The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • NFF inspects Sani Abacha Stadium

    NFF inspects Sani Abacha Stadium

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has inspected the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, to know the state of the facilities ahead of next year’s CAF Champions League games.

    The League Champions, Kano Pillars will face Olympique de Bangui from the Central African Republic in the preliminaries of the 2013 CAF Champions League.

    The Pyramid side will first host their opponents between February 15 and 17 with the return leg clash fixed for between March 1-3.

    The NFF Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi led the three-man delegation to the inspection tour of the ancient City. They are expected to submit their report to the NFF board for onward ratification.

    Also, the final inspection will be conducted by the CAF representatives and NFF officials in the first week of January for the final approval of the stadium.

    “The NFF Director of Competition, Dr. Sanusi and two others were in Kano for the inspection of the Sani Abacha Stadium. As you are aware, Pillars, as league Champions, will play in the CAF Champions League and NFF must be satisfied that the stadium is in good condition and it meets CAF/FIFA standard. That is why they were here. And based on their assessment, I have no doubt that the stadium would be given the go-ahead to host CAF matches,” the club’s media officer, Idris Malikawa told SportingLife.

    “Dr. Sanusi also told us that we would be informed if there is any area we need to work on before the final inspection by the CAF representatives in January.”

  • Okonkwo begs Eguavoen

    Okonkwo begs Eguavoen

    • To return Shark’s money Thursday
    • Vows to make Eagles’ AFCON final list

    Super Eagles returnee Chibuzor has told SportingLife exclusively that he would return the N300,000 pre-contract fee he collected from Sharks Football Club to the club tomorrow.

    The player, who has just been recalled to the Stephen Keshi-coached Super Eagles, used the medium to apologise to Shark FC Technical Adviser and former Super Eagles handler, Augustine Eguavoen for his actions which he told SportingLife was taken in his best interest.

    Eguavoen popularly called Cerezo has alleged that the bulky right back collected money from Sharks on the pretext that he will play for the Port Harcourt club in the coming season and then absconded.

    “Chibuzor has no business being in the national team. He is a bad example for a national team player. Can you imagine that Chibuzor came to Sharks collected our money, signed and absconded?” a furious Eguavoen had told an online football website.

    The player, however, confided in SportingLife that he had already called Eguavoen and made arrangements with him on how the money would be paid back to the coffers of the club latest tomorrow.

    “Firstly, I am using this medium to apologise to Coach Eguavoen for not getting in touch with him on time, it was due to communication lapses. I have also spoke with him today (Tuesday) on the matter.

    “The truth is that I collected the sum of N300,000, a kind of pre-contract fee from Sharks (Football Club) but right now I am no longer interested in joining the team. So I got in touch with Coach Eguavoen and I have promised to pay back the money on Thursday (tomorrow).

    “He (Eguavoen) has promised to send his account details to me so that I can send it through him on Thursday when the bank would be working and since I am still in Eagles camp I can’t go to the club to do so”, Okonkwo explained.

    The former Dream Team IV player while thanking Super Eagles handler Stephen Keshi for giving him a second chance in the team, has vowed to make the team’s final list to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations slated for South Africa from January 19th to February 10th, 2013.

    “I won’t mind shedding my blood if necessary to make the final squad. This is a rare opportunity and I am grabbing it with both hands. I am most grateful to Coach Keshi and his assistants for giving me a second chance in the team”, he told SportingLife yesterday.

  • Martins celebrates Xmas with orphans, mothers

    Martins celebrates Xmas with orphans, mothers

    Levante striker Obafemi Martins will spend the Christmas with visits to hospitals and orphanages in Lagos. ‘Obagoal’ will on behalf of his foundation give away gifts to three hospitals and orphanages.

    A representative of the player told MTNFootball.com: “Martins will stage a charity event for new mothers and their babies. He will hand out donations and also pay the bills for the mothers who can’t afford to do so.”

    Meanwhile, Levante fans are thrilled Martins will stay back at the Spanish club after he was not called up by Nigeria for the Nations Cup in South Africa.

    The fans are delighted the 28-year-old striker will not miss any of the games in their La Liga campaign come the New Year.

    Martins has been integral part of Levante after he scored six goals in 13 League matches with the club now sixth on the table.

