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The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken swift action by sacking national team coach Chris Hughton immediately after Ghana’s disappointing exit from the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast. The decision comes as a response to the team’s inability to progress beyond the group stage in the past two AFCON tournaments.
In an official statement released on the GFA website, the association announced the termination of Chris Hughton’s contract and the dissolution of the technical team. The GFA expressed its intention to re-strategize for the national team’s future.
“The Ghana Football Association wishes to announce that Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the senior National team with immediate effect. The Executive Council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars. In the coming days, the Ghana Football Association will provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars,” the statement read.
Ghana’s performance in the current AFCON has been subpar, with the team failing to secure a victory against Egypt, losing to Cape Verde, and squandering a two-goal lead against Mozambique, ultimately leading to their early exit from the tournament. Chris Hughton initially joined Ghana as the technical director in February 2022 before assuming the head coach role a year later.
Nigeria will play Cameroon in the Round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The knockout tie was confirmed on Tuesday evening after defending champions Senegal defeated the Syli Stars 2-0 and Cameroon beat Gambia 3-2.
The result means that Senegal top Group C with nine maximum points, while Cameroon finish second with four points. Guinea also finished with four points, but have an inferior goal difference.
The Super Eagles finished runners-up behind Equatorial Guinea in Group A, following their 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.
The last-16 clash between Nigeria and Cameroon will be played on Saturday, January 27 at 9 pm WAT.
Africa’s best footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen has confirmed to the media that he has made his decision on the next step to take amidst his club crises.
He disclosed this during an interview with CBS saying, “I have already made my decision on the next step to do at the end of the season. I already made up my mind. I already have my plan, I know what I want to do, the next step I want to take.”
When questioned about speculations regarding his potential move to Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal, the Napoli striker responded by stating that nothing is confirmed at the moment.
He expressed his intention to focus on finishing the season strongly with his current club and indicated that he will make decisions about his future plans afterward.
He said: “I think 60% of the people mention the rumours about me linked with the Premier League”
“Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world. I want to finish the season with Napoli strong and then come up with the decision I’ve already made.”
Recall that Victor Osimhen signed a fresh contract with Napoli a month ago, securing his commitment to the club until 2026.
[TheNation]
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro says he doesn’t have a preference on which country his team should face in the Round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
The West Africans confirmed their place in the knockout phase courtesy of a 1-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau on Monday.
They are now awaiting the completion of proceedings in Group A to know their opponent.
Peseiro’s side could face either Senegal, Guinea or Cameroon in the next stage of the competition.
The Portuguese however claimed they are ready to take on any team.
“We’re ready for meet any team,” he said in a post-match interview.
“I am not 100% happy because we deserved to finish top of the group.
“We deserved to beat Equatorial Guinea and then we would have had nine points.”
[Dailypost]
After Nigeria’s narrow win against Guinea-Bissau on Monday evening, Super Eagles star Moses Simon said the Nigerian team is ready to face any opposition in the ongoing 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Naija News reports that today’s 1-0 victory against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria progress to the Round of 16 of the AFCON.
Despite being wasteful at the match played at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, the Nigerian team still ended the Group stage match at second place behind Equatorial Guinea, thanks to a cross from Simon which was diverted into the net by Opa Sangante in the 36th minute.
Commenting on the Monday evening match, Simon said: “It was a good win for us. To make it from the group was a good one for us.”
“We are not thinking about the opponent we will be facing in the next round. I can’t even say we have any preference for a team we want to face.
“We have to be ready for all opposition if we want to win the title. Any team that we draw in the next round, we are ready for them and all other teams too,” Simon told a press conference in Abidjan.
Jose Peseiro has made four changes to the team to play against Guinea-Bissau in their final Group A encounter on Monday evening.
The Portuguese coach has dropped captain William Troost-Ekong and in comes experienced Kenneth Omeruo who will take up the armband.
Other include Joe Aribo and Bright Osayi-Samuel who are making their first starts, while Moses Simon returns to the starting eleven after being dropped for the 1-0 win over Ivory Coast last week Thursday.
Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey retain their places while Victor Osimhen continues to lead the line.
The Super Eagles are on four points after two matches and will look to possibly take top spot in the group with victory in a match that begins 6pm Nigerian time.
