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  • AFCON: Super Eagles exceeded expectations, says Akanni

    AFCON: Super Eagles exceeded expectations, says Akanni


    Ex-international, Waidi Akanni, says Super Eagles performed beyond his expectation at the just concluded 2023 Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

    Akanni said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while reacting to the Super Eagles 2-1 defeat in the finals against host country Cote d’ Ivorie.

    “I think the boys should be proud of themselves, I believe majority of Nigerians never believed that we would get to the finals. They surpassed expectations.

    “There should be no bashing whatsoever. Although they didn’t play well as they did during the semifinal match against South Africa. We got here through luck in some matches and hard work in some matches.

    “They showed us what the Nigerian spirit is all about, they fought fair and square; in football if you don’t play well you won’t win, luck can’t continue to carry you through,” he said.

    He, however, urged the handlers of the team to go back to the drawing board and invest in the success of Super Eagles in future competitions.

    “AFCON is gone, we should get our acts right, and focus on what’s next, and we all need to give this vibrant boys all the support they need to thrive.

    “The handler of the team should see to it that the players correct whatever lapses they noticed during AFCON,” he said.

    NAN reports that host Cote d’Ivoire came from a goal down to defeat Nigeria 2-1 in a pulsating final on Sunday in Abidjan, to lift the AFCON trophy for the third time. (NAN)

  • AFCON: We’ll lift trophy for those who died watching us — Super Eagles

    AFCON: We’ll lift trophy for those who died watching us — Super Eagles


    The Super Eagles have mourned four Nigerians who died while watching their epic semi-final match with Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, declaring that they will lift the continental trophy in their honour and Nigeria.

    The Captain of the national soccer team, Ahmed Musa, disclosed this while leading a solemn session by the Super Eagles players and officials to mourn the deceased on Thursday.

    LEADERSHIP reports how a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and former federal lawmaker, Chief Cairo Ojougboh, slumped and thereafter died while watching the AFCON semifinal match between Nigeria and South Africa on Wednesday night. Also, the deputy bursar of Kwara State University, Ayuba Abdullahi; a Corps member serving in Adamawa State, Samuel, and a Cote d’Ivoire based Anambra State-born businessman, all died in similar circumstances.

    But, Musa said there was nothing they could do rather than to pray for the families of the deceased and also honour their memories by winning the AFCON trophy for them and Nigeria on Sunday.

    A minute silence was, therefore, observed in honour of the deceased while a member of the Super Eagles, Chidozie Collins Awaziem, was asked to lead a prayer for the repose of their souls.

    “Yesterday (Wednesday), we lost four Nigerians because of the game yesterday. We will observe a minute silence, and after that Awaziem will lead us in prayers, we will pray for their families because there is nothing we can do and Insha Allahu on Sunday, we will lift that trophy for them and our country,” Ahmed Musa declared.

  • Eagles N3bn richer, squad arrives Bouake for Bafana clash

    Eagles N3bn richer, squad arrives Bouake for Bafana clash


    Following the Super Eagles’ progression to the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast,the team has earned a prize money of $2.5m (N3bn).

    Nigeria reached the semi-finals of the 34th edition of the AFCON after defeating Angola 1-0 at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Friday.

    As one of the remaining four teams in the competition, the Eagles, alongside South Africa, their semi-final opponents; DR Congo and hosts Ivory Coast, have already secured $2.5m.
    Before the start of the tournament, Confederation of Africa Football president, Dr Patrice Motsepe, announced a 40 per cent increase in prize monies.

    According to the statement published on the website of the football governing body January 4, the winners of the tournament will receive $7m, $2m more than the reward doled out at the last edition in Cameroon.

    The runners-up of the African showpiece event will now get $4m, while each of the two semi-finalists will receive $2.5m, with each of the four quarter-finalists taking home $1.3m.
    “CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the prize money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions,” he said.

    “We have increased the prize money of the AFCON winner to USD 7 000 000 which is a 40% increase from the previous AFCON prize money.

    “I am confident that a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations,” he continued.

    If Nigeria advanced to the final, they would have secured a minimum of $4m (N5bn) in prize money.

    Additionally, if they win the tournament, they will receive $7m (N8.8bn).

    Meanwhile, the Eagles arrived in Ivory Coast’s second-largest city, Bouake, on Tuesday (today) ahead of their semi-final clash against South Africa on Wednesday.

    Jose Peseiro’s men have played all their matches in the tournament in Abidjan. Their first two games were at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, where they drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea before pipping hosts Ivory Coast 1-0 in their second game.

    Their last group game against Guinea Bissau which they also won 1-0 was at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium while they also slay the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 2-0 as well as the Antelopes of Angola 1-0 at the same venue.

