The win booked Egypt a semi-final clash with Senegal’s Lions of Teranga on Wednesday in Tangier.

Morocco will meet Nigeria in the other semi-final in Rabat, setting up a mouth-watering conclusion to the tournament’s last four.

Omar Marmoush opened the scoring in the 4th minute, finishing a precise pass from Emam Ashour to give Egypt an early advantage.

Ramy Rabia doubled Egypt’s lead in the 32nd minute with a perfect header from a Salah corner, putting the Pharaohs 2-0 up.

Cote d’ Ivoire pulled one back in the 40th minute when Yan Diomandé forced an own goal from Fatouh, reigniting tension just before halftime.

Salah restored Egypt’s two-goal cushion in the 47th minute, firing a low shot after a sublime Ashour pass to make it 3-1.

Guéla Doué reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute, but Egypt’s defence, led by El Shenawy, held firm against late Ivorian attacks.

Salah, named Man of the Match, expressed pride in his teammates’ performance.

“I am very happy and proud to play with these guys. We always want to bring joy to the Egyptian fans,” he said.

He acknowledged the difficulty of facing the defending champions.

“It was a tough match. The Ivorians played like champions. We gave everything and I’m happy we qualified,” Salah said.

Salah also highlighted his leadership on the pitch.

“I always give my all and try to bring my experience to help the team. I tell my teammates to give everything from the first minute,” he said.

The Pharaohs’ victory reinforces their reputation as Africa’s most decorated nation in the competition, blending efficiency with attacking flair.

Source: NAN

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Senegal reached the last four after edging Mali 1–0 in a tense West African derby played earlier on Friday in Tangier.

Iliman Ndiaye struck early in the 27th minute of the match, a goal the Teranga Lions defended resolutely to secure a hard-earned semi-final ticket.

Hosts Morocco also progressed from the quarter-final stage on Friday to delight home fans and remain on course for continental glory.

The Atlas Lions won the match with goals in the first and second both halves of the match in Rabat.

Brahim Díaz reacted quickest inside the six-yard box, firing a left-footed finish into the bottom left corner in the 26th minute after a corner delivered and recycled by Ayoub El Kaabi.

As Cameroon pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Morocco struck again to seal the contest in the second half.

Ismaël Saibari produced a moment of quality, driving a left-footed shot from the left side of the box into the bottom right corner in the 74th minute, following a well-worked set-piece assisted by Nayef Aguerd.

It was a victory built on patience, control and belief — hallmarks of Walid Regragui’s side — as the Atlas Lions finally broke their AFCON knockout hoodoo against Cameroon and did so on home soil.

Cameroon exit with pride after another disciplined and courageous display as Morocco take the decisive steps forward.

Two other quarter-final matches will be played on Saturday to determine the remaining semi-finalists of Africa’s flagship football tournament.

Egypt will face defending champions Cote d’Ivoire, while Nigeria will take on Algeria in another highly anticipated last-eight clash.

As the competition enters its decisive phase, the quarter-finals have highlighted the quality of favourites and the narrow margins defining AFCON football.

After an unpredictable group stage and intense round-of-16 matches, only eight teams advanced with hopes of lifting the coveted trophy.

The winners of the four quarter-final matches will complete the semi-final line-up and keep their title ambitions alive.

Source: NAN

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The announcement was made by the Managing Director of Dangote Cement Côte d’Ivoire, Serge Gbotta, during a press briefing held at Novotel Abidjan-Marcory.

The state-of-the-art facility spans 50 hectares and boasts an annual production capacity of 3 million metric tonnes, positioning it among the largest Dangote Cement plants outside Nigeria.

The project represents a strategic investment of 100 billion CFA francs and underscores the company’s commitment to industrial growth and regional self-sufficiency.

“This plant is more than an industrial unit—it is a symbol of confidence in Côte d’Ivoire’s future,” said Mr. Gbotta. “Our goal is to provide Ivorians with world-class cement, produced locally and offered at competitive prices.”

Côte d’Ivoire becomes the 11th African country to host a Dangote Cement production unit, contributing to the group’s continental capacity of 55 million tonnes per year.

The Attingué plant is expected to generate over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, supporting youth employment and stimulating local SMEs including transporters, tradespeople, retailers, and suppliers.

The company also announced plans to launch training programmes for young engineers and technicians through the Dangote Academy, aimed at enhancing local expertise in industrial management.

Commercial Director of Dangote Cement Côte d’Ivoire, Stéphane Tchimou, emphasized the plant’s impact on the construction sector: “Reliable, high-performance cement is essential for masons, contractors, and craftsmen. Our distribution network will ensure availability across all regions.”

He also assured that support mechanisms such as credit facilities and commercial assistance will be introduced to empower small retailers and strengthen the value chain.

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Beyond industrial development, Dangote Cement is committed to community initiatives around the Attingué site, including road construction, clean water projects, and support for local health centers, in collaboration with local authorities and NGOs.