Super Eagles Starting XI: Nwabali, Bassey, Omeruo, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel, Aina, Onyeka, Aribo, Moses, Chukwueze, Osimhen
Guinea-Bissau coach, Baciro Candé has stressed that he and his team are determined to beat the Super Eagles later today in their last group stage game of the 2023 AFCON.
Guinea-Bissau and the Super Eagles of Nigeria will clash at the Stade Félix Houphoüet-Boigny in Abidjan by 6 p.m. later this evening, January 22.
The Wild Dogs are going into the game sitting at the bottom of Group A after two losses in their last two games. Despite such a form, they intend to provide one of the biggest upsets of the tournament against the Super Eagles.
Recall that Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria 1-0 in Abuja during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers and Nigeria defeated them 1-0 in the return leg.
Hence, though they have suffered defeats at the hands of Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast in the 2023 AFCON Group A, they fancy a chance of bowing out of the tournament with pride.
If they beat Nigeria, they’ll get up to three points, but since they’re now bottom of Group A, that won’t be enough to keep them in the tournament.
“Mentally we will be very strong and go out for a win. We know football has its peculiarities but we would do everything for a win against Nigeria,” the Guinea-Bissau coach said.
“I believe everything is possible, physically and emotionally we will be ready.”
One of the team’s stars, Carlos Mané added, “We know it’s now difficult to progress to the next stage but we will play for our families and our country. We will fight with all we have to give a good game against Nigeria.”
Super Eagles coach, José Santos Peseiro, has insisted that despite looking good for a spot in the Round of 16 following their victory against hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, his boys will not take their feet off the pedal when they battle Guinea Bissau this evening in their final group A match.
“We defeated Cote d’Ivoire, but that is already in the past. We know that in football, what counts is the moment. We must temper our confidence, and put in more work as required. We must not rest.
“We want to take the first place and for that, we must do battle. We must do what is necessary to accomplish our mission tomorrow (today),” Peseiro said at the pre-match conference at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan yesterday.
Peseiro will lead Nigeria to come face-to-face with the only team to have beaten his Super Eagles in a competitive match since he took the reins of the three-time African champions 20 months ago.
With four points from their first two matches, including a morale-pumping victory over the host nation and one of the favourites, the Eagles are walking with springs in their steps at their Pullman Hotel Abidjan and at their training sessions at the École National de la Police. But Peseiro cautions that the work is not yet done and there is utmost need for level heads.
“We have to forget that we defeated the host nation. There is a lot more work to be done. We want to be here for the long haul,” he told thenff.com after the press conference.
Peseiro won his first two competitive games with the Super Eagles – a 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in Abuja and a record-breaking international win of 10—0 against Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco in June 2022.
However, the Wild Dogs stepped on Nigeria soil and pipped the Eagles 1-0 in an AFCON 2023 qualifier.
Nigeria repaid the compliment a few days later in Bissau, but the Portuguese trainer says the Portuguese-speaking nation still owes him a clap back.
“We are not thinking about revenge but we are here to top the group and they are in our sights. We must do what has to be done. Guinea Bissau have no point and will play with freedom, and that is when a team becomes dangerous.”
Both teams clash at the Stade Félix Houphoüet-Boigny in central Abidjan from 5pm CIV time today, which is 6pm Nigeria time.
Monday’s crucial game, which will be Nigeria’s 100th match at the Africa Cup of Nations since a group phase encounter against Egypt in nearby Ghana in 1963, will see the Super Eagles finish top of group A with a win, as long as Equatorial Guinea, also on four points, do not humiliate host nation Cote d’Ivoire at an encounter holding simultaneously at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe.
[Leadership]
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro says revenge is not on his mind ahead of his side’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash with Guinea-Bissau.
The Djurtus defeated the Super Eagles 1-0 in Abuja during the qualifiers.
Both teams will clash again at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, on Monday (today).
Peseiro said he is focused on helping the Super Eagles beat Baciro Cande’s men.
“We are not thinking about revenge but we are here to top the group and they are in our sights.
“We must do what has to be done. Guinea Bissau have no point and will play with freedom, and that is when a team becomes dangerous,” Peseiro said during pre-match press conference.
