be delivered.
In the same communication, CAS disclosed that Senegal had requested an extension to file its appeal brief until it received the full written reasons behind CAF’s ruling. The court also reiterated that arbitration proceedings remain confidential while ongoing.
That timeline directly contradicts the claims contained in the viral document.
Further doubts about the document’s authenticity stem from the fact that it does not appear in CAS’s official database of published decisions. The image circulating online also excludes CAF from the list of respondents and exists only as a low-quality graphic featuring signatures, stamps and an Arabic translation without any verifiable official source.
CAS typically publishes non-confidential rulings through its official database or recent decisions section. No ruling relating to the AFCON final dispute has been published.
Until CAS announces otherwise, CAF’s Appeals Board decision remains the only valid and enforceable ruling in the matter.
On March 17, 2026, CAF’s Appeals Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the AFCON final after its players left the field during the match. Invoking Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations, the board awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, overturned an earlier disciplinary decision and upheld Morocco’s protest.
Senegal subsequently challenged that ruling before CAS, but the appeal has yet to produce a publicly announced outcome.
As things stand, there is no official evidence that CAS has revoked Morocco’s AFCON 2025 title or declared Senegal champions. Unless and until the Lausanne-based court issues a formal decision, CAF’s ruling remains in force, making the viral document misleading and highly likely to be fake.
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