Nigeria star Victor Osimhen said his team had “made a statement” in beating hosts Ivory Coast 1-0 at the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday to close on a place in the last 16.

“It feels good. Not an easy game of course. We knew the Ivorians would come strong against us,” Osimhen said after captain William Troost-Ekong’s 55th-minute penalty decided the Group A showdown at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan.

“We came with a game plan and we executed it. I am happy about this win. It’s a big win for us and we keep on building on this momentum.”

Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in their opening game at the tournament, a match in which Osimhen scored.

This result leaves them level on four points at the top of the section with Equatorial Guinea, who beat Guinea-Bissau 4-2 earlier on Thursday.

The Super Eagles know a draw in their last match against already-eliminated Guinea-Bissau will guarantee progress as one of the top two teams.

However, four of the best third-placed sides also advance to the last 16.

“This game against Ivory Coast was a big statement game for us,” said Osimhen, who won the decisive penalty after being brought down in the box by Ousmane Diomande.

“We needed to win and make a statement in a competition like the AFCON.

“It was important to start well. We waited for them in the midfield, waiting for them to make mistakes, but I am really happy about this win and we will keep on going from here.”

The reigning African footballer of the year said he “really didn’t mind” that coach Jose Peseiro told Troost-Ekong to take the penalty rather than him.

Nigeria now face Guinea-Bissau in Abidjan on Monday and the three-time AFCON winners will be wary of a team that defeated them in qualifying in Abuja last March.

Osimhen said, “We know them. We played them in qualifying and we know how dangerous they can be. We can never take any game lightly.”

Nigeria secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Cote d’Ivoire at the Stade Olympique Ouattara, with William Troost-Ekong’s penalty proving to be the decisive goal. Here’s a breakdown of the Super Eagles’ individual performances:

1. Christian Nwabali (8/10): The Chippa United goalkeeper delivered another standout performance, showcasing excellent decision-making, commanding the defense, and making three crucial saves in the match. Maybe the Eagles goalkeeping department has found a solution.
2. Ola Aina (7.5/10): The Nottingham Forest full-back impressed with his defensive duels, putting in a resilient performance and effectively neutralizing Jeremie Boga. Aina was enterprising with his moves going forward.
3. William Troost-Ekong (8/10): The captain led by example, converting the penalty confidently and providing a solid defensive display, winning all of his tackles. Match-winner.
4. Semi Ajayi (6.5/10): While Ajayi initially struggled with the physicality, he grew into the game, disrupting the opponent’s defense with aerial threats from set-pieces.
5. Calvin Bassey (7.5/10): Bassey’s physical strength played a vital role in defense, winning nine duels and combining well with Zaidu Sanusi. Kudos to Peseiro for the tactical switch.
6. Zaidu Sanusi (6.5/10): The Porto full-back was defensively solid and handled set-piece duties well. However, his final ball in attack lacked precision.
7. Frank Onyeka (7/10): Positioned in an advanced role, Onyeka caused problems for the Ivorian team with effective ball disruptions and defensive contributions. His tackles to disrupt the opposition attacks was vital for the Eagles.
8. Alex Iwobi (7/10): Placed in central midfield in Pesiero’s new formation, Iwobi showcased creativity with five key passes and active defensive involvement with six ball recoveries.
9. Ademola Lookman (6.5/10): Lookman created three chances and displayed accurate set-piece deliveries. However, physicality affected his overall impact, unlike in the game vs Equatorial Guinea.
10. Samuel Chukwueze (6/10): Despite possessing trickery and pace, Chukwueze struggled with decision-making in the final third, limiting his impact. Should have done better when he got into promising attacking positions.
11. Victor Osimhen (8/10): Osimhen won the penalty, showcased excellent hold-up play, and received long balls effectively under intense pressure. Voted official man-of-the-match.

Substitutes:

12. Bright Osayi-Samuel (5/10): Introduced late in the game, Osayi-Samuel’s decision-making hampered a chance to score the second goal.
13. Moses Simon (5.5/10): Substituted in the 72nd minute, Simon struggled to make a significant impact on the game.
14. Kenneth Omeruo: Came on to help secure the victory in the final minutes.

Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro says they used a strategy that worked for them in their hard-fought 1-0 win over TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire hosts on Thursday evening.

The Portuguese technician is delighted to have put in place “a strategy that worked” against the hosts who had the backing of a highly vocal crowd at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe.

However, he acknowledges having noted some improvement areas during this match won thanks to a penalty caused by Victor Osimhen and converted by William Troost-Ekong in the 55th minute.

“For the next match we have to control the game, try to be less timid and not give possession to the opponent,” he said.

For José Peseiro, this victory does not suddenly make Nigeria one of the favourites of the competition.

“I told my players not to savour the victory. We have four days left before the next match. From day one I told them: ‘you must win the AFCON’,” he said.

