The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AFCON

  • AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS: NSC orders Eagles back to Abuja

    AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS: NSC orders Eagles back to Abuja

    The National Sports Commission (NSC) has ordered the Super Eagles to play their remaining 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying home matches at the Abuja National Stadium henceforth, making Nigeria’s 2-3 loss to Congo Brazzaville at the U.J. Esuene Stadium the last match the team will play in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    NationSport scooped that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has also been directed by the NSC to inform the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that Abuja is the new venue for the Super Eagles’ remaining AFCON matches.

    The NFF has fallen on hard times and has been depending largely on the benevolence of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, to bankroll the camping exercise of the Super Eagles including the players’ and coaches’ feeding and accommodation each time the team has a home match.

    “We don’t have money to prosecute the Super Eagles’ games in Abuja because, aside the fact that we are broke, Abuja fans also don’t turn up for games that much. There are also security challenges to contend with,” a source told NationSport.

    Sources revealed that the NSC, irked by the negative publicity generated by complaints about the state of the pitch in Calabar, has directed the NFF to relocate all of the Super Eagles’ matches to the Abuja National Stadium that boasts of very good pitch.

    However, NationSport understands that leaders of the NFF are not comfortable with the order as they fear that the federation will not be able to bear the high cost of executing matches in Abuja.

    Furthermore, the Glass House is uncomfortable with the relative apathy of Abuja fans during Nigeria matches unlike the lively atmosphere in Calabar where the stadium is filled to capacity and the fans are vocal in their support of Nigerian teams.

    Notwithstanding the directive of the NSC, however, the Cross River State Government is continuing the process of getting the U.J. Esuene Stadium pitch in shape for matches, while the NFF is trying to convince the NSC to allow the Super Eagles to play Sudan in Calabar on September 9.

  • AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles won’t gamble with Sudan, says Onazi

    AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles won’t gamble with Sudan, says Onazi

    Super Eagles and SS Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi sees next month’s 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan away from home as the most important game for the national team.

    After the disappointing start to what would be the defense of the 2013 title Nigeria won in South Africa, Onazi reckons that the reigning African champions need a win at all cost and cannot afford to gamble with the match.

    “This game is the most important game to us and what we just need is a win and not gamble with it.

    “We certainly will make sure that we do our best and make sure that we win and get the three points.”

  • Eagles’ll qualify for AFCON 2015-Odunlami

    Eagles’ll qualify for AFCON 2015-Odunlami

    Super Eagles defender Kunle Odunlami has said that the reigning African champions will qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

    The Eagles have raised doubt in the minds of Nigerians over their ability to qualify for the final of the biennial football showpiece with just one point from a possible six in two group matches against Congo and South Africa.

    Odunlami said Nigerians need not bother over the chances of the Eagles making it to Morocco as the side are determined to win the remaining four matches in the qualification race.

    “I’m certain we’ll qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations coming up in Morocco next January.

    “I don’t think there is any reason for panic or anyone to lose sleep over the possibility of us making it to Morocco.

    “We did our best in Cape Town against South Africa to amass the maximum three points but we ended up with a point.

    “At least we didn’t lose the game, which would have spelt doom for us. We came back with something and we’ll work on the point.

    “Of course South Africa are coming here and that’s a certain three points in the kitty for us.

    “We’ll visit Congo and deal ruthlessly with them to fetch us another three points and we’re positive to earn six points at the expense of Sudan.

    “That in all adds up to 12 points including the point in our kitty that takes us to a maximum of 13 and I’m quite sure 13 points will give us one of the group’s tickets to Morocco.

    “The scenario above looks daunting but we’re determined to do whatever it takes to make it a reality.

    “We’ve been on this path in the past and we still went ahead to qualify, this time won’t be an exception.

    “What it calls for on our part is re-dedication to duty; once we’re able to get our act right we’ll not only qualify for the Afcon 2015 in Morocco but go ahead to defend our title successfully,” said the Sunshine Stars man to supersport.com.

    Nigeria are in third spot in Group A log on one point against leaders Congo’s six points and South Africa in second spot on four points while Sudan are in bottom place with no points after two rounds of matches.

