Category: Football Africa

Ivory Coast face holders Senegal in Mouthwatering duel
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast face holders Senegal in a gripping duel 

The Ivory Coast, hosts of the 2023 Cup of Nations, will face off against in-form holders Senegal in an exciting last-sixteen duel at the Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro on Monday. 

Morocco’s 1-0 triumph over Zambia in Group F on Wednesday ensured Ivory Coast finished as the fourth-best third-place team for the knockout stage.

Les Éléphants, who have won the tournament twice before, will be eagerly desperate to improve their performance in front of their home fans. 

A great opportunity awaits the Ivory Coast national football team to showcase their fantastic players. However, they must now display more class after barely making it to the last sixteen.

In their final group game, Ivory Coast suffered a shocking 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea, which led to the sacking of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant due to their unsatisfactory results in the tournament. 

But despite being the underdogs, the host nation should not be ruled out easily in a knockout encounter.

The last time they played was in an international friendly in March 2017 which ended in a 1-1 draw at Stade Charlety in Paris.

Aliou Cissé’s side has progressed to this stage with maximum points by defeating Cameroon, the Gambia, and Guinea, making them the favourites on paper.

Morocco and South Africa will face each other in the Round of 16 of the CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023. Morocco, who were semifinalists in the World Cup, are the favourites to win the tournament, but they must first defeat Bafana Bafana on January 30 at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Saturday, January 27, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. Despite Cameroon’s shaky start, they will be confident of their chances against an unpredictable Nigerian side.

Nigeria is hoping to win the AFCON trophy after a decade, and Rigobert Song’s side is determined to make it their sixth AFCON title.

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Cup of Nations Ivory Coast hosts Sack Coach Gasset
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast Sack Coach Gasset 

The Ivory Coast, who are hosting the 2023 Cup of Nations, have announced that they have parted ways with their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, and his assistant, Ghislain Printant, after failing to achieve satisfactory results in the tournament. 

This announcement was made by the country’s football federation (FIF) on Wednesday. “The contracts of coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant are terminated due to insufficient results,” the FIF said in a statement.”

The team was defeated 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their last Group A match on Monday, which leaves them on the brink of elimination from the tournament. 

Ivory Coast needed favourable results in Wednesday’s final group matches to reach the knock-out phase as one of the four best third-placed teams.

 The team has only failed to progress from the group phase once in the previous nine editions of the tournament, in 2017.

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Chris Hughton has been sacked as head coach of Ghana following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Chris Hughton sacked as Ghana head coach after AFCON exit

Chris Hughton has been sacked as head coach of Ghana following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.  

“The Executive Council has also decided to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars,” Ghana FA said in their statement.

“The GFA will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars.”

The Black Stars embarrassingly finished on two points in Group B, drawing 2-2 with both Egypt and Mozambique following a 2-1 defeat by Cape Verde in their opener.

On Tuesday, despite all hopes of progressing as one of the four best-ranked third-placed sides, two late goals from Mozambique stunned Hughtons’ side. 

The former Newcastle United boss, who was appointed in February last year, had failed to guide his team to a single victory in Ivory Coast.

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Mauritania stun Algeria as Angola beat Burkina Faso to reach last 16
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mauritania stun Algeria as Angola beat Burkina Faso to qualify

Lions of Chinguetti of Mauritania and Palancas Negras of Angola have progressed to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 knockout stages following wins against Algeria and Burkina Faso, respectively, on Tuesday.

Despite Burkina Faso’s defeat, they qualified automatically as second-best in the group.

Minnows Mauritania stunned Algeria 1-0 at the Stade de la Paixin Bouake in the Group D final match, whilst Angola was through after a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso.

Against all the odds towards Algeria to pick their first win in the, but Mauritania came to play with as determination as they sent the North Africans packing.

Mohamed Yali Dellahi accounted for Muaritania’s only goal to down the 2019 Cup of Nations holders Algeria after his strike deflected to put Mauritania ahead.

Angola – on the other hand, scored through a goal apiece from in each half by Cristovao Paciencia and Ambrosini Salvador on the stroke of full-time, as the Antelopes qualify for the first time since 2010 as hosts.

Mauritania will face surprise Group B winners Cape Verde in the last 16 at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday as Angola set to battle a third-placed side from Group E or F in the last 16 on Saturday, while Burkina Faso will take on the Group E winners next Tuesday.

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Group D final Standings -Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania qualified from Group D
Group D final Standings -Angola, Burkina Faso and Mauritania qualified from Group D
Equatorial Guinea president awards team €1 million for Afcon victory
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

€1m Euros bonus for Equatorial Guinea AFCON squad 

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has rewarded One Million Euros to the Nzalang Nacional’s AFCON team as a bonus for reaching the last sixteen in style and January 23 as a public holiday. 

Equatorial Guinea convincingly hammered hosts Ivory Coast 4-0 with a brace from danger man Emilio Nsue, a 34-year-old right back of the Spanish 3rd Division side based in Alicante and a goal apiece from Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.

“Apart from the participation bonus, for the good match played this afternoon against the Ivory Coast, I promise Nzalang Nacional a bonus of “one million Euros.” they are the #HéroesNacionales,” President Nguema Mbasogo announced. 

“Today’s victory has been a brilliant victory, an excellent victory, and truly, we are all very proud and happy to see how you have won against the host country 4-0”, Teodorín said, also wearing the Nzalang jersey.

The vice president concluded his message with a “Bravo!” while applauding and raising his right fist in the air.”

Group winners Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea is set to face a third-placed side from Group C, D, or E in the last 16 on Sunday.

The best Cup of Nations performance was in the 2015 AFCON when they reached the semi-finals after losing to DR Congo 4-2 as Host in Malabo.

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