Sports

Nigeria’s Quest for Glory: What the Super Eagles Need to Do to Lift the AFCON Trophy

Published

6 months ago

February 11, 2024

Nigeria’s Quest for Glory: What the Super Eagles Need to Do to Lift the AFCON Trophy

Sahara Weekly Reports That a historic clash between two West African giants awaits in the final of the 2023 AFCON. Can Nigeria overcome Cote d’Ivoire and claim their fourth continental crown?

Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will face each other in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tonight, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the continent’s most successful teams. The Super Eagles are aiming to win their fourth AFCON title, while the Elephants are seeking their third. In this article, we will analyze how Nigeria can overcome the challenge of their West African rivals and bring the trophy home.

History and Rivalry

The history and rivalry between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire in previous AFCON tournaments and other competitions is long and fierce. In fact, they have met seven times in the AFCON, with Nigeria winning four times, Cote d’Ivoire winning twice, and one draw. One of the most memorable matches between the two teams was the 1994 AFCON final, where Nigeria defeated Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 with goals from Emmanuel Amuneke and Rashidi Yekini. Another memorable match was the 2013 AFCON quarter-final, where Nigeria stunned Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 with goals from Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba.

Form and Performance

The current form and performance of both teams in the 2023 AFCON has been impressive and consistent. According to the official AFCON website, Nigeria has scored 12 goals and conceded 4, while Cote d’Ivoire has scored 10 goals and conceded 3. The top scorer of the tournament is Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who has netted 6 goals in 5 matches, followed by Cote d’Ivoire’s Nicolas Pepe, who has scored 4 goals in 5 matches. Both players have expressed their confidence and determination ahead of the final. Osimhen said: “We are ready for the final. We have worked hard to get here and we want to make our country proud. We respect Cote d’Ivoire, they are a great team, but we are not afraid of them. We have the quality and the spirit to win the trophy.” Pepe said: “We are motivated for the final. We have shown our strength and character in this tournament and we want to finish the job. We know Nigeria is a tough opponent, they have a lot of talent, but we have our own weapons and we will fight until the end. We have the experience and the ambition to win the trophy.”

The current form and performance of both teams also reflect their strengths and weaknesses. Nigeria has a balanced and versatile squad, with players who can play in different positions and roles. They have a strong and solid defense, led by William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun, who have formed a reliable partnership at the back. They have a dynamic and creative midfield, with players like Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, and Joe Aribo, who can control the tempo and dictate the play. They have a fast and lethal attack, with players like Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alex Iwobi, who can create and score goals from any situation.

Cote d’Ivoire, on the other hand, has a more experienced and star-studded squad, with players who have played in some of the top leagues and clubs in Europe. They have a physical and powerful defense, with players like Eric Bailly, Serge Aurier, and Wilfried Kanon, who can dominate the aerial duels and block the shots. They have a skillful and inventive midfield, with players like Franck Kessie, Jean-Michael Seri, and Max Gradel, who can dribble, pass, and shoot with flair. They have a potent and clinical attack, with players like Pepe, Wilfried Zaha, and Jonathan Kodjia, who can score goals from any angle and distance.

Strategies and Tactics

The possible strategies and tactics that Nigeria can employ to win the match are based on their strengths and the weaknesses of their opponents. Nigeria can use their speed and creativity to create chances and score goals against Cote d’Ivoire’s defense, which has been prone to mistakes and lapses in concentration. A good example of this was Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals, where Nigeria scored three goals in 15 minutes, thanks to the quick and clever movements of Osimhen, Chukwueze, and Iwobi. Another example was Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Senegal in the semi-finals, where Nigeria scored two goals from counter-attacks, thanks to the pace and skill of Osimhen and Moses Simon.

Nigeria can also use their balance and versatility to adapt to different situations and scenarios in the match. Nigeria can switch between different formations and systems, depending on the scoreline, the momentum, and the opponent’s tactics. For instance, Nigeria can start with a 4-3-3 formation, with Osimhen as the lone striker, Chukwueze and Iwobi as the wingers, Ndidi, Etebo, and Aribo.

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Sports

Atalanta slam €70m price tag on Lookman

Published

7 days ago

July 20, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Atalanta slam €70m price tag on Lookman

Atalanta have set a €70m price tag on Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.

The Bergamo-based club are willing to let the forward depart this summer, but only if their financial demands are met. The asking price is similar to the fee they received from Manchester United for Rasmus Hojlund in 2024.

Lookman, who joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig for €10 million in 2022, was instrumental in securing back-to-back European qualifications for the club. His standout performance came in the UEFA Europa League final, where he netted a historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, becoming the first player to achieve this feat in the competition’s final.

CalcioNews24 reports that Atalanta’s €70 million valuation is non-negotiable, and they are prepared to retain Lookman if their demands are not met.

