The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chile

  • Messi’s ban lifted after appeal to FIFA

    Messi’s ban lifted after appeal to FIFA

    Lionel Messi is free to represent Argentina in their World Cup qualifiers after his four-match international ban was overturned on appeal.

    The 29-year-old Barcelona forward was suspended for insulting an assistant referee during a 1-0 win over Chile in March.

    He missed one match,Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Bolivia.

    A FIFA appeal committee said his behaviour was reproachable, but the evidence was not sufficient.

    Messi would be available for matches against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru as Argentina fight to secure a place at next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.

    A fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (7,800 pound) was also lifted.

    During the Chile game, Messi was caught on camera venting his anger at an assistant who signalled he had committed a foul.

    He was not shown a card at the time.

    The FIFA appeal committee concluded that the evidence available was not sufficient to establish an infringement had occurred.

    “The appeal committee nevertheless underlines the importance of always showing respect to the match officials, stressing that such a principle is essential in football.

    “Any unsporting conduct that may be contrary to the principles of fair play cannot be accepted,” a statement.

  • Chile, Mexico clash in quarters

    Chile, Mexico clash in quarters

    Holders Chile booked their place in the quarterfinals on Tuesday while Argentina maintained their 100 percent start to the Copa America Centenario with an easy win over Bolivia.

    The tournament favorites, already assured of a quarterfinal berth after wins over Chile and Panama, wrapped up their Group D campaign with one-sided win at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.

    The victory sees Argentina reach the last eight as group winners, handing them what in theory should be a straightforward assignment against Venezuela in Foxborough on Saturday.

    The two-time world champions are determined to end a 23-year wait for a major title after suffering agonizing defeats in the finals of the 2014 World Cup and last year’s Copa America.

    Argentina coach Gerardo Martino elected to rest captain Lionel Messi after his devastating hat trick performance against Panama.

    But the Argentines were still far too strong for a feeble Bolivian team who were overwhelmed in a devastating opening period.

    The match was effectively settled within the first quarter of an hour, with Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela opening the scoring with a deflected free-kick in the 13th minute.

    Two minutes later China-based forward Ezequiel Lavezzi marked his comeback from injury with a goal, volleying home from close range after Gonzalo Higuain’s downward header.

    Central defender Victor Cuesta made it 3-0 just after the half-hour, diverting home Lavezzi’s low cross in the 32nd minute.

    With Messi coming on as a substitute at half-time, the game became a question of when or if the Barcelona superstar could grab a 54th international goal to equal Gabriel Batistuta’s longstanding scoring record.

    However despite Argentina’s dominance of possession — which reached 87 percent at one point — Messi was unable to add to his tally.

    In Tuesday’s other game, Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas both scored twice as Chile advanced with a 4-2 victory over Panama.

    Chile recovered from the shock of falling behind to a Miguel Camargo goal after only five minutes, with Vargas scoring twice before Arsenal’s Sanchez grabbed a third in the Group D game.

    Sanchez added his second in the 89th minute to complete the scoring.

    Chile will now face Mexico in the pick of the quarter-finals on Saturday.

    However they will be keen to iron out kinks in their defensive display which saw them concede two cheap goals.

    The Chileans were given a scare early on when Camargo gave the Panamanians an early lead. Chile defender Gonzalo Jara was the culprit, giving away possession with a lazy pass out of defense that allowed Panama to pounce.

    The ball arrived at Camargo’s feet and the midfielder let fly with a venomous low shot which Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo failed to grasp to leave Panama 1-0 up.

    Chile hit back quickly however, leveling through Vargas, who tapped in from close range after Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo could only half block a Sanchez shot.

    Two minutes before the break, Chile took the lead, Vargas heading in a cross from the left for 2-1.

    Five minutes into the second half, it was 3-1. Vargas picked out Sanchez with a lofted pass from one side of the penalty area to the other and the Arsenal star showed great technique to lash a volley into the roof of the net.

    Chile were jolted by a second Panama goal on 75 minutes, when Abdiel Arroyo headed in a free-kick from Ricardo Buitrago to make it 3-2 but finished on top to seal the win when Sanchez added his second.

  • Amuneke confident in Eaglets’ chances in Chile

    Amuneke confident in Eaglets’ chances in Chile

    •Says NFF will aid team’s flawless preparations for World Cup

    Golden Eaglets head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed his determination that he is convinced that the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) will make a near flawless arrangement for the cadet team ahead of the FIFA U17 World Cup slated for Chile in October this year.

    Nigeria are the defending champions after they defeated the then reigning champions, Mexico 3-0 in the final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup and they are under pressure to replicate same feat in Chile.

    The coach of the team, Amuneke in a chat with SportingLife said that they have started serious training in Katsina their near abode after sometime in Sokoto and that after practise sessions for some time they would be engaging in some friendly matches.

    He said they would start with games with teams within and around Katsina before they will take it to the next level and eventually travel out on training tour.

