Sports
AFCON: Tinubu Draws S’Eagles’ Ears Over Performance
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been strongly charged to strive for improved performances and aim for the ultimate glory or at least a place in the final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
Giving the charge on Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made it clear to Nigeria’s flagbearers that they had not impressed him, despite qualifying for the round of 16, where they will take on old rivals, Cameroon in Abidjan on Saturday.
President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, addressed the players from Abuja via Zoom.
He said, “I had a meeting with the President yesterday. I went to the villa for something else and the President cornered me and said we (Eagles) managed to qualify and I said that’s how we are going to keep going until we win the tournament.
“He said that I should tell the players that he wasn’t too impressed with the last match but he knows that now that they are off the group stages, they are going to impress him more.
“That’s what the President told me and it means that the President is actually watching your matches. Would you believe this? And the President is urging you and also showing an understanding of the game because he knows that there is a lot of caution at the group stage and from the round of 16, you are going to be more impressive.
“I remember that in 2022 in Cameroon, Egypt as a country struggled to qualify but they went ahead to play the finals.”
On his part, Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, while expressing gratitude to the government, urged the President to come and see them play live.
That would be a motivation to the players, Musa said.
The Super Eagles will take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the last 16 of the tournament on Saturday at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
Stanley Nwabali, goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has been plunged into mourning following the death of his father.
The footballer broke the news on his Instagram page on Friday, sharing a brief yet emotional tribute.
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“Rest in peace, dad,” Nwabali wrote in the post, accompanied by a tearful emoji.
While the cause of death was not disclosed, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of condolences from fans, teammates, and members of the football community.
More to follow……….
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have officially booked their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
This achievement follows Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, a result that has effectively ended Rwanda’s chances of progressing to the tournament.
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With Rwanda stuck at five points from five matches, even a victory in their upcoming game against Nigeria in Uyo won’t be enough to overtake the Super Eagles in the Group D standings.
Nigeria currently sits atop the group with 10 points, followed by Benin with six, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four.
Nigeria’s qualification marks a significant milestone as they aim for their fourth AFCON title, last winning the prestigious tournament in 2013.
The Super Eagles, led by head coach Jose Peseiro, have shown consistent form throughout the qualifiers and will be looking to maintain their momentum heading into the tournament.
Meanwhile, Benin remains in contention for the group’s second qualification spot.
They face a crucial match against Nigeria tonight, needing a positive result to stay in the running.
The race for qualification will conclude on Monday, with Libya hosting Benin in the final Group D game.
Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has earned a spot among football’s elite, being nominated for the prestigious 2024 Globe Soccer Awards Men’s Best Player prize.
The Atalanta forward joins a distinguished list of players including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Erling Haaland, as revealed by the award organisers on Thursday.
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Lookman, who finished 14th in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, has enjoyed a standout year with both Atalanta and the Nigerian national team.
His impressive performances at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he scored three goals in seven matches, were a highlight, despite Nigeria’s narrow defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in the final.
Further solidifying his case, Lookman scored a historic hat trick in the UEFA Europa League final, helping Atalanta to victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
This remarkable form has also earned him a place among the candidates for the CAF Player of the Year award.
The winner of the Globe Soccer Awards Men’s Best Player will be announced on December 27, 2024, in Dubai, UAE.
The full list of nominees for the award is as follows:
1. Nicolò Barella
2. Jude Bellingham
3. Hakan Çalhanoğlu
4. Dani Carvajal
5. Artem Dovbyk
6. Phil Foden
7. Antoine Griezmann
8. Alejandro Grimaldo
9. Viktor Gyökeres
10. Erling Haaland
11. Harry Kane
12. Toni Kroos
13. Robert Lewandowski
14. Ademola Lookman
15. Emiliano Martínez
16. Lautaro Martínez
17. Kylian Mbappé
18. Lionel Messi
19. Dani Olmo
20. Cole Palmer
21. Rodrigo
22. Rodrygo
23. Cristiano Ronaldo
24. Bukayo Saka
25. Mohamed Salah
26. William Saliba
27. Federico Valverde
28. Vinícius Júnior
29. Vitinha
30. Nico Williams
31. Florian Wirtz
32. Granit Xhaka
33. Lamine Yamal
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