The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

Ideye hails Emenike partnership

Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye has exclusively revealed that his partnership with Emmanuel Emenike in the Eagles attack against Burkina Faso in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is near perfect.

Ideye, who plies his football trade with Dynamo Kiev, further stated that all they need is a longer time to blend and attack problem would be as good as over.

The former Ocean Boys of Bayelsa prolific scorer it will be recalled provided the stylish pass that saw Emenike score the first goal in the opening match of their campaign in Group C of Africa’s most prestigious soccer fiesta.

“It was a perfect team work between myself and Emenike,” said Ideye.

“Emenike is truly a striker of repute, he has pace and he is rugged. I know what he can do with the ball because we play in the same league in Russia. .

“He is strong in the air and I know I can complement his capabilities..

“Having a lethal finisher like Emenike in this team is great; he can play with anybody and can also play in any team in the world.

“With a goal to his name, I believe he will score more goals and his goals will lift the team.”

January 24, 2013
Judo coach attributes challenges to lack of exposure, training mats

Rabo Adikwu, a Lagos State Judo coach, on Wednesday called on the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) to organise more local championships in order expose judokas to international standards.

Adikwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that a lack of competition could cause redundancy among athletes, saying the sport was fast losing its relevance in the country.

”The challenges facing judo in Nigeria, one is lack of exposing the athletes are one of the problems NJF is causing. Two, organising more local championships for the athletes, to keep them busy. When you create championships for them, you have to expose them and they will always be at the shape. But by the time you do not create local championship for athletes, they become a redundant athlete. Then when they hear there is a championship, in three months time, he starts training today and after the training he goes down again,” he said.

He said it was shameful that countries like Sierra Leone and Niger participate in virtually all the international championships which served as Olympic qualifiers.

“The great nation of Nigeria with over 150 million people could not attend Olympics last year on Judo, it is a very very shameful thing. But we can still make it right by start putting our acts, our heads together now, organising championship and we make sure we start attending all the qualifiers.

“IJF (International Judo Federation) season has started since last year, there is a grand slam in Dubai and there is a grand slam by Feb. 9 in Paris and there is a grand prix in Germany. And there is a Judo Turkey and all these are part of the qualifiers, if we have countries like Sierra Leone, Niger attending all these qualifiers, why can’t a great country like Nigeria do that for goodness sake.

“We have all the potentials, we have all the strong men, we have all technical men on ground to put things together band make it right.”

He also appealed to other states to emulate the developmental programmes of Lagos State in talents discovery and nurturing.

“Other states should be encouraged to acquire training mats, for example in Nigeria, I can say that it is only six states that has the blue mats and without training facility, how do you intend to train athletes.

“Lagos State is a great state because we even have two set of mats, other states should emulate Lagos state and make sport to develop.”

January 24, 2013
Bradley interested in playing ‘Armstrong’ in biopic

Bradley Cooper is ready to cycle full speed ahead to star in a major biopic – if he’s asked.

The Oscar-nominated “Silver Linings Playbook” star expressed how he’d love to play the role of Lance Armstrong in a film, he told the BBC.

“I would be interested in that,” Cooper said to the BBC.

The former Olympic cyclist turned disgraced athlete admitted he used banned drugs and blood doping in order to win his seven Tour de France titles.

Paramount Pictures and JJ Abrams’ production company Bad Robot are in the planning stages for the biopic about his story, which will be based on New York Times reporter Juliet Macur’s upcoming book “Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong.”

January 24, 2013
President’s letter will ginger Eagles, says Yobo

SUPER EAGLES’ skipper, Joseph Yobo, says the team is in high spirit and will do the country proud despite the 1-1 draw it had in its first game against Burkina Faso.

Yobo was reacting to a letter delivered to the team on Monday evening by Sports Minister, Hon Bolaji Abdulahi, in the company of the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maiagari, who was in company of Executive Committee member of the federation, Chief Emeka Inyama and Director, Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme.

The letter which was personally signed by President Jonathan read in part: “The Africa Cup of Nations has always been an exciting and important sports event for us in Nigeria and other African countries. However, this edition of 2013 even holds a greater significance for us as a nation. Next year 2014, our dear country will be one hundred years old. As we look back and celebrate our achievements as a strong, united nation, we cannot understate the role that sports, especially football played in our national life. Football remains one enduring unifying factor in our country which transcends our diversity. A successful outing at the Africa Cup of Nations will offer a great opportunity to further inspire pride, faith and hope in a re-energised new Nigeria in the course of our centennial celebrations”.

