The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AFCON

  • NFF to invite 17 foreign-based players for AFCON

    NFF to invite 17 foreign-based players for AFCON

    NFF to invite 17 foreign-based players for AFCON

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation will announce this week, the 17 foreign-based players for the African Cup of Nations training camp in Faro, Portugal, officials said.

    Officials informed MTNFootball.com that there will be a few notable omissions on the list, while several other players could well be placed on standby to cover for injury and other unforeseen circumstances.

    “The invitation letters have been sent out to the players and their clubs, but they have also been told to keep it quiet until the list is made public probably by Friday.

    “There will be a few shocks, otherwise it will be the usual suspects on the list with some players probably placed on standby,” a top official disclosed.

    Holland-based defender Kenneth Omeruo is already one of the surprise call-ups as he has yet to be capped at full international level and was not involved in the qualifying tournament for the 2013 AFCON.

    He has played at central defence for both the U-17 and U-20 teams but could well be considered for the problematic right fullback position which is where he plays for his Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

    Spain-based striker Ikechukwu Uche, skipper Joseph Yobo, Ahmed Musa and Nosa Igiebor are among those called up for the AFCON.

    The Eagles, drawn from players from the domestic league and Norway-based Fegor Ogude, began training Monday morning in Abuja.

    The 24-man squad will train once a day for the time being and they are due to depart for Portugal on December 27.

     

  • ALUKO MAY MISS AFCON 2013

    ALUKO MAY MISS AFCON 2013

    •Tiger’s ace out for 2-3 weeks 

    NIGERIA international, Sone Aluko may have his African Nations Cup in South Africa dream shattered following the news that he may be sidelined for between two and three weeks as the Tigers seek to put an end to his troublesome Achilles problem.

    Aluko has missed the last two games and has now had an injection to help clear up the problem, with manager Steve Bruce hoping a period of complete rest will aid the recovery process for City’s leading goalscorer.

    “Sone trained on Thursday and unfortunately was sore on Friday,” said Bruce.

    “He had an injection on Friday and we’re hoping that now he’s got five or six days off doing absolutely nothing, in two to three weeks it will have done the trick and we’ll see Sone back again.

    “We’ve played two games away from home without arguably our best player of the season and we’re hoping it’s not a bad one. The worry is that it’s the tendon, but the scan has revealed that there is no real damage. We’ve put an injection in to try and release it.”

  • CHILD BIRTH OSAZE MAY DELAY AFCON TRIP

    CHILD BIRTH OSAZE MAY DELAY AFCON TRIP

    WEST BROMWICH Albion striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie could put on hold his arrival to Nigeria’s pre-African Cup of Nations (AFCON) camp in Faro, Portugal.

    According to Saturday’s edition of Express & Star, the wife of the Super Eagles’ forward, Sarah is expected to give birth to their first child in a fortnight.

    And Osaze, 31, has hinted that the arrival of their first child could force changes in his traveling plans to team up with the Nigerian squad ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    “I hope it won’t affect my involvement. You can’t predict what will happen but I hope for a scenario where it will be easy.

    “The due date is about 10 days before the African Cup of Nations. Babies can be late, or early, but in this case I pray it’s earlier so everything will go smoothly.

    “The preparation period (for the tournament) is usually about 10-14 days. Sometimes the home-based players start earlier. That will be discussed soon,” said the former Lokomotiv Moscow man.

    Osaze further revealed that he is always ready to work with current Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi.

    He is also looking forward to playing a key role at next year’s AFCON though feels “bad” he will miss a handful of West Brom’s matches.

    “I will be playing (at the Afcon). There is no problem with the coach. I couldn’t make the last game for personal reasons. I am in his plans, we have spoken well and, as far as I’m concerned, I will be called up,” said the former Bendel Insurance striker.

    “It’s bad I will miss games for Albion because I am full of desire, we’ve had a good start and I want that to continue. But I’ve had to leave before when I played in France and Belgium. Steve Clarke has given me his blessing. When we were due to play in Miami for a midweek game (against Venezuela) and I came to the training ground he said ‘what are you doing here?’

