Category: African News

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Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria qualify for Cup of Nations last 16 from Group A
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Equatorial Guinea & Nigeria qualify for Cup of Nations last 16

Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea and Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the last 16 knockout stages of the 2023 Cup of Nations on Monday.

Equatorial Guinea convincingly hammered hosts Ivory Coast 4-0 with a brace from danger man Emilio Nsue, a 34-year-old right back of the Spanish 3rd Division side based in Alicante (In Photo) and a goal apiece from Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.

As a result, Afcon 2023 hosts Ivory Coast’s chances of progressing to the knock-out phase are out of their hands as they finish third place in Group A.

The four best third-placed sides across the six groups progress to the last 16.

Nigeria, who ended second behind Equatorial Guinea, progressed after a first-half Opa Sangante own at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium.

José Peseiro’s men will face the team that finishes second in Group C on Saturday, 27 January. Group winners Equatorial Guinea is set to face a third-placed side from Group C, D, or E in the last 16 on Sunday.

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Zambia coach Avram Grant hopeful ahead of Morocco tie
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Zambia coach Avram Grant hopeful ahead of Morocco tie

Zambia head coach Avram Grant has expressed optimism following his side’s draw against Tanzania on Sunday in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023. 

Tanzania were searching for their first Africa Cup of Nations win in 44 years but was dashed when Zambia snatched a late 1-1 Group F draw in San-Pedro.

Grant’s men scored late through Patson Daka’s header to rescue a draw against the Taifa Stars. 

“It’s a disappointing result. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy match after watching Tanzania’s match against Morocco. It’s true that we started well too but we conceded a goal quickly and that changed our tactics especially after the red card,” Grant told journalists in a post-match Interview.

“It’s difficult to play with ten players. But I’m happy with the boys’ reaction. They gave everything to come back.”

Zambia’s final group outing is against the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist and favourites Morocco on Wednesday. 

Grant believes his team will show up and deliver against the Atlas Lions. 

“We already know that Morocco is a big team but we are not afraid of them. We will play them and I hope we will put up a good performance. We will have to show character,”

“That’s what we try to do every day, get better. And on all levels. Since I have been coaching this team, we have progressed in several areas but we must continue. Even when you become champion, you have to continue to improve the team.”

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Morocco held by DR Congo in Cup of Nations encounter
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco held by DR Congo in Cup of Nations encounter 

On Sunday, Les Léopards of DR Congo halted Atlas Lion’s perfect start following their 1-1 draw at the Stade Laurent Pokou in their Matchday two Africa Cup of Nations.

PSG’s defender Achraf Hakimi had given the Atlas Lions an early lead, but DR Congo rallied their equaliser through Silas Katompa Mvumpa.

Morocco came into the tie searching for their second win and took the lead just six minutes when Hakimi rifled home after being found up by Hakim Ziyech.

DR Congo was handed a lifeline when VAR awarded a penalty after a Moroccan handball in the box on 42 minutes. However, Cedric Bakambu squandered the golden opportunity to equalise.

The Leopards finally drew parity in the 76th-minutes when Silas Katompa Mvumpa converted Elia Meschack’s assist.

Despite the draw, Morocco remains top on four points, DR Congo second on two, and all still to play for in Group F.

Morocco faces Zambia next, while DR Congo tackles Tanzania in their final pool matches on Wednesday.

DR Congo striker Silas Katompa Mvumpa, who came to the Leopard’s rescue, expressed frustration in his post-match interview.

“There was room at the end for us to get all three points. We saw the Moroccans were tired and had opportunities,” Mvumpa, who was Man of the Match, told reporters.

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Guinea's win over Gambia delights Coach Kaba Diawara
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea’s win over Gambia delights Coach Kaba Diawara

Guinea coach Kaba Diawara was delighted after his side came out with a 1-0 victory over the Gambia on Friday’s match day two Group C encounter.

The Syli national took a pivotal step towards reaching the Cup of Nations 2023 last sixteen through Mohamed Bayo’s only goal.

“This victory is payback for that previous loss, which was so hard to take,” Diawara told reporters. Winning is more important because it shows we’ve improved over two years and worked hard to get better.”

The former Guinea international felt the performance highlighted their progress despite first-half struggles.

“What didn’t go well early on was our lack of efficiency, but after changes, things improved,” analysed Diawara.

“Creating chances is the hard part, now we just need to finish them off, and that will come in time.”

Gambia head coach Tom Saintfiet, on the other hand, remains optimistic. “In the first half Guinea were stronger but in the second period we raised our level more,” the Belgian stated.

“We can still qualify with three points in our next game,” Saintfiet noted of the Scorpions boss.

Guinea still has an uphill task against already-qualified Senegal in Tuesday’s West African derby. The Gambia must defeat Cameroon and see if they will be one of the best losers to make the last 16.

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Baghdad Bounedjah rescues Algeria against Burkina Faso
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Baghdad Bounedjah rescues Algeria against Burkina Faso

Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah scored a brace as Algeria and Burkina-Faso played to a 2-2 all draw at the Stade de Bouake in their Cup of Nations match day two on Saturday.

As a result, the Stallions remain on top of Group D on four points, followed by Algeria on two points as Angola and Mauritania face off later in the day.

Baghdad Bounedjah bundles in Algeria’s leveller in the 51st minute from close range to cancel out Mohamed Konaté’s powerful header that was allowed to stand after a VAR check.

Bertrand Isidore Traoré’s 71st-minute spot-kick looked like they were on the verge of booking their Cup of Nations’ last sixteen spot – but another goal from Baghdad Bounedjah saw both teams share the spoils.

Bounedjah’s brace keeps his side’s chances of reaching the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 alive.

