The Nation Newspaper

Category: Ade Ojeikere

  • Fly, Eagles fly

    Let us tell ourselves the truth – Nigeria cannot win the Russia 2018 World Cup diadem, with the lackadaisical manner in which our players prosecuted the first half of their last three international friendly matches. That they are playing safe is an unacceptable excuse, given how other players slated to participate in the Mundial approach their countries’ games. What our last two friendly matches have shown is that Nigeria will be at the Mundial on an excursion, except something drastic happens to the players’ attitude. For now, it is despicable. Sad.

    Gernot Rohr should fix the defence. Our players are slow to react to crosses. The taller ones, particularly who wait until the ball gets to them before reacting. At the Mundial, strikers will snatch the ball by reacting first. And bang the ball or nod it into the net for goals. The flank defenders are left vulnerable because those who man the midfield and the flanks upfront never fall back when they lose the ball.

    Those who attempt to fall back to mark are slower than the millipede. It is ironic watching taller Nigerians marking shorter opponents. Are the players expecting Rohr to teach them what to do? Please, senior national team players ought not be taught this basic skill. It should come to them naturally.

    The roof top of The Nation Sportinglife’s office almost came down as Neymar riffled home Brazil’s opening goal in their 2-0 victory over Croatia at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool FC of England. The game was Neymar’s first since he copped an injury that almost ruined his chances of participating in the Mundial. I leapt onto my feet watching Germany’s goalkeeper Neuer show no traces of being rusty, even when he had been off the pitch for over 249 days due to an injury. Neymar and Neuer are big stars whose countries must feature those games. Neuer, in particular, is a World Cup winner. But they chose to subject themselves to scrutiny. That way others in the teams wouldn’t feel cheated.

    Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr goofed by allowing Victor Moses a few days to celebrate his wedding anniversary instead of going to Nigeria’s World Cup camp which opened in Uyo penultimate Monday. Rohr has unwittingly created an Animal Farm setting in the Eagles. I hope it doesn’t haunt him when the chips are down in Russia. Moses is an integral part of the Eagles and should be made to play in all our friendly games, especially as Wilfred Ndidi is still recuperating.

    Moses was a shadow of himself and rightly so, because he didn’t subject himself to the training drills others had in Uyo and Port Harcourt when DR Congo held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw inside the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium. Moses’ penchant for missing Nigeria’s friendly matches is legendary- when he isn’t injured, he is asking for days to rest or feigning injury. Yet, he gets fielded in our matches and becomes a cog in the wheel of progress.

    Moses is Nigeria’s poster boy to the Mundial and he has not applied himself to the team’s build-up matches. Moses’ conduct reminds us of John Mikel Obi’s days at Chelsea. Sadly, other nationals who play for the Blues don’t behave like the Nigerian duo with their countries? ‘’Why are we so blessed?’’

    Rohr has been fine with his selection, but his decision to field Moses ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho defied tactics as the Chelsea star was lost in the game in England. He neither marked nor provided the passes to free the strikers to score goals. Moses had only one moment, where he dribbled an English defender who fell on his knees. He lost the ball shortly, making such a dribbling, a foolish act.

    Iheanacho trained more with the team than Moses before the game against England. He even played in the first half of the game against DR Congo and was definitely in form than the latter. Perhaps, Rohr’s excuse would be that Iheanacho had a knock, yet he shouldn’t have played Moses for that long. Good player, no doubt, but he selects matches and may not be part of Nigeria’s subsequent matches, given what we saw from the boys who drilled Europa Cup champions Atletico Madrid inside the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo. The Spaniards won the game but they confessed that those young Nigerians stretched them to their limit.

    However, England’s game served its purpose. It has forced Rohr to adopt the 3-5-2 formation which he employed against Argentina and the English in the second half. It worked for the Eagles against the Argentines with their historic 4-2 whiplash of the former World Cup champions. But England’s manager Gareth Southgate opted to park-the-bus, like they say in coaching, by putting enough men behind the ball. This defensive net held the rampaging Nigerians after their early goal in the second half, scored by Alex Iwobi.

    Nigerians watched in awe as the Eagles wobbled against a starless Czech Republic that didn’t have former Arsenal FC of London’s ace Rosiky and goalkeeper Petr Cech. With such a team, it should be a stroll in the park for the Nigerians, given our players’ pedigree. The Czechs exploited our weakness in aerial battles to score their only goal. What stood out was the failure of our central defenders to mark their men during set pieces, such as the corner kick which resulted in the goal.

    Indeed, the most difficult balls to contend with by goalkeepers are close range headers. And it behoves on our defenders to pick the nearest free opponent during such goalmouth melee. Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho did well with the first header but the rebound fell on an unmarked Czech who riffled the ball into the net. That was a cheap goal, which could have been averted had a defender stayed with the scorer. Our players must be told that our group opponents sent spies to watch our matches. Teams wobble when the opposition attacks them at their weaknesses. I hope this won’t be our portion on June 16 against Croatia.

    Nigeria cannot afford to lose her first game, especially against the background that the Argentines will be battling newcomers Iceland in their opening game. Should the Argentines whip Iceland, the losers will pull all the stops to avert another defeat against Nigeria in the second game. A win for Nigeria over Croatia will not only be a morale booster with three points, it will also give us the impetus to beat a losing Iceland, even if they lose to Argentina.

    With six points, Nigeria would have equalled her best performance at the Mundial, leaving the last game against Argentina a mere formality. But, the permutations by iconic manager Jose Mourinho raises an interesting poser in the event that Nigeria and Argentina win their two matches in the group.

    The two countries will be fighting for the group’s leadership but the critical question will be which of the two countries will like to draw France in the second round? Argentina won’t like to play against France, ditto the French, won’t cherish a fixture against the Argentines. So, which country will love to play the French? I pray we draw Australia in the Round of 16, following Mourinho’s prediction. Nigerians would be glad to have the Aussies. If it does happen, Nigeria will join the league of African nations that have played in the quarter-finals.

    In the last edition, the French eliminated  Nigeria in the second round and didn’t look like the team to beat us. We have the players to beat France if they play to their potential. Indeed, our players spent the night leading to the French game in Brazil sharing $3.8 million cash instead of training or resting. If there wasn’t the money distraction, perhaps we would have given the French the fight of our lives, reminiscent of what we did to Brazil at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games, where we turned the table against the Samba Boyz in one of the semi-final matches. The Samba Boyz led us by 3-1 but the Nwankwo Kanu-led squad turned it around to 4-3. The Brazilians were sobbing like kids after the final whistle. Nigeria went on to win the Olympic Games’ gold medal, beating Argentina 3-2 in the final game.

    Rohr has challenged us not to press the panic button based on the last two losses. He took Moses, Mikel and Iwobi through the gym work while their colleagues trained. It is clear that the trio are our best. When they are not fit to compete, we are always in trouble.

    “We’ve nine days to be ready for our first match vs Croatia, as at today, we are not ready. I am not sad because of this result, the result that matters will be in Russia,” Rohr said after Wednesday’s match.

    Good to know that Ndidi is fit because he would bring steel into the defence, a quality missing in the team while Ndidi was injured. Onazi was too fat to cope with the demands of the position. He has promised to improve. Will he get a second chance? That is neither here nor there.

  • Bring on Three Lions

    Wembley Stadium is a cathedral of sort for professional soccer players, with many eager to run onto the pitch to play a game. As the Super Eagles file out against their English counterparts today, what will be uppermost on the minds of the hosts is to beat the Nigerians to reassure their nationals that they are ready for the Russia 2018 World Cup. For this writer, today’s game is another testy tie for Eagles, especially as Coach Gernot Rohr will field a better set of players unlike what he paraded against DR Congo inside the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt last Monday.

    On paper, the English team are a better side in terms of their personnel, playing style, culture and tradition for such high stake games. But that is where their advantage lies as they are in tandem with the Nigerians in physical play and direct approach to matches. What may count for Eagles today is the fact that most of our players have played at the top level in England. They also know the mentality of the English, which is all that the Nigerians need to create the upset that will be the talking point of the international friendly games ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup which, begins on June 14.

    Indeed, the Three Lions and the Eagles will be at the Mundial with the youngest set of players, which presupposes that both nations are looking ahead of the biggest football festival in the world. They will be playing young boys who may be playing together for the first time. The question is, why did the English agree to play the Nigerians? Simple – they are pitched against Tunisians in the World Cup group. Any country desirous of doing very well against an African side should play against Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. These countries have a rich history of the game even with their different playing styles. North Africans, including Tunisians, play more of the European fluid soccer. But, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire spice theirs with gritty tackles, which is what the English really need to outmuscle the Tunisians when they meet.

    For Nigeria, the game against England is more for points to climb up FIFA’s ranking, which a win would guarantee. This mission looks far-fetched, given the fact that the Three Lions hardly get beaten  at Wembley. Eagles’ quartet of Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi will provide the tips to unsettle the English in what is clearly a prestige game. John Mikel Obi played for Chelsea, ditto Kenneth Omeruo and Aina. Odion Ighalo played for Watford until he left for the Chinese League, like Mikel. Ahmed Musa, who is on the payroll of Leicester like Iheanacho and Ndidi. Almost all members of the squad have imbibed the English football philosophy. Gareth Southgate’s side will then move on to Elland Road in Leeds to take on Costa Rica on 7 June in the last of their warm-up friendlies. The Three Lions’ next match will be against Tunisia in the first of their World Cup match of Group G. They will thereafter face Panama and group favourites Belgium in a bid to reach the knock-out stages.

