FIFA Ranking: Nigeria move up, AFCON host takes huge leap

Despite not participating at the recently concluded African Cup of Nations, Nigeria moved up one place (42nd) in the latest FIFA rankings of Men’s national football teams.

The Eagles' last competitive game was the 2-2 draw against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in November.

Algeria however maintain top spot in Africa despite failing at the quarter-finals of the AFCON, while AFCON Champions, Côte d'voire are 2nd.

Here's a summary according to FIFA.COM

Leader	Germany (unchanged)
Moves into top ten	none
Moves out of top ten	none
Matches played in total	76
Most matches played	Côte d’Ivoire, Congo DR (7 games each)
Biggest move by points	Equatorial Guinea (up 370 points)
Biggest move by ranks	Equatorial Guinea (up 69 ranks)
Biggest drop by points	Libya (down 156 points)
Biggest drop by ranks	Libya (down 35 ranks)

DR Congo Beat AFCON 2015 host, claim third spot

Democratic Republic of Conga beat Equatorial Guinea to clinch third place of Acon 2015 in Malabo.

The match ended in a goalless draw after 90' minutes and was sent into penalties which saw Congo emerged winners 4-2 over the host.

Equatorial Guinea were beaten by the Black stars of Ghana while DR Congo could not pass the Elephants of Cote d'voire in the semi final.

Ghana will however tackle Cote d'voire on Sunday evening in an epic battle to see who succeeds Nigeria. 

CAF Sanctions Equatorial Guinea over fans trouble

Host of on-going African Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea have been fined following the crowd troubles that marred the country's semi-final defeat to Ghana on Thursday evening in Malabo.

After 82' into the match, the home crowd forced the visiting fans off the stands which saw the match halted.

According to the African football body in a statement on it's website on Friday afternoon, The hosts will cover the treatment costs of all of those injured at the fixture, while the country's football federation has been fined $100,000 for "aggressive behaviour" and being repeat offenders.

Equatorial Guinea have also been ordered to play a match behind closed doors, although this is suspended for the third-place play-off and will only come into effect in the event of a repeat occurrence on Saturday.

Google Image: Equatorial Guinea Crowd 

The federation has already had to pay a $5,000 for the behaviour of the country's fans in the quarter-final match between Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea.

Ghana whip AFCON Host Equatorial Guinea, to play Ivory Coast in Final

Black Stars of Ghana have made it to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in the semi final on Thursday night.

The host were behind before the stoke of half time after conceding a penalty which was calmly slotted in by Jordan Ayew and another goal inside five minutes by Mubarak Wakaso.

Andre Ayew's goal was the big blow that hit the Equatorial Guinean fans as the Ghanaian fans were forced off the stands which saw the match halted for several minutes.

After the show of shame by the fans of the host country, match officials decided to throw the game into three minutes added time to end the match.

Ghana will now face Ivory Coast in the final on Sunday.

CAF suspends Referee, Fine Tunisia and AFCON tournament host Equatorial Guinea

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), have meted out a heavy suspension on referee Seechurn Rajindrapasard, who was in charge of the quarter-final match between AFCON host Euatorial Guinea and Tunisia, at the ongoing competition and the teams involved respectively.

Tunisians were on their way to qualify for the last four after taking a 1-0 lead, but Rajindrapasard awarded the hosts a controversial 92nd minute penalty, which saw them draw level. Equatorial Guinea eventually went on to win the match in extra time.

According to the statement released on CAF’s website read on Tuesday: ''At its extraordinary meeting held at the CAF headquarters In Bata, Equatorial Guinea on the 2nd February, 2015, the CAF Referees Committee reviewed the performance of the referee Seechurn Rajindrapasard (Mauritius) during Match No. 26, Tunisia vs. Equatorial Guinea played on 31 January 2015 in Bata in the final tournament of the 2015 Orange Africa Cup of Nations.

“The Referees Committee noted with regret the poor performance of the referee during the match, including an unacceptable failure to maintain calm and ensure proper control of the players during the match. 

''Hence the Referees Committee decided:

– To end the mission of Seechurn Rajindrapasard as a referee for the Orange AFCON 2015

– To suspend him for a period of six (6) months for poor performance

– To delist him from the CAF “A” Elite Referees panel.''

The African football principal body frowned at the conduct of Tunisians after the match and have also been heavily billed for their deeds. Meanwhile, host Equatorial Guinea were fined $5000 over fans invasion.

Read more on website.

Ghana and Algeria go through to next round of AFCON 2015

It was indeed a thrilling encounter in Group C challenge as all teams went into the games with highhope of seeing the next phase.

Algeria beat Senegal to cement their place taking the lead from first half and doubling in the second 45' of the encounter.

Ghana on the other hand came from behind to see off South AFrica in a game which ended 2-1 in favour of the black stars.

The victory ensure that Ghana finished top on the log with 6pts but ahead of Algeria based on goal advantage. Meanwhile, Senegalese who many thought to be favourites finished thrid on the table with 4pts and Bafana Bafana with  just a point.

Lets go Group D on Wednesday as the llikes of Ivory Coast battle for survival.

Equatorial Guinea shocks Gabon, qualifies for AFCON knock-out stage

Wow! Incredible! Equatorial Guinea has qualified for the knocked out stage of the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.

Google: Jubilant Equatorial Guinea

Right inside the Bata Stadium, they defeated neighbours Gabon 2-0 to make the phenomenal progress in the tournament.

