The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Burkina Faso

  • Super Eagles is Yobo’s team -Enyeama

    Super Eagles is Yobo’s team -Enyeama

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, will step aside and allow defender Joseph Yobo lift the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title should Nigeria defeat Burkina Faso in Sunday’s final, SuperSport.com reports.

    Yobo has lost his place in the Nigerian starting 11 following strong performances from Godfrey Oboabona, Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose and Kenneth Omeruo in the team’s last four matches in the competition.

    It is highly unlikely that Yobo will start Sunday’s final against the Stallions but Enyeama said he will not hesitate to step aside and allow Yobo lift the AFCON trophy in the event of a Nigerian victory.

    “Jay (Joseph Yobo) is the captain and if we win on Sunday, and I know we will win, he will just go out there and pick his cup,” SuperSport.com quoted Enyeama as saying on Thursday.

    Enyeama then stressed that he was not the Nigerian captain but was merely holding brief for the Fenerbahce defender who remains the leader of the Super Eagles.

    “I am not the captain; I am merely putting on the (arm) band. Yobo is the man and he deserves to lift the trophy if we win and we will win.

    “He has served Nigeria all these years and will lift his cup on Sunday,” he concluded.

    The game between Nigeria and Burkina Faso will be played at the First National Bank (FNB) Stadium, Johannesburg on Sunday from 7pm.

     

  • AFCON: Keshi sets sights on Ethiopia

    AFCON: Keshi sets sights on Ethiopia

     

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has said the team will now focus on the final Group C tie against Ethiopia on Tuesday.

    Nigeria and Zambia battled to a 1-1 draw on Friday.

    The Nigerians again could not defend their lead as they allowed defending champions to fight back and cancel out Emmanuel Emenike’s 57th minute opener on Friday.

    The two teams have recorded two points apiece in as many matches, while Burkina Faso which trashed Ethiopia 4-0 in Friday’s second match leads with four points.

    Ethiopia has only one point from the same number of matches.

    “We wanted the three points on Friday with due respect to Zambia, they are a great team and have been together for the past four years and also they are the defending champions.

    “All the same, I’m happy with the result.

    “We just have to get ahead and forge ahead against a very good Ethiopia team,” MTNFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying on the team’s last match slated for next Tuesday.

     

  • AFCON: Emenike leads Eagles’ attack against Burkina Faso

    AFCON: Emenike leads Eagles’ attack against Burkina Faso

    Russia-based striker Emmanuel Emenike is set to lead the Super Eagles charge for goals against Burkina Faso Monday night in Nelspruit, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Emenike is preferred to the prolific Ikechukwu Uche, who was the top scorer for Nigeria with three goals in the qualifying tournament for the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

    The Spartak Moscow centre forward has struggled to fire the goals in a green-and-white shirt since he made his long-awaited debut against Sierra Leone in Lagos in February 2011.

    However, Coach Stephen Keshi rates him very highly, even tipping him to match the exploits of the country’s most prolific international striker the late Rashidi Yekini.

    His power will stand him in good stead against the very physical Burkinabes.

    He is expected to profit from the quality wing play of Chelsea star Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa, while Mikel marshals a midfield that also includes Fegor Ogude and Nosa Igiebor.

    Vincent Enyeama will man the goal, while the defensive line up of Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, skipper Joseph Yobo and Godfrey Oboabona will strive to prevent the Burkinabes from hitting the Eagles’ net.

     

  • AFCON: Burkina Faso vows to shock Nigeria

    AFCON: Burkina Faso vows to shock Nigeria

    Burkina Faso coach Paul Put said he hopes to upstage Nigeria in Monday’s Group C match in Nelpsruit to get off to a winning start.

    Nigeria has not lost to the Stallions in six meetings.

    The Super Eagles has won four and drawn two of these matches, while both sides have clashed only once at the African Cup of Nations in 1978, when Burkina Faso was known as Upper Volta.

    Nigeria ran away with 4-2 victory in that encounter.

    Put said his team will go for a winning start against a Nigerian team known for its individual talent but has struggled to play as a team.

    “We need to win our first game at all costs to give us the confidence we need,” MTNFootball.com quoted the Belgium-born Put as saying on Sunday.

    “Nigeria has players playing in major championships such as in England and Italy, but having individually talented players does not necessarily mean the team is a great one.”

    Nigeria will still be favourites to win this game but both Eagles players Efe Ambrose and Ahmed Musa told MTNFootball.com they will not take Burkina Faso lightly because they wish to begin their campaign also on a winning note.

    “We are going for victory in our first game against Burkina Faso. It is very important to win it because it will put us on good footing,” said Musa, one of 17 players who are making their AFCON debut in South Africa

     

  • AFCON: Eagles won’t underrate Burkina Faso – Yobo

    AFCON: Eagles won’t underrate Burkina Faso – Yobo

    Captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, has warned Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia to expect tough confrontation, as the team will not underrate any team at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Nigeria will play its first game against Burkina Faso, and Yobo said he knows there are no more minnows in football, and will lead the squad out in full strength on Monday.

    “There are no more minnows in football.

    “We won’t underrate any team, but we will respect all teams and take one game at a time.

    “We have to take the game against Burkina faso and Ethiopia as serious as the final,” futaa.com quoted Yobo as saying on Wednesday.

    Nigeria will take on defending champions Zambia, before playing Ethiopia in the last group game.