Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 #AFCON
The 2024 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament will start this weekend. Please see below for a quick guide to the squads, and key details of the tournament. You can follow the results at this link.
AFCON Quick Facts:
Start Date: Saturday January 13, 2024
Reigning Champion: Senegal
Host Nation: Ivory Coast
Number of Qualified Countries: 24
Group Stage Draw:
Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau
Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique
Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, The Gambia
Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia
Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania
The Athletic also has an excellent podcast preview of the AFCON at this link. It is also available on Apple Podcasts, The Athletic’s website, and on Spotify.
FAQs:
Who Will Win the 2024 AFCON?
A team from West Africa. Home advantage is massive in the AFCON. The host nation has won the AFCON in 11 different tournaments (almost one-third of all AFCON tournaments in history). Although North African teams such as Morocco and Algeria are very strong, only twice in the 34 AFCONs has a North African team won an AFCON tournament hosted in West Africa (Egypt won it in Burkina Faso in 1998 and in Ghana in 2008). Moreover, West African teams have won 4 of the last 5 AFCONs. All these are good portents for the West African teams, and not great portents for the North African teams. Let us first look at the best West African contenders…
Senegal
As the reigning and defending champions, Senegal will be among the favourites.
Until the last AFCON, Senegal was in danger of becoming the Portugal or Ivory Coast of this generation: a team labelled a “golden generation” but that never wins a trophy. Senegal came close to winning the 2019 AFCON but lost a close final 0-1 to Algeria. This AFCON might be the last hurrah for this group of players.
Teams that win the AFCON usually have two successful ingredients: a strong defence and a good goalkeeper. Senegal have both. They have big and powerful defenders in Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, and ex PSG defender Abdou Diallo. They also have a steady goalkeeper in Edouard Mendy.
Senegal also has coaching stability. Former Senegal international defender Aliou Cisse has been the coach for the past 9 years. He was a member of the Senegal squad that shocked then world champions France at the 1998 World Cup.
Although, teams rarely retain the AFCON, Senegal is good enough to do so. In the 32 AFCON tournaments to date, only 3 teams have ever retained the trophy (Ghana won it in 1963 and 1965, Cameroon in 2000 and 2002, and Egypt in 2006, 2008, and 2010). Can Senegal join them?
Ivory Coast
As the host nation, expect Ivory Coast to go far in this competition. While this Ivory Coast team does not have the same stardust or quality as Ivory Coast’s “Golden Generation” team which included Didier Drogba, the Toure brothers, Didier Zokora, Bonaventure Kalou, Gervinho, and Arouna Kone, home support often propels the host nation to improbable victories – even when they are not the best team. While I think Ivory Coast will comfortably advance to the knockout rounds, their exclusion of Wilfried Zaha and the loss of his dribbling skills, mean they will lack the cutting edge to win the tournament.
Nigeria
Certainties in life: death, taxes, and Nigeria in the AFCON semi-final! Nigeria has a remarkable record of progression to the AFCON semi-finals. It has reached the semi-final 15 times in the last 19 AFCON tournaments it has played in (almost 80% of all AFCONs). Nigeria also has an embarrassment of riches in attack. It has so many talented forwards playing in Europe’s top leagues that a Reddit user created a thread entitled “F*** Me, Nigeria is Stacked With Forwards“, and name checked some of them “Awoniyi, Osimhen, Gift Orban, Moffi, Victor Boniface, Umar Sadiq, Iheanacho…”.
However, in the space of 2 weeks Nigeria has gone from having a surplus of attacking options to having to select its third and fourth choice attackers. Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest picked up an injury that ruled him out before the tournament, then Victor Boniface (who has 24 goals and assists in only 23 games for German Bundesliga league leaders Bayer Leverkusen this season) got a muscle injury in training, followed by Real Sociedad striker Umar Sadiq who was also ruled out with a knee injury. Ironically, Sadiq would probably not have been in the squad had Awoniyi been fit. Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is also recuperating from an injury – meaning that 4 of Nigeria’s first choice 5 forwards are injured. This is in addition to midfielder Wilfred Ndidi who is also injured and out of the tournament.
With so many key players missing, there will be massive pressure on Victor Osimhen of Napoli. If he gets injured – it will be over for Nigeria. Nigeria’s hopes of success were pinned on using its glut of quality forwards to overwhelm the opposition and compensate for its subpar goalkeeping and defensive departments. I cannot see Nigeria winning this tournament with so many key players injured.
THE NORTH AFRICAN CONTENDERS
Morocco
Apart from having a spine tingling national anthem, Morocco were excellent at the last two World Cups and might be the best team to ever finish bottom of a World Cup group (in 2018). The refereeing (if corrupt incompetence deserves the name) in their final 2018 group game against Spain was the closest thing to matching fixing I have ever seen on live television.
Technically, very few teams in Africa can live with Morocco’s easy on the eye “pass it and move” pretty triangles. It says much for them when the greatest criticism I can level at them is that they pass it too much.
