Tag: General Sports

Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Stanley Nwabili, has reportedly caught the attention of Belgian club Royal Union Saint-Gilloise.

Nwabili, who has been the first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria during the AFCON, has delivered impressive performances, keeping two clean sheets in three games and making crucial saves to see the Eagles into the next round.

Union Saint-Gilloise has reportedly assigned scouts to monitor Nwabali’s performances, and the club has been impressed with his contributions. The Belgian club is currently considering a move for the Nigerian goalkeeper.

A transfer in the coming week will benefit his current club Chippa United financially. However, the South African club is under a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, making it impossible for them to sign a replacement if Nwabili departs.

Meanwhile Nwabali, standing at 1.97 meters tall, has expressed his focus on performing well for the national team, indicating that his primary goal is to contribute to Nigeria’s success in the AFCON.

As the Super Eagles of Nigeria prepare to face Cameroon in the round of 16 on Saturday, January 27, 2024, Nigerians will hope news of transfer interest does not have negative effect on the 27-year old’s performance.

Royal Union Saint Gilloise is the former club of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface.

READ MORE: Nigeria’s AFCON round of 16 opponent confirmed, date, venue, time

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria booked their place in the round of 16 of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire on Monday after beating Guinea-Bissau 1-0 to finish second in Group A.

The three times African champions are gunning for a fourth AFCON title and will face familiar foes Cameroon in the knockout round of the competition on Saturday, January 27, 2023 at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, nicknamed Le Félicia in the heart of Abidjan by 9pm.

Nigeria went through the group stages unbeaten, winning two and drawing one of their three group games. They scored three goals in three matches and conceded just one against group winners Equatorial Guinea.

The team have been heavily criticised back home for lack of goals and boring football despite having one of the best set of players in the tournament, including the reigning African Footballer of Year, Victor Osimhen.

However, Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro is not bothered about the criticisms and is happy that his team has been able to churn out results despite not playing well.

‘It is impossible to satisfy Nigerian football fans’ – Victor Osimhen 

Peseiro told journalists on Monday: “For the next match, we’re going to score,” Peseiro said. “It is important for us to score goals, but it’s a difficult tournament. We deserve to reach the first position because against Equatorial Guinea, we created many chances, we didn’t score. Equatorial Guinea did not beat us, they draw us.

“I’m happy for that, and I’ll wait for the next match. It’s not easy to win one match in this competition. It’s not easy.”

He added: “Today, we played very good football but we missed scoring chances which is not good for us.

“Our striker, Victor Osimhen, was not at his best but I’m happy we are through to the next stage.

“I want to congratulate Equatorial Guinea for leading the group with seven points after scoring many goals. I also congratulate my team for making it to the next round.

“Today’s match was a tough one; we created four opportunities but we couldn’t convert them. But I’m still happy we progressed to the next stage.

“I believe we kept our goals for the next round; we will definitely work on our finishing ahead of our next match.

“For the next match, if you score goals you proceed to the next round,” he said.

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CAF Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, has revealed that he has made a decision about his future and willl reveal same in the summer.

The Nigerian striker is currently competing for honours at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, and took time out to share update on his club future.

During an interview with CBS, Osimhen said: “I have already made my decision on the next step to take at the end of the season. I already made up my mind. I already have my plan, I know what I want to do, the next step I want to take.”

Addressing speculations about a potential move to Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, Osimhen mentioned that nothing is confirmed at the moment.

He emphasized his focus on finishing the season strongly with Napoli and indicated that he will make decisions about his future plans afterward.

“I think 60% of the people mention the rumors about me linked with the Premier League. Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world. I want to finish the season with Napoli strong and then come up with the decision I’ve already made,” Osimhen added.

It’s worth noting that Victor Osimhen recently signed a new contract with Napoli, extending his commitment to the club until 2026.

READ ALSO: Nigeria qualify for Round of 16 after beating Guinea Bissau

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Former Nasarawa United forward, Isaac James has completed a move to Portuguese Pro Liga side, CD Feirense from Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) giants, Remo Stars, on a two-year deal.

Isaac, who joined the Sky Blue Stars last summer, from relegated Nasarawa United FC made couple of league appearances for Daniel Ogunmodede tutored Sky Blues , before he was sidelined due to injury very early in the 2023/2024 season.

Having recovered from the injury, the Benue-born forward has moved to Portugal in what represents a fresh start and new beginning for his football career, with the expectations of taking his football career and goals to a different level in the Liga Portugal 2 this season.

Isaac, after completing his medicals and other details of the deal, says that he is happy to begin a new life in Portugal with CD Feirense.

Isaac James said of the transfer” Yes, it is a new Experience, beginning and good opportunity for me to join CD Feirense. It is also a great opportunity to feel the Culture in Portugal and the experience of playing in Europe.”

