The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • AFCON: Eagles won’t underrate Burkina Faso – Yobo

    AFCON: Eagles won’t underrate Burkina Faso – Yobo

    Captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, has warned Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia to expect tough confrontation, as the team will not underrate any team at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Nigeria will play its first game against Burkina Faso, and Yobo said he knows there are no more minnows in football, and will lead the squad out in full strength on Monday.

    “There are no more minnows in football.

    “We won’t underrate any team, but we will respect all teams and take one game at a time.

    “We have to take the game against Burkina faso and Ethiopia as serious as the final,” futaa.com quoted Yobo as saying on Wednesday.

    Nigeria will take on defending champions Zambia, before playing Ethiopia in the last group game.

     

  • YOBO SCREAMS Eagles tired of bronze

    YOBO SCREAMS Eagles tired of bronze

    • Says players ready to improve on status
    • Rues trophy-less past with teams

    Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo has revealed that his mates have resolved to play in the finals of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in order to improve on the team’s previous third-place finish in the competition.

    Disclosing this in an exclusive interview he had with Channels Teelvision Sports on Tuesday, Yobo rued the fact that he had in his wardrobe four bronze medals from the competition where he will be making his sixth appearance for the Super Eagles.

    “I can tell you that my colleagues and I have resolved to improve on our bronze medals feats. I have four and like most of us with more than two appearances, we have told others that we will give our matches our best performance, if we must prove our mettle in the competition.”

    Asked how he felt with the presence of many players who wil be making their debut in the African Cup of Nations, Yobo said: “the coaches have picked the best players. What I have seen in training convinces me that they can hold their own against any oppososition. We will guide them through the matches. Football is about team work and not individual performances.

    Asked if the South Africa 2013 African Cup of Nations will be his last, Yobo would rather look at how well he plays in the competition than considering this edition as his last. He however promised to give his best during Nigeria’s matchees stressing that what the team needs from Nigerians is suppport and their prayers.

  • Okala calls for calm over Ejide’s injury

    Okala calls for calm over Ejide’s injury

    Former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala on Tuesday said that there was no cause for alarm over the injury sustained by Super Eagles goalkeeper Austin Ejide.

    Ejide sustained a hamstring injury during the team’s international friendly match against Cape Verde Islands in Faro, Portugal on Jan. 9.

    Okala, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, cautioned sports analysts to be mindful of how they discussed the issue to avoid distracting the team’s coaches. The 1980 Nations Cup-winning goalkeeper with the Green Eagles said that it was only the coaches, led by Stephen Keshi, that could tell the real situation of the player.

    Okala said the three goalkeepers in the team were the best in the country for now, adding that Ejide’s unfortunate injury had not impacted negatively on the team.

    “Ejide’s injury is unfortunate but he has not been ruled out of the tournament and there are two other goalkeepers in the team, so they can hold the fort until he recovers. People should stop nursing unnecessary fears or causing distractions over the issue; let us not try to rank or rate the players when we are not with the team. The coaches are in the best position to tell what the situation in camp is and they have not complained of any cause to change the formation,’’ Okala said.

    He, however, attributed the alarm to ignorance about the quality of the players in camp, especially Chigozie Agbim, who, he said, had been “doing wonderfully well with Rangers International FC of Enugu.

    “Agbim has been doing well in Rangers recently, he is an excellent goalkeeper; he is in great form. I am telling you what I know about very well, coaches are realists, they work with the best available at any given time,’’ he added.

    Okala urged lovers of the game to pray and support Keshi and his lads to do their best for the country at the tournament.

  • Keshi has his money — NFF

    Keshi has his money — NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied reports that head coach of the national team, Stephen Keshi is owed salaries and other financial entitlements.

    Executive committee member of the NFF, Barrister Chris Green also revealed that the Federation had never owed Keshi or any of its coaches salaries.

    “The NFF is not owing Keshi salaries and we have never owed him in the past. We have seen reports in some sections of the media claiming we owe the coach salaries but these stories lack facts and substance,” Green told supersport.com.

    The NFF chief also revealed that issues of discontent between players and the NFF which have severally threatened to rock the Super Eagles in the past will not be experienced in South Africa.

    “As I speak to you, we have paid all camp allowances and other financial entitlements to all the players in Faro, Portugal. Morale has never been higher among the players and we are confident they will recompense our efforts with a good showing at the AFCON,” he said.

    Nigeria is in group C of the 2013 AFCON alongside Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and the reigning champions, Zambia.

  • Renard to wear ‘luck charm’ against Eagles

    Renard to wear ‘luck charm’ against Eagles

    ZAMBIA’S coach, Herve Renard says he will wear his luck charm when the Chipolopolo clash with Nigeria’s Super Eagles and other teams of Group C.

    The African champions battle Keshi’s Eagles on January 25 at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit and the charismatic Frenchman declared: “I will maintain wearing my ‘luck charm’ white shirt at the 2013 AFCON finals and beyond.”

    On the Chipolopolo’s build-up to the AFCON campaign, Renard said while people were not happy with the results in warm up matches, the team’s target was to be 100 per cent ready for the tournament.

