The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Moses roars: I am fit

    Moses roars: I am fit

    Chelsea forward Victor Moses has shrugged off an injury he picked up in the 4-1 thrashing of Mali in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

    The 22-year old raised concerns about being injured after contributing to two of the goals on Wednesday afternoon.

    After the game he confirmed that the damage is not serious at all, vowing to play in the final against Burkina Faso.

    “I am fit to play. It wasn’t anything serious and I look forward to playing in the final,” he said.

    Nigeria finished runners-up in the AFCON in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000 and won the bronze medal seven times.

    Moses has attributed their progress so far to team work.

    “It is always a team effort and I am happy that I could add value in my team. It is not about scores but making the team happy and winning,” said Moses.

    “We have worked so hard to be here, and we are hoping that we win this cup. Every player is positive and we are looking forward to give it our all.”

     

  • Keshi calls for calm

    Keshi calls for calm

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi warned that his team was still far from greatness, though the potential was there after they reached their first Africa Cup of Nations final in 13 years on Wednesday.

    A stunning first-half display helped the Super Eagles demolish Mali 4-1 in their semifinal at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

    Elderson Echiejile, Brown Ideye, and Emmanuel Emenike were all on target as the two-time former champions led 3-0 at the interval, before Ahmed Musa scored on the hour mark to stretch the advantage to 4-0.

    Mali, huge underdogs for the clash, eventually replied through Cheick Fantamady with 15 minutes left, but it proved a meagre consolation as they were outdone by a rival team full of energy and pace.

    Keshi was a player the last time Nigeria won the trophy back in 1994, captaining a team that included future stars like Daniel Amokachi, Jay-Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, and Finidi George.

    “It took us five years to build that squad, this one is just five weeks old,” he said when asked to compare the two generations.

    “I don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves; as I said, we’re still building. Don’t think we’re there yet.

    “That was a wonderful squad, the spirit in that team was unbelievable, we’re friends, we were brothers. Until I can get that same atmosphere from this team, we can’t really compare,” said Keshi.

    The Nigeria boss, bidding to become only the second man to win the continental showpiece as a player and coach after Egyptian Mahmoud El-Gohary, was also pleased that his plan to leave out several senior players from the current side had gone well.

  • MALI BASHING: Dangote splashes N130m on Eagles

    MALI BASHING: Dangote splashes N130m on Eagles

    President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has splashed the sum of N130 million on the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles for reaching the finals of the ongoing 29thAfrica Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

    The national team, Super Eagles reached the finals of AFCON 2013 by thrashing the Malian national team 4-1.

    A statement from Dangote Group explained that the gesture is part of Dangote Group’s corporate social responsibility ( CSR ) to promote and encourage sports development in Nigeria. The donation is to acknowledge the exploits of the national team at the AFCON and stimulate them to bring home the coveted trophy.

    Sports minister Mallam Bolaji Abudllahi speaking on the donation said: “Dangote has always demonstrated commitment to Government and people of Nigeria. We are happy over the gesture shown to the players and the coaching crew. It is an example for other well-meaning Nigerians to follow.”

    Football enthusiasts are commending Aliko Dangote on the gesture describing it as a necessary tonic that would inspire the Super Eagles to win the final match on Sunday February 10 against the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

    Ephraim Ubong, a football lover and Super Eagles supporter believes that the donation would spur the national team to win the trophy. Ubong, a staff of a creative agency in Lagos charged other wealthy Nigerians andorganizations toemulate Dangote by donating cash and materials to the national team.

    The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, kicked off from January 19 while the finals will be played on February 10, 2013. The competition is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Starting from this edition, the tournament was switched to being held in odd-numbered years instead of even-numbered years so that it does not clash with the FIFA World Cup.

    The winner of the tournament will qualify for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil as the representative from CAF.

    Dangote, a renowned philanthropist, uses the Dangote Foundation as a vehicle to drive his corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Each year, he spends hundreds of millions of Naira in donations that add value to the society both within and outside the shores of the Nigeria. The Foundation intervenes in the areas of health, education and empowerment. The Foundation is also involved in providing humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters.

    Dangote Foundation donated $2million in September 2010 to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help the survivors of the devastating floods in Pakistan. This would be the first time that an individual would make an unsolicited donation to the UNWFP.

    Back home in Nigeria, he donated $2.6million on October 5, 2012, to assist flood victims in Kogi State Nigeria, which is one of the heavily impacted states in the flood disaster that affected 23 out of 36 states of the federation in October 2012. He also made a donation of $16million in November 2012, to augment the Nigerian government’s effort to raise funds for the flood victims.

    He is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and has sponsored Young Global Leaders (YGLs) from Africa to attend meetings of the WEF. This is informed by his belief that the youth are the future leaders and as such should be nurtured to enable them to play this role.

