The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Yobo set to equal Kanu’s AFCON record

    Yobo set to equal Kanu’s AFCON record

    EAGLES captain Joseph Yobo is set to equal a six-AFCON finals appearance record held by Nwankwo Kanu. Yobo has already eclipsed Kanu’s record as the most capped Nigeria star with 89 caps and he could add to this tally on Wednesday night against fellow 2013 Nations Cup finalists Cape Verde in an AFCON warm-up game.

    “I have been blessed. Words cannot quantify God’s blessings on me. Attending my sixth Nations Cup will be great and we will give it our best shot,” Yobo told MTNFootball.com

    The 32-year-old Fenerbache star defender has featured at the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Nations Cups, same as the legendary Musa Lawal now of blessed memory. He got a bronze medal at four of these appearances and now wants the top prize in South Africa which may possibly be his last outing. “It’s not going to be easy (to win the trophy). But we will give it our best shot. We therefore urge Nigerians to keep praying for us and believe in this team,” he said.

  • Chelsea monitor Mikel’s injury in Faro

    Chelsea monitor Mikel’s injury in Faro

    MIKEL OBI is closely monitored by Chelsea in Nigeria’s camp ahead of the Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Mikel joined the Faro, Portugal camp on Sunday alongside fellow Blues teammate, Victor Moses. But the player is under the supervision of his agent John Ola Shittu.

    Shittu’s presence is believed to be in the interest of Chelsea who have kept the midfielder out of action for few weeks following the knock that forced him to be substituted in a Premier League clash with Norwich on Boxing Day. Mikel is feared to be nursing an injury due to his recent omissions from Chelsea games but the defender declared himself fit on arrival in Portugal.

    The former Lyn Oslo ace only signed a five-year contract extension with the Blues and with very few options in the defensive midfield, the Londoners see Mikel as a valued asset hence the decision to keep a close surveillance on him through his agent.

  • N48M DEBT ‘NFF Not Owing Eagles’ Coaches

    N48M DEBT ‘NFF Not Owing Eagles’ Coaches

    THE Nigeria Football Federation on Monday slammed newspaper reports alleging that the nation’s football-governing body is owing coaches of the Super Eagles the sum of N48 million.

    Speaking in Abuja, Chairman of the NFF Finance Committee, Dr. Shehu Adamu said the reports were not only in bad taste, but calculated to put the Federation in poor light and cause unnecessary tension in the National Team’s camp.

    “The reports of NFF owing Eagles’ coaches the sum of N48 million is not only incorrect, it is mischievous. Today is the seventh day of the month; even if you add up this new month that we are yet to get one quarter of the way, the amount we are owing them is not up to N48 million.

    “It is sad that at this time that all fair-minded and noble football stakeholders are supposed to be working together with the Federation and the team to see that we do the country proud at the Cup of Nations in South Africa, some persons are bent on creating undue anxiety through false reporting.”

    Also in Abuja, NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu dismissed insinuations that there is anxiety in the Super Eagles’ camp as a result of the simulated debt.

    “It is unfair for people to go to town with these untrue statements at a critical time like this. There is absolutely no tension in Faro; everyone is fine and the coaches and players are looking forward to bringing glory to Nigeria in South Africa.

    “Why have people not asked questions on how the NFF was able to raise money to finance the team’s camping in Abuja, take the team to Faro and arrange for friendly matches? Instead, people are coming with diversionary falsehood.”

    Amadu also lampooned reports that Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green has been at loggerheads with the Super Eagles’ technical crew over selection of players.

    “This is another falsehood. Barrister Green has a very cordial relationship with the Head Coach and other members of the technical crew. They have respect for him and he also respects them. There has

    never been any disagreement between them because Barrister Green is a gentleman and does not impose himself unnecessarily.

