The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2018 World cup

  • World Cup celebrations rock France

    Newspapers and TV stations hailed France’s World Cup victory on Monday, while clean-up crews worked against the clock to tidy up after a crazy night’s partying in Paris ahead of a victory parade down the Champs Elysees.

    “Our Day of Glory Is Here” declared Le Figaro, referencing a rousing line from the Marseillaise anthem.

    “History Made” announced sports daily L’Equipe, while business journal Les Echos went for the more straightforward “Champions of the World.”

    Photos of superstars Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba, as well as shots of the team holding aloft and kissing the trophy, dominated coverage.

    The victory has created a sense of national unity, with commentators playing up the fact the squad, the second-youngest in the competition, includes many with central and North African heritage, even if all but two were born in France.

    When the country won its first World Cup in 1998, when Zinedine Zidane was its talisman and playmaker, the team was referred to as “Black-Blanc-Beur” (Black-White-Arab), a positive reference to its diverse ethnic make-up.

    But some were keen to push that phrase to one side, seeing in it a sense of separateness, even if it was meant positively.

    “We’re not in 1998,” said Mounir Mahjoubi, the secretary of state for digital affairs, whose parents emigrated from Morocco.

    “We’re not still celebrating ‘Black-Blanc-Beur,’ we’re celebrating brotherhood,” he said of the current team.

    Videos shot by the players in the frenetic changing room after the win showed them singing, dancing and raising a toast together, while teaching President Emmanuel Macron, who could barely contain his excitement, how to do a “dab.”

    For Macron, who became president last year at the age of 39, taking his political movement to victory against the odds, the football team’s success is likely to have positive repercussions after a slump in the polls.

    The Paris metro system got into the celebratory mood, announcing the names of a number of stations were being briefly changed to honor the players and coach, Didier Deschamps.

    So Notre-Dame des Champs station was relabeled “Notre Didier Deschamps,” and Victor Hugo was switched to “Victor Hugo Lloris” after the captain and goalkeeper.

    The 2 km Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and the vast Place de la Concorde turned into a heaving sea of people on Sunday night, waving red, white and blue flags, setting off firecrackers and blowing horns until early morning.

    On Monday, the after-effects were still visible.

    A number of smashed windows, an overturned car and graffiti scrawled here and there, including the phrase “Liberte, Egalite, Mbappe,” a reference to the national motto “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.”

    On Twitter, Brazil legend Pele paid tribute to the exploits of Mbappe, France’s standout, 19-year-old superstar, saying that if the teenager kept equaling his goal-scoring records, Pele might have to strap his boots back on.

    Mbappe replied to the tweet in English saying “The king will always remain the king,” quickly gaining 15,000 retweets.

    The team is scheduled to arrive back in France at 14.00 GMT, with crowds set to gather at Charles de Gaulle airport to receive them.

    A parade down the Champs Elysees is scheduled for 15.30 GMT, and there will be a formal victory reception with Macron at the Elysee Palace at 16.30 GMT.

    It’s not just in Paris that the nation has been taken over with football fever.

    From Nice and Marseille in the south to Lille in the north, Nantes in the west and scores of towns and cities in between, TV stations were full of images of red, white and blue clad fans singing in streets and squares.

    NAN

  • Winners and losers of 2018 World Cup

    The “world’s greatest sports fiesta”, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA)- organised World Cup, will be rounded off this weekend with the finals slated for Sunday, July 15 in the Russian capital, Moscow. This writer had sometime last year when Nigeria’s Super Eagles qualified for this year’s finals, intimated that mothers were not at all amused by the frenzy and excitement with which generality of Nigerians were looking forward eagerly to the start of the quadrennial tournament. I had stated that mums on the contrary, were putting on their thinking caps and trying to conjure how they would cope with the distractions that the World Cup, not least Nigeria’s participation would cause for Junior as well as the attendant headaches she would suffer from shouts of ‘g o a l’ whenever a team scores, particularly favoured teams. Mothers’ lamentations stemmed from their experience of the last World Cup when matches were played into the wee hours of the morning (Nigerian time), thus greatly affecting Junior’s academic and domestic/ household works due to insufficient sleep.

    In that piece titled, ‘’Lamentation over World Cup frenzy”, I wrote, “Amidst the pervasive excitement and noise engendered by the quadrennial tournament, mothers stand aloof, unimpressed. Indeed left to them, they wish that international football is banished altogether. For, with the commencement of the World Cup comes another round of Junior’s hide and seek game that often wears her out. Junior and the other young boys are likely to have their attention directed wholly to happenings on the field of play in faraway Russia rather than to their academic, domestic and other household duties. This for Mama Junior and other mothers/guardians in her shoes is a burden.

