Category: Football Africa

Baciro Cande is the eighth AFCON managerial casualty
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Baciro Cande is the eighth AFCON managerial casualty

Baciro Cande, who has served as coach for Guinea-Bissau, is set to depart his position when his contract expires next month. 

Cande took over as coach of the national team in 2016 after a previous stint.

The Bissau football federation has announced that they will not be extending the 56-year-old’s contract following the team’s group-stage exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

The team, known as the Djurtus (Wild Dogs), finished at the bottom of Group A after losing all their three games. However, Guinea-Bissau has not won in 12 matches at the tournament, which stretches back to their debut in 2017 in Gabon. 

Cande is just one of the many coaches who have parted ways with their teams from the 2023 edition of the finals in Ivory Coast, including Rui Vitoria, Djamel Belmadi, Tom Saintfiet, Chris Hughton, Jean-Louis Gasset, Adel Amrouche (Tanzania) and Jalel Kadri (Tunisia) have recently left their teams.

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

Nigeria v Ivory Coast: bitter rivals competing for continental glory
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria v Ivory Coast: bitter rivals competing for continental glory

The Africa Cup of Nations final, which will take place on February 11 at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, will see tournament favourites Nigeria facing off against hosts Ivory Coast. 

This highly anticipated match between two bitter rivals promises to be a titanic clash, with both teams vying for continental glory in the CAF AFCON 2023 final.

During the group stage of AFCON, Nigeria defeated the hosts with a narrow margin of 1-0. However, in the final, Cote d’Ivoire will be hoping to seek redemption. 

Winning a third AFCON on home soil would be a remarkable achievement, and Nigeria is aware of the fact that they are up against a tough challenge.

For Nigerian manager Jose Peseiro, outwitting his counterpart Emerse Fae will be crucial. Peseiro’s tactical prowess led Nigeria to victory against South Africa in the first semi-final, while Fae’s team overcame DR Congo 1-0. 

Recap Nigeria vs Ivory Coast: Tournament So Far

Nigeria has been performing exceptionally well in the competition – having qualified for the knockout stages as runners-up in Group A. They managed to draw 1-1 with group winners Equatorial Guinea and then secured wins against Guinea-Bissau (1-0) and fellow finalists Ivory Coast (1-0).

The Super Eagles continued their winning streak by knocking out Cameroon in the round of 16, Angola in the quarters and South Africa in the semi-finals. This has led them to their eighth AFCON final in history. Nigeria has won the cup before in 1980, 1994 and 2013, and they are looking to win their fourth championship this time around.

In contrast, Ivory Coast’s journey to the final could be seen as lucky. They won 2-0 against Guinea-Bissau in their opener but then fell 1-0 to Nigeria and were thrashed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea. As a result, they were placed third in the group and qualified as the worst third-placed team.

However, the Elephants were able to turn their fortunes around by defeating defending champions Senegal in the round of 16 with a 5-4 penalty shootout. They then went on to win against Mali (2-1 a.e.t.) in the quarters and DR Congo (1-0) in the semi-finals to reach their fifth AFCON final in history. 

The Ivorian fans can’t wait to win the championship on home soil in what promises to be an exciting encounter.

  • Nigeria vs Ivory Coast: Head-to-Head Record (Since 2000)

  • Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria (01/24)
  • Nigeria 0-1 Ivory Coast (01/15)
  • Ivory Coast 2-0 Nigeria (07/13)
  • Nigeria 4-1 Ivory Coast (07/13)
  • Ivory Coast 1-2 Nigeria (02/13)
  • Ivory Coast 1-0 Nigeria (01/08)
  • Nigeria 0-1 Ivory Coast (02/06)
  • Ivory Coast 1-1 Nigeria (01/02)

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

Sebastien Haller's goal set thrilling AFCON final date with Nigeria
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sebastien Haller’s goal set thrilling AFCON final date with Nigeria

The hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, have secured a place in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations final after defeating DR Congo 1-0 with the help of Sebastien Haller’s goal. 

