AFCON
CAF U20: NIGERIA HUNTS FOR CONTINENTAL HONOUR
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
Having settled their qualifications for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup to be held in Poland, the Flying Eagles and three other semifinalists of the ongoing Africa U20 Championship in Niger Republic are now focused on honours in the continent.
Despite missing the last edition in Zambia, Nigeria remain the “big boys” in the competition having won the most titles (seven), as against none by the other three teams still in the race – Senegal, South Africa and Mali.
Coach Paul Aigbogun will have to calm the nerves of his charges after the Flying Eagles battled hard in their last group match to eventually pip hosts Niger Republic 1-0 and win their group.
Nigeria had started Niger 2019 on a promising style beating Burundi 2-0 but squandered other chances that would have made the fixture an unfairing pairing.
The fans at home were disappointed with a barren result in the next match against perennial foes South Africa before the host team Niger almost caused the Flying Eagles’ exit in the last group fixture.
Mali, who will try to stop Nigeria from reaching the final, lost their opening group fixture to Senegal, the most promising team of Niger 2019, They however recovered quickly to beat both Burkina Faso and Ghana, one of the pre-tournament favourites, by a lone goal. Mali accounted for the exit of Ghana, the only African team to have won the FIFA U20 World Cup, from the race for Poland 2019.
The Eagles of Mali were beaten 1-4 aggregate in the final qualifying round for the 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup runners-up by the Flying Eagles of Nigeria.
Senegal have been so ruthless at Niger 2019. After beating Mali 2-0 on Matchday 1, the Young Lions of Teranga inflicted the same scoreline on Ghana and smashed Burkina Faso 5-1 in their group’s closing game to become the only team with a 100 percent record so far.
Senegal lost in the final of the last two editions of this competition and will be seeking to go one gear up.
Their opponents, South Africa crawled to the last four. They forced Niger Republic to 1-1 outcome in their opening match and had a barren result against Nigeria before pipping Burundi 1-0 to book their semifinal place.
South Africa’s best performance in this competition was reaching the final in 1997 and losing to hosts Morocco 1-0.
Semifinal fixtures: Nigeria v Mali (4:30pm), Senegal v South Africa (7:30pm)
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.
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