Julius Okorie
Super Eagles Team B will face Equatorial Guinea as one of their opponents in Group D instead of Congo, when the African Nations Championship (CHAN) begins in August.
This follows the disqualification of Congo, for fielding ineligible player against Equatorial Guinea during their qualifiers.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelCongo had during the said qualifier fielded Mankou Nguembete Japhet Eloi, who transferred from his local club in Congo to another club, Leones Vegetarianosin Equatorial Guinea, when the match was played, but failed to provide valid national license, which is an essential requirement.
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The action did not only cost Congo a place in the tournament, reserved exclusively for players plying their trade within the African continent, but also saw the Congo Football Federation slammed with $10,000 fine by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The said fine, according to CAF is to be paid within 69 days.
Equatorial Guinea Football Federation (FEGUIFUT), had earlier lodged a complaint over Congo’s use of an ineligible player leading to investigation and subsequent disqualification of Congo.
Following this development, Group D, which has defending champions, Senegal, now has Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and Nigeria as other group opponents.
The Eagles, it will be recalled have been burning the calories at the Remo Stars training centre in Ikenne just before the tournament was shifted to August.
Eagles will be enjoying the support of new coach Eric Chelle in their quest to hopefully clinch the title for the first time since inception in 2009.
At least two more countries are expected to emerge in the play-offs to complete the group pairings.
The Group Stage Setting following the disqualification of Congo
GROUP A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
GROUP B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
GROUP C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2
GROUP D: Senegal, Equitorial Guinea, Sudan, Nigeria
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