    “What is more, the World Cup will be setting in just when mothers will be heaving a sign of relief that the European football season is ending. During the long European season which spans August to May, it was a tug of war sort of, between Junior and his mum. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Junior will sneak out of the house after lunch to go watch soccer matches at viewing centres. He and his friends would not return until late in the evenings. It is even worse for games that were played on weekdays, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On such occasions, he comes home late at nights when other family members have gone to bed. Locking him out does not seem to deter him. Flogging and denial of food does little to change his ways either. At best when the punishment appears unbearable he would stay indoors on a match day. On such days he would wear a permanent frown on his face and grudgingly attend to errands and domestic chores allotted him.

    “By the next day, he is back to his old ways, off to viewing centres. It is as though he is addicted to football. It is a habit boys pick from their fathers who themselves are soccer fanatics. So you can well imagine Mama Junior and other mothers’ sadness at the forthcoming Russia 2018 World Cup. She and others in her shoes are scratching their heads, putting on their thinking caps on how they can wade through this 30 days of intensive football, especially against the background that the 2014  competition in Brazil though relayed by all local television stations, was played from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.”

    Well, there is some difference in this year’s World Cup.  In the first place the group games (three matches per day) were played at 2p.m; 5p.m and 7p.m., while the Round of 16 and quarter final matches were played at 3p.m and 7p.m; semi-final matches at 7p.m and the final at 4p.m.  This means that at the latest the last match was over by 9p.m or before 10p.m. where they stretched to extra time and penalties.  And due partly to the beatings they received for not waking up on time during the last World Cup and the fact that they are looking forward to the next day’s matches, Junior and his siblings go to bed soon after the last match of the day. They wake up at the appropriate time in the morning and attend to their domestic duties attentively in order to please their parents before jetting off to school.

    Another factor that played in favour of Mama Junior and all the other mothers this time around is that the competition started during the Sallah break, Friday June 15 and Monday June 18 having been declared public holidays in Nigeria. Also the World Cup fell at a period when the school calendar was being rounded off starting with revisions and then end of session exams. Indeed starting with this weekend, the schools will be having their end of session parties. So, there is no intensive academic work as such at this time while the World Cup timings provided them time to read their books after school in the afternoons before the matches begin.

    Overall, I can report that Russia 2018 World Cup is not as stressful for Mama Junior and others in her shoes as was Brazil 2014. For this they are winners of sorts. Again, the fact that the Eagles exited at the group stage, winning only one match and losing two meant that the noise was not as loud as in 2014 when they made it to the round of 16, notwithstanding that this time around we had all been primed into thinking that the Super Eagles would make it to the semi-finals.

    Another notable observation of this World Cup is that people could stream it live on their mobile phones and so watch the matches on the go rather than at a stationery place, thanks to our rising internet penetration. There was thus a rise in data purchase. You could even relive some high points and matches via YouTube and other sports apps. Telecommunications firms are a winner here.

    On a final note, unlike in 2014, there are now a multiplicity of online and physically visible betting organisations spread in virtually all nooks and crannies of southern and north central parts of Nigeria. However, those who were wooed/lured into staking a bet with borrowed cash or their own money to shore up their finances or hit a jackpot in these trying times are now wearing long frowns because they were way off the mark in their predictions. Those that the professional bookmakers termed as favourites to win this World Cup have all fallen by the wayside – defending champions Germany, Argentina, Spain, and Portugal, except France. Those they never gave a chance, England, Croatia and Belgium have propped up for the semi-finals. As a result, people are reluctant to bet on which team/ country will be crowned winners of Russia 2018 World Cup.

     

    • Ikeano writes from Lafia, Nasarawa State.

  • An English-speaking Russian

    The 2018 World Cup may be the best thing to have happened to Russia in recent times. The world is viewing the country through different lenses because of the sights and sounds of what has been a fantastically entertaining tournament.

    The organisation has been excellent and so has the reception by the people been. We have not witnessed some of the delays in completion of stadia and other infrastructure as happened with some of the recent tournaments. Racism has so far not reared its head.

    Today’s Russia is a world removed from some of the narratives pushed by the West. The beautiful and scenic city of St. Petersburg could be anywhere in Europe or America – with its broad avenues, efficient transport and massive malls.

