AFCON
CAF celebrates Nigeria’s record win in AFCON 2023 Qualifiers
The opening two match days of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers concluded on Monday, with Nigeria’s 10-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe being among the hottest topics as the road to Côte d’Ivoire set up in high gear.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria broke a record of the biggest qin in qualification matches, a feat that dates back to 1959 when they beat the Dahomey team, currently, Bénin 10-1.
With this victory adding on to their opening day 2-1 victory against Sierra Leone, Nigeria is one of the teams which have managed a 100pc start to the qualifiers.
Among other teams which have breezed through scar-less in the first two rounds of matches are Burkina Faso, Algeria, Mali, Morocco and reigning African champions Senegal.
Mixed fortunes
Morocco’s Atlas Lions who will have to play in a team of three teams with South Africa and Liberia have put themselves in pole position to qualify with two wins so far.
They won 2-0 against Liberia and 2-1 in an entertaining duel against South Africa to move top of the pile with six points. The group was reduced to three due to the suspension of Zimbabwe by FIFA.
While Morocco have put themselves in pole position to qualify, several other top teams have complicated their chances, including Benin’s Squirrels and Togo’s Sparrowhawks.
Benin, who missed the last tournament in Cameroon, were off to a bad start after a 3-1 defeat to Senegal at home and then also suffered a narrow 1-0 loss at the hands of Mozambique.
Togo, who have missed the last two editions of the Cup of Nations have also suffered an almost similar feat after picking only one point in their 2-2 draw at home against eSwatini and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Cape Verde.
In a group where tough fixtures against Burkina Faso await them, Togo must raise their level.
Egypt, finalists from the last edition in Cameroon also posted a basket of mixed results, beating Guinea 1-0 at home before going down to a shock 2-0 loss at the hands of Ethiopia in a match played in Malawi.
Far from over
But Egypt’s Group D is evenly poised with all teams on three point. Teams which lost on the opening day won on the second, with Guinea narrowly edging out Malawi 1-0 via a late goal from Liverpool FC man Naby Keita.
So devastating was Ethiopia’s 2-0 victory over Egypt that a emergency meeting had to be convened in Cairo, with the future of coach Ehad Galal on the line. Galal had replaced Carlos Queiroz after the Pharaohs failed to make it to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Cameroon also find themselves in a group of three due to Kenya’s FIFA suspension. The Indomitable Lions have started their campaign well, winning 1-0 against Burundi in Dar es Salaam.
The Burundi side has played two matches, having started their campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Namibia and their journey to make a second AFCON appearance in their history has a huge mountain to climb.
Two teams will qualify from this pool.
Top scorers:
Nigeria’s Victor Osimbhen’s four-goal haul against Sao Tome puts him top of the scorers’ chart in the qualifiers at five. He also netted the winner in the opening day 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone.
AFCON 2021 player of the tournament Sadio Mane follows him with four goals, his hattrick on the opening day and a late winner against Rwanda making him Senegal’s all-time top scorer.
Sadio, what a year!
The son of Bambaly is reveling at a hugely successful year, his latest scoring antics in the qualifiers taking him to legendary status at the age of 30. He has scored 33 times for the Lions of Teranga taking him two goals better than the previous holder of the record Henri Camara, who has 31 international goals.
Camara, one of the pillars of the 2002 golden generation took to social media to congratulate Mane, the new heir of his throne.
“I am very honored tonight to see my little brother, Sadio Mané, break my record for the most goals in the national team. It is a pride. I congratulate him and I wish him to continue to score and carry the colors of Senegal high. Bravo champion,” Camara posted on his socials.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso’s Dango Ouattara Bissau-Guinean Jorgihno also sit on the top scorers’ chart with both having scored three
-cafonline
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has clarified the position of interim manager of the Super Eagles, Austin Eguavoen. “He is still in charge”, the NFF Head of Communications, Ademola Olajire told Sports Village Square, this Wednesday.
Austin Eguavoen who is the Technical Director at the NFF was drafted to handle the Super Eagles when the negotiation with Germany’s Bruno Labbadia broke down. Eguavoen, a former Super Eagles player and later coach was drafted to rescue the situation.
It was claimed that having executed the Super Eagles’ immediate assignments, his job was done. But the NFF spokesman has clarified that nothing has changed from the initial announcement concerning Eguavoen.
“He remains with the team and his is an employee of the NFF which has drafted him to the Super Eagles. He remains there until the federation takes another decision.
“He was surprised when we landed from our Kigali trip and I showed the trending news on the social media.”
The Super Eagles’ next assignment will be on MatchDay 3 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month when the team hosts Libya in Uyo.
Hitherto first choice striker, Victor Osimhen was again benched in Nigeria’s second match of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
In Saturday’s match with Benin Republic, his having to start from the bench was hinged on his late arrival to camp. He came off the bench and found the net within six minutes.
But on Tuesday, he came in much earlier in the second half. Another striker, Taiwo Awoniyi who sat all through in the first match was a late substitute in the game against Rwanda.
At the post-match interview in Kigali, Eguavoen said that the striker’s fitness level was put to the test after a difficult summer that saw a failed move to Chelsea and a falling out with Napoli.
“Osimhen is our brother, you can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We know what he is going through in Napoli. He just moved to Galatasaray and has not been playing active football for a while now,” Eguavoen explained.
“We are trying to manage his fitness. He played the last 25 minutes in the previous game, and today we had a word with him that he can’t play 90 minutes or else he will get injured,” he added.
The coach also addressed his decision to limit minutes for other key players, including Taiwo Awoniyi, stating that fitness and the need to balance squad rotation were key factors.
“Awoniyi had a few minutes at his club before joining us,” Eguavoen explained. “We have 23 to 40 players to choose from, but only 11 can start. It’s frustrating, but the bonding is there, and everyone is on board.”
On the team’s formation, Eguavoen revealed the challenges of preparing the squad in a short period.
“We trained for three or four days before the Benin game and then had to come here. It’s very difficult to change formation,” he said, noting that the limited time prevented the opportunity for tactical adjustments.
Despite the tactical and fitness challenges, Eguavoen remains confident in his squad’s ability to qualify for AFCON 2025.
Benin Republic came from behind to defeat Libya 2-1 in the second match of Group D’s MatchDay 2 contest in Abidjan on Tuesday night.
With the victory, Nigeria’s western neighbours now rank next to the Super Eagles of the group’s log. The Nigerians on four points and not conceding any goal yet remain atop of the group while Benin Republic with three points rank next.
The Cheetahs of Benin however have a two goal deficit in goal difference. They opened their Tuesday night game with their back on the wall as they conceded a 9th minute penalty kick that was converted by Libya’s Faisal Saleh.
The Libyans carried the lone goal advantage to half-time. Five minutes into the second half, Benin Republic restored parity from a rifling shot by Steve Mounie.
They seized the momentum and got a penalty kick which Junior Olaitan converted. The match day 3 will hold next month as Nigeria hosts Libya while Benin, playing back-to-back at home will host Rwanda. Both matches will hold on 7 October.
Tuesday’s match results
Rwanda 0-0 Nigeria
Benin 2-1 Libya
Gabon 2-0 CAR
Botswana 0-4 Egypt
Cape Verde 2-0 Mauritania
Liberia 0-3 Algeria
Chad 0-2 CIV
Zambia 3-2 S’Leone
Guinea 1-2 Tanzania
Eswatini 0-1 Mali
Mozambique 2-1 G’Bissau
Namibia 1-2 Kenya
Zimbabwe 0-0 Cameroon
S’Sudan 2-3 S/Africa
B’Faso 3-1 Malawi
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