    According to the Nigeria Football Federation, the team will have one training session in Bouake on Tuesday afternoon, having had two sessions in Abidjan on Sunday and Monday.

    Historically, when Ivory Coast hosted the AFCON in 1984, Nigeria also played their semi-final match in the city of Bouake against Egypt – which they won 8-7 on penalties after regulation and extra time ended 2-2. Nigeria, however, lost the final 3-1 against Cameroon.

    The winners of the Nigeria vs South Africa game face the winners between hosts Ivory Coast and DR Congo, who also faceoff in Yamoussoukro same day.

  • Peseiro mindset phone ban on Eagles

    Peseiro mindset phone ban on Eagles

    Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has ordered his players to switch off their mobile phones from 9pm daily, as this directive comes after some of the players were seen playing game ‘Call of Duty’ on X.

    Peseiro, it was learnt, made the call to avoid distractions and enable his players remain focused ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash against South Africa at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Wednesday.

    “The players have been told to put off their phones from 9pm to rest well and avoid distractions of any form by the coach,” a camp source told our correspondent.
    “The coach has also stayed away from the media as he intensifies preparations for the match against South Africa.”

    The Eagles were the first side to book a semi-final berth at the ongoing AFCON after Ademola Lookman’s first-half goal ensured a 1-0 win over Angola in the last eight last Friday.
    Lookman finished off a flying run down the left by winger Moses Simon, who skipped the challenge of defender Kialonda Gaspar to break free and then teed up the Atalanta forward for his third goal of the tournament.

    The win saw the Eagles qualify for their 16th AFCON semi-final where they face South Africa on Wednesday and been elevated to the role of favourites at a tournament where all the top contenders have been eliminated.

    Nigeria have been crowned AFCON champions on three occasions with their last triumph coming 11 years ago. The Eagles have also finished third on eight occasions, most recently in 2019.
    Both sides have met 14 times with Nigeria winning seven games, drawn five and lost just two.

  • Score more goals, Jose Peseiro tells Super Eagles

    Score more goals, Jose Peseiro tells Super Eagles

    Jose Peseiro

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, has urged his team to elevate their game and score more goals as they prepare to face South Africa in the semifinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Following their narrow 1-0 victory over Angola in the quarterfinals, Peseiro acknowledged that his team had been fortunate and expressed a desire for them to create more scoring opportunities in the upcoming match.

    He said: “Once again, we played without conceding and scored a goal, but I would have liked to see more. The team had the potential to generate more chances,” Peseiro remarked.

    The Portuguese coach believes that Nigeria have yet to fully exploit their quality, as they have only managed to score six goals in five matches throughout the AFCON tournament.

    “We possess a talented team, and while Angola performed admirably, we were more fortunate. I am content with my players, but I want us to be more efficient,” added Peseiro.

    Acknowledging the absence of key creators like Iheanacho and Aribo, Peseiro stressed the need for other players to step up in their place.

    Nigeria is currently aiming for their fourth AFCON title, previously triumphed in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

  • Super Eagles will win AFCON trophy for Tinubu

    Super Eagles will win AFCON trophy for Tinubu

    Bola Tinubu

    The Nigeria Football Federation has attributed the Super Eagles’ AFCON quarter-final win to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It promised that the team would win the trophy for the President.

    NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abidjan on Saturday, thanked Tinubu for his support, emphasizing the President’s commitment to sports development, particularly football.

    Following a 1-0 victory over Angola, secured by Ademola Lookman’s goal assisted by Moses Simon, Gusau praised Tinubu’s motivational words to the team.
    He noted that the President’s support for the team showed how committed he is to sports development, especially football.

    He said, “You heard what he said. He said, ‘Boys go there, believe in me.
    ‘You don’t have any problem and whatever issues you are facing, just believe in me. Go and do the job and you’ll see the result.’

    “That’s exactly what he told them; you can see them doing the job.
    “By the grace of God, I know he is going to reward them handsomely, which has never happened before in the history of Nigeria.

    “We promised him that we were going to give him the trophy, and by the grace of God, we are going to do just that.”

    He reiterated the NFF’s promise to deliver the trophy to Tinubu and called on Nigerians to continue supporting the team.

    He said, “We have just two matches to go and by the grace of God we will continue to do what we are doing.

    “We call on all Nigerians to pray for us because prayer is the key to whatever we are doing.

    “So, we call on all Nigerians to continue to support us with prayers.”
    Aisha Falode, NFF Executive Board Member, emphasized the NFF’s compliance with Tinubu’s mandate to win the cup for Nigeria.

    She expressed confidence in reaching the final and urged Nigerians to rally behind the team.