Nigeria occupy second position in the group with four points from two games.
A point will be enough for the Super Eagles to book a place in the Round of 16.
[DailyPost]
With four points already and second in Group A behind Equatorial Guinea on goal difference, Nigeria are out to finish their group campaign on a high as group leaders at the 2023 AFCON on Monday (today), but they have been advised by ex-internationals and fans to thread carefully against their opponents, Guinea-Bissau.
The Super Eagles play the bottom-placed side at the Stade Félix Houphoüet-Boigny, Abidjan needing a win to go top of the table, given that Equatorial Guinea are unable to beat Ivory Coast in the other last game of the group.
After a 1-1 draw in their first game against Equatorial Guinea, Jose Peseiro’s men got their campaign back on track with a spirited 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast, while their opponents today, Guinea-Bissau, lost both of their games and are eliminated from the tournament.
Guinea-Bissau stunned the Eagles courtesy of a 1-0 win against the Eagles in Abuja during the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON.
Eighteen players who featured in the defeat to the Wild Dogs March 24, 2023, including Osimhen, are with the team in Ivory Coast and are seeking revenge against the team coached by Baciro Cande.
Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, said the Eagles would study the tape of the loss to Guinea-Bissau and come up with a strategy to beat the fellow West Africans.
“We know them, we played them in the qualifying series. They are a dangerous team if you let them play,” Osimhen told reporters in Abidjan
“I think we’ll go back to the last game in which they won and then we’ll start the game and come up really strong against them. It’s not going to be an easy game but we’re ready to give everything for our fans and country to make them happy.”
Midfielder Alex Iwobi echoed Osimhen’s desire to give everything for the fans as he also promised the Eagles would win to make Nigerians happy.
“The sort of players we have will always create chances and we were able to get the one against Ivory Coast and if we are able to get at least one and defend well, we’ll win the game (against G-Bissau).
“Nigerians aren’t happy if you don’t win, for them to be happy you have to win, so, we are going to win to make them happy,” he said in an interview with journalist Osasu Obayiuwana on Sunday.
“We want to take the first place and for that, we must do battle. We must do what is necessary to accomplish our mission,” Eagles coach Jose Peseiro said at the pre-match conference at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan on Sunday.
Meanwhile, there have been reactions back home, ahead of the crucial tie.
Ex-international, Tijanii Babangida, an AFCON finalist on home soil in 2000, said, “Any of the three teams among Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast can qualify. So, the win is important but they must know there are no pushovers. It’s a competitive game and I expect them to grow in every game, regardless of the fact that they have won against us before.”
“I know we are going to play with caution, and again, if we could beat Ivory Coast, the morale is high but I know they will play with caution because we have a lot of experienced players in the team. So, it will be very good for them to top the group,” 2013 AFCON winner, Azubuike Egwwuekwe, noted.
Given theEagles inconsistent run under Peseiro, some fans are wary of the Wild Dogs.
“Let’s not underestimate a wounded team, besides, we don’t have to be in a hurry to win. Let’s calm down, hold the ball and the opportunities will come,” a fan, Adetuwo Suji, said.
If Nigeria finish top of the group, they are poised to face any best losing side from Group C, which could be Cameroon or even Algeria from Group D as well as Namibia, Tunisia or even South Africa from Group E in the round of 16.
A second-place finish will pair the Eagles against the second-place team from Group C, which is likely going to be Guinea, which beat Peseiro’s men 2-0 in a pre-tournament friendly in Abu Dhabi last week.
The most unlikely outcome is qualifying as one of the best losers, and that will be a date with the winners of Group B, Cape Verde.
Nigeria’s game against Guinea-Bissau kicks off at 6pm Nigerian time – simultaneously with the other game between Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.
The last time the Eagles and Wild Dogs clashed at the AFCON (2022), the Eagles defeated their foes 2-0, thanks to second half goals from Umar Sadiq and Wiliam Troost-Ekong.
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Born in the Netherlands and educated in England, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has not looked back at the international level since opting to represent Nigeria.
Part of the team that lost to Lionel Messi and Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, Troost-Ekong is currently taking part in his third Africa Cup of Nations and he kept a remarkably cool head to score the decisive penalty in the 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast on Thursday.
