Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to secure victory against Cameroon in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 clash.

The match is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, 2024 at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

Despite the historical head-to-head record favoring Nigeria with 12 wins in 25 meetings, the AFCON encounters have been evenly matched, with each team securing three wins. Cameroon holds the upper hand with AFCON victories in 1984, 1988, and 2000, adding pressure to the upcoming showdown.

Both teams have faced challenges in the current championship, with Nigeria finishing second in Group A, and Cameroon securing progress with a last-minute win over Gambia.

Osayi-Samuel acknowledges the formidable nature of the Indomitable Lions but is confident based on the Super Eagles’ experience and quality.

He said “It’s knockout now; there is no free points. It’s either you win, and you are through, or you lose, and you are out.

“We know that can bring pressure, but if you look at our group (Super Eagles), we have players who have vast experience in this situation that we are in now. We have the players that can thrive in this situation.

“If you look around the group, everyone is confident. Everyone is looking forward to the game, even myself.

“Cameroon are a very strong team. They have got good players, but if we are focused on ourselves and look at what we can do, how we can hurt them, I think we have a very good chance of winning the game.”

The Super Eagles of Nigeria vs Cameroon match will kickoff by 9pm (Nigerian time) on Saturday.

Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze has set his sights firmly on continental glory, declaring the ongoing African Cup of Nations as his “big project” and a chance to etch his name in Nigeria’s football history.

The skilled winger has already taken part in two AFCON tournaments, the first in Egypt, where he reached the semi-final with the Super Eagles before being narrowly defeated by Algeria. The Eagles then secured their eighth third-place medal against Tunisia.

On the second occasion, Chukwueze was with the Super Eagles in Cameroon, where Nigeria disappointedly crashed out in the Round of 16.

Now, in his third attempt, the AC Milan winger says winning the trophy this time is the sole goal.

“Winning the AFCON will be one of the biggest achievements in my career,”

 “Winning something for Nigeria, putting your name in the book of honour, will be great.”

Past experiences fueled this unwavering determination. “This is my third AFCON,” he acknowledged. “The first one wasn’t bad; the second one was actually bad, and I think this third one has to be good for me. I cannot leave my club and come and while away time. I came here to win.”

Chukwueze’s confidence extends beyond his performance. When asked about potential threats to Nigeria’s title ambitions, his response was as bold as his play on the pitch. “For me, I don’t see any country stopping me,” he declared emphatically.

The Super Eagles have a fairly good route to winning the AFCON trophy, but they must first navigate through the Indomitable Lions in a round of 16 encounter on Saturday.

If Jose Peseiro’s men succeed, they will face the winner between Angola and Namibia in the quarterfinal to take a step closer to winning their first AFCON title in over a decade.

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has reached the Round of 16, bringing together 16 teams in a quest for supremacy in Cote d’Ivoire.

The upcoming four days promise football thrills and drama as teams battle for coveted spots in the quarterfinals. Here’s a breakdown of the exciting matchups:

1. Angola vs. Namibia Angola, topping their group, faces Namibia, making it past the group stage for the first time. The clash promises determination and history on the pitch.

2. Nigeria vs. Cameroon Two giants of African football, Nigeria and Cameroon, collide in a battle of eight AFCON titles. A historic rivalry unfolds with both sides eyeing a spot in the quarterfinals.

3. Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea Dark horse Equatorial Guinea meets consistent quarterfinal contenders Guinea. The best-attacking team, Equatorial Guinea, faces Guinea’s solid tournament history in a thrilling encounter.

4. Egypt vs. DR Congo Despite struggles, seven-time champions Egypt remain favorites against two-time winners DR Congo. The absence of Mo Salah adds unpredictability to this clash, with Egypt’s legacy on the line.

5. Cape Verde vs. Mauritania Impressive Cape Verde faces Mauritania in a winnable clash. Cape Verde aims to match their 2013 quarterfinal run, while underdog Mauritania seeks to continue their fairy-tale journey.

6. Senegal vs. Cote d’Ivoire Defending champions Senegal, with a perfect group stage record, face hosts Cote d’Ivoire. Senegal navigates a potential stumbling block against a determined Ivorian side and their football-mad public.

7. Mali vs. Burkina Faso Burkina Faso meets Group E winners Mali in an evenly matched encounter. Mali eyes redemption, while Burkina Faso, with a 2017 bronze medal, poses a formidable challenge.

8. Morocco vs. South Africa AFCON underachievers Morocco and South Africa clash. Morocco, seeking a trophy since 1976, is favored against South Africa, struggling for a second AFCON triumph in nearly three decades.