  • GARBA LAWAL’S BOMBSHELL Eagles are average players

    GARBA LAWAL’S BOMBSHELL Eagles are average players

    Former Nigeria midfielder Garba Lawal has said that Nigeria does not have any superstar player.

    There should thus not be a debate, especially with the ongoing issue about some players that are not included in Nigeria’s provisional list for the 2013 Nations cup in South Africa.

    Lawal, who was a member of the technical committee that was recently dissolved by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Nigerians should appreciate Stephen Keshi for finding space for new set of players in the team.

    “All our players are average players and I don’t see any of them as a super star. So, there is no need for people to create issues on who has been dropped or has been invited by Stephen Keshi.”

    The former Feyenoord player stated that he has the belief that Nigeria will be among the last four at the 16-team tournament.

  • Housemaid stole my three turkeys — Ikpeba

    Housemaid stole my three turkeys — Ikpeba

    Former Super Eagles ace Victor Ikpeba made a bizzare but peharps funny update on his Twitter account on Monday when he disclosed that just hours to yesterday’s Christmas celebration, his housemaid made off with the three turkeys he had planned to celebrate the yuletide festivities with.

    The ‘Prince of Monaco’, who on Monday night responded to the verbal attack made against him by West Brom ace Peter Osaze Odemwingie, did not, however, explain the circumstances sorrounding the theft. But he did disclose that the said maid was recently employed.

    The tweet is reproduced verbatim as follows: Victor Ikpeba @IkpebaOfficial “My new house maid run away with my 3 turkeys yesterday.”

    SportingLife was unable to determine if he had made the post in jest, but a scan of the former African Footballer of the Year’s message board suggests that most of his updates are made in a lighter mood.

    “My christmas hat is singing song on my head. My coat is cuter than (Daniel, ed.) Amokachi’s coat. Hehehe i buy it in prada.

    “This guys in the studio says Victor Moses looks like me? But i am beautiful than him,” are some of the ex-international’s recent Twitter messages.

  • NFF denies Osaze’s life ban

    NFF denies Osaze’s life ban

    • Maigari doesn’t think the Eagles star erred
    •Says, ‘We won’t stop Keshi from inviting him’

    president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied moves allegedly made by the body to impose a life ban on Super Eagles enfant terrible Osaze Odemwingie on his Twitter acount last Sunday.

    Disclosing this exclusively to SportingLife on telephone on Wednesday, Maigari revealed that Osaze was just expressing his fundermental human rights of expressing himself, adding that; “What he wrote was on his personal Twitter acount. He didn’t address it to the NFF or the Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi. As far as we are concerned it is just a media sensation. Until he addresses those rants to us (NFF and Keshi) would we consider it as an offence.

    “It shows that he is hurt. Who won’t be? Do you know what it means to wear the Nigerian jersey at the Africa Cup of Nations? Don’t you know that is the biggest platform for football in Africa? He will soon calm down and change for the better.

    “If Keshi considers Osaze good enough for subsequent assignments, we will not stop Keshi from inviting him. We want to parade our best players at any given time for big competitions. Keshi has been given the free hand to pick his players. We won’t interfere with his selection process,” Maigari said.

  • Faro trip Super Eagles depart 3pm Thursday

    Faro trip Super Eagles depart 3pm Thursday

    • Fly through Accra

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria are expected to leave the shores of Nigeria for their training tour of Faro, Portugal on Thursday by 3pm for the final round of preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    A camp source informed SportingLife that the team will travel to Faro en-route Accra, Ghana.

    It was also revealed that the players, who were giving a day’s break to celebrate Xmas on Tuesday, are expected back in training this morning to intensify their preparation. They will also train on Thursday morning before embarking on their trip in the afternoon.

    SportingLife also gathered that visas have been secured for the players and officials that will make the trip.

    “All things being equal, the arrangement for the trip is going on as planned; the visa for the players that will travel from Nigeria and the officials that will follow the team is secured. Barring unforeseen circumstances the team should travel by 3pm on Thursday. That is the arrangement on ground for now,” a source said.

    14 local players will travel to Portugal to be joined by 10 Europe-based professionals for the match with Catalonia on January 2, with the remaining eight foreign-based stars linking up with the squad on January 4.