Nigeria faces Guinea-Bissau on Monday, 22 January at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan for their third and final round of Group A matches at 17h00 GMT.

Nigeria’s forward, Victor Osimhen, emerged as the standout player in the thrilling encounter against hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday night, securing a 1-0 victory for the Super Eagles.

Named Man of the Match, Osimhen shared his elation during a post-match press conference, emphasizing the significance of overcoming the formidable host nation.

Following a lackluster 1-1 draw in their opening match against Equatorial Guinea in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023, Nigeria exhibited resilience and determination, clinching a crucial win against Cote d’Ivoire, who were hosting the tournament.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 55th minute when Victor Osimhen, donned in green and white, earned a penalty, expertly converted by William Troost-Ekong to secure the lead.

In the post-match press conference, Napoli’s prolific striker, Victor Osimhen, openly expressed his joy, stating, “It’s a beautiful victory; we knew we would face a strong Ivory Coast team.”

Acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge posed by Cote d’Ivoire Osimhen added, “This match was a significant test for us, and we are thrilled to have overcome it.”

Assuring a consistent approach in upcoming matches, Osimhen emphasized adopting the same mentality displayed against the Elephants.

“In the first match, we had numerous chances that we didn’t capitalize on. Today wasn’t different; we maintained the same mentality, and we hope this victory brings joy to everyone. We will carry this mindset into the remainder of the competition,” he pledged.

Looking ahead, the Nigerian team shifts their focus to the upcoming third match against Guinea-Bissau scheduled for Monday at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan.

Osimhen emphasized not underestimating their opponent, stating, “We aim for a strong performance against Guinea-Bissau. They will undoubtedly approach the game with determination, and we won’t underestimate any team, considering what they’ve done to qualify.”

William Troost-Ekong fired Nigeria to a 1-0 victory over Cote d’Ivoire in the much-anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) clash. SportsRation reports.

The match was played at the Stade Allassane Ouattara on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

Cote d’Ivoire started the game as favourites to win but were conquered by the Eagles who defied the odds to pick their first win of the 2023 AFCON tournament.

Early in the game, reigning CAF Men’s player of the year Victor Osimhen, had a chance to fire the Eagles in front but his effort flew over the crossbar from inside the Ivorien penalty area.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili was alert to deny Cote d‘Ivoire minutes later with Seko Fofana a threat with his bullet shots.

The first half ended goalless, with Nigeria bossting of the most shots.

Ten minutes into the second half, Nigeria earned a penalty-kick after a VAR review for a foul on Victor Osimhen.

Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong took responsibility to fire a bullet shot into the net for what turned out to be the match-winner in the 55th minute.

Both teams had chances to add to the scoreline but it was the Super Eagles who held on for a 1-0 win over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire to boost their chances of reaching the 2023 AFCON knockout round.

Nigeria will face already eliminated Guinea Bissau in their last group game while Cote d’Ivoire must defeat Equatorial Guinea to reach the next stage of the tournament.

Africa’s table tennis powershouses – Nigeria and Egypt have been handed tricky groups in the men and women events of the 2024 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) taking place in Busan, South Korea.

The draw for the eagerly awaited WTTC Finals Busan 2024 was unfolded on Tuesday January 16, at the Busan e-Sports Arena, signifying a milestone as Korea Republic hosts this event for the first time.

Anticipation surges as the stage is now set.  In a month exactly, from 16 to 25 February, the pinnacle of table tennis talent from across the globe will vie for the prestigious title.

All eyes were already on Busan as the battle lines were drawn. Fans turned out in force for the occasion and over 3.5m viewers tuned in to the broadcast to see just where their favourite teams would land.

The stellar audience hints at the atmosphere that waits around the corner when the matches get underway next month.

Nigeria’s men’s team has been drawn in Group 5 alongside Asian giants – Japan and Chinese Taipei as well as Czech Republic and Madagascar.

The women’s team has Germany, Slovakia, Poland and Mexico to contend with in Group 3 as the top eights from the tournament get automatic tickets to Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.

African champion Egypt will battle in Group 8 of the men’s event against Portugal, Romania, Iran and Thailand while their ladies’ team will slug it out against European teams – France, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Croatia in Group 8 as well.

Algeria has been drawn in Group 4 in the men and women events as the men contend with France, Australia, Denmark and Austria while their women’s contingent will battle Chinese Taipei, USA, Thailand and Chile.

Following the withdrawal of Tunisia’s men and women teams as well as Mauritius’ women team, South Africa was listed among the contenders and they have been pitched against Japan, Brazil, Luxembourg, and Iran in Group 2 of the women’s event.

The defending champions, China, occupy the top-seeded positions in both the men’s and women’s team events as the Women’s Teams of China is placed in Group 1 with Hungary, India, Spain and Uzbekistan.

While Hungary has a long history of winning medals in the championships, they will be hard-pressed to get past the defending champions.

