Three-time African champions Nigeria will be seeking their second win at the on-going Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 when they take on Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane tomorrow at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
A few hours after Nigeria beat Egypt 1-0 to open their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, the other two teams in Group D, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan played out a goalless draw to complete the first round of matches for that group.
With those results, the Super Eagles currently top Group D with three points, Sudan and Guinea Bissau have a point each while Egypt with no points are bottom of the group.
This means that Nigeria may book a place in the round of 16 if she wins the next game against the Falcons of Sudan and the result in the other fixture (Egypt versus Guinea-Bissau) is favourable.
Nigeria has a better head to head against their North African foes. In 14 games played between both sides since their first meeting in 1963, the West Africans have won eight times, drawn four times and have lost just twice to the Falcons of Sudan.
READ ALSO:
Interestingly, Nigeria’s 2021 AFCON group almost replicates the first tournament that Nigeria participated in. In the 1963 edition, the Red Devils (as the Nigeria national team was then called) were grouped with United Arab Republic (now Egypt) and Sudan. The Jorge Augusto Pena-led team lost their opener 6- 3 to UAR and the Brazilian’s side were walloped 4-O in their second group match against Sudan .
The next three games between both countries ended in a draw then Nigeria recorded her first win against Sudan in a 2-1 victory in a 1973 AFCON round 1 qualifying match at the National Stadium, Surulere. Nigeria would go on to dominate any clash with the Sudanese, including a 7-0 aggregate 2002 World Cup qualifying win in 2001. A brace from Victor Agali and one from Nwankwo Kanu gave Johannes Bonfrere’s team a 3-0 win at the Liberation Stadium Port-Harcourt before Yakubu Aiyegbeni (two goals), Austin Okocha and Julius Aghahowa humilated their Sudanese hosts in front 25 thousand fans in a cold evening at the El Merreikh Stadium, Omdurman.
Nigeria would then lose 1-0 to Sudan in an 2015 AFCON qualifier in Khartoum but would take a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture at the National Stadium (Moshood Abiola National Stadium) Abuja.
The last meeting between both sides was a 1-0 win for Gernot Rohr’s home-based Super Eagles at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) Semi-final, Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco in 2018.
For Burhan Tia, the head coach of Sudan, facing the three-time AFCON champions is always a tough task but says his young team is preparing well and knows how they would approach the must-win match.
“It will not be easy, as well as facing Egypt, but these are matches that we have put in our minds and our program before the tournament,” the veteran coach said.
Nigeria’s players, on the other hand, have vowed to maintain their winning momentum.
READ ALSO:
Kelechi Iheanacho, who posted a man of the match performance against the Pharaohs of Egypt, revealed that the Super Eagles will not let their chances go to waste as against their opening match where they failed to convert a flurry of chances against the hapless Egyptians.
“I feel great, I’m really buzzing about getting the goal for my team,” Iheanacho said. “We missed some goals in the second half but hopefully next game we pick up the pieces and convert our chances.
“Our team is always a confident team, we have a very intelligent group of players, and we are really vibrant and strong.
“We have been together for a while and we work together as a team”.
First choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye said he expected the Sudanese clash to be a physical battle, but is sure that the team’s quality will be enough to defeat the one-time African champions.
Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin
Victor Osimhen’s late header helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan, clinching their qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Benin, playing their matches in Côte d’Ivoire, took an early lead in the 16th minute when Mohammed Tijani headed in a short corner.
The goal followed a period of sustained pressure from the Beninoise side on the Nigerian defence.
READ ALSO:
Benin nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save to keep Nigeria in the game.
Osimhen threatened as the first half progressed, with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.
In the second half, Benin came close again, but a shot veered inches wide of the right post, sparing the Eagles further trouble.
With nine minutes remaining, Osimhen rose to the occasion, connecting with a precise cross from Moses Simon to level the score at 1-1.
With this result, the Super Eagles top Group D with 11 points from five matches, while Benin hold second place with seven points.
BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.
This result leaves Rwanda with five points from five matches, rendering them unable to surpass Nigeria in the standings, even if they win their upcoming match against the Super Eagles in Uyo.
READ ALSO:
Currently, Nigeria leads Group D with 10 points, followed by Benin with six points, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four points.
Benin remains in contention for the second qualification spot and will face Nigeria in a crucial match tonight.
Libya is set to host Benin in the final Group D game on Monday.
Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul
Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring on Friday for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world.
Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on Youtuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.
The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer.
That gory mid-air emergency has provided another piece of ammunition for the numerous critics who have condemned Friday’s contest as a macabre circus act that poses an unacceptable level of risk for Tyson, who last graced a professional ring in 2005, when he was beaten via a technical knockout after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.
“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” the prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.
“If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”
READ ALSO:
Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments.
“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said after the bout was announced. “It’s as simple as that.
“Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is.”
Tyson, who US reports say is being paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest, has brushed off the concerns for his wellbeing, insisting when critics from the boxing world are motivated by jealousy.
“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he said earlier this year. “The people who said that wish they were up here. No-one else can do this.”
BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025
Belgium University offers scholarship up to €12,000 for Master’s students
Nigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route
Disaster averted as bird strike hits Abuja-Lagos Air Peace flight
UK announces 45,000 seasonal worker visas for 2025
12-year-old Nigerian girl Eniola Shokunbi invents air filter to reduce spread of diseases in US schools
Saudi crown prince says Israel committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza
Top 5 crypto apps that work with Nigerian Bank accounts
