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Tag: AFCON

Tunisia Sack Coach Sami Trabelsi After Early AFCON 2025 Exit

Wale busari03 mins

Tunisia has dismissed head coach Sami Trabelsi following the Carthage Eagles’ early exit from the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, ending a turbulent campaign that left fans and pundits frustrated. The Tunisian Football Federation announced the decision on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Tunisia was eliminated by Mali in the Round of 16. The match ended 1–1 after extra time, with Mali prevailing in a tense penalty shootout. In a brief statement, the federation said the termination was by mutual consent with Trabelsi and his technical staff, citing the team’s failure to advance further in the tournament. “The Executive Committee has decided to terminate the contractual relationship by mutual consent with the entire technical staff of the national team,” the CAF website reported. The decision follows growing disappointment among supporters, who had expected Tunisia to make a serious run in Morocco. The team began the tournament with a strong 3–1 win over Uganda, raising hopes of a deep campaign, but inconsistencies quickly emerged. A 3–2 loss to Nigeria exposed defensive weaknesses, while a 1–1 draw against Tanzania in the final group game raised questions about the squad’s balance and resilience. Those issues were highlighted in the knockout stage, where Tunisia initially took the lead against Mali and even had a numerical advantage after Mali was reduced to ten men. Despite this, they failed to secure victory, allowing Mali to recover and ultimately win on penalties. Trabelsi’s dismissal underscores Tunisia’s ongoing struggle to maintain consistent success in African football. Once continental champions at home in 2004, the nation continues to seek sustained excellence. The federation now faces the task of rebuilding the national team and identifying a new coach to lead its next chapter.

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Cameroon Joins Morocco, Mali and Senegal in AFCON 2025 Quarter-Finals

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Cameroon joins the likes of Morocco, Mali, and Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. The Indomitable Lions edged past South Africa 2-1 in Rabat on Sunday, holding firm despite a late surge from their opponents. Junior Tchamadeu broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, and Christian Kofane quickly doubled the lead just two minutes into the second half, putting Cameroon in command. South Africa pulled one back in the 88th minute through Evidence Makgopa, making the finish tense, but Cameroon managed to see out the victory and book their place in the last eight.

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Mozambique President Promises Huge Bonus If Mambas Beat Super Eagles At AFCON 2025

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Mozambique President Daniel Francisco Chapo has applauded the Mambas for reaching the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and has unveiled a special incentive ahead of their clash with Nigeria. The Mozambican side booked a date with the Super Eagles after finishing third in Group F, even though they closed the group stage with a 2-1 defeat to Cameroon. In a message released on Thursday to the players and coaching crew, President Chapo praised the team’s efforts at the tournament, describing their progression to the knockout stage as a historic achievement that has brought pride to the country. He commended the squad for their discipline, bravery and determination, noting that their performance had pushed Mozambican football to a new level on the continental scene. To further boost morale ahead of the Nigeria encounter, Jornal Notícias reported that the president approved an extraordinary bonus of 500,000 meticais, valued at about N11.3 million, for each player and member of the technical team if they defeat the Super Eagles and qualify for the quarter-finals. President Chapo also assured the team of the full support of the nation and expressed confidence in their ability to rise to the occasion against Nigeria. Nigeria and Mozambique will meet at the Complexe Sportif de Fès on Monday, January 5, with kickoff scheduled for 8 pm.

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Gabon Suspends National Team, Sacks Coaching Staff, Bans Aubameyang And Manga After AFCON 2025 Failure

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The Gabonese government has suspended the national football team and dissolved the coaching staff following the country’s disappointing exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Head coach Thierry Mayouma, a former Gabon international with over 30 caps, and his technical team have been dismissed. In addition, captain Bruno Ecuele Manga and all-time top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been banned from future national team selection, despite missing Gabon’s final group game against Ivory Coast. Gabon lost their opening two group matches before blowing a 2-0 lead in their final game, succumbing 3-2 to the defending champions after Bazoumana Toure scored a stoppage-time winner. The defeat left the Panthers at the bottom of Group F. In a statement broadcast on national television, the government said: “Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the Total Energies Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and considering the multifaceted effects that are diametrically opposed to the values of ethics and exemplarity advocated by the Fifth Republic, the Government has decided: to dissolve the technical staff; to suspend the national team until further notice; to remove players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the team. “Furthermore, the Government calls on the Gabonese Football Federation to assume all its responsibilities.” Aubameyang, who is Gabon’s all-time leading scorer with 41 goals, had returned to Marseille due to injury before the final group match, while Manga, the country’s most capped player with 105 appearances, was dropped after starting the first two games. The sanctions come after Gabon’s broader struggles in international competitions, including failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, despite winning eight of their 10 qualifying matches and losing to Nigeria in a play-off semi-final.

