AFCON

AFCON 2025: Nigeria-Benin joint bid as well as that of Morocco and Algeria may hit the rocks

Published

2 years ago

January 15, 2023

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Although CAF President, Patrice Motsepe on Saturday confirmed that six bids are in the race to replace Guinea as hosts of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosts, speculations have narrowed the bid to three.

Those currently in the race are: Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Zambia and Benin-Nigeria.

But the on-going spat between Morocco and Algeria may see both being tecnically edged out to avert possible boycott by any of the duo that may not win the bid.

Facility-wise, both are eminently qualified to host the tournament. But considering the last minute withdrawal of Morocco from the on-going African Nations Championship in Algeria, a reprisal boycott could be anticipated should the Moroccans get the bid.

Morocco have in the past five years been the destination for the hosting of most competitions in Africa. Among such are the 2017 edition of CHAN, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations last year as well as the Women’s CAF Champions League and the CAF Super Cup.

If Algeria gets the nod, another boycott from Morocco could be expected. Both countries rank among African football powers and the chances of their qualification for the championship is very high just as possible boycott looms.

With the two North African countries possibly being ruled out, the race then turns to West Africa and Southern African contest.

Benin-Nigeria hold the flag for West Africa, the region originally to host the championship. Zambia and South Africa from the Southern region are the other contestants.

If South Africa wins the bid as possibly the country with the best facilities among the quartet, it will be the third time the country will be hosting after that of 1996 and 2013.

The influence of the CAF president, Motsepe, a South African, may also be suspected. Nigeria hosted in 1980 and co-hosted with Ghana in 2000. This time, it is another joint bid with Benin Republic who have never hosted just like Zambia.

CAF officials will do inspection tours of all the candidates this month with the winners to be announced on February 10.

South African billionaire businessman Motsepe said the successful country or countries would offer the best “transport, logistics, hotels and beautiful stadiums”.

“Each region will have a chance to organise a CAN (Cup of Nations). We cannot assign the organisation of the CAN successively to the same region.”

With that statement, the joint bid of Nigeria and Benin appears dead on arrival as another West African country, Cote d’ivoire will host the preceeding edition meant for this year in 2014.

The pendulum therefore swings in favour of the Southern African region where South Africa and Zambia are the contestant.

AFCON

Present and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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

AFCON

Rwanda newspaper gives 5 lessons gleaned from Rwanda-Nigeria clash

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The goalless outing of Rwanda and Nigeria in Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifying match has thrown up some lessons, according to New Times, the leading newspaper in Rwanda.

New Times reckons that both teams put up a great show as Amavubi showed their pedigree against one of the giants in African football. It then pointed out the five elements that shaped the game.

Amavubi played with total confidence

No African country comes close to Nigeria in terms of “big players” country. Almost all their players are playing for top clubs in Europe’s top leagues but that did not deter Frank Spittler’s men.

They played with total confidence and self-belief. At a point in the game, Rwanda and APR FC left-back Claude Niyomugabo was mesmerizing former Chelsea and Lazio player Ola Aina who is now with Nottingham forest to the point that he was booked his jersey when he couldn’t match his pace.

Confidence among Rwandan players was high and it helped them to get goalless draw results.

Bizimana, the midfield controller

The Amavubi skipper pocketed Nigerian midfield led by Wilfred Ndidi. He run a one-man show in the middle of the pitch as he was unplayable.

His passes and tackles were superb. He track-backed several times as deep as his own penalty box to win balls.

Lookman’s danger left Rwandan defense shaking

Victor Osimhen is arguably Nigeria’s star man but it is clear that Ademola Lookman is the most dangerous player in the team.

He could hold on the ball, dribble, shoot and pass. The Atalanta winger was the best player for the visitors as he gave Amavubi a tough time before being substituted in the 89th minute for Taiwo Awoniyi.

Amavubi’s attacking problem

“The only problem with my team is in attack. You could see the difference between my attackers and the Nigerian attackers but that is what we have now. Maybe it is the Nigerian attackers who should have played against the Nigerian defenders. We created some chances but couldn’t score.”

These were some of the comments made by Amavubi head coach Torsten Spittler in the post-match press conference.

Rwanda looked solid both at the back and in midfield but the likes of Innocent Nshuti and Gilbert Mugisha weren’t up to the task in attack.

They wasted three good chances that could have resulted in goals.

Goal scoring is a problem for Amavubi and Spittler is ready to find an antidote. The German gaffer was, however, happy that his team was able to create chances which is a sign of improvement.

Fiacre Ntwari’s heroics

The Amavubi shot stopper was the hero of the day for Rwanda, and he has showed why he is among the best goalkeepers in Africa now.

Against a rampaging Nigerian attack of Victor Boniface, Osimhen, Lookman, Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze among others, Ntwari pulled as many as nine superb saves to keep his side in the game.

The Kaizer Chiefs shot stopper was very cool in the posts as he prevented the Nigerian attackers from scoring.

Ntwari, is gradually carving a niche for himself and he is proving to be a key component of the Amavubi set up.

AFCON

Austin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF

Published

5 days ago

September 11, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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.