The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Angola

  • Cameroon zoom into finals as Nigeria face Angola in 3rd place

     

    Young lions of Cameroon Wednesday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam beat Angola 4-3 on penalties to qualify for the finals of this year’s U17 Nations cup.

    The match like the first clash of the day between Nigeria and Guinea ended goalless at the end of regulation with eight minutes added time before the teams went into penalty shootout.

    The Cameroonians converted four of their penalties while their Angolan counterparts only managed to convert three.

    Cameroon will thus take on Guinea in the final billed for Sunday April 28 while Nigeria will tackle Angola in the third place match scheduled for Saturday April 27th at 2pm.

    Should Cameroon emerge victorious on Sunday, it would be the second time they will be winning the title after emerging champions in 2003 in Swaziland.

    Guinea on their own part are playing their first final and dreaming of clinching their first title.

    No fewer than 59 goals have been scored in this year’s championship so far with the highest recorded in the Nigeria versus Guinea semifinal tie that produced 19 penalty goals ending 10-9 in favour of Guinea.

  • U17 Nations cup:Eaglets in consolidation mission against Angola

     

    After a thrilling opener against hosts Tanzania on Sunday, the Eaglets will file out today against their Angolan counterparts at the 60,000 capacity Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar Es Salaam in what could be described as a consolidation mission.

    The Garba Manu tutored side fired five goals past their Tanzanian opponents in the opening match but it was not an easy feat as the hosts were equally in goal scoring mood getting four goals past the Eaglets.

    Indications that it would be goals harvest day, emerged when Alfred Olaniyan opened scoring of the Eaglets in the 21st minute, but Tanzania immediately responded a minute later thanks to Edmund Godfrey, the match eventually ended 5-4 in favour of Nigeria.

    Should Eaglets defeat Angola who only managed a lone goal victory over Uganda on Sunday, they would automatically pick one of the tickets to FIFA under 17 World cup in Brazil even with an inconsequential last group  match against Uganda on Saturday at the Chamazi Stadium.

    The Eaglets are eyeing a third Africa Under 17 Nations cup trophy on one hand and a ticket to their 9th FIFA under 17 world cup appearance. Nigeria has won the world cup in this category five times viz 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015. She has also ended up as runners up three times viz 1987, 2001 and 2009.

    Although soccer fans who watch the Tanzania versus Nigeria match on Sunday gave the boys a pat on the back for emerging victorious, some however say the team needs to be more clinical to avoid losing grip especially when faced with a more compact side.

  • Nigeria draw Tanzania, Angola, Uganda in U-17 AFCON

    The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have drawn hosts Tanzania, Angola and debutants Uganda in the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

    The draw, which took place in Dar-es-Salam on Thursday, pitches 2003 champions, Cameroon against Ghana, Morocco and Senegal.

    Nigeria will open the competition against hosts Tanzania on April 14, 2019 before going on to face Uganda and Angola on 17th and 20th April respectively.

    Read Also: Nigeria Qualify for U-17 AFCON in Tanzania

    CAF Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu conducted the draw assisted by captain of the Tanzania U-20 team, Michael Moris and former Taifa Stars player Mohamed Adolf Richard.

    The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have won the U-17 AFCON in 2001 and 2007, beating Burkina Faso and Togo respectively.

    The competition holds from April 14-28 with the semi-finalists qualifying to represent the continent at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru later in 2019.

    Group A – Tanzania, Nigeria, Angola, Uganda

    Group B – Guinea, Cameroon, Morocco, Senegal

  • 2019: Bishop Oyedepo predicts peace in Nigeria

    Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and President Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.

    Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.

    In the telecast monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.

    “Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.

    “Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.

    “Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.

    “Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.

    “God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.

     

    The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.

    He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.

    According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.

    Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.

    He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.

    “The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly

    working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.

    According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.

    He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.

    “When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained.

    The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.

    “Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.

    “God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.

    He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.

    “The Church is the Body of Christ, the fullness of Him that fills all things.

    “We understand that by redemption we have been repositioned far above all principalities and powers. We also recognise that the Spirit of Faith is the guarantee for the dominion of the Saints over all gang ups of hell,” he stressed.

    Oyedepo told his congregation that Shiloh is not a church anniversary, but a place for taking delivery of all their hanging inheritance in Christ.

    “Shiloh is not a Church Programme, but a Mountain of answered prayers after the order of Hannah. Shiloh is ordained a platform for the rise of giants among us. Shiloh is a mountain of vision and revelation.

    “Shiloh is a prophetic platform for the conferment of dominion both on us as a Church and as individuals, so as to subdue the land before us,” he added.
    He said that prophetically, Shiloh was ordained a platform for conferment of dominion upon members of the Winners’ family and Nigeria at large.
    “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.’’
    According to him, the land was subdued before them “connotes dominion. Therefore, at this event, every participant shall encounter conferment of dominion in all areas of your lives’’.