    “He likes to encourage us to play (for our national teams). He thinks it makes us better. I have his blessing, which is a good thing. I’m confident Albion have a good squad to cope with this. We have options when myself and Youssouf (Mulumbu) are gone.”

    Osaze made his AFCON debut in 2004 and has gone on to appear more than 50 times for Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

  • Joel Obi: I’ll be OK for AFCON

    Joel Obi: I’ll be OK for AFCON

    Inter Milan ace Joel Obi has assured he will be fully fit for the 2013 AFCON after he recently had a relapse of a muscle injury.

    In October, after being out since March Obi returned to action with Inter in a Europa League game and even scored against Azerbaijani champions Neftci PFK in a 3-1 away win.

    However, the injury relapsed against Catania in an Italian Serie A fixture on October 21.

    His injury problems have raised concerns over his chances of making the Eagles squad to next year’s Nations Cup as he has only played a bit role in the qualifiers.

    “I’m happy I’m back in training, trying to get 100% fit and be ready for both my club and Nigeria,” Obi said on a radio interview programme on Thursday. “I will be fit for the Nations Cup. I still have more to give to Nigeria.” Obi said he expects the fans to back the Eagles at the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.

    “We won’t disappoint them but we would need their support,” he said.

    Inter host high-riding Napoli on Sunday and Obi said he is looking forward to be available for that game.

  • I’ll be fit for AFCON – Joel Obi

    I’ll be fit for AFCON – Joel Obi

    Inter Milan ace, Joel Obi, has assured he will be fully fit for next year’s African Cup of Nations after he recently had a relapse of a muscle injury.

    MTNFootball.com says Obi returned to action in October during Inter’s Europa Cup game against Azerbaijani champions Neftci PFK in Baku.

    However, the injury relapsed against Catania in an Italian Serie A fixture on October 21.

    His injury problems have raised concerns about his chances of making the Super Eagles squad to AFCON as he only played a minimal role in the qualifiers.

    “I’m happy I’m back in training, trying to get 100 per cent fit and be ready for both my club and Nigeria,” MTNFootball.com quoted Obi as saying on a radio interview programme on Thursday.

    “I will be fit for the Nations Cup. I still have more to give to Nigeria.”

    Obi said he expects the fans to back the Eagles at the tournament in South Africa.

    “We won’t disappoint them but we would need their support,” he said.

     

  • Nigerian businessman to sponsor Niger AFCON campaign

    Nigerian businessman to sponsor Niger AFCON campaign

    Nigerian tycoon Dahiru Mangal will fly a 540-strong Niger contingent to next year’s African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Mangal, a Katsina-based major air transporter and businessman agreed to make available one of his Boeing 747 planes to transport Nigerien national team and its supporters to the former apartheid enclave for the continent’s premier soccer tournament.

    “Mangal is a good friend of our President and he has graciously accepted to support Niger at the Nations Cup by providing us with a Boeing 747 plane that will take us to and from South Africa.

    “We will fuel the chartered aircraft, otherwise he would bear the other costs.

    “This is a big assistance to Niger and we really appreciate it.

    “His airline, Maxair, operates in Niger and he has several other business interests also in the country,” top Niger Football Association official, Mohammed Sani, told MTNFootball.com.

    This sponsorship is believed would save Niger at least about 50 million Naira.

    Niger will be based in Port Elizabeth for the first round of matches. The Mena will meet Ghana, Mali and DR Congo in the tournament starting in January.

    Mangal rose to national prominence during the tenure of late Nigerian president, Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

    This year, his airline ferried the bulk of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.

     

  • Lawal predicts Nigeria, Ghana AFCON final

    Lawal predicts Nigeria, Ghana AFCON final

    Super Eagles midfielder, Raheem Lawal has predicted the Super Eagles will clash with perennial rivals Ghana in the final of next year’s African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The former Atletico Beleares of Spain midfielder said Ghana has a team good enough to reach the final, so too Nigeria, who he will tip to go on and win the continental trophy.

