AFCON
Karma Caning Cameroon –
![Karma Caning Cameroon -](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Karma-Caning-Cameroon.jpg)
BY EMEKA OBASI
Of the three times Cameroon defeated Nigeria to lift the African Nations Cup trophy, two will fail today’s VAR test. Only their first cup victory makes sense, the others were fraudulently assisted by the referee.
Ever since the Indomitable Lions stole the cup in Lagos 24 years ago, they have been unable to defeat the Super Eagles in any African Nations Cup duel. Their 2-0 loss on Saturday January 27, should send them to their creator asking for forgiveness of sins committed by Idrissa Sarr and Mourad Daami.
On March 18, 1984 Cameroon beat Nigeria 3-1 in the grande finale at the Felix Houphouet – Boigny Stadium, Abidjan. Muda Lawal scored first, in the 10th minute. Rene N’Djeya equalised in the 32nd. Theophile Abega increased the tally late in the second half. Ernest Ebongue made it three six minutes to time.
Nearly 40 years later, both teams met again. Nigeria struck nearly at the time Muda got the opener in 1984. Scorer, Semi Ajayi, is Yoruba, like Muda. VAR canceled the goal. The Eagles scored two more goals to win 2-0. It was at the same stadium.
And the match referees were North Africans. In 1984, a Tunisian was in charge. In 2024, the man at the centre was a Moroccan. Ali Bennaceur, the Tunisian, later became infamous for Diego Maradona’s hand of God goal in 1986.
Issa Hayatou, a Cameroonian, emerged as CAF President in 1988. One of his first assignments was to watch the Maroc 1988 Afcon grand finale between the Indomitable Lions and Eagles. Mauritanian referee, Idrissa Sarr, was in charge.
A beautiful goal by Henry Nwosu was ruled offside. Then a penalty was dubiously given to Cameroon for Emmanuel Kunde to convert. If there was VAR in 1988, the Super Eagles could have won the cup. Sarr was out to impress Hayatou.
In 2021, Sarr told CAF Online : ” In our days, there were less monitoring and supervision and the referees were almost left to themselves”. He was rewarded with appearance in many championships and encouraged his son, Babacar, to join in 2016.
Sarr’s bad record continued to spread. Mariem Chedad was playing soccer, running marathon like Hayatou and a martial artist until Sarr lured her into refereeing. She was one of the Assistant Referees in a FIFA Under 17 qualifying match on June 24, 2022.
Ghana had beaten Morocco in the Accra first leg. The second leg in Rabat ended 2-0 in favour of the hosts. The visitors lost 4-2, during penalty shoot out. Ghana lodged a strong protest against the Mauritanian match officials.
In 2000, it was Tunisian referee, Mourad Daami that gifted Cameroon the cup, in Lagos. After a 2-2 draw at full and extra time, penalty kicks followed. Victor Ikpeba’s crossed the line but Daami failed to record it. That was how Nigeria lost again.
Karma did not spare the Tunisian. Later in the year, CAF banned him for 12 months for trying to influence South African referee, Robbie Williams. It was in the Accra final leg of the CAF Champions League between Hearts of Oak and Esperance.
Karma has continued to deal with the Indomitable Lions since their undeserved victory in Lagos, 24 years ago. Eagles beat them at Tunisia 2004, scattered them at Egypt 2019 and bullied them at Cote d’Ivoire 2024.
Many Nigerian laughed as Milla, Samuel Eto’o and Rigobert Song cried after the 2-0 outcome in Abidjan. Old fox, Milla, caused the controversial penalty in 1988. Eto’o is his country’s football federation ( FECAFOOT) boss and scored in Lagos in 2000.
Coach Song captained the Lions to tainted cup victory in Eko. In Abidjan, Jay Jay Okocha whose goal in 2000 made it 2-2 was having fun as Nigerians sang a new song – ‘ as e dey sweet us, e go dey pain them’. Rigobert is singing songs of sorrow.
