AFCON

Morocco savours the sweetness of victory in AFCON 2025 bid

Published

12 months ago

September 28, 2023

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The kingdom of Morocco is relishing the sweetness of winning the bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations which is most likely be the first to fall in line with the often disrupted calendar that CAF set in 2012 which set the continental competition to hold on the odd numbered year.

Since then, the Africa Cup of Nations has for 10 years suffered either a shift in timing or change of hosts.

The 2013 edition which originally was allocated to Libya had to move to South Africa. The same applied to the 2019 which moved from Cameroon to Egypt and the 2021 moved from Cote d’Ivoire to Cameroon and hosting the following year.

The 2023 allocated to Cote d’Ivoire also has to move to 2014. The sound organisational ability of Morocco coupled with good facilities looked set to restore dignity to the Africa Cup of Nations.

It was therefore not surprising that the 22-man CAF Committee overwhelmingly acclaimed Morocco.

Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has emphasized the uniqueness of the unanimous decision . He called it “ a culmination of development spearheaded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI over the past two decades across various domains.

Lekjaa also underlined that the choice of Morocco also underscores the country’s readiness to host major sporting events under optimal conditions.

“Today, Morocco, with unanimous African approval and without any debate, has the honour of hosting the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. It is the crowning achievement of extraordinary work led by a Great King. It is also the finest reward for a football-loving nation,” he said.

He went on to state that hosting 2025 AFCON in Morocco is the first step, to be followed by another significant endeavour: bidding to host the 2030 World Cup jointly with Spain and Portugal.

In this regard, Lekjaa stressed that the Kingdom will transform this event into a “rebirth of Mediterranean civilization between the north and south of the Mediterranean,” noting that the African continent will rally behind Morocco to achieve this goal, which is also an African aspiration.

For his part, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, congratulated Morocco on its nomination to host the 2025 AFCON.

“I’m proud of Morocco,” said Motseppe, expressing his admiration for the Kingdom’s potential for organizing major sporting events.

Last February, Morocco welcomed several African journalists on a “media tour” to highlight its infrastructure and organizational capabilities to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The tour primarily served to demonstrate that Morocco satisfies all CAF standards in terms of stadiums, training grounds, accommodations, and health infrastructure to host the African football event.

Excellent sporting facilities dot the kingdom from Rabat to Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Marrakesh and Agadir among others. Morocco has the honour to have hosted the Club World Cup thrice in 2013, 2014 and 2023.

AFCON

Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!

Published

6 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

13 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

15 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.