The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • FIFA Arab Cup 2021 draw holds today

    FIFA Arab Cup 2021 draw holds today

    Qatar will host the draw for the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 at Katara Opera House in Doha today at 9 PM local time.

    The tournament will be contested by 23 Arab nations from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

    The draw will be attended by a limited number of officials, in line with Qatar’s COVID-19 protocols.

    The FIFA Arab Cup will be held at the end of 2021 and is seen as a vital opportunity to test operations and facilities exactly a year before Qatar hosts the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world. The finals of both events are set to take place on 18 December – Qatar’s National Day.

    Matches will take place at six Qatar 2022 tournament venues, some of which have hosted top-level football in recent months, while others are in the final stages of construction.

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    The 23 nations participating in the FIFA Arab Cup 2021: Qatar (host nation), Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

    Meanwhile, the qualifying matches for the tournament have been decided.

    Of the 23 nations involved, the 14 lowest-ranked teams according to the April edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings will participate in single-leg play-offs ahead of the tournament, which will be held later this year.

    The tournament will consist of a group stage and knockout rounds. The 16 teams will be split into four groups of four, with the top two from each progressing to the quarter-finals. Matches will be played at six FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ tournament venues.

    Today’s draw will be made by four FIFA legends: Wael Gomaa (Egypt), Nawaf Al Temyat (Saudi Arabia), Haytham Mustafa (Sudan) and Younus Mahmood (Iraq), along with FIFA’s Director of Competitions, Manolo Zubiria.

     

     

  • Don’t compare me with Kante, says Ndidi

    Don’t compare me with Kante, says Ndidi

    Wilfred Ndidi has admitted initial comparisons with N’golo Kante on his arrival at Leicester City irritated him.

    In 2017, Ndidi was a direct replacement for France star Kante, who played a big part in ‘The Foxes’ defying all the odds to win the Premier League.

    Ndidi maintained he has always wanted to be himself.

    “Yes it (comparisons) used to irritate me, but it’s football and I completely understand the fans because they love to find something to talk about,” he told the BBC. “Even before and then when I arrived at Leicester I heard it.

    “I only wanted to be Wilfred Ndidi and not someone else.

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    “I focus on myself. I am always critical of myself. I do my best to improve as a footballer game by game and giving my best for my club.

    “The comparison with others, about who is better or if Kante and I play alike, is irrelevant to me.

    “I think all that comparison was for those who love to talk and I didn’t focus on it.

    “You’re comfortable when you are yourself and not listening or trying to be something you are not.”

    Ndidi has made 140 appearances for Leicester City, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists since the Premier League club splashed 15 million pounds to sign him from Belgian club Genk.

     

     

  • Uncapped Moffi ruled out of best player award

    Uncapped Moffi ruled out of best player award

    By Oluwamayomikun Orekoya

    Terem Moffi will not be eligible to succeed compatriot Victor Osimhen as the Best African Player in the French Ligue 1 this season despite his goal scoring exploits and scintillating form.

    The 21-year-old, who has already notched 14 league goals, a goal more than Osimhen achieved at Lille last season, will not be nominated for the Marc Vivien Foe Award as he is yet to be capped by the Super Eagles.

    To win this award, a player has to have been capped at international level and also have played a minimum of 20 games in a season.

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    Moffi, who was playing in lowly Lithuania two seasons ago, has already featured 28 times for the Le Merlus and has made scoring against France’s traditional big clubs his specialty; three goals against Monaco, two against Marseille and one against PSG.

    While Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has taken note of Moffi’s exploits, he was only named on standby for last month’s AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho.

    However, the former KV Kortrijk of Belgium star remains unfazed and revealed he wants to remain with the Brittany-based club should the club win its race to stay in Ligue 1.

    “I am having fun in Lorient and I want to stay here,” he told the Ouest-France regional daily after his hat trick in a 4-1 win over Bordeaux on Sunday.

     

     

  • NWFL: Pinnick praises Falode on Super 6

    NWFL: Pinnick praises Falode on Super 6

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick has commended the Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode and her board for the excellent organization of the just-concluded Super 6 Tournament held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    “I must commend Aisha (Falode) and her board for the efforts that went into putting up such a showpiece. It was a fabulous event in all facets and I believe the NWFL as a whole deserve our praise. I was there and saw large parts of it and I was truly impressed,” said Pinnick.

    Perennial champions Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt clinched a place in the WAFU B play-off for the inaugural CAF Women Champions League by crushing Sunshine Queens of Akure 4-0 in one of Sunday’s two final games.