    The outcome of the game isn’t as important as how key players blend with the new lads to increase their confidence ahead of the country’s opening game against Croatia on June 16. We need to see how Rohr will re-organise the defence to play better than what we saw against DR Congo. The Congolese ran our defenders ragged and showed that they were not sprinters culminating in the penalty which Chelsea’s loanee Ola Aina gave, although the blame ought to have gone to Oghenkaro Etebo who didn’t know what to do with the ball until it was taken off him for the goal-bound move.

    Eagles’ flank defenders will continue to be a problem because our big men upfront don’t fall back to mark when they lose the ball. In fact, the midfielders are worse as they walk sluggishly like Etebo did on Monday in Port Harcourt. Only Ogenyi Onazi remembers to fight for the ball when he loses it. I hope that Rohr can get the boys to mark as soon as they lose the ball. A team’s goalkeeper is as good as its defence. Only the ball goes into the net, making it imperative for the players to strive to keep it and utilise it to our advantage.

    Eagles couldn’t match the Congolese in ball possession, although a few would argue that they were playing safe to avoid injuries. Eagles’ attack lacked the spark until Ahmed Musa and Iwobi were introduced. Musa gave the Congolese problems. Nigeria could only have scored a winner through Musa’s direct approach which could make the visitors commit errors. Otherwise, Eagles played as if nothing was at stake. They were poor against the Congolese. Simy Nwankwo flapped to deceive, especially in the second half as he barely troubled the Congolese, except for the header from a long throw by Aina in the second half.

    Eagles’ midfield was awful all through the 90 minutes. The midfielders barely strung passes together for their mates to score goals. The only goal came from an intelligent free-kick which caught the Congolese off guard. The trio of Onazi, Joel Obi and Etebo were anonymous. Onazi’s weight didn’t allow him to rove in the midfield. Rohr, the tactician kept Etebo on the pitch for 90 minutes, which counted for nothing in terms of his contributions to the team beyond his aimless kicks.

    Eagles missed Mikel’s steel in the midfield. The team wobbled without Victor Moses. Ndidi’s absence was felt as he does the dirty jobs (marking dangerous players and covering the two central defenders) in the midfield. Little wonder Leon Balogun got tired so easily, necessitating his substitution (rightly so) in the second half.

    Back to the England game, which is perhaps the Eagles’s biggest. It should further expose the players’ weaknesses for the coaches to correct. This is the essence of playing such matches, although with an eye for victory. It was good the players visited President Muhammadu Buhari, whose words would have lifted their spirits.

    Buhari told the boys on Wednesday: “You are going to represent us in Russia. You must bear in mind that you are not just going for a tournament. With each game you must remember that you are carrying the passions, emotions and feelings of over 180 million people. Play fair and clean but demonstrate the gallant spirit which Nigerians are known for.

    “Nothing unites Nigerians more than football and nothing will gladden the people of Nigeria than for you to acquit yourself honourably by winning in Russia. You are the youngest team in the tournament which means you are likely the most inexperienced team, a fact that will not be lost on your opponents. But it is also something that you can use to your advantage.

    “You have the full support and the blessings of all Nigerians who will look up to you for as long as the tournament  last. This is our time, we look up to you to make us proud. All Nigerians join me in saying to you, best of luck. Thank you and God be with you all.”

    England has three new goalkeepers going to the Mundial – Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope. This has thrown into the trash bin fears in Nigeria about the propriety of fielding Francis Uzoho for the Eagles, ahead of experienced goalkeepers, such as Vincent Enyeama, who sadly isn’t playing regularly in Europe, Austin Ejide and Dele Aiyenugba, who both play in the Israeli league.

    The lesson from England’s choice of goalkeepers is that they were picked on club performance, which is what Rohr used in selecting Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi. Nigerians should learn how to project into the future, which is one of the hallmarks of competent but ambitious foreign coaches. We should stop our fixations about how the Eagles should look. Otherwise, the young ones at the grassroots won’t find places in our national teams. Is this not why most young Nigerians change nationality?

    England chose defenders Danny Ross, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, who sadly is out of today’s game due to injury, John Stones, Ashley Young, Kyle Walker, Kevin Tripier, Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson. Others include Eric Dier, Loftus-Cheek, Fabien Delph, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling,  Jese Lingard, Danny Welbeck, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane.

    Can Eagles beat the Three Lions? Yes, but it isn’t the reason for today’s game. It will pay the Eagles more if the English expose their flaws. The coaches need to have a well knit side to confront the Croatians on June 16. So, what if England beat Nigeria?

  • Spartan fighting spirit

    Tuesday’s international friendly between Europa League champions Athletico Madrid of Spain and Nigeria’s likely U-23 side to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was going to be a no brainer in terms of predicting its outcome. Pundits tipped the European champions to pierce through the Nigerian side with goals like hot knife through butter. It never happened.

    Walking into the stadium to behold capacity filled terraces underscored how well Nigerians follow the European game, more so when a new champion was billed to showcase its talents. It was clear that the biggest player was Fernando Torres. It was expected after his exploits with Liverpool, leading to his controversial move to Chelsea FC in London. Torres anchored his move on the need to win European club competitions. He achieved the feats, winning the UEFA Champions League diadem and the Europa Cup, playing for Chelsea.

    Nigerians love Chelsea. There was grumbling when Atletico filed out for the game without Torres. You needed to witness the applause that greeted Torres’ inclusion in the second half. You would have thought that Nigeria scored a goal when Torres’ nifty header beat goalkeeper Olufemi Thomas for the Spaniards’ second goal. Even the radio commentators acknowledged this misnomer. But would you blame the fans, knowing that such goals were the trademark of Torres.

    Again, Nigerians showed that it didn’t matter if the Nigerian side lost. What mattered was how the boys fared against the better exposed side. Nigerians are discerning. They throng the pitch to show their appreciation at the end of a game. They were pleased with the result, with many clapping over a bright future for the country after the Mundial. That is the spirit, folks.

    Nigeria’s two goals were marvellous, but it was the audacious manner in which former Dream Team star Mohammed Usman outwitted the Spaniards in the defence before kicking the ball into the yawning net that was the talk of the town at dusk.

    Kelechi Nwakali’s rocket shot was a stunner, especially as it scored against one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Jan Oblak in goal is world class. He is one of the goalkeepers expected to make a record transfer next season, the other being David Dea Gea of Manchester United. In fact, when an overlapping right back Musa Mohammed ran down their lines, no one foresaw a goal. But Musa dropped his shoulder as if he wanted to continue the run on the flank. The defender was tricked as Musa knocked the ball to Usman, who quickly returned the pass that released Musa towards the 18-metre box.

    Musa and Usman struck a telepathic understanding which awed the Spaniards, such that when the ball got to Usman deep in the penalty box, he chose to dribble his way out of the compact defensive arrangement which Atletico are known for.

    This swift movement between Musa and Usman didn’t look a goal-bound move until Usman started dribbling the defenders as if he brought them onto the field. The murmuring from the fans was for Usman to either pass the ball or shoot it into the net. But he did what Austin Okocha did to Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper Oliver Khan while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt FC during a German Bundesliga match against Karlsruhe in 1993. A goal which Khan reveals still makes him dizzy.

    The difference between the two goals is that whereas Okocha can easily re-enact his dribbling move, I have serious doubts if Usman can repeat this move in subsequent matches. No disregard to the beauty of the goal, dear Usman.

    In fact, if Nigeria’s No 17, Destiny Ashadi, who plays for Katsina United, was a scorer, the game would have ended 2-1 in Nigeria’s favour at half time. What shocked most fans at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo were the closeness of the game and the Nigeria side’s Spartan fighting spirit. Besides, the Nigerian side paraded products of the World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets’ squad, who had been ‘forgotten’, no thanks to the fixation of most Nigerian coaches who have handled age-grade teams in 2013, when Nigeria won the U-17 World Cup again and retained it in 2015. In other football climes, the 44 young boys from the two squads between 2013 and 2015, would have been the nucleus of such countries to the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Not so for Nigeria, where our local coaches see such established young men as being unavailable to be mentored. They would rather dump these gold winning squads to pick their boys instead of allowing the new boys to compete with the World Cup winners. Sadly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is left with the short end of the stick, when Nigeria fails to match its feats in subsequent years. In 2007, Dele Ajiboye was adjudged the best cadet (U-17) goalkeeper in the world, ahead of Spain’s David De Gea, who plays for Manchester United in England.

