The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • ‘Cote d’Iviore ‘ll be hard to beat’

    ‘Cote d’Iviore ‘ll be hard to beat’

    Godwin Bamigboye, Chairman, Nigeria Coaches Association, FCT Chapter, said the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire would be a difficult team to beat at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON).

    Bamigboye was speaking on Thursday in Abuja ahead of Sunday’s AFCON quarter-final match between the Super Eagles’ and their Ivorian counterparts in Rustenburg, South Africa.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that though the Super Eagles had a great chance of moving to the next stage at the tournament, they had to be weary of the talented players in the Ivorian team.

    “I trust them and I think they will need to up their game against the Elephants, especially after watching their previous matches against Burkina Faso and Zambia, where they lost conentration in the last minutes of the game.

    “Taking on Cote d’ Ivoire is a different ball game altogether. It must be approached with a different mentality; it’s not the same thing as preparing against Ethiopia and the other teams we played in Group C because there is no second chance for both teams,’’ Bamigboye said.

    According to him, Nigerians will be happy with the Eagles if they can eliminate Cote d’ Ivoire from the competition, adding that the Eagles will need to be more prepared to emerge victorious. He also advised the Eagles to be mindful of the physique of the Ivorian team.

    “The Ivorians have no appetite for defeat; sometimes, they resort to physical combat to ensure that they get the job done. They also know how to control the midfield where their attack finds support. This is why Nigeria’s Super Eagles must put their act together and score early goals. That way, they will always be a step ahead of their opponents,’’ he said.

    Bamgboye added that the Elephants may be tough, but could still fall easily to a side that is determined and ready to carry the day.

  • Kanu wants more support

    Kanu wants more support

    Former Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu has called for support for the Super Eagles ahead of their quarter-final match-up against Cote d’Ivoire.

    Kanu was at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium to see the team work their way past Ethiopia and says the Eagles need all the support from their fans.

    “Most average teams are lifted by the support of their fans,” he told KickOffNigeria.com. “I know a lot of people have written us off already, but this team will surprise people. I remember the same thing happened at the Nations Cup in 2004 when we were about to face Cameroon, but we ended up beating them 2-1. I believe in this team and the coach.”

    Kanu said the fans would have to do their part and not send negative energy to the team.

    “The boys need encouragement, and if they see that the fans are backing them to win, they will give more than their usual. But if we keep talking about how they will lose, how can the players raise their game when their own fans expect them to lose. Even if every other person says they will lose, let us as Nigerians believe in them.”

  • NSSF: Team leaders berate LOC, organisers

    NSSF: Team leaders berate LOC, organisers

    Several team leaders from various states participating in the on-going National School Sports Festival in Port Harcourt tagged Rivers 2013 has berated the organisation of the tournament, describing it as rag-tag and below expectation.

    Their complains range from the absence of the members of the Local Organizsing Committee at the various venues to the fielding of over-aged athletes in the events.

    Others complain of the jam-packed events that is already wearing out the athletes especially the ones from Primary as they have to compete under the high sun.

    Speaking with The Nation SportingLife, Adamu Hashimu of the Federal Capital Territory contingent noted the lapses in the tournament including a very sensitive issue of some disqualified athletes participating in the events.

    “If I’m to rate them, I will rate them average because of the organisation. The arrival schedule was on the 24th but till 29th nothing happened. Now we have our events packed together and that is why students are collapsing.

    “Screening were done and over aged athletes were screened out but now all of them are participating and the LOC cannot be found so as to lodge complains. Many are using National Sports Festival athletes to compete.”

    “We are supposed to work with the LOC but we do not see them around. We feel it should not be like this. See us competing under the sun because we have just three days to compete. We cannot see the organisers.

    “My candid advice is that we keep to time and date and use the right age grade if we must succeed. The aim of this games is to develop talents and not to recycle athletes”, he said.

    His Delta counterpart, Lucky Obonaniariemu who is the state NSSF PRO did not seem happy at all with the winning at all cost mentality.

    “It is a bad scenerio on the part of Rivers state to host and win at all cost. The other states had to protest before they came out for screening on the 28th. They did not want to be screened. It was the text messages from the NSSF President to the Rivers sports commissioner in which he threatened that the state will be banned if they fail to show up that made them come out for screening”.

    He noted that the events should be thoroughly developmental rather than a do-or-die affair.

    “This is about catching the young ones with the talents so as to develop them for National Sports Festival. It is supposed not to be winning at all costs. See how events are packed because there is no time and because of this weather, children are now fainting”, he said.

    Another team leader who pleaded anonymity said he could not understand why school sports will be going on and the schools in the state are not here to witness the events.

