The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AFCON

  • AFCON: Cape Verde coach rates Nigeria high

    AFCON: Cape Verde coach rates Nigeria high

    Cape Verde Head Coach, Lucio Antunes, has said the Super Eagles put up a gallant performance against his side and he expects the team will go far in the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The Super Eagles and the Blue Sharks settled for a goalless draw in Wednesday’s international friendly with many rating the Cape Verdians slightly above the Nigerian side that fail to shine on the night

    Coach Antunnes, who spoke through an interpreter, declared that his boys met a very experienced side in Nigeria and he was happy that the team played out a draw.

    He also promised that the Blue Sharks will cause upsets at the AFCON with the quality of players at its disposal.

    Futaa.com reports that Cape Verde and South Africa will play the opening game of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup on January 19.

     

  • AFCON: ‘Ejide’s injury not serious’

    AFCON: ‘Ejide’s injury not serious’

    Goalkeeper Austin Ejide will be fully fit for Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations challenge in South Africa.

    The Hapoel Be’er Sheva shot-stopper limped out of Nigeria’s friendly against Cape Verde on Wednesday with what looked like a hamstring injury.

    Officials of the Super Eagles have now moved to allay fears over the fitness of the 29-year-old for the AFCON.

    “He has not been assessed by the doctors yet but from what we can see, he’s in good condition. He was walking normally after the game (on Wednesday) and we believe he will be fit for the competition,” SuperSport.com quoted spokesman of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya, as saying on the goalkeeper.

    The Eagles’ media chief also revealed that a full assessment of Ejide’s situation will be made on Thursday.

    “The game against Cape Verde ended at around 11pm Wednesday Nigerian time so it was impossible for tests to be conducted on him at that time.

    “The doctors will look at him today (Thursday) but like I hinted earlier, I don’t think the injury is serious,” he stated.

    Ejide made his Nigerian debut in 2001 and has played 22 times for the Super Eagles.

     

  • Yobo set to equal Kanu’s AFCON record

    Yobo set to equal Kanu’s AFCON record

    EAGLES captain Joseph Yobo is set to equal a six-AFCON finals appearance record held by Nwankwo Kanu. Yobo has already eclipsed Kanu’s record as the most capped Nigeria star with 89 caps and he could add to this tally on Wednesday night against fellow 2013 Nations Cup finalists Cape Verde in an AFCON warm-up game.

    “I have been blessed. Words cannot quantify God’s blessings on me. Attending my sixth Nations Cup will be great and we will give it our best shot,” Yobo told MTNFootball.com

    The 32-year-old Fenerbache star defender has featured at the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Nations Cups, same as the legendary Musa Lawal now of blessed memory. He got a bronze medal at four of these appearances and now wants the top prize in South Africa which may possibly be his last outing. “It’s not going to be easy (to win the trophy). But we will give it our best shot. We therefore urge Nigerians to keep praying for us and believe in this team,” he said.

  • AFCON 2013:CAF shuns Nigeria referees

    AFCON 2013:CAF shuns Nigeria referees

    •Edibe Peter, 20 others make linesmen list

    IT WAS an embarassing moment for Nigerian referees after CAF once again ignored them in the total 18 referees that will handle matches at the African Nations Cup finals holding in South Africa come January 19 to February 10. SportingLife gathered from the list posted on CAF that Edibe Peter Elgam was the only Nigerian that made the list of 21 linesmen. South Africa’s Daniel Bennett and Zakhele Siwela make up the experienced group as there were only two changes to the list of referees and eight new assistants from the last finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon one year ago. The list includes two who have refereed previous finals – Mali’s Komlan Coulibaly from 2010 in Angola and Badara Diatta of Senegal who took charge of last year’s final between Zambia and the Ivory Coast in Libreville. Coulibaly, 42, will set the record for the most finals officiated at when he takes to the pitch in South Africa. This will be his seventh tournament since he first won a call-up to the Nations Cup panel in 2002. The two new officials come from Kenya – Sylvester Kirwa – and the Seychelles – Bernard Camille. Algeria and Senegal have the biggest representation with three officials each. Algeria’s Mohamed Benouza will take charge in his fifth tournament while Diatta has also been to every finals since 2006. It will be third successive Nations Cup for Bennett and the second for Siwela. Both are also on the shortlist for the 2014 World Cup. The referees for the tournament assemble in Johannesburg on January 15 for their pre-tournament tests. They will stay at Irene Lodge in Pretoria, which is closed to the public for the duration of the tournament.

  • ‘Ameobi will be sorry for AFCON snub’

    ‘Ameobi will be sorry for AFCON snub’

    EX-NIGERIA World Cup star Tijjani Babangida has blasted Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi for opting out of the AFCON.

    On Sunday, Nigeria authorities announced that the team have put behind them the club versus country row involving Ameobi and will move on without the striker for the Nations Cup in South Africa. Ameobi made an encouraging Eagles debut in November against Venezuela after he completed his international change from England whom he featured for at age-grade levels. Former Ajax Amsterdam winger Babangida has told MTNFootball.com Ameobi should have considered himself lucky to play for Nigeria and should therefore not have put his club before his country.

    “Nigeria is too big for Ameobi or any player for that matter. He should know that he is lucky to represent this country. I am sure he will later regret this. One other thing is clear – his absence won’t affect Eagles at the Nations Cup,” said Babangida, an international for a decade.

  • AFCON: Rabiu, two others dropped from Eagles’ squad

    AFCON: Rabiu, two others dropped from Eagles’ squad

    Super Eagles technical crew has dropped three players from the team pre-AFCON camp in Faro, Portugal, supersport.com reports.

