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Tag: AFCON

  • ‘I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful’ – Carragher speaks on AFCON controversy

    ‘I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful’ – Carragher speaks on AFCON controversy

    Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has clarified his remarks on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting he never intended to be “ignorant or disrespectful” after his comments sparked backlash from African football legends.

    Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, Carragher claimed that Mohamed Salah’s biggest challenge in the Ballon d’Or race was Egypt’s lack of global success and the lower recognition of AFCON.

    His remarks drew immediate criticism from African football icons, including Ahmed Elmohamady, Jay-Jay Okocha, John Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Austin Eguavoen.

    Addressing the controversy on a broadcast after Tuesday’s Champions League matches, Carragher admitted that his wording was “clumsy” when he suggested Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were slim because he was not competing in a “major tournament.”

    Clarifying his stance, Carragher explained that his point was based on historical Ballon d’Or voting patterns rather than a personal view on AFCON’s significance.

    “What I would never want to be described as, as a pundit, would be ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my aim, whether that’s to a player, a club, a country, a continent, an international tournament—whatever that may be,” he said.

    “Where I got it wrong was I was clumsy with my language in describing AFCON as not a major tournament. I was trying to explain the merits of Mo Salah winning the Ballon d’Or, and I feel that not just AFCON but also tournaments like the Asian Games and Gold Cup don’t resonate with the people who vote for the award,” he explained.

    He acknowledged that the award has traditionally favored players excelling in European tournaments but reiterated his respect for African football.

  • ‘You don’t want your son to be like him’ – Okocha blasts Carragher over AFCON criticism

    ‘You don’t want your son to be like him’ – Okocha blasts Carragher over AFCON criticism

    Super Eagles legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has criticized former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher over his remarks downplaying the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament.

    Carragher sparked backlash after suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances were limited because he plays for Egypt, implying AFCON is not a significant competition. Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, Carragher said:

    “I think the problem is the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament as such or maybe got a great chance of winning.”

    In response, Okocha, in an interview circulating on X on Friday, dismissed Carragher’s footballing credentials, stating:

    “There are some players that will say something; you just overlook it. If you look at their careers, if you look at the type of football that they played, you can understand. I mean, you wouldn’t want your son to be like Carragher. So, he can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.”

    Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel also condemned Carragher’s stance on his Obi One Podcast, calling the remarks “disrespectful.”

    “The Africa Cup of Nations is as big as the Euros. I’ve played in it and won it. It’s not in his f*ing place to discredit the AFCON. He sits there week in, week out, teaching and coaching people on how to win the Premier League, and he never won it!”

    Mikel emphasized AFCON’s significance, stating that young African players aspire to play in the competition, drawing inspiration from their footballing idols.

  • Eguavoen Vows Super Eagles Will Go All Out in AFCON Qualifying Double-Header Against Libya

    Eguavoen Vows Super Eagles Will Go All Out in AFCON Qualifying Double-Header Against Libya

    Augustine Eguavoen, caretaker coach of the Super Eagles, has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to secure maximum points in their upcoming double-header against Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

    A win in both matches would ensure Nigeria’s qualification for the AFCON 2025 finals, to be held in Morocco.

    Currently sitting at the top of Group D with four points from two games, Eguavoen emphasized the importance of early qualification to avoid any last-minute pressure in the qualifying campaign.

    “We have to be practical about it: our best and surest route to the finals will be to pick up the six points in the matches with Libya, and be somewhat guaranteed of a place in Morocco even before Matchday 5. We don’t want to be in any anxiety in the run-in of this qualifying campaign,” Eguavoen told the NFF website.

    Though the Super Eagles will be without star striker Victor Osimhen, who is sidelined with an injury, Eguavoen remains confident in the team’s other attacking options.

    “I admit we will miss Victor (Osimhen), but I believe in the other strikers available to get us the goals that will give us the three points in Uyo, and the three points in Libya,” he added.

  • Tunisian Pilot Sheds Light on Super Eagles’ Flight Diversion to Remote Libyan Airport

    Tunisian Pilot Sheds Light on Super Eagles’ Flight Diversion to Remote Libyan Airport

    The Tunisian pilot who flew the Nigerian national football team to Libya has provided crucial details regarding the unexpected diversion of their flight to Al-Abraq, a remote airport nearly 300 kilometers east of their intended destination, Benghazi.

    The Nigerian delegation, en route for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, found themselves stranded for over 16 hours following the diversion.

    In a video interview shared by Sports Analyst Festus Dada on X (formerly Twitter), the pilot clarified that the decision to divert the flight was made by Libyan authorities, not him.

    He explained that the original flight plan was to land at Benghazi’s Benina Airport, with prior approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority.

    “The flight plan was to land at Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority. However, as we began our descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport. This decision came from the highest Libyan authorities, not me,” the pilot said.

    The unexpected diversion raised serious safety concerns. The pilot explained that the fuel onboard had been calculated based on their original destination, and the last-minute change could have posed risks.

    “In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety. I repeatedly questioned the directive and warned them about fuel limitations, but they insisted that we land at Al-Abraq, citing orders from the highest authority,” he added.

    The pilot firmly denied media reports suggesting that the diversion was his decision, emphasizing that all aviation communications are recorded and available for review.

    “Everything is documented. I asked to land in Benghazi as per my flight plan, but they denied it, instructing me to divert immediately,” he stressed.

    He also highlighted the difficulties of landing at Al-Abraq, describing it as an ill-equipped airport lacking essential navigation tools, including an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR), which are crucial for safe landings, especially in poor weather conditions.

    “I had to make a visual landing, which is risky, especially in those conditions. It was not easy, but fortunately, we landed safely,” the pilot said, noting that his familiarity with the region helped him manage the situation.

    Following the ordeal, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has decided to pull the Super Eagles out of the qualifier match against Libya.

    “The players have resolved not to play the match, and NFF officials are now making arrangements to fly the team back home,” read a statement from the NFF.

  • Flying Eagles Qualify for 2025 U-20 AFCON After Thrilling Victory Over Niger Republic

    Flying Eagles Qualify for 2025 U-20 AFCON After Thrilling Victory Over Niger Republic

    The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have secured their spot in the 2025 U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a dramatic 3-1 victory over Niger Republic in the semi-final of the WAFU B U-20 Championship on Sunday night at the Stade Kegue in Lome, Togo.

    Despite going a goal down early in the match, the Flying Eagles displayed resilience and turned the tide in their favor, coming from behind to earn the crucial win. Niger Republic stunned Nigeria with an early goal within the opening 10 minutes, but the Eagles kept their composure and gradually took control of the game.

    In the 35th minute, Nigeria’s Clinton Jephta equalized with a powerful shot from outside the box, sending the team into halftime with momentum. Jephta then doubled his tally immediately after the second half began, putting Nigeria ahead.

    Olalekan Alonge further cemented Nigeria’s lead with a well-taken goal later in the game, securing the 3-1 victory and a spot in the final of the WAFU B U-20 Championship.

    The Flying Eagles will now face Ghana in the final on Wednesday, where both teams have already qualified for the 2025 U-20 AFCON, as the tournament serves as the qualifying event. Only the finalists from the WAFU B championship earn tickets to the U-20 AFCON.

    The 2025 U-20 AFCON will also act as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, with the top four teams automatically earning their place in the global competition.