Isaac will be hoping to make his competitive debut for CD Feirense, when they take on Panafiel SC, in a Liga Portugal 2 Matchday 19 encounter, on Monday, January 29th, 2024,at the Estadio Municipal 25 de Abril.

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In a shocking turn of events, Ghana let slip a two-goal lead in stoppage time, settling for a 2-2 draw against Mozambique in their final group stage match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The result places the Black Stars on the brink of elimination from the group stage.

Having finished third in Group B, Ghana’s progression remains uncertain with their two-point total in contention for one of the four best third-placed team spots.

Ghana displayed early attacking intent, with Antoine Semenyo testing Ivane Urrubal’s goalkeeping skills in the opening minute. The breakthrough came when Joseph Paintsil earned a penalty, converted by captain Jordan Ayew, providing Ghana with an early lead.

The introduction of André Ayew in the second half marked a historic moment as he became the all-time AFCON appearance leader. Another penalty, expertly converted by Jordan Ayew, extended Ghana’s lead, seemingly securing their path to the last-16.

Mozambique, against the odds, found a glimmer of hope when Geny Catamo scored from the penalty spot in added time after the 90 minutes.

In a stunning finale, Reinildo’s well-timed header leveled the score at 2-2, dashing Ghana’s hopes and leaving them in a precarious position. The outcome was further complicated by Egypt’s equally dramatic 2-2 draw against Cape Verde in the group’s other match.

With serious doubts about their progression, Ghana faces the possibility of an early exit from the AFCON tournament, adding a layer of uncertainty to their campaign.

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The fairy tale story of the 2023 AFCON continued as Equatorial Guinea dump host Country Ivory Coast out of the tournament.

The Elephant suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of a resilient Equatorial Guinea side.

34 year old Emilio Nsue was at it again for Equatorial Guinea, scoring a brace to take his goal tally to 5 goals in 3 games in the ongoing AFCON!

Emilio Nsue won the 2007 U-19 Euros and 2011 U-21 Euros with Spain, playing alongside Dani Parejo, Thiago, Juan Mata, David de Gea and more.

At 34 years old, he’s the top scorer at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with five goals.

On MD2 against Guinea-Bissau, he became the oldest player to complete a hat-trick in the tournament’s history.

In the final group stage game, Nsue scored a brace in a 4-0 win against Côte d’Ivoire, which could knock the hosts out of the tournament.

For the first time in their history, Equatorial Guinea have finished top of their group and their captain has played a major role.

Ibrahim Sangare twice had equalisers ruled out for the Ivorians when they were only a goal behind, but the Elephants wasted a host of chances and were made to pay by their clinical opposition.

After an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, the Les Elephant have to wait until Wednesday to see if they qualify as one of the best third best teams.

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Nigeria became the 4th nation to reach a total of 100 matches at the AFCON. And just the second to win their 100th game after Ivory Coast who did so against Guinea Bissau as well on the opening day of the 2023 AFCON.

Nigeria secured second spot in Group A after an Opa Sangante own goal handed them a win against Guinea-Bissau, who exit the 2023 AFCON without a point.

The Super Eagles’ had the best of the chances, with Osimhen the constant threat, and they had two goals disallowed, both due to handballs by the Napoli centre-forward.

The result means the Super Eagles qualify in second place in Group A with seven points, behind Equatorial Guinea whose 4-0 destruction of hosts Ivory Coast leaves them with a far better goal difference.

The Super Eagles began this year’s tournament with a disappointing draw against Equatorial Guinea but things clicked into gear against Ivory Coast.

Troost-Ekong penalty hands Nigeria vital 1-0 win over Ivory Coast on Thursday. while Victor Osimhen grabbed a vital equaliser for the Super Eagles in their draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Guinea-Bissau had no chance of progressing to the knockout stages, but played their part in an entertaining match at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.

Jose Peseiro’s team will now stay in Abidjan for a last-16 tie on Saturday at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium against the runners-up in Group C, which will be Senegal, Guinea or Cameroon.

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Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Sunshine Stars of Akure, have parted ways with coach Edith Agoye following a series of disappointing performances.

The decision comes after the team’s recent 1-0 defeat to Kwara United, leaving them with just one point away from the relegation zone in the NPFL.

Agoye was asked to step aside on Monday, January 22, 2024, as a result of the team’s poor run, having won only one of their last seven NPFL matches.

The former head coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club led Sunshine Stars to the NPFL Super Six title playoffs last season but struggled to replicate the success in the current season.

The club is actively considering three potential replacements for Agoye.

Top of that list is Kennedy Boboye, a former champion with Plateau United who recently handled Heartland FC until an Executive order led to the reinstatement of replaced coach Christian Obi.