Led by World No.1 Sun Yingsha, Team China is chasing their 23rd title in the event and are frontrunners to top the podium once again.

Both the Men’s and Women’s Teams events will see eight groups of five teams looking to advance to the knockout rounds.

Each match is decided by best of five singles matches, with individual matches being best of five games. Each group will play a round-robin, meaning each team faces off against the other four teams in their group.

After the round-robin is completed, the top three teams from each group advance to the knockout phase. Twenty four teams advance in total, getting a final shot at the title. Group winners will receive seeded positions, with the rest drawn into the knockout rounds in a way that ensures teams from the same group would not meet again in the first round.

As the countdown to Busan 2024 enters its final month, fans worldwide can eagerly anticipate the world’s top teams vying for the coveted Swaythling and Corbillon Cups.

Across ten days of intense table tennis action, the event will not only showcase unparalleled skill but also mark a historic chapter in the Korea Republic’s legacy.

AS Roma named their former player Daniele De Rossi as their new manager until the end of the season, hours after parting ways with manager Jose Mourinho on Tuesday.

Mourinho was sacked earlier in the day with Roma ninth in the league after Sunday’s 3-1 loss to AC Milan, and have struggled to overcome the loss of key players due to injury, including striker Paulo Dybala.

They are 22 points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

“AS Roma are pleased to confirm that Daniele De Rossi has been appointed as head coach until 30 June 2024,” the Serie A club said.

“After an 18-year playing career with AS Roma, De Rossi will return home as head coach, with his first game being the club’s upcoming Serie A match against Verona on Saturday evening at the Stadio Olimpico.”

The 34^th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has brought out some glaring revelations. The old order is fast changing as football super powers are now finding life very suffocating from hitherto lesser powers.

The first indication was when Nigeria’s Super Eagles were battled standstill by Equatorial Guinea, who before last Sunday had neither scored nor drawn a match with Nigeria.

Hours later, the most successful team in Africa Cup of Nations’ history and loaded to the hilt, Egypt had to escape to a draw, thanks to the late lottery of penalty kick.

Ghana Black Stars have been upstaged by Cape Verde who are making their fourth appearance as against the 102 of the four-time African champions and the team that won eternally, the original Africa Cup of Nations’ trophy.

Since, there have been more shocks. The biggest of which is the Tuesday’s decimation of Tunisia by Namibia who had hitherto went nine matches without a win. In recording their famous win against the 2004 champions, the Namibians ruined the milestone achievement of Tunisian ace, Youssef Msakni who played his 100^th international match.

The talents of veteran Msakni combined with that of Ben Slimane could not inspire Tunisia to capitalise on their domination against the Namibian upstarts. Former champions, South Africa also got a dose of the bitter tablets from Mali as they lost an initial penalty kick and then conceded two goals within six minutes to go down 2-0.

With the flurry of upsets, which is the next big power to get the shock treatment?

The Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé is set to witness a clash of titans as Cote d’Ivoire faces Nigeria in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A match on Thursday. Here is a preview of the match.

MATCH PREVIEW

Both teams are aiming to secure a spot in the knockout stages, with Cote d’Ivoire riding high on their opening-day victory and Nigeria looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Cote d’Ivoire started their AFCON campaign on a positive note, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau. Goals from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso propelled Les Elephants to a confident win.

Under the guidance of coach Jean-Louis Gasset, the Elephant’s are on a seven-game unbeaten streak, including the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.

On the other hand, Nigeria, three-time African champions, is under pressure after a 1-1 draw in their opening match against Equatorial Guinea.

Victor Osimhen’s equalizer salvaged a point, but the Super Eagles need a win to avoid the risk of a first group-stage exit since 1982. Portuguese head coach Jose Peseiro faces scrutiny as Nigeria has gone four matches without a win in recent competitions.

Recent Form:

Ivory Coast:

• Last 5 Matches (All Competitions): DDWWWW
• AFCON Form: Won (1-0 vs Guinea-Bissau)

Nigeria:

• Last 5 Matches (All Competitions): DWDDLD
• AFCON Form: Draw (1-1 vs Equatorial Guinea)

Key Insights:

• Ivory Coast aims for successive wins in their opening two games, a feat not achieved since 2013.
• Nigeria draws inspiration from their 2013 AFCON encounter, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals en route to winning the title.
• Sebastian Haller’s availability for Ivory Coast remains uncertain due to an ankle injury.
• Alhassan Yusuf is ruled out for Nigeria, potentially paving the way for Southampton’s Joe Aribo in the midfield.

Possible Starting Lineups: Cote d’Ivoire:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Possible Starting XI: Y. Fofana; Singo, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, S. Fofana; Boga, Krasso, Bamba

Nigeria:

• Formation: 4-3- 3
• Possible Starting XI: Nwabili; Aina, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Sanusi; Onyeka, Aribo, Iwobi; Simon, Lookman, Osimhen