The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sports

  • NFF approves Falcons’ programme

    • Team opens camp in Abuja September 16
    • Football House shops for friendlies for team

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the programme submitted by the Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Kadiri Ikhana, towards the 8th edition of the African Women’s Championship(AWC) slated for Equatorial Guinea, a top official has revealed.

    The Chairman, Technical Sub Committee of the NFF, Barrister Christopher Green, who made this known to SportingLife said that the approval given to the programme was with immediate effect as the team is expected in Abuja on Sunday September 16 to regroup for the continuation of the preparation for the AWC billed to start in Equatorial Guinea on October 28th through November 11th in Malabo.

    Barrister Green also noted that international friendly matches are being worked out for the Falcons to keep them in good stead for the successful defence of the title won two years ago in South Africa.

    “They are going to resume camp on Sunday this weekend and the programme submitted by coach Kadiri Ikhana has been approved of.

    “We are working on getting some international matches for them but for now I can’t lay my hands on any because discussions are still ongoing with those countries,” he confirmed.

    Falcons are the most successful African country in the competition having lifted 6 of the 7 previous editions including victories in the first five editions of the tourney from 1998 through 2006. They claimed bronze medal in 2008 in Equatorial Guinea before winning their 6th title in 2010 in South Africa.

  • Eagles Cordinator blasts CAF over poor pitches

    Emmanuel Attah

    Super Eagles Coordinator Emmanuel Attah has called on Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to take the issue of bad pitches in Africa very serious as it could hamper the results of matches if care is not taken.

    Speaking on the backdrop of 2-2 score draw between Eagles and the Lone Star of Liberia in Monrovia on Saturday, the former FCT Football Federation boss revealed that the poor condition of the Samuel Doe Stadium really affected the performance of the Nigerian team in the match.

    “Confederation of Africa Football should do something drastic about the issue of bad pitches in Africa. It is not good for our football because most of our players ply their football trade in Europe and play on good pitches and you don’t expect them to come to Africa and get injured while playing on bad pitches after coming home to help their countries. This may eventually ruin their career. The performance of some of these players may be hindered by these bad pitches to the detriment of the nations they play for,” he said.

    “ So CAF must consider this issue very seriously because it affects the quality of play and the overall performance of teams in the continent.”

    He is, however, confident of Eagles’ victory over Liberia when the two teams meet next month in Nigeria. “We wanted to win in Liberia to compensate President Goodluck Jonathan for supporting us and personally visiting us in our training session before we departed for Monrovia and we also planned to win and make soccer loving Nigerians happy too. But we won’t cry over a split milk. Better still, the 2-2 draw has put us in a strong position to finally pick the qualification ticket for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup finals in South Africa,” he added.

  • NFF to Keshi: Talk less!

      Maigari 

    • Insists on focused Eagles ahead of Liberia tie
    • Camping to start early

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, to concentrate on his effort at building a formidable team for the country and should not be seen engaging in media warfare in his bid to defend his actions.

    The Federation says Keshi should speak less and think more of what to improve upon in his rebuilding process of the senior national team instead of dwelling on non-essentials.

    So many controversies have trailed Eagles’ 2-2 draw in Monrovia and has been termed unacceptable among the team’s faithful but the Chairman, Technical Sub Committee of the NFF opined that Keshi’s main priority should be on the return leg slated for October 14 in Calabar and not the first leg that had been added to history books.

    “Already I am not happy that Keshi is talking. I want us to get focused and let us not be talking and get the job done for the entire Nigerians. it is not for an individual. Keshi is the chief coach of the Nigeria’s Super Eagles and not that of his own team. We need to set our priorities right ahead of the return leg.

    “The Liberians are reading whatever we say and they know what is happening. We went through hell in Liberia and start another round of crisis in Nigeria here does not augur well for our preparation for the second leg,” Barrister Green disclosed to SportingLife.

