Onana: Cameroon Knockout at the AFCON

Published

2 years ago

February 2, 2024

Onana

Andre Onana’s participation at the Africa Cup of Nations has drawn to a close after Cameroon suffered a 2-0 defeat against Nigeria in the last 16.

Our no.24 was an unused substitute at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, with his cousin Fabrice Ondoa selected in goal instead.

Ademola Lookman, formerly of both Everton and Leicester City, opened the scoring after 36 minutes played, latching onto a pass from Victor Osimhen to slam home his effort past Ondoa.

The game was put beyond the Indomitable Lions’ reach inside the final stages, with Fulham man Calvin Bassey’s low cross turned home by Lookman once more, securing progression for Jose Peseiro’s side.

Nigeria had the ball in the net during the opening stages in the Ivory Coast, with Semi Ajayi’s effort ruled out for offside, sparing Cameroon’s early blushes.

Frank Magri’s shot was the first chance Rigobert Song’s side had on goal with 20 minutes played, as the former’s volley sailed into the stands.

It was, however, the three-time AFCON champions who took the lead before the interval, with Osimhen initially showing great strength to hold off Oumar Gonzalez.

The Napoli forward played in Lookman with a neat pass and the 26-year-old made no mistake from close range, tucking home despite Ondoa’s best efforts.

As the second half began, Cameroon’s Georges-Kevin N’Koudou looked to threaten down the right flank, with his advances thwarted by the resilient Nigeria defence.

Lookman took aim from distance as he went in search of both his and his nation’s second goal of the game, but he couldn’t quite connect with his own drive.

But as we reached the final stages, the former RB Leipzig man made no mistake in securing Nigeria’s progression to the last eight, notching home from close range.

Bassey’s cross from the right was cleverly flicked home by the tricky forward, beating Ondoa for a second time across the 90 minutes.

It wasn’t to be for Cameroon and Onana on this occasion, as their AFCON hopes ended in this last-16 defeat, as they failed to reach the heights of their success back in 2017.

Our commiserations go to Andre and the Indomitable Lions.

EPL: Full list of players leaving for 2025 AFCON

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.

FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.

Full list of players confirmed

Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).

Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).

Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).

Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).

Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).

Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),

West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)

Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).

Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).

Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)

Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)

NNL bars fans from Ranchers Bees vs Adamawa United

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.

The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.

Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.

Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.

The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.

The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).

Nigeria vs Egypt Friendly Gets New Date

Published

6 days ago

December 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.

EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.

Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.

Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.

Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.

The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.

Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.

The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.

Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.