That result left the three-time continental champions primed to clinch a spot in the last 16 when they play Guinea-Bissau in their last group game in Abidjan on Monday.
“It is so early still, but my belief in the team has stayed the same,” the 30-year-old centre-back, who won his first cap in 2015, told AFP.
“If I look at the players we have now, I think it might be the best team I have played in for Nigeria. That is with all due respect to some of the legends that have been there.”
Amid all the talk of Nigeria’s fearsome attack, spearheaded by African footballer of the year Victor Osimhen, it was Nigeria’s defence that perhaps surprisingly stood out against the Ivorians, with Troost-Ekong marshalling a five-man backline.
“I think we have the most exciting attack in Africa. We have the best player in Africa who is our number nine. But I was not surprised, I think I know what the defenders can do as well and I believe so much in this group,” he said.
“I think we have maybe been underrated a little bit defensively.”
Troost-Ekong, who is wearing boots at the AFCON made from bamboo and other sustainable materials, was born just outside Amsterdam to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, and was capped at youth level by the Netherlands.
‘Haven’t looked back’
He admits he dreamed of representing the Oranje senior team before a call from Stephen Keshi, then the Super Eagles coach, convinced him to pull on a Nigerian shirt.
“I watched a lot of football with my Dad. He was always watching the Super Eagles, but growing up in Holland, I also dreamt about playing for the Dutch national team,” said the defender, who moved to the UK aged 12 to attend boarding school.
“But when I got the phone call from Stephen Keshi at the time, who was a player and a legend who I watched growing up as a kid, especially as a central defender, I was kind of taken aback, and for him to ask me to play for Nigeria, I didn’t have to think twice.
“I think I said yes before I even had to think about anything or ask anyone because it just felt right, and I haven’t looked back since.
“Something really feels right about playing for Nigeria.”
Troost-Ekong, who has family in the southern city of Uyo as well as in Lagos, spent several months on holiday in Nigeria every year while growing up and says the country “felt very much like home and still does”.
He has turned out for clubs all over Europe, notably playing in Serie A for Udinese and in the English Premier League for Watford.
However, he recently joined leading Greek side PAOK – and opted to offset the carbon from the travel required to complete his transfer in another nod to the environment.
As he settles in Thessaloniki, he is now hoping this year to add some winners medals to the Olympic bronze he won with Nigeria in 2016.
“I have played in Serie A and in England, which are considered probably the top leagues, but for teams that are trying to stay in the league or to survive,” said the player who is so heavily tattooed he claims to have lost count of how many he has.
“Now playing at PAOK it is different because the ambition there is to win the league, win the cup, and win the Europa Conference League.
“I am really enjoying it and I am hopeful that I can add some silverware to my career, here as well as back home.”
[NaijaTimes]
FIFA president Gianni Infantino called for worldwide stadium bans for fans and “automatic forfeits” for teams whose supporters hurl “abhorrent” abuse, following racist incidents in Italy and England on Saturday.
The head of football’s world governing body said there was no place for discrimination of any kind in the sport or wider society.
“The events that took place in Udine and Sheffield on Saturday are totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable,” he said in a statement.
“The players affected by Saturday’s events have my undivided support.”
Fans aimed monkey chants at AC Milan and France goalkeeper Mike Maignan during Milan’s dramatic 3-2 win at Udinese, with the game temporarily halted.
– Support from Mbappe –
In a strongly worded statement on X, formerly Twitter, the France team said: “You have all our support Mike Maignan. The FFF (French federation) totally condemns all racist acts.”
France captain Kylian Mbappe also offered his backing to his international teammate.
“You are very far from being alone Mike Maignan, we are all with you,” wrote the Paris Saint-Germain star.
“Still the same problems and still NO solution. Enough is enough!!!!! NO TO RACISM” he posted on X.
Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer accused Sheffield Wednesday fans of doing the same to him during their English Championship clash, which his team won 2-1 on Saturday.
“We need all the relevant stakeholders to take action, starting with education in schools so that future generations understand that this is not part of football or society,” Infantino said.
“As well as the three-step process (match stopped, match re-stopped, match abandoned), we have to implement an automatic forfeit for the team whose fans have committed racism and caused the match to be abandoned as well as worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for racists.
