The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adeyinka Akintunde

  • Don’t expect much difference from Europe this season – Izamoje

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    With the European league season underway, the Chairman Brilla FM, Dr. Larry Izamoje has predicted that there will not be much difference to what happened last season in the various leagues across Europe this term.

    He made this known to The Nation at the National Stadium, Lagos. According to him, it will be a straight fight between Manchester City and Liverpool, as Juventus, with the inclusion of new signing Cristiano Ronaldo, is expected to go a step better than they did last year.

    He said “We may not see too many changes in the European Leagues, except in Germany, because Boateng is dissatisfied in Bayern, and they have offloaded some key players.  In England, Liverpool should be able to keep their top four places like they did last season. I expect a straight fight for the trophy between Manchester City and Liverpool.

    In Spain, it will still be the normal contest between Barcelona and Real Madrid, but I see Atletico Madrid coming into contention. It is good Cristiano Ronaldo is now in Juventus, I want to believe that the Old Lady will solidify what they did last season, with the inclusion of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

    Izamoje, heaping praises on Godwin Dudu-Orumen for his success in the 2018 Cowbell Football Academy Summer Camp, called on government and private bodies to create more academies for other sports, so that kids that will make Nigeria proud in future can also be groomed as it is done annually in the Cowbell Summer Camp.

    Read Also: Izamoje joins call for FIFA reforms

    “If you don’t show them the way early, they intend to miss it later in life. It is said in the UK that if you never held the tennis racket between the ages of 1-7, you may never become a Wimbledon champion. All the stars we know today started early, George Weah is a good example. That is why the efforts of Godwin Dudu-Orumen is commendable in grooming young ones who can later on become future football stars in Nigeria and beyond. This also brings joy to families and help the country stand in the committee if sports.

    “This is commendable, but we find out that many emerging academies are dedicated to football, it will be nice to also have those for other sports like boxing, swimming, table tennis, athletics, badminton and the rest.

    The camp runs annually for three weeks and is sponsored by Cowbell milk, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited. Young football talents between 4 and 18 years of age are usually invited to participate in the camp in different parts of Lagos and beyond.

  • VAR, goal line technology for 2018/2019 LaLiga Santander

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The LaLiga Santander is set to experience new innovations with the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and the goal line technology from the 2018/2019 football season.

    According to Javier Del Rio, the Country Chairman, La Liga Nigeria, the VAR, which recorded huge success during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will be only be consulted in four instances; when a goal is scored, and it is debated, it will determine if a penalty should be given or not. The machine will further determine if an action deserves a red card or not, and it will be used in identifying a player.

    Del Rio, speaking on Thursday at the West Town Hotel, Lagos, revealed that there will be audio quality improvements and 3D graphics, with more stadiums having sky cameras and the Intel True View system, in the coverage of matches in the Spanish top league.

    The country chairman, speaking about the achievements of the league, affirmed that the Spanish La Liga is the best football league in the World. According to him, “The La Liga is more than the World Cup or UEFA Champions League final.

    “Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona and Sevilla are the top four teams according to the latest rankings released by UEFA. The Spanish La Liga is watched in 182 countries in the world, and 60 million followers on social media.

    “It is also on record that eleven players were in action in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final between France and Croatia.

    “The LaLiga Santander can simply be described as entertainment, sports excellence, innovations and passion. The league showcases its gastronomy, culture, leisure and Music.

    Read Also: Goals to rain in LaLiga

    Del Rio noted that the La Liga is not only about the El Classico, there are other big matches like Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, Levante UD vs Valencia and Real Betis  vs Sevilla. He further revealed that “out of the twenty coaches in the La Liga, fifteen of them are Spanish, and the remaining five are Argentine, and once played in the La Liga”

    Media and Communications co-coordinator, La Liga Nigeria, Ayodeji Adegbenro, revealed that the Spanish league is set to open an office in Lagos, for it to be more operational. He also made it known that there will be trainings for football administrators on 30th and 31st October, 2018 for football administrators. The league will partner with the Lagos Business School.