    Still, Russia remains to a great extent a closed society. One found it curious that in a city hosting many matches of the World Cup there was little concession to the fact that there would be an influx of tourists from all corners of the globe who don’t all speak Russian. Very few signs were in English, French or any other popular international language.

    The upshot was that it a nightmare for the adventurous tourist looking to take in the sights. Very few people on the streets spoke English and hotel and shop staff were only slightly better.

    On the day before Nigeria took on Argentina, our intrepid team of four decided to shop for a couple of personal items after picking up our laminated Fan IDs. All the signs were in Russian and there was not an English speaker in sight. After wandering about for a while we ended up at a station and continued our enquiries.

    For our troubles we got an earful of Russian – until a burly, boisterous man in his 50s rushed to our ‘aid’. He swore he spoke English fluently and promised to take us to our destination in his taxi for just 200 roubles. We were only too glad to find help – even if he had asked for 400 roubles we would have gladly paid up.

    A little while later he arrives with an ancient Lada which looked like it was manufactured when Leonid Brezhnev was president. We all piled in – three of us squashed in the back and the tallest of us enjoying slightly more legroom in front.

    As he took off he proudly announced to us that his was an ‘original Russian Lada.’ Every step of the way he chattered away in his ‘fluent English’ which on closer examination was more like 90% Russian, 5% Ukrainian and 3% English!

    But we didn’t care because he delivered us safely to our destination. And the parting was cheerful as he posed proudly while we snapped pictures of his ‘original Russian Lada.’

  • England and Colombia eye World Cup ¼ spot

    Will the Three Lions of England survive the Colombian onslaught in tonight’s round of 16 clash in the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia?

    The remaining round of 16 matches – England vs Colombia and Sweden vs Switzerland – will be fiercely contested on Tuesday.

    The prize is quarter final spots for winners of both matches.

    The encounter between Colombia, the South America nation known more for drug and violence and the English who primed themselves as lords of football, is expected to be tough considering the caliber of players available to both sides.

    Flamboyant Mexico bowed to the superior firepower of five-time champions Brazil on Monday and their fans wept like babies crying for breast milk at the stands.

    Belgium and Japan contrived to produce one of the matches of the tournament, with the Asians losing 2-3 at the end of the enthralling contest.

    However, the focus is on the Colombia v England tie.

    All eyes are on England to qualify for the World Cup quarter finals for the first time since the 2006 edition in Germany.

    The two teams met at the 1998 World Cup in France and England prevailed on that occasion through goals from Darren Anderton and David Beckham in a 2-0 win.

    The 1966 world champions had defeated Colombia three times in five previous meetings between the two countries.

    The other encounters ended in draws.

    Tottenham striker Harry Kane who has scored five goals in the tournament is the man to watch in the English side while the duo of Radamel Falcao and the Golden Boot winner in Brazil 2014 James Rodriguez are key men for the Colombians.

    The other encounter between the Swedes and Swiss is also very difficult to predict because of the two sides contrasting styles of play.

    The Scandinavian side is a very technical side blessed with quality but unheralded players while the resolute Swiss side has more established players on its rank.

    Expect the like of Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka to dictate the play for Switzerland and Ola Toivonen to run the show for Sweden.

     

     

     

  • FIFA fan fest records 2.5m visitors

    The 2018 World Cup FIFA Fan Fest, venues created new World Cup stadiums to cater for non-ticket-holding fans, have already welcomed 2.5 million visitors.

    World football governing body FIFA, the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Russia 2018 Host Cities who announced this on Friday said they were thrilled about this development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FIFA Fan Fest venues are the best place outside the stadium to experience the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    The 2.5 million numbers is a record in the history of the innovation which began at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, because Russia 2018 has just gone 23 matches.

    “The fact that this 2.5 million milestone has been reached so early in the tournament is the living proof of that the party is just getting started though…!’’ Alexei Sorokin, Chairman of Russia 2018 LOC, said on Friday.

    Read Also:Russia 2018: Senegal records first African victory in Russia

    The FIFA Fan Fests are open on all match days so that football fans can watch the matches live and enjoy an exciting music and cultural entertainment programme, free of charge.

    National and international visitors from all over the world flow into the venues, which are located at some of Russia’s most iconic locations.

    The tournament’s official mascot Zabivaka and Ambassadors Marcel Desailly and Alexander Kerzhakov are currently touring through Russia to meet and greet the FIFA Fan Fest visitors.

    Since Germany 2006, the FIFA Fan Fest has become part of the Official Programme and continued for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Almost 30 million people have attended these events over these past three editions.

