The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Guardiola laments over injured De Bruyne

    Guardiola laments over injured De Bruyne

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said a brutal schedule was not allowing players to rest “mentally or physically” after revealing Kevin De Bruyne could miss the rest of the year with a hamstring injury.

    De Bruyne limped off early in City’s 3-0 win over Burnley to open the Premier League season on Friday.

    The 32-year-old had suffered a similar injury in the Champions League final just over two months ago as City beat Inter Milan to become European champions for the first time.

    “It’s a serious injury,” said Guardiola ahead of the UEFA Super Cup between City and Sevilla in Athens. “We have to decide surgery or not surgery.”

    He added: “Surgery I think will be three or four months out.”

    De Bruyne joins a list of high-profile players to go down early in the new campaign.

    Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku had to undergo knee surgery on an injury picked up on a poor pitch during a pre-season friendly in Chicago.

    Arsenal’s new £40 million ($50 million) defender Jurrien Timber and Aston Villa duo Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia have all reportedly suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

    “In my first pre-season with Barcelona we had 25 days of preparation before the first game, which was a Champions League qualifier. This season we had four or five before the first game,” added Guardiola.

    “Look at all the cruciate ligament injuries there have been in all the big leagues this start of the season. The players don’t rest either physically or mentally.

    “They make them travel to Asia or America for the club’s purposes and play really hard games on bad pitches and the players get injured, or will get injured, because they don’t have these 25 days to prepare.”

    City have already lost two of their most potent attacking players from last season as Ilkay Gundogan joined Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez departed for Saudi club Al-Ahli.

    The English champions have been linked with a move for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, but Guardiola refused to be drawn on whether they will now be forced into the transfer market for an attacking midfielder.

    He still has the likes of Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez to call upon to deputise, but said De Bruyne’s skill set is “irreplaceable”.

    “Kevin has specific qualities. To lose it for a long time is really tough for us.

    “At the same time we have to look forward. The skills for Kevin is irreplaceable but we have players with different talent.”

  • Ike Uche: We know what is at stake

    Ike Uche: We know what is at stake

    The Super Eagles and Nigerians will be praying for the goals of their talismanic striker Ikechukwu Uche to deliver the Afcon ticket to them. In this brief chat with SPORTINGLIFE’S TUNDE LIADI, the Villarreal of Spain player says Eagles need not be reminded of the task before them as Saturday approaches.

    Nigeria versus Liberia holds on Saturday, what should we expect from Ikechukwu Uche and his mates?

    We are preparing well. All the players in camp know the reason why they are here. We are here to give all we can and to ensure that we come out victorious on Saturday. I don’t think there is anybody here having doubt about our capability and we are in top shape to win on Saturday.

    It was about this time last year that we lost the ticket to the Guineans after playing a 2-2 draw at home. What lessons do you think that we have learnt from what transpired in Abuja that day?

    I think we have learnt and not making it to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early this year is a lesson for us. We all know why we are here and we can recall vividly what happened last year and we don’t have to bring it back. We know how important it is for us to go to the Nations Cup. For us, a win is non-negotiable on Saturday.

    Villarreal of Spain got demoted to the lower league last season. How has it been in the Segunda and what are the chances of the team staging an instant return to the La Liga at the end of the season?

    We are doing well in the league and hoping to gain qualification at the end of the season. But for now, we are here for the Eagles’ game and we will like to concentrate on that and not allow ourselves to be distracted with things away from the national team.

    Team talk is not important for now we are for the Super Eagles.

  • Glo to Eagles: It’s ninety minutes to glory

    Glo to Eagles: It’s ninety minutes to glory

    As the Super Eagles face the Lone Stars of Liberia on Saturday in Calabar, leading telecommunications company, Globacom has called on the team to book the ticket to the 2013 African Cup of Nations by defeating the Liberians.

    According to a release by the company on Thursday, the Eagles need to win the match to return to reckoning in Africa after missing the last Nations Cup tournament jointly hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in 2011.

    “The Eagles should outclass the Liberians and secure victory; this is the only way football loving Nigerians can be appeased now that our football has not been recording successes,” the company said.

    Globacom therefore advised the Stephen Keshi led technical crew to go for the fittest and most experienced players who can withstand the pressure associated with a match of this magnitude.

    Meanwhile, the team has intensified preparation for the match with the Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, assuring Nigerians of victory in the encounter.

    “By the grace of God, come Saturday, we will give the nation a sweet victory and qualify for the Nations Cup in South Africa,” Keshi said.

    Globacom is the major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and official sponsor of Nigerian national teams.