“FIFA and football shows full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. Once and for all: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!”
At Udinese, referee Fabio Maresca stopped play during the first half and a livid Maignan stormed down the tunnel with his teammates.
“They’re ignorant people…. You can be booed or whistled when you’re away from home, that’s normal, but what happened today has no place in football,” Maignan told Sky Sports.
Play resumed after about five minutes.
Italy, a country governed by a coalition led by the far-right Brothers of Italy party, is rife with fascist football fan groups, in particular among the hardcore “ultras” who make most of the atmosphere at stadiums.
Last week Lazio were hit with a one-match stand closure after supporters directed monkey chants at Romelu Lukaku during their team’s Italian Cup win over local rivals Roma.
In Sheffield, Palmer labelled the abuse “abhorrent and wholly unacceptable”, with the match paused as the referee spoke to both managers on the touchline.
In a statement, Sheffield Wednesday said they were “shocked and saddened by the racist gesture from the stands” reported by Palmer.
“Both clubs roundly condemn any form of discrimination and abuse, and underline that there is no place for this kind of behaviour in football or our wider society,” it added.
“We will work together with the relevant authorities and anyone proven to be culpable will face the strictest possible sanctions from both Sheffield Wednesday and the law.”
[Vanguard]
The manager of the Senegalese national team, Aliou Cisse, was reportedly admitted to a hospital in Ivory Coast last Friday.
Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that Cisse fell ill following Senegal’s 3-1 victory over Cameroon in the second group match of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 47-year-old coach was taken to Yamoussoukro hospital, as reported by Canal+ Sport.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) released a statement stating that Cisse received treatment for a “benign infection.”
However, no specific information regarding the nature of the former Portsmouth FC defender’s medical condition was provided in the statement.
The statement reads: “The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) informs the public that coach Aliou Cisse was taken care of by the medical staff and care services of the Yamoussoukro hospital for a benign infectious pathology on Friday, January 19, 2024 in the evening after the Senegal-Cameroun match.”
At the time of this report, Cisse, who had undergone overnight tests, had been discharged from the hospital.
The FSF further stated that Abdallah Sima, a player from their team, has withdrawn from the tournament and rejoined his Scottish club side, Glasgow Rangers, due to an injury.
“In addition, the FSF informs that player Abdallah Sima left the den today after passing exams following an injury contracted during training on Wednesday,” it said.
“Seeing an injury to the long adductor of the left thigh resulting in a long unavailability of the player, the medical staff of the selection and his club, Glasgow Rangers decided to return to the club for optimal management of his injury.”
It was only one match, but it moved Nigeria several notches up the rung of victory at AFCON 2023.
The match against Cote D’Ivoire confirmed the often-held notion that a potential Champion can be identified when a team can win a crucial match even when it does not play brilliantly. That’s what happened on Thursday night.
The Super Eagles played with the attitude of potential champions – winning a most difficult match against the host team by deploying with very disciplined style of play, and, with a bit of luck, curtailed an anxious and determined Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.
The Super Eagles definitely earned their victory! What most people have refused to consider here is to credit Jose Paseiro for any part of that victory. The man has gone too far down the bad books of Nigerians that more of the credit seems to be going to a player-William Troost-Ekong. He was the ‘coach’ on the field of play that the team lacked outside it.
Troost – A new leader of the Super Eagles?
A new leader of the Super Eagles may be finally emerging from the shadows. His individual performance on this night reminded Nigerians about ‘Gentle Giant’ Uche Okechukwu, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, and ‘Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi.
The three were excellent Liberos, organisers of their defense from the centre-half position, clearing all loose balls that resulted from the close-marking and hard-tackling of their co-defenders, and taking on the responsibility of unofficially ‘coaching’ the team ON the field of play.
William Troost-Ekong may have joined that special class when he stepped forward and took responsibility to nail the Ivoriens by taking a very ‘dangerous’ penalty kick that was heavily laden with pressure and tension! It was a very thin line to cross for him – between becoming a hero and new leader in the team, or becoming a ‘villain’ for the rest of his career (had he missed the kick).
Troost-Ekong’s individual performance made a big difference in that match. He was a deserving ‘Man of the Match’. He played with his heart and head, stabilising the defense, in particular, and rest of the team, generally.
