AFCON
Can Eguavoen get perfect group finish again?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Only one coach of the Nigerian national team has ever had a perfect finish in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.
He is Augustin Eguavoen, the current man who is temporarily sitting on the saddle, but eminently qualified to be the Super Eagles’ manager.
The Africa Cup of Nations 2021 is his second adventure having guided the Super Eagles to a podium finish at Egypt 2006.
At the time, the Super Eagles won all three group matches against Ghana, Zimbabwe and Senegal.
The closest Nigerian to a Eguavoen’s record was Clemens Westerhof whose team beat Senegal and Kenya in Group A matches of the 1992 edition.
At the time, the competition had just been expanded from eight teams of two groups to a four-group and three-team format.
All previous Nigerian managers failed to achieve the perfect group finish.
In 1963, under Brazilian coach, Jorge Augusto Pena, Nigeria lost the two group matches 6-3, 4-0 to Egypt and Sudan respectively.
In 1976, Nigeria under Yugoslav coach, Tihomir-tiko Jelisavcic who was better known as ‘Father Tiko’ , Nigeria won two group matches and lost the one.
In 1978 under the same coach, it was a win and two drawn games in Accra, Ghana. On home soil in Lagos in 1980, Brazilian, Otto Martins Gloria, Nigeria won two group matches and drew one.
Under the same coach, widely regarded as a world class having led the sensational Portugal team that has in its fold the legendary Eusebio to beat his native country Brazil 3-1 at the 1966 World Cup, Nigeria crashed out of the group stage in the only time that ever happened since 1963.
At the Libya 1982, Nigeria as defending champion won a match and lost two. Adegboye Onigbinde’s team in 1984 won a group match and drew the other two.
In 1988, Manfred Hoener’s team won just a group game and drew the other two. Clemens Westerhof guided Nigeria to two group games’ victories and a loss to the hosts at Algeria ‘90.
It was the structural adjustment to the games’ format that saw him winning the two group games against Senegal and Kenya at the 1992 edition.
But he could not replicate it at the 1994 edition as Nigeria only beat Gabon in the group stage and drew the second match with Egypt.
In 2000, Westerhof’s compatriot, Bonfrere Johannes guided the Super Eagles to two group games’ victories and drew the third with Congo.
Amodu Shaibu in 2002 led the Super Eagles to two group games wins and drew the third. Eight years later, he opened his Africa Cup account with a loss to Egypt before winning the remaining two group games.
Christian Chukwu in 2004 lost his opening game but won the two other group matches to fall short of perfect record.
Stephen Keshi’s team was almost become ‘draw specialists’ after their back-to-back 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso and Zambia respectively in the group games.
Another draw was imminent in the last group match with Ethiopia as the game got to the last 10 minutes before two penalty kick awards salvaged the situation for Nigeria.
So, no perfect group finish. Gernot Rohr whose team had ‘soft’ group fixtures at the 2019 edition struggled to a 1-0 defeat of Burundi and Guinea before scandalously losing 2-0 to debutants, Madagascar in their last group games.
As it is, only Eguavoen has had a perfect group finish. Will he replicate the record when his team face Guinea Bissau on Wednesday?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their impressive performance in the 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, praising the team for keeping Nigeria’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Adebayo Onanuga, the President lauded the players for their “hunger, passion, and determination” during the crucial qualifier in Uyo, describing their display as one that has “reignited Nigerians’ football pride.”
“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” Tinubu said. “The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host.”
Reaffirming the government’s backing, President Tinubu assured the players and coaching crew of full Federal Government support as they prepare for the decisive play-off stage.
“Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too,” he said. “We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage.”
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The Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has announced a strong start to ticket sales, confirming that 58,000 tickets had been sold as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
According to an official update, the enthusiasm for the continental showpiece has also been reflected on the Yalla App, where 145,731 applications have been received so far. In addition, a total of 121,924 FAN IDs have been issued, including 31,058 belonging to foreign nationals representing 108 countries around the world.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the committee disclosed that technical teams are working round the clock to enhance the ticketing and FAN ID systems to ensure smooth processing for fans.
To assist applicants and ensure better communication, the organizers have provided a dedicated customer service line: +212 5 30 30 20 30. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Arabic, English, and French, and is staffed by over 600 agents trained to respond to inquiries and provide user support.
Fans can also reach the support team via email at info@yallamorocco.ma.
The Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to supporters, media representatives, delegations, and partners for their enthusiasm and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a seamless and memorable experience for all stakeholders during AFCON Morocco 2025.
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Ticket sales for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will officially open on Monday, 13 October 2025, with an exclusive 48-hour pre-sale window reserved for Visa cardholders, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
Fans across Africa and around the world will be able to secure their seats for what promises to be the continent’s biggest football spectacle, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The special Visa pre-sale period will run from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) until Wednesday, 15 October at 08:00 GMT, before general ticket sales open to all fans using other payment methods.
To streamline ticket purchases and enhance security, the Local Organizing Committee has launched the YALLA App, an integrated digital platform for fans to obtain their Fan ID — a mandatory requirement for buying tickets — and apply for E-Visas (AEVM) where necessary.
According to organizers, each registered Fan ID allows supporters to buy only one ticket per match, ensuring wider access and transparency in ticket distribution.
The process for obtaining tickets is straightforward:
- Download the YALLA App, available on Google Play and the App Store.
- Apply for a Fan ID and E-Visa (if required) through the app.
- Once approved, Visa cardholders can visit tickets.cafonline.com starting from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) to purchase their AFCON 2025 tickets.
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is expected to deliver a festival of football and culture, with fans urged to complete their Fan ID registration early to avoid last-minute rushes.
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