  • Emenike wary of stubborn Liberia

    Emenike wary of stubborn Liberia

    Spartak Moscow of Russia’s striker,Emmanuel Emenike has cautioned Nigerians to be wary of the antics of the Lone Star and not get carried away with the first leg advantage. SPORTINGLIFE’S TUNDE LIADI spoke with him in Calabar.

    You have been in awesome form in the UEFA Champions League with your Russian club, Spartak Moscow, what is responsible for such awesome display?

    It was okay and I have been trying my best but I won’t say we were pleased with the two results we have got thus far. I scored two goals against Celtic and played well too against Barcelona but the fact that we lost those matches despite putting all that we got made us unhappy. They were really crazy games for us.

    You played in the first leg in Monrovia and have seen the way they played, where lies their threat ahead of the return leg?

    The main thing is that we need to be very careful. We need to go out and work and play hard because if we start undermining these guys they may come out and surprise us and so we need to be very careful and work very hard in the pitch on Saturday.

    Does that mean that victory songs should not start yet?

    Yes! We just have to go out there and give our best. We should not say that we are already in South Africa when the game has not been played. We have to play well.

    About a year ago you were in that team that failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after the surprise draw against Guinea. What lessons have we learnt from that episode?

    It was a crazy one at that moment. I was devastated and my head was virtually down. I think this time we are going to make it because it is my dream to play at the Africa Cup of Nations. It is our time and nobody can stop us.

  • Liberia storm Calabar with dance troupe

    Liberia storm Calabar with dance troupe

    The headship of Liberia’s Kolakeh Dance Troupe, dubbed “The Children of Ellen Dance Troupe” has revealed their excitement following their inclusion to “cheer” the Lone Star to victory against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday, October 13, 2012 in Calabar.

    Kolakeh is a Mano vernacular, which means “We will do it” have members who are dominantly of the Kru ethnic group and is comprised three artists: drummers, singers and dancers.

    The group’s Deputy Director Joseph Tarplah told reporters in an interview via mobile, that the Liberia football chief Musa Bility guaranteed their inclusion.

    He said the best three drummers and four dancers, who are also singers, were selected from their membership, and have vowed to perform their duty, to cheer, chant, sing and dance during the football game to excite the crowd.

    The group, based in New Kru Town, on Bushrod Island in Monrovia, also vowed to raise the players’ spirit for victory.

    “We thank the football house, for the privilege given us and we are confident to excite the crowd, most especially our Liberian Lone Star…we perfect all the Lone Star songs and we are going to cheer them up,” Tarplah said.

    When contacted the LFA President Musa Bility confirmed the inclusion of seven members of the Kolakeh Dance Troupe for Nigeria.

    He said the LFA is responsible for the airfare, local transportation, game tickets, hotel accommodation as well as per diem for the dance group at the cost of about US$12,000 (about N2m).

    “We expect the troupe to offer offensive, defensive, and general cheers and chants to raise the crowd’s spirits during the Liberia and Nigeria’s football match,” he said.

  • Fenerbahce stops Yobo

    Fenerbahce stops Yobo

    Injured Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo, may not be privileged to cheer his mates as Nigeria takes on Liberia in the return leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations at the U.J.Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Saturday.

    Yobo was expected today from Turkey, but Fenerbahce is unwilling to release him due to the injury he suffered this week in a league match.

    However, soccer chiefs at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have continued to plead with the club officials.

    “Fenerbahce medics are insisting that Yobo cannot travel with a swollen knee. They have informed us that he is on crutches and as a result he can’t walk let alone travel on such a long trip,” said an NFF source.

    “We feel his presence will be a boost to the players mere seeing their captain cheering them from the stands. Anyway, let us see how it goes,” added the source.

    Meanwhile Yobo has charged his teammates to win for him so as to heal his pain.

    The player who was part of the 2-2 draw in Monrovia in the first leg last month has equally called for the fans support and prayers.

  • NFF allays fears on Eagles, Eaglets

    NFF allays fears on Eagles, Eaglets

    First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mike Umeh has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles and Golden Eaglets would win their respective matches on Saturday and Sunday.

    The NFF top official told SportingLife that the Federation has done all it could to ensure the Eagles emerge victorious against the Lone Star of Liberia and thereby qualify for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup finals slated for South Africa in January while also assuring on Eaglets to beat visiting Guinea in one of the qualification series for the Cadet Nations Cup.

    Umeh is also confident that the Eagles would run over Liberia in the absence of injured Skipper, Joseph Yobo. “Yobo’s absence is not going to have any adverse effect on the team although his teammates would miss him but the rest of players would definitely cope in his absence,” Umeh told SportingLife yesterday.