  • Africa’s big five target podium finish in Russia

    The 2018 FIFA World Cup begins Thursday in Russia and 32 nations will be vying for the planet’s biggest soccer prize.

    Africa will be represented by five countries – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia.

    The teams have been put in fairly competitive groups and will be aiming to go one step further than the quarter final finish recorded by Cameroun (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) when the tournament kick off with the opening match between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia at the magnificent Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

    HAMED SHOBIYE, Deputy Editor, Online, x-ray the chances of Africa’s five representatives in Russia.

    EGYPT:

    The seven-time African champions will be featuring in the premium soccer tournament for the first time since 1990. The Pharaohs unexpectedly saw off the challenge of group E favourites Ghana’s Black Stars to secure the ticket for Russia.

    The Argentinian- born Hector Cuper has put together a cohesive unit that will ruffle few feathers in a simple looking group A comprising the hosts, two-time world champions Uruguay and Asian heavyweights Saudi Arabia.

    Regarded as poor travelers, the Egyptians are expected to break their age-long hoodoo of not going beyond the group stage in major soccer tournaments by picking one of the group’s second round tickets alongside Uruguay.

    In their previous two appearances in FIFA World Cup, the North African powerhouse record of two draws and two defeats in 1934 and 1990 in Italy make them one of the poorest sides in the history of the tournament.

    Coach: Hector Cuper

    The blonde Argentine was in charge of the great Valencia side that dazzled the world with its refreshing brand of football at the beginning of the millennium.

    He led the side that included Gazka Mendieta, Claudio Lopez, Ariel Ortega and Joeslyn Angloma to successive UEFA Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001 against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

    Before that, he led the unheralded Spanish side, Mallorca to a second place finish in the now rested European Winners’ Cup in 1999.

    Cuper’s stint with Inter Milan was not very successful, but his recent exploits with Egypt has cemented his place as one of world’s elite coaches.

    Key PLAYER: Mohamed Salah

    The reigning African Player of the Year is the man carrying the hopes of millions of Egyptians in this year’s tournament.

    The Liverpool star scored 46 goals across all competitions last season and his form will determine how far the Pharaoh will go in this year’s World Cup.

    The Egypt’s talisman is one of few players expected to light up the tournament in Russia.

     

    MOROCCO:

    Morocco was the first African team to progress beyond the group stage in FIFA World Cup.

    The Jose Faria’s tutored side that included stalwarts like Aziz Bourdebala, Mohammed Timoumi, El-Zaki Badou, Abdulrazaq Khairi and Merry Krimau stunned the global soccer audience by finishing top of group E ahead of England, Poland and Portugal at the 1986 tournament held in Mexico.

    The team lost to eventual runners up West Germany by 0-1 in the second round.

    The Moroccans are playing in their first World Cup since 1998.

    In France, the Atlas Lions refreshing brand of football captivated the watching world and came agonizingly close to sealing a second round ticket behind the defending champions Brazil in group F.

    The current generation led by Juventus defender, Mehdi Benatia, picked the group C ticket ahead of West African giants Ivory Coast on the last day of African zone qualifiers. The Moroccans stunned the star –studded Ivoirians at their Abidjan cauldron with 2-0 victory and sealed a fifth appearance in FIFA’s premier soccer tournament.

     

    The Coach: Herve Renard

    The shrewd Frenchman has carved a niche for himself as a top class coach with two AFCON victories under his belt.

    Henard, who worked with Claude Le Roy during the latter’s stint with Ghana, has transformed the Atlas Lions into one of the most formidable teams on the continent.

    The team scored eight goals and conceded none in the last round of African zone qualifiers. The fine blend of youth and experience in midfield and attack make the Atlas Lions a dangerous dark house in Russia.

    However, no one is giving the North African giants any chance of surviving a dangerous looking group B comprising two European heavyweights in the shape Portugal and Spain.

    But finishing ahead of Iran in third place will be a huge success for the former African champions in Russia.

     

    Key Player: Mehdi Benatia:

    The towering Juventus defender is a pillar of sort for the Atlas Lions. His defensive qualities and inspirational leadership will be very important in Russia where the Moroccans will come up against one of the greatest strikers on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo.

    NIGERIA:

    When the draws for the African zone final round qualifiers took place in June 2016, no one expected the Super Eagles to pick the group B sole ticket ahead of Cameroun, Algeria and dangerous dark horse Zambia.

    Nigeria surprised pundits by qualifying for its sixth World Cup with a match to spare in November.