    Today, De Gea, can safely be described as one of the best goalkeepers in the world whereas Ajiboye will be lucky to be among Nigeria’s best three goalkeepers to be picked for the Mundial. De Gea’s geometric improvement in goalkeeping rests with the fact that he was allowed to grow through the ranks to the top. Indeed, Ajiboye’s stunted growth as a goalkeeper can be traced to a systemic problem anchored on the nepotic, mercantile and parochial thoughts of Nigerian coaches and sports administrators to replicate systems which others have perfected to make football, nay sports, a business, not just ‘play play’ as the former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole described sports in Nigeria. Will you blame Oshiomhole? No.

    I digress. Whereas Spanish football administrators didn’t flinch in graduating Iker Casillas to the senior team, after Spain won the FIFA U-20 Championship hosted by Nigeria in 1999, beating Japan 2-0 in the final, Nigeria coaches and administrators were still toying with the pre-modial thoughts of taking an experienced goalkeeper to the World Cup, not minding if such a goalkeeper has kept up to 12 matches in the last 30 months. The hue and cry on this experienced goalkeeper going to Russia only abated when Gernot Rohr picked the country’s provisional 30-man squad. Even at that, those picked will be haunted by the total condemnation of the abilities to man the goal post at the Mundial, if they slip during matches. I ask, who doesn’t make mistakes? Is it not from such mistakes that we learn how to correct them? Can anyone garner experience without being given a chance to prove his/her mettle? When Modakeke chief Adegboye Onigbinde gambled, as many described it in 2002 in Japan on this experienced goalkeepers, he was scolded, but Onigbinde knew his onions by fielding the hitherto inexperienced goalkeeper against awesome David Beckham, Paul Scholes et al of England and came out unscathed.

    Nigeria drew goalless against England. Yes, football is like biscuit; no one knows if it would crack. Back to the Athletico Madrid game, where the Nwakali brothers, Chidiebere and Kelechi, stood out as the talents for the future. Interestingly, they chose Tuesday night’s game to reassure Nigerians that they could effectively replace John Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi in the Super Eagles midfield department – in offensive and defensive roles. Indeed, the younger Nwakali’s opening goal was a masterpiece. It underscored why he captained the Golden Eaglets side that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup for Nigeria in 2015. No prize for guessing right that his elder brother, Chidiebere, spotting jersey No. 10, was also a member of another gold winning Golden Eaglets side in 2015.

    So, why are they just coming to national prominence? That is the way we are. Until we suck the orange to its bare back, we don’t look for another one. It is good to know that the Eagles can play with two brothers again after the furore associated with the exclusion of the Uche brothers (Ikechukwu and Kalu). Watching Nwakali brothers play reminded me of the Atuegbu brothers of yore. Indeed, Andrew and Alloy (block-buster) played in the midfield like the Nwakalis, except that they were stronger unlike the latter who are a beauty to watch based on their sublime ball skills, which kept fans on the edge of their seats on Tuesday night. The biggest fillip in the game was the display by prominent Eaglets of yore, making it imperative on the NFF and the coaches to comb Europe for most of them. I was excited with the return of the former Eaglets captain Musa Mohammed, who was the skipper of the day. Mohammed’s darting runs on the right flank troubled the Spaniards.  My only hope is for Rohr to succeed in Russia. Otherwise, all his rebuilding efforts would be thrown into the ocean by the next NFF board, if Pinnick doesn’t return. Ordinarily, the Pinnick-led board deserves a second term, based on their marketing initiatives that have yielded $2.8 million for the team to prosecute its campaign.

  • Amokachi, Eagles and the road to Russia

    History has an uncanny way of vindicating the just. It only takes time. This writer is always unsparing whenever Nigerian coaches handle the Super Eagles, largely because they hardly come clean in the team’s affairs. When they are not picking players on other parameters than current form, they are bullying the younger ones to accept what they couldn’t stomach as players. They create a facade around themselves under the guise of instilling discipline whereas they do worse things, such as engineering players’ revolts when their demands are outstanding.

    It is still a misery how coaches who claimed to be instilling discipline in the players come short when it comes to persuading them to back off from such revolts during big competitions, such as the Confederations Cup and the World Cup. These coaches don’t care about the odium they pour on the country with such disgraceful acts for as long as they achieve their goals. The excuse that the federation’s bosses would misappropriate cash amounts to cheap blackmail. Thankfully, the law of retribution catches up with them – Nigeria has never won any competition smeared with such shows of shame.

    ‘’Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it.’’ ( Uthman Dan Fodio) This quote rings so true about what transpired in the Super Eagles’ camp in 2014 in the explosive interview which former striker Daniel Amokachi granted AOIFootball.com on the Eagles’ way to the Brazil 2014 World Cup, where Nigeria was eliminated in the second round by France. Of course, the defeat came less than 10 hours after the team and their coaches spent the better part of the night before the match sharing $3.8 million which the Federal Government sent to avert a walkover. The squad threatened to boycott the France game during the revolt in Sao Paulo.

    Ordinarily, I would have ignored the report. But AOIFootball.com is the NFF’s official online platform where those who run the federation talk directly to the players and coaches. It was set up, following allegations by players and officials of being misquoted in the media. So, Amokachi couldn’t have been misquoted by the NFF online platform.

    Besides, KweseSports and Amokachi are like Siamese twins. They would have whispered into Da Bull’s ears about the gravity of his allegations since the other party to the discussion is dead. He would have authorised the publication. It should, therefore, be discussed, taking only the message not the messenger or the accused.

    Going to the World Cup in Brazil, there were tales that suggested a rift among the coaches, with many alleging that one of them forced the players to buy one of his wrist watches as a basis for qualifying to play in the team. It was dismissed as one of the tantrums of the media. But, it was clear that all wasn’t well with the technical crew, considering Amokachi’s pot-shots.

    “Brown, for me, was one player that I regret that we did not take to the World Cup in 2014,” Amokachi told KweséESPN, speaking for the first time on Brown Ideye’s shocking exclusion from the Eagles.

    “Hundred percent I didn’t know how he didn’t make that list. I never saw it coming that he didn’t make the list till when the list came out and we found out. I think I probably had a lot of fights with some people that I shouldn’t have, but it happened because I saw no reason why such a player should be left out. We ended up going to the World Cup with players that even me I don’t even know,” Amokachi revealed.

    “I think it is very tough if a coach is already an agent. It is very, very difficult, and that is why I always say you cannot be a coach and be an agent at the same time.

    “When the World Cup comes around, you always have a lot of new players showing up. Players who will decide that they are Nigerians and bring confusion to the team. When you find yourself in that situation, you try to advise, because you have agents that will be calling left, right and centre. If a coach is an agent, he will fall a victim too. Those are things that we really need to avoid. There is no room to be trying new players,” Amokachi concluded.

    He didn’t mention those responsible for the decision. But what stands out clearly is that the list was done with the coaches’ consent. And it says a lot on why Nigerian coaches cannot be trusted with such sensitive matters. Isn’t this the reason Nigerian coaches’ actions are vetted by chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who carry the can when Nigeria fails while the coaches take all the credits in victory?

    What makes Amokachi’s revelation more disturbing is that the coaches in the 2014 squad were former Nigeria internationals who also made their marks playing for European teams . They were expected to replicate here the settings they found in Europe. They were also seen to have made enough cash to be able to shun foreign scouts, lobbyists and influence peddlers from the corridors of power.

    The KweseESPN report said: ‘’It is a stunning admission by Amokachi, who went on to suggest that outside influences may have played a part in the striker getting cut in favour of players like Michael Uchebo and Uche Nwofor, both of whom had a combined total of six international appearances prior to the World Cup. Four of those combined caps (two each) were in the friendly games just before the squad was named.’’

    Sadly, Amokachi didn’t have the guts to name who picked the squad raising doubts about his intentions in granting such a controversial interview. Why did he not cry out when the list was released? Was he scared that he could be dropped from the team? I don’t think so, given Amokachi’s pedigree in the game and his popularity. Who knows, the team could have gone further than they did in Brazil, four years ago.

    The NFF should always get coaches to work in harmony. The federation should routinely hold talks with the coaches to gauge how they relate with each other. Except there is a synergy among the coaches, the team would totter during matches.

    Amokachi’s poked conscience has compelled him to speak the truth, which is the only way forward. He spoke late but the message wasn’t lost on Eagles manager Gernot Rohr, who rightly dropped Brown Ideye, who has not been a regular in the squad since he took charge.

    Rohr’s 30-man list is a departure from the past where at least four names would have been added to the authorised provisional 35-man list by FIFA, where each country would pick its final 23-man squad. Under Nigerian coaches, a horde of players with many unknown to lovers of the game would have been picked under the guise of giving everyone a chance to prove their mettle. This is where the sharp practices which Amokachi highlighted start.

    Indeed, I’m still pinching myself to find out if Samson Siasia criticised Rohr’s 30-man squad. If he did, he owes those of us who questioned his selections as Eagles chief coach an apology. Siasia scandalised this writer for daring to criticise his list. Siasia spared no word in deriding coaches and ex-internationals who queried his decisions, especially when the country stood behind Vincent Enyeama, asking Siasia to forgive him. He stood his grounds but paid dearly for it when Nigeria drew 2-2 against Guinea in Abuja. We didn’t qualify for that edition’s Africa Cup of Nations. Siasia got the boot.

