The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Brazil 2014

  • Mexico friendly to decide World Cup squad – Amokachi

    Mexico friendly to decide World Cup squad – Amokachi

    Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi, has said the March 5 friendly against Mexico would shape the country’s call-ups for the World Cup training camp.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria takes on Mexico in Atlanta, Georgia, in the only FIFA free window available before the World Cup in June.

    The African champions had called up three uncapped players, Belgium-based striker Imoh Ezekiel and Michael Uchebo and Ramon Azeez from La Liga side Almeria.

    The team handlers have also recalled skipper Joseph Yobo and Juwon Oshaniwa, while four players from the domestic scene were also picked.

    “The World Cup is a long way from now. We still have five months, we still have a game to play in America, then after that we will know what the Eagles team would look like,” Amokachi told MTNFootball.com.

    The former Everton of England striker also spoke on Nigeria chances at Brazil 2014, saying Africa’s flag bearers as a whole stand a good chance to excel.

    “It’s football, you never know what would happen. We are going to Brazil as the dark horses, you know the Africa has never gone beyond the quarterfinals, but with the kind of players not only Nigeria but the Africa representatives have, why not probably 2014 would be a good year for the African continent?” he asked.

     

  • Keshi opens ‘World Cup door’ for Odemwingie

    Keshi opens ‘World Cup door’ for Odemwingie

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has said the door to the world Cup is open for Osaze Odemwingie, but insisted on a talk with the striker.

    Keshi and Odemwingie were involved in a highly publicized row during which the Stoke City striker took to social media Twitter to blast the Eagles handler after he was sensationally left out of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations training camp in Portugal.

    A bitter Osaze will go on to quit international football, but later rescinded the decision.

    “Keshi has said the door is still open for Odemwingie, but he will need to talk with the player before he could recall him to his team,” a top official informed MTNFootball.com

    “He said this while defending his squad list for the Mexico friendly before the technical committee.

    “Some of the top officials at the meeting said they wish to be at the clear-the-air talk with Odemwingie.”

    Odemwingie last played for Nigeria two years ago in a 2013 AFCON qualifier in Rwanda after which he went on a tirade when he was substituted.

     

     

  • BRAZIL 2014: Dike targets World Cup spot

    BRAZIL 2014: Dike targets World Cup spot

    Nigeria’s Toronto FC forward Bright Dike hopes to make the final 23-man squad for the World Cup tournament in Brazil after been selected for the friendly match against Mexico next month in United States of America.

    The 27-year-old is ready for the start of new season in the United States as he has been working hard since the end of last season in December. “[I’ve had] a lot, a lot of work,” he said.

    “It wasn’t really an offseason for me, I got a couple of practices abroad [with Celtic], I was with Nigeria most of the offseason so it was definitely a good offseason for me.

    ”I was fortunate enough to get my first official goal against Italy so that brings great confidence going into this season.

    “[Keshi] said the last camp went well for me and hopefully I keep getting called up and eventually make the team for the World Cup.”

    Dike played in just five league matches last season due to ACL injury that kept him sidelined for months, but will have to work hard again to win place in the starting XI, as Toronto signed two new strikers – Gilberto and Jermain Defoe, who will compete with Dike for the place in attack. “You know, Defoe is a world-class player and any time you play alongside a player like that, it’s a good person to pick his brain and learn from. I’m looking forward to that,” Dike added.

    So far, the Nigeria international is off to a fine start in preseason, scoring against D.C. United in a practice match in Florida. Will it be enough to get him on the plane to Brazil? At this point, it will be his play with Toronto that will ultimately make the case.

    “All you can do is keep playing your best and make sure you’re getting better every day,” Dike told mlssoccer.com.

  • Brazil 2014; Igiebor roars: Eagles fear no foe

    Brazil 2014; Igiebor roars: Eagles fear no foe

    Super Eagles and Real Betis midfielder, Nosa Igiebor is sure the Super Eagles are not afraid of any team in the world.

    With less than 120 days to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the former Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel midfielder also opened up on the team’s readiness for the mundial and stressed that the Stephen Keshi tutored-side are mentally, psychologically and physically motivated to take on any team in Brazil.

    ”We are ready for any team, we are not scared of anybody and for us, we are prepared mentally and Psychologically,” added the former Warri Wolves ace told Lagos-based Brila FM.

  • Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup: SWAN charges Keshi, NFF on teamwork

    Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup: SWAN charges Keshi, NFF on teamwork

    The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) Lagos chapter, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, to close ranks and uphold the spirit of teamwork in order to steady-foot Nigeria’s preparation for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    The call by Lagos SWAN is in reaction to on-going conflict on the appointment of an assistant coach in addition to Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmi to beef up the technical crew of team.