Morocco’s team is made up mostly of players of Moroccan descent who were born and/or raised in Europe. In goal they have Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou – who was born in Canada and might be the best African goalkeeper. Morocco probably has the best full back pairing in the world in Achraf Hakimi of PSG and Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich. Their defence also incudes Nayef Aguerd of West Ham, and their reserve left back Yahya Attiat-Allah plays for Wydad Casablanca; who reached the last two finals of the African Champions League. Manchester United’s Sofyan Amrabat is a workaholic midfielder.
While Morocco’s defensive strength, discipline, and tactical sophistication means they can absorb pressure and keep a clean sheet against the best teams in the world (as they showed against Spain, Portugal, and Croatia at the last World Cup), they are not prolific goal scorers. They will have to find a way to squeeze out more goals against teams who sit deep and defend against them.
Algeria
Algeria won the 2019 AFCON. After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Algeria sorted themselves out tactically and organisationally. The usual patronising European tropes about “naïve” African defending cannot be thrown at Algeria. They are streetwise. Algeria conceded only one goal from open play in the 2019 AFCON tournament. I do not have a problem with Algeria’s attritional style of play (when Italy win trophies with dour defensive football, people give it fancy names like “catenaccio”). It is not pretty on the eyes, but it is effective.
Algeria remind me a little bit of Morocco. Algeria also have a good goalkeeper, strong defenders (such as Ramy Bensebaini of Borussia Dortmund) and midfielders (e.g. Ismael Benaccer of AC Milan and Houssem Aouar of Roma), and a brilliant world class winger in Riyah Mahrez. However, like Morocco, Algeria’s strength lies in their ability to absorb pressure and keep clean sheets, not in scoring lots of goals. Their center forwards Islam Slimani and Baghdad Bounedjah are 35 and 32 respectively. Unless they can eke out extra goals, they will fall at the quarter-final or semi-final stage.
Where Can You Watch the AFCON on TV?
UK: BBC3, BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports, Sky Go, and Now TV
USA: beIN Sports
Nigeria: Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, Startimes Sports Life, Startimes Sports Premium, and NTA Sports 24
South Africa: SABC Sport, Startimes Sports Premium, and Startimes Sports Life
Canada: beIN Sports
France: beIN Sports France
Germany: Sportdigital FUSSBALL
Italy: SportItalia
Portugal: Sport TV Portugal
Spain: LaLiga+
Ghana: Startimes Sports Premium, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, Startimes Sports Life, and GTV Sports+
Egypt: beIN Sports 1 AFCON, beIN Sports 2 AFCON, and ON Time Sports
Ivory Coast: RTI La 3, NCI, New World Sport1, and RTI
Morocco: beIN Sports 1 AFCON, beIN Sports 2 AFCON, and Arryadia 3
Senegal: Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, New World Sport1, and RTS 1
Brazil: Band TV and BandSports
Australia: beIN SPORTS Australia
Why is the AFCON played “in the middle of the season”?
The AFCON is played in the middle of the European season, not the African season. Many African football leagues are actually “closed” at this time of year.
The AFCON has been played at this time of year for 65 years (i.e. for the entire lifetime of every single Premier League manager, coach, and player), yet on the eve of each AFCON, Premier League clubs become exceptionally surprised about their African players having to play in the AFCON in January and February (even though this has always been the case).
Why Can’t the AFCON be played “at the end of the season”?
For several reasons. Here are a few:
- Climate: the AFCON is played early in the year because in most parts of Africa, the weather in June-August is either too unbearably hot (above 104 Fahrenheit) or is smack bang in the middle of the rainy season. When I say “rainy season”, I do not mean the annoying “spittle” like rain and breeze that Brits complain about. I mean apocalyptic monsoon rain of biblical proportions that would send a house floating down the road into a neighbouring town if its foundations are a bit dodgy.
- Commercial reasons: if the AFCON is moved to the summer, it would clash with at least one of the World Cup, Olympics, Euros, or Copa America every 2 years – meaning that it would lose TV audience share and the resulting revenues.
Also, the last AFCON (2019) was played in the European summer (to appease the whining of European fans and coaches who spent decades complaining about how inconvenient it was for them to lose their African players for 4 or so club games in a 50-60 European season). So CAF moved the tournament to after the end of the European season to please European clubs. After European fans and coaches got what they wanted, they changed their whining tune to instead complain that players had just finished a gruelling 60 game season in Europe and they did not want their players being asked to play more games in desert like heat
2024 Africa Cup of Nations (#AFCON) Squads
The 2024 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament will start this weekend (Saturday January 13). A list of the players included in each of the 24 qualifying nations’ squads is below.
ALGERIA
Goalkeepers: Anthony Mandrea (Caen, France), Rais Mbolhi (CR Belouizdad, Algeria), Oussama Benbot (USM Alger, Algeria), Moustapha Zeghba (Damac, Saudi Arabia).
Defenders: Youcef Atal (Nice, France), Kevin van den Kerkhof (Metz, France), Rayan Ait Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Yasser Larouci (Sheffield United, England), Aissa Mandi (Villarreal, Spain), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance Tunis, Tunisia), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Ahmed Touba (Lecce, Italy), Zineddine Belaid (USM Alger, Algeria).
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Lille, France), Sofiane Feghouli (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey), Houssem Aouar (Roma, Italy), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Ramiz Zerrouki (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice, France), Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan, Italy).
Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Adam Ounas (Lille, France), Mohamed Amoura (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Youcef Belaili (MC Alger, Algeria), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd, Qatar), Islam Slimani (Coritiba, Brazil).
ANGOLA
Goalkeepers: Antonio Dominique (Etoile Carouge, Switzerland), Kadu (Oliveira Hospital, Portugal), Neblu (Premeiro Agosto, Angola), Gelson (Interclube, Angola).
Defenders: Eddie Afonso, To Carneiro, Kinito, Inacio Miguel (all Petro Atletico, Angola), Loide Augusto (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Jonathan Buatu (Valenciennes, France), Nurio Fortuna (Gent, Belgium), Kialonda Gaspar (Estrela Amadora, Portugal).
Midfielders: Beni (Casa Pia, Portugal), Estrela (Erzurumspor, Turkey), Fredy (Eyupspor, Turkey), Keliano Manuel (Estrela Amadora, Portugal), Bruno Paz (Konyaspor, Turkey) Show (Maccabi Haifa, Israel).
Forwards: Jeremie Bela (Clermont, France), Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah, Qatar), Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari, Italy), Mabululu (Al Ittihad, Egypt), Felicio Milson (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel), Zine (AEK Athens, Greece), Gilberto (Petro Atletico, Angola), Depu (Gil Vicente, Angola), Chico Banza (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus).
BURKINA FASO
Goalkeepers: Herve Koffi (Charleroi, Belgium), Hillel Konate (Chateauroux, France), Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands), Sebastien Tou (Sabadell, Spain).
Defenders: Issa Kabore (Luton Town, England), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane, Morocco), Nasser Djiga (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Adamo Nagalo (Nordsjaelland, Denmark), Abdoul Guiebre (Modena, Italy), Valentin Nouma (Saint Eloi Lupopo, DR Congo).
Midfielders: Blati Toure (Pyramids, Egypt), Adama Guira (Racing Rioja, Spain), Dramane Salou (Urartu, Armenia), Ismahila Ouedraogo (Panserraikos, Greece), Sacha Banse (Valenciennes, France), Gustavo Sangare (Quevilly-Rouen, France), Stephane Aziz Ki (Young Africans, Tanzania).
Forwards: Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa, England), Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth, England), Mamady Alex Bangre (Toulouse, France), Djibril Ouattara (RS Berkane, Morocco), Hassane Bande (HJK Helsinki, Finland), Mohamed Konate (Akhmat Grozny, Russia), Abdoul Tapsoba (Amiens, France), Cedric Badolo (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldova).
CAMEROON
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana (Manchester United, England), Fabrice Ondoa (Nimes, France), Devis Epassy (Abha, Saudi Arabia), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille, France).
Defenders: Christopher Wooh (Rennes, France), Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke, England), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, USA), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient, France), Oumar Gonzalez (Al Raed, Saudi Arabia), Harold Moukoudi (AEK Athens, Greece), Jean Charles Castelletto (Nantes, France), Malcom Bokele (Bordeaux, France), Enzo Tchato (Montpellier, France).
Midfielders: Olivier Ntcham (Samsunspor, Turkey), Yvan Neyou (Leganes, Spain), Doualla Wilfried Nathan (Victoria United, Cameroon), Ben Njongoue Elliott (Reading, England), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Olivier Kemen (Kayserispor, Turkey), Leonel Ateba (Dynamo Douala, Cameroon).
Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Besiktas, Turkey), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Damac, Saudi Arabia), Clinton Njie (Sivasspor, Turkey), Karl Toko Ekambi (Abha, Saudi Arabia), Faris Moumbagna (Bodo/Glimt, Norway), Frank Magri (Toulouse, France), Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow, Russia).
CAPE VERDE
Goalkeepers: Vozinha (AS Trencin, Slovakia), Marcio Rosa (Anadia, Portugal), Dylan Silva (Sintrense, Portugal).
Defenders: Stopira (Boavista da Praia, Cape Verde), Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes (Shamrock Rovers, Ireland), Diney (Al Bataeh, UAE), Dylan Tavares (Bastia, France), Logan Costa (Toulouse, France), Joao Correia (GD Chaves, Portugal), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew, USA).
Midfielders: Jamiro Monteiro (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Kenny Rocha (AEZ Zakakiou, Cyprus), Patrick Andrade (Qarabag, Azerbaijan), Joao Paulo Fernandes (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldova), Deroy Duarte (Fortuna Sittard, Netherlands), Cuca (Uniao de Leiria, Portugal), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar, Russia), Laros Duarte (Groningen, Netherlands).
Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey), Garry Rodrigues (Anakaragucu, Turkey), Willy Semedo (Omonia, Cyprus), Bebe (Rayo Vallecano, Spain), Jovane Cabral (Salernitana, Italy), Helio Varela (Portimonense, Portugal), Bryan Teixeira (Sturm Graz, Austria), Benchimol (Benfica B, Portugal).
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Goalkeepers: Dimitry Bertaud (Montpellier, France), Lionel Mpasi (Rodez, France), Baggio Siadi (TP Mazembe, DR Congo).
Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika (Saint Etienne, France), Brian Bayeye (Ascoli, Italy), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland), Henock Inonga (Simba, Tanzania), Gedeon Kalulu (Lorient, France), Joris Kayembe (Genk, Belgium), Arthur Masuaku (Besiktas, Turkey), Chancel Mbemba (Marseille, France).
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion, England), Gael Kakuta (Amiens, France), Edo Kayembe (Watford, England), Samuel Moutoussamy (Nantes, France), Charles Pickel (Cremonese, Italy), Aaron Tshibola (Al Hatta, UAE).
Forwards: Simon Banza (Braga, Portugal), Cedric Bakambu (Galatasaray, Turkey), Meschack Elia (Young Boys, Switzerland), Silas (Stuttgart, Germany), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids, Egypt), Yoane Wissa (Brentford, England).
EGYPT
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly, Egypt), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids, Egypt), Gabaski (National Bank of Egypt, Egypt), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek, Egypt).
Defenders: Ahmed Hegazy (Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Mohamed Abdelmonem, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim (all Al Ahly, Egypt), Ali Gabr, Ahmed Samy, Mohamed Hamdy (all Pyramids, Egypt), Omar Kamal (Future, Egypt), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek, Egypt).
Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah,Qatar), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour (both Al Ahly, Egypt), Zizo (Zamalek, Egypt), Mahmoud Hamada (Al Masry, Egypt), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids, Egypt).
Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids, Egypt), Trezeguet (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt, Egypt), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes, France), Kahraba (Al Ahly, Egypt), Ahmed Hassan (Pendikspor, Turkey).
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Goalkeepers: Jesus Owono (Alaves, Spain), Manuel Sapunga (Polokwane City, South Africa), Aitor Embela (Soneja, Spain).
Defenders: Basilio Ndong (Universitatea Craiova, Romania), Carlos Akapo (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Charles Ondo (Huddersfield Town, England), Marvin Anieboh (Illescas, Spain), Nestor Senra (Real Aviles, Spain), Jose Elo (Merida, Spain), Esteban Orozco (Arges Pitesti, Romania).
Midfielders: Jannick Buyla (Logrones, Spain), Alex Balboa (Alaves, Spain), Federico Bikoro (Club Africain, Tunisia), Iban Salvador (Miedz Legnica, Poland), Jose Machin (Monza, Italy), Santiago Eneme (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Josete Miranda (Niki Volos, Greece), Pablo Ganet (Alcoyano, Spain).
Forwards: Noe Ela (Numancia, Spain), Jose Nabil (Cano Sport, Equatorial Guinea), Emilio Nsue (Intercity, Spain), Salomon Obama (Santa Coloma, Andorra), Luis Nlavo (Braga B, Portugal).
GAMBIA
Goalkeepers: Modou Jobe (Musanze, Rwanda), Baboucarr Gaye (Lokomotiv Sofia, Bulgaria), Lamin Sarr (Eskilsminne, Sweden).
Defenders: Dawda Ngum (Ariana, Sweden), Omar Colley (Besiktas, Turkey), James Gomez (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic), Ibou Touray (Stockport County, England), Noah Sonko Sundberg (Ludogorets, Bulgaria), Jacob Mendy (Wrexham, Wales), Saidy Janko (Young Boys, Switzerland), Muhammed Sanneh (Banik Ostrava, Czech Republic), Bubacarr Sanneh (Unattached).
Midfielders: Hamza Barry (Vejle, Denmark), Ablie Jallow (Metz, France), Sulayman Marreh (Unattached), Ebou Adams (Cardiff City, Wales), Sanyang Abdoulie (Grenoble, France), Alasana Manneh (Odense, Denmark), Ebrima Darboe (LASK, Austria), Yusupha Bobb (KACM Marrakech, Morocco).
Forwards: Alieu Fadera (Genk, Belgium), Assan Ceesay (Damac, Saudi Arabia), Musa Barrow (Al Taawoun, Saudi Arabia), Ebrima Colley (Young Boys, Switzerland), Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Muhammed Badamosi (Al Hazem, Saudi Arabia), Ali Sowe (Ankaragucu, Turkey).
GHANA
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen, Switzerland), Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Joe Wollacott (Hibernian, Scotland).
Defenders: Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Abdul Fatawu Hamidu (Medeama, Ghana), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre, France), Denis Odoi (Club Bruges, Belgium), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens, France), Mohammed Salisu (Monaco, France), Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor, Turkey), Alidu Seidu (Clermont, France).
Midfielders: Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht, Belgium), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Baba Iddrisu (Mallorca, Spain), Ransford Konigsdorffer (Hamburg, Germany), Mohammed Kudus (West Ham, England), Richmond Lamptey (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre, France), Joseph Paintsil (Genk, Belgium), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens, France).
Forwards: Andre Ayew (Le Havre, France), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England), Ernest Nuamah (RWD Molenbeek, Belgium), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth, England), Jonathan Sowah (Medeama, Ghana), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao, Spain).
GUINEA
Goalkeepers: Aly Keita (Ostersunds, Sweden), Moussa Camara (Horoya, Guinea), Ibrahim Kone (Hibernians, Malta).