    The Bishop assured that every participant would have a definite encounter with the word of God for their supernatural change of story.

    Oyedepo said: “While waiting on the Lord back in 1998 and inquiring about God’s master plan for Canaan land, among other things, God said, He would have us gather annually at Shiloh and that as we do, He will subdue the land before us by granting speedy delivery of our enviable inheritance in Christ.’’

    NAN reports that the event which started on Tuesday, would last through Dec. 9, with 55 countries in attendance while 150 other nations watched the proceeding online.

    Angola, Botswana, Cameroun, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, France and Gabon are some of the nations represented at the Shiloh.

    Others are Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and South Africa. While others from Swaziland Tanzania, Uganda, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

    The Shiloh 2018 is the 20th edition of the annual Shiloh event of the Living Faith Church worldwide.

  • African Economic Development: IMF tasks countries on performance

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on Nigeria, South Africa and Angola to ensure solid economic footing to accelerate African economic growth.

    The IMF Chief Economist, Mr Maurice Obstfeld, made this call on Tuesday in Bali, Indonesia at the unveiling of the October 2018 World Economic Outlook, a publication of the IMF.

    He observed that their proper footing would check impediment of the growth of the African economy.

    According to IMF, Nigeria, South Africa and Angola, the three largest economies in the continent are impeding the growth of African economy.

    Read Also:IMF to release World Economic Outlook

    He said that the aggregate growth rate for the continent was held down by the fact that the three largest economies were not performing up to their potentials.

    According to IMF, Nigeria, South Africa and Angola, the three largest economies in the continent are impeding the growth of African economy.

    “Nigeria’s growth is at 1.9 per cent this year to 2.3 per cent next year and South Africa with 0.8 per cent this year, Angola contracting by 0.1 per cent this year.

    “So the aggregate is over three per cent this year and close to four per cent next year and this is in spite of the fact that the largest economies in the continent are doing poorly.”

    Obtsfeld, however, said the continent could do much better once the countries got solid economic footing, particularly South Africa and Nigeria.

    “This is because they are really large countries and their economic activities will always have effect on their neighboring countries,’’ he said.

    According to the report, Africa’s growth performance varies according to countries, while about half of the expected pickup in growth between 2017 and 2018 reflects the growth rebound in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria’s growth is projected to increase from 0.8 per cent in 2017 to 1.9 per cent in 2018 and 2.3 per cent in 2019 (0.4 percentage point higher than in the April 2018 WEO for 2019).

    “This is buoyed by the impact of recovering oil production and prices,” the report indicated.

    It also said that inflation pressures in sub-Saharan Africa had broadly softened, with annual inflation projected to drop to 8.6 per cent in 2018 and 8.5 per cent in 2019, from 11 per cent in 2017.

    “For Nigeria, inflation is projected to fall to 12.4 per cent in 2018, from 16.5 per cent in 2017 and to rise to 13.5 per cent in 2019.

    The report said that global growth was projected at 3.7 per cent for 2018-19, which is 0.2 percentage point lower for both years than was forecast in April.

    “In United States, momentum is still strong as fiscal stimulus continues to increase.

    “However, the forecast for 2019 has been revised down due to recently announced trade measures, including the tariffs imposed on 200 billion dollars of US imports from China.”

    The IMF, however, advised countries to foster cooperation and work together to tackle challenges that extend beyond their borders.

    It said cooperative efforts were also essential to complete the financial regulatory reform agenda, strengthen international taxation, enhance cyber security and tackle corruption.

    It said that to strengthen the potential for higher and more inclusive growth, all countries should grasp the opportunity to adopt structural reforms and policies that raised productivity and ensure broad based gains.

    The IMF also advised that low-income developing countries should improve on their convergence prospects.

    It explained that continued progress towards the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was imperative to foster greater economic security and better living standards for a rising share of the world’s population.

    “Given their generally high levels of public indebtedness, low-income developing countries need to make decisive progress to strengthen their fiscal positions while prioritising well-targeted measures to reduce poverty.

    “They must also boost the resilience of their financial systems,” it said.

  • Ebonyi soccer fans remember Okwaraji after 29 years

    Football fans in Ebonyi have extolled the patriotism and unique character of the late Super Eagles midfield maestro, Sam Okwaraji, 29 years after his demise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former Eintratch Frankfurt of Germany star suddenly collapsed and died on Aug. 12, 1989 during an “Italia 90” World Cup qualifier against Angola, at the National Stadium, Lagos.

    The fans, who spoke to NAN on Sunday in Abakaliki, alleged that in spite of the nation’s football authority’s erasing Okwaraji’s memory in its activities, fans across Ebonyi, Nigeria and Africa still remember him.

    Obinna Nwankpa, a defunct Ebonyi Angels striker, recalled with nostalgia the events which made Aug. 12 unforgettable in the annals of the nation’s soccer history.