    “Where is the Ministry of Education? Where is sports? Where are the LOC members? Where are the organisers?”, he queried.

  • I want to surpass Usain Bolt

    I want to surpass Usain Bolt

    Young Chibuike from Metropolitan Secondary school Onitsha who retained his 100 metres race title in the National School Sports Festival events going on in Port Harcourt has said he wants to surpass the Legend, Usain bolt in his sprinting career.

    Retaining the title he first won last year in Calabar, the young Anambra state athlete said he has a future in sprinting.

    “I am happy to win again”, he said. “I am the defending champion. I won it last year and this year I trained hard and I have won it again.

    “I have a very big dream and it is to be like Usain Bolt and to even surpass his records. Everyday I desire it and that is why I don’t let anything to disturb me. Its my everyday dream. I want to run for Nigeria, I want to win medals for my nation”, he said.

  • Anichebe’s team mate joins Etuhu

    Anichebe’s team mate joins Etuhu

    Victor Anichebe’s team mate at Everton Anton Forrester has joined Dickson Etuhu’s Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer.

    Blackburn Rovers have announced that they have signed the teenage striker on a free transfer after a successful trial with the club.

    The 18-year-old never appeared for the Toffees at senior level and his contract at Goodison Park was due to expire at the end of the campaign.

    After impressing new boss Michael Appleton, Forrester has agreed a deal with Rovers until June 2015.

    As part of the agreement, Everton will receive a percentage of any future sell-on fee for the player.

  • Cote d’Ivoire: We must avoid silly mistakes – Ideye

    Cote d’Ivoire: We must avoid silly mistakes – Ideye

    Before the Tuesday game, you people have been complaining about the pitch, how can you describe Royal Bafokeng Stadium?

    The pitch helped us in the game against Ethiopia on Tuesday because we kicked the ball on the ground and the pitch stop the bouncing of the ball. I think the pitch played an important role on Tuesday.

     

    Against the Cote d’Ivoire it is going to be a tough one for us. How do you guys see the match coming up on Sunday?

    It will be a big game no doubt about that. We know how important the game is and everybody here knows how important the game is for Nigerians. We will go all out and make sure we bring victory to our country.

     

    We have not been seen more goals from the strikers, what do you think responsible for it?

    I don’t know the reasons. We might not score more goals but the most important thing is that we are winning matches. For me I am okay with that.

     

    Like how many goals should we be expecting against Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday?

    We will go all out and win I can’t promise of any goal, the most important thing is that we win and we have to make sure that we win on Sunday.

    Nigerians back home expecting nothing sort of victory from the team.

     

    What assurance are you giving them and what are you expecting from Nigerians too?

    We will do our best like we’ve being doing in our previous games and it is God that will decide what will happen on Sunday.

     

    You are one of the Nigerian players that have played in major league. You must have used to these Ivoirian players. How tough do you think the game will be for the Super Eagles?

    It will be very difficult game for us. I think right now we’ve leant our lesson from all the games we’ve played. I think we don’t have to do the same mistake we’ve committed in the previous games. We just have to make sure we keep the ball on the ground and be very calm in the game.

     

    Some are saying the Ivoirians team are full of names and of cause; their name is enough to scare any team.

    Yes, if you see their team they have all the big names. This day’s names don’t play football I believe if we give our best something good can come out of it.

     

    Thank you for talking to SportingLife

    It is my pleasure.

  • NSSF: Ogun, Cross River for primary badminton finals

    NSSF: Ogun, Cross River for primary badminton finals

    Ogun, the gateway city state, showed that it was not in Rivers 2013 National School Sports Festival to joke when it dominated the Primary Badminton singles game played at Diete Spiff Sports Centre yesterday.

    The state had outshined other states in the quarter-finals and semi-final games of the male and female categories.

    This domination leads to Ogun first and second male teams confronting each other in the finals to be played today while the Ogun female will be confronting Cross River female in their own finals also today.

    In the male semi-final singles result, Ogun first team defeated Akwa Ibom second team by two nil while in the second semi-final, Ogun second team also defeated Akwa Ibom first team by two nils.

    In the Primary girls singles semi-final results, Ogun defeated Delta bt two nil while Cross River defeated Akwa Ibom also by two nil.

    Both finals will be playing today at the Spiff-Diete Sports complex.

    As at the time of this report, the Junior secondary male and female singles were about to kick off at same singles.

  • Eagles, Elephants in royal showdown

    Eagles, Elephants in royal showdown

    West African heavyweights Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire clash on Sunday in the headline game of the quarter-finals of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Both nations have met five times previously at the Cup of Nations with honours evenly shared – two wins each way and a draw. The Ivorians won the most recent match-ups – 1-0 in the semi finals of the 2006 finals in Alexandria, Egypt and a 1-0 win in Sekondi-Takoradi in the group phase of the 2008 finals in Ghana.