    SWAN observed in the statement signed by its chairman, Fred Edoreh, and secretary, Emma Njoku, that “whereas Keshi is insisting on the reinstatement of Sylvanus Okpalla while the NFF is insisting that Okpalla remains sacked as a matter of disciplinary action for alleged insubordination, what is required is for both bench and management to approach the matter with sobriety and not grandstanding.”

    SWAN pointed out that the nation is disturbed about this discourse and how it will rub off on our World Cup campaign and urged the parties to listen to each other. “We are informed that both Keshi and the NFF agree on the need for an assistant especially in the area of training. We are further assured that Keshi has been given liberty to seek the assistant, local or foreign, by himself but within the prisms of affordability and acceptability. The contention is whether the NFF should reverse itself on the issue of discipline with regards to Sylvanus Okpalla as Keshi is said to be insisting. We believe that the conflict can be resolved with a sense of mutual understanding and respect between employee and employer. We are in no doubt that the NFF would and should give Keshi all necessary support to succeed, but it is also crucial that the institutional authority and discipline within the organisation of the NFF be respected and maintained, without which it will be condemned to a house corrosive disorder with potential ripples into other grades of our male and female national teams. We therefore advise both parties to understand each other and work out a common ground before it is too late and do not allow the issue to degenerate into a major distraction.”

    According to SWAN, there are basic assurances which makes the matter a lot simpler to resolve. “While there have been fears that talks about a foreign technical assistant might just be a ploy on the part of the NFF to bring in a foreign technical adviser above Keshi, we are assured from our inquiries that the football house is not contemplating any such thing which they very well know holds no guarantee and have amounted to no reasonable effect over the years. With this fear satisfactorily assuaged, the issue of seeking an assistant coach can not therefore become another bone in our neck.”

  • Brazil 2014 fifa World Cup: Ambrose set for intense fight for shirt

    Brazil 2014 fifa World Cup: Ambrose set for intense fight for shirt

    • Says CHAN Eagles look good to make squad

    Celtic of Scotland and Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose has predicted an intense battle for an inclusion into Nigeria’s 2014 World Cup squad, because of the dazzling forms of Nigerian players both home and abroad since last year.

    Ambrose reasoned that Nigeria’s performance at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) has opened the door for home-based players to fight for shirts in the team, a situation which he said was good for the country’s preparations for the World Cup holding in Brazil this June.

    “Honestly speaking, I don’t think any player is sure of a starting place in the team for the 2014 World Cup now, because there is going to be a hot contention for making the squad as a result of heartwarming performances from Nigerian players plying their trade at home and abroad.

    Nigerian players are really doing well in Europe since the leagues began and some that have not been called have been playing well for the coach to look their way. This is very good for the team and I have redoubled my efforts to play regularly for Celtic and help the club win laurels. This is the only way I can keep my place in both club and national team,” Ambrose disclosed.

    The former captain of the home-based Eagles, however, showered encomiums on the CHAN bronze medal-winning Eagles for sending signals to the world that Nigeria has one of the best local leagues in Africa, due to their fight back against Morocco in the quarter-finals before bowing on penalty shoot-outs to runners-up Ghana.

    “If not for ill luck the team could have qualified for the final and you can see that the Eagles lost via penalty which is a game of luck too. All the same the players have proved to be quality legs in the country.

    “A special kudos goes to the Chief Coach (Stephen Keshi) for leading the team to what I believe is a successful outing. The reason being that my colleagues were able to tell the whole world that they can hold their own in African football and the coach must be praised for instilling confidence in them. I was particularly thrilled with the way we fought back from 3-0 down in first half of the quarter-final match against Morocco to win the game 4-3. That was amazing, thrilling and showed clearly the die-hard spirit of a typical Nigerian player.

    “I am happy that we have more players who can join us from the home front to fight for World Cup shirts in the team. The stiffer the competition for shirts the better for the team because there will be no complacency from any quarter. Everybody will have to work very hard and sweat to earn a place in the squad”, Ambrose told SportingLife from Scotland yesterday.

  • Brazil 2014: ‘Supporters’ Club needs N800m’

    Brazil 2014: ‘Supporters’ Club needs N800m’

    The President-General of the Nigeria Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, has told SportingLife that the club is desperately in need of N800m to foot the travel expenses of at least 800 supporters to Brazil to cheer the Super Eagles at the 2014 World Cup holding from June this year.

    Ladipo, who revealed that members of the club personally sponsored their trips to South Africa for the just concluded Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), said the club needs the support of the Federal Government, well meaning Nigerians, as well as corporate bodies to make their dream of storming Brazil in large numbers a reality.

