The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Congo

  • AAG: Falcons trounce hosts Congo 5-1

    AAG: Falcons trounce hosts Congo 5-1

    Nigeria women’s team, the Super Falcons, began their quest to win a third All Africa Games football event gold in Congo Brazzaville on a very sound footing after they thrashed hosts Congo 5-1 in the opening game.

    The coach Christopher Danjuma-led team had Desire Oparanozie netting four of the goals, three in the first half.

    Chinasa Uchendu completed the demolition with the other goal.

    Despite missing several foreign-based stars, the likes of FL Minsk of Belarus duo of Onome Ebi and Esther Sunday, BIIK Kazygurt(Kazakstan) and Guingamp of France striker Desire Oparanozie were available for selection.

  • Congo fans hold Le Roy hostage

    Congo fans hold Le Roy hostage

    Nigeria’s U- 23 national team popularly known as Dream Team VI qualified for the Africa U- 23 Championship that would produce Africa’s three automatic representatives in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil after playing a goalless draw with the host team Congo yesterday.

    But as the Congo fans celebrated the Nigerian team and hailed them for their wonderful display in Pointe Noire, their coach Claude Le Roy was almost manhandled but was rescued by the security personnel at the Stadium.

    The host fans, SportingLife gathered, were angered that despite giving their team over 100 percent support the team still failed to secure a 1-0 victory that could have fetched them victory and qualification ticket of the African U- 23 Championship.

    Congo fans shortly after the end of the game held Le Roy hostage and it took the intervention of the security agents to save him back to the dressing room. The fans then hailed the Nigerian team until they left the pitch.

    Veteran sports journalist and member of the NFF Technical Committee  Mr. Paul Bassey led the NFF and theteam officials in praise and worship in the team’s bus until they got to their hostel. Deputy General Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Chairman NFF Technical Committee Chief Felix Anyansi Agu and team’s Chief Coach Samson Siasia and the rest of the technical crew also joined in singing praises to Almighty God that made victory possible for the team.

    Siasia told SportingLife shortly aftet the match that his boys played to instruction and was proud of them.

    “I am very proud of these boys because they took the fight to the Congolese and played to instruction. They were determined which showed in their game and could have scored. But we must savour this victory for now and we thank God for this victory,” he said.

  • 2016 OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS: Nigeria slim win over Congo leaves qualifier wide open

    2016 OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS: Nigeria slim win over Congo leaves qualifier wide open

    Nigeria beat Congo 2-1 to leave this CAF U23 Championship qualifier wide open with the second leg in Pointe-Noire in a fortnight.

    After a scoreless first half completely dominated by home team Nigeria, Junior Ajayi finally opened scoring in the 48th minute after Congo goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi failed to hold on to an acute-angled shot by Godwin Saviour.

    Shooting Stars striker Ajayi completed his brace in the 54th minute, when he headed home a low cross from the left by Etor Daniel.

    But just when Dream Team VI were cruising to a comfortable home win, Congo pulled a goal back through Moise Nkonkou in the 66th minute.

    A penalty appeal by Nigeria in the 59th minute was overlooked by the Kenyan referee, but television replays later showed it should have been given as Etebo Oghenekaro’s shot was handled by a Congo defender inside the box.

    Nigeria made three changes thereafter with Musa Yahaya, Taiwo Awoniyi and Umar Aminu coming in as they went in search of more goals.

    Awoniyi failed to connect a low drive across the Congo goal in the 75th minute.

    Oghenekaro was then denied in stoppage time by the Congo goalkeeper.

    Congo were the happier of the two teams going into the dressing room after scores stood at 0-0 at a packed Adokie Amiesimeika Stadium in Port Harcourt.

    Samson Siasia’s Dream Team VI attacked all of the first 45 minutes and visiting Congo were happy to sit back and defend with their lives.

    Nigeria enjoyed 67 percent of the possession and forced 11 corners, but they still could not manage to translate the final ball into goal.

    Saviour shot at goal after just six minutes, but it screamed across the Congo goal.

    In the 12th minute, Junior Ajayi could have put the home team in front but he scooped away from target from inside the box after he was superbly set up by Oghenekaro.

    Skipper Azubuike Okechukwu’s shot from the top of the box after 22 minutes was also off target.

