Category: Sports

SUPER Eagles players have sent a passionate plea to officiating officials at the ongoing AFCON 2013 Nations Cup to be fair to the team in their remaining games, even as they hope to make the quarters when they clash with Ethiopia on Tuesday.

Reacting to Friday’s shock officiating, which culminated in a dubious penalty being awarded to Zambia by the Egyptian referee, team skipper, Joseph Yobo, said while he would not want to question the officials he would want to appeal for fairness, so that the best team will always win.

Yobo’s assistant, Vincent Enyeama, was more direct in his reaction: “It was a bizarre officiating, the worst penalty award I have ever seen in my entire football career, only God knows why they are doing this to us.”

Gangling defender, Azubuike Egwueke, said he was shocked from the bench area when the referee pointed to the spot. “It was like a dream and I was asking whether it was a penalty award or free kick against Zambia, CAF should help us plead with the referees to be fair to the team.” Sunday Mba, who is yet to taste action at the championship, spoke in similar vein, saying that even officials of Nigeria’s opening game against Burkina Faso seem to have a hidden agenda.

On his part, Ogenyi Onazi, who was alleged to have caused the penalty, said he’s still at a loss over the referee’s call. “The opposing Zambian player was the one who was pulling me, shoving and almost pulling down my pants and we were not even in the 18 yard box when the referee called for a penalty. CAF should please tell them to stop killing African football,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will this morning depart for Rustenburg from Nelspruit, where they will play their final game against Ethiopia on Tuesday. The team will leave Nelspruit at 9am for a flight to Pilanesburge Airport and arrive there at about 11:35am from where they will go by road to Rustenburg.

Similarly, Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi and Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), President, Kalusha Bwalya showed no animosity towards each other after the controversial 1-1 draw between both countries on Friday. The duo hugged, patted themselves on the back and recalled the heroic days of football when they were the sign-posts of their two nations.

“Present day players need to borrow a leaf from us on how to be true legends of the game”, Kalusha said with journalists snapping away at the duo in firm embrace.

PETER Odemwingie has reaffirmed his desire to leave West Brom this month, placing the blame for his wish to exit with the Baggies’ fans.

It was revealed earlier this month that the Nigerian international was looking to force a move to QPR as he had grown unhappy at the Hawthorns.

The Baggies rejected a transfer request from Odemwingie on Thursday, but he remains determined to leave the club before next Thursday’s transfer deadline, taking to Twitter to explain his decision to West Brom fans.

“I can understand the reaction of few Albion fans on my desire to leave the club. Real reason? Cos they once doubted my commitment,” he said on the micro-blogging site.”Want to know why I wanted to quit top flight football last summer earlier than I wished to? They know at the club.”

He added, “Albion fans are not the only reason, but made it easier for me to decide to stay and try my best to forget about the disappointment.

“I succeeded in doing that. But it’s not getting better. Before bigger disappointment comes one day I better leave on a good note.

COTE d’Ivoire scored two late goals to wrap up a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Tunisia in their Group D Africa Cup of Nations clash in Rustenburg yesterday.

Gervinho had put the Elephants 1-0 up in the first half and it seemed as if they would have a tense period at the end of the game to see off the North Africans, but Yaya Toure and Didier Ya Konan scored in the dying minutes to ease their nerves.

The Elephants surprisingly left the talismanic Didier Drogba on the bench for the start of the game, but his absence didn’t stop them from looking lively and energetic in attack, particularly in the first half.

The Ivoirians took charge of the game from the early minutes and proceeded to create several half chances. Their first clear opportunities arrived in the 19th and 20th minutes, but Salomon Kalou and Lacina Traore missed out.

However, just a minute later, Gervinho put the team in orange ahead, exchanging passes with Traore before sending a curling shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia and into the back of the net.

The West Africans should also have been awarded a penalty toward the end of the first half when Tunisia captain Khalil Chammam handled the ball in the 18-yard area, but referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn of Mauritius waved away their appeals.

Tunisia brought on both Oussama Darragi and Hamdi Harbaoui within 12 minutes of the restart, but it was the Elephants who remained the predominant attacking force in the match.

BARCELONA forward Lionel Messi has returned to full training and is available for today’s La Liga game at home to Osasuna.

The World Player of the Year missed training and needed physiotherapy on Friday after coming off as a precaution late in Thursday’s King’s Cup quarterfinal second leg win at Malaga.

“The Argentine forward will be available for selection for the next league fixture,” Barca said in a statement on their website.

The La Liga leaders are looking to get back to winning ways against Osasuna after their unbeaten start to the campaign was ended last weekend by a 3-2 defeat at Real Sociedad.

They still have an eight-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid, who play at Athletic Bilbao today, with champions Real Madrid a further seven points back in third.