    SD Huesca will be making their debut bin the season, alongside, Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid haven gained promotion from the 2017/2018 Segunda Division.

    The league will welcome new players like Nigerian striker Moses Simon, who joins Levante UD from KAA Gent.  Arturo Vidal, who left FC Bayern Munich to join FC Barcelona, Thiabuis Courtois who joins Real Madrid from Chelsea, after winning the golden glove in the 2018 FIFA World Cup as the best goalkeeper of the tournament,

  • UPDATED: Russia 2018: France wins FIFA World Cup

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    France has won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, defeating Croatia 4-2

    Mario Mandzukic scored an own-goal to open scoring, with referee Nestor Pitana awarding a penalty to Les Blues after a confirmation from the  the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after 38 minutes. Antonio Griezmann converted the spot kick, sending goalkeeper Subasic the wrong way.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: A World Cup of Surprises

    Paul Pogba scored the third on 59 minutes, before Kylian Mbappe found the net for France in the 65th minute

    Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic however got the goals for the Croatians in the 28th and 69th minute.

    The final is a perfect summary of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in total, as included an own goal, a VAR decision and a penalty.

    Overall, Kylian Mbappe won the Young player of the tournament award, and Luka Modric won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

    Harry Kane got the Golden Boot as the highest goal scorer with six goals with Belgium goalkeeper, Thiabus Courtois winning the Golden glove as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

  • Russia 2018: Will Smith performs in closing Ceremony

    American actor and musician, Will Smith was on stage to perform the 2018 FIFA World Cup theme song “Live it Up” at the closing ceremony.

    He performed alongside Era Istrefi in the song produced by Nicky Jam.

    The closing ceremony also saw Brazilian legend, Ronaldinho in the drums, while a song was on.

    France go to battle against Croatia to determine the new World Champions.

     

  • Russia 2018: A World Cup of Surprises

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup, hosted in Russia and won by France, which beat hard-fighting Croatia 4-2, will remain in the hearts of football lovers all over the world as one tournament filled with surprises from the beginning to the end. The football world was treated to one-month of suspense from Eastern Europe, where every prediction made turned out wrong.

    The surprises started right from the first kick of the ball on 14th June. The opening matches of the World Cup over the years have recorded low score lines of a draw, or a slim win, but nobody expected what the 2018 opening fixture had to offer. Russia, the lowest ranked team, going into the World Cup, stunned the whole world by beating Saudi Arabia 5-0 at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.

    Yuri Gazinsky scored the first goal of the tournament with a fine header, after 12 minutes, before Denis Cheryshev, Artyom Dzyuba and Aleksandr Golovin all found the back of the net four different times, to break the Asian hearts.

    The hosts would go on to reach the quarter-finals stage, for the first time in their World Cup history, triumphing over 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Spain in the round of sixteen, before Croatia got the better of them in the last eight.

    At the Spartak stadium Moscow, two days after the opener, Argentina, two-time champions and a hot favourite to win the World Cup, were forced to a draw by new comers, Iceland.  Sergio Aguero had opened scoring for the La Albiceleste, and four minutes later, Alfreo Finnbogason equalized, scoring Iceland’s first ever World up goal.

    But the shock of the day came at the 63rd minute, when superstar Lionel Messi was awarded a penalty to win the game for Argentina. Iceland goalkeeper, Hannes Halldorsson saved it, leaving Messi and the world stunned.

    Argentina would go on to lose scandalously 3-0 to Croatia, and needed a last minute victory against Nigeria to advance to the round of sixteen, where they lost 4-2 to France.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Brazil beat Mexico to reach quarter-finals

    Lionel Messi would love to forget Russia 2018 in a hurry, as it turned out a nightmare for him. Where his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo got four goal for Portugal in the tournament (which included a hat-trick against Spain on his first match day), the Argentine could only manage one goal, in the match against Nigeria.

