Jose Peseiro says Super Eagles must be more clinical if Nigeria want to go far in the knockout stages of AFCON 2023.

Nigeria booked their passage into the last 16 after defeating Guinea Bissau on Monday, thanks to a first-half own goal by Opa Sangante.

The win was enough to earn them second place in Group A.

Nigeria dominated the game but poor finishing ensured it was a tense encounter to the end, with Victor Osimhen missing several chances to secure the three points earlier in the contest.

Both teams also had late goals correctly ruled out for offside.

Peseiro said during a post-match conference that the team could not afford to continue to miss clear chances in front of goal as it might be detrimental to Nigeria’s progress in the tournament.

“It is a new competition that is starting for us. The most important part of a competitionin is the knockout stage.

“We will have to be more clinical in front of goal because the slightest mistake will be fatal for us,” he said.

Nigeria are in the round of 16 of the AFCON for the 17th time.

They will next face the runners-up of Group C – either Guinea or Senegal – on Saturday.

Police have been mobilised after supporters of the host nation Cote d’Ivoire resorted to violence following the country’s disastrous 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea in their final group game on Monday.

ÀIn a video seen by Peoples Gazette, the body of a bus apparently forced to be abandoned as a result of the violence was riddled with holes that looked like it was pelted by stones.The windows of the bus were also shattered.

Another video showed things being burnt in the streets of Abidjan as police could be seen converging around the area.

“Had to run for cover after escaping on the bus,” a Nigerian journalist covering the tournament said in a WhatsApp group for reporters covering the 2023 AFCON.

“…and hide my journalist tag,” he added.

The shocking defeat to Equatorial Guinea left Cote d’Ivoire with a very slim chance of advancing to the knockout phase of the tournament as one of the four third-best-placed teams in the group stage.

With three points and a negative three-goal difference, the Ivorians can only hope that fewer than four teams better their group stage record to have the chance of reaching the round of 16.

Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria have already taken the two automatic qualification tickets to the round of 16 from Group A.

The Nigeria Men Handball team on Sunday defeated the Kenyan opponent 32-23 in their third game at the ongoing Africa Men’s Handball Cup of Nations in Egypt.

This is first victory of the team after losing their two earlier matches against Angola and Tanzania.

Nigeria will play a placement match against Republic of Congo on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The team also known as ‘Golden Arrows’ were determined to win their match to avenge their two earlier matches.

They started on a good note by defeating Kenya in the first half by 16-9 and finally won by 32-23 at the end of the second half.

The assistant coach of the Nigerian team, Solomon Yola, said the team would fight to win their next match.

He said, “It is unfortunate that they lost their previous games but they also fought well in those games. They played well and we can see the result.’’

They lost their first match against Angola at 24-26 and they also lost their second game against Tanzania at 19-36.

The team is grouped in group D alongside with the 10-time champion, Tunisia, as well as Angola and Kenya.

The 26th Africa Men Handball Nations Cup, which started on January 17 in Cairo, Egypt, is expected to end on January 29.

Kano Pillars Football Club on Sunday defeated visiting Heartland FC of Owerri 2-1 in one of the match day 19 fixtures of the Nigerian Professional Football League.

The match was played behind closed doors at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, following sanctions including a N12 million fine imposed on the Pillars by the League Management Company.

This was as a result of encroachment by some of Kano Pillars supporters into the pitch which caused a delay in the live coverage of their home game against Plateau United in a match day 17 encounter.

Kano Pillars midfielder, Suleiman Idris, scored in the 47th minute, while Rabiu Ali doubled the lead when he converted a penalty in the 85th minute.

Clement Ogbobe scored a consolation goal for the visitors in the added time through a well taken free kick.

Sunday’s result ensured Pillars finished the first stanza of the league in the fifth position with 32 points from 19 games and would play their next game against Heartland FC after the break.

After the game, Heartland Coach, Chris Obi, said that the match was tough, noting that players of both teams gave a good account of themselves.

Mr Obi explained that Pillars’ determination to win the game at home paid off, as his team would go back and prepare for the second stanza of the league.

He said that would continue to work on the players to improve the club’s performance.

“The league is still open and Heartland is not a write-off; no one is sure of winning the league. We are going to improve in the remaining 19 matches to ensure we finish well,” he said.

On his part, the Assistant Coach of Kano Pillars, Abubakar Musa, expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance throughout the encounter.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match, so we trained hard and it paid off,” Musa said.

He said the victory would boost his team’s morale towards making a great impact in the second phase of the league.

Ahead of Nigeria’s last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage clash against Guinea-Bissau on Monday, Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo says the team can win the continental title again.

“We have the squad and capacity to win the AFCON, but we have to pick the game one at a time,” Omeruo told reporters at the pre-match press conference on Sunday.

Nigeria last won the AFCON title in 2013 in South Africa, a team the former Chelsea defender was part of.

Omeruo believed Nigeria could again become African champions in Côte d’Ivoire.

