The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AAG

  • AAG WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME – SIASIA

    AAG WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME – SIASIA

    DREAMream Team VI Coach Samson Siasia has revealed the 11th All Africa Games (AAG) has opened his eyes that he has a lot of work to do on the team ahead of the Africa U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal in November.

    The Dream Team VI disappointed against Burkina Faso in the semi-final, but beat hosts Congo 5-3 on penalties to win the bronze medal.

    According to Samson Siasia, his team’s performance at the games was a wake-up call for him ahead of the Senegal championship.

    “We have learnt a lot of lessons from the games. We have a lot of work to do on the team and this competition was actually a wake-up call for me,” Siasia said.

    “The only consolation we have is that we are not going back empty handed.

    “But if we must win in Senegal then a lot of work must be done. Thank God this happened now, so we don’t get carried away that we have a team who can do well in Senegal.”

    The Dream Team returned to Nigeria on Friday and are expected to begin training camp in two weeks for the U-23 championship, which will serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

  • AAG failure: Dream Team not ready to compete – Siasia

    AAG failure: Dream Team not ready to compete – Siasia

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, has said his team is not ready to compete, hinting that he will shop for new players following Tuesday’s shocking 1-3 defeat to Burkina Faso in the semi final of the ongoing All African Games in Congo Brazzaville.

    The Young Stallions will now meet Senegal in the final of the competition.

    Besides now battling hosts Congo for the bronze, Nigeria will also feature at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

    “We are not ready, we have a long way to go if we want to compete,” a disappointed Siasia told africanFootball.com.

    “We made so many mistakes, we did not play well in the defence and we did not create chances upfront. Our defence was sleeping. It was the worse game this team has played.

    “We would have to start looking at other players the way things are now going.”

  • AAG: Siasia happy to avoid Congo

    AAG: Siasia happy to avoid Congo

    Nigeria’s Dream Team VI head coach, Samson Siasia has praised his wards for the 1-1 draw against Senegal in the ongoing All Africa Games (AAG) in Brazzaville, Congo.

    The result ensured that the nation’s Under-23 side finished top of their group on four points while Senegal are runners-up on two points.

    Siasia said with the preliminary race well done his focus will now be on how to play their semifinals opponents.

    “My boys made me proud, I love their fighting spirit to concede a goal that late and come back to equalise is a sign that the boys have a strong mentality.

    “I must also praise Mustapha who was able to calm his nerves to score the equaliser.

    “For now let’s just go and savour our qualification for the semifinals as this draw has made us to avoid the hosts, Congo who would have been tough to play.

    “I would prefer playing them (Congo Brazzaville) in the final,” said the former Super Eagles manager to www.thenff.com.

    Siasia assured his side will not let Nigerians down in the next stage of the championship.“We will not let down our guards for now nor disappoint Nigerians. We will definitely make some positive chances in the next matches,” said Siasia.

  • AAG: Siasia unveils starting XI for Senegal tie

    AAG: Siasia unveils starting XI for Senegal tie

    Dream Team VI Coach, Samson Siasia, has named his starting XI for the team’s final group B game at the ongoing All Africa Games in Congo.

    Despite securing qualification to the knock out round, the Nigeria coach has decided to start the game against Senegal with his strongest squad, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    It means Daniel Emmanuel will be in goal, while Sincere Seth, who has passed a late fitness test, Obanor Erhun, Ndifreke and Segun Oduduwa will provide cover for him in the match slated for Saturday afternoon.

    Skipper Azubuike Okechukwu will be supported in midfield by Kingsley Sokari and Etebor Oghenekaro.

    The trio of Umar Aminu, Junior Ajayi and Etor Daniel will lead the charge for goals.

    Starting XI:

    Emmanuel, Seth, Ndifreke, Azubuike ,Oduduwa, Erhun, Umar, Etebo, Ajayi, Sokari, Daniel

  • APCON, AAG okay ‘Brand As King’ awards

    The Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) have endorsed Brand As King Awards, which will hold on October 25 in Lagos.

    According to the Editor-in-Chief/Chief Executive Officer of the organising firm, Billboard World,  publishers of a magazine with the same title, Maureen Umanah, it is to honour advertising professionals, outstanding achievers, corporate brands, product brands and brand ambassadors from Nigeria and beyond that have performed excellently in various endeavours.

    She said the awards would be memorable, adding:“In its quest to uphold industry standards and position out-of-home advertising as a vital player within the advertising industry, this year’s award, the fifth edition of the BAK, has adopted a most appropriate theme: Out-of-Home (OOH) media as a veritable tool in aesthetics and environmental sustainabi-lity.

    ‘’This is in line with the need for us to nurture and protect our immediate environment from the dreaded global warming and its harmful effects.’’

    However, the organisers of the awards have called for entries in the following categories: most performing brand awards, excellence awards in media reporting, most performing industry associate awards, outstanding brand ambassador awards (Entertainment), excellence awards in environmental policy, best upcoming brands, industry merit awards and special recognition awards.

  • AAG: Nigeria down Ghana 2-0

    AAG: Nigeria down Ghana 2-0

    Nigeria on Wednesday defeated the defending All Africa Games champions Ghana 2-0 to book a place in the semi-finals of the football event of this year’s tournament.

    Nigeria’s final Group B match against Senegal, who drew 0-0 with Ghana on the opening day, will determine the overall winners of the group following the last-minute withdrawal of Egypt, africanFootball.com reports.

    Junior Ajayi opened scoring for the Dream Team in the 55th minute and Kingsley Sokari made the game safe three minutes from time.

    The Nigerians were on the front foot in the first half with Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori his team’s most outstanding player, making several outstanding saves in the one-sided encounter.

    Oghenekaro Etebo was denied from point-blank range by the Ghanaian goalkeeper a minute before half time.

    However, Nigeria finally made its dominance count 10 minutes after resumption when the dangerous Etor Daniel whipped-in the ball from the right for Ajayi to coolly slot home.

    The second goal was even more sublime. Sokari combined with skipper Azubuike Ikechukwu on the edge of the Ghanaian box and the Enyimba midfielder continued his run before he lifted the ball over the rushing Ofori for a superb finish.

  • AAG: Falcons trounce hosts Congo 5-1

    AAG: Falcons trounce hosts Congo 5-1

    Nigeria women’s team, the Super Falcons, began their quest to win a third All Africa Games football event gold in Congo Brazzaville on a very sound footing after they thrashed hosts Congo 5-1 in the opening game.

    The coach Christopher Danjuma-led team had Desire Oparanozie netting four of the goals, three in the first half.

    Chinasa Uchendu completed the demolition with the other goal.

    Despite missing several foreign-based stars, the likes of FL Minsk of Belarus duo of Onome Ebi and Esther Sunday, BIIK Kazygurt(Kazakstan) and Guingamp of France striker Desire Oparanozie were available for selection.