The Eagles’ skipper who was in the company of all the 23 members of the squad and technical crew, said he was moved that despite the busy schedule of the president, he still finds time to watch the Eagles and motivate the team, declaring that the team is now more than inspired to do the nation proud at the championship.

“I will like to on behalf of my mates assure Mr President, that we will not let him down all we need is for him to continue to say his fatherly prayers for us all and we shall surely deliver”, he said.

January 23, 2013
Nigeria, Zambia will be like Cup final-Yobo

Nigeria’s Captain Joseph Yobo has vowed that the Super Eagles will approach their next match against champions Zambia with more determination.

Yobo told newsmen shortly after a last-minute loss of concentration at the Nations Cup in South Africa, had caused his team to fritter away aone-goal lead gainst Burkina Faso with just three minutes left for play.

Nigeria led all the way from the 23rd minute, when Emmanuel Emenike scored, only to concede a goal in the last seconds of the match against Burkina Faso in group C of the tournament.

The draw has put Nigeria in a tight corner, especially in its next match against Zambia on Friday.

Zambia drew its opening match with Ethiopia, meaning it will also be desperate for a victory in its next match, a situation that will make Nigeria to work extra hard.

“The match against Zambia is going to be like a Cup final because we want to make sure that we qualify for the next stage,’’ Yobo said after the Burkina debacle.

He conceded that the 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso was far from what Nigeria had expected, adding: “as far as the result is concerned it wasn’t the best start for us. We were supposed to win this game; it is like a lost game to me.’’

Yobo, however, praised Burkina Faso, saying the team deserves credit for finding the equaliser.

January 23, 2013
Algerian journalist blasts ref Benouza

• He was harsh on Eagles — Ambrose

Top Algerian journalist with Al Jazeera TV, Laraba Mourad, has blasted his compatriot and referee for the game between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, Benouza Mohammed for being less than fair in the handling of the game, alleging that the referee has a history of poor officiating and corruption in Algeria.

“When I saw him at the start of the game I knew that Nigeria was in for trouble and said what the hell is he doing here?. A man who has been accused in Algeria of match-fixing and taking bribes to fix games is here to officiate in Africa’s show-piece tournament?. It was really sad and he did not disappoint me at the end of the day. He called on CAF to ensure that they carry out proper scrutiny of referees across the continent before appointing them for major tournaments.

Mourad, who is in South Africa to cover the Nations Cup for the top TV station also predicted that with what he saw of the Super Eagles, they can go all the way and win the trophy. “Normally, first matches are always very tough for big teams because they don’t know the opposition, there is also pressure and in the case of Nigeria there was bad refereeing. Once the team settles down, they will go places because they have a good side and Keshi is also a very good coach because I know him in his days as Mali national team handler.”

Meanwhile, Efe Ambrose who was red carded in the encounter said he was shocked by the decision of the referee on the evening. Ambrose said even the yellow card he was issued was a first tackle and he did not deserve to be given. “Then, the red card was totally shocking because the contact was very minimal and it was as if he was waiting for two players to make contact to issue Nigeria a red card, but we leave God to judge him and his officiating”.

January 23, 2013
Burkina Faso relieved at Moses’ absence

The Burkina Faso side that pulled off an injury time draw with Nigeria in their opening group game were very relieved to see Victor Moses’ name missing from the starting line-up. That’s according to sub Ab Traore and Keeper Soulaman who spoke briefly with supersport.com at the Riverside Park Mall as the players strolled around.

In surprisingly fluent English they asked: “What happened to Moses?” When told that the Chelsea winger was carrying an injury Traore looked to the heavens and said: “Oh, we were glad when we did not see his name because man, he is very good and deadly”.

Soulaman on his part thought that when Nigeria had possession towards the end and were heading to the corner flag, “We thought they were going to go there and waste what little time that was left. So, when we got the ball back we knew it was our last chance,” the Asante Kotoko keeper spoke with a wide smile. The Burkina Faso players seemed really relaxed as they strolled around taking photos with the locals.

The Nigerian technical crew met with the board of the Nigerian Football Federation at a hotel in Nelspruit. The meeting that lasted a little under 2 hours ended with all parties coming out with smiles. At the end the NFF president Aminu Maigari assured that “there was no pressure put on the crew to perform nor targets mandated to them.”

