Latest news with #Zubairu
CAF
20-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Zubairu proud of Nigeria's bronze as Egypt boss Nabih eyes World Cup rebuild
Published: Tuesday, 20 May 2025 Nigeria's head coach Aliyu Zubairu expressed his pride in his team after they secured third place for a record-extending fifth time in the history of the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations. This comes after the Flying Eagles' 4-1 penalty shootout win over hosts Egypt in the third-place play-off at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. 'The match was tight. It came down to nerve and execution,' Zubairu told reporters. 'We knew Egypt would be strong at home, but my boys stayed calm. We showed maturity in the shootout.' Nigeria's run to the semi-finals had included a penalty shootout win over holders Senegal in the quarters, but their hopes of a ninth final were dashed by South Africa in the semi-final. 'We felt we were the better team in the semi-final, so this bronze means a lot. It's a statement of our consistency and potential heading into the World Cup,' Zubairu said. Both Egypt and Nigeria now turn their attention to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year, where they will represent Africa alongside Morocco and South Africa. Meanwhile, Egypt U-20 head coach Osama Nabih has issued a public apology to fans following his side's 4-1 penalty shootout loss to Nigeria in the third-place play-off at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025. The hosts were left heartbroken at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo after a 1-1 draw in regulation time ended in disappointment from the spot, denying the Pharaohs a place on the podium. 'We reached one of our key objectives by qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile,' Nabih said in the post-match press conference. 'But I must apologise to the Egyptian fans for not securing a medal in front of our home crowd.' Egypt had taken the lead early through Osama Omar but were pegged back in the second half by Nigeria's Bidemi Amole. The match went to penalties, where the Pharaohs missed three of their four attempts, sealing their fate. Nabih highlighted the challenges his team faced, including key absentees. 'We were without nine influential players due to injury and fatigue. These boys gave everything, and I thank them for their courage in very difficult conditions,' he added. The 48-year-old coach, who took over the side just weeks before the tournament, praised the backing from the Egyptian Football Association and national team coach Hossam Hassan, calling their support 'instrumental to our progress.' Egypt's campaign saw them reach the semi-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Ghana, before a narrow 1-0 defeat to Morocco ended their title dreams. It was their first appearance in the last four since 2011. Despite the bronze medal setback, Nabih insisted preparations for the U-20 World Cup must begin immediately. 'We have just three months before Chile. This experience will harden us. We must focus and regroup,' he said.
Morocco World
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
South Africa vs Nigeria: When, How to Watch U20 AFCON Semifinals
Rabat – Nigeria and South Africa will meet today in the semi-final match of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), racing for a spot in the final which will take place this upcoming Sunday. The match will take place at 4 p.m. Moroccan time, and fans can watch the decisive game on CAF TV, Startimes, and DSTV. Nigeria's head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, is confident in his squad. 'We're now relaxed after securing qualification for the World Cup,' Zubairu said in a pre-match conference, noting that the players can now focus fully on the U20 AFCON title. 'We've studied South Africa well. I watched their game against DR Congo. They're physical, well-organized and dangerous on the counter—but we believe we have what it takes to win,' he said. The winner of today's game will meet either Egypt or Morocco on Sunday. Morocco is playing against Egypt today at 7 p.m. Moroccan time. South Africa has also booked its place at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup. They secured three wins at the U20 AFCON tournament, with this being their fifth appearance in the semifinals – a feat they also reached in 1997, 2009, 2017, and 2019. Nigeria, meanwhile, marks its 17th appearance in the semi-finals this year. They previously reached the final of the tournament in several occasions, including in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2015. Tags: 2023 AFCON2025 afcon
CAF
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
'We respect South Africa, but we're focused on winning' – Nigeria's Zubairu
Published: Thursday, 15 May 2025 Nigeria U20 head coach Aliyu Zubairu says his side will play with greater freedom and determination when they face South Africa in Thursday's TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final. After overcoming defending champions Senegal in a tense quarter-final shootout, the Flying Eagles are just two wins away from a record-extending eighth continental title—and Zubairu is confident the team is hitting form at the right time. 'We're now relaxed after securing qualification for the World Cup,' Zubairu told reporters ahead of the clash in Ismailia. 'That weight is gone. The players can now focus fully on competing for the trophy.' Nigeria beat Senegal 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate in the quarter-finals, having emerged from Group B unbeaten but without entirely convincing. A 1-0 win over Tunisia was followed by draws against Morocco and Kenya. But Zubairu insists the team is growing into the tournament. 'You can see the improvement in every match,' he said. 'We've studied South Africa well. I watched their game against DR Congo. They're physical, well-organised and dangerous on the counter—but we believe we have what it takes to win.' The South Africans booked their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 win over DR Congo after extra time. Thabang Mahlangu's third goal of the tournament sealed their spot in Chile for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and extended Amajita's unbeaten run to four matches. But despite their form, history favours the Flying Eagles. Nigeria have reached the semi-finals in all nine of their last U-20 AFCON appearances and have won the title seven times. Zubairu, who guided El-Kanemi Warriors to domestic silverware in Nigeria, now wants to add continental glory to his résumé. 'We respect South Africa, but we're focused on our own game,' he added. 'The goal is the final. We've been here many times. The players know what's at stake.' Nigeria's defence, marshalled by captain Daniel Bameyi, has kept three clean sheets in four matches, while goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt was a standout performer against Senegal. But it's goals that have been harder to come by—with just three in open play across four games. Zubairu admits this is an area for concern: 'We've worked on our finishing. We created chances, especially against Kenya and Senegal. We just need that final touch.' The match marks the fourth time Nigeria and South Africa will meet at U-20 AFCON level. Nigeria won the 2009 third-place playoff 2-1, while the other two encounters in 2019 ended in goalless draws, with South Africa edging the third-place playoff on penalties. Kick-off at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia is set for 15:00 GMT on Thursday. The winner will meet either Egypt or Morocco in Sunday's final.
