The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CHAN

  • Keshi admits: CHAN Eagles not Nigeria’s best

    Keshi admits: CHAN Eagles not Nigeria’s best

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi claims that the Glo Nigeria Premier League has better players than the ones he has at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Nigeria overcame an opening day defeat against Mali to rout both Mozambique and a strong South Africa side. The Eagles then secured a hard-fought quarterfinal win against Morocco, after being 3-0 down in the first half, but Keshi says this is not even his best squad.

    “The ones that are here are just fortunate to be here because there are better players back home in Nigeria that could have been here but we had no time to get them into the system,” Keshi told KickOffNigeria.com.

    The coach however gave credit to the players in his squad, saying they had not disappointed him.

    “But I thank God with what I have here. These players are very disciplined, they work hard and I just want them to have fun, play without pressure and be happy so that they can get experience of playing at a high level in Africa.”

    “All we are here to do is enjoy ourselves, have fun and be happy. Pressure? Nothing like that.

  • Libya into first Chan semifinal

    Libya into first Chan semifinal

    A 4-2 penalty shoot-out win sent Libya into their first-ever CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN)- semifinal after 120 minutes of action against Gabon at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday finished 1-1.

    The first 45 minutes was a rather timid affair in attack as both teams kept it tight at the back. Consequently, chances on goal were few and far between.

    Gabon started the brighter of the two teams and created the first chance of the game in the second minute after Romuald Ewouta Entsitsigui made his way down the left flank before cutting inside and seeing his powerful shot from just outside the box well-saved.

    Gabon were at it again in the 14th minute and a little unlucky not to take the lead as Samson Mbingui struck the crossbar with a 22-yard free-kick.

    The rest of the half saw both teams squandering possession as neither could hold onto the ball long enough to sustain a period of pressure that would create a chance on goal.

    The half ended 0-0.

    The start of the second 45 saw Gabon with the lion’s share of possession in front of the Libyan goal, but it was at the other end of the park where we saw the game’s opening goal.

    In the 50th minute, very much against the run of play, a swift counter-attack by Libya saw Abdelsalam Omar through on goal and he showed composure under pressure as he lobbed the on-rushing goalkeeper from just outside the box, 1-0.

    Gabon tried to fight their way back into the match, but could not create any decent openings in front of goal as Libya’s defence held firm for the large part.

    Finally, in the 72nd minute Gabon were rewarded for their pressure when Fetori pulled Lionel Yackouya down inside the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

    Daniel Cousin then restored parity for Gabon with a cool finish, 1-1.

    Neither team could find the winner as the match ended 1-1 and moved into 30 minutes of extra-time.

    Still, neither side could break the deadlock as the game finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of action and moved into the lottery of the penalty shoot-out.

    Libya were perfect in the shoot-out and did not miss a spot-kick as they ran out 4-2 winners on penalties.

  • Uzoenyi CHAN MVP-in-waiting

    Uzoenyi CHAN MVP-in-waiting

    Ejike Uzoenyi is closing in on being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after he scooped his third man of the match award Saturday.

    Like Nigeria, the Enugu Rangers left winger got off to a slow start, but he has now proved that form may be temporary, but class is permanent.

    While Sunday Mba opted to take the Euro deal on the table and so skipped CHAN, the 21-year-old Uzoenyi may have taken the wiser decision to showcase his talents that will now most certainly get him another shot at football in Europe.

    He and Kano Pillars playmaker Rabiu Ali have carried this team to the last four of the tournament.

    His trickery on the left wing and his goals have seen him shine against Mozambique and South Africa, where he was only denied a hat-trick by the crossbar.

    And he crowned another sterling display at the CHAN with a master-class showing against Morocco on Saturday.

    Several other players have caught the eye at this championship reserved for players featuring in their respective domestic leagues.

    They include Bernard Parker (South Africa), El Ouadi, Mouhssine Iajour and Abdessamad Rafik of Morocco, Kuda Mahachi (Zimbabwe) and Yahaya Mohammed (Ghana).