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Super Eagles Set To Face Mozambique In AFCON 2025 Round Of 16 Clash

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles will battle Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as they continue their push for a fourth continental title. The Eagles sealed a perfect group-stage run on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Uganda, adding to earlier wins against Tanzania and Tunisia to finish with maximum points. Eric Chelle’s men topped their group with nine points, while Mozambique progressed after placing third in Group F, earning qualification as one of the best third-placed teams. The Mambas are now set to face Nigeria in Fez on Monday, January 5, with a place in the AFCON 2025 quarter-finals at stake.

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Onuachu And Onyedika Fire Nigeria To 3-1 Win Over Uganda, Maintain Perfect Record In AFCON Group C

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Paul Onuachu and Raphael Onyedika starred as Nigeria defeated Uganda 3-1 to secure all nine points in Group C of the AFCON qualifiers. Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle made several changes to his starting lineup, handing starts to Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC), Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), and Moses Simon (Paris FC). In the absence of Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen captained the team. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Onuachu scored his first goal for Nigeria in four years, assisted by Dele-Bashiru. In the 50th minute, Chidozie Awaziem missed a close-range chance from a corner, and a minute later, Bruno Onyemachi nearly doubled the lead, firing into the side netting after Osimhen missed a header. Uganda was reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when substitute goalkeeper Salim Jamal Magoola handled Osimhen’s goal-bound shot outside the penalty area. Nigeria extended their lead in the 67th minute when Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika scored with an assist from on-loan Fulham winger Samuel Chukwueze. Five minutes later, Chukwueze again impressed on the right wing, setting up Onyedika to complete his brace. Uganda pulled a consolation goal in the 75th minute through Rogers Mato, who finished off Allan Okello’s through pass. Osimhen was substituted in the 87th minute for Sevilla striker Adams Akor after being denied a first-half goal due to an offside call. Earlier, Super Eagles legend Kanu Nwankwo, popularly known as Papilo, sent prayers and support to the team ahead of their final Group C match, praising the players for their performance against Tunisia and celebrating their connection to the iconic Super Eagles anthem from the early 1990s.

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AFCON: Nigeria Edge Tunisia 3-2 as Lookman Inspires Super Eagles to Knockout Stage

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Ademola Lookman delivered a standout performance as Nigeria edged Tunisia 3-2 to secure qualification for the AFCON round of 16, ending a three-game winless streak against the Eagles of Carthage. The match began at a high tempo, though clear chances were limited early on. Hannibal Mejbri hurried an effort for Tunisia, while Victor Osimhen missed two headed opportunities from promising positions inside the opening 11 minutes. Osimhen then saw a close-range finish ruled out for offside after reacting quickest to Akor Adams’ saved shot. Nigeria gradually asserted control, even if the scoreboard did not immediately reflect it. Osimhen again headed wide from a Calvin Bassey cross, while Tunisia signaled intent when Ali Abdi fired over Stanley Nwabali’s bar. Wilfred Ndidi responded with an effort that flew over at the other end. The breakthrough came in the 44th minute when Lookman’s precise delivery found Osimhen, who broke free from Montassar Talbi to power a header home and celebrate with visible relief. The Super Eagles carried that momentum into the second half and doubled their lead within five minutes. Ndidi rose to meet Lookman’s corner, nodding in his first goal for Nigeria. Lookman then tested the defense himself as Tunisian frustration grew, worsened by Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane leaving the pitch injured after a collision with Nwabali. Nigeria struck again in the 67th minute through a slick attacking move. Lookman danced past Yan Valery and finished clinically, despite defenders racing back toward the goal line. Tunisia mounted a late fightback. Talbi reduced the deficit by glancing Mejbri’s free-kick past Nwabali with 15 minutes remaining. The tension increased in the 87th minute when Bright Osayi-Samuel conceded a penalty for handball, which Abdi converted to make it 3-2. Ferjani Sassi came close to completing the comeback, but his header drifted wide, allowing Nigeria to hold on. The result gives the Super Eagles seven wins from their last eight AFCON group-stage matches and confirms their place in the knockout rounds. For Tunisia, the defeat ends a five-match unbeaten run, though they remain second in the group ahead of their clash with Tanzania.

