Category: Football Africa

Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stunned Ghana with Rodrigues' goal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mo Salah rescues Egypt as Cape Verde stun Ghana

Egypt captain Mohammed Salah converted a late penalty kick to rescue Egypt from a 2-2 draw against Mozambique in their opening group B game of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

The Pharaohs started brightly with an early goal through Mohamed Mostafa’s strike, but the Mambas came into the second half much stronger with determination. 

They rallied in the second half with goals from Witness João Quembo and Clésio Baúque in the 55th and 58th minutes, respectively. 

However, deep into the extra time, Domingos Macandza’s missed kick brought down Mostafa Mohammed – a VAR review confirmed Egypt deserved a penalty.

Salah made no mistake to slot in his spot kick for his first goal of the tournament as he helped the Phaphroahs nick a point.

In Group B’s other encounter, Garry Rodrigues’ late goal handed Cape Verde a 2-1 victory as they secured maximum points against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Cape Verde took a deserved lead in the 17th minute through Jamiro Monteiro. The former Philadelphia Union midfielder tapped home from a loose ball from goalkeeper Richard Ofori. 

Alexander Djiku levelled the scoreline for the Black Stars. However, his goal was not enough – after Garry Rodrigues scored late in stoppage time.

As a result, Cape Verde tops Group B on three points, followed by Egypt, Mozambique and Ghana, respectively. 

Egypt will play Ghana on Thursday, January 18, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium – whilst Cape Verde takes on Mozambique on Friday at the same venue. 

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Victor Osimhen's quick-fire equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Disappointing AFCON start for Nigeria’s Super Eagles

Three-time African Champiosn Nigeria’s Super Eagles shared the spoils with Equatorial Guinea 1-1 in the African Cup of Nations Group A opener at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, northern Abidjan on Sunday.

As a result, host Ivory Coast top Group A with three points after their 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday. 

Iban Salvador’s fine first-half finish put the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea ahead in the 36th minute. However, his goal was cancelled by the African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen in the 38th minute.

Victor Osimhen once again proved he is a key player in the Super Eagles side after his equaliser spared Nigeria a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Italy & Napoli Player of the Year nodded in a minute after Iban Salvador’s opener for the underdogs. 

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro heads into the tournament under some pressure, having drawn with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying before losing to Guinea in a friendly.

Jesus Owono made several second-half saves to deny the Super Eagles, while Osimhen missed after breaking clear.

Jesus Lazaro was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match award after a breathtaking performance.

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Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener
Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea Share Spoils in Group A Opener
Ivory Coast triumph over Guinea Bissau in AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast triumph over Guinea-Bissau in AFCON opener 

Hosts Ivory Coast opened the 34th edition of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé.

Seko Fofana’s early goal was the perfect start for the Elephants in front of an exciting packed house in their Group A clash in Abidjan when he struck home from just inside the area in the fourth minute.

The Al Nassr midfielder capitalised on a loose ball outside when he unleashed a superb strike beyond goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco.

Ivory Coast’s superior talent shone through in short bursts, Fofana rattling the crossbar as goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco produced a superb fingertip stop to deny a carbon copy of the first goal.

Despite a few threats from the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau – However, the hosts doubled their advantage just before the hour mark when substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso stylishly fired home from a Jonathan Bamba assist.

It was Krasso’s goal-fine finish that put the result beyond the Djurtus as Cote d’Ivoire confidently opened the tournament with a convincing victory.

Group A continues on Sunday with Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea facing off before the Super Eagles meet Ivory Coast on Thursday in arguably the most-anticipated game of the group stage.

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Seko Fofana, who fired the hosts into the lead, was named Man of the Match
Seko Fofana, who fired the hosts into the lead, was named Man of the Match
AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast eye positive start against Guinea Bissau
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast eye positive start against Guinea Bissau

On Saturday, the Elephant of Côte d’Ivoire set their sight to kick off their 25th appearance as host of the Africa Cup of Nations in four decades on a positive footing.

Ivory Coast have been African champions twice before, most recently in 2015 with a team captained by Yaya Toure, but this time, they’ll be hoping to thrive under the pressure of playing at home.

Saturday’s encounter will be the first encounter between Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset will rely on their star forward Sebastien Haller against minnows Guinea-Bissau at the newly-built Ebimpe Olympic Stadium at kickoff 20:00 hrs.

“We feel the expectation every day but we just need to live with it,” Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset, the 70-year-old Frenchman, told reporters in the country’s economic capital Abidjan on Friday.

“My job is to transform the pressure into something positive, to make sure that gives the players strength and confidence.”

The Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau are ready for their fourth continental showpiece after making their debut in 2017, six years as they finished bottom of their group in each of their three previous participations, with a total of three draws and six defeats.

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Terem Moffi replaces Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Terem Moffi replaces Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface

Ligue 1 club Nice Terem Igobor Moffi has been named to the Nigeria Cup of Nations squad instead of Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.

Striker Terem Moffi has scored six goals in Ligue 1 this season.

Boniface was ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) through injury, in another blow to the Nigeria head coach Portuguese, José Peseiro.

The Nigerian Federation confirmed his replacement, Igobor via their Facebook page.

Boniface picked up the injury in Nigeria training camp in Abu Dhabi and was absent from the Super Eagles’ 2-0 Pre-Afcon friendly defeat to Guinea.

A few days ago, Wilfred Ndidi was replaced with Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf.

Nigeria to start their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

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Nigeria to start their Goup A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January, before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage
Nigeria to start their Goup A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January, before taking hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.
SuperSport make Africa Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece tournament
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SuperSport make Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece

SuperSport TV has announced they will broadcast all 52 matches of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 Ivory Coast 2023 live after MultiChoice secured the rights to broadcast the continent’s showpiece tournament.

Following their initial announcement of not broadcasting the event, they have made a U-turn after securing broadcasting rights for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals set to take place in Ivory Coast, commencing in two days.

The 34th edition is set to kick off on 13 January 2024 until 11 February 2024 as hosts Ivory Coast take on Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

“MultiChoice reached a commercially viable agreement with rightsholders, New World TV (NWTV), to broadcast the 34th edition of Africa’s premier men’s football competition taking place in Ivory Coast,” Super Sport confirmed.

Rendani Ramovha, SuperSport CEO, said: “We are delighted to be able to showcase the best of African football live to our viewers.”

As part of this agreement, Nimonka Kolani, Managing Director of NWTV, declared: “By securing the rights to CAN 2023 under the leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, SuperSport and NWTV prove that nothing is more important than the happiness of Africans who wish to follow the exploits of their favourite team during the biggest football competition in Africa.”

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Sullay Kaikai nets in Cambridge United's FA Cup defeat
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai nets in Cambridge United’s FA Cup defeat

Sierra Leone International Sullay Kaikai scored as Cambridge United’s run in the Emirates FA Cup ended at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers came away 5-2 winners of the third-round tie.

Kaikai, 28, goal came in the 26th minute, assisted by Okedina to put the visitors 2-1 ahead following Blackburn Rovers‘ Samuel Szmodics equaliser in the 23rd minute.

Lankester had opened the scoring for Cambridge United in the six-minute, but it was a Szmodics first-half hat-trick that grabbed the local headlines before a Harry Leonard fifth in the 81st-minute to confirm their progression into the next round.

Kaikai, who made his 22 appearances since joining the club, was subbed off in the 86th minute as they succumbed to a 5-2 defeat.

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Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener

Jean-Louis Gasset‘s Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium with three first-half goals on Saturday.

Diomand Othman opened the 2023 Cup of Nations host in the 18 minutes when headed home a Jeremie Boga cross before Franck Kessie doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark.

Three more goals were scored from Jonathan Bamba, Jeremie Boga and Amani Lazare in the 38, 48 and 84th minutes, respectively, which were enough for the home team.

Sierra Leone’s only goal came through Rodney Michael’s fine finish assisted by Abu Komeh in the 86th minute as consolation.

The tie was part of the Ivorian’s preparation for the 34th edition of the continent’s biggest footballing event to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Sierra Leone’s next friendly is against Morocco next Thursday at the same venue. 

Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign due to injury.

Ndidi, 27, suffered the setback during Leicester City’s 2-0 win at Cardiff City on December 29.

The three-time African champions begin their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking on their West African counterpart hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

The midfielder was named in the Super Eagles’ 25-man squad on 29 December but was absent from his club side’s win over Huddersfield Town on Monday.

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf as Ndidi’d replacement.

Nigeria are still hopeful Ndidi’s Leicester team-mate Kelechi Iheanacho will be able to join the squad.

Forward Iheanacho, 27, has missed the Foxes’ past two games in the Championship with a muscle problem.

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New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m

The Confederation of African Football has today announced a 40% increase in the Prize Money for the Winner of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Afcon’s winning price is now $7m as the continent’s biggest football event set to kick off on Saturday, January 13, with host Ivory Coast taking on Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

CAF also stated that the runner-up of AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 will now get $4 million. Each semi-finalist will receive $2.5 million, and each of the four quarter-finalists will receive $1.3 million.

CAF President Patrice Motzepe said he’s confident that the increase will help the development of football on the continent.

“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions. 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.”