Africa Cup of Nations

GHANA manager Otto Addo was told “you are not good at all” in a heated exchange with a journalist after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.The Black Stars’ fate was sealed on Friday when they could only manage a 1-1 draw away in Angola.Ghana manager Otto Addo became embroiled in a row with a journalist after a lossCredit: XHe was told ‘you are not good at all’ by the reporter in the press conferenceCredit: XThen on Monday they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Niger to extend their winless run to six matches as they finished bottom of their group.It means they will not compete in the next Africa Cup of Nations – which runs from December 2025 to January 2026.It is the first time since the 2004 tournament that Ghana have missed out on qualification for the finals.And things came to a head in Addo’s presser following the Niger loss.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAttempting to defend himself, the Ghana head coach said: “Two years of coaching and six months of scouting. Now I ask you what am I?”And during the scouting also I was coaching. I was not, I never stopped. What am I?”Shockingly, the journalist he was speaking to then responded with a damning put down.He replied: “Well I think your scouting is better than your coaching.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”So you are [more] good at scouting than coaching because the coaching you are not good at all.”Addo, who earned 15 caps as a Ghanaian player, is in his second spell as national team boss.Meet Aston Villa wonderkid Lamare Bogarde who has a famous uncleHe spent 10 months in charge in 2022, leading them to qualification for the World Cup.And while they were eliminated in the group stage, Addo made history by becoming the first Ghanaian coach to win a match at a World Cup in a 3-2 win over South Korea.He left after the tournament, but returned in March this year.He has taken charge of 10 matches in his second stint, winning just two. More

NIGERIA are refusing to play their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya following their abandoned airport “hostage” ordeal.And that could see the Super Eagles forfeit the match and the points handed to their opponents. Nigeria’s players claimed there were held hostage at an abandoned airportCredit: X @WTroostEkongThe squad tried to sleep on the seats in the empty terminalCredit: X @WTroostEkongOfficials desperately tried to negotiate with airport staffCredit: https://x.com/thecablengThe players decided to go straight back to NigeriaCredit: https://x.com/thecablengThe Nigerian national team were stranded at the wrong airport overnight when their Sunday chartered flight was diverted during the descent.It is alleged the Libyan Government ordered the change in destination.Nigerian players and staff were left without food, water or access to phone connections at the abandoned airport which had its gates locked. Nigerian players believe the “hostage” conditions that lasted more than 18 hours were a petulant retaliation after Libya accused the Nigerian Football Federation of “poor treatment” ahead of the reverse fixture last week.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNigeria hosted Libya on Friday, with the home team securing a 1-0 win in Group D.And with the two teams due to face off in Libya on Tuesday evening, the Nigerian captain insists his team have decided they will not take to the field – and instead wanted to fly directly back to Nigeria. Former Tottenham and Watford defender William Troost-Ekong wrote on X at 7.42am UK time on Monday morning: “As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game.”CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points.Most read in Football”We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe.”We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued.Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers”We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria.”Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football.”He added at 1.07pm: “Power of social media. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly. “Thanks for everyone’s support! I REITERATE: We would NEVER treat a guest nation for a game in this way. “Mistakes happen, delays happen. But never on purpose!”Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface added: “Been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food no wifi nowhere to sleep. Africa we can do better.”He also shared a video on X at 10.12am UK time from the grounds and claimed they had been holed up at the airport for 16 hours.Boniface later tweeted at 12.24pm suggesting Nigeria are keen to concede the match: “This is getting scary now. You guys can have the point. We just want to return to our country.”Approximately 15 minutes after Troost-Ekong said they should be “leaving shortly”, a photo was posted on social media at 1.20pm of the players queueing up to board the flight home. Reports from Nigerian journalists alleged Libya charged five times the current market price for the fuel – after the Government eventually relented and issued a clearance to fly. Troost-Ekong gave fans a detailed update on the scenes at Al-Abraq Airport in Libya, 150 miles and nearly a four-hour drive from Nigeria’s original destination of Benghazi. Photos showed the players forced to sleep on seats in the empty terminal with their suitcases. Video footage also appeared to show Nigerian football chiefs desperately pleading and negotiating with Libyan airport staff.Troost-Ekong added: “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.”They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.”I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour.The Super Eagles were due to play Libya on Tuesday eveningCredit: X @WTroostEkongNigeria players tried to keep their spirits upCredit: https://x.com/thecablengWilfred Ndidi let rip on his Instagram storyCredit: Instagram @ndidi25They were kept in overnightCredit: https://x.com/thecablengThe gates of the airport were lockedCredit: https://x.com/thecableng”Even the Tunisian pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.”Upon arrival, he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction.”He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up.”At this point, we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us.”The stranded squad was understood to include Premier League