    He also spoke on the preparations for both the Africa Nations Cup qualifier and the Junior Nations Cup qualifying match which the Golden Eaglets would slug it out with Guinea a day after Eagles versus Liberia match.

    “The preparations for both the Eagles and the Eaglets matches are going on well and we are looking ahead for positive results on Saturday and Sunday. The mood in the camp of the Eagles and the Eaglets is very cordial ahead the double header matches, every player is bubbling and gearing up for action and I honestly believe that the two teams will be victorious in their respective matches with God on our side,” he prayed.

    The respected NFF top official also showered encomiums on Cross Rivers Governor for his assistance to the two teams so far in their qualification campaigns for Africa competitions.

    “The Governor of Cross River State is a passionate football lover and has been of great assistance to the two teams. We really appreciate his efforts and contributions to sports and most especially football in the country.”

    He also hinted on surprise package for the Super Eagles if they pick the 2013 ANC qualification on Saturday. “Yes there is going to be a special package for the team. Let them go ahead and win the match and leave the rest to us,” he summed up.

  • No excuses, NFF warns Keshi

    No excuses, NFF warns Keshi

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told Stephen Keshi they expect his team to beat Liberia on Saturday and qualify for the 2013 AFCON.

    NFF director of technical Emmanuel Ikpeme made the declaration in a chat with MTNFootball.com

    Ikpeme, who led the advance party of the NFF to Calabar, said, “The federation have given the coach all he needs to give Nigerians result this weekend so there would be no room for excuses.

    “No national team coach should wait for last minute permutations to qualify for any tournament. Every national team coach should win all their matches and that is what we expect from the Eagles.

    “They should win this weekend in Calabar and save us the headache of any mathematics as regards qualification.”

    Last October, the Eagles failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup after they were held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Guinea in Abuja.

    Coach Samson Siasia would subsequently lose his job after he urged his players to go for a third goal when they were leading 2-1 only for them to leave their defence wide open for Guinea to launch a quick counter attack and score a crucial equaliser in stoppage time to eliminate Nigeria from the competition.

    A 2-1 win over Guinea on that fateful day would have qualified Nigeria to the last AFCON.

    Keshi’s contract is tied to a performance clause which stipulated he qualified Nigeria to the Nations Cup in South Africa and reach at least the last four of the biennial tournament.

  • 125-man Liberia delegation arrives today

    125-man Liberia delegation arrives today

    The Liberia Football Association on Wednesday informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that its delegation to Saturday’s 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifying cracker against the Super Eagles will arrive today. The time of arrival was not stated.

    The letter from the LFA simply stated that the contingent of 125 persons, comprising players of the Lone Star, technical and backroom staff, LFA officials, government functionaries, media representatives and supporters will storm Calabar in a chartered aircraft.

    The Liberian delegation will be accommodated at the Channels View Hotel, while match officials, led by Match Commissioner, El Hadj Moucharaf Anjorin from Benin Republic will stay at the Axari Hotel.

    The Confederation of African Football has picked South African match officials to take charge of the crucial game, with school teacher Daniel Bennett at the centre.

    Both teams played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Monrovia last month, with the winner on aggregate to be eligible for the three-week, 16-nation African Cup of Nations finals in South Africa early next year

    The 10,000 –capacity U. J. Esuene Stadium in Canaan City is expected to be filled for the occasion of Nigeria’s expected return to African football’s summit.

    Officials of NFF confirmed on Wednesday that the Lone Star will have a feel of the U. J. Esuene Stadium today, with the U-17 Team of Guinea, billed to take on the Golden Eaglets in a 2013 African U-17 Championship qualifier on Sunday, to take their turn on the turf on Friday.

  • Ibrahimovic: My best yet to come

    Ibrahimovic: My best yet to come

    Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic feels he has yet to hit peak form since his move from AC Milan to Paris Saint Germain and has a lot more to offer as the Scandinavians take on the Faroe Islands in FIFA World Cup qualifying on Friday.

    “I am not yet at 100 per cent fitness,” said the Swede, who has scored an impressive nine goals in six matches so far for PSG. “I’ve scored goals and I’ve played well but I’ve had two matches when I wasn’t good and my teammates know it,” he added.

    The day I stop progressing is the day that I stop playing football. Sweden captain Ibrahimovic

    “Each day that you play and every match that you play, you get stronger in experience. I feel I am getting better with each year that passes and I’m playing in a manner that I want to play.

    “The day I stop progressing is the day that I stop playing football.”

    Sweden are coming off a 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan in their only match so far as they attempt to take maximum points against Group C minnows the Faroe Islands.