The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Resolutions of the NFF medical committee

    Resolutions of the NFF medical committee

    The NFF Medical Committee met Thursday, 27th December 2012, to review the outgoing year and plan for the year 2013, and further resolved as follows:

    1) The Committee reviewed the medical preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and considered the submission of the National Team’s medical crew. The Committee commended the medical crew for doing a professional job with respect to fitness assessment, injury prevention and management. In addition, the Committee suggested that a final field physiological fitness assessment be carried out in conjunction with the coaches.

    2) The Committee resolved to strengthen the existing medical guidelines for the NPL to ensure that players have access to comprehensive medical care including emergency medical care.

    3) The Committee resolved to ensure that every club-registered player undergoes comprehensive pre-season medical assessment.

    4) The Committee opted to organise medical seminars with the aim of educating medical personnel of various clubs on basic sports medicine including managing football emergencies.

    Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu (Chairman); Dr. Azubuike Onyebuchi (Member); Dr. Muhammad Sani Isa (Member); Dr. Ken Anugweje (Member); Dr. Mohammed Alkali (Member); Pharm. Hashiya Mohammed (Member).

  • AFCON SAGA: Osaze blasts Ikpeba on Twitter

    AFCON SAGA: Osaze blasts Ikpeba on Twitter

    West Brom striker Osaze Odemwingie has taken a swipe at former Super Eagles forward Victor Ikpeba over comments made about him after first coming out to express his displeasure on being left out of the Eagles’ provisional list to South Africa 2013.

    Odemwingie via his Twitter handle went hard on the former Monaco forward who has also served in the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.

    “My reply to you (Victor) Ikpeba. Prince of Monaco? You’re not a prince, but rather a princess. You do not pull. So, let’s goodbye,” Osaze tweeted.

    Odemwingie also criticised Ikpeba for the part he allegedly played in Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

    “Ok Victor e don reach ur turn – talking about professionalism huh – did u have any business in the dressing room during game against guinee?

    “You said I can talk face 2 face with u only when I achieve what you achieved ? No be so senior. Treat ur little bros like family not oga.

    “Your handshake could have been back luck to me cos you have prejudged opinion about me. Coach and his team only in dressing room please.

    “If u had coaching talent u would at least be one by now. That means you don’t know much about the game. Means don’t be a adviser to FF.

    “That he was playing for himself 2 much. Jay jay future only in the semi final of that nations cup. Was Big Boss the coach? Which boss self.

    “People read between the lines as well. U ll understand the big picture. Oliseh said Siasia was the one they send to rattle officials hahaa.

    “I ’ve gone of track. Back to u bros. I wanted to play this cup for our fans and not you guys. Cos u guys change like chameleons when suits you,” he tweeted.

  • Glasshouse to make case for Martins

    Glasshouse to make case for Martins

    Obafemi Martins may well find his way to Nigeria’s team to the 2013 Africa Nations Cup with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ready to make a case for the player.

    NFF 1st vice president Mike Umeh told futaa.com before their meeting in Abuja on Thursday to deliberate on issues concerning Nigeria’s campaign at the tournament in South Africa.

    “We will discuss it at our meeting in Abuja; and you will get to know what agreement we have reached,” he said when asked if they are expecting Stephen Keshi to replace some players that are likely to miss the 16-team tournament due to club commitments.

    However, Umeh said even if in the end they reached such agreement, the final decision rests on the coach.

  • TWITTER SAGA: No plan to sanction Osaze — Chris Green

    TWITTER SAGA: No plan to sanction Osaze — Chris Green

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made it clear that there is no plan yet to sanction West Bromwich Albion forward, Peter Osaze Odemwingie.

    Odemwingie, 31, this week attacked the Nigerian head coach, Stephen Keshi, the football federation, the Super Eagles’ captain and ex-internationals after he was left out of the Africa Cup of Nations provisional squad.

