Sports

Golden Eaglets Crash Out Of U17 AFCON

Nigeria’s Under 17 team, Golden Eaglets have crashed out of the ongoing Under 17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Algeria.

The team lost 1-2 to their Burkina Faso counterparts in the quarter finals of the event at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Thursday.

The result means that Nigeria could not secure a ticket to the 2023 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in November, after failing to reach semi finals of the ongoing AFCON.

In the match, Aboubacar Camara put the Burkina Faso team in the lead, at the 45th minute of play, following a defensive error from Tochukwu Ogbiji.

Nigeria’s goalkeeper Richard Odoh made an effort to block the ball aiming for the back of the net, but without much power in that attempt, the ball fell at the penalty area and needed Ogboji to clear but an indecisive attempt gave Camara the chance.

Ogboji also adjudged to have fouled Lassina Traore in the 18 yard box and penalty was given against Nduka Ugbade’s tutored side at the 57th minute.

Camara converted to increase the goal tally for his side.

Nigeria however responded 10 minutes later via a tap in by Abubakar Abdullahi to reduce the goal deficit for the home team.

Abdullahi’s effort was not enough to see the Golden Eaglets through as the game finished in Favour of their opponents.

Meanwhile, Morrocco, Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso have all booked places at this year’s World Cup.

Sports

CAF Awards: Oshoala, Nnadozie make final shortlist for Women’s Player of the Year

The Super Falcons duo, Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie have been included in the final shortlist for the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of the Year

Eight other African players, on the list are; Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa), Andile Dlamini (South Africa), Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon) and Hilda Magaia (South Africa) made the shortlist.

Moroccan trio, Anissa Lahmari, Fatima Tagnaout, Ghizlaine Chebbak and Zambia’s Barbara Sanda are the other players in contention for the award.

Oshoala won the award for a record fifth time in 2022.

The Barcelona Femeni star will be anticipating winning it her sixth crown in the 2023 CAF Awards

Another Nigerian heroine, Super Falcons shot-stopper, Nnadozie is also in the running for Goalkeeper of the Year.

However, the duo of Esther Ajakaye and Deborah Abiodun made the final shortlist for Women’s Young Player of the Year.

The Super Falcons are in contention for the Team of the Year while Randy Waldrum is up for the Coach of the Year.

The Awards Gala will take place on Monday, 11 December 2023, at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.

Sports

Exciting Weekend Begins With CAF Champions League And Confederation Cup

Premium continental club football will return on the screens this weekend as the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup officially kicks-off today.

The CAF Interclub Competition will be beamed across the continent and globally on CAF’s partners including CAF’s pay-tv partners beIN Sport (Arabic, English and French), CANAL+ (French), AZAM (English, Swahili), New World TV (English and local languages).

This will include a number of Free to Air broadcasters across the continent thus ensuring that the public has access to all continental club football. They include SABC, MAX TV, SNRT, AZAM, EPTV, ERTU, TPA, DRTV and TUNIS TV, among others.

The CAF Champions League carries a prize money of USD 4 000 000 – following a massive 40% prize money increase from CAF across CAF competitions aimed at making club football in Africa self-sustaining.

The CAF Confederation Cup winner takes home USD 2 000 000.

Cairo, Egypt will host the opening act of the Champions League action between former Champions TP Mazembe who will be hosted by Egypt’s Pyramids – a club that has shown promise in the CAF Interclub competition but yet to book its name amongst the dominant forces of African football.

The match will be played at 18h00 local time (16h00 GMT).

This will be followed by Algeria’s CR Belouizdad who will host Tanzania’s Young Africans – the runners-up of last season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

Defending CAF Champions League Al Ahly will be at home against Medeama as they seek to claim their record 12th trophy.

Concluding the CAF Champions League action will be African Football League (AFL) Champions Mamelodi Sundowns who will be at home against this season’s surprise package, FC Nouadhibou from Mauritania. The Club from Nouadhibou – the sea-side town in Mauritania is an unknown entity to many but they have pulled some famous results including their 3-0 victory against Real Bamako in the qualifying stages of this competition.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, defending champions USM Alger from Algeria welcomes Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya on Sunday. Al Hilal Benghazi has shown tremendous improvement in continental football over the last few seasons.

In Nigeria, Rivers United who are the only flying the Nigerian flag in this season’s CAF Inter-Club competition plays host to Academica do Lobito of Angola

CAF Champions League Fixtures:

Friday, 24 November

16h00 GMT | Pyramids vs TP Mazembe
19h00 GMT | CR Belouizdad vs Young Africans

Saturday, 25 November

13h00 GMT | Simba AC vs Asec Mimmosas
16h00 GMT | Atletico Petroleos vs Al-Hilal
16h00 GMT | ES Tunis vs ES Sahel
19h00 GMT | Al Ahly vs Medeama
21h00 GMT | Wydad AC vs Jwaneng Galaxy FC

Sunday, 26 November

13h00 GMT | Mamelodi Sundowns vs Nouadhibou

CAF Confederation Cup Fixtures | Sunday, 26 November:

13h00 GMT | Modern Future vs SuperSport United
13h00 GMT | Club Africain vs Dreams FC
16h00 GMT | Zamalek FC vs Abu Salem
16h00 GMT | Segrada Esperanca vs CO Coyah
16h00 GMT | Rivers United vs Academica do Lobito
16h00 GMT | Diables Noirs vs Stade Malien
19h00 GMT | USM Alger vs Al Hilal Benghazi
19h00 GMT | RS Berkane vs Sekhukhune United

-Caf

Sports

Osimhen Recovers From Injury, Set To Return Next Week

Super Eagles and Napoli point man, Victor Osimhen is set to recover from a hamstring injury he sustained on international duty last month.

The 24-year-old is already working his way back to full fitness.

The striker last appeared for the Serie A champions in the 3-1 loss to Fiorentina on October 8.

Osimhen has missed the Partenopei’s last six games across all competitions.

According to Football Italia, the Nigeria international was not present at the Castel Volturno training ground on Wednesday for new manager Walter Mazzarri’s first session in charge of Napoli, as he was suffering from flu symptoms but is ready to get back to action.

Napoli hopes to have their talismanic forward back in time for the Serie A clash against Atalanta on November 25.