By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
THE 35th AFRICAN Football Cup of Nations (AFCON) will draw the curtains on Sunday, but this is the first time in about 30 years that all the final four teams are handled by indigenous African Coaches.
If by chance, Egypt wins the tournament, Egyptian Coach, Hossam Hassan will be the third coach to win AFCON as player and as a coach.
The first was the late Mahmoud El Gohary also of Egypt and the second was the late BIG BOSS Stephen Keshi of Nigeria. Hassan won the AFCON trophy in 1986, 1998 and 2006.
A total 48 matches have been played as at the close of the quarterfinal games with 119 goals scored before a total 1,117,846 fans on the stands.
Brahim Diaz of Morocco is the highest scorer with 5 goals; there are two 4 goals scorers in Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Mohammed Salah of Egypt but we have five players who scored 3 goals each in Ademola Lookman of Nigeria; Ayoub El Kaabi of Morocco; Ahnad Diallo of Ivory Coast; Riyad Mahrez of Algeria and Lassine Sinayoko of Mali.
From the CAF stats book, two standing players in Diaz and Lookman have chances to improve on the two MAN OF THE MATCH awards each as four of such awards are still available and these two have the highest awards.
There are two for the semis; one for the 3rd place match and one for the grand finale.
Dwelling on the CAF Books also show that Lookman of Nigeria (4) and Sadio Mane of Senegal (3) lead players with the assists; Nigeria lead the team with highest shots at goal with 84, Ivory Coast had 83 and Senegal had 82; There is no surprise that the man with the highest shot at goal is Nigeria’s talisman, Victor Osimhen with 20 shots at goal and Brahim Diaz of Morocco who is next to Osimhen had 13 shots at goal for those are players who meant business.
Ivory Coast stringed the highest passes with 2,489, Nigeria stringed 2,466 and Senegal 2,250 meaning these countries are better ball holders. Players with highest chances to score were Lookman of Nigeria with 14 chances, Sadio Mane of Senegal also with 14 chances and Mohammed Salah of Egypt with 12 chances.
AFCON 2025 has strings of protests in comments or acts. Benin Coach had complained the fixtures were conjured to favour the soccer lords of Africa.
Egyptian Coach is under investigation for allegedly making provocative signals against the Moroccan fans.
There are allegations of not so good officiating against many Referees. One fan collapsed and died at the early stages while many football tourists surrendered to the supernatural from God for the harsh and extremely cold weather.
A mishap on the table of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee is that of Algerian players that pursued Senegalese Ref Issa Sy to the tunnels and Ref’s changing room haggling with stadium officials on allegations of tilting victory to the Super Eagles of Nigeria that mangled the Desert Foxes 2-0 at regular time.
There were also fisticuffs among players and on the stands from Algeria who never accepts defeat.
There was a subtle protest from Cameroon’s FA President and legendary Samuel E’too Fils who wore long looks and repeatedly hissed like a lost Python in the VIP box over their match against hosts Morocco in the quarterfinal but CAF President who is from South Africa handled that with a hug and whisper of “TAKE HEART MY BROTHER’.
AFCON 2025 resumes as follows:
First Semifinal is Senegal vs Egypt at Tangier on Wednesday 14th January at 6.00pm.
Second semifinal is Morocco vs Algeria/Nigeria at Abdellah, Morocco at 9.00pm.
The 3rd place match is scheduled for Saturday 17th January at 5pm in Casablanca and the grand finale will be on Sunday 18th January at 8.00pm in Rabat.
#AFCON25 #CAF #FRMF #FMF #SAFA
#FEBEFOOT #TFF#FECAFOOT #SFA
#FAFA #EFA #NFF.
