By Olayinka Owolewa

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has confirmed that Alhassan Yusuf is out of the match against host, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, on Thursday at the Stade Olympique Alassan Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.

Peseiro confirmed this on Wednesday at the team’s news conference ahead of Nigeria’s second match at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

According to the coach, the Royal Antwerp FC of Belgium defensive midfielder will only be in contention in the third match against Guinea Bissau.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the midfielder was substituted due to injury on Sunday during Super Eagles’ game against Equatorial Guinea which ended 1-1.

The coach, however, confirmed that Napoli FC of Italy striker and reigning African Footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen, would be available for the match against Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.

The Portuguese also revealed that Leicester City of England playmaker, Kelechi Iheanacho, was close to playing, while Terem Moffi, OC Nice FC of France striker, was catching up with the rest of the squad as expected. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Georgina Adegbie

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi, on Tuesday said he would continue to support the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) to develop the sport in the country.

Adeniyi said he was grateful to be part of the board of NWF to contribute his quota to the grassroot development of the sports.

NAN reports that the board of the NWF, led by the Federation’s President Daniel Igali, paid a courtesy visit to the new CG, to congratulate him on his appointment.

“I pledge that I would continue to provide support through the board not only in person as a member of the board, but as Nigerian custom service.

“As a board member of the NWF, I will not fail to thank God for his mercies upon me, because my membership added positively to my career progression.

We need to project this game (wrestling) to other spheres and tiers like the university games, paramilitary games and the national youth festival.

“We need to ensure that we engage wrestlers right from when they are young so that they would have gained requisite experience and become professionals in the field before they get older.

He said customs will collaborate with NWF to achieve the desired development of the sport in the country.

“We will be looking at areas where the customs can collaborate with the federation to ensure the development of the sport.

“We are beginning to reassert our position to the kind of enviable position that we used to have in our glorious days involvement in sport.

“We used to have very strong football team and dominated in athletics.

“In volleyball, we were three times back to back national champions and also participated in the continental championships in the last two seasons.

“Our basketball team is currently the national defending champion.

“We have our imprint in the sport sector; the current technical director of the athletics federation is a senior custom officer.

“We want to use sports as a platform to contribute to national development and this would be my dream working with my management and the board of NWF,” he said.

NWF President Igali said the federation is very proud to have Adeniyi become the number one customs officer in the country.

“You have contributed positively to the development of the sports and have on your own, met our athletes to support them in diverse ways, especially in encouraging them,” he said

Igali said: “I personally thank you for your support in investing financially in the development of the sport.

“We came to felicitate with you, and also to thank and encourage everyone who is working with you in giving the necessary support.

“We know that with your capability, you will transform NCS ,” he said.

He also thanked President Bola Tinubu, for finding Adeniyi worthy to occupy the position of the CG, NCS. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Muhyideen Jimoh

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has emphasised the need for the team to convert their chances in the second match against hosts Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing 2023 AFCON.

Peseiro said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abidjan, ahead of the crucial clash on Thursday against the Ivorians.

He rued the missed chances against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match, while assuring of a more composed outing against the Ivorians who currently top the group.

“Our team created a lot of chances in our last game, but we scored only one goal.

“If you want to win AFCON, you must be ready to face tough oppositions. So, we are ready, Cote d’Ivoire is a good team and one of the favourites.

“If we create the same opportunities and take our chances, then we have a better chance of winning against Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.

The gaffer said the technical crew was working round the clock to perfect strategies and ensure victory in the make or mar match.

He, however, appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the team and not engage in criticism that could dampen the morale of the players.

NAN reports that the team struggled to convert the numerous chances created in their 1-1 draw against a resilient Equatorial Guinea on Sunday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Victor Okoye

Guinea and Cameroon played out a 1-1 draw in a tensed encounter at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in the second Group C game of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Côte d’Ivoire 2023 on Monday.

Guinea took an early lead through Mohamed Bayo.

Bayo was given all the space and time in the world and gleefully pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty box beyond the reach of Fabrice Ondoa.

He put the Guineans in the lead against the five times champions, Cameroon in the 10th minute.

Guinean captain, Francois Kamano, was shown the marching orders after a foul on Cameroonian midfielder, Olivier Ntcham, inside added time in the first half.

The situation was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and an initial yellow card was changed to red card by Referee Mutaz Ibrahim.

Cameroon took advantage of their numerical disadvantage in the second half.

The Indomitable Lions got the equaliser six minutes into the second half following Frank Magri’s show of superb aerial ability to pounce onto a free kick to render the game 1-1.

Cameroon will play defending champions, Senegal on Friday, at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Victor Okoye

Equatorial Guinea frustrated Nigeria with a 1-1 stalemate on Sunday after both sides kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A match at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.