    Nigeria triumphed on penalty shoot-out after 2-2 draw in a famous 1994 semi-final showdown in Tunis and also pipped their West African rivals 1-0 in a group phase affair in Algiers in 1990. The draw was in a group phase match in Lagos in 1980, with the Eagles going ahead to win the Cup.

    At other levels, Nigeria came out the stronger in a quarter-final clash at the 2008 Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament, beating the Ivorians 2-0 in Chinquadao.

    Former Super Eagles’ defender Benedict Iroha, who played a huge role in that 1994 semi-final, and is in South Africa, said on Wednesday: “The Ivorians have always been tough customers. I played against them several times.

    “I can never forget that 1994 semi-final clash in Tunisia. Most of their players were my team-mates at ASEC Mimosas, including Michelle Bassole who scored their two goals, as well as Abdoulaye Traore and Aka Kouame.

    “We got back into the game when Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) scored and I then exchanged passes with Jay-Jay Okocha to score the equaliser. We had chances to win it in the second half but their goalkeeper, Alain Gouamene, was something else. We eventually won on penalties and beat Zambia in the final to lift the trophy.”

    Nigerians are also unlikely to have forgotten the two teams’ clash in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying race. Algeria, which represented Africa at the World Cup in 1982 and 1986, were favourites when lumped in the same-final qualifying group with Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.

    The Ivorians came from one goal behind to defeat Nigeria 2-1 in Abidjan but were turned back 4-0 in Lagos. The Eagles flogged Algeria 4-1 in Lagos and held out for a 1-1 draw in Algiers to reach their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals.

    On Sunday at the Royal Bafokeng, the royal showdown between these two teams will definitely come with plenty of fireworks and inferno.

    “The Super Eagles are like the underdogs in this match. But it is good for us because the players will not feel any superiority complex and will approach the game with the right mentality, to prove bookmakers wrong. I feel that something good will happen on Sunday. The Eagles will fly,” said Emeka Inyama, chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee.

  • Keshi needs a team leader — Oliseh

    Keshi needs a team leader — Oliseh

    SuperSports guest analyst at the Africa Cup of Nations, Sunday Oliseh says the Super Eagles urgently need a motivational leader.

    He has therefore advised Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi to work on his players’ confidence.

    He said it would help to spot their leadership qualities.

    “I am sorry to say but the coaches are not building players but personalities. In my opinion, they should make the players talk during match conferences. It should not be the technical crew alone. That way you are helping them to overcome their fears,” he said.

    Comparisons have been drawn between the 1994 side that won the Nations Cup trophy in Tunisia and the present squad.

    “That was what Westerhof did in our time by developing players. That is why people can always refer to our team as being blessed with born leaders,” he added.

     

  • Maigari thanks Nigerians

    Maigari thanks Nigerians

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari has expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria for the tremendous support so far given to the Super Eagles at the 29th Africa Cup of Nations.

    The two-time African champions reached the quarter finals in South Africa on the back of a 2-0 defeat of Ethiopia in Rustenburg on Tuesday night, with two earlier 1-1 draws against Burkina Faso and Zambia looking to put them in danger of elimination.

    In Johannesburg on Wednesday, just before setting out to Rustenburg to meet with players and officials of the Eagles at their Hunters’ Rest nest, Maigari minced no words in commending the Government and Nigerians at home and abroad for their prayers and general support that have seen the Nigerian squad thus far.

    “I want to say that progress to the quarter-finals has been made possible by the huge support we have received from the Government and our people from everywhere, at home and in the diaspora, people of different faiths and backgrounds praying in one accord for the team’s success. We owe it to the Government and all these people to progress even further in the championship,” Maigari said.

    Victor Moses, 22, who was born in Kaduna but has lived in England since the age of 11 (incidentally, the number he wears for Nigeria) won and converted two late spot-kicks that steered the Eagles into the last eight.

    Ironically, Moses travelled to Nigeria in March 2011 for a 2012 Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia and trained with the Nigeria squad, only to discover that he could not play because his eligibility papers had not arrived from FIFA’s headquarters.

    Disappointed, the dreadlocked attacking midfielder returned to England, and seeing his passion, the NFF worked hard at his papers which finally arrived in October 2011 – the same month Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2012 finals.

    Moses showed his fervour in subsequent games for Nigeria, and was voted the Most Valuable Player when he scored a brace in the Eagles’ 6-1 spanking of Liberia in Calabar in November that ensured Nigeria’s passage to South Africa 2013.

    Maigari added: “Moses did pretty well against Ethiopia and we must applaud him and the other players for their commitment to the cause and enterprise.”