    Through his massive investments across Africa, Dangote has helped to create jobs and improved on living economies. His investment in Sephaku Cement of South Africa, estimated at R779million in 2010, is to date, the largest foreign direct investment by an African company in that country. He has also put Nigeria’s name on the world map as a major manufacturing hub for cement.

  • Kanu commends Keshi

    Kanu commends Keshi

    Nwankwo Kanu, former captain of the Super Eagles has said credit must be given to Coach Stephen Keshi for re-introducing the Nigerian football culture into the national team.

    Kanu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the aftermath of the Super Eagles defeat of Mali, 4-1 at the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations that “Keshi is getting it right with the team.

    “Nigeria is once again playing the type of football that put the Eagle among the football powerhouses in the African continent.

    “The Nigerian culture and football is back and credit must be given to Stephen Keshi.

    “May be it is because he is a local coach and understands our football culture as the players have responded well to the way he wants the game to be played,’’ Kanu said.

    Kanu said that he hoped the current team would also emulate the class of 1994.

    “We had an excellent team then that was built on unity and the undying love for our country.

    ”What I have seen so far, the boys are following in our footsteps.

    “Playing for Nigeria is another thing, the players and the coaches are aware that a good display will see us winning the trophy,’’ Kanu said.

  • Eagles so Super, says Abubarkar

    Dolphins chief coach, Hassan Abubarkar has showered praises on the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their marvelous showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2013.

    Abubarkar said on Thursday that leading the Eagles to the final after thirteen years is a feat that must not be taken lightly.

    “Keshi has shown us once again the reason why we should be patient with our coaches. After all the complaints that the team was not doing well and the fact that the team seemingly did not start well at the competition, their last two games have shown they have began to play like true Eagles.

    “I believe he got the choice of players to take for the competition right and he also got his tactics right,” Abubarkar said.

    The new Dolphins man added that the showing of Godfrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi so far in the competition is a good advertisement for the Nigerian league.

    “For a long time people have spoken badly of the league but this risk Keshi took has told the world that there is still quality personnel in the Nigerian league and I assure you there are many more playing in the League who just desire a chance to show the stuff they are made of.”

    Having reach the AFCON final, Hassan says the Eagles have all it takes to fly all the way to winning the trophy on Sunday against Burkina Faso.

  • Mba wanted by Leverkusen

    Mba wanted by Leverkusen

    MTNFootball.com can exclusively reveal that Sunday

    Mba whose goal sunk Cote d’Ivoire is wanted by top German club Bayer Leverkusen.

    A top agent who is part of the deal informed MTNFootball.com: “Bayer Leverkusen are interested in Sunday Mba. I will give you an update within a day or so.”

    Incidentally, the agent had worked out a deal for the same player to join Elche of Spain in 2008.

    “He passed the trials, he was offered a deal but Rangers did not allow it happen because Elche could not meet the Enugu team’s valuation of the player,” disclosed the agent.

    Former Nigeria U17 international Mba has trained with former club Enugu Rangers in the close season, but his current club Warri Wolves have demanded for a little fortune from Rangers.

    The support striker or striker put up a wonderful performance for Nigeria with a commanding display in the middle of the pack and capped it with a great match winner against mighty Cote d’Ivoire in the quarterfinal of the AFCON.

    The 24-year-old Mba started his second game at the AFCON and showed class by scoring a fantastic individual goal after he got past three of his markers before he fired home.

    His display was again proof that there is a lot of untapped and unheralded talent in the Nigeria Premier League.

    Coach Stephen Keshi sang the praise of the unlikely match winner.

    “I thank Sunday for scoring the winner. It was a fantastic goal. May be I will go and give him a kiss to say thank you for scoring such a fantastic goal to win the match,” an over-the-moon Keshi said after the game.

  • Joy and fear in Burkina Faso after win

    Joy and fear in Burkina Faso after win

    There was mass hysteria in Burkina Faso on Wednesday night after the national team defeated Ghana to reach their first Africa Cup of Nations final.

    Uncountable numbers of Burkinabe – men, women and children – trooped out of their homes to celebrate the Stallions’ historic victory. Some broke down in tears by street corners, kneeling and thanking heaven for the triumph, while others, mostly youths, rode motorcycles in hundreds across the capital Ouagadougou honking their horns, screaming and singing. It was a night to remember.

    “Today is my greatest day so far in this country. We have never seen such fervour and cause for national get-together before. You can see for yourself, even the trees, the birds and goats are celebrating alongside (21) million Burkinabe,” Ismael Ouedreago, a 54-year-old stylist told Supersport.com.

    Most restaurants and beer parlours served food and drinks gratis to passersby, who were really not in the mood to eat or drink but to dance, jump, run and scream. Policemen abandoned their checkpoints to join the horde of jubilant fans.

