The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Brazil 2014

  • Brazil 2014: Jonathan tips Eagles for victory

    Brazil 2014: Jonathan tips Eagles for victory

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Super Eagles will have a victorious outing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be staged in Brazil.

    The President expressed the optimism on Saturday in Paris, France in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and France 24 Radio.

    Jonathan was reacting to the groups draw for the preliminary stages of the World Cup tournament held in Costa do Sauipe, Bahia State, Brazil on Friday night.

    NAN reports that Nigeria emerged in Group F with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia.

    “In winning the World Cup, we are quite hopeful that Nigeria will do very well.

    “We have won the Olympic gold in soccer before, we have won under-17 thrice and we have been doing quite well in the U-20.

    “So, I believe and the world knows that Nigeria is a football nation even though we have not had the opportunity or luck of winning the World Cup; indeed no African country has won the World Cup,’’ he said.

    Jonathan added that the team would perform well, particularly at the preliminary stage of the tournament.

    “Within the zone that Nigeria will play, Argentina is a strong soccer nation but, Nigeria is also strong and I believe we will do well,’’ he said.

  • BRAZIL 2014: FIFA unveils new World Cup ball

    BRAZIL 2014: FIFA unveils new World Cup ball

    The ‘Brazuca’ is likely to be a huge improvement on its predecessor ‘Jabulani’, the 2010 World Cup’s official ball.

    The ‘Brazuca’ will be the official ball used during next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
    FIFA unveiled its official ball for the 2014 World Cup, which in 2012 was named ‘Brazuca’ following a public vote in Brazil which involved more than one million fans.
    The official match ball’s design is said to be “inspired by vibrant colours, passion and heritage of Brazil.” Its name is a term used by natives of the country, meaning ‘Brazilian’ or to describe the Brazilian way of life.
    The ball was unveiled during a spectacular 3D event held at the iconic Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro, but went through a rigorous two-and-a-half-year testing process which involved more than 600 of the world’s top players.
    Players and Adidas testimonials such as Lionel Messi, Iker Casillas, Bastian Schweinsteiger and former France international Zinedine Zidane were all involved in the process and have since signed off on its use for next year’s World Cup.
    Adidas say the technology used will “meet and exceed all FIFA metrics” and will “ensure top performance for every condition.”
    “A new structural innovation with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch. Brazuca has been thoroughly tested to meet and exceed all FIFA metrics for an official match ball, ensuring top performance for every condition,” an Adidas statement read.
  • Will it be Eagles vs Argentina again?

    Will it be Eagles vs Argentina again?

    Statistically, Nigeria have a good chance of clashing again with Argentina at next year’s World Cup. If so, what should we expect?

    Brazil 2014 will be Nigeria’s fifth trip to the World Cup, having also featured at the tournament in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010. And in those four previous outings, Nigeria have clashed with Argentina three times, while they have twice battled Bulgaria and Greece in the first round of the global tournament.

    The Eagles have lost all three meetings with La Albiceleste, who are again one of the eight seeded teams for next year’s World Cup.

    In 1994, the wile of Diego Maradona and the opportunistic Claudio Canniggia combined to wreck the Eagles 2-1. The South Americans were again victorious when both teams clashed at the 2002 World Cup.

    Argentina threw away several chances and goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu was at his best for the Eagles before a Gabriel Batistuta goal in the 63rd minute proved to be the difference between the two teams.

    Three years ago in South Africa, it was again the Nigeria goalkeeper, this time Vincent Enyeama, who denied Argentina more than a goal. But Nigeria will take their pound of flesh in a friendly in June 2011 when they won 4-1 in Abuja.

    A few months later, Argentina would again triumph 2-1 in another friendly in Bangladesh. CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa said drawing Argentina again would only bring out the best in the Super Eagles.

    “Argentina are big team no doubt but we are too. If we were in the same group for the World Cup, it would only bring out the best in us. We beat them before and we can still beat them,” Musa told MTNFootball.com.