“I do believe we have a team to win the AFCON,” the 30-year-old defender emphasised.

Speaking about the game against Guinea-Bissau on Monday, Omeruo said there are no easy games in the tournament, stating that it is evident why some big teams are struggling in the ongoing AFCON and that Nigeria must not underestimate the Wild Dogs.

“People are saying the game tomorrow will be easy, but there is no easy game in this tournament,” he said.

“A lot of big teams are struggling; it shows how the tournament has improved, and we want to win the game tomorrow.”

After the win against hosts Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, Nigeria took their tournament’s tally to four points from two games, and a draw against Guinea-Bissau will 100 per cent secure the Super Eagles’ advancement to the next stage of the tournament.

The head coach of Guinea-Bissa’s Wild Dogs, Baciro Candé,has vowed to secure a historic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) win for the country in their last Group A game against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Monday.

Having lost their first two games of the group 2-0 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire and 4-2 to Equatorial Guinea, which ultimately means they are out of the tournament, Candé said his team is ready for a win tomorrow.

During the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Candé admitted that he expects the game against Nigeria to be a difficult one but the team will do everything to have a good game tomorrow.

“We are excited to play a good match tomorrow,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“We have one match to close the first phase of the competition and we will do everything to have a good game tomorrow.”

He added: “It will be difficult but we will do everything possible tomorrow.

“We want to have our first AFCON win tomorrow.”

Speaking further, Candé, who oversaw Guinea-Bissau’s surprising 1-0 win over Nigeria in the qualifying phase of the tournament in Abuja, said Guinea-Bissau players are mentally prepared to win tomorrow.

“I trust in my team, we want to have a good performance. Mentally we are strong, we are here because we are here because we are good. We have a good qualifying phase.

“We know it will be very difficult but we are prepared to get the win tomorrow,” he said.

Warri Wolves FC is aiming for victory against their host, Inter Lagos FC, today at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Ground, Onikan, to brighten their chances of securing a ticket to the elite Premier League at the end of this season.

The Seasiders, as Warri Wolves are fondly called, are currently in the sixth position on the table, a performance the players and their officials are not happy about.

With the team’s financial problem resolved by the state government, the players want to use today’s game in Lagos to launch themselves back as one of the contenders for the title.

Warri Wolves setback began just before the Christmas break, when they lost at home to visiting Giant Brilliars FC at Kwale Stadium. Some of the players blamed that defeat on the poor financial stand of the club at then.

An official of the club, who spoke with The Guardian, yesterday, stated that their aim today is to secure all three points against their host, Inter Lagos FC.

“We are in Lagos with the aim of getting all three points at stake. We need the points to make up for what we have lost in recent times,” the official stated.

Warri Wolves next match will be against Gateway FC on January 28 at the Kwale Stadium, and on February 3, they will confront Trade Safe FC in Lagos. The first round of the Nigeria National League (NNL) will end on February 17.

Aguibou Camara’s second-half goal gave Guinea a 1-0 win over Gambia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, a result that left them on the brink of securing a place in the last 16.

Midfielder Camara, who plays his club football in Greece, swept home an assist from Morgan Guilavogui midway through the second half to decide the Group C contest in Ivorian capital Yamoussoukro.

Guinea had been the more dangerous side despite again being without star striker Serhou Guirassy, just as they were for their opening 1-1 draw with Cameroon.

Mohamed Bayo, leading Guinea’s attack in Guirassy’s absence, hit the post in the first half for a side who are aiming to reach the knockout phase at a third consecutive Cup of Nations.

The result leaves them second in the group on four points, two points behind reigning champions Senegal who defeated Cameroon 3-1 earlier to clinch their place in the knockout phase.

Guinea need just a draw against Senegal in their next match on Tuesday to guarantee qualification for the last 16, but a victory will see them progress as group winners.

Gambia, surprise quarter-finalists two years ago, have no points but a win in their last group match against Cameroon could yet see them advance as one of the best third-placed teams.

Defending champions Senegal became the second qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 as Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diallo and Sadio Mane scored in a 3-1 win over Cameroon on Friday.

A few hours earlier, Cape Verde were the first country to secure a last-16 place by hammering Mozambique 3-0 in Abidjan.

Sarr netted in the first half and Diallo and Mane in the second in Yamoussoukro to give the title-holders a maximum six points after two Group C matches. The losers have only one.

Jean-Charles Castelletto scored late in the second half to halve the deficit to 2-1, but Senegal were not to be denied a convincing victory and Mane put the outcome beyond doubt.

Guinea face the Gambia later in the second match of a double-header and a victory would lift them three points above Cameroon with just one round of matches remaining.

Cameroon recalled Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who missed a draw with Guinea after arriving late in west Africa, but slack defending contributed to the goals he conceded.

Senegal kicked off with five of the team that started the 2022 final against Egypt in Yaounde, which they won in a penalty shootout with Mane scoring the decisive spot kick.

Cameroon had to do without star forward Vincent Aboubakar again as he had not recovered from a thigh injury that ruled him out of a draw with Guinea four days ago.