    He also confirmed that the Super Eagles would open the camp with those based in the country first before the end of the month and not October 4th already mentioned in the media.

    “The Eagles will begin camping for the return leg match against Liberia before the end of this month. You know that this present board of the NFF always gives various national teams a long period of time to get prepared for any competition and the Eagles’ case will not be different,” he added.

  • Moses: Choosing Nigeria, my best decision

    S

    victor moses

    uper Eagles playmaker Victor Moses has revealed to SportingLife that donning the green and white colours of Nigeria remains the greatest thing that happened to his career.
    According to the player, who shone like a million stars in the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers in Monrovia, although it took time for him to debut for the country, he is not regretting his decisions. “I am very proud of my country, and I need to be proud wearing the green-white-green colours of Nigeria; that is one of the greatest things that would happen to me.
    “Although it took me time to change allegiance because I had played for England at junior level, when the change of allegiance finally came, I did not hesitate to make up my mind, and I am not regretting it’.
    The Kaduna State-born forward also gave his thoughts on his Chelsea transfer. He said: “I also feel great being in the colours of Chelsea; I am proud of that. That is one of the great places to be. I look forward to becoming a great player in Chelsea, and considering what the team has done in the past five years, I think I should be part of that greatness.”
    Moses continued: “Definitely, we have quality players that can win the Premiership this season, and retain the Champions League. I am looking forward to my debut in Chelsea, and I will continue to improve from there, because the more matches you play, the better for you”.

  • Liberia draw: Fans’ anger shocks Yobo

    • Says Eagles only need a draw in Calabar
    Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo has said he is shocked by fans’ disappointment after Nigeria were forced to a 2-2 draw by Liberia at the weekend.
    The Eagles came from a goal down and were running away with a 2-1 victory before the home team fought back to draw 2-2 in a game most Nigerian fans expected the Eagles to win.
    However, the country’s mo

    YOBO

    st capped international with 90 appearances Yobo has insisted the draw in Monrovia was a good result by the team.
    He told MTNFootball.com: “Unlike before when our last (2012) Nations Cup qualifying game (against Guinea at home) was a must-win with us needing to score a certain number of goals, this is not the case.
    “In the UEFA Champions League, teams work hard to get at least one away goal knowing that a single goal at home will earn you the victory to reach the next round.
    “In our case, we have two away goals, so the return leg is not a must-win but a must-draw.”
    The former Everton defender added,”We all know that the Eagles’ form at home is very good and I am confident that we will beat them next month in the return leg.”
    Yobo, who was substituted in Saturday’s game by Efe Ambrose, also featured for the Eagles when they last lost to the Lone Star 2-1 in Monrovia in 2001.
    The Eagles then avenged that shock loss with a 2-0 win in Port Harcourt to get their qualification campaign for the 2002 World Cup back on track.

  • ‘We still believe in Enyeama’

    • Shorunmu says Maccabi Tel Aviv goalie remains Eagles’ No. 1
    here is no cause for alarm over the choice of Vincent Enyeama as Eagles’ first choice in goal as goalkeeper trainer and Eagles’ Assistant coach, Ike Shorunmu has thrown his weight behind the embattled Israeli league star.
    There have been hue and cry over the performance of the Lille of France star on loan to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel and he was again in the news for negative reasons having been blamed for the equaliser in Liberia versus Eagles Africa Nations Cup qualifier decided in Monrovia on Saturday.
    But Shorunmu was resolute in his defense of his goalkeeper asking critics to leave him alone and not put undue pressure on him while also confirming him as the team’s numero uno (number one).
    “I don’t want to condemn any player in this kind of situation because if we win, we win together and when we drew, we drew together and if we lose, God forbid!, we lose together. That’s how it should be and that is why we call it a team.
    “We are building a team that everybody has to put his input in it. When you are building a team you don’t have to condemn anybody. The same Enyeama everybody has been praising everywhere and every time can’t just be condemned like that. Maybe he is going through some pressure and we have to give him our support.
    “We still believe in him and what happened in the match against Liberia in Monrovia can happen to any player so we took it as a team. I believe he will bounce back,” the former Shooting Stars Football Club goalkeeper told SportingLife yesterday.
    Shorunmu said that getting a 2-2 draw should be commended if the situation the team faced in Monrovia is to be put into consideration. He also believed that the Eagles can turn the game around in the return leg in Nigeria.
    “We need to thank God for everything. Playing a draw away from home is never easy. There is no pushover country anymore in football. You can see almighty Cameroon losing 2-0 away to Cape Verde, to tell you that there is no minnow any more in football. Thank God we didn’t have this kind of disaster in Monrovia on Satu