    In the 31st minute, Segun Oduduwa shot from a free kick was put out for a corner by the Congo goalkeeper Mafoumbi.

    Three minutes later, Saviour goal-bound shot was headed off the goal line as Congo continued to hang on.

    And in stoppage time, Saviour again forced a double save from the Congo shot stopper.

  • LeRoy boasts: Congo will shock Nigeria again

    LeRoy boasts: Congo will shock Nigeria again

    Congo coach Claude LeRoy wants to inflict further misery on Nigeria today when he takes his side to Port Harcourt for a 2016 Olympic Games football qualifier.

    The Red Devils stunned the Super Eagles 3-2 last year in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier – it was the first home AFCON qualifying loss suffered by Nigeria and ultimately denied them a place at the finals and a chance to defend their title.

    Now, the consistently successful 67-year-old Frenchman hopes to repeat at Under-23 level what he achieved at senior level and edge Congo closer to Rio de Janeiro and a first Olympics football appearance.

    “We are in an identical position to last year with no one beyond Congo giving us a chance,” LeRoy said during a training camp in Atlantic city, Pointe-Noire, ahead of the third-round first-leg tie.

    “But my team have a huge chance of not only eliminating Nigeria, but qualifying for the Rio Olympics.

    “There is no reason why we should fear Nigeria. Congolese football has made tremendous progress recently and we must maintain that improvement.”

    LeRoy can call on four of his senior squad for the third-round, first-leg clash – goalkeepers Christoffer Mafoumbi and Pavelh Ndzila, defender Sagesse Babele and striker Sylvere Ganvoula.

    While Nigeria received first and second-round byes, Congo have already claimed a notable scalp in former Olympics football bronze medallists Ghana.

    Both nations won 1-0 at home and Congo squeezed through after a penalty shootout at Stade Municipal in Pointe-Noire.

    Nigeria boast a proud Olympics football record, winning the 1996 Atlanta gold medals after a thrilling final against Argentina and finishing runners-up to the same country at the 2008 Beijing Games.

  • Siasia picks 18 to battle Congo

    Siasia picks 18 to battle Congo

    Head Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia has selected 18 players for Sunday’s African U-23 Championship final round, first leg qualifier against Congo, in Port Harcourt.

    The encounter coming up at the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt will see the team parading old reliables like goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, Oghenekaro Etebor, Taiwo Awoniyi, Azubuike Okechukwu, Erhun Obanor and Godwin Saviour, with new faces Umar Aminu and Musa Yahaya making the list.

    Addressing the players, Siasia urged those who did not make the 18 -man list not to feel bad, but to see it as a challenge to up their game and make future lists.

    He told those who were selected to see their selection as a privilege and should show to the world that they were selected on merit.

    “I want to charge those of you selected to see this as a rare privilege knowing that millions of Nigerians are banking on you to put smiles on their faces come Sunday.

    ” I have the confidence that you guys can beat Congo, but all that will depend on you guys showing that on the field of play.

    “The Nigeria Football Federation and the Rivers State government have done so much for us to make us win, so it’s now left for us to let them know that we are true ambassadors of our country.”

    The final list is made up of two goalkeepers, six defenders, three midfielders and seven strikers:

    Daniel Emmanuel
    Chukwuebuka Iroha
    Stanley Amuzie
    Azubuike Okechukwu
    Segun Oduduwa
    Obanor Erhun
    Godwin Saviour
    Etebor Oghenekaro
    Junior Ajayi
    Usman Mohammed
    Etor Daniel
    Yusuf Mohammed
    Sadiq Atanda
    Chima Akas
    Austin Oladapo
    Taiwo Awoniyi
    Aminu Umar
    Musa Yahaya

  • Team Nigeria won’t lack support in Congo -Muhammad

    There will be no dull moment for Team Nigeria when the All Africa Games geets underway in  Brazaville,Congo. Niger State Chairman of Nigeria Football and other sports Supporters club Comrade Mohammad Muhammad who gave the assurance, said the importance of supporting Team Nigeria before and during the Games billed for September 4-19th cannot be over emphazised.  Winning medals at the Games according to him will not only require that the athletes train well but will also demand that they have supporters cheering them all to put in their best no matter the level of opposition.

