The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • Mikel backs Chelsea to lift EPL title

    Mikel backs Chelsea to lift EPL title

    Mikel Obi has restated his belief that Chelsea could reclaim the EPL title this season after they won at London rivals Arsenal on Saturday.

    Chelsea beat Arsenal at The Emirates 2-1 to stay top of the Premier League with 16 points from six matches. They are also unbeaten.

    Nigeria midfielder Mikel has now told MTNFootball.com ‘The Blues’ could reclaim the crown they lost to Manchester United in the 2010/2011 season.

    “We knew that to win such a game, we needed total focus and this we had. We really deserved the victory at The Emirates and we need to win such games to actualise our dream of winning the league,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com

    “To take points off contenders at their home ground was massive for us and we look forward to consolidate our position in our next game.

    “We have a team who can win the EPL and as well defend the Champions League. We have a large squad of quality players in all positions. We have different approaches to games now as we play attractively and do not forget our job defensively.

    “We are getting better and I am sure we will soon be the perfect team that we wish for.”

    Chelsea are also in the hunt for English League Cup and clash with Manchester United in the fourth round.

    Mikel said he expects a tough battle but again expects Chelsea go past ‘The Red Devils’.

    “They are great side and it is going to be a tough game no doubt because Manchester United are a top side. I respect them but we are not scared of them. We have defeated them previously and I believe we are going to defeat them in this one,” Mikel said.

    Chelsea beat Wolves 6-0 to advance to the next stage of the competition, while Manchester United eliminated Newcastle United 2-1.

  • New dawn for sports in Anambra – Gov. Obi

    New dawn for sports in Anambra – Gov. Obi

    PLANS ARE in top gear to bring Anambra State sports back to its glory days, according to the Special Assistant to Governor Peter Obi on sports, Arthur Ebunam. The state government has mapped out strategies towards making this vision a dream come true.

    He said: “As I talk to you right now, plans are at advanced stage for the state to own a football clubside, a club that will give the sports loving people of the state a reason to cheer and celebrate.” He also stated that the state wishes to run the club in the most professional manner ever seen in Nigeria.

    Football consultants, top class sports journalists, seasoned sports administrators are being approached towards having a clubside with an international standard.

    “Let me still let you know that very soon, there will be a mini dinner with the would-be Board of Directors – those that will have shares in the club, those whose financial involvement will compliment the financial and material effort of the state towards the club.”

    The former Rangers player and ex-Green Eagles player also made it known that moves are already on to buy over a clubside from the National League, the team that will form the nucleus and the starting point of the this state owned clubside.

    He said: “I must tell you that Mr Peter Obi, the state governor has vowed to give the youth and the state in general a reason to be proud of the state, recently using sports as an avenue for that.”

     

  • 18th NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL Ogun athletes intensify training

    18th NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL Ogun athletes intensify training

    •Amosun rehabilitates Alake Sport Centre 

    OGUN STATE Government says it will carry- out a total renovation and rehabilitation of all the facilities at the Alake Sport Centre, Ijaiye Abeokuta to international standard.

    The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun stated this when he visited the sport centre to congratulate the State athletics for doing well at the just concluded Southwest One Team Sport Elimination in Ibadan where the State qualified for nine Sports out of the thirteen on offer at the elimination.

    Governor Amosun who expressed dismay at the level of decadence of the facilities many of them built over twenty-five years back praised Team Ogun athletes for excelling at different national and international competitions despite the dilapidated structures.

    He therefore promised to overhaul all the facilities as a way of providing enabling environment so that the athletes will continue to give-out their best.

    Governor Amosun, however, called on the athletes to reciprocate government gesture by putting more effort and charge them to do the state proud at the forthcoming National Sports Festival “Eko 2012”

    He said: “Continue to train hard and go for gold in Lagos. Let me assure you that I will be with you in Lagos to encourage you and once you deliver, the state government will reward you adequately.”

    Governor Amosun did not forget to tell Ogun State athletes to be disciplined and avoid any act that will tarnish the good image of the State saying as state ambassadors they must serve as good examples to other states during the National Sports Festival.

