Connect with us

Africa cup of Nations

Super Eagles fly past Indomitable Lions

Captain Fantastic! William Ekong stops an advancing Cameroonian striker

To AFCON 2023 quarter-finals

 

Massdefence formation thwarts another Cameroonian threat

Mass defense formation thwarts another Cameroonian threat.

 

 By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

A fearless Nigerian side marched assuredly into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a revving up into the fifth-gear performance that eliminated Cameroon from the continent’s flagship football championship on Saturday.

 

The Super Eagles, who took seven out of the maximum nine points from their group phase matches, stepped onto the relatively familiar turf of the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny to take on Cameroon for one of the AFCON 2023 quarter-final tickets.

 

They had taken the lead with assurance and mindset when Semi Ajayi swept the ball home from a goalmouth melee. Though Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed initially whistled for a goal advantage for Nigeria, but was summoned by the Video Assistant Referee to watch the action again and afterward ruled out the strike.

 

Nigeria’s twin arsenal in Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman did not relent. In the 35th minute, Africa Player-of-the-Year Osimhen picked the pocket of a dithering defender, Oumar Gonzalez, and threaded the ball through to Lookman, who shot past Fabrice Ondoa in Cameroon’s goalpost from close range to give Nigeria the lead.

 

After the recess, Nigeria continued where they had left off in the first period, and Lookman blasted over the sticks from a 22-yard free-kick. Five minutes later, Lookman freed Osimhen, but the Super Eagles’ number nine shirt got too much purchase on the ball, and Ondoa cleared.

 

Cameroon called goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to duty in the 71st minute with a fierce free-kick, but the goaltender punched clear. Nwabali was injured in another goalmouth melee and had to be substituted for Francis Uzoho.

 

Five minutes from the end, a one-two of Osimhen and Lookman from the left saw the ball roll to Olaoluwa Aina in the box, but his effort was too weak, allowing Ondoa to block with his leg.

 

On the dot of 90 minutes, Calvin Bassey and Lookman combined from the left, and with the Cameroonian defense bewildered, Lookman placed the ball to the far left of Ondoa for his, and Nigeria’s, second goal of the night, sending the crowd into wild delirium.

 

“It was a solid performance, and Nigeria is proud of this team. They did a great job tonight, and the country looks forward to the quarter-finals with high expectations,” President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said after the final whistle.

 

The three-time champions, who knocked out Cameroon from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Round 16, will now confront Angola’s Palancas Negras (Black Levers) in the quarter-finals on Friday. Venue is the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

 

Please follow and like us:
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Africa cup of Nations

‘Qualification is our only objective’

Casimir Nnga CAFonline

Kévin Nicaise & Casimir Ninga (Chad coach and captain)

 

 

Chad managed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mauritius on Friday, 22 March, in the opening leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers. This was the nation’s first win in five years, as it aims to qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON for the first time in history.

 

The return leg of the qualifier is scheduled for Mauritius on Tuesday, 26 March.

 

CAFOnline caught up with Chad coach Kevin Nicaise, and captain Casimir Ninga posted the victory.

 

Coach, congratulations on the victory. Your team dominated the second period but lacked efficiency in finishing. Does this concern you?

 

Kévin Nicaise:  We faltered a little in the finishing. However, what I remember is that we created a lot of chances. We were solid defensively. In the first half, the match was more balanced. During the second half, we took the upper hand. At the start of the game, the boys were a little stressed about what was at stake. It’s a relatively young group; they don’t all have experience compared to Mauritius. But overall, we are satisfied.

 

How do you plan on rectifying the lack of finishing?

 

KN: We are far from perfect, far from being a top team globally. We are in the construction phase. There are still things to work on and improve. It is not overnight that we will be a top team in the world, we are aware of that, however we are working hard with the group and the staff to achieve this goal. The first twenty minutes were not significant. During the second half, we dared to play and placed ourselves higher. Our group has players with a lot of quality, but the occasion stressed them initially, and then they adjusted later. We could have scored a goal a little earlier, which would have relieved everyone, but I am satisfied with my team’s performance.

 

Captain, what did the coach say to the team during halftime?

 

Casimir Ninga: During half-time, the coach told us about our missed chances. I knew we had to work harder in front of the goal and that, at some point, it would kick in.

 

What analysis do you make of this first meeting against Mauritius?

 

CN: The group has just been formed, and we are still gelling. Our opponents now know our game, and we know theirs. We will now get back to work to fill our gaps.

 

What will be the key to winning the return match?

 

CN: We will go to Mauritius to qualify. Our objective is clear. Chad has never been to the AFCON. Many generations have struggled with the accomplishment of this project. Everything comes in its time; we have good hope of getting there.

 

Coach, what are your team’s good points after this meeting?

 

KN: The biggest thing is winning. It’s been five years since we last won a match; it’s a relief for everyone. I think it will give me confidence for the future. Then, defensively, we must remain strong. We didn’t concede too many chances. We must take advantage of this victory and quickly refocus because a match awaits us on Tuesday.

 

Please follow and like us:
Continue Reading

Africa cup of Nations

Chad move on in AFCON 2025 qualifier

Chad CAFonline

Join Liberia, Eswatini in TotalEnergies driving seat

 

 

Following Liberia and Eswatini’s emphatic first-leg wins in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers on Wednesday, 20 March, Chad joined the two nations in the driving seat following their slender 1-0 win over Mauritius on Friday.

 

Liberia edged Djibouti 2-0 at home, while Eswatini were happy travelers when they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Liberia to mark the start of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 qualifiers.

 

The slim victory sees coach Kevin Nicaise’s charges take an important lead in the two-legged affair. The return leg in Mauritius will be even tougher against the islanders on Tuesday, 26 March.

 

Meanwhile, nothing could separate Sao Tome, Principe, and South Sudan when the two sides played out to a goalless draw in Berkane on the same evening.

 

The 0-0 draw will be highly welcomed by South Sudan, hoping to secure a victory at the expense of their opponents, who failed to take their chances in the first leg.

 

Eight (8) of the lowest-ranked nations, as per the FIFA Rankings, are competing in a home-and-away knockout format for the preliminary stage of the qualifiers. The four (4) remaining countries will be eligible to join the 44 nations that will be engaged in the group stages of the qualifiers.

 

TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 Preliminary Qualifiers Results:

 

First Leg Fixtures:

Wednesday, 20 March 

 

Somalia 0 – 3 Eswatini

Djibouti 0 – 2 Liberia

 

Friday, 22 March

Chad 1 – 0 Mauritius

Sao Tome and Principe 0 – 0  South Sudan

 

Return Leg Fixtures:

Tuesday, 26 March

13:00 GMT | Eswatini – Somalia

16:00 GMT | Liberia – Djibouti

17:00 GMT | South Sudan – Sao Tome and Principe

15:00 GMT | Mauritius – Chad

 

Please follow and like us:
Continue Reading

Africa cup of Nations

WATCH LIVE: AFCON Morocco 2025 Preliminary Draw Today

afcon-draw-wl Photo credit: CAFonline

TotalEnergies Morocco 2025 Preliminary Draw Today

 

 

Following the successful conclusion of the 34th edition of TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, the focus has shifted to the next edition, with the preliminary draw of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 scheduled for Today, 20 February at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

 

The Live Draw will be conducted at 14h00 local time (12h00 GMT) and can be viewed Live on CAF’s official YouTube channel, CAF TV.

 

Real-time updates will also be instantly available across CAF’s digital platforms.

 

TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2023 complete draw procedures 

 

Please follow and like us:
Continue Reading