AFCON
Behold, the São Tomé and Príncipe players facing Super Eagles on Monday
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
AFCON 2023 bottom placed team in Group A, São Tomé and Príncipe have announced their squad that will attempt to rescue points from the Super Eagles when they meet in the match day 2 fixtures.
According to local publications in the island nation, “there is no lack of optimism” in the heart of the squad which on Thursday crumbled miserably to Guinea Bissau, despite scoring first. The lost 5-1.
The team is littered with many debutants who were fielded against Guinea Bissau. The team is also hampered by the absence of two key players, goalkeeper Primo and central defender, Vavá Pequeno.
The players annouced by Coach Adriano Eusébio for the team nicknamed “Falcão e Papagaio” are:
GOALKEEPERS
Anastácio Bragança (BU Caixão Grande -São Tomé and Príncipe)
Feher Mendes – (Amadora Est. – Portugal)
Pedro Mateus – (Olympias Lympion – Cyprus)
DEFENDERS
Nilton Pequeno (Bragança – Portugal)
Ivonaldo Mendes (Praia Cruz – São Tomé and Príncipe)
Hernane Almeida (Agrosport -São Tomé and Príncipe)
Jardel Nazaré – (UD Santarém – Portugal)
Leonildo Soares “Jú” – (Fabril – Portugal)
MIDFIELDERS
Aldair Santos (RSD Jette – Belgium)
Ricardo Cardoso (HJK Helsinki – Finland)
Joel Neves (Oriental – Portugal)
Jokceleny Carvalho “Iniesta” (UDRA-São Tomé and Príncipe)
Joazhifel Pontes “Jocy” (UDRA-São Tomé and Príncipe)
Luís Adroir (UDRA-São Tomé and Príncipe)
Adérito da Mata “Tinho” (6 September-São Tomé and Príncipe)
Geoxking Fernandes (A. Camarate -Portugal)
Mauro Santos
Luís Selemane (Atlético CP -Portugal)
Gil Carvalho (Hastings United – England)
ATTACKERS
Luís Leal (Guaribá – Bolivia)
Eba Viegas (Moncarapachense – Portugal)
Edmilson Viegas (Resende – Portugal)
Ronaldo Afonso (O. Hospital – Portugal)
Álvaro Amado (Fabril – Portugal)
Valter Rocha (Brightlingsea Regent FC – England)
AFCON
Prominent Libyan football official calls for tough sanction on those responsible for Super Eagles’ maltreatment
A prominent Libyan football official, Al-Siddiq Abu Hadima,has called for tough sanctions on the Libyan Football Federation officials responsible for the crisis that engulfed the suspended Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Hadima, a former president of the Al-Dhahra Club, asked for the dismissal and prosecution of those responsible for the crisis.
In a publication in Libya’s outlet. Al-Wasat, Hadima recommended that if such people failed to submit a report that will exonerate them when the Sunday 20 October deadline issued by CAF lapses, “then they must be prosecuted and permanently dismissed.”
Al-Wasat got Hadima’s comments from his post on Facebook and remarked that “this negligence – if it happened – constitutes a betrayal of trust and a lack of awareness of the gravity of responsibility.”
It will be recalled that the Nigerian delegation to the botched match was held up for close to 20 hours at an abandoned Labraq Airport where their aircraft already on descent was dangerously diverted to.
The Nigerians were left without food and water for nearly 20 hours. CAF has already strongly condemned the actions of the Libyans.
As an investigation into the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations match, the Libyan FA secretary, Nasser Al-Suwaie has raised queries on the integrity of the personnel of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a report published in the online version of Libyaalahrar.tv, Al-Suwaie remarked that there may be collusion from some parties within CAF, but the position of the Libyan Federation is strong.
He added that the Libyan Federation did not change the course of the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq Airport, and the reason for changing the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq was a decision by the Libyan state, and that the sovereignty of the Libyan state must be respected by everyone.
He however was silent on why the team was held hostage at the Al Abraq Airport and why the Libyan FA did not provide any logistic support to the Nigerian team that was held up at the airport for more than 16 hours without food and water.
Sources in Libya have confirmed that the Libyan Football Federation is under investigation over the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifier which failed to hold last Tuesday.
Nasser Al-Suwaie, Secretary-General of the Libyan FA, reportedly confirmed that the body has been queried by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Libyan FA has been asked to submit documents related to the cancellation of the match.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar, the FA has given them up till Sunday 20 October to submit the documents related to this file.
The Libyan FA secretary general, Al-Suwaie indicated that the body has assigned a specialized lawyer to provide evidence.
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