It's starting to get slapstick in the exchanges between the Nigeria boss Eric Chelle and the country's hacks. He's trying to escape the past. And they really won't let him.
End of an aura
And so farewell. Morocco entered the 2025 Cup of Nations drenched in the kudos of an 18-game winning streak. Victory on Day 1 over Comoros made it 19. But the hosts are mourning that glory. Mali held them to a 1-1 draw in Rabat to terminate a sequence that stretched back to March 2024. Brahim Diaz gave Morocco the lead just before half-time from the penalty spot. Mali levelled via the same method mid way through the second. Referee Abdou Abdel Mefire missed Jawad El Yamiq's clumsy challenge on the Mali striker Lassine Sinayoko but the beady-eyed video assistant referees did not.
They urged the Cameroonian to have a look at the pitch-side monitor and after reviewing his lapse, he pointed to the spot. Sinayoko dispatched the kick. More pertinently, the stalemate leaves Morocco on four points from their two games and Mali with two. Following Zambia's 0-0 draw with Comoros to leave them also with two points and Zimbabwe with one point, any of the four teams can advance as the top two automatically. But for all those permutations of the final round of games, Morocco still bathe in the lustre as Africa's preeminent team in the Fifa world rankings.
Still no Hakimi
And the wait goes on. Morocco skipper Achraf Hakimi, who was injured in early November playing for Paris Saint-Germain, sat out the draw against Mali even though he has been declared fit for purpose. Morocco coach Walid Regragui kept faith with Hakimi's replacement Noussair Mazraoui. And it appeared to be a sage move. The clash at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was a bruising encounter with six Malian players shown yellow cards. Not the kind of fixture to test the robustness of a sprained left ankle.
Another fine mess
"You forgot what you came here to forget? Well, we'll see that you don't forget what you're here for!" The line from the 1931 Laurel and Hardy short film Beau Hunks comes to The Review's mind whenever the Nigeria coach Eric Chelle faces an array of reporters from Nigeria. He's desperate to focus on the here. And not on the botched campaign for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Some appear keen to rub salt into the wounds. However, Chelle received some succour from a couple of Tunisians who uttered what several hacks seem reluctant to accept. "In my opinion, every tournament has its own reality," said Chelle's counterpart, Sami Trabelsi, as both sides girded their loins for the Day 6 Group C clash in Fez. "Because of what happened to Nigeria, I don't think we are favourites," added Tunisia defender Montassar Talbi. "Nigeria also played a really big game for the first match at the Cup of Nations. They are doing well and we know they have good players."
Old timers
Curiously for a coaching staff eager to focus on the now rotation of the football whirligig, former Nigeria internationals such as Yakubu Aiyegbeni have been drafted in to gee up the players. "Coming to the group and giving more confidence to the team actually motivates the team," said 29-year-old skipper Wiflred Ndidi perhaps with an eye on future relevance. "I think it's not just about coming around," added the midfielder who will win his 70th cap on Day 6. "It's also about speaking highly of the team." Hint to the oldsters - don't mention how much fun the World Cup is.
Is Mo getting his jo back?
Yule never walk alone. Ho, ho, ho. Christmas cheer aplenty. Two games and two goals for one Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool striker grabbed a stoppage-time winner to dispatch Zimbabwe on Day 2. And he was on target from the penalty spot in Egypt's 1-0 victory over South Africa to make them the first team into the last-16 knockout stages. "I'm very happy for the result, for sure," said Salah. "It was a tough game. We walked away with the three points, it's the most important thing." With Group B secured, Egypt will await one of four best third-placed teams.
