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AFCON

Ahead of clash with Super Eagles: Benin Republic begins a game of calculation and hope

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles return to the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan next week for their Group D 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Benin Republic.

While a draw will increase Nigeria’s point haul to 11, which is sufficient for the Super Eagles, the match holds greater significance to the Cheetahs of Benin, whose qualification for Morocco 2025 still hangs in the balance.

With six points from the earlier defeat of Libya and Rwanda in Abidjan, the remaining obtainable six points are crucial. Yet, the Super Eagles whose 2026 World Cup qualification also lies precariously in the balance need every match to build a steady momentum towards March 2025 when the World Cup qualifying series resume.

The Super Eagles move closer to 2025 Afcon and need just a point from obtainable six to qualify. With that, they are assured of at least a second place in the Group as only Benin Republic, could surpass the 11-point mark if they win their last two matches.

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This is what has put the Benin Republic on the edge. As local newspaper, La Nation analysed, the Cheetahs have tricky fixtures.

 A duel with uncompromising Super Eagles is tricky. The Eagles are still smarting from their shock loss to Benin five months ago in a World Cup qualifier and are therefore likely to be vengeful in their approach to next week’s Afcon duel.

Benin’s next game will also not be a stroll in the park when they confront Libya at home. Should Libya get a favourable result in their penultimate clash with Rwanda in Kigali, they are likely to be highly motivated in the last duel with Benin.

The second Group D ticket is therefore still wide, swinging and open.

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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.

AFCON

Libya, Nigeria to determine Rwanda’s coach’s fate

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The future of Rwanda’s national football coach, Torsten Spittler hangs in the balance as the qualification race for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations enters the final leg.

Rwanda’s Amavubi have bitter combatants, Libya and Nigeria to face in the last two match days of the competition.

According to Rwanda’s national publication, New Times, the Amavubi head coach Torsten Spittler has hinted that his future at the helm of the team will depend on whether Rwanda qualifies to AFCON 2025 or not.

Libya and Nigeria are to determine this. Rwanda will face Libya in Kigali next week Thursday  before meeting Nigeria in Uyo on 18 November.

Currently third, on the Group D log where only the top two will qualify, Rwanda need to beat Libya at home, and hope Nigeria will do the same against Benin Republic ahead of their final day game with the Super Eagles.

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Spittler, a German, told a press conference in Kigali that the Rwandan football federation had not opened up negotiations with him but there could be a possibility for that if Rwanda qualifies for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“We have other national team games (AFCON qualifiers) in two weeks. After those games you will see if I will stay or not.

“The federation is waiting; so you also have to wait for the next two matches. If we go through to the AFCON, then you can ask if I want to stay. If we don’t qualify you cannot ask a question on contract.” Spittler told the press.

He noted that the federation hasn’t sent him any proposal yet. Spittler’s contract with Amavubi expires this month.

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AFCON

Moroccan officials for Nigeria’s last Morocco 2025 qualifiers

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Morcco's  Samir Guezzaz

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

 Figuratively, Nigerians will have a feel of Morocco when the Super Eagles play their last Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match in 20 days. Moroccan quartet of  Samir Guezzaz, Zakaria Brinsi, Abdessamad Abertoune and Kech Chaf Mustapha have been assigned as officials for the Match Day 6 of the qualifying series in which Nigeria will engage Rwanda.

Samir Guezzaz will be the centre referee. He officiated Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to Mali earlier this year at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.

His compatriots Zakaria Brinsi, Abdessamad Abertoune and Kech Chaf Mustapha will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

The match slated for 5pm will hold at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

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Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the commissioner while Somalian Ali Mohamed Ahmed will be in the role of referee assessor.

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AFCON

Reprieve for Libya national football team

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

The Libyan national football team still received a reprieve when CAF announced its decision to cancel the Libya versus Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel that was to have been held on 15 October.

According to a Libyan outlet, Libya Akhba, the CAF Disciplinary Board recommended banning Libya from hosting three of their next home matches.

But CAF decided to cancel that penalty. Had the penalty not been cancelled, Libya would have to play their next three home matches on neutral ground.

The matches to be affected would have been their last 2025 Africa Cup qualifiers against Benin Republic on 18 November and their Group D match days 5 and 8 World Cup qualifiers against Angola on 17 March 2025 and Eswatini on 7 September 2025 respectively.

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According to Libyan News Agency, WAL, the decision not to impose the three-match ban at home came after the intervention of Libya’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the Libyan government, Abdel Hadi Al-Huwaij.

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