     

  • Sunday Mba sees red in France 2013

    Sunday Mba sees red in France 2013

    Outof favour Nigerian international, Sunday Mba was red carded while in action for his French club CA Bastia in a National League game on Friday.

    Nigeria midfielder Mba was given a straight red card in his side’s 1-1 draw at Chambly.

    The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hero was given the marching order by the referee in the 73rd when his team was down by a lone goal.

    However, Mohammed Benyahia salvaged a point for CA Bastia with a stoppage time goal.

    This is Mba’s second red card since he joined CA Bastia last season.

    He scored four goals in 16 games last season, but has yet to score in the seven-week-old National League, which is the French third division.

    Mba has spiraled downhill since he scored the championship winner for Nigeria in the AFCON final against Burkina Faso last year February.

    Last season, he failed to keep CA Bastia in the French second division, reports that he would quit the club did not come to pass and he missed the cut for the recent World Cup in Brazil and does not seem to be an immediate part of Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles.

  • NSC Chief: Drop Mikel

    NSC Chief: Drop Mikel

    Institutional deputy director of Sports at the National Sports Commission, Dr Ademola Are has urged coach Stephen Keshi to act brave and drop Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel in today’s AFCON 2015 qualifiers against South Africa.

    “I think Keshi should drop Obi, let him be brave enough to do it, playing with Obi at the World Cup and in the last game against Congo failed to deliver the expected result, it is about time he tries something else by dropping him,” Are told SL10.ng

    “Keshi dropped Joseph Yobo from his starting team at the Nations Cup when it was clear he was becoming a liability to the team, I trust him to do same to John Obi Mikel, it’s about time.”

    Are remained optimistic that the Eagles will do well against South Africa and maintained that Keshi is still the right man as coach of the Super Eagles,but urged Nigerians not to expect too much from today’s game.

    “I am confident in the Eagles, one game won’t make me lose faith in them. Keshi is still the man despite the mistakes he made in the last game and I am confident they will get a good result against South Africa, but Nigerians should not expect a victory as South Africa are also a quality side,” he added.

    “A good result in my opinion will be a keenly contested draw or a hard fought win. I don’t see the Eagles losing though.”

  • AFCON: Eagles must defeat South Africa – Akpoborie

    AFCON: Eagles must defeat South Africa – Akpoborie

    Former Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborie, has pointed out reasons why the Super Eagles bowed to Congo on Saturday.

    Claude LeRoy’s men came from a goal down to snatch a valuable 3-2 away victory against the African champions in Calabar, a result that hangs Stephen Keshi’s men chances of qualifying for Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations in the balance.

    According to the former VFB Stuttgart star, the visitors were more composed as the Nigerians did not get their acts right while commending LeRoy for a job well done.

    “We saw an organised Congolese team not in a hurry and when they got the equaliser, it was like there was going to be trouble and truly there was indeed trouble for the Super Eagles,” Goal quoted Akpoborie as saying on Super sport.

    “From the build up to the back, they (Eagles) were only playing square balls and there was no enough of movement in the midfield for us to give the penetrative passes.

    “We could use Nwofor’s strength because he only had one shot at goal which was not enough for a team like Nigeria.

    “You have to give credit to Claude LeRoy because he has brought up these boys very well and for them coming to Nigeria without any fear is a big plus.

    “The playing, the positioning, the movement and everything, that was the mark of the coach,” he continued.

    Akpoborie also slammed the players for their needless cautions as he hopes they work on their manner in subsequent games.

    “Those things came with emotion. In most cases, the players were running to the referee asking him to give cards and so on, all of those things are not to be done.

    “Most of the cards we got were unnecessary. We need to change this attitude because in more important games, it would cost us.

    He concluded by saying that the Eagles must ensure victory in the next game against South Africa else Nigeria bows out of the 2015 AFCON.

  • AFCON: Eagles ready for Congo – Ejide

    AFCON: Eagles ready for Congo – Ejide

    Super Eagles stand-in captain, Austin Ejide, has said the African champions will not underrate Congo in Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier even as the players target a home win.

    Group A rivals South Africa got off to a winning start on Friday with a 3-0 victory over Sudan in Omdurman, africanFootball.com reports.