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Morocco 2025: Nigeria, Tunisia Battle for Three Points in Top-of-the-table Clash

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One of Africa’s most storied and remarkable football rivalries makes another stop on Saturday, this time in the Moroccan city of Fès, as Nigeria and Tunisia clash in a top-of-the-table encounter of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès. With three points taken by each team from their opening games, the stage is set for fiery exchanges as Coaches Eric Chelle and Sami Trabelsi, themselves former players, will be determined to push their teams to achieve victory and book an early spot in the tournament’s Round of 16. There have been a total of 21 matches between both teams, dating back 64 years, with each having won six times, and the remaining nine matches drawn (though some eventually went into penalty shootouts). Of the three that stretched to penalty shootouts, Nigeria won two, including a memorable 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture and an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final duel that flowed back and forth in the Egyptian city of Port Said 19 years ago. Tunisia won the lottery in the 2004 AFCON that they hosted, edging the Eagles to set up a Final clash with Morocco’s Atlas Lions. Both teams have staged walkouts against each other, with Nigeria leaving the pitch in an AFCON qualifying match in Tunis in December 1961, after a controversial goal, and Tunisia opting to do the same when Nigeria scored an equalizing goal through Baba Otu Mohammed in an AFCON bronze-medal match in Kumasi in March 1978. When the Carthage Eagles pipped the Super Eagles 1-0 in the Round of 16 at the AFCON in Cameroon four years ago, it was their first victory over Nigeria in a competitive match since 1985, when they won a 1986 World Cup qualifying match 2-0 in Tunis. There have been high drama, muscle-flexing, and boardroom blowouts, and Saturday’s encounter will be another game of intensity and power-play as Nigeria seek to establish themselves as one of the favourites for the trophy and Tunisia, who will be going to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals, determined to fight for a second continental title. Trabelsi, who was in the squad that Khaled Badra led to win Tunisia’s only AFCON title, at home in 2004, has the likes of Captain Ferjani Sassi, Ali Maãloul, Hannibal Mejbri, Dylan Bronn, Ben Ali, Ali Ben Romdhane and Yan Valery who can turn a game on its head within a split second. They showed their deadliness in sweeping aside Uganda in Rabat on Tuesday evening. For Eric Chelle, the triumvirate of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze at the fore, and the duo of Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi at the rear provide some assurance. With Osimhen still looking for his first goal of the tournament, the Carthage Eagles could be under tremendous pressure from Nigeria’s ace forward who boasts 31 goals in 47 matches. Midfield lubricator Alexander Iwobi, likely to win his 93rd cap, will be expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s challenge for the three points. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will surely be called upon several times to break up the play of the fast-paced Tunisians. SUPER EAGLES, CARTHAGE EAGLES IN HISTORY 25 Nov 1961: Nigeria 2-1 Tunisia (AFCONq: Lagos) 10 Dec 1961: Tunisia 2-2 Nigeria (AFCONq: Tunis): Match inconclusive as Nigeria walked off the pitch 25 Sep 1977: Tunisia 0-0 Nigeria (WCq: Tunis) 12 Nov 1977: Nigeria 0-1 Tunisia (WCq: Lagos) 16 Mar 1978: Tunisia 0-2 Nigeria (AFCON: Kumasi): Match at 1-1 when Tunisia walked off the pitch 29 Jun 1980: Tunisia 2-0 Nigeria (WCq: Tunis) 12 Jul 1980: Nigeria 2-0 Tunisia (WCq: Lagos): Nigeria win 4-3 on penalties 29 Sep 1984: Tunisia 5-0 Nigeria (Friendly: Tunis) 06 Jul 1985: Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia (WCq: Lagos) 20 Jul 1985: Tunisia 2-0 Nigeria (WCq: Tunis) 22 Feb 1992: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (SCSA: Tunis) 09 Aug 1997: Tunisia 2-0 Nigeria (LG Cup: Tunis) 23 Jan 2000: Nigeria 4-2 Tunisia (AFCON: Lagos) 11 Feb 2004: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (AFCON: Rades): Tunisia win 4-3 on penalties 04 Feb 2006: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (AFCON: Port Said): Nigeria win 6-5 on penalties 20 Jun 2009: Tunisia 0-0 Nigeria (WCq: Rades) 06 Sep 2009: Nigeria 2-2 Tunisia (WCq: Abuja) 22 Jan 2016: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (CHAN: Kigali) 17 Jul 2019: Nigeria 1-0 Tunisia (AFCON: Cairo) 13 Oct 2020: Tunisia 1-1 Nigeria (Friendly: St. Veit, Austria) 23 Jan 2022: Tunisia 1-0 Nigeria (AFCON: Garoua)

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