    “Barrister Green is a very hard-working and diligent person and is not in the business of over-reaching his territory. I want to charge our good friends in the media to be positive and supportive at this very crucial time, and work towards the same positive goal with the Federation, the players, the coaches and all those involved in Nigeria’s imminent campaign in South Africa,” Amadu concluded.

  • AFCON 2013:CAF shuns Nigeria referees

    AFCON 2013:CAF shuns Nigeria referees

    •Edibe Peter, 20 others make linesmen list

    IT WAS an embarassing moment for Nigerian referees after CAF once again ignored them in the total 18 referees that will handle matches at the African Nations Cup finals holding in South Africa come January 19 to February 10. SportingLife gathered from the list posted on CAF that Edibe Peter Elgam was the only Nigerian that made the list of 21 linesmen. South Africa’s Daniel Bennett and Zakhele Siwela make up the experienced group as there were only two changes to the list of referees and eight new assistants from the last finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon one year ago. The list includes two who have refereed previous finals – Mali’s Komlan Coulibaly from 2010 in Angola and Badara Diatta of Senegal who took charge of last year’s final between Zambia and the Ivory Coast in Libreville. Coulibaly, 42, will set the record for the most finals officiated at when he takes to the pitch in South Africa. This will be his seventh tournament since he first won a call-up to the Nations Cup panel in 2002. The two new officials come from Kenya – Sylvester Kirwa – and the Seychelles – Bernard Camille. Algeria and Senegal have the biggest representation with three officials each. Algeria’s Mohamed Benouza will take charge in his fifth tournament while Diatta has also been to every finals since 2006. It will be third successive Nations Cup for Bennett and the second for Siwela. Both are also on the shortlist for the 2014 World Cup. The referees for the tournament assemble in Johannesburg on January 15 for their pre-tournament tests. They will stay at Irene Lodge in Pretoria, which is closed to the public for the duration of the tournament.

  • My career’s been heart-breaking -Ibrahim

    My career’s been heart-breaking -Ibrahim

    FORMER Nigeria U17 gold Medalist Rabiu Ibrahim has lamented the twist in fortune of his footballing career both for country and club level in recent years terming it to be heart-breaking.

    Ibrahim was one of four players dropped from Stephen Keshi’s preliminary squad for the Nations Cup after he arrived late at their Portugal training camp.

    He failed to earn a regular role with the Scottish Premier League champions and hopes to be able to take a second chance offered to him by Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels. “It’s not just been tough it’s been heart-breaking. You join a new club and you want to impress and show what you can do. I just need someone who believes in me and will give me a chance to make a contribution,” Ibrahim said.

    The 21 year old play maker is however confident that he will get back to his good old days.

    “This New Year is something I am really looking forward to. Deeply, I hope to finally settle down this year,” the midfielder stated.

  • Shittu wishes Eagles well

    Shittu wishes Eagles well

    MILLWALL of England defender Danny Shittu has sent out a good luck message to his Super Eagles teammates as the Africa Cup of Nations beckons in less than 11 days.

    “I’m honored to have been called up for the Super Eagles squad but I am disappointed to say that the timing for me this year is unfortunate as I have a lot of personal commitments which would make it hard for me to give my ALL to the National Team as you know whenever I wear the Super Eagles jersey, I always give 100%.

    “My heart will always be with the Super Eagles and I wish my team mates all the best in the coming Nations Cup tournament,” the statement released by QSM Limited read.

  • Keshi cancels Eagles’ Monday training

    Keshi cancels Eagles’ Monday training

    SUPER EAGLES players did not train Monday morning as the Technical crew led by Coach Stephen Keshi decided to give them a breather after the rigours of Sunday’s training.

    Players however had sessions in the gymnasium on Monday morning and trained later on Monday evening at 4.45pm.

    Team Media officer, Ben Alaiya enthused that all is well in camp as the players are giving in their best to make the final cut that would be on the plane to South Africa on January 16.

    “On Sunday we had one training session in the morning and in the evening and it was supposed to be the same today but the Technical crew decided to call off the one for this morning. After breakfast the players will be in the Gym for a workout session,” Alaiya stated.

