The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • D’banj to perform at AFCON closing ceremony

    D’banj to perform at AFCON closing ceremony

    THE Soccer City Stadium venue of today’s Afcon final match is set to host Nigeria and Burkina Faso for the ultimate crown, even as Nigeria’s biggest Hip-hop star, D’Banj, will be performing his award- winning Oliver Twist number to millions of live and TV audiences in the closing ceremony prior to the final kick off.
    When Nation Sport visited the ‘African Calabash’ stadium yesterday, grounds men and volunteers were seen putting finishing touches to the playing turf .
    Also, the South African Air Force personnel were busy testing their fighter jets in preparation for the closing ceremony.
  • Mali beat Ghana to AFCON bronze

    Mali beat Ghana to AFCON bronze

    GHANA’S Black Stars once again fall to find an answer for the more resilient Eagles of Mali, who defeated them 3-1 to win the AFCON third place yesterday in South Africa.

    Ghana and Mali met for the fourth time in the last two Africa Cup of Nations having being drawn in the same group and ending up in the third place play-off at both tournaments.

    The Black Stars won this year’s Group B meeting, as they did in the 2012 edition, but Mali prevailed to finish third in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

    The same story was played out yesterday evening when Mali shot into 2-0 lead before the half time with goals from Mamadou Samassa and Seydou Keita in the 21 and 48 minutes respectively.

    Mubarak Wakaso’s penalty gave the Black Stars the edge in a tight 1-0 victory over the Eagles in Port Elizabeth but the left footer failed to net another penalty in the second half for Ghana.

    Kwadwo Asamaoh however pulled one back for the Black Stars before Sigamary Diarra sealed all hopes for their familiar foe, when he netted Mali’s third goal in extra time.

    Elated Mali coach Patrice Carteron said he is happy to go home with a medal. “It’s an important game for us because it’s really hard to finish in third place. Most of the big nations Cote d’ Ivoire Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia couldn’t manage it. So we have to appreciate winning it”.

  • Keshi: only God knows the winner

    Keshi: only God knows the winner

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi says he will keep faith in God for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Johannesburg.

    The Super Eagles defeated Eagles of Mali 4-1 in the semi finals match on Wednesday to reach the final and meet the Burkinabe who qualify for their first African Cup of nations final after upsetting the more fancied Black Stars of Ghana in the second semi final game on Wednesday evening.

    The former Mali and Togo coach, who admitted that there is still more to do in the team, added that the team will do all it takes to win the trophy and make Nigerians happy.

    “I am not God and I can’t say that this is what will happen on Sunday. The boys have tried their best to reach this stage and I think whatever comes out of the final, we should take it,” Keshi said.

    The former Togo coach also noted that the players have improved tactically.

    “The players were disciplined on the pitch and their tactical play has been encouraging. I just want them to have fun because it is important. Any job you’re doing and you’re not having fun, you are not going to have 100% results.”

    On the team’s success in the ongoing campaign, Keshi said: “I don’t know how big it is for me as a coach. My aim is to make Nigerians happy, which has been my challenge.”

  • Lam-Adesina charges Eagles to win

    Lam-Adesina charges Eagles to win

    Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dapo Lam-Adesina has charged the Super Eagles of Nigeria to go all out against the Stallions of Burkina Faso and ensure they win the African Cup of Nations’ trophy on Sunday.

    The Commissioner said this in his goodwill message to the Super Eagles of Nigeria who are due to play Burkina Faso in the final of the 29th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

    He said the good people of Oyo State like other sports-loving Nigerians are earnestly praying for the success of the team in the match while also congratulating the team for the success recorded so far despite not being considered as favorite.

    He charged every member of the team to show the true spirit of Nigeria which has been the driving force and a major contributing factor in reaching the final. Winning the trophy at this time, he said, will be good for the image of the country and serve as encouragement to upcoming footballers.

    He particularly praised Coach Stephen Keshi for keeping faith with locally based players who have distinguished themselves.

    Lam-Adesina also praised the effort of the technical crew as well as the Nigeria Football Federation for the support given to the team.

    He said the present administration in Oyo State is willing to partner with the NFF on Football development in the grassroot which has been one of the cardinal programmes aimed at restoring the lost glory of Sports in Nigeria, while also hoping to see one of the National Teams play their home matches in Oyo State.

  • Thigh injury: Emenike’s scan result out today

    Thigh injury: Emenike’s scan result out today

    Efforts to get Emmanuel Emenike in shape for Sunday’s final against Burkina Faso got a boost Friday after the AFCON 2013 top scorer underwent a scan to asses his thigh injury.

    While at the team’s evening training session on Friday, SportingLife gathered that the scan was supervised by Eagles doctors and that the result will be out today.

    As the players trained in groups, those that played in the semi-final victory against the Eagles of Mali had a very light training session while the others were drilled to keep them in shape.

    Emenike could however only watch from the bench as Daniel ‘Da Bull’ Amokachi and other Super Eagles coaching staff drilled the players.

    The Eagles are expected to complete their last training session by 5pm Nigerian time today.