The second Group A game saw Congo edge last time runners-up Burkina Faso b 2-1 to go through as well.

Congo however tops the group with 7pts, Equatorial Guinea 5pts, Gabon 3pts and Burkina Faso finished with just a single point.

Bye Bye Gabon and Burkinabes.

My Take: Never right anyone off. Equatorial Guinea left the best for the last.

Lets go Group B....

AFCON 2015: From The Stance of A Nigerian

By Amos Joseph

Having to watch the Africa Cup of Nation which kicks off 17 January and ends February 8 without seeing the current Champions is a bit hard, but, really as a football lover, you don't want to miss a single game as every match will have its own share of thrills and action.

This is not an attempt to remind you that Nigeria failed to qualify, it is simply to keep you abreast of the AFCON schedule even if you have to cope with the fact that ''Nigeria'' will not be playing a single game.

A little digression. Imagine if Spain had not participated in the last world cup being the defending champions, what would the world have said? They would have been missed of course. But am sure they would have preferred not to have been a part of that tourney. We saw the outcome! Beaten and knocked out early enough, they didn't even go far in the Brazil 2014.

Now, from a Nigerian perspective and for the sake of good football, what can we make of this AFCON without the Super Eagles? Can one say that the team which struggled with the likes of Sudan, South Africa and Congo be missed at the African stage?

One cannot take away the follower-ship and glamour Nigerian football fan would bring to the event, but the tournament will still have its gloss as said by the CAF President Issa Hayatou 

''The whole of Africa will miss Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea. But the absence will not in any way diminish your stature as a very big and influential nation in the African game, Hayatou said in a statement to the Nigeria Football Federation.

“It would have been good to have the defending champions in Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria brings so much value to the Africa Cup of Nations.

“However, we know that you will come back much stronger, as you did in winning the cup in South Africa last year after missing out on the 2012 championship.”

Also for the sake of football and its development, the AFCON was moved to Equatorial Guinea after original host Morocco pulled out due to reason relating to Ebola outbreak.

The Oil-rich nation will host the games in four venues: the capital city Malabo on an island off the mainland; the biggest city Bata; and Mongomo and Ebebiyin on the eastern border with Gabon.

Equatorial Guinea Burkina Faso, Gabon and Congo are in Group A

Group B: Zambia, Tunisia, Cape Verde, DR Congo

Group C: Ghana, Algeria, South Africa and Senegal

Group D: Cote d'voire, Mali, Cameroun, Guinea

From the stance of a Nigerian, a football lover and a writer: let the better side win.

Africa will miss Nigeria at AFCON 2015 - Hayatou

Confederation of African Football  President Isaa Hayatou believes the forth-coming Africa Cup of Nation will have its glamour although the current champions Nigeria will be missed.

 

According to Vanguard, the head of the African football body said to the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick in a chat,

 

''The whole of Africa will miss Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea. But the absence will not in any way diminish your stature as a very big and influential nation in the African game.

 

''It would have been good to have the defending champions here. Nigeria brings so much value to the Africa Cup of Nations.

 

''However, we know that you will come back much stronger, as you did in winning the Cup in South Africa last year after missing out of the 2012 championship.''

Breaking: CAF and Adidas present ''Marhaba'' as Eqautorial Guinea 2015 Afcon Match Ball

 Confederations of Africa Football CAF Adidas have presented the official tournament match ball, Marhaba, for the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea 2015.

Marhaba 

The official presentation will be done come December 3 during the draw of the final tournament at the Sipopo Convention Center in Malabo

Reports on the football body's website have it that the design is ''inspired by the history of the tournament and it's famously passionate fans. 

''The distinctive gold and blue colouring on the ball represents the contrasting landscape of the continent, from the Sahara desert to the bright azure sky of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean.''

Afcon 2015: Nigeria miss out, see countries that made it through

Title holders Nigeria will not be at Equatorial Guinea to defend the title they won last year, thanks to a 2-2 draw the west Africa played against South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday evening.

The African champions finished 3rd place in Group A with 8points, two points behind Congo who pip Sudan 1-0 to secure an automatic slot after Bafana Bafana maintained their lead as winner of the group with 12points.

Here are the teams that made it through:
Equatorial Guinea (hosts), Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia

Good luck to them all, name your favourites for the title.

Equatorial Guinea replaces Morocco as AFCON 2015 Host

Equatorial Guinea has been announced by the Confederation of African as new host of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations slated to be held between January 17th - February 8th 2015.

Google Image

The initial host Morocco pulled for reasons relating to the fear of Ebola Virus.

According to a report on the official website of the African football body CAF president Issa Hayatou was confirmed to be visiting President Teodoro Obiang Nguema on Thursday. Although Qatar had signified interest in hosting if neessary, it is udnerstood that CAF were eager to keep the competition in Africa.

''Following friendly and fruitful discussions, the Head of State of Equatorial Guinea has agreed to host the tournament from January 17 to February 8, 2015.

''The Executive Committee of CAF President Issa Hayatou would like to take this opportunity to express their sincere thanks and deep appreciation to the people of Equatorial Guinea, to their government, and particularly to the Head of State and President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.''

A draw for the tournament will take place on Wednesday, December 3 in Malabo.

It could be recalled that Equatorial Gunea co-hosted the Cup of Nation with Gabon in 2012.