    “We just need to improve our finishing. Our aim is to be ready for the January 21 fixture and my job is to ensure the team is efficient at AFCON.

    “When Usain Bolt was participating at the Olympics in the semi-finals, he did not put his 100 per cent performance but he showed his real character in the final,” he said.

    Goalkeeper, Kennedy Mweene said the squad knew what was at stake and that the players had been working hard to ensure a good output at the AFCON.

    Having won the 2012 AFCON title against all odds, Mweene said Zambia were now a team to beat and that the squad would be ready to face the new challenges in South Africa.

    “Team spirit helped us win the AFCON last year. We work for each other,” the first-choice goalkeeper said.

    Midfielder, William Njobvu, who missed the 2012 AFCON final due to injury, said he was happy to be back in the fold and that the Chipolopolo were eager to do Zambia proud again.

    “We have the confidence to defend the title. Without the confidence, I would have stayed back,” Njobvu, who last played at the AFCON in 2010, said.

    Zambia will start the AFCON title defence campaign against Ethiopia at Mbombela Stadium on January 21 before tackling Nigeria four days later and play Burkina Faso in the final Group C match on January 29.

  • Ike Uche’s hat-trck propels Eagles

    Ike Uche’s hat-trck propels Eagles

    • Nigerian team departs for South Africa today 

    The Super Eagles ended their training in Faro, Portugal in style on Tuesday when they trounced, Portuguese second division side, Farense 5-0 in a game described by Head Coach Stephen Keshi as a dress rehearsal for the team’s opening game against Burkina Faso on January 21.

    The match which was again played at the Browns Sports and Leisure Club in Faro, where the Nigerian side stayed throughout its sojourn in Portugal, was barely five minutes old when right-back Efe Ambrose’s surging run into the danger area of the Portuguese side was met with a vicious hacking. Centre referee Luis Costa wasted no time in pointing to the spot.

    Chelsea star John Mikel Obi stepped up to coolly slot home the opener. But Farense made things difficult for the Eagles as Senegal-born striker, Sone Diop, Falardo and dangerman Fabio Texeira attacked sporadically in search of an equaliser that never came till the end of the first half. The Eagles on the other hand had plenty of chances to have buried the game in the first half but Nosa Igiebor hit the cross bar thrice, Mikel followed suit with a fiery shot that also hit the bar and Emmanuel Emenike missed a sitter.

    In the second half Head Coach Stephen Keshi made sweeping changes. Kenneth Omeruo was in for Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa for Elderson Echejile, Ogenyi Onazi for Mikel Obi, Sunday Mba for Igiebor, Obiorah Nwankwo for Fegor Ogude, Ikechukwu Uche for Brown Ideye, Gabriel Reuben for Efe Ambrose mid-way into the half, same as Vincent Enyeama was replaced by Chigozie Agbim.

    There was no immediate impact with the changes until in the 75th minute when Emenike’s furious onslaught down the left wing of the pitch was clinically finished off by Ikechukwu Uche for one of his three goals of the evening. Goalkeeper Agbim must be credited for his quick counter-attack throw to Emenike.

    Uche was to score another in the 80th minute after nice footwork by Ejike Uzoenyi left him face to face with goalie Sergio Serrar. He blasted into the roof of the net. He completed his hat-trick of the evening after a fine interchange of passes between him, Onazi and Ejike.

    Just as the referee was about blasting the final whistle Ejike was to set up Emenike for the final goal on the dot of 90minutes for a comprehensive whitewash of the Farense side. The referee did not even allow for a restart after the fifth goal.

    Farense Coach Antero Afonso said at the end of the encounter that his side learnt useful lessons from the Nigerian national team and predicted that the Super Eagles will do well at the championship going by the quality of players he saw in the friendly. “You have what it takes to win the championship, but you must take each game as it comes and adopt different styles for different opposition. You have very quick players so don’t allow yourself to be under pressure at any time in the tournament. I may not know the teams that will be at the tournament but the team I saw today should be among the favourites to win the African Cup”, he said.

    The Nigerian side will depart Faro by 12:30 Portuguese time for Lisbon from where the team will connect a flight to Paris, France and from there to Johannesburg, South Africa. The team is expected in Nelspruit, venue of two of its first two group games on Thursday morning.

  • NFF advance party off to South Africa

    NFF advance party off to South Africa

    A STRONG Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) advance party led by NFF board member Emeka Inyama left the shores of Nigeria to Nelspruit, South Africa yesterday evening to conclude arrangements for the Super Eagles’ entry into the country for the 2013 African Nations Cup.

    SportingLife reports that the NFF delegation left the Zone 7, Abuja Secretariat of the football house around 5.15pm for the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport yesterday.

    Among the members that left for South Africa yesterday were Director of Competition of the NFF, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed and the officer in charge of Super Eagles’ kits, Taju Tiamiyu. They left the country via Arik Air yesterday.

  • Mikel key, Martins will be missed

    Former Nigeria star Tijani Babangida has tipped Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi to be key to Nigeria’s quest for a third AFCON title.