    Enyeama

    rday.
    “In the match we had a lot of chances while Liberia too had their own fair share of chances in the game but that is how it had to end. It is a lesson to us and an eye opener too that we will take to the next game. There are mistakes we made in the match; I know that there is room for corrections and we are going to do just that. We are eyeing victory in this match at least to put smiles onto the faces of soccer-loving Nigerians and we will achieve this in the return leg here in Nigeria by the special grace of God.
    “The Liberian team played well because of the support they got from their vociferous fans and I am confident that our team will enjoy such support or even better here in Nigeria. This kind of support will surely fire us up to deliver and win the return leg Insha Allah (by God’s grace)”, the former Eagles’ safe hands assured.

  • Imoke: I’m proud of fantastic Eaglets

    Senator Liyel Imoke, His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State has described the New Nigeria Golden Eaglets’ fine start to their campaign for a ticket for the 2013 African Under-17 Youth Championship in Morocco in one word: Fantastic!
    Imoke was on board Monday’s mid-day Arik flight that took the national Under-17 team from Abuja to Calabar after their 4-1 victory over Niger in Niamey at the weekend. On landing at the Margret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, the amiable governor had a brief conversation with the team.
    “I have been told about your performance against Niger and that was fantastic,” he said in his usual warm candour. “I’m very proud of you guys and I trust you won’t relent o

    • Eaglets line up

    n your efforts.”
    The team’s number 1 citizen, Manu Garba (MFR) quickly told the governor and his entourage that the team would not have achieved anything without the hospitality extended to the officials and players.
    “Once again, we thank you sir,” Garba said. “All what we have achieved so far was because you gave us a conducive environment to prepare the team. We are grateful sir.”
    Meanwhile, Garba has downplayed the team’s heart-warming first leg 4-1 win over Niger saying football is not mathematics, hence all hands must be on deck for the second leg match on September 22 in Calabar.
    “We are not celebrating anything yet because we have not won anything actually,” he explained. “We have not qualified for the second stage of the competition until after the second leg game, after then we can begin to talk about our next opponent. Our focus now is the second leg game.”

  • Osagie’s work permit ready next week

    • Tipped to lift Red Bull Salzburg

    Former KVC Westerlo youth ace Bright Osagie is on the verge of launching himself with a bang in the Austrian league, following his successful completion of a medical to facilitate his 4-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg even as his Belgian-Nigerian agent Klay Ekeocha has confirmed that his work permit will be ready next week.

    Ekeocha expressed optimism that Osagie will be a major hit in Austria describing him as a bundle of talent

    ”His work permit shall be ready early next week. This boy is a special talent and I am predicting he will be the next big thing in Nigerian football,” he told allnigeriasoccer.com.
    The 18-year-old known for his ability to use both feet coupled with breathtaking pace with or without the ball, is seen as a major boost for Red Bull Salzburg who currently occupy the 3rd position in the 10-team Austrian Bundesliga and eager to shoot into the first position.
    Osagie had initially signed a preliminary contract with Racing Genk in June but the deal hit the rocks after Westerlo failed to reach an agreement with Racing Genk on the player’s transfer fee.