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
African Finance Corp reports record $1.1 billion annual revenue
LAGOS, April 9 (Reuters) - The African Finance Corporation's (AFC) revenue rose 22.8% last year to $1.1 billion, it said on Wednesday, citing project finance and infrastructure deals across Africa. The AFC said the revenue performance was its strongest to date, adding that net income rose 22.3% to $400 million, up from $327 million a year ago. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Chief Executive Samaila Zubairu said the result shows that strategic investment in African infrastructure creates lasting value for beneficiaries and investors. "In 2024 we exceeded the billion-dollar revenue mark, delivered game-changing projects, and reinforced our financial resilience, demonstrating the scalability of our unique model that blends purpose with performance to accelerate Africa's economic transformation," Zubairu said. The corporation said it mobilised capital for African projects ranging from energy to natural resources. Some of the projects funded included the Lobito Corridor, a 1,300km railway that connects Angola's port of Lobito to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. The AFC also said it invested $150 million in the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, Africa's largest copper producer. It provided financial support for the commissioning of the Dangote refinery, Africa's largest, and continued to provide support for AFC-backed Infinity Power Holding's 10GW clean energy target. The corporation said it also invested in the 15GW Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, providing $14.1 million to support early stage development of a transcontinental renewable energy pipeline between North Africa and Europe.
Zawya
13-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AFC chief pushes to unlock billions from African pension funds
LONDON: The Africa Finance Corporation said it was accelerating efforts to mobilise the continent's money for investments and tapping investors in the Middle East and Asia, as developing nations grapple with seismic shifts in geopolitics and funding flows. Samaila Zubairu, chief executive of the AFC - a development finance institution owned by Nigeria's central bank and other African financial institutions - said in an interview the lender was ready to weather a world in which the United States and Europe cut financial aid and turn increasingly inward. "The only thing we want ... to change, is to get domestic capital more available for investment within the continent," Zubairu said. "We would accelerate our initiatives to mobilize domestic capital from African pension funds, African institutional investors, to invest domestically," he said, adding that in the long term, some $15-$20 billion could come from domestic pension funds. U.S. President Donald Trump's America First agenda and cuts in U.S. aid money could drain billions from projects in Africa. European countries are also slashing aid funding, with Britain redirecting much of it to boost defence spending. Africa's low savings rates and shallow markets have stymied efforts to mobilise local pools of cash. FUND ALLOCATION Zubairu said the AFC, which deploys $2.5-$3 billion each year, would scale up fund allocation "prudently" by choosing projects other backers could pile into. It launched the pilot project InfraCredit to support pension fund investments in much-needed infrastructure projects, with oil-rich Nigeria's sovereign wealth fund providing guarantees on local currency debt. The project has mobilised some 230 billion naira ($152 million), including investments from 21 pension funds, which previously invested almost exclusively in government debt. Zubairu said he expected to launch similar programs as early as this year in Botswana, Angola and Kenya. "This is the kind of program that we think needs to be replicated at scale," he said. "If we do programs like this, then you see a lot more billions available for investment." Pension funds had also placed money in the Infrastructure Climate Resilience Fund, boosting a $52 million commitment from the European Investment Bank, he said. Investors from the Gulf and Europe are also looking to place money in other AFC projects, such as ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms which designs and finances industrial projects. RETHINKING RESERVES Trump has yet to publicly signal his plans for U.S. investment in the Lobito Corridor, a railway project linking resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo with Zambia and Angola's Atlantic port of Lobito. Former U.S. President Joe Biden visited the site in December, during his only trip to Africa. Zubairu said he was confident Trump would see the value in backing the corridor, though it was a strong, bankable framework that would move forward regardless. Longer-term, African countries should rethink how they view reserves, focusing less on how many months of import cover they provide and more on how they can leverage them for investment and growth in a capital stock. "How are we utilizing our savings? How are we ensuring that our savings work for our economies?" he said, adding governments needed to be "very intentional" about capitalizing financial institutions. The AFC is also eyeing bond more sales in the Middle East - after their first sukuk issue last month- and in China, after securing AAA credit ratings from S&P Global (China) Ratings and China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. "We're expanding the frontiers of financing sources available for Africa," he said. ($1 = 1,510.0000 naira) (Reporting By Libby George and Karin Strohecker, editing by Clelia Oziel and Bernadette Baum)
