The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Algeria

  • Algeria Coach: We gifted two goals to Nigeria

    Algeria U-23s coach, Pierre Andre Schurmann, was frustrated after his side lost to Nigeria in the final of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, adding that the North Africans gifted the Dream Team VI the win.

    Warri Wolves star, Oghenekaro Etebo’s 13 minute goal was cancelled  on the half – hour mark when Segun Oduduwa put into his own net and Etebo restored the one – goal advantage five minutes before the intermission.

    “We feel a lot of frustration because we are aware that we handed the victory to our opponent, ” said Schurmann to reporters.

    “It is we who have made the goals of Nigeria, we put them on a tray. Some do like this, at this level, it does not forgive. ”

    In the second half, Algeria had a glorious opportunity to draw level but Ferhat’s penalty kick in the 67th minute was saved by the impressive goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel.

    “Now it is true that we had a difficult start but we came back in the game, we came back to score and we even had the game in hand.

    “There were many turning points, there was the penalty that we missed, on other occasions too, but it’s a shame, we were missing a little something.  But players should be proud of what they did, we should not be choosy anyway” the coach said.

  • Unuanel backs Dream Team to beat Algeria

    Unuanel backs Dream Team to beat Algeria

    Highly-rated coach, Samson Unuanel has urged fans to be patient as the Nigeria U23 side seeks to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

    The Samson Siasia tutored team had another display of deja vu Wednesday in M’bour, Senegal when they threw away a two-goal lead in the first half, only to allow Egypt claw back into the game in the second half to cancel the lead. The game ended 2-2.

    Although Egypt comeback was helped by Nigeria’s miserable defence line, the Egyptians deserved the draw, as they harassed the Nigerians for most of the second half.

    Nigeria, who were leading with two goals before the half time through a brace from Etebo Oghenekaro’s spot kicks goals in the 20th and 30th minutes, failed to defend this lead as they gave the Egyptians the golden opportunities to score two quick goals in the second half.

    The Nigerians had collapsed in the second half as well in their first game against Mali on Sunday, allowing Mali to clip the 3-0 lead to end the tie 3-2.

    Despite the lapses in concentration by Siasia’s team, Unuanel has urged the Nigerians not to lose faith in the team.

    According to the former Niger Tornadoes coach, it is too early to judge the young players because they still have a lot to learn and the future looks bright.

    “We need to give them time, it is too early to judge them. The team still have a long way to go in this tournament. They will achieve better results and gain experience,” said the ex-Enyimba and Kwara United coach in a chat with News24.

    “The fans didn’t really like the way things went in the game against Egypt, but we must also understand that this is the game of football, it’s a funny game. The boys won’t disappoint in subsequent matches.”

    He added: “We know the players can make the difference, so we just need to give them the chance to prove themselves in the final group match against Algeria, assist them such that they can get the spirit of topping the group and going on to pick a ticket to play in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.”

  • U-23 AFCON: Nigeria ready for Algeria – Okechukwu

    U-23 AFCON: Nigeria ready for Algeria – Okechukwu

    Dream Team VI midfielder Azubuike Okechukwu claims players of the Nigeria side are calm ahead of Saturday’s decisive Olympic qualifying game against Algeria.

    Nigeria surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Egypt in their second game at the ongoing 2015 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.

    A loss for the Nigeria Under-23 side to Algeria on Saturday could see them get eliminated from the race to Rio 2016 but Azubuike insists they are not worried about facing the impressive Algerians who currently sit top of Group B.

    “We know the Algerians. We are not afraid of them. We respect them but we are not afraid of them.

    “We will play our game, try to win and I am sure we will come out with a good result,” Okechukwu told journalists on Wednesday.

    Algeria look to be in fine fettle so far in the tournament.

    The North Africans drew their opening game with Egypt 1-1 before beating Mali 2-0 in their second game of the competition.

  • Taekwondo: African Games medalist Ekhator eyes Olympics slot in Algeria

    From 2007, Joy Ekhator has proved her worth by winning medals at her three appearances at the African Games.

    From her maiden appearance in Algiers, where she claimed silver, she had added two bronze medals at the 2011 and 2015 editions of the championship.

    However, her attempt to become the second Nigeria female taekwodist to feature at the Olympics has failed as she could not secure a spot at her appearances at the qualifiers.

    But the Edo State-born athlete who was recently promoted by the Nigeria Police told SportingLife recently that she is hoping that she can make it to Rio 2016 Olympics at the African qualifiers in Algeria next year.

    “I must admit that it has not been easy for me in all appearances at the African Games but I ensured that I did not return home empty-handed. Despite winning medals at the African Games, I have not been able to secure a place at the Olympic Games,” she regretted.

    But, she is not sure whether she would be part of the Nigeria’s four-man team to the Algeria’s qualifiers. “I know that the team that will represent is yet to be decided but I hope I can be part of the team but this time around I won’t make any mistake by making sure I make it to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. I am aware that it is the best from the continent that will be at the Qualifiers and everybody is there to make to Brazil. I promise that if I can be part of the team, I won’t make any mistake of not qualifying for the Olympics,” she vowed.

