Sports
Race To 2013 AFCON Begins …As Nigeria Tackles Rwanda
The race to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations begins today with 13 matches taking place across the continent.
Half of Africa’s contenders are taking part, as the teams which did not make it to the 2012 tournament play-off to go into the hat with those that did.
That means giants like Cameroon and Nigeria will be in action, along with minnows such as Seychelles.
These are first leg matches, with the second legs being played in June.
Nigeria are in Rwanda, where the Super Eagles will attempt to begin the rebuilding process after the humiliation of failing to reach the 2012 Nations Cup.
That cost coach Samson Siasia his job and new boss Stephen Keshi has drafted some old faces – like Yakubu Ayegbeni and some new names, like Victor Moses, available as well.
Rwanda’s coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredrojevic acknowledges that it will be a hugely difficult task for his side taking on Nigeria.
“We are playing against giants of African football, wounded lions. They have an iron defence, a very creative midfield and very dangerous attackers,” the coach said.
But he said all the pressure would be on Keshi’s team to perform.
Cameroon were another former power of African football who were not involved in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
They go to Guinea-Bissau for the opening match of their attempt to reach the 2013 Nations Cup.
Samuel Eto’o is serving a long ban, and there are a host of other players who are also absent in the wake of the strike action taken by the national team last year.
Zimbabwe have had well publicised problems with their squad, following the match-fixing scandal which has gripped football in the country so a much reduced squad has headed to Burundi under a new coach.
Uganda came very close to making it to the 2012 finals but dropped out of contention at the last moment – so they will be determined to take the chance to make it to 2013 and begin their campaign with a trip to Congo Brazzaville.
Kenya, Uganda’s great rivals, have hopes of reasserting themselves on the continental stage after a long-drawn out dispute over who runs football in the country, but their build-up to the home game against Togo today has been disrupted by a row over unpaid expenses.
The argument has led to the withdrawal from the squad of the Harambee Stars’ top-midfielder McDonald Mariga.
In other matches, Ethiopia host Benin; Malawi travel to Chad, where they conceded a last minute equaliser which cost them a place at the 2012 tournament.
Tanzania host Mozambique; Cape Verde are in Madagascar; Namibia travel to Liberia; Sierra Leone go to Sao Tome and Seychelles host DR Congo.
Former champions Egypt, who must also go through qualifying after failing to make it to the 2012 Nations Cup have had their opening match against Central African Republic delayed until June following the tragedy in Port Said earlier this year.
Victory for the Super Eagles in Casablanca followed the disappointment of losing shoot-outs that cost them chances to compete at the 2026 World Cup and in the 2025 AFCON final.
Nigeria lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo last November in a play-off for a place in the World Cup intercontinental play-offs.
Then, three days ago, they lost another shoot-out to fail against hosts Morocco in an AFCON semi-final.
Success maintained a perfect Nigerian record in third place AFCON matches after seven previous play-offs victories.
Before Lookman scored, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missed the Eagles’ first kick, then Akor Adams, captain Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi scored.
Premier League pair Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both had kicks saved by Stanley Nwabali before Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber scored.
Egypt made six changes and Nigeria five to the teams that started semi-final losses to Senegal and hosts Morocco respectively three days ago.
Captain Salah started for the Pharaohs while traditional first choices in goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and forward Marmoush were among the substitutes.
Attackers Victor Osimhen and Lookman, both former winners of the annual African player of the year award, sat on the bench for Nigeria.
Most Moroccans in a crowd that nearly filled the 45,000-capacity Stade Mohammed V backed Nigeria. They whistled whenever Egypt gained possession and when coach Hossam Hassan was shown on the big screen.
This support for the Super Eagles was attributed to the great rivalry between Morocco and Egypt, both at national team and club levels.
– Goals disallowed –
Nigeria initially, then Egypt had spells of dominance in a goalless opening half on a cold, cloudy evening in the Moroccan commercial capital.
Paul Onuachu thought he had broken the deadlock on 36 minutes as he deflected the ball with his head past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
However, a VAR review by the Moroccan referee revealed Onuachu had accidently struck Hamdy Fathy with an elbow. The goal was disallowed and the Nigerian yellow-carded.
Lookman was introduced by coach Eric Chelle for the second half, replacing Onuachu, and he had the ball in the net in the opening minute of the second period. However, the goal was ruled out for offside.
Nigeria started after the break with a series of attacks. Following a largely uneventful first half, Shobeir — the son of former Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir — was forced to make several saves.
Salah seldom threatened and when he did cut in with the ball, the potential danger was quickly averted. Marmoush came on as the play-off passed the hour mark to try and boost a blunt strike force.
But as the match entered the final 10 minutes there was no sign of Osimhen being brought on, suggesting he might not have been fully fit.
In quick succession, Adams, then Marmoush threatened to score, but neither could deliver the finishing touch under pressure from opponents.
Salah then disappointed when offered a scoring opportunity from a free-kick outside the box. He hit the ball straight into the wall and it was swiftly cleared.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, the President praised the team for their resilience and professionalism, noting that the players rose above the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco earlier in the week to finish the tournament strongly.
The Super Eagles secured third place after overpowering Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, in the bronze medal match.
Nigeria dominated proceedings during regulation time before edging their opponents in a tense penalty shootout.
President Tinubu said the victory was a clear reflection of the determination and can-do spirit that define Nigeria, describing the team’s response to adversity as exemplary.
“Despite their good run during the tournament, the Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco during the penalty shootout last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed.
“However, our players remained undaunted, and exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, their efforts have now paid off”, the President said.
The President noted that Nigerians would take pride in seeing the team receive their medals at the official ceremony on Sunday in Rabat, where the tournament is being concluded.
“We will all be proud of them as they receive their hard-earned bronze medal. Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold”, he added.
The Cottagers have been without their Nigerian trio since they departed for the tournament in Morocco, with all three in excellent form and integral to Silva’s starting lineup prior to their departure.
Despite their absence, Fulham have fared remarkably well, losing just one of their last seven games in all competitions while playing without the Nigerian contingent.
The players are expected to return to West London shortly, as Nigeria conclude their campaign against Egypt in the third-place match on Saturday.
“This is the last game the three players at AFCON will miss,” Silva said, according to Jack Kelly.
“When you have all the squad available, you’re going to be stronger as a team. Like when Kenny, King or Muniz will be back – they will be very important for us.”
The defeat to Leeds leaves Fulham 10th in the Premier League table with 31 points as they head into the final four months of the season.
After the third-place playoff, Bassey, Iwobi and Chukwueze are expected to leave Morocco together immediately and should be available for Fulham’s game against Brighton at Craven Cottage on January 24.
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