Coach Keshi agreed also, saying “we are all working together and no issues at the moment”!

Nigeria take on Zambia in their next group game on Friday.

January 23, 2013
Sober Eagles vow to crush Zambia

• Keshi says ‘no shaking’

Super Eagles players and officials have put the 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso behind them and are looking forward to the potential group decider against defending champions, Zambia on Friday with Head Coach Stephen Keshi saying only a win will do.

“We threw away the game in the last minute but that is football, if you fail to take your chances you get punished. But I have absolute confidence that you are still the big team of the group and on Friday go out there and prove it against Zambia”, Keshi told the players moment after the encounter against the Burkinabe.

Skipper Joseph Yobo, said the team still has the belief to go all the way in the championship and will prove that in the game against Zambia. “One slip on the way does not end the journey, we are determined to make Nigerians happy with this tournament”, he said. He praised the team spirit exhibited by the Eagles before the equalizer and urged Nigerians not to give up on the squad.

Midfield star, John Mikel Obi, says the Eagles were a bit naïve in the manner they approached the closing stages of the encounter. Obi, who was named Man of The Match, said he preferred the three points to being so named and assured that the Eagles will be back and better in the game against Zambia on Friday.

January 23, 2013
Emenike earns rave reviews

Emmanuel Emenike has won rave reviews for his performance and goal against Burkina Faso in Nigeria’s 1-1 drawn opening game at AFCON 2013.

The burly Super Eagles forward, who played in South Africa’s First Division with FC Cape Town before moving to Europe, got the highest rating from fans on MTNFootball.com’s Rate the Player platform.

The Spartak Moscow man got 29 likes and zero negative ratings. He was the only Nigerian on the night not to get any negative ratings. The closest player to Emenike was Mikel Obi who got 27 likes.

Emenike was also at the top of another list recently. The story about ‘Emenike leads Eagles’ attack’ was this morning’s most popular story across the entire MTNFootball website.

Errol Dicks, the chairman of FC Cape Town and the man who took Enmenike to trials in Turkey, said he is thrilled to see his progress.

“You know, he phoned me before the game and said ‘Chairman, I am going to score today and kiss the badge’. Well, he did just that. I am so proud of him,” Dicks told MTNFootball from Cape Town.

“We have walked a long road together and he is like a son to me. I remember when nobody wanted to look at Emmanuel. No teams at all. So to see how he has developed and where he is today is such a wonderful story.”

January 23, 2013
Oliha raps Eagles’ defence

• Says Yobo should be drafted to right full back

Former Super Eagles midfielder Thompson Oliha has singled out the senior national team’s defence for the sole reason the nation failed to pick maximum points against the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the Group C encounter of the 2013 African Cup of Nations played on Monday night.

Oliha, a member of the 1994 Eagles that dazzled the continent to Nigeria’s second conquest in the Nations Cup at the 19th edition in Tunisia, opined that the defence marshalled by captain Joseph Yobo was the country’s Achilles heel against the Burkinabes.

He added that the country’s representatives also suffered from loss of concentration which, he enthused, was unheard of in games of such magnitude and at such a time in the match.

Oliha warns that for Nigeria to survive the onslaught of the defending champions, Zambia’s Copper Bullets, the Eagles captain should be replaced in his preferred central defence with another better player while Yobo be moved to the right full-back position because of his experience.

Currently one of the coaches in the Kwara Football Academy of Excellence, Oliha said the Stephen Keshi-led Eagles’ technical crew should tutor and lift the spirits of the players ahead of their must-win match against Zambia.

A furious Oliha disclosed: “Nigeria had no defence against Burkina Faso. For me, Yobo had a bad day and should be replaced in our next game from the central defence position if we want to get anything out of that match.

“We also suffered from loss of concentration and we paid dearly for it so late in the match when we were already celebrating a win. It was that bad.

“Keshi and his other aides in the technical crew should be able to fashion out a winning formula and strive to lift the spirits of the players. This will make them come all out against Zambia and get the needed victory. At this stage of our game we should not be having problems with countries like Burkina Faso, and the fact that we struggled against them showed the level to which our game has gone down against so called minnows on the continent,” the one-time Eagles star concluded.

January 23, 2013