    Ekhator, meanwhile, lauded Chika Chukwumerije for staging an international tournament which has continued to attract world class athletes to Nigeria in the last four years.

    Apart from Princess Dudu who was at the 2014 Athens Olympics in Greece, no Nigerian female athlete has qualified for the Olympics in taekwondo and Ekhator is indeed aiming to equal Dudu’s records.

  • Ahead of Egypt double headers: Eagles may play Algeria or Morocco

    Ahead of Egypt double headers: Eagles may play Algeria or Morocco

    Nigeria are to open talks with Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria for a friendly ahead of their crunch two-legged AFCON qualifier against Egypt in March, NFF president Amaju Pinnick has told AfricanFootball.com.

    Nigeria take on Egypt in March in a double header, which could well determine the fate of the Super Eagles for Gabon 2017.

    Egypt lead the AFCON qualifying group with six points from two matches, two points more than second-placed Nigeria with the overall group winners guaranteed automatic qualification to the 2017 AFCON.

    Pinnick said the NFF are determined to ensure that the Eagles are in the right frame of mind technically and mentally against the record seven-time African champions.

    “I have asked them to begin to shop for a friendly game against Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria in the next available FIFA window,” he told AfricanFootball.com.

    “That tells you how important the next AFCON qualifiers are to us. We want to make sure that the Eagles are properly prepared and have an idea of how the North Africans play.

    “But in any case, coach Sunday Oliseh has already started studying the tapes of the Egyptians and he is preparing the game plans.”

     

  • Arab League postpones talks on regional military

    Arab League postpones talks on regional military

    A meeting of Arab defence chiefs and foreign ministers on forming a joint regional military force has been postponed for the second time in two months, the Arab League said Wednesday.

    The talks, scheduled for Thursday, were postponed on requests from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the Cairo-based League said in a statement.

    The pan-Arab organisation did not give a reason for the delay, saying that a new date for the meeting will be set later.

    The countries were meant to endorse an agreement on creating a military force that would tackle the growing influence of hard line jihadists in the region.

    Arab defence chiefs had met twice in May and June to draft the mechanism for setting up the joint force, which was initially approved at an Arab summit held in Egypt earlier in 2015.

    In late March, Saudi Arabia and Sunni fellow Arab countries unleashed an air campaign in Yemen targeting Shiite Houthi rebels allied with Shiite Iran.

    In 1950, members of the Arab League signed a joint defence agreement, which has been rarely enforced.

  • 2015 All Africa Games: Egypt, Algeria camp in China for Nigeria

    2015 All Africa Games: Egypt, Algeria camp in China for Nigeria

    In readiness for Nigeria at the 2015 All Africa Games, Egypt and Algeria are at present in China honing their skills in table tennis for the multi-sports championship in Congo Brazzaville.

    After dominating the just concluded ITTF Africa Senior Cup in Cameroon, Egypt returned to Asia this week to continue with their build-up under the tutelage of their Chinese coach.

    Also, 15 Algerian players were sighted at a training camp in Shanghai under the watchful of their French technical adviser, Cedric Rouleau.

    For the Egyptians, this year’s games hope to be excited as Omar Assar, El-Sayed Lashin and Mohammed El-Beiali as well as Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly are in the best form of their lives considering their performance at the Cameroon tournament.

    Before the Cameroon competition, the Egyptian team has embarked on a one month training tour in China and they have also decided to return to perfect their skills for the games.

    Unlike their Egyptian counterparts, Algeria were camped in Algiers for the Cameroon championship and having seen their level during the ITTF Africa Senior Cup, the team moved to China to continue their training as well.

    Host – Congo Brazzaville will also be rounding up their one-year training tour of China this month having perfected formalities for the engagement of their Chinese players who are also expected to feature for the Central African region during the championship.

    Vice President, Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Olabanji Oladapo told NationSport Tuesday that Nigeria must brace up if its hopes to clinch any medal in Brazzaville.

    “I don’t think we should be relaxed this year because with what I saw at the Cameroon championship, it is clear that everybody is after Nigeria. They all know that we are capable of springing surprises and I am sure they know that they have to be at their best to overcome Nigeria. I know we have the quality in terms of talents, but we just need to harness these talents to achieve the optimum results in Brazzaville. I believe that with a technically sound coach, we can do better in Brazzaville and this I believe is the only way we can perform beyond every expectation,” Oladapo said.

  • Aftermath of Ebosse’s death: Fear grips Ebossein Algeria

    Aftermath of Ebosse’s death: Fear grips Ebossein Algeria

    Aso Chlef forward, Joshua Obaje says he is no longer at ease staying in Algeria, following the death of JS Kabyle striker, Albert Ebosse.

    Ebosse, top scorer in the Algerian league last season, died after being hit with a stone thrown from the crowd in his team home loss to USM Algiers on Saturday.

    His death led to the suspension of football indefinitely, a situation that has unsettle Obaje, who joined Aso Chlef two weeks ago.

