The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Al Ahly do not scare me — Oboabona

    Godfrey Oboabona, the Captain of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure, on Thursday said the team had perfected the strategy it needed for victory in the CAF Champions League match against Al Ahly. The game is the first leg of the semi-final encounter between the clubs scheduled for Saturday in Ijebu-Ode.

    Oboabona is among home-based players in the Super Eagles camp preparing for the last leg of the final round Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Lone Stars of Liberia on Oct. 13 in Calabar. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the team was now battle-ready for Al Ahly after calling off their 10 days strike over unpaid contract fees.

    He said the players missed nothing during the strike, but that it was necessary to give the match the attention needed.

    “We trained together during the strike except that the coach was not with us. Sometimes, I go to him to collect programmes, which I passed on to the players,” he said.

    Oboabona said that their first leg group game against Esperence FC of Tunisia, which was played in Ijebu-Ode, was a painful experience which they would not allowed to repeat itself.

    “I see Sunshine Stars going to the final. We overrated Esperence the first time we played against them, that’s why we lost the game but in the second leg we did better. However, it was a big lesson for us. Seeing Al Ahly this time, we will pay back what Esperence did to us,” Oboabona boasted.

    “My colleagues are training in Ijebu-Ode and I am training with the Eagles. I can leave any moment to join them for Saturday’s encounter. In the game of football, it is not the name that matters but the character of the team. Kudos to Al-Ahly, they have everything but Sunshine Stars do not depend on the name, rather we depend on the commitment of the players on the field.

    “If you like field 10 Lionel Messi for Al Ahly, once they are not committed, the team won’t perform. So, I am not scared. All we have to do is to focus on the way we play and the good result will come,” Oboabona said.

    Sunshine Stars resumed training last weekend ahead of the crucial encounter after 10 days of strike over unpaid contract fees for the 2011/2012 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season.

  • Eagles’midfielder robbed in Ibadan

    Eagles’midfielder robbed in Ibadan

    Super Eagles and Enyimba Football Club midfielder, Uche Henry has told SportingLife exclusively how he was robbed in his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The light-skinned former Shooting Stars Football Club play-maker narrated his ordeal.

    “About two weeks so I experienced what I will never forget so easily for the rest of my life when armed robbers came to my house in Ibadan and stole some of my belongings including phones, my gold necklace, rings and a sum of N100,000.00 (hundred thousand naira). I thank God that they did not beat, wound or shoot at me.

    “I also thank God that they didn’t ask for my traveling documents like my International Passport. As a football player, they could have asked for my Passport like it happened to some of my friends when they were attacked by armed robbers. But I thank God that they didn’t collect my own.

    “It was a bitter experience that I don’t pray to happen to me again in my life. Thank God they couldn’t steal my car. They were trying to go away with my car. They tried to start the car but they couldn’t. They even spoil the key during the process so they have to leave the car behind. It was a new car, Toyota Camry called Big Daddy,” Henry disclosed.

    The attacking midfielder also believed that the hoodlums did not identify him as a footballer and they did not beat or harass him. He said now that he escaped from the wrath of arm robbers the only thing he can do is to thank God by putting up a heartwarming performance if he is fielded against Liberia come October 13th, 2012.

    “That one is gone so now I am concentrating on the match against Liberia. As a professional footballer I should not let anything bother or disturb me. We really need the game and we must qualify Nigeria for the 2013 Nations Cup this time around because we can’t afford to miss out again,” he promised.

  • We won’t dump Enyeama now, says Keshi

    We won’t dump Enyeama now, says Keshi

    Despite strong calls from various quarters for Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi to change the choice of Assistant Captain of the team as the team’s first choice in goal, Keshi has told SportingLife that may be too fatal and destructive to the player that has given close to 10 years of useful service to the nation since he first broke in as Eagles first choice in goal at the Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup held about 10 years ago.

    Keshi while defending the embattled goalkeeper, who on Sunday conceded three goals in his club Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 3-1 defeat away to Hapoel Be’er Sheva , warned that Nigerians should stand by the goalkeeper during his trying periods instead of castigating him.

    “I want everybody to know that this guy has served the nation for 10 year or thereabout now and he did so well at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where all the media praised him to high heavens with strong headlines like Enyeama stopped Messi and so on. Have we forgotten so soon? If we do this to him and throw him away what example or signal are we sending to the upcoming young players? All these are the things we should try and understand,” Keshi stressed.

    The former Togo and Mali Coach said that he won’t dump the player now instead he will continue to encourage him until he bounces back. He added that experience is vital as regards goalkeeping and could come handy in difficult matches.