Finidi George is part of the Super Eagles’ technical crew. He played against the Indomitable Lions. Another squad member, Garba Lawal is also in Abidjan, like Nwankwo Kanu who missed a penalty. Segun Odegbami’s younger brother, Wole, was in the team that Sarr robbed in 1988.
Ademola Lookman, the man whose brace bruised Cameroon was just three in 2000. In January 2023, he scored twice, three times, for Atalanta. And this young man rejected Nigeria three times before switching nationality in 2022.
Lookman’s goals mean Milla and Eto’o are looking at Abidjan through the window of the flight taking them back to Yaounde. The Super Eagles are also gaining altitude, flying higher and singing more songs of triumph. Rigobert is in the ring, encircled by wounded lions from a diminished nation.
AFCON
Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/osimhen-and-lookman.jpg)
What a turn-around! After four previous competitive matches without a win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning mentality after a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The win also put the Super Eagles at the top of the Group D after both Libya and Rwanda played 1-1 draw last Thursday.
It is also the biggest win by the Super Eagles since their 2023 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe last year September.
Great man Ademola Lookman, he put in two goals straightening the possibility of his emerging as 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
The current title holder, Victor Osimhen proved his mettle coming off the bench in the second half to double Nigeria’s lead after Lookman’s late first half goal.
The Super Eagles will now honour their next fixture against Rwanda on Tuesday with the hope of consolidating their lead.
Benin Republic with no points and a deficit of three goals are rooted at the bottom of the log.
AFCON
‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful!’, Rev Ikpea calls on football fans to rally round Super Eagles
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-06-at-8.49.46-PM.jpeg)
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea has called on all Nigerians to rally round and pray for the Super Eagles ahead of Saturday’s Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
Ikpea who is mobilizing support for the Super Eagles ahead of the clash in Uyo said that whatever Benin Republic come with both spiritually and physically in the game, we will surely overcome them.
“In the NFSC we have Christians, Muslims as well as those who believe in traditional worship and we respect the rights of freedom of worship of every member and all Nigerians.
“When we are faced with this kind of crucial game, we call on everyone to pray through their various believes because we foresee that Benin Republic are most likely coming to fall back on ‘black magic’ to enable them perfect a back-to-back victory over our Super Eagles after beating us 2-1 in our last meeting in a World Cup qualifier”
“We cannot underestimate the efficacy of the black magic” Ikpea further stressed, “but we believe that when we come together we can neutralize it’s efficacy.
“This is no time to sleep, we all have to rally round and do our best to support our Super Eagles because they cannot do it alone without the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
“While charging Nigerians to be positive with the team, we at the NFSC have done everything positive to overturn whatever plans they are coming with and we enjoin everyone to toe that path through prayers”.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is bubbling with training in Uyo, as team Coach Austin Eguavoen, has been working hard to perfect tactics with the boys and ensure the Super Eagles soar on Saturday.
AFCON
Will Super Eagles regain their winning mentality?
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/super-eagles-1.jpg)
The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th September 2023 in Uyo. That was their last qualifying match for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 played in 2024.
Since then, they have played four World Cup qualifying matches without a win despite being the overwhelming favourites at those matches.
A forensic analysis of their World Cup qualifying since that of Qatar 2022 will reveal they had played seven consecutive matches without a win starting from their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos which qualified them for the play off. In the play off with Ghana, the Super Eagles drew the two matches.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have gone four matches, getting three draws and a loss. The prospect of their getting a straight qualification from the group is doubtful as they have a mountain to climb by winning the remaining six matches, three of which are away duels of which are most likely to be played in South Africa, the home ground of their main rivals.
Zimbabwe and Lesotho play their home matches in South Africa and Nigeria also still have an away duel with Bafana Bafana.
The qualification series of AFCON 2025 presents the Super Eagles a new beginning. Starting from the semi-finals of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, the team has won none of their four competitive matches in regulation time. The players have a date with destiny in Uyo this Saturday to wipe off the sagging image they have had in recent time.
A win will give the team the confidence expected in anticipation for future fixtures.
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