The Round of 16 fixtures kicks off on Saturday, January 27, and concludes on Tuesday, January 30.

Sabalenka is seeking consecutive Australian Open titles, just like her idol, Serena Williams.

World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka has secured her spot in the women’s singles final of the 2024 Australian Open, defeating Coco Gauff in two straight sets on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Belarussian won 7-6, 6-4 in one hour and 42 minutes, setting up her second consecutive Australian Open final appearance.

Sabalenka took an early lead of 5-2 in the first set, but Gauff mounted a comeback to force a tie-break, which Sabalenka won 7-2 to claim the first set. The second set remained on serve until the ninth game, when Sabalenka broke Gauff, eventually closing out the set 6-4 and the match 2-0.

Mirroring her idol, Serena Williams, who achieved the same feat in 2009 and 2010, Sabalenka expressed her focus and composure throughout the match, regardless of the score. In a post-match interview, she described the battle against Gauff as incredible and highlighted her determination to stay focused and fight for every point.

“It was an incredible match. She’s a great player, always tough battles against her. I think the key was that I was able to stay focused, no matter what. No matter what the score was, I just keep trying my best, keep fighting for it.”

Sabalenka’s opponent in the final will be the 12th-seeded Qinwen Zheng from China.

The 21-year-old secured her first Grand Slam final appearance by defeating Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 42 minutes. Zheng broke Yastremska in the third game of the first set, and despite Yastremska breaking back, Zheng secured crucial breaks to take both sets, ultimately benefiting from Yastremska’s 23 unforced errors.

Zheng, who is looking to become the second Chinese player to win a Grand Slam title after Li Na achieved the feat in 2010, said her passage to the final was unbelievable.

“It feels unbelievable. I’m super excited to have such a great performance today and arrive in the final. That’s been my dream since I was a kid.”

The final is scheduled for the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.

Sinner is into his first Grand Slam final after getting the better of 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.

Italian Jannik Sinner has ended Novak Djokovic’s 33-match winning run at the Australian Open.

Sinner, 22, defeated world No. 1 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in three hours and 22 minutes. The defeat was the first suffered by the Serb since 2019 and the first men’s final without the big three of Djokovic, Rafal Nadal and Roger Federer.  

Uncharacteristically, Djokovic made 54 unforced errors compared to 28, made by Sinner, as he failed in his quest for an 11th Australian Open title since he started competing in Melbourne in 2005.

“Awesome,” remarked the Italian after his win on Rod Lavar’s centre court. “I don’t know what to say really. I came here after a couple of exhibition matches at Kooyong and came here as prepared as possible.

“The confidence from the end of last year has for sure kept the belief that I can play against the best players in the world, and I’m really happy that I can play Sunday final.

“It was a very, very tough match,” Sinner agreed after spending almost four hours on court. “I started off really well. He missed two sets. I felt like he wasn’t feeling that great on the court, so I just tried to keep pushing, and then in the third set I had a match point and I missed the forehand, but you know, this is tennis.

“I just tried to be ready for the next set, and obviously the atmosphere was so great.” As he prepares to face either Daniil Medvedev or Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final.

Sinner said, “I lost last year in the semis at Wimbledon. I think I learnt a lot from that, and it’s all part of the process.”

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has reached the Round of 16, bringing together 16 teams in a quest for supremacy in Cote d’Ivoire.

The upcoming four days promise football thrills and drama as teams battle for coveted spots in the quarterfinals. Here’s a breakdown of the exciting matchups:

1. Angola vs. Namibia Angola, topping their group, faces Namibia, making it past the group stage for the first time. The clash promises determination and history on the pitch.

2. Nigeria vs. Cameroon Two giants of African football, Nigeria and Cameroon, collide in a battle of eight AFCON titles. A historic rivalry unfolds with both sides eyeing a spot in the quarterfinals.

3. Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea Dark horse Equatorial Guinea meets consistent quarterfinal contenders Guinea. The best-attacking team, Equatorial Guinea, faces Guinea’s solid tournament history in a thrilling encounter.

4. Egypt vs. DR Congo Despite struggles, seven-time champions Egypt remain favorites against two-time winners DR Congo. The absence of Mo Salah adds unpredictability to this clash, with Egypt’s legacy on the line.

5. Cape Verde vs. Mauritania Impressive Cape Verde faces Mauritania in a winnable clash. Cape Verde aims to match their 2013 quarterfinal run, while underdog Mauritania seeks to continue their fairy-tale journey.

