AFCON
“Mama Nigeria” chief lady supporter of Super Eagles hails Moses Simon, Ekong, Eguavoen on AFCON recognitions
BY SUNDAY AGUNBIADE, GAROUA
Two Nigerian players, William Troost-Ekong and Moses Simon have been named in the Best XI of the Group Stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. Another Nigerian player, Wilfred Ndidi is on the reserve list.
In similar vein, the Super Eagles’ magic-performing coach, Austin Eguavoen is named as the manager.
For these feats, National President, Football Fans Club of Nigeria, FFCN Oluwakemi Ogunfuwa has hailed the Nigerian performers for their outstanding recognitions.
Ogunfuwa who is now popularly called “Mama Nigeria” in the ongoing AFCON by many due to her nation’s concomitant traditional attire with enigmatic beauty cheering Super Eagles to victory described the recognition of the players and coach as a well deserved choices.
In her words: “My warmest congratulations message go to the Super Eagles winger , Moses Simeon on group Stage best 11 performance and putting Nigerian flag high in Cameroon. His outstanding contributions as well as his one goal and one assist has helped Nigeria a great deal to lead the group D table”
“His choice is globally accepted and a cheering news to us considering his blistering display and Man Of the match award in the group stage. It’s no doubt that Simeon is one of the topmost performers in Super Eagles’ shirt in this AFCON” . The CAF Award winning Fans Club Boss enthused
The Kaduna United and Golden Boot Academy Jos product made his present felt in all the three matches played so far in this tournament
His solo runs beating three players of Guinea Bissau with wood work hit eventually resulted to the goal scored by Watford FC defender, William Troost Ekong.
The Lagos based football administrator therefore charged the team to look beyond playing a third placed team in the round of sixteen but rather consider the rivalry between Nigeria and Tunisia and fight them to finish. Eagles must bring the title to our dear nation, Nigeria by the special grace of God” amen. Ogunfuwa prayed
Nigeria book a date with Tunisia tomorrow(Sunday) at Stade Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua Cameroon by 8pm.
AFCON
Libya sacks coach ahead of AFCON qualifying back-to-back matches with Nigeria
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has sacked its Serbian coach, Milutin Sredojević who is popularly known as Micho.
This is coming ahead of Libya’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations clashes with Nigeria next month.
Paradoxically, Sports Village Square gathered that the coach’s contract was only recently renewed for six months before the axe fell on the Serbian.
His sack was precipitated by the results obtained in their teo matches of the AFCON qualifiers.
Libya drew 1-1 with Rwanda at home and lost 2-1 away to Benin Republic despite beig a goal up at half time.
The Libyan side, Mediterranean Knights are due to play against the Nigeria Super Eagles in Uyo on 6 October while the return leg holds on 14 October at the 11 July Stadium in Tripoli.
According to information Sports Village Square gathered from Tripoli, the Mediterranean Knights’ coach, Micho led the Libyan national team to win nine matches since taking over in October of last year, he failed to build a strong team due to his poor choices.
He also took a risk with the footballers chosen in the AFCON qualifiers, and the result was shocking to the Libyan sports audience.
According to sources close to the Libyan Football Federation, there is a strong tendency to sign a national coach to lead the Libyan team during the remaining qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
AFCON
CAF president blasts Ghana, others over stadium ban
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has lashed out at Ghana and some other African countries whose home grounds were recently banned from hosting CAF matches owing to inadequate facilities. He made the remarks in Nairobi, Kenya during a press conference,
After the MatchDay 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, CAF ruled Ghana’s Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi as being inadequate to host international matches. Being the only approved ground in the country, Ghana will now look towards either Cote d’Ivoire or Togo for their remaining home matches of the Afcon qualifiers.
Other African countries without approved home grounds are: Djibouti, Chad, Niger, Eritrea, Gabon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, São Tomé and Burundi.
Motsepe voiced his frustration over the recurring issue of nations being unable to host home games.
“Nothing frustrates me more than a national team or club side having to play home matches outside,” he stated.
He stressed the significance of playing in front of home fans, adding, “You can’t grow football if the national teams or club sides aren’t playing in front of their home fans.”
Motsepe reiterated CAF’s commitment to working with countries to ensure they have at least one suitable stadium to host international fixtures.
“Our conversations in every country are to make sure there is at least one stadium capable of hosting a CAF category C game,” he emphasized.
AFCON
Present and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen
The on-going CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Coaches Symposium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire has brought together, the last three coaches that handled the Nigeria national football team.
Gernot Rohr, Jose Peseiro and Austin Eguavoen are part of the the elite coaches currently gathered in Abidjan.
Gernot Rohr whose tenure of 5 years and 55 matches is the longest ever by any coach in Nigeria, is currently handling Nigeria’s Africa Cupof Nations and World Cup qualifying rivals, Benin Republic. He was succeeded in the interim by Austin Eguavoen who is currently having another interim stint.
Peseiro left his position after the Africa Cup of Nations
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