    The Enugu Rangers left winger, who was on the squad to the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, is also a goal away from equalling the four-goal tally of leading scorer Bernard Parker of South Africa.

    Tresor Mputu of DR Congo and Zouheir Dhaouadi from Tunisia won the CHAN MVP in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

  • Jonathan hails Eagles’ stunning victory over Morocco

    Jonathan hails Eagles’ stunning victory over Morocco

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday congratulated the Super Eagles on the team exhilarating come-back victory over the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Super Eagles rallied from three goals down to beat the North Africans 4-3, after extra time, to reach the semi-finals of 2014 CHAN in Cape Town, South Africa.
    A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan applauded the indomitable spirit with which the Super Eagles fought back to claim victory.
    “President Jonathan applauds the Super Eagles’ spirit from being three goals down to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and win a most memorable victory with almost the last kick of the match,” he said.
    Abati said the President commended the courage, patriotism, determination and dedication to national service exhibited by the Super Eagles.
    He said the President urged the team to maintain their exemplary commitment to national duty until ultimate victory in the continental soccer championship for home-based players was achieved.
    Abati said the President assured the team and its handlers that they would continue to receive the fullest support possible from the Federal Government and Nigerians.
    The President urged them to strive to add the African Nations Championship trophy to the African Nations Cup which Nigeria won last year.
    He joined all other patriotic and proud Nigerians in praying for the success of the team in the semi-finals and final of the tournament.

  • CHAN is a big experience —Alampasu

    CHAN is a big experience —Alampasu

    World Cup winning U-17 goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu, says his experience has been enriched in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Alampasu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Cape Town, South Africa, on Thursday that his outing with the Super Eagles was rewarding compared to the games played in the U-17 team. He, however, said playing with the “big boys’’ was demanding.

    “I feel good to be here because it’s like a big experience for me to be among the big boys. I knew I would come here but, I did not know it was going to be fast like this. But I am so happy to be here.

    “There is difference between the U-17 team and the big boys because everything here is so high than the U-17 team. Many things, the experience that I have got here is different than the U-17; so, I know it’s going to help me a lot in my future.’’

    Alampasu said he had enjoyed cooperation of his senior colleagues in the team, whom he said, had encouraged him to meet the high standards in the camp. He said the experience gathered from CHAN might assist him meet the rigours of the National U-20 team.

  • Keshi Roars: It’s victory or nothing

    Keshi Roars: It’s victory or nothing

    • Studies tape of Morocco

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi has expressed optimism on the ability of his boys to outrun the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the quarter final match of the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) today.

    The Big Boss who spoke with SportingLife from Capetown, South Africa on Friday, said he has studied the video tapes of all the matches played by the North Africans, and has discovered that they are very good in counter attacks and make good use of the wings effectively.

    “We have seen those things and the boys have been told on what to do to checkmate them. We would be able to march them in every departments of the game,” Keshi said.

    The former International said he has advised his boys to maintain a hundred percent concentration and ensure that they take their chances as they come. “I would not want the match to drag into penalty, because penalty is anybody’s game. Though, we have perfected our penalty kicks, but I would not want it to get to that stage,” he added.

    Nigeria finished runners up in Group A with Six points while Morocco finished tops in Group B with Five points.

  • Nigeria’s lethal attack vs Morocco’s meanest defence

    Nigeria’s lethal attack vs Morocco’s meanest defence

    Today’s CHAN quarterfinal between Nigeria and Morocco will see the best attack up against the meanest defence in the tournament.

    Nigeria have the best attack at CHAN having scored nine goals at the end of the first round, while Morocco have meanest defence marshalled by goalkeeper Nadir Lamyarghri as they have only let in two goals thus far.

    Both countries are making their CHAN debut, but they have met 18 times at full international with Morocco winning eight, Nigeria winning six, while four matches have ended in draws.

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said he hopes his team will be playing the CHAN final on February 1.

    “We will continue to work hard to put smile on the faces of Nigerians,” said Keshi, who clocked 52 on Thursday.

    “Our aim is to take every game as they come and hopefully we will be here until the first of next month.”

    He said Morocco will be difficult opponents.