  • Ocean Boys, NPL in face-off

    BARELY five days after the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board expelled Ocean Boys, the management of the Brass-based side has issued the board with a seven-day ultimatum to rescind the expulsion order or face court action.

    The NPL on Wednesday invoked article 4.2 (3) which states: “If a club fails to honour two consecutive matches without an acceptable reason such a club shall be expelled from the league and its matches played and un-played shall be cancelled.”

    The board summarily expelled Ocean Boys said to have fouled the provision while their matches played and un-played were cancelled outright.
    In what looks like a twist of fate, the General Manager of the Brass-based team, Anthony Ogola said the NPL must reinstate his side to honour the Matchday 38 game at ABS in llorin.

    “We’ve given NPL seven days to restore our status on the league and allow us honour Week 38 game at ABS, failure of which we’ll commence legal action against them.

    “Why would NPL turn round to expel us after they begged us to return to the league following our decision to pull-out and even made funds available to us to honour the rescheduled Matchday 23 tie at Sharks in Port Harcourt?

    “We must remind them that they’ve defaulted in their responsibility to clubs which was expressly agreed before the start of the season. “NPL as it stands at the moment lacks the legal or moral right to expel us.

    “We equally demand for immediate payment of the backlog of TV rights cum sponsorship deal due to us,” he told supersport.com.

    The expelled side, Ocean Boys completed the four teams relegated at the end of the 2011/2012 NPL season on Friday.
    Others include Niger Tornadoes, Jigawa Golden Stars and Rising Stars.

  • Only Keshi can decide Enyeama’s fate —NFF

    EXECUTIVE Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Emeka Inyama has declared that only Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has the prerogative to decide the fate of first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama as far as the national team is concerned.

    Speaking exclusively to NationSport in Lagos yesterday, the ace journalist said as part of the resolve by the NFF to allow the coach full control of the team, whether the Maccabi Haifa player will still be in Keshi’s plans will be the sole decision of the coach. “Vincent Enyeama’s case is for the coach to address; he has the right to hire and fire.

    He is the one who invites players; he has seen the team and may have discovered the deficient areas. He has told the players, if you have to come late, don’t come. If you don’t want to play for Nigeria, don’t show up. “So, he has read the riot act, he knows those who have not done well and it will now show in his next invitation.

    We in the federationhave given the coach free rein and full powers to deal with the team. So, the coach determines who the culprit is,” he said. Inyama said the outcome of the Nations Cup qualification match against Liberia last Saturday should not cause any alarm, adding that the one point scooped from the encounter as a result of the 2-2 draw puts Nigeria in a vintage position to clinch the ticket.

    “Well, for me what is important is the outcome of the match. There is no cause for alarm. The board is not shaken. The intention was to prepare the team for a win against Liberia. You would recall that in an international friendly we defeated them 2-0 in Monrovia.

    “So, the motivation was there. The visit of Mr. President added to that zeal to win but at the end of the day the match turned out to be a 2-2 draw; that means we came back with a point. It is a two-legged affair which means we now have to target the second leg in Nigeria.

    By the time we win we will have four points out of the six and that will take us to the Nations Cup,” he said. Inyama continued: “We are not resting on our oars, although we are disappointed with the result. It may not be what we expected, but it has not broken our hearts, rather it has put us in good stead to prepare.

    You must know that today whenever it concerns Nigeria, every country will rise to want to win, otherwise beating Liberia shouldn’t be a problem.”
    Baring his mind on the hostility meted to out to Nigeria in Liberia, Inyama, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said although the NFF will not pay the Lone Stars in their own coin, the treatment in Monrovia was disappointing. His words:

    The hostility in Liberia was expected and that was why the NFF made their own arrangements for alternative hotels, buses and all that, because we knew that the Liberians were desperate to win, and if you are conversant with African football these are the usual antics.

    So, that was expected but it shouldn’t be because it is between two friendly nations. So, we were not surprised by the antics, but we were disappointed by it. When they come to Nigeria, we will still give them the best treatment.”