    Reports this week in the local media revealed that the 31-year-old forward could be slammed with a life ban by the Nigerian FA for his rant on social media networking site, Twitter.

    But an executive committee member of the football federation, Chris Green, told supersport.com on Thursday that there are no such plans.

    “Why would we ban a player in the twilight of his career? Yes, he has insulted virtually everyone – the federation, the national team head coach and even ex-internationals but we have no plans to ban or suspend just yet.

    “Remember there is the Nations Cup and the World Cup to play for. Also, like the popular parlance says ‘you don’t throw away the baby with the bath water,’ the federation will only look into the matter carefully before making any statement. Right now, the Nations Cup is uppermost in our agenda and we don’t want any distraction.

    “But I want to state it categorically that Nigeria is bigger than any player or anybody to hold to ransom. Osaze is not the only player dropped from the team. Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche, Obinna Nsofor and other players were left out and they didn’t say anything untoward but accepted it. He is supposed to be a role model. Imagine if this man is part of the team’s camp he would have disrupted the peace there. Yet the same man wanted the captain’s armband when there’s already an existing captain and even a deputy,” said Green to supersport.com.

    The NFF chief also made it clear that the Albion man still needs Nigeria.

    “It was on the back of Nigeria that he rode to success and I will say it that he still needs Nigeria. But let’s allow him the benefit to continue with his rant for now,” he said.

  • Lawal set for Istanbul switch

    Lawal set for Istanbul switch

    Nigeria international Raheem Lawal has reached a preliminary agreement to join Super League club Istanbul Büyüksehir Belediyespor when the the transfer market reopens next week, reports the online edition of Turkey’s most influential sports daily Fanatik.

    Manager of the Istanbul based club, Bülent Korkmaz is keen on adding Lawal to his squad. Istanbul Büyüksehir Belediyespor will pay 600,000 euros as transfer fee to finally secure the signature of the former Atlético Baleares ace.

    Lawal is expected to officially put pen to paper on the contract before he leaves to join his international colleagues in Portugal. He scored 1 goal in 10 matches for Adana Demirspor.

    Lagging behind in the battle for Lawal’s signature is Mersin Idmanyurdu SK, who have on their payroll former Nigeria youth- teamer Nduka Ozokwor. Coach Giray Bulak has scouted Lawal several times this season and is believed to have started formalities to sign the midfielder.

  • Chukwu, mourns Oduah

    Chukwu, mourns Oduah

    Former Nigerian manager, Christian Chukwu has expressed deep shock at the sudden death of former Green Eagles’ captain, Victor Oduah.

    Oduah, who was at one time captain of Insurance of Benin, died on Tuesday evening in Benin City. Chukwu said he never heard the late Oduah was sick let alone being dead.

    “It’s a terrible shock to me because I never knew he was at any time sick. I got the shocking news early this morning (Thursday) from a colleague in Port Harcourt. I’m really short of words, it’s a big blow to the football family,” said the former Nigerian defence ace to supersport.com.

    Chukwu described the former Nigeria defender as a perfect gentleman off and on the pitch.

    “I played with him briefly in 1973 at the point he was leaving the national team after the team won gold at that year’s All Africa Games in Lagos. He was an evangelist, gentleman, peaceful, unassuming and an amiable captain. May his soul rest in peace,” he submitted.

    Chukwu would want the nation to honour one of their best past heroes.

    “Nigeria should honour him, he captained and won laurels for the nation as well as Insurance of Benin. The federation should sit down and see how to honour their past hero,” he said.

  • NFF TO KESHI: Semi-final ticket or…

    NFF TO KESHI: Semi-final ticket or…

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have revealed that Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi signed a clause in his contract that will ensure he takes the team to at least the semifinal of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Keshi was handed a four-year contract by the NFF last year, and it was initially not clear if he was handed a target for AFCON.

    But head of the NFF Technical sub-committee Chris Green revealed that Keshi was given a semi final target for the 2013 AFCON.

