The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • 368 players vie for AFCON trophy

    368 players vie for AFCON trophy

    The African Cup of Nations starting in South Africa on Saturday will feature 368 players from clubs in 55 countries, showing how widely dispersed African players are.

    Futaa.com reports that there are 27 European countries represented, including Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, and clubs from Brazil, China, Japan and the United States.

    The French league traditionally provides the most players, this time a total of 50, all but 15 of them from Ligue 1 clubs, who will miss key matches for the three-week tournament.

    There are 15 players from the Premier League in England, 14 from the top flight in Portugal, 10 from La Liga in Spain and six from Serie A in Italy.

    FIFA rules stipulate players had to be released by their clubs to prepare 14 days ahead of the competition.

    Struggling French club AJ Ajaccio are paying a heavy price, losing five regulars to the Nations Cup at a time when they are attempting to stay out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

    It is not easy especially when you face a difficult fixture list without them, assistant coach Stephane Paganelli told the sports daily L’Equipe.

     

  • NEEDLESS GAMBLE: Keshi takes big risk on Reuben

    Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has insisted on taking a half-fit Gabriel Reuben to the AFCON, officials have specially informed MTNFootball.com

    The Kano Pillars defensive midfielder has not fully recovered from a long-term groin injury contrary to official statements. His recovery was also slowed down when he went down to chicken pox before the warm-up game against Catalonia in Spain.

    “There was a big meeting over Reuben for the Nations Cup because he has not fully recovered from his groin injury,” a top official told MTNFootball.com

    “Right now he cannot deliver long passes because of the injury, he can only make short passes. But Keshi has insisted he is too crucial in his plans to be left out. The player also lost about four days of training after he suffered chicken pox and so was quarantined and did not travel with the rest of the squad to Spain for the match against Catalonia.”

    MTNFootball.com further learnt Keshi plans a defensive midfield combination of Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi and Reuben in South Africa.

    “As the situation is now, Mikel will now be the one supplying the long balls, while Reuben will keep to short passes so as to avoid a relapse of his groin problem,” another official informed.

    Reuben only played his first match on Saturday against modest Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam as a second-half substitute since the Eagles began a training camp in Portugal at the end of last year.

  • Gambo close to El Gouna move

    Gambo close to El Gouna move

    Kano Pillars striker Gambo Mohammed is close to joining up with Egyptian club El Gouna, officials said.

    Both Pillars and El Gouna have been in discussion over the player’s transfer, which has only been stalled because he has yet to get an entry visa to Egypt.

    “Both clubs are discussing over Gambo’s transfer but the discussion has been held up because the player has yet to get his visa to travel to Egypt,” Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa told MTNFootball.com

    “We believe that as soon as Gambo gets his visa, the discussion will move to the next level.”

    The highly-rated striker did not feature in the pre-season Super 4 tournament which Pillars hosted this past week to further fuel speculations over his future. Gambo was the second leading scorer in the league last season with 15 goals as Pillars won their second league championship.

    He has also been called up by the Super Eagles ahead of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    In the summer, he had trials in Turkey, while there were serious interests in Egypt.

  • Zambia coach declares: Eagles don’t impress me

    Zambia coach declares: Eagles don’t impress me

    Zambia coach Herve Renard has slammed AFCON group rivals Nigeria, saying the current Super Eagles do not impress him.

    Defending champions Zambia take on Nigeria on January 25 in Nelspruit and Renard has been quick to say he has not been impressed with the Eagles under Stephen Keshi after he watched them labour to a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde on Wednesday.

    “I think you saw Nigeria the other day against Cape Verde. Do you think it was the best this time?” Renard said. “I don’t think so.”

    The two sides are set for an early African Cup of Nations showdown in their penultimate Group C match on January 25 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. And Renard reiterated that he was also itching for payback time against the Eagles after the latter ejected them in the 2010 quarterfinals.

    “So, on January 25 against Nigeria, it will be a different game, it will be a tough game,” the Frenchman said.

    “But I can assure you we want to finish top of our group like in 2010 and 2012. It’s not easy, but we want go as far as possible because this team has fantastic team spirit.”