Also on the list is Duke Udi and Deji Ayeni who last season managed Akwa United FC but was not offered a new contract for the 2023/2024 season.

The change in coaching staff at Sunshine Stars is viewed as a strategic move to address the team’s inconsistent performance and avoid relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL) by the end of the season.

Sunshine Stars FC is currently positioned 12th on the NPFL24 log. The club’s next game is scheduled against Kwara United FC on February 4th, 2024, providing ample time for the new coach search as they enter the second half of the season.

RELATED ARTICLE: NFF commiserates with NPFL Club Management over Dosunmu’s demise

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William Troost-Ekong and Zaidu Sanusi have been ruled out of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) clash vs Guinea -Bissau. The AthleticNG reports.

Nigeria will face Guinea-Bissau on Monday (today), January 22, 2024, in Abidjan to conclude the group stage of the 2023 AFCON.

Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro will be forced into defensive changes due to injury suffered by William Troost-Ekong  and Zaidu Sanusi in the last game.

Both defenders have been ruled out of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A clash against Guinea-Bissau. Troost-Ekong sustained a hamstring injury during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory against Cote d’Ivoire, where he scored the decisive goal.

The PAOK Salonica player’s absence poses a challenge for the Super Eagles, and he could be replaced in the starting lineup by Kenneth Omeruo.

Omeruo is expected to step in and provide defensive stability for Nigeria. The 2013 AFCON winner joined Peseiro for the pre-match interview.

In addition to Troost-Ekong, left-back Zaidu Sanusi will also miss the game due to an injury sustained in the victory over Cote d’Ivoire. The Porto defender’s absence adds to the defensive concerns for the Nigerian team.

The Super Eagles are set to face the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday, and the team will need to adjust its defensive lineup to compensate for the injuries.

A win or at least a draw will see Nigeria book an automatic last-16 spot while defeat and a Cote d’Ivoire win could mean the Eagles waiting until the conclusion of final group games to see if they make the best four third place teams.

Nigeria’s AFCON campaign has suffered multiple injuries, with Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar having to be replaced in the 25-man final list while Alhassan Yusuf is yet to recover from injury sustsained vs Equatorial Guinea on January 14.

RELATED ARTICLE: We will do our best to win; Osimhen speaks ahead of Guinea Bissau AFCON clash

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Following the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match between Congo and Morocco, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba faced a barrage of racist abuse on social media.

The abuse, consisting of monkey and gorilla emojis and racist comments, was directed at Mbemba after his team secured a 1-1 draw against Morocco.

The 29-year-old Mbemba, who plays for French club Marseille, became the target of racist comments on his Instagram account.

This unfortunate incident highlights the persisting issue of racism in football and the toxic behavior displayed by some individuals on social media platforms.

The abuse occurred in the aftermath of a heated exchange between Mbemba and Morocco coach Walid Regragui. The on-field altercation escalated into a melee involving players and officials from both teams, continuing as they left the field and entered the players’ tunnel.

Regragui approached Mbemba after the game, leading to a tense interaction. Mbemba, who was on his knees giving thanks, initially engaged in what appeared to be a friendly exchange. However, the situation escalated as Regragui continued talking and Mbemba, feeling insulted, gestured for the video referee.

In response to the racist comments and gestures, Mbemba chose to remain silent, emphasizing his respect for everyone.

Mbemba said of the incident with Morocco coach, Walid Regragui ‘I respect the coach who is a great man. The TV cut the videos, but I have them. I don’t need to swing them. I keep my silence, it’s better, that’s how I am. Everyone knows me, I respect everyone, I don’t need to shoot anyone but God’s justice is there.’

In his own comments about the incident, Regragui told L’Equipe: ‘I said to Desabre [Dr Congo’s coach]: ‘Bring him back to me, he’s going crazy, he’s talking nonsense. I didn’t like it because it insinuates a lot of things.

‘So if he has images other than what we see on television, let him take them out, with pleasure. And he’ll see exactly what happened. And that’s what happened… Before I went to shake his hand, he took me and my assistant to task on the sidelines before the end of the game, he spoke badly to us. And Desabre knows it.

‘ And at the end, despite that, I’m going to shake his hand and say, “Why are you talking to me like that?” And then he looks away, like “I’m not shaking your hand”. I held his hand, you can see it on the pictures, and he started screaming all over the place.

“I said, “You’re telling it to yourself!” And he’s like, “You called me an idiot!” It’s okay that he heard that, even though I never said it, but by speaking the way he did, he’s implying that my words are racist, it’s dishonest. Since he only talks about religion in his speech, let him be a little honest with himself.’ the coach said.

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