    The Eagles will play another friendly game with Cape Verde on January 9 – the same day Keshi will announce his final list.

    Africa’s football-governing body, CAF has given all 16 teams playing in the final tournament of the Cup of Nations until midnight of January 9, 2013 to submit their final list of 23 players for the event.

  • No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    • Hails Gaya for support 

    Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has declared that there is no deal with English Premier League side Newcastle United over the release of Shola Ameobi for the Nations Cup, neither is there such an arrangement with English Championship side Millwall on the release of towering defence ace, Daniel Shittu.

    Super Eagles spokesman, Ben Alaiya, quotes Keshi as saying; “I never entered into any deal with any manager and will not because the two players in question are international stars and the rules are very clear about when they should be released for international assignments if their country so desires them”.

    There were wild speculations in the Nigerian media over the two players’ release for the championship with the respective managers claiming to have had an agreement with an unnamed Nigerian official over when to release them. Keshi’s declaration has now put all speculations to rest with National Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor, declaring that the two club sides were written to on time and the onus is now on them to release the players as and when due.

  • AFCON: NFF dismisses Newcastle’s claim on Ameobi

    AFCON: NFF dismisses Newcastle’s claim on Ameobi

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation has debunked a claim by Newcastle that Shola Ameobi will skip next month’s African Cup of Nations and that coach Stephen Keshi is aware of this.

    “We are not aware of such a thing about Shola (Ameobi), he is a FIFA-listed player for us. The federation is not aware, the head coach is not aware of this and that was why Shola was called up for the competition.

    “We will do all within us to see that Shola or any player picked by the coach for the Nations Cup is released to us,” spokesman for the NFF, Ademola Olajire, told MTNFootball.com.

    Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, said Shola Ameobi will not be going to the Nations Cup with Nigeria, according to BBC sports.

    The Kogi State indigene is on the 32-man provisional squad released by Keshi last week.

    Pardew said: “Shola won’t be going. The national team manager knows the reasons, which I am keeping to myself.”

    Ameobi made an encouraging debut in a 3-1 friendly win over Venezuela last month, setting up the third goal in Miami.

     

  • Keshi: Osaze’s outburst doesn’t bother me

    Keshi: Osaze’s outburst doesn’t bother me

    I can still play for nigeria says baggy star

    NIGERIA coach Stephen Keshi says there is “nothing personal” about his decision to leave Peter Odemwingie out of his Africa Cup of Nations squad.

    The West Brom striker reacted angrily to being omitted from the provisional 32-man squad announced on Saturday.

    Odemwingie last played for the Super Eagles in February’s goalless draw with Rwanda in a Cup of Nations qualifier.

    In angry outburst on Twitter, the 31-year-old claimed he was dropped because he often speaks his mind.

    But Keshi told the BBC World Service on Monday that he is not bothered by Odemwingie’s reaction.

    “I don’t even have a Facebook or Twitter account so it doesn’t bother me at all,” said the former Nigeria international.

    “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of good players and we cannot invite every player”

    “There’s nothing personal about this stuff. Odemwingie is a very good player but right now I don’t need him.

    “He’s a professional and he should be able to accept that.

    “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of good players and we cannot invite every player.

    “We’re not in a war with anybody; we’re just trying to do our job.”

    Odemwingie, who played at the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Nations Cups, had accused Keshi of disrespect by not informing him personally of his decision.

    “Every manager has got his own plans and tactics – if I don’t figure in your plans, please be honest to tell me directly.

    “For 10 years I gave my all to the country as a player on the pitch, played for the nation and fans, not individuals.

    Odemwingie, who was born in Uzbekistan where his Nigerian father was based, said that he was a marked man in Keshi and the federation’s eyes because he was too blunt in what he said about the state of Nigerian football.

    “Because I speak out when things are not right, I guess some people are not just comfortable with that openness.”

    But he added that he will not completely shut the door on his international career.

    “If the chance to play for my country presents itself, then I will speak to my dad and those close to me – then we’ll see.”

    The Super Eagles begin their Cup of Nations campaign against Burkina Faso on 21 January and before facing Zambia and Ethiopia in Group C.