In the semi-final, Haller brilliantly flicked in Nicolas Pepe’s cross to score the match-winning goal. Cote d’Ivoire to battle Nigeria in a thrilling showdown as they aim to win the AFCON title on their home soil.

The Super Eagles advanced to the final on Wednesday after defeating South Africa 4-2 in a penalty shootout, following a tense 1-1 draw in Bouake.

The cagey contest in Abidjan saw Haller score the only goal in the 65th minute with a bouncing volley that went over Leopards’ goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

The 29-year-old striker, who battled and recovered from testicular cancer, will lead Cote d’Ivoire’s attack alongside Pepe with a chance to win the trophy.

A win in the final would bring joy to Abidjan, as the tournament is being played on home soil. Despite struggling in their group, the Elephants have gained momentum despite their unconvincing performances.

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

Bafana Bafana's Hugo Broos confident ahead of Nigeria tie
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bafana Bafana’s Hugo Broos confident ahead of Nigeria tie

South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, is confident as he prepares his team for the semi-final clash with the Super Eagles of Nigeria. 

The Bafana Bafana secured their place in the last four after defeating Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties on Saturday night. Goalkeeper Rowen Williams saved four spot kicks, which made him the hero of the night.

Broos said ahead of Nigeria’s cracker, “There was a lot of pressure in the match. Everyone wanted to qualify. This match was unlike the previous ones. We did not show the same performance as we had in previous matches. 

The semi-final match will be different against Nigeria, who have good players like Lookman. We will not lose focus. The players will be in good condition, so we need to rest and recover to start our preparation”.

The match will take place at the Stade de la Paix, Bouake, on Wednesday.

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José Peseiro calls for Nigeria to be clinical in attack
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

José Peseiro calls for Nigeria to be clinical in attack

Nigeria’s manager, José Peseiro, has urged his team to improve their attack ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash against South Africa.

The Nigerian national football team, also known as the Super Eagles, has advanced to the semi-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 after defeating Angola with a score of 1-0. The result marked their fourth consecutive clean sheet at the tournament. 

They play against South Africa on Wednesday at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké (5:00 PM GMT). A victory in this match would bring them closer to their goal of winning a fourth title for Nigeria. 

While praising the team’s defensive strength, the head coach, Peseiro, hopes to see improvements in their attacking abilities. Although they managed to score a goal against Angola without conceding any, he believes that more goals would have been better.

The team could have created more opportunities,” he said. With only six goals scored in five games, the Portuguese coach feels Nigeria isn’t capitalizing on their quality. “We are a quality team Angola was very good, but we had more luck. I remain satisfied with my players but want us to be more efficient,” Peseiro added.

“We’re missing key creators like Iheanacho and Aribo, so it’s been hard. But others must now step up,” he noted. As Nigeria chase their fourth AFCON title, Peseiro believes finding a clinical edge could be decisive. 

The Super Eagles have ground-out results thanks to their miserly defence. But should they rediscover their scoring touch, Peseiro is on the verge of leading Nigeria back to the pinnacle of African football.

AFCON hosts Ivory Coast triumph with a last-gasp winner
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON hosts Ivory Coast triumph with a last-gasp winner

The Elephants of Ivory Coast, in front of home fans, pulled off another remarkable escape act in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Cote d’Ivoire and DR Congo will face each other in the semi-finals on Wednesday, February 7th at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

They won the quarterfinal match against Mali with a 122nd-minute goal from Oumar Diakite, which broke the hearts of the losing team.

The Ivorians played most of the game at a disadvantage since Odilon Kossounou was sent off for two first-half fouls on Lassine Sinayoko. They went behind to Nene Dorgeles’ beautiful curling shot.

In the 90th minute of the game, the Elephants managed to equalize thanks to an opportunistic finish from Simon Adingra. Then, in the extra time, they won the game with virtually the last kick as Diakite deflected Seko Fofana’s shot into the net.

Despite the victory, Diakite’s emotions were mixed as he received a second yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration. This means he will be banned for the upcoming semi-final match against DR Congo.

Unfortunately, the final whistle caused some unpleasant scenes. Several Mali players surrounded the referee, Mohamed Adel, and protested against his decisions. As a result, Hamari Traore was shown a red card for taking his protests too far.