    Germany was tipped to defend their title the won at the last edition, on the last day of this year’s fiesta. But they recorded a shock 1-0 loss to Mexico on the opening day, Hirving Lozano scoring on the counter attack after 35 minutes.

    Germany recovered with a last minute victory in the second match against Sweden, needing a draw in the last match against South Korea, but they lost 2-0, finishing last in the group, and thus, the tradition of a World Cup defending champion crashing out at the group stage, which began in 2002 with France (Brazil the only exemption in 2006), continued.

    Spain, 2010 winners, as well as Portugal crashed out at the round of sixteen, after failing to get the better of Russia and Uruguay respectively. Brazil lost in the quarter-finals against dark-horses Belgium, Uruguay fell to France in the last eight, and England broke the voodoo of losing penalty shootouts, when they sent Colombia home in the round of sixteen.

    Since 1982, Africa always had a representative at the knockout stage of the World Cup. That was not to be in 2018, as the five African representatives; Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal all crashed out at the group stages.

    The Teranga lions had a close shave with qualification, having secured the same point and goal difference with Japan, but lost the place in the knock-out round with the introduction of the fair-play rule, that saw Senegal  receive six yellow cards in three group games, as against Japan been issued four.

    Belgium, a team tagged the dark horses of the show ended up as the highest scoring team of the competition with 16 goals. They finished the World Cup as bronze medalist, Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard getting the job done for the Red Devils against England in Saint Petersburg.

    The new world champions, France, was not given a chance to shine in the showpiece. The Les Blues, 1998 World Cup winners, kicked off their campaign with two victories against Australia and Peru, securing a draw against Denmark in the group stages. They went on to beat South-American opponents, Argentina and Uruguay in the knockout stages and came out winner against Belgium in the semi-finals.

    Croatia on their part, with massive support from their president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who was in the stands watching the players, and in the dressing room to celebrate with them, came out group winners with maximum nine points in the “group of death” that included Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland. They survived two penalty shoot-outs against Denmark and Russia in the knockouts, before needing extra-time to beat England.

  • Ekiti 2018: 100-year old woman set to cast vote

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    An old woman, Mama Ibiteye Comfort Bodunde, believed to be 100 years was seen coming out to vote in the on-going 2018 Ekiti elections

    She however did not come with a voters card, instead she came with her national ID card at Isan town.

    It is not known whether she was allowed to vote with her national ID card or not

  • Russia 2018: Brazil crash out of World Cup, as Belgium win 2-1

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Belgium have beaten Brazil 2-1 in Kazan to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup home, sending the five-time World champions home.

    The Samba Boys  had conceded just one goal in their past four games in Russia but were behind early when Nacer Chadli’s corner struck Fernandinho’s arm and flew into the net, the 10th own goal of this World Cup.

    Fernandinho’s Manchester City team-mate Kevin de Bruyne doubled Belgium’s lead with a sublime arrowed finish from 20 yards after Romelu Lukaku’s powerful run.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Brazil beat Mexico to reach quarter-finals

    Brazil could find no answer until a 76th-minute headed reply from Renato Augusto, with star man Neymar virtually anonymous other than three poor attempts to win a penalty, although Referee Milorad Mazic perhaps should have pointed to the spot when Vincent Kompany dived in on Gabriel Jesus.

    Neymar did finally come to life in injury time, forcing a brilliant save from Thibaut Courtois with a curling shot from outside the area, but it was not enough to sustain his team’s challenge.

    Belgium will battle France, who had earlier on sent Uruguay home with a 2-0 victory, in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday 10th July, for a place in the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup

  • Russia 2018: France sends Uruguay home

    France are through to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after securing a 2-0 victory over Uruguay.

    Raphael Varane headed France into a first-half lead, and a terrible mistake from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, saw him fail to save a shot from Antoine Griezmann, booking Les Blues to their first semi-finals since 2006.

    The world was treated to a dull footballing from the twenty-two players on the pitch, but the French have Hugo Lloris to thank for producing a world-class save Martin Caceres, shortly after Varane’s goal in the first half. Diego Godin blasted the rebound he got from that save.

