AFCON
AFCON 2019:EGYPT PIN HOPES ON SALAH
BY DAN PLAMER
Egypt are hoping that star striker Mohamed Salah will guide them to Africa Cup of Nations glory on home soil with this year’s tournament kicking off later this evening.
The Liverpool striker, regarded as one of the world’s best players and hero-worshiped throughout Egypt, goes into the event having won the UEFA Champions League with his club this month.
He will be expected to get the goals to help the Egyptians earn an eighth continental title and a first since 2010 with the hosts installed as the bookmakers’ favourites.
They will open the tournament in Group A against Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium.
This is the first edition of the Africa Cup of Nations to feature 24 countries with the tournament expanded from its usual 16 by organisers the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2017.
CAF also opted to host the event in June and July instead of the normal January slot, which caused conflict with clubs who did not want to release their African players during the middle of the season.
Build-up to the tournament has been chaotic with Egypt only installed as hosts in January after Cameroon lost the rights due to delays to infrastructure and security concerns.
The CAF itself is in a state of turmoil with FIFA appointing their secretary general Fatma Samoura as the head of a group which will run the continental body due to a series of corruption scandals.
This includes CAF President Ahmad facing allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct.
Egypt’s challengers include Senegal who will look to be inspired by Liverpool winger Sadio Mané and three-time winners Nigeria who return to the tournament for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2013.
Defending champions Cameroon are aiming for a sixth title while fellow west-African powerhouses Ivory Coast and Ghana can also not be counted out as they chase their third and fifth wins respectively.
Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia join Egypt in making up a strong North African contingent.
The Egyptians and Zimbabwe are joined in Group A by Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Group B features Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi with Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania colliding in Group C.
Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Namibia have been placed in Group D with Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola in Group E.
Group F features Cameroon, Ghana, Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
The top two sides in each group and the best four third-placed teams will reach the last 16.
As well as the Cairo International Stadium, two more venues will be used in the capital − the 30 June Stadium and the Al Salam Stadium.
There are four host cities in all with Alexandria Stadium, Suez Stadium and Ismailia Stadium also staging matches.
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.
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