    “Admittedly, we need to do even more for women’s football in this country because as I always insist, the women deserve more attention having won as many as nine African titles for the country. It is no mean feat. I am enamoured by the superb organization of the Super 6 and I have no doubt that the positive vibes therefrom and the terrific after-glow will have some good impact on our efforts to engender real development and sustainability of the women’s game,” Pinnick added.

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    Meanwhile, Falode, has expressed her gratitude to stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the Super Six Championship.

    In a statement yesterday, Falode admitted that stakeholders in Nigerian football contributed to the success of the competition: “I want to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who in one way or another contributed greatly to the successes of the just concluded NWFL Premiership Super Six Championship.

    “We will remain eternally grateful to the host governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, the executive governor of Ogun State for the hospitality and security throughout the one-week football exercise.

    “Of course, we are ever grateful to the number one sports citizen, Mr. Sunday Dare, for being there always for us. Our sincere gratitude goes to the Women Affairs Minister, Mrs Pauline Tallen, for being a role model of womanhood,” she added.

  • Iheanacho grabs Foxes’ winning goal against Palace

    Iheanacho grabs Foxes’ winning goal against Palace

    Kelechi Iheanacho continued his amazing form in front of goal for Leicester City as he netted the winner in the Foxes 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium.

    The Super Eagles forward, who is currently the Premier League Player of the Month took his goals tally in the domestic league for the season to 10.

    Crystal Palace went into the first half break with a 1-0 lead courtesy Wilfried Zaha, who converted a sublime pass from England U-21 midfielder Eberechi Eze.

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    The home side fought back in the second half when Iheanacho’s pass found Timothy Castagne and he coolly finished past Vicente Guaita in goal for the visitors. Iheanacho completed his Man-of-the-Match performance with the game winner late in the second half.

    Interestingly, Kelechi Iheanacho had zero Premier League goals on February 1, 2021 but a remarkable change in form and more game-time has seen him score 10 premier league goals and 17 goals in all competitions this season including the goal that got Leicester City it the FA Cup final for the first time in 52years.

    Leicester City sit third in the premier league with 62 points while Crystal Palace are placed 13th with 38 points with five more games to the end of the season.

     

     

     

     

  • Eagles strike force: Rohr admits selection worries

    Eagles strike force: Rohr admits selection worries

    Coach Gernot Rohr could not hide his satisfaction with the present form of most of the Super Eagles strikers in their various European clubs, admitting tacitly selection worries when the World Cup qualifiers kick off in June.

    From Victor Osimhen to Paul Onuachu down to Kelechi Iheanacho , Simy Nwankwo as well as new prospect Terem Moffi, the German tactician believes he has a lot of players to choose from when the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers begin in June.

    “I am happy with our strikers. But some defenders are out,” he said.

    With the Super Eagles facing Liberia in June, Rohr said: “Too many to choose from in the striking position.”

    Yet Rohr has hinted that he was going to give all the players equal opportunity despite increasing call by purists that the likes of the likes of Simy should be drafted quickly to the squad.

    Speaking in an interview with Elegbete TV, Rohr revealed he already knows what Simy can offer.

    “You know that I invited Simy already for the last World Cup, and he was with us in Russia, and he came in sometimes,” Rohr said.

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    “Now we have so many strikers, unfortunately, we cannot play with five centre forwards, when you see the centre forwards we have already the competition is so big that it’s not easy for anybody to come in our team.

    “We have Onuachu, we have Osimhen, we have Kelechi, who scored and going to the final of the FA Cup.”

    Meanwhile, Osimhen continues his scoring form for Napoli in Coach Gennaro Gattuso-side 2-0 win over Torino in the Serie A.

    The Super Eagles striker was later replaced in the 80th minutes by Andrea Petagna after the Nigerian picked up a yellow card in the 69th minutes.

    The strike was Osimhen’s fourth goal in his last six league appearances and having rediscovered scoring prowess after enduring a nine-match goal drought earlier this year.

    The 22-year-old has now scored seven goals after 19 appearances since in his debut in Serie, A campaign following his record money move from Ligue 1 club Lille last August.

  • Sanwo-Olu seeks Fed Govt’s support in financing developmental projects

    Sanwo-Olu seeks Fed Govt’s support in financing developmental projects

    Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has requested to draw from the Natural Resources Development Fund for the development of tourism, agriculture and mining (solid mineral development).

    The governor, yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, while receiving members of the Fiscal Efficiency and Budget Committee (FE&BC) of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), who were in Lagos on physical verification of the issues raised by the state government, said the uncontrollable population growth in the state, due to its status as the economic nerve centre of the entire sub-Saharan Africa, had put pressure on the state’s infrastructure.

    This, he said, necessitated the need for the government to seek assistance for the funding of its strategic developmental projects that would create jobs and improve the standard of living of the citizens.