    Amuneke told SportingLife: “We are now in Katsina and we have started training very hard in anticipation of the World Cup in Chile. We have started our own and we are hoping that the NFF will do their own part too. We are confident that we are going to get good friendly matches to aid our preparations.

    “I am also convinced that the choice of Argentina for close camping exercises will be for our own good.”

    Amuneke has expressed delight with the choice of Argentina for the training tour adding that the country has similar weather condition as Chile who are billed to host the world.

    The Eaglets are in Group A alongside hosts, Chile, Croatia and USA and they will open their competition account with USA on October 17 at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago before games with Chile and Croatia on October 20 and 23 respectively at  Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar and Estadio Municipal Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo in that order.

    The competition in Chile starts from October 17 and ends on November 8.

  • NFF confident Eaglets will do well in Chile

    NFF confident Eaglets will do well in Chile

    General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi on Wednesday visited the Golden Eaglets at their Katsina Motel camp in Katsina, with a message of goodwill and support from the NFF Executive Committee, as the team continues preparations for this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Chile.

    Also on hand to encourage the team were NFF Board Members, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Ahmed Yusuf Fresh. Speaking to players and officials just before dinner, Sanusi harped on the team’s discipline while commending the technical and back-room staff for their commitment to the job.

    “I bring greetings to you on behalf of the NFF board led by the President, Amaju Pinnick and we have no doubt you would enjoy the best of hospitality here in Katsina,” began Sanusi. “But I want to remind you that without discipline, you cannot go far in your career and give your best.”

    Speaking further, he said the NFF has implicit confidence in the ability of the technical crew in picking   the best squad to represent the country in Chile, explaining to the players to give their level best.

    “I want you to know that no coach would overlook a good player and no coach wants to lose, so it is now left for you to do your best,” he said.”The officials you have with you are responsible and diligent persons because while in Niger Republic for the Africa Championship, I saw the kind of good job they did with the team and I believe they will be fair to all of you.”

    Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, who gave vote of thanks, said the Golden Eaglets would give a good account of themselves in Chile, adding that team selection had always been done without fear or favour.

  • Amuneke expects difficult game against hosts Chile

    Amuneke expects difficult game against hosts Chile

    • Impressed with new Eaglets

    Nigeria has been drawn against host nation Chile in Group A of the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup as the Eaglets attempt to win back to back titles-and become the second only country to do so at this level- but Chief Coach Emmanuel Amuneke suggests the fixture may not be as important as the first game against the USA.

    The Eaglets play Chile in the second group game 3 days after the tournament kicks off and while they will surely enjoy the greater support Amuneke says he expects to play some of the toughest games should Nigeria hope to achieve success.

    ” They (Chile) are very good but every team’s objective is to do well and even win the tournament. Chile are the host, they’ll have all the support of the home crowd behind them, but the most important for us now is to concentrate for the US game, in every World Cup the first game is very important. ”

    The Golden Eaglets Coach told www.footballlive.ng that in the main his concerns bother on not just winning but also the ability of the team to react positively to changes on the pitch , represent his tactics aright and work hard.

    ” You have to ensure you don’t lose because a win gives you confidence. But while am not overly concerned about the win I want to see my players display real discipline on the field.

    ”We’ve made it to the world cup and now we must work hard to make sure we achieve our set goals.”

    However, Amuneke says there’s need for synergy in every department of the team as the October kick off date for the World Cup draws near.

    Since the disappointment of the U17 Championship in Niger, several more players have come through to add some spine to the team and says the new legs have shown ‘some promise’.

    The team has been in camp near 6 months, Amuneke reckons his side has shown impressive quality up front but says his new task is to build a compact unit of players who will represent his game strategy in all situations on the pitch.

    ” We’re happy that most of the new boys are willing to play and have shown some promise. We’ve been scoring goals which is good for the team, but in football there are several departments in the team and my concern is how to bring cohesion,” Amuneke told www.footballlive.ng.

    ” People talk about the system of the game but that is merely about position,my concern is what to do on and off the ball, understanding why, where, who and all else that matters on the pitch.”

    Nigeria kicks off its title defense in Santiago against the USA on October 17.

  • Argentina, Chile on volcano alert

     

    The authorities in Argentina and Chile have issued an alert over increased activity at the Copahue volcano, which has begun spewing smoke and gas.

    BBC reports that many residents have already left the area as a precaution.

    An orange volcano alert, the second highest, has been issued in both countries.

    The 3,000m (10,000ft) volcano is in Argentina’s south-western Neuquen province, which borders the Biobio region of Chile.

    Ash has been raining down on the nearby villages of Copahue, Caviahue and Zapala.

    Residents who have stayed behind have been told to monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate.

    Planes flying over the southern Andes have also been warned.

    Hundreds of flights were cancelled last year due to the eruption of Puyehue volcano, in Chile.