    The second half started with France continuing to control possession, but they were gifted the goal that made certain of their victory.

    There seemed little danger when Griezmann let fly from the edge of the area but Muslera misjudged the flight of the ball, flapped at the shot, and saw it loop slowly over the line.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Brazil beat Mexico to reach quarter-finals

    It was Griezmann’s third goal of the 2018 World Cup, his first from open play.

    The drama in Nizhny Novgorod continued when when Kylian Mbappe fell to the floor. Uruguay skipper Diego Godin gestured with the teenager to get up, pulling him from the turf. This caused a little fight involing most of the players and saw French coach Didier Deschamps come onto the pitch to try to calm tempers.

    A likely repeat of the 1998 FIFA World Cup final will happen again in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday 10th July, if Brazil beat Belgium in the next quarter-final match, as France await the winner between the Samba Boys and star-studded Belgium

  • Russia 2018: Is this Africa’s time?

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Egypt, returning to the Mundial for the first time since 1990, will be the first African team in action when they confront Uruguay on Friday as the 2018 FIFA World Cup began in Russia on Thursday, 14th June.

    The last African match at the World Cup was Algeria’s ouster to Germany at the Round of 16 on June 30, 2014. France had earlier that day sent the Super Eagles of Nigeria packing, falling to two un-replied goals by Paul Pogba and Captain Joseph Yobo, who scored against his own team.

    No African country has ever reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup since its first edition in 1930.The pain of 2010 is still fresh on African minds, eight years down the line. With the World Cup party hosted on African soil for the very first time, many thought Africa would emulate Asia, who hosted the mundial for the first time in 2002 and broke their jinx, with South Korea getting to the semi-finals.

    And it almost turned out right, with one penalty kick from Ghanaian striker, Asamoah Gyan, separating Ghana and Africa from a semi-final place (after Uruguay’s Luis Suarez had committed a foul, stopping a goal-bound header from Dominic Adiya with his hands, and getting sent-off in the process). But the Ghanaian skipper missed it, and his team lost the resultant penalty shoot-out.

    Egypt became the first African team to participate in the World Cup in 1934 in Italy, and bowed out without a win. Africa went on to record its first victory in the FIFA World Cup 44 years later, in 1978, when Tunisia defeated Mexico 3-1.

    Morocco advanced to the Round of 16, taking Africa to that stage for the first time in 1986. They had recorded two draws against Poland and England, but went on to beat Portugal 3-1 in the last group match. They would go on to lose 0-1 to West Germany in the second round.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Fans urge S/Eagles to be wary of best fashion rating

    In 1990, Cameroon got to the quarter-finals for the first time, after Roger Milla scored two extra-time goals against Colombia in the Round of 16. The Indomitable Lions would go no further than that, losing 2-3 to England at extra time.

    Senegal also got to the semi-finals in 2002, but fell to a golden goal by Turkey in extra time of the quarter-finals match. They had a good outing at the finals which included a shock 1-0 victory over defending champions France in the opening match and a golden-goal win against Sweden in the second round.

    Nigeria and Algeria however have the Round of 16 as their best outing so far at the FIFA World Cup, with Algeria falling short to Germany in 2014, and the Super Eagles failing on three attempts in 1994, 1998 and 2014, to qualify for the quarter-finals. They lost to Italy, Denmark and France respectively.

    With five teams representing Africa in 2018, one wonders whether luck will shine on Africa, taking the continent to the last four for the first time ever.

    There is a possibility of two African countries meeting at the Round of 16 or quarter-finals. Egypt, the most successful national team on the African continent, Morocco, who won every match in their qualifiers without conceding a goal, and Nigeria, who make a sixth appearance at the finals, are in Groups, A, B and D respectively. Tunisia, returnees after their last outing in 2006 and Senegal, who makes their second appearance at the World Cup finals, have their slots in Groups G and H respectively. Given that anything is possible in football, two of these sides can meet in the first two knockout stages, and victory can guarantee a place in the semi-finals for the first time.