    The team started the group stage with a 2–1 win over Zambia in Ndola and defeated Algeria 3–1 in the second match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

    Super Eagles defeated Cameroon 5–1 home and away in a back- to- back contest and became the first African team to qualify for the World Cup after defeating Zambia 1–0 in Uyo.

    The present team has drawn comparison with the great team of 1994 that included Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, late Rashidi Yekini, late Thompson Oliha, late Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachie and Emmanuel Amuneke, with its refreshing brand of football.

    The inspirational skipper Mikel Obi, Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi, Chelsea wingback Victor Moses and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho are expected to pull the strings for Super Eagles in Russia.

    Paired in a tough-looking group D alongside two-time world champions Argentina, 1998 bronze medalists Croatia and debutants Iceland, Nigeria is expected to slug it out with Croatia for the group’s second ticket for round of 16 behind the South American powerhouse.

     

    Coach:  Gernot Rohr

    The Franco-German coach has surprised many with his organisation and technical ability since his appointment in 2016.

    The ex-Bayern Munich defender has instilled discipline and organisation into a side that flattered to deceive in previous tournaments.

     

    Key player: Mikel Obi

    Regarded by many as the glue that holds the team together, the ex-Chelsea anchorman’s leadership qualities and tactical discipline are one of the key factors behind the Super Eagles recent success.

    Russia 2018 may be Mikel’s last World Cup as he will be too old in 2022 when Qatar hosts the rest of the world.

     

    SENEGAL:

    The 2002 World Cup quarter finalists expectedly secured the group D’s sole ticket ahead of South Africa, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.

    The team has a fine collection of talented players plying their trade in top leagues in Europe and success in Russia will depend on how Coach Aliou Cisse harnesses the resources at his disposal.

     

    Coach: Aliou Cisse:

    The captain of the Senegalese squad to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan has successfully moulded the current team in his own image. Determined, skillful and athletic, the current generation of Teranga Lions has been tipped to progress beyond the group stage alongside Colombia in a very open group H where all the teams have equal chances of picking the second round tickets.

    Key player: Sadio Mane

    The power playing Liverpool striker carries the hopes and expectations of soccer mad West African nation hoping for repeat of the 2002 exploits in Far East.

    Sane alongside veteran Moussa Sow are expected to provide the goals that will lift the 2002 AFCON runners up to glory in Russia.

    However, anything short of second round ticket will be unacceptable to their compatriots back home in Dakar and other major cities in the country.

     

    TUNISIA:

    The Tunisians are regarded as the weakest of the five African representatives in Russia.

    The Carthage Eagles was the first African team to win a World Cup match after defeating Mexico 3-1 in the 1978 tournament held in Argentina.

    But since that famous night in Buenos Aires, Tunisia had played a total of 990 minutes at the World Cup without victory.

    Russia 2018 will be the North African giant’s fifth appearance in FIFA World Cup and has never progressed beyond the group stage in four previous participations at the quadrennial tournament.

    During the qualifiers, the former African champions made hard work of a very easy group that included DR Congo, Guinea and Libya and only secured qualification after a nail-biting scoreless draw at home against already eliminated Libya on the last day of the African zone preliminaries.

    Paired with England, Belgium and debutants Panama in group G, the Tunisians are expected to exit the tournament in the first round.

    However, a third place finish ahead of the inexperienced Panama will be a huge morale booster for the perennial Africa underachievers.

     

    Coach: Nabil Maaloul

    The former Tunisian international cemented his reputation as top coach in his homeland after steering the team to fifth World Cup qualification ahead of the much-fancied DR Congo.

    But the Carthage Eagles’ performance in Russia where Maaloul will pit his wits against England’s Gareth Southgate, Belgium’s Roberto Martinez and Panama’s Hernan Dario Gomez will determine how far he has progressed as tactician.

     

    Key player: Wabhi Khaziri

    Khaziri, the on loan Rennes hitman, is the makeshift striker with Tunisia’s hopes on his shoulders.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 2018 FIFA: South Korea to announce squad May 14

    South Korea will unveil their roster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup on May 14, the country’s football governing body said on Monday in Seoul.

    The Korea Football Association (KFA) said South Korea men’s national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong would announce his roster for the 2018 World Cup at Seoul City Hall.

    For the 2014 FIFA World Cup, South Korea announced their 23-man squad at the National Football Centre in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

    Shin is currently in the final stages of piecing together his squad.

    Last weekend, he was at two K League matches to watch national team players.

    On Saturday, Shin attended the K League 1 match between FC Seoul and Daegu FC.