    The ex-Ajax Amsterdam winger told MTNFootball.com that Mikel’s displays for Chelsea as well as his performances in the Eagles have shown that he will play a pivotal role in the Eagles in South Africa.

    He also spoke generally about Stephen Keshi’s team at the 2013 AFCON.

    What can you say about the exclusion of Martins, Osaze and Taiwo from the AFCON?

    Keshi knows better because he gave these players a chance to prove themselves, so, if he makes any decision now as regards them, it could only be best for the team. But all the same I still believe Obafemi Martins ought to be in the team because he has scored almost every weekend in Spain.

    I am also surprised that keshi never gave Michael Enaramo a chance because he has also been scoring often for his Turkish club. Nigeria have not been fair to Eneramo.

    Who do you think should be in the team among the three major omissions?

    Martins. His experience would be missed in South Africa. Even though we are looking for younger players, his current form shows he needs to be there. Don’t forget at the France 1998 World Cup the late Rashidi Yekini was included due to his experience so that if things didn’t go well with Victor (Ikpeba) and co in the strike force, we could easily call up his experience.

    Who are the other players who ought to be in South Africa, but are not?

    Sani Kaita. His presence is needed in the team’s midfield. He is born to fight and win battles in the midfield.

    Will the home-based players not struggle at the AFCON as the league has ended since September?

    Not really. I am sure Keshi knows those ones who are capable of playing for him and playing those friendlies will make them ready for the big one in South Africa.

    Which is Mikel’s best position in the Eagles?

    The position he has been playing in Chelsea.

    Who among the players do you think will lift Eagles when the chips are down in South Africa?

    Mikel of course! With his current form and what he achieved last season as well as his recent performances for Eagles, it is very clear he is our class act.

    What was in the 1994 and 1996 team that you think the current Eagles need to have to be world beaters?

    The 1994 Eagles were a generation of stars with high level of dedication. That was what the 1996 Olympic team followed. If the current set of players could also manage this, the Eagles will fly again.

  • Enyeama to go naked if Nigeria wins

    Enyeama to go naked if Nigeria wins

    • Plans to strip to underpants
    • Wants to be Eagles’ goalkeeper at 42

    Nigeria’s goal-keeper Vincent Enyeama says that he will be so overjoyed if Nigeria win the AFCON that at the final whistle on February 10 he will strip to his underpants.

    “It will be a dream come true and I am certain I will strip to my shorts. Yes, let everyone hear it that I will strip to my shorts if we are champions.”

    Vincent Enyeama has been very consistent since he became Nigeria’s undisputed first choice goal-keeper just after the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea.

    He was in the teams that played at the ’04 to ’10 tournaments where the country got to the semifinals in all but the ’08 tournament where incidentally, Austin Ejide was Berti Vogts’ first choice. Enyeama regained his place after Vogts’ departure and was arguably Nigeria’s best player at the 2010 World Cup.

    The Israel based player wants to keep playing for a while yet. “I aim to keep playing until I’m 40. If possible into my 42nd year even. I work hard, I’m focused and if I do as little as I did today (he spoke to supersport.com after the Super Eagles’ victory over Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam) in more matches then I can easily play that long.”

    Asked if the team was under pressure to deliver the trophy to Nigeria again since ’94, he says, “personally I do not think we are looking at the trophy for now. We want to win the first game, then the next and then the one after that.” He carries the aura of a man comfortable in his position as a footballer but also one who is very aware of the responsibilities of being an international.

    “Nigerians should have faith in us, believe the best of us and pray for us. It is not beyond our abilities to win the competition with God on our side,” Enyeama concludes.

  • Keshi: My strikers must copy Rooney

    Keshi: My strikers must copy Rooney

    • Wants them to fight for balls

    National team handler, Stephen Keshi, who is looking forward to an excellent outing at the African Cup of Nations which gets underway this weekend, has challenged his strikers to emulate the fighting spirit of Manchester United forward, Wayne Rooney

    SportingLife gathered from a close ally that Keshi is a die-hard fan of the England international.

    Some of Rooney’s qualities which the Eagles coach admires are the way he contests for balls and falls back to defend even as a striker.

    SportingLife’s source conveyed Keshi’s expectations from the team’s Faro camp in Portugal on Tuesday.

    ‘He wants them to fight for the balls and not just wait for passes to come their way. That is how Rooney does it with United,’ said the source.

    ‘This is the passion, Keshi believes strikers Emmanuel Emenike, Ikechukwu Uche and Victor Moses can display as long as the commitment is there.’

    Also, fond memories of the Nigeria side to the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations which they won were evoked.

    ‘Do you know why it will be difficult for Keshi to forget Daniel Amokachi so easily? It has to do with Dan’s tenacious spirit as a member of the team. Prior to a particular match, Keshi as captain laid the jerseys on the ground and challenged his colleagues who were ready to spill blood for the country to pick up the first shirt.

    ‘Amokachi was the first to pick up a shirt, while the late Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amuneke followed suit. That is the spirit Keshi desires from his attackers. They must be everywhere on the pitch fighting for the ball,’ he added.

    Nigeria, who are expected to arrive in South Africa Thursday, tackle Burkina Faso in their opening match on January 21 in Nelspruit.