AFCON draw offers Nigeria chance to avenge Benin loss

AFCON draw offers Nigeria chance to avenge Benin loss

Nigeria will get a chance to avenge a shock World Cup loss to Benin when they were drawn in the same 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group on Thursday. The Cheetahs stunned the Super Eagles 2-1 last month, leaving Nigeria on the back foot as they seek a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Libya and Rwanda complete Group […]

July 4, 2024 22

Sport

Football: Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw

Draw for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition, made in Johannesburg on Thursday: Group A Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia Group B Morocco (hosts), Gabon, Central African Republic, Lesotho Group C Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana Group D Nigeria, Benin, Libya, Rwanda Group E Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia Group F Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger Group G Ivory Coast (holders), Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad Group H Democratic […]

July 4, 2024 13

Sport

Namibia goes down 10-3 to ruthless Egypt

Namibia squared up against three-time competition champions Egypt in their second Group B match at the championship and could not match the quality of their opponents. As in their opening match of the competition, Namibia’s goalkeeper Cee-Jay Van Wyk was once again the star of the show, preventing the Egyptians from finding the back of the net in the opening minutes of the match. Despite Van Wyk’s […]

April 15, 2024 11

Africa

African football won the 34th Afcon, with Côte d’Ivoire a close second

By Chuka Onwumechili, Howard University The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) came to an end in Côte d'Ivoire with millions of viewers around the world shouting at TV screens, and an astonishing performance by Côte d'Ivoire both on the field as champions and off it as hosts. The west African country beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final but the good news was bigger than the match. […]

February 14, 2024 6

Sport

Ivory Coast parade through Abidjan, champions of Africa

Tens of thousands of jubilant fans crammed the streets of Abidjan on Monday for the Ivory Coast's victory parade after the hosts' remarkable Africa Cup of Nations triumph the night before. Just as in 2015 for their last AFCON triumph, the Elephants roamed the streets of the country's economic capital. Sebastien Haller, who scored the decisive goal in Sunday's 2-1 final win over Nigeria, and the rest of the […]

February 13, 2024 9

Sport

Ivory Coast AFCON triumph ‘more than a fairytale’ for coach Fae

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae toasted his team of "miracle survivors" after the host country completed one of the greatest turnarounds in major tournament history to win the Africa Cup of Nations by beating Nigeria 2-1 in Sunday's final. "It is more than a fairytale. I am struggling to take it all in," Fae said after Ivory Coast recovered from behind at half-time at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium to […]

February 12, 2024 10

Africa

The Moroccan referee who has overcome cultural barriers and gender stereotypes to make history at AFCON 2023

By Joel Omotto, bird story agency Bouchra Karboubi is blazing a trail through the beautiful game. While there has been a laudable increase in the number of female referees at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following the appointment of six women, only one has been given the mandate to officiate as a centre referee, with the rest working as either assistant referees or Video Assistant Referees […]

February 9, 2024 16

Africa

Former Banyana Banyana captain scores major first at AFCON 2023

By Joel Omotto, bird story agency At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), there has been a distinct female voice in the commentary box. For those who don't know, it's the voice of Amanda Dlamini, the former South African football national team captain and the first woman to commentate a game at the men’s AFCON. In yet another major score for women at this tournament, Dlamini’s […]

February 8, 2024 9

Sport

Haller goal takes Ivory Coast through to AFCON final

Sebastien Haller was the hero with the only goal of the game as hosts Ivory Coast beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to win through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday. Starting for the first time at the tournament following injury, Borussia Dortmund striker Haller connected with a Max-Alain Gradel cross in the 65th minute at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, his shot looping over […]

February 8, 2024 5