AFCON
Nigeria’s possible World Cup play-off opponents, DR Congo open camp in Egypt
While major attention in Africa is centred on preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations which begins in Cameroon in 11 days’ time, DR Congo, the only team Afcon absentee team among the 10 contestants for the World Cup qualification is focusing on the global tournament.
Being outside the top five seeded teams, Congo DR is a possible opponent for Nigeria when the draw for the World Cup draw is made on January 26.
Already, the coach, Hector Cuper has drafted 27 players who began camping in Egypt on Monday 27 December.
The move is linked with crunch 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – Africa Zone expected in March 2022.
The squad, exclusively constituted by Africa-based players, is led by TP Mazembe’s star skipper Tresor Mputu Mabi.
The 36-year-old Mputu, capped 51 times with the senior men’s national team, is one of eight midfielders retained by Héctor for the mission.
The camp is scheduled to run through December 27 to January 8, 2022.
During this time, the Leopards are expected to play two friendly games against local teams. Another session – billed for the second week of January – will involve overseas players.
Absent for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the DR Congo is no doubt making the most out of the FIFA window, as well as optimising chances of a breakthrough to Qatar 2022.
The Central Africans are among the ten nations left to battle for the continent’s five World Cup tickets.
DR Congo last featured at the global stage in 1974 in Germany. They have never been closer to a second berth like this time.
Full squad:
Lomboto Herve (DC Motema Pembe), Siadi Ngusia Baggio (TP Mazembe), Pululu Kingu (FC Renaissance), MUKOKO Amale Dieumerci (Difaa El Jadida), Djuma Shabani Wadol (Young Africa), Simete Taboria Ordy (AS Maniema Union), Zola Kiaku Arsene (TP Mazembe), Boka Issaka Chadrack (FC Saint Eloi Lupopo), Nsita Ernest (TP Mazembe), Kayembe Christian (DC Motema Pembe), Mundeko Zatu Kevin (TP Mazembe), Bangala Litombo Yannick (Young Africa), Masasi Obenza Amede (AS V.CLUB), Kimvuidi Kiekie Karim (DC Motema Pembe), Mika Miche (TP Mazembe), Ngoma Luamba Fabrice (Raja Casablanca), Mukoko Tonombe (Young Africa), Lilepo Makabi Glody (AS Vita Club), Mpia Nzengeli Maxi (AS Maniema Union), Ikangalombo Jonathan (DC Motema Pembe), Ngimbi Vumbi Mercey (TP Mazembe), Kabungu Kadima John’s (FC Saint Eloi Lupopo), Kitwa Kalowa Rodrigue (AS Maniema Union), Muzungu Lokombe Chadrack (RS Berkane), Bossu Nzali Adam (TP Mazembe), BILEKO Mbaki Kelvin (TP Mazembe), Mputu Mabi Tresor (TP Mazembe)
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has sacked its Serbian coach, Milutin Sredojević who is popularly known as Micho.
This is coming ahead of Libya’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations clashes with Nigeria next month.
Paradoxically, Sports Village Square gathered that the coach’s contract was only recently renewed for six months before the axe fell on the Serbian.
His sack was precipitated by the results obtained in their teo matches of the AFCON qualifiers.
Libya drew 1-1 with Rwanda at home and lost 2-1 away to Benin Republic despite beig a goal up at half time.
The Libyan side, Mediterranean Knights are due to play against the Nigeria Super Eagles in Uyo on 6 October while the return leg holds on 14 October at the 11 July Stadium in Tripoli.
According to information Sports Village Square gathered from Tripoli, the Mediterranean Knights’ coach, Micho led the Libyan national team to win nine matches since taking over in October of last year, he failed to build a strong team due to his poor choices.
He also took a risk with the footballers chosen in the AFCON qualifiers, and the result was shocking to the Libyan sports audience.
According to sources close to the Libyan Football Federation, there is a strong tendency to sign a national coach to lead the Libyan team during the remaining qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has lashed out at Ghana and some other African countries whose home grounds were recently banned from hosting CAF matches owing to inadequate facilities. He made the remarks in Nairobi, Kenya during a press conference,
After the MatchDay 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, CAF ruled Ghana’s Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi as being inadequate to host international matches. Being the only approved ground in the country, Ghana will now look towards either Cote d’Ivoire or Togo for their remaining home matches of the Afcon qualifiers.
Other African countries without approved home grounds are: Djibouti, Chad, Niger, Eritrea, Gabon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, São Tomé and Burundi.
Motsepe voiced his frustration over the recurring issue of nations being unable to host home games.
“Nothing frustrates me more than a national team or club side having to play home matches outside,” he stated.
He stressed the significance of playing in front of home fans, adding, “You can’t grow football if the national teams or club sides aren’t playing in front of their home fans.”
Motsepe reiterated CAF’s commitment to working with countries to ensure they have at least one suitable stadium to host international fixtures.
“Our conversations in every country are to make sure there is at least one stadium capable of hosting a CAF category C game,” he emphasized.
The on-going CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Coaches Symposium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire has brought together, the last three coaches that handled the Nigeria national football team.
Gernot Rohr, Jose Peseiro and Austin Eguavoen are part of the the elite coaches currently gathered in Abidjan.
Gernot Rohr whose tenure of 5 years and 55 matches is the longest ever by any coach in Nigeria, is currently handling Nigeria’s Africa Cupof Nations and World Cup qualifying rivals, Benin Republic. He was succeeded in the interim by Austin Eguavoen who is currently having another interim stint.
Peseiro left his position after the Africa Cup of Nations
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