    Celtic defender Efe Ambrose said: “Argentina are beatable again. It will be a good one for us if we drew Argentina because we won’t be scared. We are capable of beating them again,” he declared.

    For Brazil 2014, Argentina topped a marathon South American qualifying tournament with 32 points from 16 matches. They won nine, drew five and lost two matches.

    Nigeria, on the other hand, played a total of eight matches to reach Brazil. They won five and drew three matches. Like Nigeria, two-time world champions Argentina have recorded managerial changes since the last World Cup.

    In South Africa 2010 they were led by no other person than the great Diego Maradona, who was fired after they were ripped apart by Germany at the tournament.

    Maradona’s teammate from the World Cup-winning squad of 1986, Sergio Batista, will take over the team before he was also booted out for Alejandro Sabella in 2011 after the early exit of the country from the 2011 Copa America.

    The 59-year-old Sabella has been a long-time assistant of former Argentina coach Daniel Passarella and has posted a win rate of 61.29% since his appointment, winning 19, drawing eight and losing four matches.

    Sabella’s captain Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Pastore will be the men for Eagles to watch out for.

    Argentina will be playing next door, but their opponents will hope that the fierce rivalry that exists between them and host nation Brazil will translate to the local fans cheering them on instead.

    Nigeria’s confidence will be further boosted by the fact they will be at the World Cup as African champions, just it was at USA 1994.

  • World Cup: Nigeria must be realistic – Keshi

    World Cup: Nigeria must be realistic – Keshi

    … Rules out Iheanacho from Brazil 2014 squad

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has said Nigeria must be realistic about next year’s World Cup after top officials suggested a semi-final target for the team.

    The Super Eagles will go to Brazil as African champions, but the team had failed to go past the Round of 16 in previous four outings at the global soccer showpiece event.

    And Keshi has said ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw in Brazil that the tournament will be tough as all the finalists have a point to prove.

    “We have to be realistic because there are no small teams among the 32 going to Brazil, any of the team will be tough,” MTNFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying on Brila FM Radio.

    “We have no preference of any of the countries to be our group. All we need do is to prepare well for every team and take the games one after the other.

    “If we get Brazil or Uzbekistan or Malta as World Cup opponents, Nigerians will still worry.”

    “The country should continue to have confidence in the team, support the team, rather than pulling it down,” he added.

    Keshi, who is now two years on the job, said he does not expect the MVP from the recent U-17 World Cup Kelechi Iheanacho to be part of his plans for Brazil because he lacks the necessary experience.

    “Iheanacho is a good player, but he has to play in a team and gain league experience and not just perform in the U-17 World Cup,” he said.

     

     

  • Jonathan hails Eagles for qualifying for Brazil 2014

    Jonathan hails Eagles for qualifying for Brazil 2014

    •Tasks team to be first African team to lift World Cup

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the Super Eagles for beating Ethiopian team 2-0 to book a place at the 2014 World Cup finals billed for Brazil.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President applauded Super Eagles’ dogged and determined performance in the two-legged play-off against the Ethiopians.

    Noting that the Eagles will be playing at the World Cup Finals for the fifth time, he also commended the team’s performance in all the preceding qualifying matches and the consistent commitment and dedication of the players to building on their victory at this year’s African Nations Cup.

    The statement reads: “As the team and its handlers bask in the glory of being the first African country to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, President Jonathan urges them to rededicate themselves to excelling on the global stage and reaching for heights never previously attained by the country at the World Cup finals.”

    He believed that with the enormous pool of footballing talent available to the country, the Super Eagles can, with more hardwork, dedication, resilience and further honing of their skills and tactics, fulfill the national dream of being the first African Nation to win the World Cup.

    Jonathan assured the NFF and the team of the fullest possible support of the Federal Government and all Nigerians in their quest to win even greater glory for Nigeria in Brazil.