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AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire Among 15 Teams to Secure Spots

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The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers have intensified as 15 teams have secured their spots for the tournament in Morocco, leaving nine spots still up for grabs. With fierce competition, the stage is set for an exciting finale in the quest for a place in next year’s tournament.

Our correspondent reports that Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, defending champions and runners-up from the last edition, clinched their qualifications alongside teams like South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda, thanks to crucial performances and favorable results in recent qualifiers.

Key Qualifying Matches and Results:
– Tunisia narrowly edged Madagascar 3-2 with Ali El Abdi’s late header, marking their 18th consecutive AFCON qualification.
– Gabon qualified from Group B without playing, benefitting from Central African Republic’s 1-0 loss to Lesotho.
– South Africa and Uganda advanced in Group K after Congo fell 3-2 to South Sudan, securing the top two spots.
– Nigeria confirmed its qualification as Libya defeated Rwanda 1-0, securing Nigeria’s spot in Group D, despite their own 1-1 draw against Benin, saved by Victor Osimhen’s equalizer.

In other groups, Ghana kept their qualification hopes alive after Niger’s 4-0 victory over Sudan. Ghana now faces must-win games to stay in the race for AFCON 2025.

So far, the qualified teams include:
– Morocco (Host)
– Burkina Faso** (Group L)
– Cameroon (Group J)
– Algeria (Group E)
– DR Congo (Group H)
– Senegal (Group L)
– Egypt (Group C)
– Angola (Group F)
– Equatorial Guinea (Group E)
– Côte d’Ivoire (Group G)
– Gabon (Group B)
– Uganda (Group K)
– South Africa (Group K)
– Tunisia (Group A)
– Nigeria (Group D)

As the race continues, teams like Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe look to clinch their tickets in the next round of matches. The path to Morocco is narrowing, promising an action-packed journey to the finals.

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Super Eagles World Cup squad: Which players will face the axe?

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Super Eagles Squad Selection: Players Likely to Miss Out

With the March 21 and March 25 fixtures approaching, Super Eagles head coach Finidi George is set to trim the squad to 23 players. Ahead of the March 17 announcement, here are the players who might miss out.

The squad features NPFL standouts, including Remo Stars’ goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, Enugu Rangers’ defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, and Niger Tornadoes’ forward Papa Daniel Mustapha. Despite their domestic performances, they might not make the final cut due to stiff competition from overseas-based players.

Several players are battling injuries, making their selection unlikely. Maduka Okoye (Udinese) underwent wrist surgery in December and isn’t expected back until April. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio) suffered an ankle sprain on February 25, and while reports suggest he could return early, his chances remain slim. Akor Adams (Sevilla) has yet to make his Super Eagles debut and remains out with a training injury from February.

Some players may be excluded due to lack of form or irregular playing time. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) struggled at Sevilla before moving to the Championship in January, raising match fitness concerns. Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars) may lose his spot due to limited game time and rising competition. Paul Onuachu (Southampton) has struggled for consistency in England, while Cyriel Dessers (Rangers) has had mixed performances, making his selection uncertain.

Others who may miss out include Umar Sadiq, Joe Aribo, Chidera Ejuke, Alhassan Yusuf, Christantus Uche, and Igoh Ogbu.

With a talent-packed squad, Chelle faces tough decisions before finalizing his 23-man squad for the crucial fixtures.

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Guardiola Vows to Rebuild Man City After Narrow Win Over Spurs

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has pledged to restore the club’s dominance after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

A 12th-minute goal by Erling Haaland proved decisive as City moved into fourth place in the Premier League standings, strengthening their bid for a Champions League spot. However, the narrow win highlighted the club’s struggles this season, as they remain far from the dominant force that has won four consecutive league titles under Guardiola.

Despite their recent success, Manchester City has endured an underwhelming campaign, currently 20 points behind league leaders Liverpool. Their hopes of retaining the Champions League title were dashed following elimination by Real Madrid, leaving the FA Cup as their only shot at silverware this season.

Guardiola acknowledged the decline but expressed confidence in his team’s resurgence.

“Never will be this season the old City. Old City were too good, but we will be back,” he stated.

City controlled the first half, creating several chances to extend their lead, but missed opportunities kept Spurs in the game. Tottenham, struggling in 13th place, grew into the match and dominated possession in the second half, but failed to break through City’s defense.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou admitted his team’s early struggles cost them the game.

“We were too wasteful in the first half. Against City, that lets them get into a rhythm,” he said.
Despite another defeat, Postecoglou was encouraged by his side’s second-half display.
“It’s disappointing to lose again, but it did look more like us today,” he added.

With City still fighting for a top-four finish, Guardiola is expected to make significant squad changes in the summer to strengthen the team. Addressing defensive vulnerabilities and regaining consistency will be key to City’s ambitions next season.

Meanwhile, Tottenham will shift their focus to the Europa League, as their chances of a strong league finish remain slim. The club is expected to make key reinforcements in the summer transfer window to improve their squad for the next campaign.

As both teams enter the final stretch of the season, City will look to secure Champions League qualification while Spurs aim to salvage their season through European competition.

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Guardiola Regrets Not Strengthening Squad in Summer Transfer Window

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has expressed regret over his decision not to strengthen his squad during the summer transfer window. In hindsight, he believes that rejecting the opportunity to revamp his team was a mistake, especially given the impact of injuries on their disappointing start to the season.

Guardiola had initially decided against making new signings, relying on his existing players, with only Savinho and a returning Ilkay Gündogan joining the team. However, the club has since moved to refresh their squad, agreeing a deal for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov and negotiating with Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush.

Reflecting on his summer decision, Guardiola said, “I relied on the team and thought we could do it again with the same players. But after the injuries, wow, maybe we should have done it differently.”

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