AFCON
We Are Primed And Ready For South Africa Semi-final Showdown, Says Ola Aina –
Nigeria defender Ola Aina says the Super Eagles are fully focused and prepared for their huge Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against South Africa on Wednesday.
The Torino full-back believes coach Jose Peseiro has struck the right balance to ensure the team peak at the right time in their pursuit of a fourth African crown.
“Myself and my teammates are ready for this challenge,” Aina told reporters ahead of the last four clash.
“The coach is hard on us when he needs to be, and lenient when he needs to be – there’s a good balance to help us progress.”
Nigeria are now entirely fixated on overcoming a buoyant South Africa side to book their place in Sunday’s final.
“The focus is solely on the South Africa game and getting the job done,” Aina stated.
“It’s a massive match with so much at stake, including qualification for the 2023 AFCON final.”
Nigeria are aiming to reach the showpiece event for the 10th time as they look to add to their titles from 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Peseiro’s side edged past Cameroon and then Angola in the knockout rounds and appear to be building momentum.
But Bafana Bafana represent their sternest test yet after knocking out favourites Morocco and Cape Verde.
Aina is confident Nigeria have prepared meticulously and will embrace the high stakes when the rivals collide at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
-CAF
The hopes of Libya securing a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ticket seem to have gone up in smoke. This is the sequel to the 2-1 defeat that Rwanda inflicted on the Benin Republic on Tuesday evening.
With the result, Libya’s position is further cemented at the bottom of the table. Nigeria, even with an outstanding match, still leads with seven points.
They are followed by Benin Republic who have six points. Rwanda followed with five points.
The star men were Innocent Nshuti and Djihad Bizimana who scored in the space of two minutes as Rwanda came from behind to defeat Benin 2-1 at Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday, October 15.
Rwanda’s defeat of Benin Republic is not just their first win in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, the victory terminates a 12-year winless streak against the Cheetah of Benin.
It is also a renewal of their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. But they still have two more games to play.
The German made two changes from the side that started against Benin last week as Samuel Gueulette and Emmanuel Imanishimwe came in for Kevin Muhire and Claude Niyomugabo respectively.
The press release on Tuesday by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) may have lifted a burden off Nigeria as the match with Libya is considered postponed rather than the Super Eagles refusing to play.
The continental body remarked that the matter would be referred to the competent CAF bodies.
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