The match officials for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final have been announced by the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

Referee Dahane Beida from Mauritania will be the man in the middle for Sunday’s game.

The first assistant referee will be Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos of Angola

Diana Chikotesha has been appointed second assistant referee for the match.

The fourth official will be Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi.

The final on Sunday will kick off at 9pm WAT at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

In 1988, Nigeria lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the final, with referee Idrissa Sarr from Mauritania controversially ruling out a Henry Nwosu header for offside

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has informed Angola that there first choice goalkeeper Neblu isn’t eligible to the quarter final game against Nigeria at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast,
Neblu was sent off in the round of 16 win over Namibia for handling the ball outside the box.

He was originally expected to miss two games but CAF has now reduced it to one game.

According to the disciplinary committee of the tournament the dicision was borne out of the fact that, it was a professional foul and not one that can be termed as violence conduct or reckless capable of ruining the career of the opposition player.

He will miss the game against Nigeria but he will be cleared to return back to the tournament, if they progress to the Semi-final by beating the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Casa Pia Midfielder Ben Mukendi has since left the camp of the team after not getting a minute in their first two games of the season, effectively ruling him out of Super Eagles.
Mukendi left the camp out of what he terms as disrespectful by the coach for not playing in any of the first three games of the tournament.

By Vivian Asika

Chief Sir Larry Okoro, ( Ogwumba I of Nkwesi) the Special Adviser on Project to the former Minister of State for Education Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nana Opia and his siblings have built a Church and donated to his Community, Nkwesi in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State in memory of his late Mother.

The daily Star News Online gathered that Chief Larry Okoro’s mother Late Josephine Okoro before her death was a devout Catholic faithful who dedicated her life to serve God.

The family who celebrated 10 years Memorial Service in remembrance of their Mother Ezinne Josephine Okoro Nee Maduka used the occasion to dedicate the Church he built for his Community, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Nkwesi in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
In his sermon during the Church dedication, on Sunday 24th December,2023, Rev. Fr. Francis Onyekwere described Late Ezinne Josephine Okoro as a mother who lived an exemplary life, adding that a life worthy of emulation.

Fr. Onyekwere thanked the family for the kind gestures just as he prayed God to continue to strengthen them for more work in God’s vineyard.

Fr. Onyekwere however made reference to the role King David’s role in the building of the temple for God, adding that if God not prepare David to do all that the vision wouldn’t have been possible

Where after friends, Political and Business Associates were lavishly entertained at Chief Larry Okoro’s Compound, Nkwesi.

During Press time, the host, Chief Sir Larry Okoro, the Ugwumba 1 of Nkwesi expressed appreciation for his friends and associates to have graced the occasion.

Chief Okoro who is a member of Knight of Saint Molumba (KSM) described his mother as a strong and pillar in the Community.

He noted that the family decided to build the Church to conserve the replica.

According to him, interestingly, ten years ago that I loss my mum as we are celebrating her 10 years Memorial Service, we decided to change the face of Nkwesi, the shape of the church and build a new church for the Lord.

He said: “the Inspiration is not to build for the benefit of God to bless us as against people’s perception and opinion.

God has already bless us beyond imagination. I am happy that I have a lovely family. I have my Children who are doing very well. “What else can you ask from God. I am very delighted to witness this occasion. It’s a thing of Joy”
“We are doing this for people to realized that ones village church is the last bus stop because once one dies, the person’s corpse must get to the home church for burial.

He however recalled that Rev. Fr. Francis Onyekwere, the Mass Celebrant was the Priest in Charge of the Parish ten years ago when the mother was alive.

In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nana Opia, the former Imo State Speaker and Minister for State of Education connoted joy and happiness on the manner the family celebrated their mothers’ Memorial Service

According to him, Chief Larry Okoro is my good brother and friend. I am here in solidarity for the Memorial Service of his late Mother, Ezinne Josephine Okoro. I am impressed, happy and very excited on the manner Larry and brothers and sisters celebrated the Memorial Service.
It is awesome today to see a family built Church for the Community in Memory of their late Mother, very unprecedented and what I can say is to God be all the glory. I will contribute to the building of the Church.

As you can see the crème de la crème who gathered here is a testament to the fact that this is not a small occasion.

He therefore advised the family to keep alive the legacies of their late mother because according to him, Late Ezinne Josephine Okoro lived a perfect and ideal life.

Adding his voice, the Coordinator Egbema North Development Centre, in Ohaji/Egbema LGA Hon. Obinna Ariaga described Chief Larry’s mother as a Community leader, Compassionate Mother and accommodating.

In the same vein, HRM Eze Professor Dele amuzienwa odigbo, who is also an inlaw to the family,advised the family to always maintain peace just as he restated that it should be well with them.
Other dignitaries present at the Occasion were Wife of the Former Governor of Imo State and Deputy Speaker Federal House of Representatives Lady Ebere Ihedioha, Member Ohaji Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency, Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu, Member Representing Oguta State House of Assembly Hon Gilbert Nwosu, Sir Ray Emeagha, Ngozi RBK Okafor with other family members, the former Secretary Government of Imo State(SGI) Hon. Uche Onyeagocha among others too numerous to mention