Defenders: Antoine Conte (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Ibrahima Diakite (Reims, France), Issiaga Sylla (Montpellier, France), Sekou Sylla (SC Cambuur, Netherlands), Mouctar Diakhaby (Valencia, Spain), Julien Janvier (Kayserispor, Turkey), Saidou Sow (Strasbourg, France), Mohamed Ali Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland).
Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (Anderlecht, Belgium), Seydouba Cisse (Leganes, Spain), Aguibou Camara (Atromitos, Greece), Naby Keita (Werder Bremen, Germany), Abdoulaye Toure (Le Havre, France), Mory Konate (Mechelen, Belgium), Ilaix Moriba (RB Leipzig, Germany), Karim Cisse (Saint Etienne, France).
Forwards: Francois Kamano (Abha, Saudi Arabia), Morgan Guilavogui (Lens, France), Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart, Germany), Mohamed Bayo (Le Havre, France), Jose Kante (Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan), Facinet Conte (Bastia, France).
GUINEA-BISSAU
Goalkeepers: Ouparine Djoco (Francs Borains, Belgium), Fernando Embadje (Alcanenense, Portugal), Jonas Mendes (Kalamata, Greece).
Defenders: Fali Cande (Metz, France), Marcelo Djalo (Palencia, Spain), Jefferson Encada (Pharco, Egput), Edgar Ie (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Nanu (Samsunspor, Turkey), Nito (Maritimo, Portugal), Opa Sangante (Dunkerque, France), Prosper Mendy (Charleoi, Belgium).
Midfielders: Janio Bikel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Moreto Cassama (Omonia, Cyprus), Dalcio (APOEL, Cyprus), Carlos Mane (Kayserispor, Turkey), Sori Mane (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Carlos Mendes (Bolton Wanderers, England), Mauro Rodrigues (Yverdon, Switzerland), Alfa Semedo (Al Tai, Saudi Arabia).
Forwards: Mama Balde (Lyon, France), Franculino (Midtjylland, Denmark), Zinho Gano (Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Famana Quizera (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Marciano Sanca (Almeria, Spain), Ze Turbo (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).
IVORY COAST
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers, France), Charles Folly (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United, South Africa).
Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly (both Nottingham Forest, England), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Ghislain Konan (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Evans Ndicka (Roma, Italy), Odilon Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Wilfried Singo (Monaco, France).
Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest, England), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull City, England).
Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo, Spain), Jeremie Boga (Nice, France), Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Karim Konate (RB Salzburg, Austria), Christian Kouame (Fiorentina, Italy), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Oumar Diakite (Reims, France), Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor, Turkey).
MALI
Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Doumbia (Afrique Football Elite, Mali), Djigui Diarra (Young Africans, Tanzania), Ismael Diawara (Malmo, Sweden).
Defenders: Amadou Dante (Sturm Graz, Austria), Moussa Diarra (Toulouse, France), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens, France), Boubacar Kiki Kouyate, Falaye Sacko (both Montpellier, France), Sikou Niakate (Braga, Portugal), Hamari Traore (Real Sociedad, Spain).
Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Mohamed Camara (Monaco, France), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana, Italy), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly, Egypt), Kamory Doumbia (Brest, France), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig, Germany), Diadie Samassekou (Hoffenheim, Germany), Adama ‘Noss’ Traore (Hull City, England), Boubacar Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England).
Forwards: Fousseni Diabate (Lausanne Sport, Switzerland), Nene Dorgeles, Sekou Koita (both RB Salzburg, Austria), Sirine Doucoure (Lorient, France), Moussa Doumbia (Al Adalah, Saudi Arabia), Youssoufa Nikaite (Bani Yas, UAE), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre, France), Ibrahim Sissoko (Saint Etienne, France).
MAURITANIA
Goalkeepers: Babacar Niasse (Guingamp, France), Namori Diaw (ASC Tevragh-
Zeine, Mauritania), Mbacke N’Diaye (Nouakchott Kings, Mauritania).
Defenders: Lamine Ba (Varazdin, Croatia), Dellah Yali (Al Hedod, Iraq), El Hassen Houeibib (Al Zawraa, Iraq), Nouh Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), Bakary N’Diaye (Al Quwa Al Jawiya, Iraq), Khadim Diaw (Al Hilal, Sudan), Aly Abeid (UTA Arad, Romania), Ibrahima Keita (TP Mazembe, DR Congo).
Midfielders: Guessouma Fofana (Daxo Katokopias FC, Cyprus), Bodda Mouhsine (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), Oumar Ngom (Pau, France), Omare Gassama (Chateauroux, France), Bakari Camara (Villefranche, France), Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), El Hadji Ba (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), Yassin El Welly (US Monastir, Tunisia).
Forwards: Hemeya Tanjy (Al Ittihad, Libya), Aboubakar Kamara (Al Jazira, UAE), Souleymane Anne (Deinze, Belgium), Aboubakary Koita (Sint-Truiden, Belgium), Pape Ibnou Ba (Concarneau, France), Souleymane Doukara (Magusa Turk Gucu, Cyprus), Idrissa Thiam (Mesaimeer, Qatar), Sidi Bouna Amar (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania).
Yassin El Welly replaced Abdallahi Mahmoud on 8 January.
MOROCCO
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Munir Mohamedi (Al Wehda, Saudi Arabia), Mehdi Benabid (AS FAR, Morocco).
