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Sorry No Longer The Hardest Word At Cup Of Nations –

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Sorry No Longer The Hardest Word At Cup Of Nations -

Social media has offered players at the Africa Cup of Nations an opportunity to apologise for errors at the tournament and try to appease disappointed and enraged fans.

Never before has any tournament seen as many mea culpas from players taking responsibility for their side’s elimination and who are hoping to mitigate any backlash.

The latest has come from Senegal centre back Moussa Niakhate, who was the only player not to convert his penalty in the shootout that saw hosts Ivory Coast eliminate the holders in the last-16 on Monday.

“Sorry, I am aware that this missed penalty led to our elimination from this Cup of Nations,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“It shattered the dream of my teammates, the staff and millions of supporters of this national team. You don’t deserve this. This group had the quality and the objective of returning with the cup to Dakar,” he added.

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“I am aware of this and I take responsibility for it. This is going to be hard for me to swallow and I know I will never forget. This feeling of guilt, no one will be able to take it away from me, not even my family or even this group (of players) despite their unfailing support.”

The Nottingham Forest defender’s post came not long after Morocco fullback Achraf Hakimi took to Instagram to apologise for missing a late penalty and the chance to equalise in Tuesday’s last-16 defeat to South Africa.

“Today is a very difficult and sad day for our elimination,” said the defender on Wednesday after a surprise 2-0 loss. “I would like to apologise for the penalty, I took responsibility to help the team, but unfortunately it didn’t work.”

Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar, who was injured for all but 13 minutes of his country’s campaign in the Ivory Coast, still felt the need to try and quell discontent at home.

“My teammates and I gave everything, but it wasn’t enough. We offer our sincere apologies to the Cameroonian people whom we have disappointed. We look forward to seeing you at the next Indomitable Lions matches,” he wrote.

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Ghana coach Chris Hughton was attacked by angry fans after they lost their first game and the players had to walk a gauntlet of abuse from their own media after a 2-2 draw with Mozambique in Abidjan meant they were eliminated in the group phase.

Veteran forward Dede Ayew, whose new record of most Cup of Nations appearances went uncelebrated, made a video accepting the blame on behalf of the squad.

“As the captain of the squad, I take full responsibility for what happened on the pitch. For the playing body, we should have done better,” he said.

The Ghana Football Association also extended its sincerest apologies ahead of planned demonstrations outside their offices in Accra this weekend.

“We understand the disappointment and frustration that such results can bring to our passionate football-loving nation. Our team’s performance fell short of the high expectations we all share, and we take full responsibility for the disappointment,” a statement said.

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-Reuters

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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AFCON

NFF thanks President Tinubu for ensuring Super Eagles’ safe return from Libya

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Gusau on a thank-you visit to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on Tuesday.

The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Tuesday expressed deep appreciation of the NFF and the Nigeria Football family for the warm words of encouragement from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the Super Eagles’ return from a better-forgotten Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match adventure in Libya.

On Monday, the Nigerian President put out a statement warmly welcoming the team back home, and asking for prompt justice from the Confederation of African Football following the inhumane treatment of the Nigerian contingent.

The president also commended the proactive coordination between the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate episode and ensuring the safe return of the players.

“We hereby express our deep and sincerest appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his warm and kind words of encouragement.

“These words have gone a long way to reassure the players of the firm support of the Government and people of Nigeria for what they do and the efforts and sacrifices they make in representing this great country.

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“The commitment and love for the team by the Government and the entire nation was aptly demonstrated by the physical presence of the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh at the airport to welcome the team back to Nigeria.

“Mr. President as the father of the nation, has once again demonstrated his concern and keen interest in the beautiful game of football that unites our peoples from all walks of life and across all known mental, physical, spiritual, political and economic boundaries, and which fosters national unity and friendship among peoples and nations of the universe.”

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AFCON

 Libya Fiasco: NFF commends ValueJet crew for diligence and endurance

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Captain Abdellatif Mechergui, Valuejet's Acting Head of Flight Operations

The Nigeria Football Federation has commended the captain and crew of the ValueJet aircraft that flew the Nigerian delegation to and from Libya, saying that their patience, diligence, good manners, warmth and endurance made the trip less arduous for the contingent.

“The captain (Captain Abdellatif Mechergui) and crew were awesome. I must commend, in particular, the captain. He did his job professionally and with a touch of excellence, and even intervened at a point to talk to the airport operatives to allow the NFF leadership to go outside the airport to find a way to hire vehicles for the team.

“ As a fellow North African (Tunisian) who had worked in Libya previously, they were ready to offer him hotel accommodation but not any other member of the crew or any Nigerian, as all the hotels in the city disclosed that they had strict orders not to welcome any Nigerian nationality. He refused their offer and rather opted to sleep in the aircraft with the rest of the crew.

“The captain and crew showed great maturity and kindness. We will never forget them.”

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Ghana risks missing at 2025 Afcon after loss to Sudan

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Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifying Nemesis, Ghana's Partey And Lamptey Miss Out On Cup Of Nations Finals -

Ghana Black Stars lost 2-0 to Sudan Tuesday afternoon in matchday 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series putting their prospects in great doubt.

The former three-time African champions are now third in Group F having accrued just two points from four matches. Sudan, with seven points, are second.

Angola, who still have a match to play later in the day with bottom-placed Niger, are on top with nine points.

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