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Cape Verde, Senegal reach the Cup of Nations last 16
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cape Verde, Senegal reach AFCON last 16

Senegal defeated Cameroon 3-1 to join Cape Verde as the two first nations to reach the Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast’s last sixteen.

Former Manchester United player Tiago Dias Correia, Mendes da Graça and Gonçalves Pereira de Pina were all on the scoresheet as Cape Verde recorded two straight wins to reach the Cup of Nations last sixteen from Group B.

Bebe’s long-range striker in the 32nd-minute beat Mozambique keeper Ernan Siluane as Cape Verde became the first team to book their last-16 place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

The Blue Sharks face the North Africans in Egypt in their final group match on Monday. A win for Egypt against Cape Verde would mean a direct qualification as group B runner-ups, with a draw even enough in the case of Ghana and Mozambique drawing as well.

In the day’s other game, Senegal defeated Cameroon 3-1 with a 16-minute opener from Ismaïla Sarr and a second-half tap from Habib Diallo, sending the holders to the round of sixteen with a game to spare at the Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro.

Cameroon rallied a goal back to make the 2-1 through J. Castelletto, but a late strike for experienced Sadia Mane completed the Lions of Teranga 95th-minute stoppage time.

Guinea, who draw with Cameroon in the Group C opener, will take on the Gambia in the late evening kickoff on Friday.

Senegal’s final game is against Guinea Syli National on Tuesday.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

 

Post-Match: Chris Hughton was frustrated, and Rui Vitoria pleased
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Post-Match: Hughton frustrated, and Rui Vitoria pleased

Contrasted views from Black Stars’ head coach, Chris Hughton and coach Rui Victoria of Egypt after their pulsating 2-2 draw at the Félix Houphouët Boigny Stadium on Thursday.  

Ghana led twice as Egypt rallied parity to secure two points from their opening two games in the Ivory Coast Cup of Nations.

“We will continue to fight. At the moment there is indeed a lot of frustration in the locker room. Our team deserved more, but football is like that. It’s frustrating. In a similar performance, we would surely have won. Two errors cost us the match. We didn’t take this opportunity to take the three points,” Hughton told journalists. 

“I have full confidence in my team, I saw men this evening who fought to the end only victory eluded us. We showed great qualities this evening against a revitalized Ghana. The players applied our instructions perfectly. There was room to win the match”, said Egypt head coach Vitoria.

The Pharaohs, on two points, are in a similar situation and must win against Cape Verde in their final group game. Ghana must win against Mozambique if they are to have any chance of reaching the tournament’s last sixteen.

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West Ham's Mohammed Kudus nets brace in Eqypt AFCON draw
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

West Ham’s Kudus nets brace in Eqypt AFCON draw

West United striker Mohammed Kudus scored twice for Ghana against Egypt in their Group B 2-2 matchday two draw at the Félix Houphouët Boigny Stadium on Thursday but was not enough for a win.

Twice, the seven-time African champions rallied equaliser as the results left both nations still searching for a first win at the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 and a place in the last sixteen.

Mohammed Kudus’s fancy finish gave the Black Stars their lead in first-half stoppage time, just after Pharaoh’s captain Mohamed Salah was subbed off through injury.

But Omar Marmoush drew parity for coach Rui Vitoria’s side in the 69th minute before West Ham’s Kudus reinstated Ghana’s lead with a deflected effort two minutes later. 

Mostafa Mohamed scored  Egypt’s second goal to leave both sides winless after two Group B games.

As a result, Ghana must win their final group game against Mozambique if they are to have any chance of reaching the last sixteen. However, Cape Verde, who defeated Ghana 2-1 in the opener, will secure qualification if they win against Mozambique on Friday. 

The Pharaohs, on two points are in a similar situation and must win against Cape Verde in their final group game. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Nigeria's Super Eagles signal intent after defeatng Ivory Coast
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria’s Eagles signal intent with Ivory Coast win

William Troost-Ekong’s goal against the Ivory Coast signalled Nigeria’s intent to reach the last 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after the Super Eagles’ 1-0 win over hosts in Group A.

Nigeria’s victory has left Group A qualification wide open – any of the top three could qualify for the round of sixteen.

In front of a packed Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, the Elephant of Ivory Coast could not escape defeat as William Troost-Ekong’s spot kick in the 54th minute after Victor Osimhen was fouled silenced the home fans.

The three-time African champions leapfrog the Elephants to go second in Group A and are behind leaders Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea-Bissau 4-2 earlier on Thursday on goal difference.

Nigeria on four points, will face Guinea-Bissau (17:00 GMT) in their final Group A fixture on Monday as Ivory Coast battles things out on the same day. 

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.

Six-goal thriller as Emilio Nsue nets AFCON 2023 first hattrick
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Six-goal thriller as Emilio Nsue nets AFCON 2023 first hattrick 

On Thursday, former Birmingham City winger Emilio Nsue scored the Cup of Nations 2023 first hat trick as Equatorial Guinea overcame Guinea-Bissau.

Following their impressive 1-1 draw against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea continued their fine form in the Cup of Nations. They defeated Guinea-Bissua 4-2 in their second Group A match at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Thursday.

Emilio Nsue opened the scoring for Equatorial Guinea in the 21st minute, but an own goal in the 37th minute from Equatorial Guinea’s Orozco Fernandez drew parity for Guinea-Bissau.

Both sides ended the first half tied 1-1. Still, after the recess, a goal from Josete Miranda and Emilio Nsue scored two more gaols to complete his hattrick in the 51st and 61st minutes, respectively, were enough as Nzalang Nacional comfortably brushed aside their counterparts.

As a result, Equatorial Guinea  topped of Group A as Ivory Coast and Nigeria battled later to improve their chances of making it into the round of 16.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and the Writer Alie Bittar on Twitter @bittar32 African News.