    In as much as he wants to encourage every player Keshi warned that he would only filed the best players for the match against Liberia in Calabar next Saturday while also assuring that Nigeria would pick the 2013 Africa Nations Cup ticket by the time the match is concluded.

    “I want Nigerians to know that we will do everything within our powers with the backing of Almighty God to ensure we beat Liberia next Saturday. But I want Nigerians to support us as usual and be behind this team because it is Nigeria’s team not an individual property. We should also encourage the boys any way we could most especially the media. I believe we will be in South Africa,” Keshi assured.

  • Nigeria drops 5 places

    Nigeria drops 5 places

    Barely 8 days to the all-important AFCON clash between Super Eagles and Lone Star of Liberia in Calabar, Nigeria has crashed five places down in the latest FIFA ranking released Wednesday.

    The country is now ranked 63rd in the world and has again crashed out of the African top 10 to the 13th position in a log in which last Nation’s Cup finalists Cote Ivoire holds tenaciously to the number one spot.

    Nigeria was ranked 58th last month, a position now occupied by Iran, followed by Austria, Haiti, Canada and Guinea in that order.

    Algeria and Mali moved up four and five places up to occupy the 2nd and 3rd position in Africa with Ghana, Egypt, Zambia, Tunisia, Gabon Central African Republic and Cape Verde Islands completing the continent’s top 10.

    In contrast, Eagles opponents in the batlle of Calabar, Lone Star moved up 13 places but remained a distance 98th in the world and 27th in Africa.

  • Keshi set to drop 15

    Keshi set to drop 15

    Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, has revealed that he intends to drop 15 out of the 25 home-based players in camp. The Big Boss said that only ten players would make the trip to calabar. He said that his team will make Nigerians happy after the match . Kehi said he is scared of the boastful attitude of the Liberians saying that 90minutes in calabar would justify the result “they had their chance in moronvia, and did not take it, this is our own chance. We are going to win, but I cannot tell you the margin, but I know that we are on the way to south africa”.

    The former international frowned at various media reports that he remains rigid to an outdated pattern of 4-2-4 formation, which in most cases made it impossible for his boys to hold on to any lead in a match. “I get worried when I read some of these things in the media.

    “I have never played that pattern, and I hve not seen a coach playing such. What we play is 4-4-2 formation, people misconstrue it for 4-2-4 beacuse in most cases the two wing players who were supposed to join the midfielder whenever we don’t have the ball, are always complacent of that, this is always noticeable whenever the foreign players are in the team.

    But if I play with the home boys, they play it very well, because we practice it regularly in training,” he said.

    He Pleaded for the support of all Nigerians in ensuring that the country’s flag is hoisted in South Africa next January.

    He said that his boys would be most pleased to have president Goodluck Jonathan in stand to watch them in Calabar. “That can never be a sort of pressure on us, instead it would be a morale booster for the boys.

    “How many times do they have that kind of opportunity, to have your president cheering you, and the country’s national anthem blasting, then you go on there to die for your country, and that is exactly what would happen on that day,” he concluded.

  • Pay Eagles N3m bonus

    Pay Eagles N3m bonus

    Ex-sports minister Samaila Sambawa has said the Eagles win bonus of $10,000 be doubled for them to beat Liberia to a 2013 AFCON ticket.

    The Lone Star of Liberia forced the Super Eagles to a 2-2 draw last month in Monrovia and the overall winners of this match-up on October 13- will qualify for next year’s Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Nigeria sensationally failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup and Sambawa told MTNFootball.com nothing should be left to chance including doubling their bonuses to ensure qualification for the forthcoming tournament.

    “The NFF should double their match bonus,” said Sambawa, who during his time as the country’s sports minister the Eagles also failed to qualify to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

    “They don’t have to do this from their coffers, but this is possible if they approach corporate Nigeria. Is anything wrong if the NFF meet (Michael) Adenuga or (Aliko) Dangote to support the Eagles, do you think they would not?

    “If Liberia could promise their players extra $10,000 to beat the Eagles, then we should leave nothing to chance because this is a very important game. Even though I’m confident that we would qualify we should not take anything for granted, we should match these Liberians with everything we have, I am speaking from experience.”

  • ‘Eagles don’t need dollars to beat Lone Star’

    Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has reacted swiftly to news making the rounds that Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has promised the Lone Star huge dollar rain if they can upset the form by defeating Nigeria in Calabar, in the final round qualifier for the Nations Cup 2013.

    Speaking in Abuja, during the weekly media parley, Keshi said it was good motivation for the Liberians, but declared that the Super Eagles are already motivated enough to win by the NFF, the Nigerian government and people and that will be seen when they file out on October 13 against Liberia.

