AFCON 2019: Latest Africa Cup of Nations News For Monday, June 24th, 2019

This is Naija News compilation of the latest Afra Cup Of Nations (AFCON) news online for today, Monday, June 24th, 2019.

Afcon 2019: Namibia Lose To Morocco

Morocco defeated Namibia 1-0 on Sunday in the opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group D match.

Namibian Itamunua Keimuine headed an 89th-minute Hakim Ziyech free-kick into his own net which proved to be the only and decisive goal of the game.

It was a cruel blow for the Minnows from Southern Africa, who lived up to their Brave Warriors nickname by taming the much-vaunted Atlas Lions.

Relief was etched on the face of Morocco coach Herve Renard as the final whistle blew after an unconvincing start by one of the competition favourites.

Samuel Eto’o Berates Egypt, Salah’s Performance

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o has slammed Egypt’s performance in their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) opener against Zimbabwe.

The host nation sealed a 1-0 win against the Warriors courtesy of a Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan strike.

“If Egypt keep performing this way they will suffer in the upcoming games,” Eto’o said.

“The Egyptian national team suffered, especially in attack, as Salah was always far from the strikers and that’s why he wasn’t very present during the game.

“Everyone was passing the ball to Salah; the team has to start playing as a unit which wasn’t the case.

“Marwan Mohsen also failed to perform very well because no one passed him the ball and that’s why he was struggling during the game,” he concluded.

Why Ighalo Must Start Super Eagles Games – Yobo

Former Super Eagles defender Joseph Yobo has said Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo should have been included in the starting XI against Burundi.

With the score tied at 0-0, coach Gernot Rohr brought on Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo.

Few minutes after his introduction, Ighalo latched on to a delightful backheel pass from Ola Aina to score the only goal of the game.

“The two players who came on [in the second half] should have started the game because they have the experience, Ighalo and Musa. Ighalo with his experience at the World Cup and everything,” Yobo told SuperSport.

“These are new players coming in, sometimes they don’t have the structure. The structure that is there when you take out two of the most important players in the team. Musa is important and Ighalo is the main man that everything has to go around with his performance in the qualifiers.

“Sometimes when you see these players not started, it takes time for the team to get used to a new pattern of play and that’s what we saw in the first half.”

More Afcon News can be found on the Naija News website.