    Glad to know that Siasia is canvassing the inclusion of Efe Ambrose, four years after his below par outing in Brazil. This is the problem with Nigerian coaches who are eternally committed to players they discovered. Siasia, Junior Ajayi had his time with the Eagles. He appears to be a club player. Besides, he is injury-prone. This is the difference with foreign coaches. they consider factors which our coaches cast an indulgent eye on.

    The fixation of Nigerian coaches has killed many enterprising players who rot away because those manning their positions in the Eagles were discovered by the coach. Products of our successful age-grade teams, especially the Golden Eaglets, have melted from our sights like ice-cream under the scorching sun – no thanks to our local coaches’ fixation.

    Today, Nigeria is heading for the Mundial with its youngest crop of players. This means that we are building for the future, using the World Cup. If we qualify for the second round, we would have equalled our feats in the last five editions in which we participated.

    Nigeria is not alone with her armada of young boys for the Russia 2018 World Cup. England’s 23-man squad isn’t anything different from ours. This means that the two countries will have players ready for the big stage by Qatar 2022. That is the way forward, except that England will see theirs through while Nigeria’s may be destroyed by the diabolical machinations of those fighting to be members of the next NFF board.

  • Wenger’s last hurrah

    How time flies. It started as an experiment geared to rejuvenate a football club that was tottering for balance, needing a unique identity which the owners, players, coaches and the fans would be proud of. Indeed, the owners wanted a brand equity for Arsenal FC that would resonate as an index of how clubs should be run as a business, without losing track of its objectives. Today, those who chose Wenger can heave a sigh of relief that the Gunners play inside its stadium complex among other marketing windows it has exploited to be one of the richest clubs in the world.

    Arsenal’s search for Arsene Wenger took them to the Far East, precisely Japan, long before the Asians hosted any big soccer fiesta. So, who spotted Wenger? Is the scout still with the Gunners to search for his replacement? Posers, as the media are awash with names which may be farfetched when the decision is made. Wenger fitted the business edge bill which the owners were looking for, resulting in the 22 years that the Frenchman spent at the Emirates. Besides winning trophies and turning rookies into household names in world soccer, Wenger believed in young Africans, a factor which pushed many from the continent to support his teams, not just Arsenal.

    From Wenger’s first African signing in the form of Liberian Christopher Wreh to his last Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, the Frenchman’s liking of talents from the continent was always apparent.

    The 14 other African players to don the Arsenal shirt under his tutelage were Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Marouane Chamakh (Morocco), Kaba Diawara (Guinea), Quincy (Ghana), Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alex Song (Cameroon), Mohamed Elneny (Egypt), Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast), Emmanuel Frimpong (Ghana), Armand Traore (Senegal) and Gervinho (Ivory Coast).

    Before Victor Ikpeba became the “Prince of Monaco”, Wenger helped to shape the Nigerian’s game in France, culminating in Ikpeba being crowned African Footballer of the Year.

    Little wonder George Opong Weah invited the Frenchman to his inauguration as Liberia’s President.

    Indeed, Weah was quoted to have said: “When I started playing football, I never thought I would ever win the Ballon d’Or and emerge as the best player in the world. I just had a passion for the game and I worked hard. Everyday, I would rather train than eat or sleep.

    “When I moved to Monte Carlo [to play for Monaco from the Cameroonian club Tonnerre Yaoundé in 1988] I didn’t play for the first six months. But I was determined to showcase my talent, to prove to those back home, who thought that my coming to Europe was a waste of time, that I was a good player.

    “He [Wenger] was a father figure and regarded me as his son. This was a man, when racism was at its peak, who showed me love. He wanted me to be on the pitch for him every day.”

    “One day, I was quite tired of training and told him that I was having a headache. He said to me: ‘George, I know it’s tough but you need to work hard. I believe that with your talent, you can become one of the best players in the world.’ So, I listened and kept going on. Besides God, I think that without Arsène, there was no way I would have made it in Europe,” Weah  is quoted in The Guardian to have said.

    A tall skinny Frenchman kneeling on the sidelines puffing his cigarettes were the early pictures of his sojourn at Arsenal. But he knew his mission and sprang surprises early in his 22 years stay.

    Where was Wenger coming from? What attributes did the scouts see? Did Wenger’s innocent looks sunk inside an oval shaped pair of silver reading glasses show that he knew his goal when he said: ”I tried to watch the Tottenham match on television in my hotel yesterday, but I fell asleep.” Who says Wenger doesn’t indulge in mind games?

    In his very first press conference as Gunners boss in 1996, Wenger took this sly dig at local rivals Spurs.

    “One of the things I discovered in Japan was from watching sumo wrestling. At the end you can never tell who has won the fight, and who has lost, because they do not show their emotion because it could embarrass the loser. It is unbelievable. That is why I try to teach my team politeness. It is only here in England that everybody pokes their tongue out when they win.”

    “Before I start, I just want to say that at Arsenal we care and I would like to wish my fellow manager (Sir Alex) Ferguson well, very quickly. Thank you for having me for such a long time. I know it was not easy. But above all, I’m like you — I’m an Arsenal fan.

    “This is more than just watching football, it’s a way of life. It’s caring about the beautiful game, about the values we cherish, and as well, that something that goes for all our bodies in every cell of our bodies. We care, we worry, we are desperate, but when you come here, at the theatre of dreams, we realise what it means.

    “I would like as well to thank everyone at the club who make it so special. I would invite you, to really push and support these players and the staff who remain behind me. This group of players has a special quality. Not only on the pitch, but off the pitch. Please, as you follow this team, support them next season because they deserve it.

    “I would like to finish in one simple sentence: I will miss you. Thank you all for having such an important part of my life, thank you all, well done, bye bye.”

    Let me conclude with one simple word- ‘’I will miss you,’’ Wenger said.

    On a personal note as a Nigerian, one must commend Wenger for reviving Nwankwo Kanu’s career at a time other managers had ruled him out of the game completely. Wenger’s eyes were on Kanu until he was healed of his heart ailment. Today, Kanu is an Arsenal legend.

    Former Arsenal FC jewel Nwankwo Kanu spared no word in describing who Frenchman, Arsene Wenger is to him, and what he gained from his tutelage as a Gunner, stressing that: ‘’He’s been like a father figure for all of us.’’

    Kanu, not one to be left behind when it comes to giving honour to whom it is due, was part of   the audience which celebrated Wenger’s last game at the Emirates Stadium in London, with the Gunners whipping Bournemouth 5-0.

    In an interview with Arsenal.com, Kanu said: ‘’For me, when I was at Inter Milan he did everything to try to get me to Arsenal for six months. That’s the kind of person you want to be and want to support.

    “At the time, nobody believed in me. They were like, ‘You’re coming out from hospital, can you play football? But he believed in me and when I came here, I didn’t disappoint him. That’s why I’m here today.’’

    ‘’I love [the celebrations of him at the Emirates]. It’s a very good show of respect. I’ve seen a lot of people wearing red saying ‘Merci Arsène’.

    “After the game, nobody left their seat. They’re all here to support him, say goodbye and thank him for all he has done for the club.”

    Were the fans happy to see Wenger’s back? Many wept. Most of the them wore Arsenal shirts with number 22 written at the back. Wenger was shocked at the reception he received, unlike in the last few years when drones were hoisted seeking his immediate exit?

    All hail Arsene Wenger. And like the French say, ‘Merci Arsène’.

     

    Brand war in Eagles

     

    It is good to note that two of the biggest soft drinks brands are locked in the marketing fight for key Super Eagles players. Eagles Captain John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses are Pepsi Cola Ambassadors. But, Eagles are partners with Coca-Cola for the Russia 2018 World Cup. Did I hear you say that shouldn’t be a problem? Wait for it.

    Super Eagles’ photo-shoot for the World Cup has Coca-Cola branding. Mikel’s and Moses’ business managers cannot stand seeing their wards in Coca-Cola colours. They are kicking that it is in conflict with their contractual agreements with Pepsi Cola. Too bad.

    FIFA rules allow players to wear boots of their choice, not jerseys. So, Mikel and Moses must wear the brand which the team represents, since that is what the brand wants to give them the mileage for the massive sponsorship of the World Cup, especially through the qualified countries, such as Nigeria.

    If Nigeria had not qualified for the World Cup, it wouldn’t have mattered. Those who said that participating in the Mundial was a waste of money because Nigeria wouldn’t win the trophy must hide their faces with this interesting development from the biggest brands in the Cola industry.

    Moses and Mikel must wear the Nigeria jersey branded by Coca Cola since it is Nigeria’s national anthem that will be sung before matches, not NFF’s. Would Nigeria have qualified without Moses’ and Mikel’s contributions? Yes. Nobody is bigger than the country. After all, there were matches both stars missed due to injuries and we won. They are an integral part of the team, but Nigeria comes first at the Mundial. Chins up, guys.

    However, one must commend the two brands for changing the face of soccer in the country. No more war, please.

  • Mourinho: Of lies and injustice

    Jose Mourinho is not one to look the other way when his reputation is at stake. He provides facts to correct untrue claims, which is good for posterity. Until Saturday, the notion was that Mourinho sold Egypt’s sensation Mohammed Salah to Roma FC to enjoy regular first team shirt.

