AFCON
A to Z of Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cote d’Ivoire in January is the 34th edition and marks the second time the competition will hold in that country. Cote d’Ivoire last hosted the competition in 1984.
CHANGING FACES OF AFCON
It is the third edition to feature a 24-team format. The competition at the beginning in 1957 had irregular format. Three countries were in attendance at the inaugural edition in 1957 and that of 1959.
It increased to four in 1952 and six in 1963. From 1968 in Ethiopia to 1990 in Algeria, an eight-team format became the tradition.
The edition in Senegal in 1992 began a 12-team format which ended at the following edition in Tunisia 1994. The 1996 edition saw the introduction of a 16-team format, although 15 featured following the withdrawal of Nigeria.
The 16-team format ran till Gabon 2017. Since Egypt 2019, it has been a 24-team fiesta.
From Ethiopia 1968 edition, the competition attained a regular interval of two years and in the even-numbered years.
SWITCH TO ODD NUMBERED YEARS
However, CAF decided to abandoned the even-numbered year tournament for an odd-numbered one in 2013, hence, there was a back-to-back edition of 2012 and 2013. Before 2013, the last time the competition held in an odd-numbered year was Tunisia 1965.
The essence of switching to odd-numbered years was to avoid holding any edition in the same year as the FIFA World Cup. Ten years on, the calendar for the competition had not taken any definite pattern. The 2021 edition was held in 2022 just as the 2023 edition will hold in 2024.
The calendar is expected to be normalised with Morocco 2025 – Again as in 2012 and 2013, the competition will be held in back-to-back years.
HOST NATIONS JINXED
For 17 years and spanning eight editions, hosts countries have not won the Africa Cup of Nations. The last hosts to win were the Egyptians in 2006. When they hosted again in 2019, they did not even get podium finish.
If it is stretched back to 1992, a period of 31 years and 16 editions, only three host nations have won – South Africa 1996, Tunisia 2004 and Egypt 2006.
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.
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.
The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th 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.
What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!
Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful!’, Rev Ikpea calls on football fans to rally round Super Eagles
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
TRANSFER MARKET3 days agoPoints of Interest as Napoli’s coach apologises to Victor Osimhen
-
Badminton1 week agoAmerican beats Nigeria’s Segun Obasanjo
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week agoTransfer market still bubbling as Chelsea agents lands in Napoli for Osimhen
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week agoBREAKING! Osimhen is left stranded! Future remains uncertain
-
TRANSFER MARKET5 days agoLukaku pays respect to Osimhen
-
PARALYMPICS6 days agoHow Mikano powered Eniola to Nigeria’s first medal at Paris 2024
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoAs in 1974 , 1995 and 2005 another coach, Labbadia disappears from Nigeria’s national team job
-
AFCON1 week agoInterim Commander, Eguavoen opens up on his plans for Super Eagles