    “It’s only natural for me to be living in fear, if a fellow professional in same field like me is killed on duty, but I know it’s well and may Ebosse’s soul rest in peace.”

    When SL10 sought to know if the situation will force him to terminate his deal and return home, the CHAN bronze medalist insists coming back home is not an option for now.

    “Too early to contemplate coming back home, that is not an option for now, my team is made up of good people with the interest of their players at heart and supportive fans, I might leave in fear but no thought of terminating my deal.”

    The ex-Black Leopards forward joined Aso Chlef from Glo NPFL side Warri Wolves on a two year deal which will terminate in the summer of 2016.

  • World Cup: Way of the (3rd) world?

    Okay, Hardball is quite aware that the term 3rd World has long been banished, especially as it concerns Africa. But a village wag used to say that you can only rename your goat, you cannot help the fact of its goatness. You may take umbrage about African countries being labelled in derogatory terms what is to be done if we cannot help acting in self-deprecating and even disgraceful ways?

    We simply refer here to the attitude and behaviours of teams and football officials at the ongoing world football fiesta in Brazil. Information oozing out of the camps of most of the five African nations at the tournament has been less than savoury, to say the least. Apart from Team Algeria, the others, including Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria are all encumbered with one money row or the other. This of course has hampered the performance of African teams in the competition apart from the odium it brings upon the continent.

    Most notable is the Ghana cash haul affair. The world had four years to prepare for this great football show. Even the host nation built numerous new, state-of-the-art stadia among other massive infrastructure provisions in the build up to hosting the world. But for Ghana, it seems the mundial caught up with her by surprise  though it had qualified for the competition several months ago. Why do we assert thus, you might ask? It’s because the whole world is still laughing over the ribald trans-Atlantic cash haul ordered by the Ghanaian president last Monday to unlock a most embarrassing deadlock between the country’s players and her football officials.

    According to a BBC report, the World Cup qualifying bonuses, which ought to have been paid to the team months ago, were not paid. Now, the players boycotted training early last week, threatening not to file out for their last group match against Portugal last Thursday. The looming crisis and attendant shame pushed Ghana’s president to charter a plane, load it with over $3 million in cash and had it flown direct to Brazil. Presidential officials noted that the cash was borrowed in lieu of FIFA’s prize money pay-out after the tournament. Whoever hauls cash like this anymore in this age? The president’s cash did not save the Ghanaian team; it crashed out.

    Players’ fee crisis also brewed in Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ camp through last weekend even though officials denied it. Nigeria’s team that qualified for the round of 16 is said to have refused to turn out for training late last week because of appearance fees palaver. Nigeria’s president too had to fly emergency cash to Brazil. Will this save the team against an organised and psychologically-stable France?

    So would we be unreasonable if we insist that this can only happen in a 3rd World country? Would the American, English or even Iranian teams get into this kind of mess? These vexatious players’ fee brouhaha that continuously plague African countries, are they not simple administrative routines that ought to have been carefully documented before any tournament and strictly adhered to like other nations?

     

  • Morocco, Algeria trade accusations over Syrians

    Morocco and Algeria, North Africa’s two most powerful countries and biggest rivals, are accusing each other of mistreating Syrian refugees.

    The Algerian ambassador in Rabat was summoned by the Foreign Ministry yesterday to complain about what Morocco described as a rise in the expulsion of Syrian refugees into Morocco from Algerian territory.

    “Morocco profoundly deplores this inhuman act, more so because it involves women and children in an extremely vulnerable situation,” said the ministry statement.

    Morocco’s Interior Ministry said that between Sunday and Tuesday some 77 Syrians, including 18 women and 43 children had been expelled. These statements follow up on similar accusations in Moroccan media over the past week.

    The spokesman for Algeria’s Foreign Ministry, Amar Belani, said Thursday that the stories of expulsions were complete lies by the Moroccan “pseudo-media that specializes in nauseating bubbling of the anti-Algerian media swamp.”

    Algerian security forces along the border told the Algerian state news agency on Monday that in fact it was the Moroccans who were expelling Syrians into Algeria.

     

    Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in Syria in 2011, at least 2.4 million people have fled Syria, mostly to neighboring countries, according the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. But Morocco is a major jumping off point for immigrants, usually from sub-Saharan Africa, seeking entry into Europe.

    In the past, when Morocco has caught Africans who entered from Algeria hoping to cross into Europe, it expelled them into the deserts along the border with Algeria.

    According to rights activists in Oujda, Morocco’s far eastern city near the Algerian border, most of the Syrian refugees cross the border voluntarily seeking to join relatives already in the country.

    “I can’t say what’s going on along the entire Moroccan-Algerian border, but this is what I have found from the testimonies I have gathered without being able to confirm or deny that Algerians are expelling Syrians,” said Mohammed Kerzazi, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in Oujda.

    “It’s above all a humanitarian drama because Morocco does not give them refugee status and there are more and more of them in Oujda since June 2013,” he added, estimating they were in the hundreds.