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain, France), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich, Germany), Yahya Attiat Allah (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham, England), Romain Saiss (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Yunis Abdelhamid (Reims, France), Chadi Riad (Real Betis, Spain), Abdel Abqar (Alaves, Spain), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids, Egypt).
Midfielders: Amir Richardson (Reims, France), Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United, England), Oussama El Azzouzi (Bologna, Italy), Selim Amallah (Valencia, Spain), Bilal El Khannouss (Genk, Belgium), Azzedine Ounahi (Marseille, France), Ismael Saibari (PSV, Netherlands), Amine Harit (Marseille, France).
Forwards: Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray, Turkey), Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis, Spain), Sofiane Boufal (Al Rayyan, Qatar), Tarik Tissoudali (Gent, Belgium), Youssef En-Nesyri (Seville, Spain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos, Greece).
MOZAMBIQUE
Goalkeepers: Ernan (UD Songo, Mozambique), Fazito (Ferroviario Nampula, Mozambique), Ivane Urrbal (Associacao Black Bulls, Mozambique).
Defenders: Domingos (Costa do Sol, Mozambique), Nanani (UD Songo, Mozambique), Edmilson Dove (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Bruno Langa (GD Chaves, Portugal), Reinildo Mandava (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Mexer (Bandirmaspor, Turkey), David Malembana (FC Noah, Armenia), Nene (Associacao Black Bulls, Mozambique).
Midfielders: Amadu (UD Songo, Mozambique), Joao Bonde (Ferroviario Beira, Mozambique), Clesio (Honka, Finland), Guima (GD Chaves, Portugal), Shaquille (Ferroviario Maputo, Mozambique), Alfons Amade (KV Oostende, Belgium).
Forwards: Domingues (UD Songo, Mozambique), Geny Catamo (Sporting CP, Portugal), Witi (CD Nacional, Portugal), Gildo (Sporting Covilha, Portugal), Stanley Ratifo (CfR Pforzheim, Germany), Lau King (Sagrada Esperanca, Mozambique).
NAMIBIA
Goalkeepers: Lloyd Kazapua (Chippa United, South Africa), Edward Maova (Pretoria Callies, South Africa), Kamaijanda Ndisiro (African Stars, Namibia).
Defenders: Lubeni Haukongo (Cape Town Spurs, South Africa), Ryan Nyambe (Derby County, England), Ivan Kamberipa (Orapa United, Botswana), Kennedy Amutenya (Gaborone United, Botswana), Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka, South Africa), Riaan Hanamub (AmaZulu, South Africa), Aprocius Petrus (Liria Prizren, Serbia), Denzil Haoseb (Khomas Nampol, Namibia), Charles Hambira (African Stars, Namibia).
Midfielders: Marcel Papama (Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana), Ngero Katua (Unam, Namibia), Prins Tjiueza (Liria Prizren, Serbia), Petrus Shitembi (Kuching City, Malaysia), Uetuuru Kambato (African Stars, Namibia).
Forwards: Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Wendell Rudath (Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana), Bethuel Muzeu (Black Leopards, South Africa), Joslin Kamatuka (Maritzburg United, South Africa), Absalom Iimbondi (Khomas Nampol, Namibia).
NIGERIA
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa), Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus), Leke Ojo (Enyimba, Nigeria).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (PAOK, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista, Portugal), Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista, Portugal), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey).
Midfielders: Raphael Onyedika (Club Bruges, Belgium), Joe Aribo (Southampton, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp, Belgium).
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy), Terem Moffi (Nice, France), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey), Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad, Spain).
SENEGAL
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Mory Diaw (Clermont, France), Alfred Gomis (Lorient, France).
Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis, Spain), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest, England), Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi, Qatar), Formose Mendy (Lorient, France), Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Troyes, France), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Fode Ballo-Toure (Fulham, England), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco, France).
Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Metz, France), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham, England), Krepin Diatta (Monaco, France), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest, England), Pape Gueye (Marseille, France), Nampalys Mendy (Lens, France), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano, Spain) Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton, England).
Forwards: Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea, England), Abdallah Sima (Rangers, Scotland), Sadio Mane (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Habib Diallo (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr (both Marseille, France), Bamba Dieng (Lorient, France).
Alfred Gomis and Bamba Dieng replaced Seny Dieng and Boulaye Dia on 9 January.
SOUTH AFRICA
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu, South Africa), Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United, South Africa).
Defenders: Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Nkosinathi Sibisi, Tapelo Xoki (both Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Siyanda Xulu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Grant Kekana, Terrence Mashego, Aubrey Modiba, Mothobi Mvala, Khuliso Mudau (all Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Thapelo Maseko, Thapelo Morena (all Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal), Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch, South Africa), Thabang Monare (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Sibongiseni Mthethwa (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa).
Forwards: Zakhele Lepasa, Evidence Makgopa (both Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City, South Africa), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt), Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch, South Africa).
TANZANIA
Goalkeepers: Kwesi Kawawa (Karlslunds, Sweden), Beno Kakolanya (Singida Fountain Gate, Tanzania), Aishi Manula (Simba, Tanzania).
