AFCON

Angola shock Ghana in Cup of Nations qualifying

Published

2 weeks ago

September 6, 2024

Angola produced the first shock of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they snatched a last-minute goal to win away against Ghana in one of seven matches played around the continent on Thursday.

Former African champions Algeria and Tunisia both won at home, while there was also success for Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo and Guinea Bissau as teams began the group phase competition to decide the line-up for the finals in Morocco in December next year.

Angolan substitute Milson took advantage of a defensive blunder to score three minutes into stoppage time in the Group F clash in Kumasi.

Angola had held out against a strong Ghana side, with Mohammed Kudus threatening to find the net as he led home hopes but ultimately proved unable.

Burundi’s 3-2 win in Malawi in Group L marked a rare away success for the small east African country, with Mokono Eldinho snatching their 87th minute winner.

Riyad Mahrez returned to the Algeria line-up against Equatorial Guinea in Oran after being dropped for their June World Cup qualifiers and squandered a first half penalty. But his rasping shot some 20 minutes from time allowed Houssem-Eddine Aouar to snap up the rebound, bending down low to power home a header for the opening goal of the Group E encounter. Amine Gouiri added a second near the end.

Tunisia scrambled a goal eight minutes into stoppage time to overcome Madagascar in their Group A clash as veteran coach Faouzi Benzerti, 74, returned to the helm of the team 30 years after his first appointment.

American-based midfielder Bura got Guinea Bissau’s winner over Eswatini in Group I while there was also a 1-0 home win for Congo over South Sudan in Group K, where the only goal came early from Chandrel Massanga.

The Central African Republic overcame the lack of home advantage to beat Lesotho 3-1 in El Jadida, Morocco. They are among the many African countries who may not host qualifiers because their stadia have been declared unsuitable for use in international matches.

Louis Mafouta, who got a hat-trick in World Cup qualifying three months ago, scored two of the Central African Republic’s goals.

The top two teams in each of the 12 groups qualify for the next finals. There will be two sets of qualifiers per team in this international window followed by two more in October and the last two in November, after which the field for the finals will be decided.

-Reuters

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.