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said: “Africa is full of opportunities. Our mission is to tell a new story—one of innovation, production, and progress for future generations.”

The plant will produce premium cement in multiple grades—CPJ 32.5R for masonry, CPJ 42.5N for buildings, and CPA 52.5 for large structures—positioning Dangote Cement as a trusted partner in Côte d’Ivoire’s construction industry.

Designed with cutting-edge technology, the facility is expected to significantly reduce cement imports and establish Côte d’Ivoire as a regional hub for cement production and export.

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The Nigerian team defeated their Malian counterpart 78-64 in the final match played on Sunday.

It is the fifth consecutive win by the Nigerian team.

Nigeria became the first team to win the tournament five times in a row.

With this win, Nigeria extended their winning streak to 29-0, dating back to the third-place game of the 2015 tournament in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

As was the case for most of their initial games in the tournament, Nigeria got off to a slow start.

However, feeling threatened by Mali’s intensity, Rena Wakama’s team regrouped in the second quarter and headed to the locker room tied at 41–41.

With the score tied, Wakama’s ladies came out in the third quarter with renewed focus and energy taking a 61-56 lead in the quarter, capitalising on Mali’s turnovers.

In spite of Mali’s valiant effort in the final quarter to mount a comeback, Nigeria maintained their composure and held on to their lead.

They continued to play with the confidence, answering every Malian basket with one of their own.

The final buzzer sounded with Nigeria winning 78-64.

Nigeria is now the only nation to win more consecutive Women’s AfroBasket titles than any other nation.

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Six-time champions, D’Tigress, reached the last four by beating Cameroon 83-47 to continue their title defence.

Nigeria dominated the first quarter 21-9, but Cameroon fought back and levelled the second quarter 20-20, showing brief signs of a comeback.

However, Cameroon lost momentum and were overwhelmed 25-2 in the third quarter by a relentless D’Tigress side.

D’Tigress wrapped up the match by edging the final quarter 17-16, sealing their emphatic victory and progress to the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Senegal defeated hosts Côte d’Ivoire 66-60 in a closely contested match to reach the semi-finals and book their World Cup qualifiers place.

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In another quarter-final match on Thursday, Mali outclassed Mozambique 86-68 in an entertaining display of skill and teamwork.

Mali’s win confirmed their qualification for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

South Sudan also progressed, edging Uganda 69-68 in a tense game.

The semi-finalists now join a pool of 24 national teams for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments.

These qualifying tournaments will decide the 16 teams to compete at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany.

From the Americas, Brazil, Argentina, USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Colombia have all qualified for the next stage.

Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and Turkey will represent Europe in the qualifiers.

Asia and Oceania will be represented by Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Australia.

Source: NAN

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The plant is expected to strengthen the company’s position in Africa and contribute significantly to its exports.

Chief Executive of Dangote Cement, Arvind Pathak, in a note to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, said the company was encouraged by the growth in its export business.

He said: “Export volumes from Nigeria increased by 18.2%, with 18 successful clinker shipments made to Ghana and Cameroon. This demonstrates the growing importance of our pan-African footprint and our ongoing commitment to regional trade and self-sufficiency.”

Arvind Pathak also revealed that the company’s strategic priorities remain focused on long-term value creation.

He said Dangote Cement had made significant progress in further strengthening its cost architecture.

“…During the period, we began the phased delivery of 1,600 additional CNG-powered trucks, which will significantly reduce our logistics costs and enhance environmental efficiency.”

Commenting on the financials for the second quarter, which he said was built on the company’s strength, resilience, and adaptability amidst improvements in key macroeconomic indicators, he said the company’s focus on operational efficiency and cost containment is delivering tangible results.

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According to him: “Group EBITDA rose by an impressive 41.8% to ₦944.9 billion, while Group profit surged by 174.1%. This remarkable performance is a testament to our disciplined execution, strong cost leadership, and the strategic investments we have made over the years.”

Dangote Cement is Africa’s leading cement producer with 52.0Mta capacity across Africa.

It is a fully integrated quarry-to-customer producer that  has a production capacity of 35.25Mta in Nigeria.

Its Obajana plant in Kogi State, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 16.25Mta of capacity across five lines; while its Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta.

In the same vein, its Gboko plant in Benue State has 4Mta, and its Okpella plant in Edo State has 3Mta.

Through its recent investments, Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigeria’s dependence on imported cement and has transformed the nation into an exporter of cement and clinker, serving neighbouring countries.

In addition, the company has operations in Cameroon (1.5Mta clinker grinding), Congo (1.5Mta), Ghana (2.0Mta clinker grinding and import), Ethiopia (2.5Mta), Senegal (1.5Mta), Sierra Leone (0.5Mta import), South Africa (2.8Mta), Tanzania (3.0Mta), Zambia (1.5Mta).

