AFCON

Sorry No Longer The Hardest Word At Cup Of Nations –

Published

7 months ago

February 2, 2024

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.

“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.

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.

-Reuters

AFCON

Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!

Published

7 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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

Published

14 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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?

Published

16 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10^th 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.