    “We surely need money for the players and officials but that is not the motivation now, the need to return to the Nations Cup is the driving force and the players are angry that they missed out the last time and want to prove that they have returned to be among Africa’s best. Money will surely come later,” he said.

    Keshi used the opportunity of the media chat to plead for support from the media, government and the Nigerian people generally as that will help team composure.

    “In Calabar, even when we don’t score early they keep cheering, believing that the goals will come, same thing happens in Kaduna, we must tell Nigerians particularly the media to spread the news that we want that type of spirit not only to qualify but to do well at the Nations Cup,” he added.

    The Super Eagles handler also revealed that some players based in Europe have pleaded with him to arrive the country on Tuesday and he has granted their request.

  • Don’t lose sleep over Liberia

    Stephen Keshi, the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, on Wednesday urged Nigerians not to lose sleep over his team’s Nations’ Cup qualifying match against the Lone Star of Liberia. Keshi made this known in Abuja at the team’s interactive session with the media.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the encounter scheduled for Calabar on Oct. 13 is the return leg of the final round of the qualifiers. The first leg had ended 2-2 in Monrovia on Sept. 8.

    According to Keshi, “it is a known fact that there are no minnows in football these days, but that is not enough reason for Nigerians’ to express worry over the country’s chances of picking the 2013 Nations’ Cup ticket.

    “It is surprising to me that Nigerians’ are losing sleep over Liberia. I understand the concern how the Eagles have been dropping performance wise in the past 10 years. However, it is up to the players to wake up; they need to face the challenge and say enough is enough. We need to do things right because our brothers and sisters are not sleeping because of this game,” Keshi said.

    The Eagles handler noted that the technical crew was doing all that was required including the extra training session added to the team’s timetable to ensure that victory was recorded against the Lone Star in

    Calabar.

    He stressed that invitation of 15 foreign-based players was to cover up for the lapses which could arise from “match rustiness” of local players who have been idle after the end of 2011/2012 league season.

    “We started training Monday morning and we needed to take it to a high intensity level because the local players have been out of the league action for the past three weeks. For us to have them in that level we need against Liberia, we need to intensify the training session and do more tactical play,” he added.

    The Big Boss said the foreign-based players must arrive the team’s camp latest Oct. 9 to enable them blend with the 22 home-based players already in camp for the make or mar encounter.

    Keshi further stated that the performance of the team in Calabar would also depend on the level of support Nigerians would give to them.

    “I can tell you that the players are already visualising what will happen in Calabar. I know they are mentally ready; I don’t want to put too much pressure and panic on them though they know the match is a must win. In all, we want to make sure our training session is intense and well prepared for so that everybody can be on the same page,” Keshi explained.

    He, however, frowned at situation where some players fail to return to position after losing possession of the ball.

  • Balotelli saves Mancini’s men

    Balotelli saves Mancini’s men

    Manchester City’s Champions League dreams were given a shot in the arm by a late Mario Balotelli equaliser against Borussia Dortmund.

    Jack Rodwell gave the ball away to Marco Reus in the second-half and he rampaged in to strike what looked to be the winning goal until a late penalty was awarded to City for handball.

    Balotelli coolly converted it to earn his side a point they did not deserve from a game they played badly in.

    Joe Hart made several superb saves to keep Dortmund out and they also hit the crossbar and post as City’s goal led a charmed life.

  • Sunshine coach positive on beating Al Ahly

    The Head Coach, Sunshine Stars FC of Akure, Gbenga Ogunbote, on Wednesday boasted that they must beat Al Ahly of Egypt to progress to the final of the CAF Champions League.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sunshine will host the North African side on Saturday in the first-leg semi-finals of the championship. Ogunbote told NAN on telephone that their primary concern was how to get a win, saying that they were focused on achieving that.

    “All we are after is winning and nothing short of it. I’m not concerned about an emphatic victory but all I want is a manageable home win against Al Ahly. We have what it takes, the team is in good shape and all areas regarding the team has been worked on to ensure we get the all important win,” he said.

    He, however, noted that Al Ahly were a good side, adding that he was conscious of the threats they posed as six-time winners of the Champions League. The coach urged Nigerians to come out en mass and support the team to ensure they get the all important win.

    “They are a good side, six-time winners; therefore it’s no mistake that they have achieved this feat. We respect them and we know they would be tough. Having said all of these, it would not stop us from playing the way we always played. The team’s style of play will not change.

    “I’m pleading with fans all over the country to come out en mass to the stadium and cheer the team to victory because their support is important. So far, the players are fit, there are no injury worries but we can’t rule out the possibilities of such and we’re praying they remain fit,” Ogunbote said.

    The first-leg semi-final match will be played at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.