    Last week, I alluded to this submission and thought it expedient to restate Mourinho’s new position on the matter for fairness. Mourinho told the international media that he bought Salah from Basle FC of Switzerland in January 2014 for £14million, branding the whole scenario a ‘lie’ and ‘another injustice’.

    Speaking to ESPN Brazil, Mourinho said: ‘’It is the first time that I  am going to say this, but it is another injustice that has been talked about me.

    ‘’People say that I was the one that sold Salah and it is the opposite. I bought Salah. I was the one that told Chelsea to buy Salah. It was with me in charge that Salah came to Chelsea. But he came as a young kid. Physically, he was not ready, mentally he was not ready, socially and culturally, he was lost and everything was tough for him.

    ‘’We decided to put him on loan and he asked for that as well. He wanted to play more minutes, to mature. He wanted to go and we sent him on loan to Fiorentina and at Fiorentina he started to mature.

    ‘’Chelsea decided to sell him, OK? And when they say that I was the one that sold him, it is a lie. I bought him. I agreed to send him on loan. I thought it was  necessary. I thought that Chelsea had wingers.

    Some of them are still there like Willian, Eden Hazard and all those players already in a different level.

    ‘’Effectively, I did buy Salah. I didn’t sell Salah, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that he is a fantastic player, and I am really happy for everything that is happening for him and especially because he scores against everyone and he didn’t score against us in two games.’’

    Well said Jose, even though we know that if you needed him, he wouldn’t have been released. All that is in the past. One thing is clear, Mourinho gave the English game the spark that made it the most talked about competition in Europe with his mind games, which help raise the stakes before such games.

    Mind games helped Mourinho unsettle inexperienced managers just as it gave the witty one an insight of what to expect from his opponents, for those who responded. I wonder what the English game would have been without Mourinho.

    In fact, any game involving Mourinho and Arsene Wenger was best illustrated with the caricatures of both men in gloves slugging it out inside the ring and Mourinho didn’t disappoint with his theatrics, which Wenger bought until he became wiser. Mourinho enjoyed seeing Wenger angry, which is the hallmark of his mind games. Lovers of Mourinho’s coaching savvy are glad that he gave Wenger cause to smile on match day last week, unlike in the past when we would have been talking about the fallouts of Sunday’s match at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.

    Wenger will definitely remember last Sunday, although he would lament the late winner scored by Fellani. He would have loved a drawn game, more so, as another King of the Dugout, Sir Alex Ferguson, gave him a plaque, which he will cherish for life. Wenger’s 22 years of coaching in the English game ranks next to Ferguson’s. Together, they changed the face of the game with their unique approaches, culminating in all the momentous scenes in their era at Arsenal and Manchester United.

    Wenger stayed 22 years at Arsenal, winning three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and seven Community Shield titles. Sir Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United 26 years, winning 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles.

    Unlike Mourinho, Ferguson was a gentleman who knew his onions and concerned himself strictly with the game, not its theatrics. Ferguson recognised Wenger as an old adversary at Arsenal, stressing on Sunday: “I am really happy for Arsene Wenger.”

    Sir Alex told ManUtd.com: “I have great respect for him and for the job he has done at Arsenal. It is great testament to his talent, professionalism and determination that he has been able to dedicate 22 years of his life to a job that he loves. In an era where football managers sometimes only last one or two seasons, it shows what an achievement it is to serve that length of time at a club the size of Arsenal.

    “I am pleased that he has announced he is leaving at this stage of the season, as he can now have the send-off that he truly deserves. He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I am proud to have been a rival, a colleague and a friend to such a great man.”

    Mourinho confirmed his class when he revealed: “If he (Wenger) is happy, I am happy. If he is sad, I am sad. I always wish the best for my opponents. I always wish the best.

    “For me, that is the point. If he is happy with the decision he made and looks forward to the next chapter of his career and his life, I am really happy for him. If he is sad, I am sad.

    “I am pretty sure that we as a club – especially because Mr Wenger and Arsenal were for many, many years the biggest rivals of the Sir Alex era – will show Mr Wenger the respect that he deserves.”

    Mourinho is an enigma. He is not in a hurry to change his ways. With Wenger out of the arithmetics of winning trophies in England at least, Mourinho has chosen another opponent, Antonio Conte, who he taunts before games against his former Barclays English Premier League side, Chelsea. Conte has all Mourinho’s sideline theatrics, except that he doesn’t kick objects in frustration  as Mourinho does to attract the officials’ wrath. The Italian fell for Mourinho’s match day mind games and it almost became a roforofo fight, apologies to  the late Afrobeat star Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

    Mourinho’s and Conte’s saga began after Chelsea whipped Manchester United 4-0 at Stamfrod Bridge in October 2016, with one Italian television station reporting that Mourinho told Conte: ‘’You don’t celebrate like that at 4-0, you can do it at 1-0, otherwise it’s humiliating for us.’’

    It was alleged that Mourinho’s frustration boiled over after the final whistle on grounds that Conte’s exuberant celebrations suggested that he had humiliated Mourinho, given the high score from the game.

    Mourinho knows how to win either the battle or the war. He likes delivering the last punch and he did when he described Chelsea’s last season’s Barclays English Premier League title win thus: ‘’Chelsea are a very good defensive team. I think in this situation a very defensive team wins the title with counter-attack goals and set-piece goals.’’

    Conte learned the mind games’ trick quickly and jabbed Mourinho last season after Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup for spending over £150m only to finish sixth in the league.

    The Italian said: ‘’This season it’s very important to understand that it’s not always about who spends more money who wins. This season isn’t the only season both Manchester clubs have spent a lot of money. We know the difficulty of the next season and for sure we want to avoid the Mourinho season with Chelsea. Two years ago the team ended the league in 10th place and we want to try to avoid this.’’

    Curiously, both men meet again in the final of the English FA Cup at Wembley on the 19th of May. Will they tear at each other in the build-up to the oldest competition in Britain? Happily, Conte feels there isn’t any war with Mourinho.  “With Jose, we have clarified the situation. This is the most important thing,” he said.

    “There is not a problem between him and I. I think this final is a game between two great teams: Manchester United and Chelsea. For sure, in my mind, I can tell you that we played last season in the final and arrived as favourites against Arsenal. This season, we are arriving not as favourites. But, as you know very well, we lost the final despite being favourites in my mind.

    “We are talking about two managers with strong characters, and two winners. When in your mind and your heart and your blood there is the will to win, for sure, we want to try to win this trophy. The same way Manchester United want to do this. I repeat. I have great respect for United’s story, for Mourinho’s story. They have the same respect, I think, for Chelsea’s story and my story.”

    I don’t expect Mourinho to do any mind games. He must have read Conte’s comments and I expect one stunt from him – Mourinho may wait for Conte at the tunnel before entering the field to shake hands. That is Mourinho for you- the man for the big occasions . Take a bow, Jose Mourinho.

  • Salah: Breath of fresh air

    These are interesting times for the beautiful game in Africa. An hitherto unheralded Egyptian is breaking records to the consternation of pundits, who didn’t reckon with his talent, when the European leagues began last August. Indeed, this Egyptian literally failed in his first sojourn in England, with Chelsea, leading to his sale to Italian side Roma FC.

    Jose The Special One, Mourinho sold him off to Roma on grounds of immaturity, believing that with regular appearances in Italy, this prodigious talent would blossom to earn his stripes. The result of that foresight a few years ago stares us in the face, with the rave reviews he has enjoyed this season.

    Step forward Mohammed Salah, the left footer who prefers to operate from the right wing with a good eye for scoring goals, in a selfless manner. Salah’s strength is his fondness of working with his fellow strikers Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. This trio have scored 88 goals (still counting) in all competitions. Having warmed his heart to his colleagues upfront, getting balls whenever he is free to score goals is like second nature to Salah.

    What do I mean? Salah has provided 13 assists to his mates (Mane and Firmino) to score goals. He has scored 43 goals from 47 matches and 13 assists. Awesome statistics for a  debutant at a top club such as Liverpool. Mane has contributed eight assists to Salah and Firmino, scoring 18 goals. Firmino has 13 assists like Salah but has scored 26 goals. They have also reciprocated the Egyptian’s gesture. Little wonder that Salah has scored this season 40 goals, 31 of them in the Barclays English Premier League.

    Had Salah, Mane and Firmino been competing for the highest goals scorers’ award, it would have affected their potency in front of the goalpost. The thinking that strikers are selfish has been thrashed by the trio, with the complimentary manner in which they have scored goals this season. And with a total of 43 goals this season, Salah has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the top scorer on the continent in all competitions as we enter the final stages of the season.

    Salah’s 43 have come in just 47 games, although Ronaldo beats that with an incredible 42 in 39 appearances. Roma’s fans in Italy were stunned not to see Salah celebrate after scoring two goals against his former team. They appreciated his humility, knowing that he didn’t sell himself to Liverpool. Roma FC’s management did. Don’t be surprised if Salah gets the fans’ reciprocal deafening ovation next Wednesday in Italy.