Defenders: Bakari Mwamnyeto, Ibrahim Hamad, Dickson Job (all Young Africans, Tanzania), Haji Mnoga (Aldershot Town, England), Abdi Banda (Richardson Bay, South Africa), Novatus Miroshi (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Lusajo Mwaikenda (Azam, Tanzania), Mohamed Hussein (Simba, Tanzania), Abdulimalik Zakaria (Namungo, Tanzania), Miano van den Bos (Villena, Spain).
Midfielders: Himid Mao (Tala’ea El Gaish, Egypt), Feisal Salum (Azam, Tanzania), Morice Abraham (Novi Sad, Serbia), Mzamiru Yassin, Kibu Denis (both Simba, Tanzania) Tarryn Allarakhia (Wealdstone, England), Mudathir Yahya (Young Africans, Tanzania), Sospeter Bajana (Azam, Tanzania), Mo Sagaf (Boreham Wood, England).
Forwards: Cyprian Kachwele (Vancouver, Canada), Ben Starkie (Ilkeston Town, England), Mbwana Samatta (PAOK, Greece), Charles M’Mombwa (Macarthur FC, Australia), Simon Msuva (JS Kabylie, Algeria).
TUNISIA
Goalkeepers: Mouez Hassen (Club Africain, Tunisia), Aymen Dahmen (Al Hazem, Saudi Arabia), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir, Tunisia).
Defenders: Hamza Jelassi (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Yassine Meriah (Esperance, Tunisia), Alaa Ghram (Sfaxien, Tunisia), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly, Egypt), Yan Valery (Angers, France), Ali Abdi (Caen, France), Montassar Talbi (Lorient, France), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos, Greece), Oussama Haddadi (Greuther Furth, Germany).
Midfielders: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United, England), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Aissa Laidouni (Union Berlin, Germany), Houssem Tka (Esperance, Tunisia), Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano, Switzerland), Hamza Rafia (Leece, Italy).
Forwards: Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi, Qatar), Haythem Jouini (Stade Tunisien, Tunisia), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC, Kuwait), Sayfallah Ltaief (Winterthur, Switzerland), Bassem Srarfi (Club Africain, Tunisia), Naim Sliti (Al Ahli, Qatar), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek, Egypt).
ZAMBIA
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes, Zambia), Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United, Zambia).
Defenders: Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows, Zambia), Rodrick Kabwe (Zakho, Iraq), Gift Mphande (Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Israel), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United, Scotland), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Zephaniah Phiri (Prison Leopards, Zambia), Stoppila Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou, China).
Midfielders: Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka, Croatia), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Miguel Chaiwa (Young Boys, Switzerland), Clatous Chama (Simba, Tanzania), Edward Chilufya (Hacken, Sweden), Kings Kangwa (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Kelvin Kapumbu (Zesco United, Zambia), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United, Zambia), Fredrick Mulambia (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg, Denmark), Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic).
Forwards: Lameck Banda (Lecce, Italy), Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans, Tanzania), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia).
27 Years Ago: Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Last Words in Public Before Being Executed – #NaijaHistory
28 years and 1 day ago (November 10, 1995), the leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed after a special tribunal convicted him and 8 other Ogonis of inciting a mob to murder four pro-government Ogonis. Saro-Wiwa had been campaigning against international oil companies and the Nigerian government, and demanding that they pay compensation for the environmental damage that crude oil drilling caused to his Ogoni homeland (such as oil spills that polluted farms and rivers).
These are his last words from the dock after he was sentenced to death.
NaijaHistory
#Nigeria’s Nostalgia for the #British Empire
“#Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where people actually think of colonialism as a golden age” – why is this so?
Click here for a podcast discussion that @TheAfricaReport hosted with me, Barnaby Philips, and Funmi Adebayo regarding the legacy of colonialism in Nigeria.
If you prefer other platforms, you can also access the podcast on:
The British Empire in West Africa (Podcast)
Podcast interview with Dan Snow of on-demand History Channel History Hit regarding a part of the British Empire that rarely gets attention (West Africa/Nigeria). This podcast is a precis of how and why despite originally being called “The White Man’s Grave”, Britain conquered territories in that part of the world.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-britain-did-to-nigeria/id1042631089?i=1000516240291
The History of Africa (Part 1)
This is an excellent 20 part BBC TV series hosted by Zainab Bedawi about the history of Africa. In this initial episode, she explores Africa as the origin of humankind: where all humanity on earth originated from.
#HistoryofAfrica
54th Anniversary of #Nigeria’s First Military Coup
Today is the 54th anniversary of Nigeria’s first military coup. Rather than rehash it I have included video clips and audio interviews below with the key participants that will tell you all you need to know about it.
“How first coup still haunts Nigeria 50 years on“: Begin with this article I wrote a few years ago for the BBC about Nigeria’s first coup and how it still affects inter-regional relations in Nigeria 54 years later.
Various Articles, Interviews, and Resources on the First Coup: https://maxsiollun.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/nigerias-january-15-1966-coup-50-years-later/
Video interview with Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu (one of the coup leaders) soon after the coup:
Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun (one of the victims of the first coup):
Brigadier Ademulegun and his wife:
Various links and resources on the first coup:
My BBC article on the first coup
Article on/photo of Major Wale Ademoyega (one of the coup leaders) by someone who knew him well:
The Life of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigerian Prime Minister who was killed during the coup):
https://maxsiollun.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/how-did-tafawa-balewa-die/
Information about a book I wrote on the first coup and the three coups that succeeded it.