Uncharacteristically, the Nigerian defense line was cool, calm, confident, well-organised and impregnable.Thanks to Captain Ekong!
Are the Super Eagles back to their best?
No, not yet. It is a team in progress, coming up slowly but steadily.
Should the Eagles win the last match against Guinea Bissau very well, they will remain in Abidjan to play their round-of-16 match. That will be a huge advantage for them that they can use as launch pad to get to the top of the pyramid.
Against all the odds, the Super Eagles looked better and more organised in their defensive play. When Osimhen, somehow eventually finds his feet and his rhythm, the team will become better and stronger. Stopping them will now become a huge mountain to climb for any team at AFCON 2023.
The AFCON 2023 Roadshow — Report
Last Thursday evening, 30 minutes before the end of the Eagles/Elephant clash, my crew and I finally landed in Abidjan. It was too late to go watch my first LIVE match at the stadium.
I immediately converted the ‘disappointment’ into an opportunity to catch up with Ivoriens and watch them react to seeing their team is slowly and steadily asphyxiated by the Eagles.
We drove to Treichville, downtown Abidjan metropolis. The streets were quiet and traffic was light. Many shops had become temporary viewing centres. People massed around big and small TV sets, anxiety written on their faces as the minutes ticked on to record Nigeria’s first victory at AFCON 2023.
Anxious faces concocted into mournful looks, frustrated by the impregnable wall of defense put up by the Eagles.
According to commentators, as the match moved towards the closing moments, both the town and the stadium terraces went into silent mode, like a graveyard.
Into this mood and mourful environment we drove in a very colourful branded van, with the logos of some Nigerian products and services, into the Treichville neighbourhood, downtown Abidjan, attracting a lot of public attention.
Then, out stepped some Nigerians in their customary Green and White Tee shirts and face caps, branded ‘Peculiar Ultimate Concerns’, proud ambassadors of their country and of the beautiful game.
That neoghbourhood immediately became the unofficial centre of celebration for some Nigerians in a few bars in that part of Abidjan that remained open for business after the pain of their country’s loss.
Some Ivoriens took the punch on the chin well, and remained in some good spirit. Some coolly accepted their fate and went on with their lives in painful submission and silence.
Travelling to Abidjan
I shall surely produce a documentary of my experience travelling on the single existing road linking the countries along the coastline of West Africa.
The dream of an East to West superhighway connecting the cities was birthed in the late 1950s, and construction work must have started shortly after on the Dakar to Lagos road. 70 years later, the dream remains largely unfulfilled.
All the way, from Seme to Abidjan, there is not a single dual-carriageway.
The distance that we covered through 4 countries to get to Abidjan are on single lane, face-me-I-face-you, roads.
There is potential danger every inch of the way. No room for any careless driving throughout that long route. It demands the utmost care and concentration by drivers.
In Nigeria and most of Ghana, the roads are bad (worse in Nigeria), littered with patches and small irritating potholes.
Speed breakers, bumps and security checkpoints are endless on the roads in Ghana, and easily double travel time.
Although reassuring for safety purposes, the checkpoints are at 2 or 4-kilometre intervals through most of our travel inside Ghana. We were stopped at every one of those check points because of our unique van and colourful branding. The security officers were mostly very friendly but still created delays. Night travel, which we did only once, going to Cape Coast in Ghana, was worse.
Generally, the roads through Togo are better, smoother, and with less check points.
In Cote D’Ivoire, we found a delightful surprise – the best roads, but single lanes until you get to 14 kilometers to Abidjan. To enter Abidjan is like entering a new world – the road opens into the most beautiful dual carriageway in this part of the world.
Gbenga, our driver from Lagos, for the first time on this journey tested the speed of our 8-cylinder Chevrolet Van. He put his foot down on the throttle for an experience that I have not had since I was 25, driving my new Mercedes 280E on the freshly completed but yet-to-be-opened Ibadan/Lagos expressway. I covered the 120 or so kilometres to Lagos in 45 minutes.
By the way, on this trip, in the past 4 days, we have driven and covered a distance of 1100 kilometres, the single, longest but slowest journey I have ever undertaken. At the same time, it has been a unique and incredible experience.