AFCON
VIDEO: FOOTBALL STAKEHOLDERS HAIL NEW BOOK ON SUPER EAGLES
BY FOLAKE OKEGBENLE
The
new book on Super Eagles has started to get acclaims even before it hits the
shelves. The book is aptly titled “Super Eagles @ 70…Soaring On the Wings”. It
captures the evolution of the team, which will hit a major milestone on June
26, the 70th anniversary of when Nigeria first composed a national
football team.
Coincidentally,
www.sportsvillagesquare.com
recalls, it is on that date that Nigeria will play its most challenging 2019
Africa Cup of Nations’ most challenging group match against Guinea.
The NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, whose regime also has the honour of marking the country’s football governing body’s 60th anniversary of affiliation to FIFA on April 22, is excited at the unfolding events.
He has asked Nigerians and citizens of the world to join in celebrating the NFF and the Super Eagles as they mark major milestones.
In a video trailer heralding the coming of the book, he looked back at the days of the bare-footed and famed UK Tourists to the era of the ‘Red Devils’ and that of the glorious ‘Green Eagles’ to that of soul-lifting ‘Super Eagles’ and summed up that “we have reasons to celebrate.”
“Written in lucid and infographic manner, virtually all that is needed about the Super Eagles is encapsulated in one package
“It is written by Kunle Solaja, the only journalist in Africa to have covered eight consecutive World Cup finals from 1990 to 2018, and with great prospects of covering more – A 28-year adventure at the zenith of global football.
“He is consequently the most imbued with the depth of information regarding the Super Eagles’ adventures at the six World Cup finals that the team has featured in.
“He watched every minute of the 21 World Cup matches the
Super Eagles played from USA ’94 to Russia 2018. A multiple award winner,
Solaja had written two other books on related subject matter – Super Eagles…Through the Ages (2010)
and Going For Goals (2014)”
Consequently, the NFF partnered with the Nigeria’s foremost football diarist, Kunle Solaja, to produce a compendium on the Super Eagles. The milestone book is due for public unveiling later this June, before the Africa Cup of Nations’ kick-off.
Stakeholders in Nigerian football have been very generous in their preview of the book. Seyi Akinwunmi, a lawyer and 1st Vice President of the NFF remarked:
“Kunle Solaja, a foremost Nigerian football historian has given me the privilege of having a preview of his latest piece of work titled “Super Eagles@70…Soaring On The Wings”
“I have never doubted the quality of his research nor the authenticity of his assertions on our football history, but from my sneak preview I can confidently say that the quality of this current work surpassed my high expectations.”
Akinwunmi
is not alone. Patrick Ekeji, the only Nigerian sports personality to have had
roles in all sphere of football as a player for both clubs and national teams,
as a coach for both clubs and national team, as a teacher of coaches at the
National Institute of Sports and as an administrator who rose from stat sports
council and climbed through the rungs to become Nigeria’s Director General of
Sports, also commented on the latest work of the author.
“Kunle Solaja has obsession for record keeping. He is a human data bank on Nigerian sports. No one else can better chronicle the Nigeria national team which I also played roles in.”
His words are further corroborated by easily Nigeria’s most
charismatic footballer of all time, Segun Odegbami. “If
anyone can do justice to the delicate subject of chronicling the Super Eagles,
Kunle Solaja’s name would pop up first. His eyes for detail and authenticity
are unequalled in our ‘football planet’.
Sports and Communication entrepreneur,
Dr. Larry Izamoje who established Africa’s first all-sports radio station, the
famous Brila Radio remarked:
“With decades of successful media practice, the author stands out as a first grade sports statistician .A meticulous researcher, he presents a riveting excursion on Nigeria’s most celebrated team in his uniquely captivating way.”
Another football legend,
Dr. Felix Owolabi whose solitary goal against Morocco paved the way for
Nigeria’s first ever qualification for an Africa Cup of Nations’ final match
and the attendant eventual victory, prayed that the author’s sacrificial effortsin the front burner of reportage in Nigeria football coverage
will not go unnoticed.
Journalist and marketing
expert, Muyiwa Akintunde remarked in similar way. “KS (King of Soccer-journalism) is
at it again! The serial author of historical accounts of Nigerian football is
set to launch his new work.
“Excellence is his watchword. And this particular one to mark an epoch for Nigerian football and its administration is not going to be different.”
The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.
Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.
“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.
However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.
Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028
Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.
In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.
CAF Nations League Introduced
In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.
The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.
“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”
A New Era for African Football
The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.
While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.
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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.
The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation as its general secretary resigned.
African football’s governing body has been battling a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.
Senegal were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to win the game 1-0.
The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.
“CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees, VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.
“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.
More precise details on the changes and how they would avoid a repeat of the Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling with perceptions about its integrity.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja
The Confederation of African Football may be considering possible disciplinary measures against Senegal following reports that the country’s national team has continued to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy despite being stripped of the title.
The development has triggered fresh debate within African football circles, with CAF understood to be treating the matter as a potential breach of its statutes and disciplinary code.
Sources close to the continental body indicate that Senegal’s actions could be interpreted as defiance of an official ruling, raising concerns about respect for regulatory authority and the precedent such conduct may set for other member associations.
CAF is believed to be weighing a range of sanctions, which could include financial penalties, formal reprimands, or restrictions on the country’s participation in certain CAF programmes and competitions.
While no final decision has been announced, insiders suggest that the governing body is keen to send a strong message on compliance and institutional discipline.
There are also indications that CAF’s disciplinary committee may be tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the continued public display of the trophy, including whether the act constitutes misconduct under its regulations.
The issue is seen as more than a symbolic dispute over silverware. Analysts argue that how CAF handles the situation will reflect its ability to enforce decisions and maintain order among its 54 member associations.
“CAF cannot afford to appear weak on matters of discipline,” a source familiar with the situation said. “If a federation openly disregards a ruling, it undermines the entire governance structure.”
CAF is expected to provide clarity on the issue during an upcoming press engagement, where its president may outline the organisation’s position and any disciplinary steps to be taken.
For Senegal, the situation presents a delicate balancing act between national pride and compliance with continental football authority. For CAF, it represents a critical test of leadership and regulatory enforcement at a time when the credibility of African football governance remains under close watch.
The coming days are likely to determine whether the matter escalates into a full disciplinary case or is resolved through diplomatic engagement behind the scenes.
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