Full text of my BBC article about the coup:
How first coup still haunts Nigeria 50 years on
15 January 2016
Although most of Nigeria’s current population of about 170 million was not born when the country’s first coup was staged 50 years ago, its legacy lingers on, writes Nigerian historian and author Max Siollun.
On 15 January 1966, a group of young, idealistic, UK-trained army majors overthrew Nigeria’s democratic government in a violent military coup. The coup leaders described it as a brief and temporary revolution to end corruption and ethnic rivalry. Instead, it made them worse.
The coup exposed the vulnerability of the Nigerian state, and how simple it was to use soldiers to attack the government, rather than protect it. A succession of increasingly repressive military governments ruled Nigeria for 29 of the next 33 years, until the restoration of democracy in 1999. Here are four ways in which Nigeria – Africa’s most populous state and leading oil producer – is still affected by the events of 1966:
Protesters in south-east Nigeria have recently demanded the region’s secession from Nigeria and the formation of a new country called Biafra. The Biafra movement’s origins can be traced back to the January 1966 coup.
The officers who staged the coup were mostly Christian southerners from the Igbo ethnic group, and they assassinated several northerners, including the four highest-ranking northern army officers, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, and Northern Region Premier Ahmadu Bello (both Muslims from the north).
Army commander Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo, suppressed the coup, but seized power himself. Northerners interpreted the coup as an Igbo-led conspiracy to subjugate the north and impose Igbo domination. Six months later, northern soldiers staged another even bloodier counter-coup against their Igbo colleagues. Northern mobs killed around 30,000 Igbos, and Igbos fled south, and in the following year sought to form a new breakaway country called Biafra. Northerners living in Igbo areas were also killed in revenge attacks. Although the army suppressed the attempt at secession after a brutal civil war, bitterness remains 50 years later.
Unaddressed grievances from 1966 lie at the heart of the Biafra movement’s resurgence. Many Igbos feel that Nigeria regards them as a fifth column and is still punishing them for their previous attempt at secession.
One of the coup leaders Major Nzeogwu said: “We wanted to get rid of rotten and corrupt ministers… We wanted to gun down the bigwigs in our way.” His coup unwittingly entrenched the presence of “rotten and corrupt ministers”. His best friend was a young western army officer named Major Olusegun Obasanjo. Ten years later, he found himself at the head of a different military government. It promulgated a new constitution that gave the government ownership of all mineral resources.
This provision encouraged corruption and the do-or-die nature of Nigeria’s elections, as winners now had control over the country’s vast mineral wealth. It is also the source of much bitterness in Nigeria’s oil-producing areas, and a cause of the latent Niger Delta insurgency which rocked Nigeria for several years and severely disrupted its oil industry.
‘Class of 1966’
The January 1966 coup propelled a group of young military officers onto the national stage. Now wealthy septuagenarian grandfathers, they still wield enormous influence in Nigerian politics. Gen Obasanjo is one of these retired military kingmakers. His withdrawal of support for then-President Goodluck Jonathan was one factor in his presidential election defeat last year, and the victory of current President Muhammadu Buhari.
As a young officer, Mr Buhari was among the young northern officers who in July 1966 staged the counter-coup against the Igbo majors. The influence of retired military officers is so pervasive that Mr Jonathan is the only president in Nigeria’s history who had no personal or family involvement in the 1966 crisis and the ensuing civil war.
Ghosts of the past
The army’s politicised past means that Nigerians live with the (real or imagined) fear that a coup is a possible outcome of any political crisis. Last year, Nigeria’s then-national security adviser admitted that previous governments’ wariness of the coup-prone army made them reluctant to upgrade its weaponry. Years of strategic military under-investment recently came back to haunt Nigeria when soldiers facing Islamist militant group Boko Haram complained that they were under-equipped to fight the insurgents.
This coup issue also partly explains why Nigerian authorities react with such severity to any disobedience by soldiers.
Yet, ironically, Nigeria partially owes its continued existence to the near obsessive desire to avoid a repeat of the 1966 bloodshed. The young military firebrands have mellowed and talk their way out of crisis rather than blasting their way into it. The elaborate power-sharing arrangements in Nigeria’s constitution, and the unwritten rule requiring rotation of political power between the north and south are legacies of the mistrust engendered in 1966.
Nigeria has matured. So have its former coup leaders.
* Max Siollun is a Nigerian historian, writer, and author of the books Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture 1966-1976 and Soldiers of Fortune: a History of Nigeria (1983-1993).
Part 1 of 18: The Complete Story of the #Nigeria -v- #Biafra Civil War: #Biafra50
January 15, 2020 will be the 50th anniversary of the ceremony that marked the end of the Nigeria -v- Biafra civil war. To commemorate the anniversary, I will be showcasing an 18 part series of videos on the war’s key causes, events, and battles – as told by the participants themselves (including Gowon, Ojukwu, Babangida, Obasanjo, Ejoor, Achuzia, Ogbemudia etc).
Max Siollun’s Website 