    At the evening session only 27 players will be on the pitch following the dropping of four players.

  • ‘Ameobi will be sorry for AFCON snub’

    ‘Ameobi will be sorry for AFCON snub’

    EX-NIGERIA World Cup star Tijjani Babangida has blasted Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi for opting out of the AFCON.

    On Sunday, Nigeria authorities announced that the team have put behind them the club versus country row involving Ameobi and will move on without the striker for the Nations Cup in South Africa. Ameobi made an encouraging Eagles debut in November against Venezuela after he completed his international change from England whom he featured for at age-grade levels. Former Ajax Amsterdam winger Babangida has told MTNFootball.com Ameobi should have considered himself lucky to play for Nigeria and should therefore not have put his club before his country.

    “Nigeria is too big for Ameobi or any player for that matter. He should know that he is lucky to represent this country. I am sure he will later regret this. One other thing is clear – his absence won’t affect Eagles at the Nations Cup,” said Babangida, an international for a decade.

  • FIFA crowns Messi again

    FIFA crowns Messi again

    …Del Bosque, Wambach triumph too
    Argentina’s Lionel Messi collected a record-breaking fourth consecutive title of best player in the world when he was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or, while United States player Abby Wambach claimed her first FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala held at the Zurich Kongresshaus on Monday evening.

    Vicente Del Bosque, the Spanish national team coach, and Sweden’s new women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage (former USA coach) were the winners of the FIFA World Coach of the Year awards for men’s and women’s football, respectively, FIFA.com reports.

    Aged 25, Messi concluded 2012 by scoring over 90 goals. He also finished top scorer in the UEFA Champions League 2011-2012 season with 14 goals.

    Meanwhile, Del Bosque added the European title to his 2010 FIFA World Cup crown when leading Spain to victory at EURO 2012.

    In women’s football, 2012 was the U.S national team’s year. Sundhage and Wambach led the U.S to its fourth Olympic gold medal in London after defeating the Japanese team in the final and thus exacting revenge for their defeat in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final the previous year, which Japan won for the first time in their history.

    These awards were decided after a poll in which the captains and head coaches of the men’s (for the two men’s awards) and women’s (for the two women’s awards) national teams, as well as international media representatives selected by French football magazine France Football, voted for candidates in each of the four categories. Each group’s votes represented one third of the final result.

    It was an unforgettable night, with many former and current football stars on stage and on the red carpet. The international audience was entertained with a flavour of Brazil as we look to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, as well as by Scottish singer Amy MacDonald.

    The FIFA Ballon d’Or was awarded for the third time tonight following the amalgamation of the FIFA World Player of the Year award with the France Football Ballon d’Or in 2010.

     

     

    Caption: Messi after receiving his award on Monday.  Photo: Supersport.com

     

  • AFCON: Rabiu, two others dropped from Eagles’ squad

    AFCON: Rabiu, two others dropped from Eagles’ squad

    Super Eagles technical crew has dropped three players from the team pre-AFCON camp in Faro, Portugal, supersport.com reports.

    The three players are Rabiu Ibrahim, Papa Idris and Henry Uche.

    On Saturday, Rizespor forward, Uche Kalu ruled out himself from the Africa Cup of Nations after struggling to overcome a groin injury.

    “Head coach, Stephen Keshi has left out three players from his plans for the Nations Cup. The players are Rabiu Ibrahim, Papa Idris and Henry Uche. We have more than 23 players in camp and the chop had to take place somehow. So apart from Uche Kalu who had been excused due to injury, these three will leave camp.

    “Interestingly, the players left out are still part of the plans of the coach for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that will be played this year. So Rabiu, Papa Idris and Henry Uche are still in the team,” spokesman of the Nigerian squad told supersport.com on Monday.

    However, there are still 27 players in camp and four more players will be dropped this week from the squad.