    It would be a travesty to do a wholesale comparison between Salah and Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. These twosome are soccer greats who have averaged over 40 goals per season in the last decade. This is the difference with Salah, whose ground breaking feats offer a breath of fresh air for soccer pundits.

    Whereas Salah scored 43 goals with 13 assists, Lionel Messi netted 39 goals with 14 assists. Ronaldo had 39 goals and eight assists before Wednesday night’s Champions League cracker against Bayern Munich. Inter Milan’s Ciro Immobile’s 36 goals and nine assists highlight how prolific these strikers have been this season.

    It is looking like a Real Madrid vs Liverpool finals at this year’s UEFA Champions League – a good prospect where the best two scorers come head-to-head. I can’t wait for the incursions of both strikers in the course of the final game. This final prediction is hinged on the outcome of both first leg matches at Anfield and in Germany. Anything is possible in football. It may not happen as I have predicted. But, if it does, then it would be a final game to remember, should Ronaldo and Salah play to their full potential.

    Mohamed Salah
    Mohamed Salah

    Ronaldo is the man for the big moments. Salah is new on this terrain but Liverpool’s pedigree in the competition and instructions from coach Jurgen Klopp, should propel Salah to greatness.

    Is Salah all about scoring goals? What does he do in his spare time? Is he the routine soccer star who enjoys life to the zenith? Salah told it all to CNN on Wednesday.

    Speaking to CNN, Salah plays down his importance, talks nutrition and eating Egypt’s national dish – kushari – as soon as he lands at home, and how his footballing experience has enabled him to deal with pressures of life.

    ‘’Kushari’’ is made from rice, lentils and pasta mixed together, with a spiced tomato sauce and garlic vinegar. On top, you have chickpeas and crispy fried onions. Hot sauce, garlic vinegar and garlic juice are all optional extras.

    ‘’Nutrition is so important, it’s part of the game,’’ he says. ‘’It has helped with my recovery, allowed me to sleep better and helped my body adapt quickly. My nutritionist says that because I don’t have any fat on my body, I can eat what I want. I also don’t drink so it’s fine. When I go back to Egypt, I call my friend from the airport to buy kushari for us to eat in the car. I pull my hoodie over my head, jump into the car and then I’m eating it straight away.’’

    ‘’If you talk only about Egypt, we are 100 million,’’ Salah continues. ‘’I have to be natural and not doing anything fake, not lying on social media, in interviews and life. This is my life, it’s an easy life. It’s not complicated. I have nothing much to do during the day but it’s a responsibility in the end.

    ‘’You have to take it easy and carry on. I’m not nervous about that,’’ he adds. ‘’It’s also a little bit difficult because you don’t have the freedom to make mistakes or something wrong. That’s pressure but when you’ve been under pressure for many years you can deal with it. It’s fine,’’ Salah tells CNN.

    Will Liverpool sell Salah for the  big cash? Liverpool made it clear after beating Watford in March that they would not consider any approaches for Salah and his remarkable form — he has scored seven times in his last six appearances, including Tuesday’s double against Roma — has strengthened their resolve.

    Liverpool want to keep Jurgen Klopp’s side together and Salah is central to that. They are also committed to agreeing a new deal with Roberto Firmino, who, like Salah, scored twice in the 5-2 victory over Roma in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. There are plans to overhaul Madrid’s squad but the fact that Salah has no buy-out clause in his contract complicates their pursuit.

    So, will Salah stay at Anfield next year? don’t bet on it. The transfer season is filled with intrigues, especially when the players decide to go for the cash.

    Mail online’s writer Pete Jenson analysed the other scenario of Barcelona FC’s management looking to torpedo Real Madrid in the quest for Salah’s signature next season thus: ‘’Barcelona are unlikely to make any attempt. Why buy the Red Messi when you have the original? They don’t have €200m. And they also have Antoine Griezmann on his way for half that amount.’’

    ‘’Real Madrid will be the buying club if anyone swoops this summer. The problem for Real Madrid is how they juggle the long-held desire to sign Neymar with a move for someone who would swallow up the budget to bring the Brazilian,’’ wrote Jenson.

    What do fellow Liverpool players think of Salah?  ‘’Forty-three goals, guys,’’ said Lovren, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘’Forty-three goals! F****** hell! I believe he should be regarded as one of the best three in the world at the end of the year. But, for us? He is the one.’’

    ‘’He’s becoming the superstar,’’ says Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren. ‘Maybe I couldn’t look into the future in pre-season and think he could do this. But now? They should be talking about him for the Ballon d’Or. When people talk about Messi and Ronaldo, they should talk about Salah.’’

    This is not a statement made for effect. Lovren might be one of Salah’s closest friends in the squad — the two frequently engage in winding each other up, whether at Melwood or on the social media — but his words reflect the levels to which he has climbed.

    Next week Tuesday and Wednesday are key dates for players of Real Madrid and Liverpool. The odds to qualify for the final game favour these two teams. But, football is a crazy game when it comes to predicting true winners.

  • Russia 2018: the winner is…

    Russia 2018 World Cup will be the showpiece of the best soccer players. I don’t expect big surprise, given the hectic season which most players have gone through, even though most of the big leagues’ winners were decided as far back as mid-January. Today, not a few players are nursing injuries. Brazil’s Neymar and Argentina’s Sergio Aguero are the biggest casualties. Others, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are tired due to their roles for Real Madrid and Barcelona. They play close to 60 matches seasonally and with World Cup’s seven fixtures, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if they don’t give their best in Russia. Will they recover on time to make the difference? A World Cup without Ronaldo and Messi is a commercial disaster for FIFA and a kill-joy for football faithful.

    The past eight World Cup winners – Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Uruguay, England, Spain and France – look good to win the diadem, except for the Italians who are absent-  no thanks to their seeming ageing players. These countries have mastered the act of qualifying for the Mundial by developing on the gains of the previous editions for the present squads. Indeed, the big eight World Cup winners (without Italy) have at least 70 per cent of those who were in Brazil four years ago, unlike others who have radically restructured their teams from the coaching crew to the players.

    Whereas the other 24 countries would be improving on their performances during the Mundial, these big seven would be doing things on impulse arising from playing together through big games, such as the  World  Cup and the Confederations Cup. The biggest beneficiary of these two competitions are the Germans, who used virtually two sets of players to win the World Cup in Brazil four years ago and the Confederations Cup two years ago.

    Germany’s manager Loew was pummelled by the press and  nationals when he dropped the nucleus of the World Cup team to the Confederations Cup. They couldn’t understand what points the manager wanted to prove to the world. For them, those who won the World Cup should be allowed to annexe the Confederations Cup, possibly to join the league of players who have achieved this feat in other countries.

    Not so for Loew, who was looking at the bigger picture- the future of the German side beyond the era of the golden generation. Today, Loew is the victor, as he has over 30 players who can win the World Cup back-to-back, if he gets his tactics right.

    Germany’s problem at the Mundial would not be blending, it would be how to manage the players’ tendencies to be overconfident, but this could be addressed easily by Loew’s tactical substitutions. He has at least two players per position who have delivered performances for club and country. It won’t be out of place to tip Germany to win the World Cup again. Well, that is one permutation for the Mundial. The history of the World Cup is full of fairytales where minnows humble the past winners.

    With players, such as Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Julian Draxler (PSG), Ýlkay Gündoðan (Manchester City) and Leroy Sané (Manchester City) in the midfield,  it will take more than just ill-luck for the Germans to beaten by pre tenders. Loew has a load on his shoulders with this galaxy of midfielders who would deliver defence-splitting passes to renowned and ruthless strikers, such as Mario Gómez (VfB Stuttgart),Lars Stindl    (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Sandro Wagner (Bayern Munich) and Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich). Need I list the German goalkeepers and defenders who have done well with their clubs? It will take lot to beat these Germans because they are young and immensely skilful.

    Would it be fair to tip the Brazilians as the next likely country to lift the World Cup in Russia? Why not? The Brazilians hosted the Mundial and were taught lessons about the game. In Brazil, the samba drumbeats were silent as their nationals watched in awe when the Germans decimated the Samba Boyz 7-1 in the semi-finals. It looked like an horror film, but the Brazilians have since learned the lesson of building on their youths. Equally horrifying was how Brazil lost the third-place bronze to Holland. They hosted the Mundial to lose, but they would be in Russia with a young crop of players who are the defending champions of the Olympic Games’ soccer event. Brazilians at home are doing everything possible to get Neymar back on his feet to play in Russia.

    So, who are the Brazilians to watch at the Mundial? There are midfielders such as Willian (Chelsea), Paulinho (Barcelona), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid) and Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk). They are youthful but lack the big stage experience to ruffle the feathers of the big boys. But the Samba Boyz attackers have tremendous club side experience, which could count for them with forwards, such as Douglas Costa (Juventus), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Jesus   (Manchester City) and Neymar (PSG).

    If there is a country that can dethrone the defending champions, Germany, it is Argentina, with an array of vastly experienced stars. It won the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Besides, most of them were members of the Argentina side that won the World Youth U-20 Championship in Holland.