6. Senegal vs. Cote d’Ivoire Defending champions Senegal, with a perfect group stage record, face hosts Cote d’Ivoire. Senegal navigates a potential stumbling block against a determined Ivorian side and their football-mad public.

7. Mali vs. Burkina Faso Burkina Faso meets Group E winners Mali in an evenly matched encounter. Mali eyes redemption, while Burkina Faso, with a 2017 bronze medal, poses a formidable challenge.

8. Morocco vs. South Africa AFCON underachievers Morocco and South Africa clash. Morocco, seeking a trophy since 1976, is favored against South Africa, struggling for a second AFCON triumph in nearly three decades.

The Round of 16 fixtures kicks off on Saturday, January 27, and concludes on Tuesday, January 30.

The mouth-watering Africa Cup of Nations’ Round of 16 clash of Nigeria and Cameroon on Saturday triggers off a trilogy of intense rivalry of the two neighbouring countries.

They last met at the same stage in the 2019 edition in Egypt. After Saturday’s clash of the senior men’s teams, the senior women will again clash for final qualification for the 2024 Olympics women football event.

Just as the Super Eagles and the Cameroon Indomitable Lions are eternal rivals, so also are their women’s counterparts and both contested the final matches of WAFCON in 1991, 2004, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Nigerian women’s team will host their Cameroon counterparts on 19 February in the first leg. The match is the second football match pitching Nigeria and Cameroon together.

The trilogy will be completed with the second leg match of the Olympic qualifier in Cameroon on 28 February.

Beyond the rivalry on the football pitch, there is a boxing angle to it as Nigeria-British boxer will face Cameroon-French  professional mixed martial artist and professional boxer,  Francis Zavier Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on March 8

“We don’t care if we score 20 goals, the most important thing for us is the victory,” Nantes forward Simon said after collecting his award for man of the match.

The only goal of Monday’s encounter at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan came in the 36th minute, as a low cross by Simon was emphatically turned into his own net by defender Opa Sangante, who had Victor Osimhen lurking behind him.

The result took the Super Eagles through to the last 16 in second place in Group A with seven points, behind Equatorial Guinea whose 4-0 destruction of hosts Ivory Coast left them with a far better goal difference.

Nigeria’s domination had been sterile before the goal came, but they should have added to their lead after the break.

African player of the year Osimhen and substitute Zaidu Sanusi both had goals disallowed for offside in the second half, while Calvin Bassey had a penalty appeal turned down and Ola Aina blasted a good chance over.

“The main point is that we conceded no goals and we scored one. If we keep doing that we can reach the final,” insisted coach Jose Peseiro, whose team were the top scorers in qualifying for the tournament with 22 goals in six games.

Nigeria, who drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in their opening game, have since been efficient if not spectacular, defeating the Ivorians 1-0 with a William Troost-Ekong penalty before this result.

“My responsibility is to choose the best way to win this competition. I chose another strategy and the players believe in it — to not concede goals because we will score at least one,” Peseiro said, pointing out that Senegal only scored once in the group stage at the 2022 AFCON before going on to win the trophy.

Peseiro’s team will now stay in Abidjan for a last-16 tie on Saturday against the runners-up in Group C, which will be Senegal, Guinea or Cameroon.

Franculino Dju had a goal ruled out for Guinea-Bissau, who were already eliminated before this game and finish with three defeats.

Shock winners away to Nigeria in qualifying last March, they have still never won a game in 12 attempts across four appearances at the Cup of Nations itself.

The Super Eagles have a tough test ahead of them in the knockout phase of the ongoing African Cup Of Nations.

The Nigerians, who are aiming for a fourth AFCON title in Cote d’Ivoire, are billed to face the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the Round of 16.

Both Nigeria and Cameroon finished as the runners-up in their groups with the Lions needing a thrilling 3-2 win over Gambia on Tuesday to leapfrog Guinea into second position.

The thrilling encounter between Nigeria and Cameroon will come up on Saturday at the FHB stadium in Abidjan.

It was Cameroon that denied Nigeria the AFCON trophy the last time Cote D’Ivoire hosted the Africa Cup of Nations 30 years ago.

Many wait to see if the Super Eagles will get an act of revenge against their fierce rivals or if the Lions will confirm their superiority over Nigeria

Already, Super Eagles midfielder Moses Simon who was named Man of the Match in the hard-fought 1-0 win against Guinea-Bissau has declared their readiness to embrace any challenge on their path to glory.

“We’re not losing sleep over who we’ll face next,” Simon confidently told reporters in Abidjan after the match. “We have no preference; we have to be ready for all opposition if we want to win the title. Any team we draw, we’re ready for them and everyone else.”