    “This is our first time to reach an Afcon final, and beating Ghana convincingly is worth celebrating even by taking off my duty uniform,” Ahmed Sawadogo, a 37-year-old police officer said.

    However, underneath the wild raptures lies some fear for Sunday’s final against Nigeria, which many Burkinabe say remains very uncertain because of how the Super Eagles have been improving in the tournament.

    “Although we played a 1-1 draw against Nigeria in the group stage, the Super Eagles now seem like a wild beast that has just been unchained. They are devouring and the general fear here now is they could do the same to us like they did to Mali earlier on Wednesday,” said Awa Sanogo, a 41-year-old trader based in the country’s second largest city Bobo Dioulasso.

    Nevertheless, some feel even if the Stallions lose to Nigeria on Sunday it wouldn’t be any disaster because nobody had expected them to come this far.

  • No injury worries for me, says Emenike

    No injury worries for me, says Emenike

    Despite the injury scare to Super Eagles striker and leading scorer in the on-going Africa Cup of Nations, Emmanuel Emenike, the Spartak Moscow of Russia bulky striker has told soccer loving Nigerians that he would be ready for the final battle against Burkina Faso in the final match against Mali slated for the National Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday.

    “The injury is not a major one and I don’t want Nigerians to panic or worry about it. It was just a minor brush and I will be ready for the Mali match. Nothing can stop me from playing with God’s backing”, he told SportingLife in Durban.

    He also reiterates his ambition to help the Eagles to win the 2013 AFCON as well as emerge the Highest Goal Scorer of the tournament. Firstly I thank God for helping the team to this stage and I am happy for the four goals I scored already. But like I said I want help Nigeria win this (AFCON) Trophy and I want to win the Highest Goals scorer award at the end of the tournament. This is my ambition. I have been working hard with the team to this stage and I am ready to do more to achieve my ambition”, Emenike declared.

    He was also elated for playing in his first ever Nations Cup that he even went straight to the final. “I have played in the club competition against a top side like Barcelona and we excel. I am now going to play in my first ever Nations Cup final, there is nothing to compare with the joy in me now. I have prayed to God I want it to be memorable,” he prayed.

    He, however, warned his teammates not to treat Burkina Faso with kid-gloves. “We had a very good game in the semi-final match against Mali. I really enjoyed myself in the match. The match against Burkina Faso will be tougher than Mali and we need to work very hard to be able to beat Burkina Faso. We were lucky to convert most of the scoring chances that came our way in the match against Mali and I pray that this should happen in the final match. But I am confident that we will win the Cup by the grace of God,” he prayed.

  • AFN bars military, overage

    The Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has said that over-age athletes and those from the military will not participate in the 3rd Pastor D.K. Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships taking place in March.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championships will hold from March 6 to March 9 at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

    The Technical Director of AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, told NAN on Thursday in Lagos that the move was part of efforts being made to build a good foundation for young talents.

    He said that some of the athletes that would be discovered at the championships would be called to camp in preparation for the maiden Africa Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC) in April.

    “The idea is to ensure that we get it right, and lay a good foundation for our future stars and we shall be better off for it.

    “Hosting the AYAC is not our current priority. Although we expect to win, we want to do so with a qualified and acceptable team,” he said.

    Nesiama warned that the AFN would not entertain entries at the venue of the competition, and advised the state to abide by the procedure for entries sent to them.

    “The entries are expected to be made well ahead of the beginning of the competition proper. We have said severally that we shall not entertain entries at the competition venue,” he said.

    The director listed other requirements for accreditation as international passport, original birth certificate, last secondary school result or a copy of WAEC statement of result “if the athlete is out of school’’. He added that the athletes must not have registered to represent any athletics club to compete in the AFN major circuit before 2012.

  • Ambrose to miss Juve clash

    Ambrose to miss Juve clash

    Super Eagles and Celtic defender Efe Ambrose looks set to miss the first leg of the UEFA CL clash against Juventus come Tuesday February 12 having helped Nigeria to the finals of the AFCON 2013.

    Nigeria qualified for the finals of the Nations Cup with a 4-1 thumping of Mali in the semi-finals on Wednesday and are billed to take on Burkina Faso in the finals on Sunday.

    Ambrose is expected to start in the final which comes just 48 hours before Celtic are due to welcome Juve to Glasgow.

    He is therefore condemned to a frantic trip to Glasgow should he be keen on making the squad against the Old Lady which also means forfeiting all the after-events that await the team should they get past Burkina Faso but Celtic coach Neil Lennon has said he will give Ambrose every chance to feature should he make it on time back to the club.

    The 24-year-old starred and posted a superb performance for the Super Eagles on Wednesday as they breezed past Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final with a stunning 4-1 win.

    Stephen Keshi’s men had arrived Johannesburg for Sunday’s showpiece final against Burkina Faso seeking to become the first Nigerian side to be crowned champions of Africa since 1994.