    And Nigeria begin the defence of its AFCON title at the UJ Esuene Stadium without captain Vincent Enyeama, which means the long-serving Ejide will be in goal and most likely lead out the Super Eagles against the East Africans.

    Ejide has also declared the Eagles will not underrate the Congolese.

    “We are focused and working really hard because there are no small teams again. Congo will be trying to prove a point, but we are ready,” Ejide told africanFootball.com.

    “It’s a team not just 11 players, and whoever is called upon I believe he’s capable to do the job.

    “We are on a good track. The coach has been working on our offensive and defensive game so we’ll see how it goes in the weekend.”

    On his role as captain, Ejide said, “It’s no big deal to lead the team. The most important thing is to remain focused and achieve our targets.”

  • I didn’t ask for apology to play for Eagles – Uche

    I didn’t ask for apology to play for Eagles – Uche

    Villarreal forward Ikechukwu Uche has denied claims by Stephen Keshi that he demanded for apology before honoring the Super Eagles’ invitation.

    Keshi on Wednesday revealed the pint-sized player was not invited for the African Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa because he wanted to be begged.

    “He was supposed to be part of the team that is presently in camp but he said we must beg him first to play for Nigeria because he was left out of some competitions but I can’t beg anyone to play for Nigeria, impossible. That’s why he is not here,” Keshi said in a statement issued by Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya.

    Reacting to this accusation, the former Getafe player said he never demanded for any special treatment to play for his country.

    “It’s an honour to play for Nigeria. I don’t expect to be begged or given special treatment. I’m available when/if considered for selection,” Goal quoted Uche as saying on his Twitter handle.

    Uche fell out with the “big boss” during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa and missed the Confederations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup in the process.

     

     

  • Ebola won’t stop Ahmed Musa

    Ebola won’t stop Ahmed Musa

    •Arrives Nigeria today

    Ahmed Musa has told fricanFootball.com he will fly into Nigeria today ahead of this weekend’s AFCON qualifier against Congo despite his fears over the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

    Nigeria host Congo in Calabar on Saturday with the visiting team already expressed their fears about Ebola in Nigeria. But CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa has insisted Ebola cannot stop him from representing Nigeria.

    “The way we hear the news of Ebola is scary, but it can’t stop me from coming to Nigeria to represent my fatherland,” Ahmed Musa told AfricanFootball.com.

    “I am not scared of coming to Nigeria. I am fully ready to hit Nigeria on Tuesday ahead of the game. I will just take the necessary precautions as I have been hearing about Ebola in the country.”

    Over the weekend, Ahmed Musa showed he has returned to top form when he scored a brace for Russian champions CSKA in a 6-0 thrashing of FC Rostov. He scored twice against Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil in June.

  • Egwuekwe dismisses Congo threat

    Egwuekwe dismisses Congo threat

    Super Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe has said his side are positive to kick-off on a winning note their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title defence against the Red Devils of Congo.

    The Eagles will start the group’s qualification race on Saturday when they host the Central African side at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    Egwuekwe said though the Congolese opponents are certain to be tough nuts the Eagles are determined to prove that they are ably deserving African champions.

    “The Congolese won’t come cheap but we’re the reigning African champions and we’re poised to prove to the opponents why we’re Africa’s best team at the moment.

    “We’ll certainly record a resounding victory against them on Saturday to once again make a bold statement of our intention to not only qualify for the Afcon final in Morocco but go ahead to successfully defend the title we won in South Africa.

    “Our group’s opponents will take the message seriously when we start the campaign brilliantly against the Congo opposition,” said the Warri Wolves man to supersport.com.

    Egwuekwe said the rumblings at the NFF Glass House is the least worry on the minds of his teammates.

    “For me what’s uppermost on my mind, and same goes for my teammates, is to represent Nigeria very well in all our Afcon qualifying matches and not the problems at the NFF house.

    “We’re not administrators nor politicians but core professionals we simply focus on the activities on the field of play.

    “So we won’t be distracted we’re focused on getting good results in the crucial matches against Congo and South Africa,” said Egwuekwe.

    The lanky defender was among the early arrivals at the Eagles’ camp yesterday for the commencement of final preparations for the qualifiers against the Congolese opponents this weekend in Calabar and the September 10 clash against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Cape Town.