Ebere Amaraizu, a former board member and South-East director of the Nationwide League One (NLO), has urged the Super Eagles to increase the tempo of their game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cote d’ Ivoire.

Mr Amaraizu said this on Thursday in Enugu after the Super Eagles and Cote d’Ivoire encounter, which ended 1-0 in favour of the Nigerian side.

He noted that the team handlers did well to solve midfield lapses of the team, adding that playing the host Cote d‘Ivoire was a tough match, which the Eagles surmounted.

“The Super Eagles need to increase the tempo and even do more. We know the national team can do better. With this result today, Super Eagles are top contenders for the AFCON trophy,” he said.

Mr Amaraizu, the former General Manager of Crime Busters FC, Enugu, who won the 2018 Enugu State Aiteo Cup, urged the team to be focused on enabling it to achieve the desired result.

A football fan, Obinna Abia, said it was gratifying that the Super Eagles upped their game after the 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in the team’s first group game.

“The Super Eagles revived their fighting spirit and lived up to expectations in the match against Cote d’Ivoire. This is a good one for the nation and I pray that they will keep it up in subsequent matches,” Mr Abia said.

Another fan, Chuks Silas, said the Super Eagles made him happy again with friends and neighbours.

“The hard-earned victory by our dear Super Eagles needed to be celebrated as the match took a resemblance to the actual final,” Mr Silas said.

Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Micha has applauded his side’s “complete performance” after thrashing Guinea-Bissau 4-2 at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday.

A sensational Emilio Nsue hat-trick fired Equatorial Guinea to victory in the Group A clash, putting them on the verge of the knockout stage.

“I am very happy. We had a complete victory. I want to congratulate my team. We played at a good level and won in satisfying fashion,” said Micha after the emphatic triumph in Abidjan.

The Nzalang Nacional boss said the players understood their responsibility to represent Equatorial Guinea positively on the big stage.

“I tell them we must behave well because we are the representatives of our country and have to give a good image,” Micha explained.

While pleased with the win, the manager stressed that Equatorial Guinea can still improve ahead of facing hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Monday.

“We know it’s a big competition and we have to do better than what we are doing now,” Micha added.

The victory leaves Equatorial Guinea needing a point against the hosts to book a spot in the last 16.

“We have one foot in the next round but will approach Ivory Coast with the same desire and intensity to win,” said Micha.

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to sell Armando Broja amid interest from Premier League clubs Fulham, West Ham United, and Wolves.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Chelsea are open to selling Broja if the right offer arrives for the Albanian.

Broja has found game time hard to come by at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to sign a proven goalscorer either this January or in the summer.

The 22-year-old has started seven of 17 games across competitions for the Blues this season, with two goals and one assist.

He’s been vying with Nicolas Jackson for a starting berth under Pochettino.

Broja spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Southampton.

Hertha Berlin president Kay Bernstein died unexpectedly at 43, the German second division club says.

“Hertha BSC are mourning the death of Bernstein. The club received the terrible news on Tuesday that president Kay Bernstein has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 43.”

The whole club, its governing bodies and staff members are shocked and deeply saddened by the news,“ Hertha wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

The club did not initially disclose the cause of death.

Bernstein, a passionate fan and former Hertha ultra, had been the club’s president since June 2022.

Cote d’Ivoire have gone top of Group A, following a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the opening fixture of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The hosts, backed by a vociferous crowd, were looking to begin the tournament in fine style.

They were ahead within the first five minutes of the encounter, as Seko Fofana cut in and produced a powerful curling effort past the goalkeeper.

In the 58th minute, Jean-Philippe Krasso doubled their advantage, after pouncing on a defensive blunder.

The Ivorians will stay top of the group, at least until Nigeria face Equatorial Guinea on Sunday afternoon.

Kick-off for the fixture is 3:00 pm West African Time (WAT).

Joe Hugill has left Manchester United to join League One side Burton Albion on loan for the remainder of the season.

This comes after the young Academy striker signed a new deal with the Reds on Wednesday.

Recall that Hugill signed a contract which will keep him at the club until 2026, with the option of an extra year.

Hugill has trained regularly with Man United’s first team under manager Erik ten Hag this season.

He was named as a substitute by Ten Hag on four occasions, most recently for Monday’s 2-0 Emirates FA Cup victory at Wigan Athletic.

Hugill will now gain valuable experience at the Pirelli Stadium.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has charged the Super Eagles to win the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The state’s number one citizen hosted the Super Eagles to a send-forth dinner on Wednesday.

“Throwback to this beautiful night of excellence and laughter as we hosted the Super Eagles before they set off for #Afcon2023,” Sanwo-Olu wrote on his X handle on Thursday.

“I am looking forward to their first match, and the message to them was clear: ‘No gree for anybody’.

“Bring home the Nations Cup.”

The Super Eagles will open their campaign at the AFCON 2023 finals against the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

Jose Peseiro’s side will also face hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.