stars Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Taiwo Awoniyi – plus ex-Leicester pair Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho.Ndidi fumed on his Instagram story: “This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace.”He later added: “This is becoming scary… I’m scared for our lives.”Actions like this go against the spirit of sportsmanship… this is uncalled for and inhumaneVictor OsimhenVictor Osimhen was not with the squad but also hit out at the treatment of his team-mates.He wrote on Instagram: “I am disappointed by the unfair treatment my brothers and coaches are facing at the Libya airport last night.”Actions like this go against the spirit of sportsmanship. My support is with my team, and I know they’ll stay strong despite these obstacles.”I call on CAF (Confederation of African Football) to intervene, as my team-mates and officials are still stranded at the airport in Libya. “This is uncalled for and inhumane. We stand together, stronger than ever.”Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar stepped in to get involved and help resolve the problems.He revealed a compatriot arrived at the airport at 6am this morning with “necessary supplies and internet access”.A minibus did turn up at one stage and in the morning the players were given the chance to get fresh air but were still stuck on the airport grounds. Libya’s initial anger stemmed from the reverse clash in Nigeria last week.Captain Faisal Al-Badri claimed the Nigerian Football Federation disrupted their own travel plans into Nigeria.READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, the NFF assistant director Emmanuel Ayanbunmi rejected the accusations and insisted he was not made fully aware of Libya’s itinerary because the Libyan FA general secretary “said he would get back to me but never did”.Ayanbunmi also suggested that Libya refused the NFF’s offer of transportation arrangements and decided to hire buses independently.Plenty of stars took to social media to fume at the conditionsCredit: X @WTroostEkongThe chaotic scenes were filmed by some of the playersCredit: https://x.com/JayNaijaTvThere was initially no access to food or waterCredit: https://x.com/JayNaijaTvA minibus was brought in to transport the playersCredit: X @boniface_jrnThey were let out for fresh air at the airport in the morningCredit: X @boniface_jrn More

WILFRED NDIDI revealed “I’m scared for our lives” with the Nigerian football team held “hostage” in a locked abandoned airport for more than 18 hours. The Super Eagles are due to play Libya in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier tomorrow night.Nigeria’s players were locked in an abandoned airportCredit: XThe players were in their tracksuits on their way to play LibyaCredit: X @WTroostEkongThe players tried to sleep on the chairsCredit: X @WTroostEkongWilfred Ndidi expressed his fears on social mediaCredit: InstagramHowever, their Sunday chartered flight was diverted during the descent and they were banned from leaving the airport in chaotic and worrying scenes with no access to food, drink and phone connections.And now Nigeria are refusing to play in the match in protest at the awful treatment, which started yesterday evening, and are instead set to fly straight back to Nigeria. Ndidi put on his Instagram story: “This is not football. Very embarrassing. Hostage to a national team. Disgrace.”He later added: “This is becoming scary… I’m scared for our lives.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLTeam-mate Victor Boniface tweeted at 12.24pm UK time – 1.24pm in Libya – on Monday lunchtime: “This is getting scary now. You guys can have the point. We just want to return to our country.”Then 40 minutes later, captain William Troost-Ekong wrote: “Power of social media. “Apparently our plane is being fuelled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly. Thanks for everyone’s support! “I REITERATE: We would NEVER treat a guest nation for a game in this way. Mistakes happen, delays happen. But never on purpose!”Most read in FootballThe stranded squad was understood to include Premier League stars Alex Iwobi and Taiwo Awoniyi – plus ex-Leicester pair Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho.Bayer Leverkusen striker earlier Boniface wrote: “Been at the airport for almost 13 hours, no food no wifi nowhere to sleep. Africa we can do better.”Biggest football kit fails after controversy over new England shirtHe added a video on X at 10.12am UK time from the grounds and claimed they had been holed up at the airport for 16 hours at that point – before his next update more than two hours later.Approximately 15 minutes after Troost-Ekong said they should be “leaving shortly”, a photo was posted on social media at 1.20pm of the players queueing up to board the flight home. Reports from Nigerian journalists alleged Libya charged five times the current market price for the fuel – after the Government eventually relented and issued a clearance to fly. Nigeria beat Libya at home on Friday and were travelling for the return clash in northern Africa at the Benina Martyrs Stadium just outside Benghazi, Libya.However, their plane was diverted at the last minute allegedly under Libyan Government orders to the tiny Al-Abraq Airport, a 150-mile, nearly four-hour drive from Benghazi and usually used for military purposes.Libya had complained of their “poor treatment” in Friday’s match where Fissayo Dele-Bashiru grabbed the only goal. That led to the woeful conditions for the Nigerian players, who were pictured trying to sleep on the seats in the empty terminal with their suitcases.Video footage also appeared to show Nigerian football chiefs desperately pleading and negotiating with Libyan airport staff. Former Tottenham and Watford defender Troost-Ekong updated fans throughout the shocking ordeal on X on Monday morning.’WE WILL NOT PLAY’He initially wrote at 7.42am UK time: “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason.”They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.”I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. “Even the Tunisian pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last-minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.”Upon arrival, he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. “He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up.”At this point, we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us.”Troost-Ekong continued: “As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. “CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points. “We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. “We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued.”We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. “Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with international football.”Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar stepped in to get involved and help resolve the problems. He revealed a compatriot arrived at the airport at 6am this morning with “necessary supplies and internet access”. Tuggar wrote: “I have been closely monitoring the situation involving the Super Eagles in Libya.”The Mission has maintained contact with the NFF, and the Libyan authorities since last night. “Despite efforts, Libyan authorities have not yet authorised the Nigerian Mission’s trip to Bayda City, where the airport is located.”Actions like this go against the spirit of sportsmanship… this is uncalled for and inhumaneVictor OsimhenVictor Osimhen is not with the squad but also hit out at the treatment of his team-mates. He wrote on Instagram: “I am disappointed by the unfair treatment my brothers and coaches are facing at the Libya airport last night.”Actions like this go against the spirit of sportsmanship. My support is with my team, and I know they’ll stay strong despite these obstacles.”I call on CAF (Confederation of African Football) to intervene, as my team-mates and officials are still stranded at the airport in Libya. “This is uncalled for and inhumane. We stand together, stronger than ever.”Players posted various videos from the airport on social media.And one showed a minibus that was eventually pulled up, likely to transport the team.However, the Nigeria squad did not board.Troost-Ekong added just before 12.30pm UK time: “Can I shock you?! The pilot has just told us there has been fuel at this airport for the plane all this time. “They could have released it but haven’t given us permission since. Can you imagine?! “So how long are they planning to hold us hostage here!!! Still just waiting.Nigeria players tried to keep their spirits upCredit: https://x.com/thecablengWilfred Ndidi let rip on his Instagram storyCredit: Instagram @ndidi25They were kept in overnightCredit: https://x.com/thecablengThe gates of the airport were lockedCredit: https://x.com/thecablengA member of airport staff tried to speak with officialsCredit: https://x.com/thecableng”After our first tweets magically a team bus arrived and a driver who has been standing inside the airport filming us and laughing with some of the other staff since last night said the bus was ready 12 hours after we landed. “Now we have been waiting for fuel since morning…”At this point I’m even tired of laughing instead of crying.”Libya’s initial anger stemmed from the reverse clash in Nigeria last week.Captain Faisal Al-Badri claimed the Nigerian Football Federation disrupted their own travel plans into Nigeria.He said: “We left the hotel at six in the morning, and the plane took off at nine.”The flight took four hours, and thus we arrived in Nigeria at one in the afternoon, Libyan time.”Our luggage was searched inside the plane for an hour, and we were also delayed in transportation from one city to another for three hours, even though we travelled on a private plane, and there was an airport close to the city we wanted to play in.”We later contacted the company responsible for transporting and securing the mission, but they informed us that there was no police patrol at the time, which increased the risk.”After a long time, three non-air-conditioned minibuses and a police car arrived, in addition to two cars from the Libyan embassy.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, the NFF assistant director Emmanuel Ayanbunmi rejected the accusations and insisted he was not made fully aware of Libya’s itinerary because the Libyan FA general secretary “said he would get back to me but never did”. Ayanbunmi also suggested that Libya refused the NFF’s offer of transportation arrangements and decided to hire buses independently.Plenty of stars took to social media to fume at the conditionsCredit: X @WTroostEkongThe chaotic scenes were filmed by some of the playersCredit: https://x.com/JayNaijaTvThere was initially no access to food or waterCredit: https://x.com/JayNaijaTvA minibus was brought in to transport the playersCredit: X @boniface_jrnThey were let out for fresh air at the airport in the morningCredit: X @boniface_jrn More

CHAOTIC SCENES marred the final of the Amputee African Cup of Nations in Egypt.Ghana beat Morocco 2-1 in the final in Cairo on Monday to win their third title and second in a row.The final of the Amputee African Cup of Nations descended into a brawl at full-timeCredit: estadatPlayers from Ghana and Morocco clashed during chaotic scenes at the end of the matchCredit: estadatHowever, as their players and staff stormed the field to celebrate, a brawl erupted on the pitch.Tempers immediately flared as a Ghana player was pushed to the floor.Team-mates quickly rushed in as a scuffle ensued on the pitch, quickly descending into a brawl.Some players were even seen using their crutches as makeshift clubs during the chaotic scenes.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMeanwhile, tournament officials appeared to ignore the scuffle to instead set up the stage for the trophy presentation.TV cameras had captured the start of the brawl before cutting away.The subsequent longshot of the pitch did show the scuffle continuing on the other side of the stadium, though.Fortunately, tempers had simmered down by the time Ghana were able to lift the trophy aloft.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHaving successfully defended their title from 2021, Ghana have also qualified for the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup.Their 2-1 comeback victory over Morocco books their place at the tournament in Morocco.Eight bizarre football rules you may not knowSpeaking after the match, Ghana manager Stephen Richard Obeng explained via The Mirror: “We feel very proud.”The God we trusted made it happen. We’re champions in Africa for the third time in two years. Despite the challenges we went through, we did it.”It is a massive motivation to everybody that you might not have the support you need but you can go beyond the odds and make it happen.” More