AFCON
AFCON BOSS, AMAJU PINNICK CONFIDENT EGYPT 2019 WOULD BE A SUCCESS
The 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football, who is also the President of AFCON Organizing Committee, Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick has assured that the continental football –ruling body is doing everything within its power to ensure that the 32nd Africa Cup finals holding in Egypt this summer is a huge success.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday, Pinnick, who is also President of the Nigeria Football Federation, said CAF is aware of the apprehension of the African football stakeholders, and is putting measures in place to tackle those fears and guarantee a seamless continental house party that everyone would be proud of.
“CAF is not unmindful of the reservations being harboured in some quarters, and feelings of anxiety being expressed in several fora by some individuals and groups. What is important is that we are taking note of all these and putting measures in place to tackle these genuine fears.
“At the end of the day, football would be the winner. We are very positive that those measures we have put in place and those we have lined up will culminate in an occasion that every African would be proud of, and which will leave the average football follower elsewhere enthralled.”
There has been widespread anxiety within the African football community over the hosting of the first –ever 24 –nation AFCON, following CAF’s decision to strip Cameroon of the hosting right at the end of November last year, with new host Egypt announced only early this month.
On Saturday, CAF’s Emergency Committee announced that the draw ceremony for the championship, scheduled for 21st June – 19th July in eight Egyptian venues, would hold in Cairo on 12th April. That is exactly 10 weeks to the opening match of the championship.
In previous years and decades, host nations of Africa’s flagship tournament had been privileged to have more time to prepare for the various obligations involved in staging the competition, with the exception of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon (the last two host nations) who had few months to step in after originally –designated hosts balked late in the day.
“We are assured that Egypt would be ready and would put up a good show. CAF is also monitoring preparations on all fronts to ensure that nothing goes wrong.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, three –time champions, have already booked their place at the 24 –nation fiesta.
THE CHANGING FACES OF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
1957: Three participating countries, hosted by Sudan, won by Egypt
1959: Three participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Egypt
FIRST CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 3 TO 4
1962: Four participating countries, hosted by Ethiopia, won by Ethiopia
SECOND CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 4 TO 6
1963: Six participating countries, hosted by Ghana, won by Ghana
1965: Six participating countries, hosted by Tunisia, won by Ghana
THIRD CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 6 TO 8
1968: Eight participating countries, hosted by Ethiopia, won by Congo Kinshasa (Later Zaire and now DR Congo)
INTRODUCTION OF 2 YEAR INTERVAL AND IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS
1970: Eight participating countries, hosted by Sudan, won by Sudan
1972: Eight participating countries, hosted by Cameroon, won by Congo
1974: Eight participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Zaire (now DR Congo)
1976: Eight participating countries, hosted by Ethiopia, won by Morocco
1978: Eight participating countries, hosted by Ghana, won by Ghana
1980: Eight participating countries, hosted by Nigeria, won by Nigeria
1982: Eight participating countries, hosted by Libya, won by Ghana
1984: Eight participating countries, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, won by Cameroon
1986: Eight participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Egypt
1988: Eight participating countries, hosted by Morocco, won by Cameroon
1990: Eight participating countries, hosted by Algeria, won by Algeria
FOURTH CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 8 TO 12 & INTRODUCTION OF QUARTER FINALS
1992: Twelve participating countries, hosted by Senegal, won by Cote d’Ivoire
1994: Twelve participating countries, hosted by Tunisia, won by Nigeria
FIFTH CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 12 TO 16
1996: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by South Africa, won by South Africa
1998: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Burkina Faso, won by Egypt
2000: Sixteen participating countries, co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, won by Cameroon
2002: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Mali, won by Cameroon
2004: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Tunisia, won by Tunisia
2006: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Egypt, won by Egypt
2008: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Ghana, won by Egypt
2010: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Angola, won by Egypt
2012: Sixteen participating countries, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, won by Zambia
CHANGE OF CALENDER TO ODD NUMBERED YEARS
2013: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by South Africa, won by Nigeria
2015: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Equatorial Guinea, won by Cote d’Ivoire
2017: Sixteen participating countries, hosted by Gabon, won by Cameroon
SIXTH CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FINALISTS FROM 16 TO 24
2019: Twenty-Four participating countries, to be hosted by Egypt
AFCON
Hurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/osimhen-and-lookman.jpg)
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
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-06-at-8.49.46-PM.jpeg)
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?
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/super-eagles-1.jpg)
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.
-
TRANSFER MARKET3 days ago
Points of Interest as Napoli’s coach apologises to Victor Osimhen
-
Badminton1 week ago
American beats Nigeria’s Segun Obasanjo
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
Transfer market still bubbling as Chelsea agents lands in Napoli for Osimhen
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
BREAKING! Osimhen is left stranded! Future remains uncertain
-
TRANSFER MARKET5 days ago
Lukaku pays respect to Osimhen
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
As in 1974 , 1995 and 2005 another coach, Labbadia disappears from Nigeria’s national team job
-
PARALYMPICS5 days ago
How Mikano powered Eniola to Nigeria’s first medal at Paris 2024
-
AFCON1 week ago
Interim Commander, Eguavoen opens up on his plans for Super Eagles