    Lionel Messi is Argentina’s biggest player, but, if the coach decides to list Carlos Tevez in the squad for Russia, then the Argentines could be contenders for the title. That Kun Aguero being injured  isn’t strange. He has an unenviable history with injuries. He will be in Russia but  Higuain looks like the striker to deliver the goals, only if he isn’t as wasteful as he was in Brazil, four years ago.

    Manchester City FC’s doctors have ruled Aguero out for the season, which gives him time to recuperate for the World Cup.  The Argentines must look for another goalkeeper as it appears Romero won’t be fit for the Mundial, which makes matters worse since he is a reserve with Manchester United this season. He played a few matches but he looked unconvincing to bench De Gea.

    Argentina’s squad comprising Javier Mascherano Hebei (China Fortune) Ángel Di María (PSG), Éver Banega (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia  (Milan), Marcos Acuña (Sporting CP), Eduardo Salvio  (Benfica), Diego Perotti (Roma), Giovani Lo Celso (PSG) and Leandro Paredes             (Zenit Saint Petersburg). Their attacking options include Messi (captain)  (Barcelona), Agüero (Manchester City), Higuaín  (Juventus), Paulo Dybala (Juventus) and Ángel Correa  (Atlético Madrid). The problem with this squad is the manager’s tactics and ability to effectively utilise the potential of his players. With a better tactician, the Argentines could surpass their final appearance in 2014 by winning the trophy? I’m not suggesting a repeat of the 2014 final. If it happens, there is a justification for it, given the issues raised here. The French were winners in 1998 when they hosted the competition. They have been also-ran in spite of their potential. They have a coaching problem, which has rendered their big stars otiose during matches.

    If names could win the World Cup, then you can count on the French, with such players as Paul Pogba (Manchester United, Thomas Lemar (Monaco) Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus) and Adrien Rabiot (PSG). Others include Antoine Griezmann   (Atlético Madrid), Olivier Giroud  (Chelsea), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé  (Barcelona) and Anthony Martial (Manchester United).

    The Spaniards were the defending champions at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, having won the previous edition held in South Africa. In fact, they were the Confederations Cup defending champions. Purists tipped them to defend the trophy creditably, even if they don’t win the diadem. The Spaniards were taught the lesson of investing in the products of their youth teams. They fell like a pack of cards, largely because they came to Brazil with the team everyone was expecting. Nothing hurts more than a team that continuously hits your soft belly.

    Have the Spaniards learned from the Brazil 2014  fiasco? A bit: they have changed their squad. They will be fielding fitter players, but may not abandon their tiki-taka style. This could be their albatross since most of the countries in Russia know how to ground that style. Any chance for Spain of lifting the trophy? Read my lips.

    The new look Spain side will comprise Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Koke (Atlético Madrid), Isco (Real Madrid), Thiago (Bayern Munich) and Marco Asensio (Real Madrid). Álvaro Morata (Chelsea), Diego Costa (Atlético Madrid), Lucas Vázquez  (Real Madrid), Rodrigo (Valencia) and José Callejón (Napoli) complete the list.

    Belgium, Argentines and Spain look alike in terms of their players’ club form. But club football is a different ball game. Most of the club coaches are top tacticians, with most of the players being  internationals in their countries. Coaching may be Belgium’s Achilles hills. Their players include Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Michy Batshuayi (Borussia Dortmund), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Simon Mignolet   (Liverpool),  Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) and Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United). There are also Radja Nainggolan(Roma), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur),  Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Divock Origi (VfL Wolfsburg) and Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang). What a squad! But where is a manager to show the team the way during matches.

    England  may make the desired impact at the Mundial during the 2022 edition when the products of their grassroots competitions, who are the world’s best in two age-grade competitions become stars. For now, the English would only ruffle feathers, especially as their domestic league is one of the best. But those who make the English Premier League tick are foreigners who would be playing for other countries. God help England when they play such countries.

    No word on Super Eagles? Not a day for fairytale countries at the Mundial, dear reader.

  • So, Messi can be caged

    IT was a nightmare for FC Barcelona’s fans in Italy after the most exciting side to watch squandered on Tuesday a three-goal margin secured in the first leg against Roma FC in one of the quarter-finals fixtures in the UEFA Champions League. For most Barca fans, their team is complete, with Lionel Messi playing. And the Argentine never fails for both club and country. Indeed, Messi has scored goals that have left spectators amazed.

    Messi ranks close to Cristiano Ronaldo in no particular order because both make the game exciting. Messi passes the ball in the vintage Barcelona tiki taka playing style  until when he pops up to score a goal. But Ronaldo emerges from  Real Madrid’s superb decoy moves, which he may not initiate, to score goals which leave defenders dumbfounded. Both players are reliable. They carry their teams when things go wrong and have incredible passion for victory, which rubs off on the others.

    When Messi and Ronaldo are off form, Barca and Real Madrid suffer. You won’t blame them because their mates know their worth and play to their potential. Who doesn’t want to win matches and trophies? Real Madrid are not as potent as they were last season because Ronaldo hasn’t recovered from his injury which arose from games that he played for Madrid and Portugal. He is getting better and Real Madrid are better for it.

    But Juventus FC of Italy gave Ronaldo something to ponder over- he was effectively checked. But he rose to the occasion by stepping forward to convert what many thought was a controversial penalty kick. That goal earned Real Madrid the semi-final ticket on goals aggregate, having won the first leg in Turin 3-0, only to be beaten by Juventus 3-1. Only Ronaldo could have converted such a penalty kick, given the rift surrounding  English referee Oliver Michael’s decision, with most pundits asking if he could have made  such a decision, if it happened in the Madrid side’s 18-metre box. Sheer hypothesis. Michael’s decision was correct. I digress.

    And so, on Tuesday night when the Italians had Messi inside the defensive web, Barca was rudderless, leading to their exit from the most prestigious European club competition. Italians are reputable man-markers. They sat back to fashion out how to mark Messi. They compelled Messi to abandon his ball distribution to look for the vital away goal from the centre forward position. The Italians kept the ball away from Messi’s playing area, making Barca vulnerable to the three goals which the team conceded. Had Barca registered Phillip Coutinho for the UEFA Champions League, Roma wouldn’t have succeeded in eliminating the Catalan side.

    Barca needed a player used to taking charge of a team playing badly under pressure. Coutinho would have freed Messi from the trap by scoring the vital away goal from either a long range shot or one of the free kicks. Barca missed cup-tied Coutinho.

    What the Italians showed the world, especially Super Eagles coaches and players, was that marking Messi starts with ensuring that the team doesn’t play in his favourite areas. They didn’t give any particular player to mark him. They chose to ensure that m he doesn’t go on his characteristic dribbling runs to wreak havoc.  Messi needs space but the Italians choked the place, forcing him to search for the ball, which isn’t his strongest asset.

    Interestingly, Roma had to change their game plan to stop Messi and his rampaging teammates just like the Super Eagles will need to do against the Argentines – if the need arises at the World Cup.

    Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco’s eureka moment came at five o’clock on Sunday morning. Unable to sleep after Roma’s home defeat by Fiorentina, Di Francesco found himself jotting down various ways in which he could stop Barcelona.

    ‘I couldn’t sleep, plus I’m a bit insane, so I got out of bed and drew up possible schemes for the Barcelona game, different looks that would put them under pressure in different ways. And this came to me. Had it not worked, you would have killed me,’’ he said after Tuesday’s game.

    Most impressive about Di Francesco is the way he coached a completely new game plan to his players in just two training sessions.

    ‘’We had a long way to go after the first leg but all credit to the coach because he invented this formation two days ago, he drilled it into our heads and it worked wonders,” said midfielder De Rossi. I have never seen Barcelona struggle so much. We pressed them throughout the game from the first minute. It was the first time we played with three at the back and we did great.’’

    Nigeria are the Argentines’ last World Cup opponents, but they would be driven by vengeance to beat the Super Eagles, even if they beat Iceland and Croatia, which could spell doom for Nigeria at the Mundial. We need to learn how to handle special players. This starts with watching how they play to cage them like the Italians did to Messi.

    However, Nwankwo Kanu’s profound submissions to Eagles stars ahead of the Mundial in Russia, if heeded, could be the fillip the Nigerians need to cause the biggest upset in the history of the competition.

    “This team is very good. No need comparing them with any other set of Eagles’ players because those are different era. Right now we have to look at the present team and see what they are capable of doing. For me, it is a very good side. There are no stars in the team but they will excel as a unit,” Kanu added.

    ”This is the first time I am seeing a team and not stars coming together to play for the Eagles. Those on the reserve bench are as good as the ones on the pitch. They are also very young and energetic, while the few experienced players will provide the needed balance. What is important is to pick one or two lessons from the friendly games.

    “We should not get carried away by the results but use the games to build a strong side. A lot of countries are also watching us; so whatever we do in those games is what they will use against us. And I am sure the experienced coach will add value to the team.

    “My advice is that the players should know that they are going to Russia to represent the biggest country in Africa, the giant of Africa, Nigeria. Putting on the green and white jersey should mean more to them than personal glory. They should know that playing for the country is bigger than playing for their respective clubs. So they should go to Russia and make Nigeria proud.”