    She said, “We got that mandate, ‘go win the cup for Nigeria,’ and we are on the way to doing that.

    “It is a mantra of a renewed hope.
    “A renewed Super Eagles for a renewed Nigeria with one mandate; to bring the 2023 AFCON trophy back to Nigeria for Nigerians to celebrate.

    “That’s what we are going to do. We are on our way to the final. We love Nigeria.”

    Nigeria’s upcoming opponent in the semi-final will be decided between Cape Verde and South Africa, and the tournament, which began on January 13 in Cote d’Ivoire, is set to conclude on February 11.

  • Nigeria vs. Angola: Peter Obi congratulates Super Eagles

    Nigeria vs. Angola: Peter Obi congratulates Super Eagles


    Peter Obi of Labour Party has congratulated the Super Eagles football team on their 1:0 victory against Angola at the AFCON 2023.

    He said, “It was truly a delightful and uplifting experience for me today, as I joined other Nigerians to watch Nigeria’s National Team, the Super Eagles, live in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Capital, as they cruised to the semi-final of the ongoing AFCON tournament.

    “As always, our dear team, with the strength of an eagle, flew us into the semi-finals, victoriously with a delightful show of patriotism and professionalism. I heartily congratulate our national team, the Super Eagles, for their electrifying performance.

    “The energy, passion, and composure they brought into the game were admirable and befitting of our great nation. Their victory today, and in the future, is our victory as a nation. We remain a nation of winners, that no matter how dark the night has been in our land, we will triumph over all our challenges into the New Nigeria of our dreams. I must equally salute the excellent sportsmanship of the Angolan team. As fellow Africans, they played a good game and lost gallantly.”

    “Congratulations Super Eagles. Congratulations Nigeria.”

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagle’s victory against Guinea-Bissau not convincing – Yobo

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagle’s victory against Guinea-Bissau not convincing – Yobo

    Former Nigerian international, Joseph Yobo says he’s not convinced with the Super Eagles’ victory over Guinea-Bissau in Monday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, if not the 37th minute own goal by Opa Sangante smashed Moses Simon’s cross into his net while trying to stop Osimhen waiting behind him for a tap-in.

    However, reacting after the game, Yobo, who was a guest at Afrosports AFCON Coverage, stated that he’s happy the Super Eagles won but that he’s not convinced with their performance.

    He said, “It was not a convincing victory even though we got the deserved result we needed. The team still need more cohesion because from the midfield, we are yet to get it right,”

    He continue, “we have more attacking players than midfield players. But then, when Iwobi picks, I am sure the team will create more goal scoring chances.

    “I think keeping a clean sheet is another positive result from today’s game and it indicates the defence is doing something better.”

  • AFCON: Guinea-Bissau coach, Cande vows winning Super-Eagle

    AFCON: Guinea-Bissau coach, Cande vows winning Super-Eagle


    Guinea-Bissau head coach, Baciro Cande says the Djurtus are desperate to end their barren run at the Africa Cup of Nations, as the West African who made their AFCON debut in 2017 are yet to record a win in the history of the competition.

    His side have already lost in opening two fixtures at the ongoing AFCON 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire. The Djurtus will face Nigeria in their last group game at the Felix Houphouet Boigny, Stadium, Abidjan later in the evening.

    The Coach said they will go into the game with the mindset of beating the three-time champions Super eagle of Nigeria

    The Coach speaking with the newsmen said, “I have complete trust in my team, we want to have a good performance against Nigeria. Physically and mentally we are strong”

    “We are here because we did well in the qualifiers. We have a good qualifying phase,We know it will be very difficult but we are prepared to get a win against Nigeria.”

    Meanwhile ROYAL NEWS reported how two of Super Eagles players have been ruled out of today’s match over injury.ROYAL NEWS reported how two of Super Eagles players, Ekong and Sanusi, have been ruled out of today’s match over injury.

  • AFCON 2023: Super Eagle’s Ekong, Sanusi to miss Guinea-Bissau match

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagle’s Ekong, Sanusi to miss Guinea-Bissau match

    William Troost-Ekong will not be among the Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group A In a clash with Guinea-Bissau, as he sustained hamstring injury in Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory against hosts Cote d’Ivoire last week.

    The centre-back scored the winning goal for Nigeria from the penalty spot after defender foul Victor Osimhen in the 12yard of the box in the second halves of the game.

    Williams Troost Ekong could be replaced in the starting line-up by Kenneth Omeruo.

    Similarly, left-back Zaidu Sanusi is also ruled out of the game after missing training yesterday. The Porto defender also sustained an injury in the victory over the Elephants.

    The Super Eagles will take on the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium this evening.