    “I was inside the `main bowl’ on that fateful day and most fans due to the tension generated by the encounter, did not notice when Okwaraji slumped.

    “It was a fellow midfielder, Ademola Adeshina’s hysterical shouts on the referee and the medical team for attention on Okwaraji that drew players and spectators’ attention as life was draining from him,” he said.

    Eche Ezechukwu, a former Golden Eaglets Striker, said that Okwaraji’s unique lifestyle motivated him to pursue his soccer career.

    “Okwaraji remains the only Nigerian player who paid for his flight expenses whenever on national duties and truly saw wearing the national colours as an honour.

    “He remains in death, a role model for Nigerian players because the sort of tension and grief generated by his death in the country that day, had not been experienced till date,” he said.

    Jude Asokuh, who claimed to be Okwaraji’s relation, lamented that several promises made to the Okwaraji family by the federal and some state governments had not been fulfilled.

    “The governments only erected several statues of Okwaraji at the National Stadium, Lagos and other places, organised activities in his name within that period, while decorating his grave at his hometown Umudioka, Orlu in Imo.

    “Several financial among other promises made to his family were not fulfilled and football authorities in the country cannot even maintain the simple task of keeping his memory alive,” he lamented.

    A businessman, Chief Orji Ndah, collaborated Asokuh’s assertion, saying that such treatment for departed and retired ex-internationals accounted for the non-patriotic disposition of active footballers.

    Read also: Comedian Ali Baba gives relationship goals

    “Players have families to cater for and future to secure and this make them demand for financial commitments for national duties because they will be forgotten immediately they retire or die.

    “It is shameful, for instance, that the football authorities no longer remember Rashidi Yekini, a player revered around the continent and whose goals brought honour to the country and joy to several homes,” he said.

    A civil servan, Ifeoma Anukam, urged Nigerian footballers to have alternative careers as exemplified by Okwarji.

    “The late Okwaraji, in spite of his busy football schedules, was an international lawyer and possessed degrees in several disciplines, a situation that could have alternatively secured his future if he was still alive,” she said.

  • South African, Angolan leaders to visit Zimbabwe Wednesday

    South African, Angolan leaders to visit Zimbabwe Wednesday

    President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and his Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenco, will travel on Wednesday to Zimbabwe, where 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe is under growing pressure to resign, South Africa’s state broadcaster said.

    Zuma, chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), deployed a special envoy to Zimbabwe in light of the developments regarding Mugabe.

    The envoy, who started in Angola, was accompanied by Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister Bongani Bongo.

    “The Special Envoys were sent to the Republic of Angola to see President Lourenco, Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security to brief him on the situation,” the presidency said in a statement.

    Mugabe and his family have been under military guard as the army also took over the state broadcaster earlier, in what many have described as a coup.

    “President Zuma spoke to President Robert Mugabe earlier today who indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine,” the Presidency said.

    It also said South Africa was in contact with the Zimbabwean Defence Force.

    Zuma reiterated his earlier calls for calm and restraint in Zimbabwe.

    Meanwhile, parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda said he received a motion to impeach and the parliament would adjourn to a hotel to start the proceedings on Tuesday afternoon.

    Zimbabwean law says a joint sitting can take place anywhere.

    Thousands or people demonstrated outside parliament urging Mugabe to quit.

    Mugabe led Zimbabwe’s liberation war and is hailed as one of Africa’s founding fathers and a staunch supporter of the drive to free neighbouring South Africa from apartheid in 1994.

    Many people in Africa and beyond also say he has damaged Zimbabwe’s economy, democracy and judiciary by staying in power for too long and has used violence to crush perceived political opponents.

  • ACCW: First Bank BC finishes second in Group A

    ACCW: First Bank BC finishes second in Group A

     

    Nigeria’s representatives, First Bank Basketball Club have finished second in Group A to set up a quarter final clash against Kenya Port Authority (KPA) at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Luanda, Angola.

     In the final group game, the FIBA Africa Zone Three representatives, also known as the Elephant Girls, fought brilliantly but ended up losing 79-92 to defending champions and host, Inter Club.

    The four quarter scores were 21-24, 17-26, 15-24, 26-18 for a cumulative score of 79-92 in favour of the Angolans. The Nigerian girls who were down with over 25 points in the third quarter, fought back brilliantly to reduce the deficit to nine points, but lacked the final push to upset the host.

    After the gruelling encounter against Inter Club, the Nigerian team will now shift their focus to the quarter final game against KPA tomorrow. The Kenyans finished third in group B and will take a on Nigerian side they have never beaten at the ACCW.

    The odds favour First Bank and a win against KPA will draw the Nigerian closer to its ambition of winning the title.

  • ACCW: First Bank BC records third consecutive victory

    ACCW: First Bank BC records third consecutive victory

  • ACCW: First Bank beat Equity in opening game

    ACCW: First Bank beat Equity in opening game