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This was after the team on Thursday defeated  Cote D’Ivoire 2-1 in their last group game.

Goals from Clinton Jephta and Kparobo Arierhi ensured a hard earned victory for the Nigerian side.

Even with the lackluster performance, Nigeria still managed to top the group with a better goal difference, ahead of Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina with same points.

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Nigeria will now clash with Niger Republic in one of the semi-final matches for a place in the final, and a ticket to the U-20 AFCON slated for South Africa in January 2025.

Source: NAN

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I was able to bring down the blood pressure, now waiting  to see how the Super Eagles would beat the Elephant of Cote d’Ivoire and win the AFCON for the fourth time.

For me, Cote D’Ivoire had no enough quality to beat Nigeria. Even when the game began and the Elephants mounted pressure on the Super Eagles, I was not disturbed because everything looked like a gameplan to me.

And when Williams Troost-Ekong nodded the first goal in, I refused to jubilate with friends who came to see the match with me.

I was waiting for more goals from the Super Eagles until the Elephants struck. It was an equaliser I never dreamt of. The second goal came lately to seal a victory for the Cote d’Ivoire.

It dawned on me that the cup just slipped away.  I left the viewing centre disappointed, however I knew something was wrong. Why did the Super Eagles play so badly on a day they were supposed to raise their game?

What happened to one of our best guys, Ola Aina, a few minutes to be crowned a champion? Why is every contact of Osimhen with the Ivorians taken as foul by the referee? Why did the referee refuse to protect the African player of the year from Ivorians’ rough tackles?

READ ALSO: AFCON: Watching Eagles with blind eyes, By Kunle Awosiyan

He was elbowed, he was kicked and had no option but to warn the Ivorians from hitting him so hard and bad. There was a time the Ivorian midfielder, Fofana, fell with a blow to Osimhen’s head.

Peseiro’s tactics endeared me to him but I asked,  will it stand for a long time, a long victory? No.

The referee looked the other way, the VAR refused to call. Coach Jose Peseiro shouted from the bench but got a yellow card in return.

Of course the Ivorians played their hearts out, their effort was helped by a referee who had initially dampened the morale of the Super Eagles.

The news now is that majority of the members of the present Nigeria’s squad are considering retirement from international assignment.

Some of them had saved their last dance till the last Sunday’s AFCON final, unfortunately they put the wrong steps forward. The dance steps were not good enough for a gold but silver.

The tactics failed them, love failed them when they needed it most. Every of their touches attracted boos from the crowd. For me, the cup they thought was theirs slipped away effortlessly.

The players performed below their level and failed to give Cote D’Ivoire the expected challenge. Overall, it wasn’t a great final but a one-sided match for the Elephants.

It redefines Jose Peseiro as a poor match reader that could only beat teams that lack creativity. I have written about this before.

Peseiro’s tactics endeared me to him but I asked,  will it stand for a long time, a long victory? No.

He got the tactics right but failed to improve on it. The tactics that made him also marred him.

First, it was South Africa that broke his tactics, using a mobile midfield to break Nigeria’s defence.

Cote d’Ivoire studied the Nigeria/South Africa match and used the same tactics to pressure the Eagles to submission.

Peseiro had no answers on the two occasions. While luck smile on us against South Africa, it laughed at us against Cote d’Ivoire.

Our solace is in our captain, Troost-Ekong, who won player of the tournament. He showed leadership in all our games but lost it in the final because he was overwhelmed.

On Sunday, that leadership was lacking. The Eagles were scattered on the field. The midfield, totally collapsed, the defence cracked. No one to pass ball to Osimhen. He was fighting alone against rough tackles, the Ivorians and their crowd.

Perhaps the players that are thinking of retirement will change their minds after the honour done to them by the Federal Government. Time will tell.

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President Tinubu, according to his media aide, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, commended the team, the coach, the crew, and the entire management team for their hard work, assiduity, and sacrifice to come that far in the tournament.

He was said to have acknowledged the hurdles they consistently surpassed with steadily improving performance as they pulled through to the finals.

The president urged Nigerians to be of good cheer, emphasising that “we won a great victory in the hearts of Africa and the world by our grit, rigour, and determination in the field of play.”

“Let this passing event not dispirit us, but bring us together to work harder. We are a great nation bound as one by the green-white-green banner of resilience, joy, hope, duty, and untiring love. To those cherished Nigerian youths expressing their gifts in communities, drawing lines in the sand as they play football in their humble rectangles of play, you can be our heroes tomorrow, do not relent in your pursuit. My administration is here to make dreams come true,” the president said.

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Cote d’Ivoire which incidentally hosted the tournament defeated Nigeria 2 – 1.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were the first to score in the first half of the game through a header by its captain, Troost-Ekong.

However, during the second half of the match, Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller scored one goal each to make Cote d’Ivoire emerge the winner.

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