    He went on to see the K League 2 match between Asan Mugunghwa FC and Seoul E-Land the following day.

    A KFA official said Shin would look closely at the performances of defenders who are with South Korean and Japanese clubs.

    The official added that the 49-year-old coach was scheduled to fly to Japan this weekend to watch the J1 League match between Sagan Tosu and Gamba Osaka.

    South Korean defender Jeong Seung-hyeon, who has been considered a back-up centre-back for the national team, plays with Sagan Tosu.

    South Korea are scheduled to play two friendly matches at home with the squad to be unveiled on May 14.

    The Taeguk Warriors will face Honduras in Daegu on May 28 and take on Bosnia and Herzegovina three days later in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.

    They will then fly to Austria to play against Bolivia on June 7 and Senegal on June 11 to fine-tune their preparations for the World Cup.

    Shin’s side will move to St. Petersburg in Russia, where its World Cup base camp is located, on June 12.

    South Korea are in Group F at the 2018 World Cup with Germany, Sweden and Mexico.

    NAN

  • 2018 WORLD CUP: Aiyenugba won’t rule out Eagles return

    Former Enyimba FC goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba has admitted that he is still open to a possible call-up to the Super Eagles as they continue the search for a regular number one goalkeeper before the World Cup.

    The Hapoel Ashkelon shot-stopper told AOIFootball.com that he has always remained open to the national team call-up despite being unceremoniously ousted in 2011 after Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Guinea in Abuja, a result that meant Nigeria missed out on the 2012 AFCON.

    “Playing for Nigeria has always been my dream. Every time I was called upon I always gave my best and that is something I want to continue doing if given the opportunity. The events of 2011 have passed and I’m sure I can be of help if called upon.

    I believe the coach knows what he wants in a goalkeeper. If he feels I should return and offer my experience, I will gladly do so because I want to see Nigeria do well at the World Cup in Russia. Seven years is a long time but anything can still happen,” Aiyenugba concluded.

    Aiyenugba is a two-time African champion with Enyimba and was a very reliable deputy to the former captain of the Super Eagles’ Vincent Enyeama at both club and national level. He was however shown the exit door when Nigeria failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.

  • Weah to Buhari: Support Super Eagles to win World Cup

    Weah to Buhari: Support Super Eagles to win World Cup

    Liberian President, George Weah, on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians in general to give the Super Eagles all the necessary supports in other to win the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    He made the remark after closed doors meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said: “I think Nigerian team is a model, we all followed them. I have played with great Nigerian players, I played against them. Now you have a new generation, the fact that they qualified for the World Cup is a good thing for Nigeria.

    “But I hope that they will prepare very early because they are going to represent Africa and we will be there to watch them, for them to bring the trophy for the first time if it is possible. But I think the seriousness to go to World Cup is not to pay players to go, I want every African government to know, if you win the World Cup, it is a pride to Africa is not just to Nigeria. So we must do everything to ensure that the players are not stressed, make sure they concentrate and make sure their incentives are given to them to motivate them.

    “Some of the things you see at the World Cup, you will see an entire team go to represent a whole country and you will hear that one minister took the money, they did not pay these players and the players are causing problem. When players are going to camp is to relax and focus. And for them to be in camp they must have everything there for them not to worry.

    “Remember I played in the European setting, when we go to camp we have nothing to do. The only thing we have to do is to take a shower and prepare for the game, everything is laid down here and so you have no excuse.

    “So let the players not have excuse, support them and let them go and bring back that cup.”

    Noting that every government in Africa complains when it comes to sports, he thanked President Buhari for supporting the Super Eagles to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

     

  • $2.8m will be ready for Eagles World Cup campaign – Pinnick

    $2.8m will be ready for Eagles World Cup campaign – Pinnick

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, said on Friday the sum of $2.8 million needed for the Super Eagles 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign would be available by end of April.

    He disclosed this at the inauguration of Odu’a Football Leagues at the Western Nigeria Football Forum office, Cocoa House, Ibadan.

    Pinnick said NFF been working round the clock to get the money ready, adding that it was necessary to ensure adequate preparation for the tournament.

    According to him, availability of fund and other things will boost the morale of the players, coaches, technical staff, supporters and other stakeholders in the tournament.

    Pinnick said his team was working tirelessly behind the scene to ensure Nigerian players plying their trade in foreign clubs featured regularly for their teams.

    He lauded promoters of the Western Nigeria Football Forum – Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Mr. Seyi Akinwunmi, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde and other stakeholders for their roles in soccer development in the Southwest.