    “They are a very good side. And we will expect a difficult game, but we will see how it goes,” he said.

    Defender Azubuike Egwuekwe told MTNFootball.com the team are aware of what is expected of them against the North Africans.

    “Actually, at the beginning, we did not start well, and then we had to talk to each other. We had to encourage each other that we did not come here to make up the teams that came here to represent their countries. We are here to win the trophy,” he declared.

    “We know Morocco is a good side, we too are a good side. For me, I always go to a match with a positive mind that I am going to win.’’

    Kano Pillars midfielder Shehu Abdullahi said Keshi’s pep talk has helped to raise the team’s performance in the tournament.

    “He always came to us to encourage us, ‘I believe in you’, he always encourages us and so we will not let him down,” he revealed.

    Barnabas Imenger told MTNFootball.com that they are ready to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    “This is an important game for us, we need to win to progress to the next stage. We are ready for the game and we will put smiles on faces of Nigerians,” Imenger promised.

    Cheering news for Nigeria is that all 23 players were involved in the training on Thursday at the Hamilton Rugby Football pitch of the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

    Injury-hit Benjamin Francis, Ikenna Paul, Barnabas Imenger were fully involved in the session that lasted two hours.

    They are expected to be further galvanised by a $100,000 cash promised them by the country’s sports ministry to win today.

    Morocco, on the other hand, are not just about a solid defence as they parade two dangerous forwards in Mouhcine Iajour and Abdessamad Rafik.

    They eliminated defending champions Tunisia to qualify for 2014 CHAN.

    And like most North African teams, they rely on fast counter attacks to catch their opponents napping.

    Kick-off is 4pm Nigerian time today.

     

  • Chan Eagles will beat Morocco — Oshaniwa

    Chan Eagles will beat Morocco — Oshaniwa

    Ashdod Fc of Isreal and former Sharks FC of Porthacourt defender Juwon Oshaniwa has charged the CHAN Eagles to give their all against Morocco as the two teams square up in today’s first quarter-final in the ongoing CHAN tournament in South Africa. Oshaniwa told brilafm.net that he believes the team will emerge victorious and make Nigerians proud.

    “They should just go out there and give all they’ve got and adhere to every instruction given to them by the technical crew and I pray at the end of the day they will come out victorious and make the country proud,” he enthused.

  • All hands on deck to triumph —Green

    All hands on deck to triumph —Green

    As Nigeria, making her first appearance at the ongoing 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN), take on Morocco this afternoon inside the Cape Town Stadium, South Africa in the first quarter-final tie of the competition, chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation’s Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green has stressed that coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi knows his opponents, recognizes exactly what is at stake and will deliver.

    According to Green, all hands are on deck as Nigeria is expected to win the match and ultimately land the CHAN trophy at the end of the tournament.

    “We just want to take it one after the other and Keshi knows their style of play very well and also he is very passionate about the game; he loves Nigeria and he loves his players,” he said.

    “Keshi has set a very high standard for himself which we also have set for ourselves in the federation and Keshi will just key into our aspiration to making sure that he gets all the best out of every competition he enters.”

  • CHAN Eagles promised $100,000 to beat Morocco

    CHAN Eagles promised $100,000 to beat Morocco

    Nigeria will be $100,000 richer if they beat Morocco today to qualify for the semi-final of CHAN, officials have disclosed.

    In an official statement from the National Sports Commission (NSC), sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi said he hopes this cash boost will propel the team past Morocco in Cape Town this afternoon.

    “This is a special fund meant to encourage the players to give their all. It is besides their normal allowance and bonus,” the sports minister said.

    “I am very impressed with their performance so far. As we all can see, the team has been improving with each match, and it is our desire that they continue to do very well and reach the final. This incentive will hopefully further boost the morale of both the players and coaches and help the team to triumph over Morocco.”

    Nigeria are making only their debut at this tournament. They qualified for the last eight after they beat hosts South Africa 3-1 and Mozambique 4-2 to finish second in Group A.

    Morocco, who are also making their CHAN debut, topped Group B ahead of Zimbabwe.