    “We gave Keshi a semifinal target for AFCON 2013, Green said on a live television conversation on Wednesday night.

    Green however added that Keshi may be retained if he fails to meet his target.

    “We may allow him (Keshi) to continue if we see that the inability to meet such target was not his making.

    “If we see that he fails based on ill luck, he’ll be allowed to continue,” Green said.

    The team departed for Accra on Thursday, from where they will connect a flight to Portugal to complete camping for the African championship.

    It would be recalled that former coach Samson Siasia was sacked because he failed to meet his target of qualifying the team for the 2012 Nations Cup.

     

  • Chipolopolo write off Eagles

    Chipolopolo write off Eagles

    Chipolopolo defender Hichani Himoonde singled out Ethiopia and not Nigeria as Zambia’s threat in Group C that also comprises Burkina Faso.

    Himoonde said Ethiopia would prove to be Zambia’s main threat as no one knew much about the 1962 champions, whose last AFCON appearance was in 1982.

    “I think we will not have difficulties defending the cup as the coach has maintained the same team, but I feel Ethiopia would be a threat because we do not know much about them.

    We do not know much about their players and that makes it difficult to play against,” Himoonde said.

    Striker James Chamanga said playing in South Africa would not be new to the Chipolopolo as the players were used to the facilities and playing surfaces.

    “South Africa is just like home. But we need to prepare well as every team wants to win the title by beating us and there are no more underdogs in the competition and we shall not underrate any team but work hard to achieve our goal,” Chamanga said.

    Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo expressed confidence that the players called for camp were up to the task of defending the cup and called for hard work among the players if the Equatorial Guinea/Gabon feat was to be repeated.

    Zambia play Morocco on January 8 in South Africa before flying into Ndola for a match against Norway on January 12 before wounding up Namibia on January 15.

  • Keshi parleys Pardew over Ameobi

    Keshi parleys Pardew over Ameobi

    Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi is locked in talks with Newcastle Manager Alan Pardew to secure the release of Shola Ameobi for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations futaa.com has gathered.

    Media officer to the Eagles Ben Alaiya on Thursday confirmed the ongoing talks between the two Managers adding that he was confident that a deal that will see Ameobi make the trip to South Africa will be agreed.

    “The Big Boss is still talking with Pardew and we hope something good comes out,” Alaiya offered.

    It has emerged that the last contract Shola Ameobi signed, has a clause on it declaring that the striker would only be released for Nations Cup duty if his manager agrees to release him.

    That was why the Newcastle manager was confident that the Nigerian will not be at the event.

    However, top sources on the Nigeria Football Federation have told futaa.com that the legality of that clause will be tested, possibly all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, (CAS) if negotiations fail to yield result.

  • AFCON 2013 SHOCKER: Moses, Mikel stay till January 12

    AFCON 2013 SHOCKER: Moses, Mikel stay till January 12

    Rafa Benitez wants to keep John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses for their cup ties against Southampton and Swansea before releasing them for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    Mikel and Moses, integral players since Benitez took control at Stamford Bridge, are in the Nigeria squad which was due to report for a pre-tournament training camp in Portugal Thursday.

    The Chelsea pair have been granted permission to stay in London until after the New Year but Benitez is negotiating to keep them for as long as possible as his team become embroiled in a cluttered fixture list.

    The Blues launch their defence of the FA Cup at Southampton on January 5, four days before the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at home to Swansea.

    Interim manager Benitez accepts he is unlikely to have them around by the time they play Stoke in the Barclays Premier League on January 12.

    “The tournament starts on the 19th, so they will go one or two weeks before,” he said.

    “Maybe we can manage to keep them a little bit longer. We will talk with them. They know sometimes the players do not need to go early. But at least one week before the 19th, they have to be there.”

    Nigeria’s first game of the tournament in South Africa is on Janaury 21st against Burkina Faso. The final is on February 10, four days before Chelsea are due to play in Prague in the Europa League.