    Meanwhile, Zambia were due to arrive in Nelspruit late on Sunday after they played their final warm-up game against Norway at the weekend. Chipolopolo drew 0-0 with the Norwegians.

  • Amoo to end sabbatical

    Amoo to end sabbatical

    Former 3SC coach, Fatai Amoo has said his more than a year absence from the league scene will soon be over.

    Amoo was expected to leave the nation’s shores on Sunday aboard a Turkish Airline to Indianapolis, USA for a one-week convention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

    The yearly coaching course will witness the best of coaches worldwide brainstorming on the latest development in the round-leather-game.

    Amoo said he would be ready to hit the home scene once he returns from the coaching convention.

    “My sabbatical leave from the domestic league has ended and I enjoyed it to the fullest while it lasted.

    “I’ve rested enough and have been able to sort out some teething domestic problems. I took time off to look at life all over and I think I’m a better person right now.

    “I didn’t merely rest but equally cashed in on the self-imposed vacation to avail myself of new knowledge and I believe the experience will be useful when I return to the field.

    “I’ll be available to pick a new job when I come back from the convention where I believe I’ll have the opportunity to impart the knowledge and gains on the players.

    “I don’t know the team yet but it must be a team ready to compete favourably for honours and do things professionally including honouring agreements with players and coaches,” said the former Nigerian midfielder to supersport.com.

  • Ibenegbu eyes more trophies with Heartland

    Ibenegbu eyes more trophies with Heartland

    Heartland attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has said his side’s Super Four victory shows more trophies are coming their way in the season.

    The Owerri-based side nailed 2012 Federation Cup losing finalists, Lobi Stars 2-0 in Saturday’s Matchday 3 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano to emerge the 2013 Super Four champions. Heartland garnered seven points from three matches to edge closest rivals, Kano Pillars for the title.

    Pillars defeated Rangers 2-0 to finish second on six points while Lobi picked the third spot and Rangers at the rear.

    Ibenegbu said his side have succeeded in proving to Nigerians that they are the best club side in the land.

    “The Super Four trophy will go a long way to prepare and motivate us for the continental assignment.

    “We’ve once again proven to Nigerians that Heartland are the best in the land. We did it at tAhe Federation Cup, repeated it during the Charity Cup competition and now we’ve done it again in the Super Four.

    “Heartland have carved a niche for themselves and an intimidating profile, opponents will surely be wary once they hear the name Heartland.

    “This is just the beginning of more trophies to come to our fold,” said the Super Eagles’ midfielder to supersport.com.

  • Girma: Ethiopia ready for Nigeria’s challenge

    Girma: Ethiopia ready for Nigeria’s challenge

    They may be seen as one of the minnows of the 2013 African Cup of Nations, but Ethiopia are determined not to be the whipping boys of the competition.

    The Walya Antelopes last participated in the continental showdown in 1982, having won the competition in 1962.

    The east Africans qualified for the 2013 edition by edging out Benin on the away goals rule, before beating Sudan by the same means after their two matches ended in a 5-5 aggregate score-line.

    Now that they have reached the finals, Ethiopia are keen to make the most of their opportunity and are determined not to be overwhelmed by their more illustrious opponents in Group C, iancluding Zambia, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

    “We are going to face a lot of challenges and we have been away from the competition for a long time,” striker Adane Girma told AFP.

    “But we have good morale, a good mentality and we are very strong, so we can face any kind of challenge,” he added.

    The Walya Antelopes’ first match is against the defending champions Zambia, upon whom all their attention is focussed for now.

    “We are just thinking about finishing that first game on top and then later think about Nigeria or Burkina Faso,” said Girma.

    Coach Sewnet Bishaw, however, has cautioned that his charges, of whom all but three play in the Ethiopian domestic league, lack experience playing at the highest level.

    “Our players are young and they are less experienced with international matches like (the Cup of Nations),” he said.

    Bishaw is confident though that his players will produce performances full of heart and commitment.

    “The mood is 100 percent – they want to show their talent and sell their personality to the world.

    “We have tried many times to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, we have tried many different types of coaches, including professionals from abroad.

    “But now we are all locals here, we made it, so it’s a great thing for our nation,” he said.