A composed finish by Ivan Salvador in the 36th minute saw Equatorial Guinea shock the Super Eagles with the lead.

The celebrations were, however, short-lived as Nigerian hitman, Victor Osimhen, levelled matters with a difficult header that found its way into an empty net to salvage a point for the Nigerians.

With the crowd behind them, Nigeria went in search of the second and were almost rewarded in the 45th minute.
This was when Moses Simon’s well struck effort came off the upright to the relief of Equatorial Guinea.

In the second half, both sides hardly troubled each other’s goals, with both set of defenders doing well to remain disciplined.

Next for Nigeria is a clash that all of Africa will be waiting for with bated breath as they take on tournament hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.

The hosts had opened their campaign with a clinical 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday.

Equatorial Guinea on the other hand will be encouraged by the point earned against Nigeria when they face a wounded Guinea-Bissau.

The results see Group A being led by Cote d’Ivoire while Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are a point above Guinea-Bissau. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Victor Okoye

Equatorial Guinea Head Coach, Juan Micha has expressed mixed feelings over his team’s result against Nigeria in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying he was unsatisfied with the result.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Equatorial Guinea earned a valuable point on the second day of Group A.

The Nzalang Nacional were able to resist the offensive might of the Super Eagles, largely thanks to the great form of goalkeeper Jesus Ngua, who was subsequently named Man of the Match.

After the draw against Nigeria, it was clearly evident that Micha was not enthused.

In a post-match news conference, Micha refused to see this result as an achievement.

He told newsmen that he intended to continue the work to achieve his objectives in this edition of AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire.

“I think this selection that I lead is prepared day by day to compete in this tournamen.

“I am lucky to know the details of football, having been a high level player,” he said.

He added his teammates intended to keep their heads on their shoulders and not plunge into euphoria after this encouraging result.

“Our mission is not complete, we still have a lot to do.

“We are in a group stage, this is the first match. We will try to reach the next stage before seeing what happens next.”

Equatorial Guinea will face Guinea-Bissau on Thursday for the second game.

A victory against the Djurtus will allow Micha and his men to have a step in the round of 16.

During its three previous participations, the Central African country has always managed to get out of the group stages. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Victor Okoye

Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro says his team were better than their opponents, Equatorial Guinea but were simply unlucky.

Peseiro made this known while reacting to Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

But beyond the slightly disappointing result, Peseiro said he is satisfied with the performance of his players.

“We hoped to win this match and we did everything to win.

He however expressed disappointment in his team’s inability to convert their chances at goal.

“I am not happy. I deserved to win, this draw doesn’t suit us.

“Our team created a lot of chances but we didn’t score.

“We hope that next time, even with fewer opportunities, we will score.

“We simply have to improve our finishing,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles will face hosts Côte d’Ivoire, for their second game.

The match scheduled for Thursday at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe at 5 p.m. will be decisive for the Super Eagles, who have almost no room for error.

NAN reports that Nigeria are making their 20th appearance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

They have won the tournament on three occasions (1980, 1994, 2013) and reached the semi-finals in 14 of their last 17 AFCON participations.

Nigeria were beaten finalists the last time the CAF Africa Cup of Nations was held in Côte d’Ivoire, they lost 3-1 against Cameroon in 1984.

NAN reports that this is Equatorial Guinea’s fourth CAF Africa Cup of Nations appearance, but it’s only the second time they have qualified as non-hosts.

They have so far always reached the knockout stages: quarter-finalists in 2012 and 2021, 4th place in 2015. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Benson Ezugwu

Football Fans in Enugu have expressed disappointment over the performance of the Super Eagles in their first group game at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea, some of the fans described the performance of the team as lacklustre and unconvincing.

The fans also blamed the current African Footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen for the draw, nothing that the Napoli forward missed several scoring opportunities.

Victor Ozoigbo, a fan of the Super Eagles, said the team’s performance was below expectation and that the players lacked commitment.

“The team looks ordinary and to me, I don’t see them going far in this tournament, and that will be a big shame for the country,” he said.

Another fan, Chinedu Eze, said he was not impressed with the team’s display against Equatorial Guinea.

“This is the worst team we have produced for Nation’s Cup; so, to me, they are not going anywhere,” he said.

However, a female fan, Ngozi Udegbunam, said she was hopeful that the team would learn from its mistake and bounce back.

“It is just the first game and they should not be judged so fast.

“In a tournament, teams improve with every match, so, I am convinced that the team will improve with more matches,” she said.

Udegbunam urged the handlers of the team to go back to the drawing board to identify their mistakes and make corrections before their next match. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

Nigeria drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in their opening Group A fixture at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

Victor Osimhen scored in the 38th minute to cancel out an Ivan Salvador goal two minutes earlier.

The result placed the Super Eagles in the group’s third position after one round of matches by all four teams.

More details to follow later. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi