AFCON
World Cup-bound Ghana seal emphatic win over Madagascar in 2023 AFCON qualifier
Ghana got their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign underway in style when beating Madagascar 3-0 in Cape Coast on Wednesday night.
AS Roma prodigy Felix Afena-Gyan scored one and set up another to help the Black Stars to the convincing victory in the Group E game in the coastal city.
Talented playmaker Mohammed Kudus broke the deadlock on 52 minutes with a simple tap-in from Felix Afena-Gyan before the youngster doubled the lead a few moments later.
Substitute Osman Bukari wrapped the victory after using his pace to outwit his marker before rounding up goalkeeper Nina Razakirina for the emphatic win.
The home side could have won the game by a wider margin as Kudus scored in the 68th minute but was flagged offside by the match official.
The result means Ghana go top of Group E thanks to the victory after Angola defeated Central Africa Republic 2-1 in the group’s other game earlier in the day.
The Black Stars completely dominated the opening exchanges with youngsters Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Felix Afena-Gyan missing good goalscoring opportunities by the 20th minute.
Sporting Lisbon prodigy Issahaku fired over the bar after making light work of two defenders before setting up Afena-Gyan nicely for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper but shot wide.
Goalkeeper Razakirina produced an outstanding save in the 35th minute to deny Black Stars striker Jordan Ayew from scoring with a rasping strike from 45 yards.
Ghana returned from the break and Afena-Gyan managed to exploit the crack in the visitors’ defence before cutting back for Kudus who tapped in from close range.
The AS Roma attacker made it 2-0 two minutes later after poking it in with the outside of his left foot from inside the box before Bukari’s effort with four minutes left sealing the victory.
Ghana are equal at the top of the group with Angola on three points but the Black Stars top the group with a better goal difference.
The Black Stars will travel to play the Central African Republic in four days’ time while Madagascar hosts Angola in the group’s other game.
According to Libyan sources, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will announce its final decision on the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
The two parties had until Sunday, October 19th, to submit their sides of the case. But as Libya Al-Ahrar Channel puts it, not just the failed match at Benina Stadium is being investigated.
The publication has it that the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) may have asked that the first-leg match that Libya lost should be included in the investigation.
According to Libya Al-Ahrar Channel, investigations “will include the events that accompanied the first and second leg matches between the national team and Nigeria in the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.”
The Libyan Federation submitted all the documents it collected with a specialized lawyer assigned by the Libyan Federation to supervise the Libyan file with the Confederation of African Football.
AFCON
Prominent Libyan football official calls for tough sanction on those responsible for Super Eagles’ maltreatment
A prominent Libyan football official, Al-Siddiq Abu Hadima,has called for tough sanctions on the Libyan Football Federation officials responsible for the crisis that engulfed the suspended Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Hadima, a former president of the Al-Dhahra Club, asked for the dismissal and prosecution of those responsible for the crisis.
In a publication in Libya’s outlet. Al-Wasat, Hadima recommended that if such people failed to submit a report that will exonerate them when the Sunday 20 October deadline issued by CAF lapses, “then they must be prosecuted and permanently dismissed.”
Al-Wasat got Hadima’s comments from his post on Facebook and remarked that “this negligence – if it happened – constitutes a betrayal of trust and a lack of awareness of the gravity of responsibility.”
It will be recalled that the Nigerian delegation to the botched match was held up for close to 20 hours at an abandoned Labraq Airport where their aircraft already on descent was dangerously diverted to.
The Nigerians were left without food and water for nearly 20 hours. CAF has already strongly condemned the actions of the Libyans.
As an investigation into the botched Libya-Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations match, the Libyan FA secretary, Nasser Al-Suwaie has raised queries on the integrity of the personnel of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a report published in the online version of Libyaalahrar.tv, Al-Suwaie remarked that there may be collusion from some parties within CAF, but the position of the Libyan Federation is strong.
He added that the Libyan Federation did not change the course of the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq Airport, and the reason for changing the plane’s landing to Al-Abraq was a decision by the Libyan state, and that the sovereignty of the Libyan state must be respected by everyone.
He however was silent on why the team was held hostage at the Al Abraq Airport and why the Libyan FA did not provide any logistic support to the Nigerian team that was held up at the airport for more than 16 hours without food and water.
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