The Italian club’s stance mirrors their approach with Hojlund, whom they sold to Manchester United for €73.5 million last summer, despite the Danish striker scoring only nine league goals in the preceding season.

Lookman ended the season with an impressive tally of 26 goals across all competitions. This prolific form has caught the attention of several top European clubs.

According to reports, Barcelona, Juventus, and West Ham are among the clubs interested in acquiring Lookman’s services.

The Super Eagles forward is no stranger to the Premier League, having previously featured for Fulham, Everton, and Leicester City.

Sports

Kiraa FC Dominates Nationwide League One U-19 Youth League

Published

1 week ago

July 17, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Kiraa FC Dominates Nationwide League One U-19 Youth League

Kiraa FC, a burgeoning football club owned by Franklin Oluwasegun Currie and located in Ijebu Ososa, the hometown of the late theater icon Chief Hubert Ogunde, has quickly made a name for itself in the Nationwide League One (NLO) U-19 youth league. The club, which recently joined the league, is topping the table with 6 points after a series of impressive victories.

Under the expert technical guidance of Coach Akande Fatai Adejumo Smith, Kiraa FC defeated Patriots FC 2-1 at the FC Ebedei Stadium in Sagamu Remo, Ogun State on Tuesday, July 16th, 2024. Despite the tough competition, Kiraa FC demonstrated their professionalism and skill, securing the win. The day before, on July 15th, the club also triumphed over Switch FA, further solidifying their top position in the group.

Smith brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Kiraa FC. A graduate of electronics and electrical engineering from LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Smith has an impressive background as the former Player of Crown of Ogbomoso, Sunshine Stars Akure, and Shooting Stars of Ibadan. He has also played professionally in Asia and Europe and holds coaching licenses from The FA UK, UEFA, CAF, FCAAN, and NIS. Currently, he serves as the National Coordinator and Head of Protocol for FCAAN (Football Coaches Association of African Nations) Nigeria.

The next challenge for Kiraa FC is a match against FC Ebedei Jnr on July 18th. FC Ebedei, based in Sagamu Remo, after relocating from Lagos in 2001, plays in the Nigeria Nationwide League, the third tier of Nigerian football. It also serves as the African football academy for FC Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga championship. Following this, Kiraa FC will face Generation FC on July 23rd. Fans and supporters are hopeful that the club will continue their winning streak in these upcoming games.

Kiraa FC’s rapid rise and consistent performance under Smith’s leadership have not gone unnoticed. The team’s players are recognized for their power, techniques, and dedication, making them formidable opponents in the league. As the club continues to excel, it brings pride not only to its supporters but also to the hub of entertainment that is Ijebu Ososa.

Sports

Nigerian coaches not good enough for Eagles job – Abdallah

Published

1 week ago

July 17, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Nigerian coaches not good enough for Eagles job – Abdallah

Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Usman Abdallah, shockingly stated that no Nigerian coach is good enough for the managerial role of the country’s senior men’s national team, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Abdallah’s assertion comes after the Nigeria Football Federation announced it was considering hiring a foreign coach following the resignation of Finidi George last month.

Of the 27 coaches that had managed the Eagles since its inception, 10 were Indigenous coaches, with Finidi the last to take charge of the team.

The Eagles have been without a head coach since the former winger resigned in June

Finidi quit his role as head coach of the three times African champions following the NFF’s announcement that they would appoint a foreign technical adviser for the team.

The decision came after an outcry by the football-loving populace following the team’s poor performances, including a shock defeat to Benin Republic, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers last month.

As the federation continues its search for the next coach of the team, with reports indicating officials of the football body had approached Portuguese Jose Peseiro for a possible return, while also considering Frenchman Herve Renard, Abdallah, who served as an assistant coach under Peseiro, isn’t bothered his comments will stir the hornet’s nest.

He insisted the Indigenous coaches weren’t good enough for the job.

“It doesn’t bother me whether the NFF is considering bringing Jose Peseiro back or if they want to hire Hervé Renard as the Eagles coach as long as they can afford to pay their salaries,” he said.

“The issue is, I have heard people say they don’t want us to spend money on the foreign coach but show me a coach qualified for the Eagles job who is a Nigerian whether home or abroad. The fact is we don’t have it.

“The only person we have is Salisu Yusuf, who a lot of people don’t want because of what happened in the past, but I don’t want to argue about that. Nigerian coaches have always been serving as assistants and none of us can argue that we were better than those we’ve worked with.”

However, the former Enyimba gaffer frowned at NFF allowing foreign coaches to bring along their assistants with them.

“Appointing Peseiro or whoever is no issue, but why allow them to come with their assistants when some of us have always been named?

“How do we tap from their experience and grow to become the national team coaches? This is the mistake the federation has always made, and they need to correct that.”