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South Africa Keeper stars in high stakes shootout
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa keeper Ronwen Williams stars in AFCON shootout 

South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the hero of the day as he saved four penalties to help his team reach the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

Bafana Bafana will take on the Super Eagles in the semi-finals on Wednesday, 07 February, at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

After a goalless draw against Cape Verde, Williams denied the Blue Sharks four times in the penalty shootout to lead his team to the next round, where they will face Nigeria.

Williams gave credit to his entire team and technical staff for his heroic displays on Saturday. “It was tough. They played their part, and it was my time to play my part,” said Williams, crediting his teammates and back-end staff. “I am just glad that we are in the next round. This is not mine, but it is for the collective.” 

The Mamelodi Sundowns man added, “The staff, technical team, and each player. This journey has been tough, but we soldiered on as a team, so I will accept this on behalf of every player in Bafana Bafana.”

South Africa’s captain, Ronwen Williams, not only kept Cape Verde at bay during the 120 minutes of play but also helped his team reach the semi-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023. 

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DR Congo's Yoane Wissa focuses on AFCON semi-final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa focuses on AFCON semi-final

DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa expressed his determination to represent his nation well after their victory over Guinea, which secured their place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. 

Wissa scored a crucial penalty in the quarter-final match, which ended in a 3-1 victory for DR Congo, earning him the game’s man of the match. 

He mentioned that he and his teammates are proud to take on the responsibility of raising their country’s flag high and that they are ready to play in any position when called upon by their country. 

DR Congo, who have won the AFCON title twice before last in 1974, are now one step closer to the finals. 

Wissa stated that their team has no preference over their next opponent, whether it’s Mali or Cote d’Ivoire, as they are both great footballing nations, and DR Congo needs to be ready to face either of them. 

The Leopards, who played a great game against Guinea, are continuing to perform well and seem to be peaking at the right time in their pursuit of continental glory.

Nigeria soar into Afcon semis as Lookman nets winner
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria soar into Afcon semis as Lookman nets winner 

Nigeria defeated Angola 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, thanks to a goal from Ademola Lookman in the first half at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium.

It was Lookman’s third in his last three games at the tournament after his brace against Cameroon in the round of sixteen tie.

Moses Simon assisted the goal, and it came just four minutes before half-time in Abidjan. 

Although Angola had a chance through Zine, who hit the post before the hour mark, they were second-best for most of the game. 

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen’s had a goal disallowed by the video assistant referee, who ruled him offside in the 75th minute. 

Champions in 1980, 1994 and 2013, Jose Peseiro’s side certainly have plenty of positives to build on as they head into the semi-finals.

Nigeria will now face either Cape Verde or South Africa in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Nigeria are through to the AFCON 2023 Semi-finals
Nigeria are through to the AFCON 2023 Semi-finals
DR Congo in hunt for first AFCON win over Guinea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DR Congo in hunt for first AFCON win over Guinea

On Friday evening, the contest will take place at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpé as DR Congo in search of their first Cup of Nations win over Guinea for a place in the semi-finals.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two nations at the AFCON. DR Congo has never beaten Guinea in three previous group stage meetings, including a 2-1 loss in their last meeting in 2004.

DR Congo has reached the quarter-finals without winning a single game in normal time. However, defender Gédéon Kalulu believes that psychological victories can help them progress. “Certainly, we can note two victories on the psychological front. The first is having beaten a top 5 side on penalties, and the second is not conceding many goals,” said Kalulu.

Guinea is expected to have key players Naby Keita and Serhou Guirassy back from injury, which will boost the team’s morale. “Naby and Serhou are getting better and better. They are two very important assets for our team. Their entries in previous matches were crucial for us,” noted Guinea midfielder Amadou Diawara.

With a chance to make it to the AFCON semi-finals for the first time since 2015, Guinea striker Sory Kaba stressed the need for efficiency. “Against a compact Congolese team, we will have to be rigorous and efficient. The team that makes the least mistakes will go through,” Kaba stated.

The winner of this game face either Mali or Ivory Coast in the semifinal next week.

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