    The three players are Rabiu Ibrahim, Papa Idris and Henry Uche.

    On Saturday, Rizespor forward, Uche Kalu ruled out himself from the Africa Cup of Nations after struggling to overcome a groin injury.

    “Head coach, Stephen Keshi has left out three players from his plans for the Nations Cup. The players are Rabiu Ibrahim, Papa Idris and Henry Uche. We have more than 23 players in camp and the chop had to take place somehow. So apart from Uche Kalu who had been excused due to injury, these three will leave camp.

    “Interestingly, the players left out are still part of the plans of the coach for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that will be played this year. So Rabiu, Papa Idris and Henry Uche are still in the team,” spokesman of the Nigerian squad told supersport.com on Monday.

    However, there are still 27 players in camp and four more players will be dropped this week from the squad.

     

  • AFCON: Keshi ‘growing grey hairs’ over final squad

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , is “growing grey hairs” over the selection of his final 23-man squad for the African Nations Cup, officials told MTNFootball.com.

    Nigeria team spokesman, Ben Alaiya, disclosed that the performance of the players in a training camp in Faro, Portugal, has made Keshi’s job of selecting the best players for the tournament difficult.

    “The competition here is very tough. Coach Keshi is growing grey hairs over who to drop because all the players are on top of their game as they all want to be at Nations Cup,” Alaiya MTNFootball.com.

    “In fact Keshi at the training on Thursday did not know when he voiced out that he is in trouble as he doesn’t know who to drop.”

    Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, is also satisfied with the showing of the home-based goalkeepers, Daniel Akpeyi and Chigozie Agbim.

    “Ike Shorunmu is happy with the form of Akpeyi and Agbim, who we all saw what he could do against Catalonia. Ike confirmed that any of these goalkeepers could be in goal and he won’t panic if Enyeama and Ejide decided to stay away,” Alaiya added.

    Valenrenga of Norway midfielder, Fegor Ogude admitted to MTNFootball.com that the fight for places in the Eagles midfield will be fierce.

    Fegor returned to the Super Eagles line up during Wednesday’s friendly after he was sidelined by injury for the better part of last year.

    With the emergence of Ogenyi Onazi, Rabiu Ibrahim, Nosa Igiebor, Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Raheem Lawal, Obiora Nwankwo and Mikel Obi, Fegor told MTNFootball.com: “The battle for a shirt in the midfield would be tensed. We have great players who are skilful and can handle the ball very well.

    “But I am not afraid because this is my job, it’s what I do everyday and as such I am battle ready for the challenge.”

    Keshi has said he will make public his final squad on Tuesday, a day before the Confederation of African Football deadline.

    The Eagles will take on giant killers Cape Verde in another AFCON warm-up game on Wednesday in Faro.

    The team will fly out to South Africa on January 16.

     

  • Igiebor rejoins Eagles Saturday

    Igiebor rejoins Eagles Saturday

    Real Betis midfielder, Nosa Igiebor, has disclosed he will rejoin the Super Eagles in Faro on Saturday.

    Igiebor was with the Eagles in Barcelona but his club stopped him from featuring in Wednesday’s friendly against Catalonia.

    “I will join the team in Portugal on Saturday. Even though I would have loved to be in camp earlier, my club has a game on Friday, January 4 against Real Zaragoza and I will head to Portugal immediately that game is over,” Igiebor told MTNFootball.com

    The former Warri Wolves midfielder said he cannot wait to make his African Nations Cup debut in South Africa.

    “I can’t wait to be in South Africa for the Nations Cup. This will be my first appearance and I will work hard to make the final squad,” said the Olympic team star.

     

     

  • I’m fit for AFCON – Mikel

    I’m fit for AFCON – Mikel

     

    Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has declared he is fit for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa after a slight knee complaint.

    Mikel was pulled off late in the second half of an EPL game against Norwich City after he suffered a knock on his knee.

    And he has now told MTNFootball.com that he is as fit as fiddle and ready for action to pour cold water over speculations regarding his availability for this month’s tournament.

    “I am going to be at Nations Cup as there is nothing to worry about concerning the injury, it is over,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com

    “I am okay and fit for action. I am already looking forward to play in the FA Cup game against Southampton. I was advised by the doctor to rest it for the QPR game, otherwise I was ready to play.”

    Injury ruled out the Chelsea star from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa at the last minute and Mikel has told MTNFootball.com he will be at the Eagles training camp in Faro, Portugal, on Saturday.

    Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez said before the QPR game that Mikel’s knee problem was not serious.

    ”

     

  • AFCON: NFF dismisses Newcastle’s claim on Ameobi

    AFCON: NFF dismisses Newcastle’s claim on Ameobi

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation has debunked a claim by Newcastle that Shola Ameobi will skip next month’s African Cup of Nations and that coach Stephen Keshi is aware of this.

    “We are not aware of such a thing about Shola (Ameobi), he is a FIFA-listed player for us. The federation is not aware, the head coach is not aware of this and that was why Shola was called up for the competition.

    “We will do all within us to see that Shola or any player picked by the coach for the Nations Cup is released to us,” spokesman for the NFF, Ademola Olajire, told MTNFootball.com.

    Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, said Shola Ameobi will not be going to the Nations Cup with Nigeria, according to BBC sports.

    The Kogi State indigene is on the 32-man provisional squad released by Keshi last week.

    Pardew said: “Shola won’t be going. The national team manager knows the reasons, which I am keeping to myself.”

    Ameobi made an encouraging debut in a 3-1 friendly win over Venezuela last month, setting up the third goal in Miami.