    Responding on behalf of Team Ogun athletes, the Vice Captain Ephraim Daniel thanked the Governor and his entourage for the visit and promised his colleagues resolve to do the state proud at the “Eko 2012”.

    He was also full of praise to the State governor for deciding to upgrade the facilities at the Alake Sport Centre to International standard while reminding the Governor on the need to continue to improve the welfare of the athletes.

  • OBUH PLANS SOUTH AFRICA HUMILIATION

    OBUH PLANS SOUTH AFRICA HUMILIATION

    NIGERIA’S U-20 coach John Obuh has revealed desire in seeing his team get a big score win over South Africa in the final round of qualifying match for the 2013 African Youth Championship.

    The Flying Eagles played a 1-1 draw against the Amajita’s in their first meeting and are marginally at advantage to book a ticket to the championship which serves as qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 World Cup when the sides meet in Ilorin on October 7 but Obuh is eager to see his team humiliate their opponents.

    “I will like to see the team go all out and not just get a win but a convincing win over the South Africans. We need to prove that we are a top side in this category of African football,” Obuh, who seems to be sure that his team will scale the hurdles of the South Africans, said.

    Obuh’s team lost to the South Africans in an invitational tourney early this year and there were calls for him to be sacked as Nigeria finished last in the classification of the four-nation tournament which also had Brazil and Ghana.

    Nigeria are the defending champions of the AYC following a 3-2 triumph over Cameroun in the final in 2011.

  • FLYING EAGLES THRASH KWARA ACADEMY 4-0

    FLYING EAGLES THRASH KWARA ACADEMY 4-0

    NIGERIA’S Flying Eagles trounced Kwara Football Academy 4-0 to round up their build-up for a 2013 African Youth Championship qualifier against South Africa next week.

    Rangers striker Alhaji Gero scored a brace after he lost a penalty in a goalless first half.

    The other scorers were Bright Ejike and Chidi Osuchukwu.

    The Flying Eagles drew 1-1 with Amajita of South Africa in the first leg final qualifier for the 2013 African Youth Championship to be hosted by Algeria.

    The return leg match will be played on Sunday, October 7 at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.

  • GOMBE UTD BACKS LEAGUE POSTPONEMENT

    GOMBE UTD BACKS LEAGUE POSTPONEMENT

    IBRAHIM Kwairanga Team Manager of Nigeria Premier League side, Gombe United has applauded the recent decision by the League management to put on hold activities to usher in the 2012/13 Premier League season.

    Kwairanga who has never hidden his displeasure with the former October kick-off date told futaa.com that the new development will now give room for better planning that will make the next season a worthwhile campaign.

    ”I am happy that everybody has seen that there is no need for us to be rushing that we want to start a new season just for starting sake.

    “I hope the League management can step up their effort at a getting a title sponsor for the League and make other moves that will make the next season better than the one we just concluded,” the Desert Scorpion Team Manager concluded.

  • FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

    FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

    •Beat Colombia 3-0
    •Match holds Thursday October 4

     

    Nigeria’s Super Flamingoes sealed a quarter-final date with France at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan with a 3-0 bashing of Colombia in one of Group A final matches in Baku on Saturday.

    The encounter which had about 2500 fans in the stand, saw Flamingoes’ Halimatu Ayinde hit her second brace to send Nigerian side into the quarter-final as their Colombia counterpart bowed out.

    Chinwendu Ihezuo went close early on, her bullet header going just wide as she aimed to improve on her tally of six at Azerbaijan 2012. However, they had to wait until the 32nd minute to open the scoring, Ihezuo feeding Ayinde to slot beneath Lissa Cardozo.

    Thereafter, it was a scrappy game, but one that was favouring the African side. Nigeria were being limited to few chances despite dominating possession, but last-ditch tackles and blocks were keeping Colombia in it.

    Maldonado almost swung things back on level terms though, with her looping free-kick from 40 yards crashing off the crossbar on 50th minute, only for Gift Andy to recover and prevent Marcela Restrepo tapping in.

    Moments later Tessy Biahwo then struck a decent free-kick of her own, but Cardozo was equal to it. Nigeria then had the ball in the net 15 minutes into the second period, but it was ruled out for a foul after Cardozo spilled a cross.