     

  • Kanu backs Eagles to excel

    Kanu backs Eagles to excel

    Ex-Super Eagles defender, Ogbonna Kanu has thrown his weight behind the team in their final clash against Burkina Faso taking place at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, in South Africa.

    Ogbonna, who is the younger sibling of former Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu, though confident that the Eagles will carry the day, pleaded with coach Stephen Keshi to stick to the team that played in the last two matches if he expects to get the better of the Burkinabese.

    “Nobody gave any of the two teams a chance to get to this stage of the competition. So for them to have advanced thus far, that means they have quality. But at this time I don’t think any team is capable of pushing away the Eagles.

    “That does not mean the Burkinabes will be easy prey, but the Eagles will win the match. I just hope that Keshi will maintain the team that has played the last two games,” he said.

    He expressed concern on the fitness state of Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike, adding that their exclusion may dent the flow of understanding that has existed in the team, but hoped that the duo becomes match fit before Sunday

    “It is really worrisome that Moses and Emenike may not play in the finals. I heard the team doctors are working on them and I expect they are fit before the finals; that will be a big boost,” he said.

     

  • Moses: We ‘ll go full force against Burkina Faso

    Moses: We ‘ll go full force against Burkina Faso

    Victor Moses has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles won’t turn down the heat against Burkina Faso like they did in the group stage after school boy defending gifted Alain Traore an opportunity to score the equaliser.

    The Chelsea striker told SportingLife immediately after the Stephen Keshi-tutored-side zoomed into the final of the 2013 AFCON by defeating Mali 4-1 that: “It is great being in the final. We played our hearts out against the Malians so it is no surprise that we scored four goals.

    “The game against Burkina Faso will be tough; we’ll go full force against them as we would not want a repeat of what happened in Mbombela, where they scored an equaliser in the closing minute of the game.”

    SportingLife recalls that Moses has declared himself fit after undergoing an MIR scan to ascertain the extent of the ankle injury he suffered in the semi-final triumph over the Eagles of Mali on Wednesday.

  • Echiejile dedicates goal to God

    Echiejile dedicates goal to God

    Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile has dedicated his semi final African Cup of Nations goal against the Eagles of Mali on Wednesday to God and his family.

    The FC Praga of Portugal defender scored the opening goal for Nigeria in a 4-1 rout of Mali on Wednesday.

    He said: “I am very happy that I scored in this tournament. What I always think is to help the team and defend well, but I am happy that I am not only helping the team but I even scored. I am happy for that. I want to dedicate this goal to God and my family for their support.”

    The former Rennes of France left back believes the team are strong enough to lift the trophy on Sunday.

    “We have a great team now. We are playing well and we are looking forward to the final game on Sunday.”

  • Eagles now used to criticism — Enyeama

    Eagles now used to criticism — Enyeama

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama has said that the team are thriving on criticism.

    The Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel goal tender said the Eagles were not bothered by the barrage of criticisms from Nigerians, stressing that they have become used to it.

    The coach Stephen Keshi-led side were subjected to series of condemnations from football-loving Nigerians following their below-par performance at the beginning of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, but the tune changed when the Nigerian side gave an outstanding performance during the quarter final clash against Cote d’Ivoire and improved on it against Mali in the semi final on Wednesday.

    Enyeama said whatever the team does it is always criticised by Nigerians.

    “Nigerians always criticize, so I am used to it. I have been in the team for 11 years and I know what it is all about, irrespective of what happens Nigerians will always criticize,” Enyeama said.

  • FG to induct Eagles into Hall of Fame

    FG to induct Eagles into Hall of Fame

    The Federal Government has said it is ready to make the present set of Super Eagles players the first beneficiaries of the National Sports Hall of Fame, that was recently given approval by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdulahi, said on Thursday night while addressing players and officials of the Super Eagles at the Garden Court Hotel abode in Milpark, South Africa, that the government has also mapped out a heroic welcome for the team by Monday next week.

    Abdulahi, who was in company of NFF President, Aminu Maigari, Director, Elite Athletes, National Sports Commission, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, NFF board members, Chris Green and Felix Anyansi-Agwu, said the government is proud of the achievement of the team so far, but added that the team must complete the job by winning the trophy. “Victory is not everything but victory is the only thing”, he declared. He admonished the team to go all out for victory in the final against the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the Soccer City in Soweto on Sunday.

    Maigari on his part thanked government at the highest level for the huge support the team has been receiving so far, assuring that the team will surely defeat its opponents for the trophy on Sunday. He said all obligations to the team has been met, thanks to express approval by government at all spheres.

    The NFF boss revealed that he has already received words from President Jonathan of another tele-conference with the team before the final, as the last one so motivated the players that the President feels they need his tonic to excel in Sunday’s grand finale.

    Head Coach Stephen Keshi spoke in a similar vein, noting that the team has come too far in the competition to let its guards down. On his part skipper of the side, Joseph Yobo, thanked the Minister for always being there for his team, assuring that the team has resolved to unite and conquer the Nations Cup trophy for Nigeria. “We will not let Mr. President who has been so supportive down and we cannot let our families and the people of Nigeria down. We are certain that the trophy will be won fair and square on Sunday”, he said.