The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Lawal, Akpoborie tip Eagles for quarter finals

    FORMER stars have backed Nigeria to beat Ethiopia on Tuesday to reach the last eight of the AFCON after they dropped points against Zambia, reports MTNFootball.com

    The Super Eagles are now on two points from as many matches after they were held to another 11 draw by defending champions Zambia on Friday in Nelspruit.

    Ex-international Garba Lawal said that the Eagles are capable of advancing to the knockout stage but must still be at their best against bottom team Ethiopia.

    “The Eagles still have chance to qualify for the quarterfinal, but they must beat Ethiopia to go through and it is not going to be easy. It’s a must-win for the Eagles,” said Lawal.

    “Ethiopia will come to fight and so the Eagles must be at their best to beat them.”

    However, ‘Chindo’, who is on the NFF technical committee, said Coach Stephen Keshi would have to explain why he chose to play 4-3-3 and leave out wing play.

    “Keshi chose the players for the competition, so he will have to explain what happen to the wing play and why he resorted to a 4-3-3 formation. Apart from formation the team is not playing as a team,” he said.

  • Pascal urges Eagles to go for goals

    EX-INTERNATIONAL, Patrick Pascal has charged the Super Eagles to score goals if they want to progress in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The Nigeria national team on Friday had finished their second group match on a sloppy note as they allowed the Zambians come back in the 85th minutes after scoring in the early minutes of the second half played at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.

    The Atlanta ’96 Olympic gold medallist charged the players to replicate their club performances when they don the national colours as it was during his time as a player.

    “I don’t know what becomes of a team that don’t score goals and can’t defend the few goals they score. I think the attitude of the players is called to question. The second match was better than the first and I hope they continue the progression.

    “Now as usual, we have started our usual permutations which for me is not right. We hope we win the match against Ethiopia or else stand the chance of dropping out of the group in the group stage for the first time,” he said.

    He, however, reminded that with the support the team have enjoyed, Nigerians will not accept any excuses for failure.

  • Guinness to deliver world largest jersey to Eagles

    AN official sponsor of the Super Eagles, Guinness, has promised to deliver the world largest jersey with 1 million signatures of Nigerian fans to the Super Eagles as morale booster.

    Speaking at the unveiling of the largest jersey in the world at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, the Guinness Marketing and Innovation Director, Austin Ufomba, said the massive jersey would be delivered electronically to the Nigerian team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

    “We are assuring fans of Super Eagles that we would find a way to get this to the Super Eagles. It has been estimated that about 1million signatures would enter this jersey and in this modern world, we would find a way to get it to our team in South Africa. With this kind of support, we believe that Eagles’ morale would be boosted,” added Ufomba.

    The Jersey which was measured by the quantity surveying firm, Billings Cost Associates and vetted by the renowned audit firm, Alexander Forbes, and results presented to Guinness Managing Director, Mr. Seni Adetu. The record breaking size of the Jersey was confirmed at 249.9 foot by 275.58 foot setting a new world record over the last set at 234ft 1in by 259ft 8in at Istanbul in 2009.

    The Lagos State governor represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Youth and Social Development, Dr. Abiola Awonuga, also expressed his appreciation to Guinness for their support of the national team and commended their innovativeness in putting Nigeria on the world map positively.

    “I am very proud that Lagos State has been given the rare honour of hosting the record-breaking jersey and we especially commend Guinness for taking the initiative to support the Super Eagles and the ever resolute Nigerian fans in the hope of bringing back the cup” Awonuga said.

  • Mikel begs Eagles to stop Ethiopia

    Mikel begs Eagles to stop Ethiopia

    CHELSEA star Mikel Obi has urged the Eagles to defend their leads as they aim to beat Ethiopia and reach the quarterfinal of the AFCON.

    The Eagles, parading as many as 17 debutants at this AFCON, have twice allowed their opponents to cancel out their leads at this tournament in South Africa.

    They were pegged back 1-1 by Burkina Faso with virtually the last kick of the ball on Monday and on Friday; they again allowed Zambia to salvage a precious point in Nelspruit.

    “We have to learn more on how to keep our lead. We have to keep concentration and keep doing what we are doing,” Mikel said.

    “We have to keep improving; we have to keep believing in what we are doing, we have to keep believing in the team.