    Captain Dayana Castillo almost drew Colombia level after breaking clear, only for Andy to deny her and seconds later, they were two down. Substitute Yetunde Adeboyejo combining well with Ayinde before the latter stroked the ball in off the bar.

    When Diana Duarte put into her own net with a miscued header, Colombia’s last hopes were dashed, while France await the victors.

    Flamingoes will now face Les Bleuettes of France in one of the quarter-finals on Thursday, October 4 after the European side finished second in Group B behind leaders, Korea Democratic Republic.

  • U-17 Women World Cup: Nigeria through to quarterfinals

    U-17 Women World Cup: Nigeria through to quarterfinals

    Nigeria has qualified for the quarterfinals of the on-going U-17 Women World Cup tournament beating Colombia 3-0 on Saturday.

    The flamingoes will now meet France in the next round.

     

  • Chelsea beats Arsenal 2-1

    Chelsea beats Arsenal 2-1

    Chelsea handed Arsenal its first loss of the season, winning 2-1 on Saturday to consolidate top spot in the Premier League.

    A free kick that glanced off Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny into the net proved to be the winner in the 53rd minute, earning the European champions a fifth win in six league games and dealing a blow to one of their potential rivals for the title.

    So solid at the back this season, Arsenal’s defensive vulnerability returned at Emirates Stadium, looking unsure at set pieces with Fernando Torres beating Koscielny to another free kick by Mata to give Chelsea the lead in the 20th.

    “Defensively, we were not at the level we have to be in a game like this,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who may regret the decision to play Koscielny ahead of the in-form Per Mertesacker.

    The spotlight was also on a center back for Chelsea, with John Terry playing just two days after being banned for four games for racially abusing an opponent in a league game last year.

    With the defender contemplating whether to appeal the suspension, he remained available for Chelsea and shrugged off constant jeers from the home fans to deliver a largely composed display.

    Terry was fooled by the good movement of Gervinho for Arsenal’s equalizer in the 42nd, however. The Ivory Coast international peeled off the former England captain before controlling a cross by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and slamming an unforgiving close-range finish high into the net, maintaining his improvement this season after being handed the center-forward berth by Wenger.

    That was the first goal that Chelsea had conceded in four games but Roberto di Matteo’s side held on to secure victory in its toughest test yet this season, proving it has the mettle in defense and creativity up front to challenge the two Manchester clubs for the title.

    “I’m very pleased today with our performance,” Di Matteo said. “We played against a very good team and we didn’t allow Arsenal to get in a rhythm.”

     

     

     

  • Nigeria set to rout Colombia

    Nigeria set to rout Colombia

    Flamingoes of Nigeria are set to rout Colombia in their last group A match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan today.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the coaching crew is planning a tactical warfare, the players promised to shoot down their opponents with goals.

    The Head Coach of Flamingoes Peter Dedevbo told NAN in Baku: “We want to repeat our game plan against Azerbaijan for Colombia on Saturday, we want to come out attacking and attacking.

    “We need a straight win in that match. Whatever the number of goals we score, it doesn’t matter, we want the three maximum points in that match. We have watched our opponents’ play, we are not bothered about their spying on us, we know their weak points. We are stronger, we’ll have the upper hand in the match and that will pay off when we meet on Saturday.’’

    He added: “We know the tough teams in this tournament but we are not afraid of them. We want to take a match at a time because victory comes from God. Our attackers and midfielders are young and agile. If one player does not score a goal another will score. There is cohesion in the team, they are not selfish.”

    On her part, Flamingoes’ captain Victoria Aidelomon said: “We have committed our match against Colombia into God’s hands. We are preparing well for the match because our aim is to get to the finals of the competition and winning the competition will be great in my history as captain of the team.”

    Chinwendu Ihezuo, the highest goal scorer in the competition, said the Flamingoes would remove pride and put their best into the game against Colombia.

    “I hope to score three or four goals against Colombia. I have prayed and God will grant my request,” she said.

    Similarly, Aminatu Yakubu, 15, the youngest goal scorer in the competition, said, “I hope to score three goals against Colombia on Saturday, God willing.”