  • IGP targets 2016 Olympics medals

    IGP targets 2016 Olympics medals

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) M.D. Abubakar will today at the Force Headquarters in Abuja unveil the 10th Edition of the biennial Police Games already slated to hold in Port Harcourt on February 24th this year.

    The IGP, who launched a Police Code of Conduct in Abuja last week in his efforts to repackage the Force, will follow it up with another laudable effort in revamping the dwindling fortunes of sports in Nigeria and his target of winning medals in the next Olympics in 2016 with the Police Force leading the way for other athletes in the country.

    The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Frank Mba told SportingLife that the sports background of the IGP has been the motivation behind his resolve to repackage and improve on the biennial Police Games to help in developing and preparing athletes that could win medals for Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

    The unveiling will come up today at the IGP’s Conference Room, Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja at 10am.

    The Force spokesman said: “The IGP is passionate about sports and recreation which is very vital to the policing business.”

    “Based on his background in sports the IGP is ready to help revamp the dwindling fortunes of sports in the country and also plans to help the country in producing athletes that could win laurels at the next Olympics.

    “He has concluded plans to revamp the biennial Police Games”, Mba had told SportingLife late last year.

    Prominent sports administrators that will grace the occasion includes the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Dr. Patrick Ekeji who will represent the Minister for Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, ambassadors and high commissioners including the Vietnamese Ambassador among others.

    Mba also told SportingLife “You will agree with me that since the IGP M.D. Abubakar took over the mantle of leadership of the police force, he has turned things around including in the area of sports.

    “The interest he gave to sports is not a surprise because it has been his primary constituency. Don’t forget he has been board member of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) among other sporting federations.”

    “The IGP has graciously approved the Nigeria Police 10th biennial Police Games, scheduled to hold between February 24 to March 2. The venue for the Games is Port Harcourt, Rivers State. We have secured the support of the state governors and other corporate sponsors, but we equally urge other private establishments to key into the Games.

  • Emenike promises more goals

    Emenike promises more goals

    Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike has promised goals at the AFCON after he grabbed the match winner against Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday.

    Emenike’s second-half strike against Sparta gave the Eagles their first win in their build-up for the AFCON.

    His other Eagles goal in over a dozen games was against Argentina last year June.

    The powerfully-built striker is the arrow head of top Russian club Spartak Moscow after his heroics in Turkey with Karabukspor and he told MTNFootball.com he is confident of being among the goal scorers at the AFCON in South Africa.

    “It is a dream come true for me to make the AFCON final squad. It is an honour for me to represent Nigeria at such a big tournament. This is my first tournament and I hope to make a big impact by scoring goals.” Emenike told MTNFootball.com

    He continued: “We have been working hard and will still work harder to achieve our aim of winning this tournament.

    “Every country that will feature at the Nations Cup wants to win it, that’s our main aim too and I am confident that we can do it.”

    Emenike also urged the fans to stand by the team in South Africa.

    “I understand the passion around Nigerian football. I understand their feelings especially when the going is not too good. Nigeria is one of the most passionate countries in the world and that is why they always crave for victories. We can respond to their demands by winning.”

  • Eagles’ kits land in South Africa

    Eagles’ kits land in South Africa

    As the Super Eagles gradullay round off their training programmes in Faro, Portugal, towards the African Nations Cup holding in South Africa, SportingLife can confirm authoritatively that all the training kits that the team would need for the championship have landed in South Africa.

    Confirming this on Sunday, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Musa Amadu said the kitting company, Addidas has shipped the kits to South Africa and it has been received. “I want to confirm to you that all the kits that the team would need for the championship are now in South Africa. We have gotten the confirmation from addidas, and we are ready to go.

    “I also want to confirm to you that the team would leave for South Africa on Wednesday 16th January, and they would be received in South Africa by our advance party that is putting finishing touches over there. We ensured that we provided all they needed to facilitate their training in Faro, Portugal, and I want to assure you that the boys are battle-ready. They are eager to put smiles on the faces of all Nigerians, and we are hopeful that they would achieve that. All we are asking is that Nigerians should support them with their prayers, as always,” he concluded.

    The Super Eagles will play their first match in the championship against Burkina Faso on 21st January.