Africa Cup of Nations - The African Mirror

Jan

13

2024

Perennial club versus country tug of war continues as Cup of Nations kicks off

AFCON 2023

NIGERIA will allow striker Terem Moffi to play for French club Nice at the weekend before he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations but Cameroon are blocking teenager Regis Mughe from turning out for Marseille after he refused a call-up to the finals. The two contrasting approaches come in the perennial club versus country battle that marks the two-yearly tournament. The Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Abidjan on Saturday, is being held mid-season and FIFA rules mean clubs must give up their players for the continental championship even if they then miss crucial domestic games over the…

Jan

14

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Morocco happy with extra time to acclimatise to Cup of Nations heat

AFCON 2023

THE Morocco squad's decision to arrive early at the Africa Cup of Nations finals and acclimatise to the hot and humid conditions will work in their favour, coach Walid Regragui said. The pre-tournament favourites, who became the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-final in Qatar some 14 months ago, arrived in Ivory Coast last Sunday as the first of the visiting competitors. They will have had 10 days to get used to conditions in the coastal town by the time they play their opening Group F match. "We are very happy to have come much earlier. We…

Jan

13

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Hosts Ivory Coast face forward problems ahead of Cup of Nations opener

AFCON 2023

HOSTS Ivory Coast will have to do without striker Sebastian Haller in the Africa Cup of Nations opener against Guinea Bissau as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury, coach Jean-Louis Gasset said. The availability of the 29-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker for their second game in Group A against Nigeria next week was also up in the air, the coach added. There were also fitness concerns for forward Nicolas Pepe, who was recalled to the squad after being dropped last year but is struggling with a knee injury, Gasset said. "Pepe played 30 minutes in last Saturday’s friendly (a…

Jan

12

2024

By The African Mirror

Gambia team in emergency landing scare on way to Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

GAMBIA coach Tom Saintfiet said he and his players feared for their lives after the plane taking them to the Africa Cup of Nations finals made an emergency landing, delaying their arrival at the tournament in the Ivory Coast. Gambia’s squad set off from Banjul on Wednesday on a short trip to Yamoussoukro, where they will play their opening two group games, but minutes after take-off they turned around because of a lack of oxygen inside the plane, he said. “Luckily for us, the pilot recognised the problem and after nine minutes in the air turned around to land again.…

Jan

12

2024

By HATEM MAHER

Attack-minded Egypt enter AFCON with renewed confidence

AFCON 2023

EGYPT hope a new attacking approach will bear fruit as they launch a fresh bid to win a record-extending eighth Africa Cup of Nations title in the Ivory Coast, putting behind them the disappointment of two recent near misses. They kick off their campaign against Mozambique in Abidjan on Sunday, having had to settle for silver medals in 2017 and 2021, with a shock round of 16 loss to South Africa on home soil in 2019. Both recent final appearances were achieved via stout defensive displays as Argentine coach Hector Cuper and Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz made this the foundation…

Jan

12

2024

By The African Mirror

Africa Cup of Nations records

AFCON 2023

FACTBOX on Africa Cup of Nations records ahead of Saturday’s kick off of the 34th edition of the continental championship first played in 1957. MOST TITLES WON7- Egypt: 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 MOST APPEARANCES IN A FINAL10 – Egypt: 1957, 1959, 1962, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2021 MOST APPEARANCES AT THE FINALS TOURNAMENT26 – Egypt: 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 MOST GAMES PLAYED AT THE FINALS TOURNAMENT107 – Egypt MOST WINS AT THE FINALS…

Jan

10

2024

By The African Mirror

Nigeria call-up Moffi as replacement for Boniface is ruled out

AFCON 2023

TEREM Moffi from French club Nice will take the place of injured forward Victor Boniface in Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, the country’s football federation said. The 24-year-old Moffi, who has scored six goals in Ligue 2 this season, was a surprise omission when Nigeria named their squad last month after he had featured in their two previous outings in November. Boniface, 23, was ruled out on Monday with a groin injury suffered at the Nigerian training camp in Abu Dhabi. Boniface is Bundesliga leades Bayer Leverkusen's top scorer, netting 10 goals in 16 league games…

Jan

10

2024

By The African Mirror

Double change for Senegal ahead of Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

AFRICA Cup of Nations holders Senegal have been forced into two squad chances just days before they begin the defence of their title with striker Boulaye Dia and back-up goalkeeper Seny Dieng ruled out of the tournament in the Ivory Coast. The Senegalese federation said on Tuesday they would be replaced by Bamba Dieng and Alfred Gomis, both from struggling French club Lorient. Dia's participation has been in doubt since he injured his knee playing for Salernitana against AC Milan in Serie A on Dec. 22 but had been given time to try and recover. Middlesborough goalkeeper Dieng also travelled…

Jan

08

2024

By The African Mirror

Gambia keep faith with giant-killers of two years ago

AFCON 2023

GAMBIA will have a consistent look about them for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, selecting 18 players from the squad that provided a giant-killing performance at the last tournament in Cameroon two years ago. Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet only planned to name his squad on Tuesday, but the final 27-man selection had to be submitted to the Confederation of African Football last Wednesday and they made it public on Sunday. It sees a return for the bulk of the squad that reached the quarter-final on their debut appearance at the last finals, beating Tunisia…

Jan

05

2024

By LORI EWING

Man United keeper Onana available for Wigan Cup game

FOOTBALL

MANCHESTER United will have goalkeeper Andre Onana available for their FA Cup third-round match against Wigan Athletic, manager Erik ten Hag said, following talks to delay his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations. United play third-tier Wigan on Monday and Cameroon have a friendly scheduled for Tuesday against Zambia before they kick off the tournament against Guinea on January 15. "We're talking with the Cameroon federation, it was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here (in July from Inter Milan)," Ten Hag told reporters. "It's constructive." United, languishing eighth in the Premier League nine…