    He said his administration would work hard to provide for the infrastructural needs of the residents, irrespective of their state of origin, language, tribal grouping or religion.

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    Sanwo-Olu appealed to the committee members to be fair and objective when writing their reports after their visits to some of the state’s sites that need Federal Government’s interventions for sustainable development.

    The Chairman of the committee, Adamu Dibal, said the team is in Lagos to verify the claims submitted to the RMAFC by the state government, by visiting some of the priority projects listed for execution if the state gets financial support.

    Conducting the team round some of the projects listed for execution by the government, Finance Commissioner Dr. Rabiu Olowo said most of the projects have huge socio-economic impact in terms of employment generation, capacity building, entrepreneurship and vocational training.

    Some of the projects visited by the committee include: Imota Rice Mill and Farmland, Limestone/Clay/Ceramic Production site, Erikorodo Poultry Estate in Ikorodu, Badagry Lagoon Front, Ajara Farm Settlement, Rice Fields in Badagry, Igbonla Hot Water Well, Eko Cassava Factory, Araga, Ejirin proposed Greenhouse Estate, Itoikin Rice Field, Glover Memorial hall and J. K. Randle hall on Lagos Island.

     

  • Abdulrazaq, PDP disagree over alleged development strides rating

    Abdulrazaq, PDP disagree over alleged development strides rating

    By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

    Kwara State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have disagreed over the rating of AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq’s administration as the best performing government.

    Quoting a magazine published by the Progressives Governor’s Forum, AbdulRazaq’s media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the state topped the table of developmental strides recorded across states governed by All Progressives Congress (APC) for March.

    The PGF, publishers of the Progressive Strides magazine, is the amalgam of governors elected under the ruling APC.

    The Director-General, Progressives Governors Forum, Solihu Muhammad Lukman, said in a briefing note announcing the Progressive Strides for March that Kwara led the national table with 19 strides across sectors, including social investment, health, sports, agriculture and education, among others.

    Kwara had similarly topped the Progressive Strides in August 2020. The progressive strides is a peer review tracking developmental initiatives across states governed by APC.

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    Lukman said in the notes on the March edition that Kwara State secured 19 strides to emerge as the state with the most developmental initiatives for the month.

    ”In general, there is an all-round increase in the pattern of initiatives introduced by the states with Kwara State recording the most initiatives for this month, having 19 strides. These cut across health care, education, infrastructure, security, welfare, economy, agriculture, environment as well as sports,” he said.

    But PDP said no amount of lies and false performance claims by the AbdulRazaq administration would be enough to cover its obvious failures and redeem its fast depleting image.

    Kwara PDP spokesperson Tunde Ashaolu said the performance claims are false and laughable, and that there is nothing on ground in Kwara State to justify such ‘ridiculous assertions’.

  • Insecurity: VC urges students to stay on campus

    Insecurity: VC urges students to stay on campus

    The Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo town, Oyo State, Prof. Timothy Abiodun Adebayo, has warned students of the institution against leaving the campus.

    He said considering reports of students abduction across the country, undergraduates should stay on campus.

    Adebayo, who expressed worry about rising cases of kidnapping, yesterday told the students that the “university has decided to monitor you; hence, there shouldn’t be unauthorised movement outside the campus.”

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    Urging the students to be security conscious, the vice chancellor said: “With what is going on across the country, it appears nowhere is safe again. Therefore, all our students should stay on campus. No student should go outside the campus without permission.”

    According to him, “one of the advantages Ajayi Crowther University has is that we are fully residential. All of us are here on campus. I don’t want any student to go outside this campus without taking permission. You must also wear your identity cards always.”

     

     

  • Afenifere denies appointing secretary general

    Afenifere denies appointing secretary general

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    The pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has denied media reports that it has appointed a new secretary general.

    It said Basorun Seinde Arogbofa remained its secretary general until it followed its normal process of selecting its officials in line with its tradition.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Ondo chapter of the group, Mr. Dele Thomas, in a statement said there was no office known as General Secretary in Afenifere structure, but Secretary General.

    The statement said the next national caucus and general meeting that would hold in Akure would address pending issues.

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    The statement said: “We didn’t react earlier because of our great respect for our departed colleague and National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Yinka Odumakin, who was lying at the morgue when the news broke out.

    “We wish to further console with the wife of the late Odumakin, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and the family. We also commiserate with Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of Afenifere and the Acting Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, as well as other leaders and members of the Afenifere home and abroad on this irreparable loss.

    “Finally, we take this opportunity to congratulate the Afenifere family on the 70th anniversary of the Afenifere Ideological Group. This anniversary, which comes up on Friday and Sunday, will serve as a re-bounce of the group’s activities after the demise of its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.”