    “The Supporters Club will need a minimum of between N800, 000 and N1 million per person to go to Brazil. This will include the air fee, accommodation and match tickets. But I am confirming to Nigerians that we will be there.

    “We are expecting at least 300 supporters from Nigeria while at least 500 will come from other parts of the world to join us in Brazil for the World Cup. So, the Supporters Club is looking for nothing less than N800 million to be able to prosecute this World Cup”, Ladipo revealed.

    He also defended the club’s major sponsor Globacom for not sponsoring the trip all alone.

    “We have an agreement with Globacom, our major sponsor for a particular amount to be paid to us at the beginning of the year, for the whole year. If that money falls short of our expenses we have to look for money to be able to do whatever we want to do.

    “It is right now for the (Federal) Government to know that the Supporters’ Club supporting the various national teams is a Nigerian project. It is not the Supporters’ Club project.

    “We are supporting these teams on behalf of Nigeria. We have always followed the teams to contribute our own quota to the meaningful development of the game of football and the good image enhancement of our dear country Nigeria. So, it is a Nigerian project”, he argued.

  • Gabriel Reuben: I hope to make Brazil 2014

    Gabriel Reuben: I hope to make Brazil 2014

    Nigerian midfielder, Gabriel Reuben has said he hopes to be at the World Cup in June after he moved to Belgium to save his career.
    This followed a rather forgettable spell at Scottish club Kilmarnock.
    In an interview with Waasland-Beveren TV, Reuben also spoke of his target to be better than Manchester City star Yaya Toure, who he has been widely compared with.

    How would you describe or rate yourself as a player?

    I don’t like to talk about my performance or rate myself. I leave that to the fans who watch me play, they are the ones who can judge my performance. Mine is to enter the pitch and put in my best with full concentration.

     

    Many people compare you with Yaya Toure, what do you have to say about that?

    Yaya is a good and fantastic player. I have heard people comparing me with him. I will work hard to be better than him by God’s grace.

     

    How do you feel coming to Waasland-Beveren?

    I am excited and feel happy to join this team, I am happy to change my environment and the conditions I met here are good for me.

     

    What do you think of the club?

    The team is good, they are so friendly and accommodating. They accepted me well.

     

    Everyone thought you would sign for Tottenham, why the change?

    I was there at Tottenham Hotspur for trials, I was training with them. I put everything in the hand of God, then that his will should be done.

     

    Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup is close, are you thinking of getting a chance to play for Nigeria there?

    Yes, the chance to play for Nigeria at the World Cup will be possible with God. Nigeria has good players. If it is my time to play at the World Cup in Brazil, I will make the team. I will be working hard and pray to God to make it.

     

    What are your targets with Waasland-Beveren?

    To do my best to make the fans, coaches and management happy and get to play as many games as possible. That is what every footballer needs to improve and succeed.

  • Keshi to recall Haruna, Ike Uche

    Keshi to recall Haruna, Ike Uche

    Lukman Haruna and Ikechukwu Uche are to be recalled to the Super Eagles ahead of the World Cup in Brazil, officials have said.

    And both players could well get their chance as early as next month’s pre-World Cup friendly against Mexico in United States.

    Dynamo Kiev midfielder Haruna has been superb for his Ukrainian club after a recent injury setback, while Villarreal striker Uche has scored 12 goals in La Liga.

    However, it is left to be seen whether a hamstring injury suffered by Uche last week may not stop him from the Mexico match.

    Haruna last played for Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, while Uche has not been involved with the national team since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations also in South Africa.

    MTNFootball.com also gathered that several other players who were not part of the qualifiers for Brazil 2014, but have been doing well at their various clubs in Europe will also be considered by Stephen Keshi.

    “My team will be open to any Nigerian player who is doing well,” maintained Keshi.

    The Eagles will resume training camp by the end of the month ahead of the friendly against Mexico on March 5.

     

  • NFF picks Houston for World Cup

    NFF picks Houston for World Cup

    African champions Nigeria will train in Houston, United States, for the 2014 World Cup, top officials have announced.

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has proposed the team train in either Miami or Houston for the World Cup, but top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official, Chris Green, has now disclosed the country has settled for Houston.

    “Nigeria will train for the World Cup in Houston,” Green said.

    “We want to make a statement at our fifth World Cup and so we have to prepare adequately.”

    MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria will open the training camp on May 25.

    Nigeria will also face Mexico in a World Cup warm-up in Houston on March 5.

    Green also said the team plans four other friendlies before playing Iran in the first match on June 16.

    Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina are the other teams in Group F.