    “I see Nigeria and Ghana playing in the final of the Nations Cup in South Africa. Not that the other teams who will feature in the competition are not good, but both Ghana and Nigeria have an edge with us best to win it,” Lawal told MTNFootball.com

    “I am also looking forward to play at the Nations Cup for the first time.

    “I was so happy when we qualified and I will do my best to be in South Africa with the Eagles and contribute to the team’s success.”

    Raheem Lawal said defending champions Zambia will be Nigeria’s biggest threat in the first round of the tournament.

    “Zambia as the defending champions will be our main threat. The last year’s squad is still very much intact,” he said.

    “We therefore have to beware of them and take them seriously even though we cannot afford to look down on Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.”

    The former Olympic international also told MTNFootball.com he was shocked Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi did not make the top five players to battle for the Africa Footballer of the Year Award.

    “I was surprised when I saw the list. I don’t understand how CAF reached that conclusion because Mikel won the English FA Cup as well as the UEFA Champions League not as a bench warmer, but as a super regular. I think CAF need to tell us how they picked the final nominees,” he argued.

     

  • Taiwo fears Eagles’ AFCON crash

    Taiwo fears Eagles’ AFCON crash

    Super Eagles defender, Taye Taiwo, has warned that the team will fail at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa if the players do not play together.

    “If we can’t play as a team, work for each other, we can’t win anything in South Africa.

    “We must sacrifice for each other and then we stand a good chance of winning the competition,” MTNFootball.com quoted the former Olympique Marseille defender as saying in an interview on Wednesday.

    The Eagles, who had won the AFCON twice, will play in Group C alongside the defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

    Taiwo also said he would be delighted to return to the Super Eagles in time for the AFCON.

    The Dynamo Kiev wing back has not been considered by Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi since a shambolic performance against Rwanda in Kigali in February.

    However, there are now strong indications Keshi will give him another chance with the Eagles and Taiwo said he would be delighted to take it.

     

  • NFF meets today on AFCON

    NFF meets today on AFCON

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will meet today in Abuja to deliberate on, among other things, the country’s AFCON preparation.

    The NFF executive committee will also discuss the issues concerning the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), which have caused a delay in the kick-off of the new season.

    President of the NFF Aminu Maigari told MTNFootball.com several other issues concerning the game will be discussed at the meeting.

    Maigari maintained that the board are united and committed to deliver results.

    “There is no crack whatsoever in the executive committee of the NFF,” he said. “Even in a family, members disagree to agree and this is what is happening, but on Wednesday all issues would be put to rest.”

    Maigari also confirmed that the NFF Annual General Assembly will take place in Port Harcourt on December 13 despite opposition by some stakeholders after chief host Governor Rotimi Amechi dismissed the NFF as corrupt recently.

    “The AGA will take place on December 13 in Port Harcourt. Arrival of delegates is December 12 and on the morning of December 13, we will pay the governor a courtesy call,” he disclosed.

  • NFF meets Wednesday on AFCON, others

    NFF meets Wednesday on AFCON, others

    The Nigeria Football Federation will meet on Wednesday in Abuja to deliberate on among other things the country’s preparation for next year’s African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the NFF executive committee will also discuss the issues concerning the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), which has caused a delay in the kick-off of the new season.

    President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, told MTNFootball.com several other issues concerning the game will be discussed at the meeting.

    Maigari maintained that the board members are united and committed to deliver results.

    “There is no crack whatsoever in the executive committee of the NFF.

    “Even in a family, members disagree to agree and this is what is happening, but on Wednesday all issues would be put to rest,” he said.

    Maigari also confirmed that the NFF Annual General Assembly will take place in Port Harcourt on December 13 despite opposition by some stakeholders after the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amechi, dismissed the NFF as a corrupt body recently.

    “The AGA will take place on December 13 in Port Harcourt. Arrival of delegates is December 12 and on the morning of December 13, we will pay the Governor a courtesy call,” he disclosed.