    It should however be recalled that in 1998, Morocco, Cameroon, South Africa and Nigeria were in Groups A, B, C, and D respectively with only Nigeria advancing to the Round of 16 (following Tunisia’s ouster from Group G).

    In 2002, Senegal and South Africa were in Groups A and B respectively, with Cameroon, Nigeria and Tunisia camped in Groups E, F and H. Only Senegal scaled the group stage, and got to the quarter-finals.

    In 2006, Cote d’Ivoire and Angola were in Groups C and D respectively. Ghana, Togo and Tunisia were in Groups E, G and H. Only the Black Stars of Ghana made it to the Round of 16, and fell to Brazil.

    In 2010, with six African teams in the competition, Ghana alone got to the quarter-finals.

    And in 2014, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire got Groups A and C, and Nigeria, Ghana and Algeria were camped in Groups F, G and H.  The Super Eagles of Nigeria and Desert Foxes of Algeria got to the second round, and crashed out there.

    So the arithmetic of a possible meeting based on the group they have found themselves may not visible, seeing that these groups also have the presence Uruguay, Portugal, Spain, Argentina and Belgium.

    Africa however hopes luck will shine this time, 88 years after the first edition.

  • Nigeria will be ready for World Cup in 2022 – Odegbami

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Former Nigerian international, Chief Segun Odegbami has advised Nigerians to be humble, and not expect much from the Super Eagles as they go into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Russia today.

    The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner gave this advice in Channel Televison’s Sunrise Daily”.

    Odegbami expressed joy in the fact that for the first time, the players have no problems as regards finance, which suggests a possibility of a good outing in Russia. But, he cautioned that it would be too much for Nigerians to expect the Super Eagles to win the World Cup in this edition.

    Odegbami analysed: “They had a good outing, defeating Argentina in a friendly match, and I think that is the best preparation we can have going to the World Cup, because the odds tip them as one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

    “But looking at their recent friendly results can stir up some worries. I think those results should be a wake-up call to the coaches, not to allow what happened against Argentina to dominate their thoughts. They should realise that they are going into the most difficult football competition and should be prepared for it.

    “As we go, I want Nigerians to be humble. We should enjoy the World Cup and show respect to our opponents. Those of us that will be watching on television should enjoy the tournament, and not hope that Nigeria will win the World Cup because we cannot win it. We don’t have the team that can win on July 15, but we can go a bit far at the tournament.”

    Odegbami believed that tagging the Super Eagles as underdogs, even against their first opponents Croatia is a good thing. For him, Nigeria could spring surprises during the tournament.

    “The Super Eagles can sometimes be like Arsenal, who play like potential world champions today and then play like secondary school students tomorrow. That is why I said they cannot win the World Cup because to be champions require consistency,” he said.

    Read Also: Odegbami sends Goodwill Message

    The former national team captain said that the current Super Eagles squad was a team for the future and not the current World Cup. He said the team should be ready to explode in the 2022 World Cup.

    Odegbami explained: “For the first time, we have a team that is playing like a team, but we don’t have any exceptional player in the mould of a Jay-Jay Okocha or Nwankwo Kanu or Muda Lawal, people who can on their own take up responsibility and do exceptional things for the team. The only person that comes close in our current team is Victor Moses.  So we are going to the World Cup with a future team. Thanks to Coach Gernot Rohr, there is much more understanding in this team than our previous Super Eagles.”

    Speaking on the issue of the goalkeepers, Odegbami observed that the Super Eagles do not have problem with the goalkeepers, but with the defence line. “We have a tall and good-statured Francis Uzoho, and we have an energetic Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who is like the Best Ogedengbe of those days, but they depend on the defence line, which is where I think we have problems.  I think we have good goalkeepers that will do well.”

    The FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018 in Moscow, and Nigeria kick off their campaign two days later against Croatia, in a match Odegbami thinks the Super Eagles will perform poorly “but will pick up against Iceland, and will be in the form of their lives against Argentina. I see Nigeria progressing to the second round.”