    “We have still got a chance to qualify and hopefully in the last game we will get the three points we need to qualify for the quarter finals.”

  • Super Eagles divide NFF board members

    BOARD members of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) differed in opinions after the Super Eagles recorded another draw at the ongoing Nations Cup in South Africa.

    The match between the Eagles and the Chipolopolo of Zambia which was played at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa on Friday had ended 1-1 amid controversy.

    While some members think that the Eagles still have a chance to qualify for the next round, others think it is of no use since the team do not have what it takes to forge ahead in the competition against seemingly stiffer opposition. They were engaged in a heated argument which lasted for hours on the way forward, as they analysed the performances of the players.

    Agreeing that the team enjoyed enough support prior to the competition and have no excuses to fail, they could however not pin down the cause of poor results that have characterised the Eagles’ AFCON campaign.

    “These players will kill us one day. They could not even defend one goal till the end of a game. I have said it that if we are not careful Ethiopia will shock us,” said one of the members, who does not want his name in print.

  • Save Nigeria from shame

    NIGERIA Football Federation (NFF) has urged the Super Eagles to double their efforts in their last group C game against Ethiopia on Tuesday to qualify for the quarter final of the ongoing Africa cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Friday to put the team’s qualification on a tight rope.

    A member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ahmed Muazu Kawu in South Africa said it will be an embarrassment should the Super Eagles fail to make it to the next round of the competition

    He insisted that the Federation still has faith in the Stephen Keshi technical crew and expressed confidence that the team will not only reach the quarter final but will make it to the final if the players put in their best.

    “We are happy with the way the boys have been playing so far. We could all see that there was an improvement in their game against Zambia considering what they played against Burkina Faso on Monday. Although, nobody is happy that we are not winning our matches but if you look at the circumstances that surrounded our games we will still not to condemn our players.

  • Eagles demand fair officiating against Ethiopia

    Eagles demand fair officiating against Ethiopia

    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.

  • Yobo: We’re disappointed

    Yobo: We’re disappointed

    Super Eagles defender, Joseph Yobo has admitted that the Nigeria squad was not satisfied with the team’s performance in Friday’s 1-1 against Zambia’s Chipolopolo at the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa.

    Speaking with CAF’s official website moments after the match, Yobo, who was an unused sub during the match, said: “We are disappointed but we can’t really complain much. We now have to focus on the next match against Ethiopia because that’s the only game that can make us qualify to the second round of the tournament.”

    Nigeria will face Ethiopia in one of group C’s last games on Tuesday in Rustenburg.

  • Baggies reject Osaze’s transfer request

    Baggies reject Osaze’s transfer request

    West Bromwich Albion have turned down a transfer request from striker Peter Osaze Odemwingie.

    The Baggies rejected a bid from QPR for the Nigeria forward earlier this month and the club insist none of their core players are for sale.

    Sporting & technical director Richard Garlick said: ‘Peter is hugely popular with our supporters and it is disappointing that he has decided to hand in a transfer request.

    ‘It was immediately turned down and has done nothing to change our stance during January.

    ‘Peter is under contract until the summer of 2014 and we have no need or desire to sell our core players.

    ‘We want to keep the squad intact to enable us to build on an encouraging first six months of the season.’

    Odemwingie sent a mixed message to supporters after the final whistle against Aston Villa last weekend and said: ‘It’s normal that players move clubs.

    ‘There has been an offer – I’m 31 now and I was thinking to secure my future in the Premier League which is my desire.

    ‘I had a good talk with the owners of the club, I’m here and I’m happy, this is always my club that I love.’

  • Tit bits : Keshi must ‘stay on his feet’

    Tit bits : Keshi must ‘stay on his feet’

    Reports awash in the media in South Africa are alleging that some Nigerian dignitaries, who watched the Super Eagles’ first match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the on-going AFCON, are critical of coach Stephen Keshi for not permanently remaining on his feet throughout Nigeria’s 1-1 draw last Monday.

    It was scooped that after the match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso, some officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) gathered at the Stay Easy Hotel lobby and openly criticised Keshi for not standing throughout the encounter. They reportedly saw it as a mark of technical deficiency. In their strange reasoning, how long Keshi ‘stays on his feet’ during a match will determine his level of technical alertness.