    Good talk Kanu at a sporting event in Lagos where Peter Rufai admonished the players thus: “I think the team is doing what it ought to do by playing friendly matches. The team has been preparing well and we will all agree that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has done well by organising friendly games for the team in different parts of the world that will enable the Eagles grab different experiences. The coach and his crew will also be able to design a tactical formation that will benefit the team.”

     

    Eight goals against Falcons

     

    The deafening noise from football enthusiasts since France beat Super Falcons 8-0 wasn’t unexpected. As African champions, Falcons ought to have buckled their shoes to give the French a good fight. It wasn’t going to happen because the Falcons have been out of the game for over two years. What happened against France is the price for inactivity. I hope our soccer chieftains have learned the desired lessons.

    Falcons players have cried since they became Africa champions two years ago that they needed to be kept busy with local competitions and quality friendly matches, such as the game against France. But NFF chose to first get the domestic league back by inaugurating a league board, which has Aisha Falode as its boss. Falode’s committee has done the needful by getting sponsors for the domestic game and bringing fresh ideas that led to the commencement of the domestic league last week.

    The eight goals drubbing by France should inform the need to reengineer the squad, which should start with getting new players to replace those who can’t compete at the highest level. We need new players who can only be discovered from a good monitoring system with set rules of what to look for in the new-look squad.

    Interestingly, the new coach saw it all. He must have taken note of the weak areas. I hope NFF can direct the new manager to watch the domestic league. Signs of what happened in France stare us in the face. We have overcome so many because we are talented and more experienced. If we don’t take radical steps to improve, we would soon lose our champions tag for the also-ran teams.

    NFF chiefs should ensure that players who are retiring or cannot fit into the manager’s plans should be on coaching courses so that they can be drafted to the domestic league clubs. We must stop this idea of using and dumping our heroines, in this case after winning laurels for the country. Good experience for the Falcons. They now know how others felt when Falcons whacked them by the same score and even more.

    Watch out France, the Falcons will be back to fight you till death.

  • Kanu for President? Yes… no

    Football fans can go to any extent to show their love for the players who excite them. They name their kids, pets and treasured items after their favourite stars to underscore their love for them. So, when the news broke that some Egyptians cancelled the names on their voter cards and wrote Mohammed Salah, before casting their votes, it didn’t come as a surprise. Football great, George Opong Weah, is the President of Liberia. The football president bug is spreading fast – a welcome development for the game.

    Salah is the hottest soccer star from Africa. He is making things happen for Liverpool FC of England and the Pharaohs of Egypt. Salah has broken the 29-goal in one season record set by Barclays English Premier League greats, such as Didier Drogba and the immutable Cristiano Ronaldo. This feat qualifies Salah for the class of greats, more so as he has scored 29 Barclays English Premier League goals for the Reds and still counting, with six matches to the end of the season in England.

    Salah’s sojourn with Liverpool is his second coming to the English league, having being sold to Roma FC after an unsuccessful stay at Chelsea FC of London. The Special One, Jose Mourinho, felt Salah was too young to compete with the best, hence the Egyptian’s listing for the transfer market. The Italian league helped Salah’s game, such that he is the African Footballer of the Year. He looks the odds favourite to retain the crown, if he continues his goal-scoring exploits at the Russia 2018 World Cup, with his Egyptian side.

    Going to the Mundial in Russia, Salah was Egypt’s highest goal-scorer, with five of the team’s seven goals. He also scored a stunner against Portugal, which persuaded Cristiano Ronaldo to talk with his Spanish side’s management to bring the Egyptian to Real Madrid next season. The Egyptian has given Real Madrid’s bosses a tall order to meet, if he must join them. He wants an assurance of a regular first team shirt and he also wishes to be the second highest paid player behind Ronaldo.

    Real Madrid are no strangers when it comes to recruiting big players. European clubs’ chiefs always pray that Real Madrid doesn’t show interest in any of their players. They are big spenders; so, Salah’s demands are expected. For Liverpool, another mind-boggling figure would be paid to get Salah, with many suggesting that it could rise to 250 million pounds next summer.

    Back home in Egypt, Salah is a cult hero, having participated actively in all human endeavours, including tackling disasters within the country. Surprisingly, during the last presidential election, some Egyptians struck off the names of candidates on the voters’ sheets and wrote Salah’s name with a vote. Of course, they knew such cards would be voided. But they had made their point – that the Liverpool striker should drop his hat in the ring in the future. Would you blame them? No. After all, Liberia chose Weah as President, after four failed attempts.

    Everything that Weah (born October 1, 1966) did came on impulse. He witnessed all that happened in his hitherto war-torn country, Liberia, and empathised with his people, who endured the horrors of a mindless civil war. He was a soccer star, who started playing on the streets of Liberia, which became grounds for war machines and battle tanks. His rise to stardom and the number one job is the manifestation of an audacious desire, conviction, hardwork, iron-cast will and uncommon commitment to a purpose.

    The dreamer in this case appears propelled by an inner spirit to save his country, his people from pain, poverty, destruction and all things odious to peace and the destiny of his fatherland. This trait and inclination he showed several times as a footballer, carrying the Liberian national football team on  his shoulders time and time again. He paid bills and match bonuses of his teammates, besides chartering aircraft to take the team to match venues.  Weah also engaged in charity work on which he spent his money.

    It was widely reported on Easter Monday that Nigeria’s most decorated footballer, Nwankwo Kanu was going to run for president in 2019. Kanu is free to contest the election, but he doesn’t belong to any political party and he isn’t known to romance politicians.

    Kanu is loved by Nigerians as much as  Liberians love Weah, and Egyptians Salah. But the difference is that Weah was persuaded by his people to run. He was compelled to return to school to update his knowledge. The Egyptians have flown the kite for Salah to embrace. But Kanu isn’t waiting for his people’s call to serve. He is motivated by the events in the country.

    “My presence here today is about the future of our country and the happiness of our people. The last 18 years of leadership has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria, plus general insecurity in the land. Also, I’ll do all it takes to wrestle corruption, which has become blatant and widespread. The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption.

    “If I get your mandate, I promise to do things differently and restore honour and integrity to public service by keeping the best and attracting the best. George Weah’s victory in Liberia is a pointer that this dream is very realistic with you all on my side,” Kanu said on Goal.com.

    Kanu, 41, will be hoping to unseat incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16, 2019 elections.  A few people would wish that Kanu vies for one of the football positions, either in his state or at the national level. Unfortunately, he isn’t eligible due to FIFA rules, having not been an active member of any state football association, though the Imo State governor could swing things in his favour by nominating him. Again, with the NFF elections slated for September, Kanu would not have met certain criteria.

    Just when the story of Kanu’s presidential ambition gained momentum, the leggy striker granted the same medium another interview, stating that his comments were in the spirit of the Fools Day on April 1. What a joke? We all fell for it . Good one Kanu, akin to what you do on the pitch. That is the spirit, Kanu. Nice one.

    “This is meant to be a joke but people haven’t seen it that way. I think there is a need to inform them that it is just April Fool. My immediate concern is using my vast contacts and experience to develop the Nigerian youth through sports. I also want to keep saving lives through the Kanu Heart Foundation,” he told Goal.com.

    One is excited that Kanu has continued to give back to the grassroots what he gained playing the beautiful game in Europe. Kanu’s Heart Foundation has been marvelous, with kids benefiting the most. All hail King Kanu.

     

    Thumbs down for Sports ministry, NOC chieftains

     

    Blessing Okagbare needs no introduction. She is the poster girl of Nigeria’s athletics squads. In fact, at the last Commonwealth Games in Scotland, Okagbare annexed the  gold medal in the female 100 metres and 200 metres. She anchored the country’s 4×100 metres relay quartet to win the female event.

    Okagbare has been very unlucky with the Olympic Games after she made her debut with a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ long jump. Okagbare does the long jump, 100 and 200 metres for Nigeria, besides anchoring the relay quartet. Busy girl, you will say but she does it for our fatherland.

    Sadly, officials who should reward her by ensuring that she doesn’t lack, sit aloof after every major event. These officials only remember that Okagbare exists when competitions, such as the ongoing Commonwealth Games holding in Gold Coast, Australia, are on.

    Stories of Okagbare spending $19,000 to treat herself at a Swedish specialist’s clinic has been splashed in the media. But, Sports Ministry and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) officials have looked the other way as if to say she is on her own. But, the story from Gold Coast is that these shameless officials are pleading with Okagbare to run in the 100 and 200 metres and perhaps anchor the country’s 4×100 metres relay for women, forgetting how much she spent to treat herself. Okagbare, we are told, is sticking to her guns to do just the long jump.

    Can you imagine these Sports ministry and NOC chiefs being angry that Okagbare wasn’t going to defend her title? These officials’ lack of care for our athletes is phenomenal. Former Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan virtually underwrote Okagabare’s bills since she was discovered from the state’s grassroots’ programmes. Uduaghan has left government and Okagbare is on her own.

    This is a plea to Okagbare – please participate  in all your events and ensure you are in Nigeria when the team will be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari. You are not running for these thankless officials. It is Nigeria’s national anthem that is sung when you are on the podium. Do it for Nigerians, please.