    “Athletes train with a view to performing well but they also need to be cheered to victory when it matters most and we are ready to do that,” he said Comrade Muhammad who was recently appointed as caretaker chairman of katcha local government council by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello stated that his colleagues have agreed to register two members each from the 25 councils of the state.

    According to him, efforts in the past to get Niger state on board the NFSC ship has been challenging, adding however that it is refreshing to see that the obstacles have been overcome.

    “We have come a long way in the struggle to put Niger state on the map of football and other sports support  and now the result is here as all the stake holders the local government level have agreed to key into the new dream of seeing the official launch of NFSC in the state,” he added even as the club appealed to the Governor to help the club with an office accomodation, a 25 seater bus and a set of musical intrument.

  • Siasia targets 4-0 win over Congo

    Siasia targets 4-0 win over Congo

    • Gets Umar Aminu boost 

    Nigeria’s U23 team coach Samson Siasia has predicted a convincing 4-0 home win over Congo on Sunday when they clash in the first leg of a CAF U23 Championship qualifier in Port Harcourt.

    ‘SiaOne’, as he is fondly called, said his team, nicknamed Dream Team VI, is fully prepared for victory as it takes another step towards featuring at next year’s Olympics in Rio Janeiro, Brazil.

    “We have been preparing hard for the game and I am sure we are going to win the game convincingly, I am looking at us getting like a 4-0 win, but victory is what we will play for,” said Siasia.

    “We are making efforts to get their match tapes to know them better.

    “The boys are in high spirits and ready for the task.”

    Siasia will be without several of his foreign-based call-ups, like Musa Mohammed, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon, but Turkey-based forward Umar Aminu, Taiwo Awoniyi and Godwin Saviour will be available for selection.

    The effective combination of Awoniyi and Saviour was evident at last month’s FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand after they had also combined to eliminate Zambia in a 2015 All Africa Games qualifier.

    However, Congo coach Claude Leroy is equally bullish ahead of this showdown after they eliminated highly-fancied Ghana in the previous round of the qualifiers.

    “We have a huge chance of not only eliminating Nigeria, but qualifying for the Olympics. There is no reason why we should fear them,” said the much travelled Frenchman, who last year led Congo full international team to shock the Super Eagles 3-2 in a 2015 AFCON qualifier.

    Congo has invited a dozen foreign pros and will parade several full internationals including goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi, who was outstanding at this year’s AFCON as the Congo Red Devils reached the last eight in Equatorial Guinea.

    The CAF U23 Championship will be staged by Senegal later this year and will serve as the qualifier for the 2016 Olympic football event.

    However, Siasia has received a massive boost with the arrival of Turkey-based striker Umar Aminu for Sunday’s CAF U23 Championship qualifier against Congo in Port Harcourt.

    “Aminu has joined the team after he was released by his club from their pre-season training. It’s a bit late, but we will see how it goes,” Siasia disclosed.

    Aminu was stand-out star for Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey after he emerged Goal King at the 2013 AYC in Algeria and he is now playing regularly in Turkey for Osmanlispor after a stint at Samsunspor.

    Siasia will be without several Europe-based call-ups like Musa Mohammed, Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho as they are engaged in pre-season with their clubs.

    Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Sokari is also ruled out after reporting late to training camp on account of his transfer talks in Tunisia with Esperance.

    Siasia is therefore expected to stick with the core of the team who eliminated Gabon and Zambia from the 2015 All Africa Games.

  • Wike to Dream Team IV – Beat Congo, get $100,000

    Wike to Dream Team IV – Beat Congo, get $100,000

    Rivers state Governor, Barrister Wike  Nyesom has promised the U-23 Coaching crew and the players $100,000 if they beat the Congolese team on Sunday.

    The Governor stated this while addressing the technical crew and the players immediately after their training at Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium last night.

    He said: “We want to tell you that we need this match against the Congolese,  and we want to win convincingly , we want to win by you playing good football , and therefore , we will give you $30,000 par goal , two goals $60,000, and three goals $100,000.

    “We will give you all the support you need to be successful in this match. I want to thank you my brother , my friend , coach Samson Siasia for the good job you are doing. I thank you for being here for the past one week preparing your team for Sunday match against the Congolese team, I decided to come and talk to the players and to let you know that we are fully in support of you people .

    “Its been long Porthartcourt hosted any international match, and am sure this is your first time of coming to this Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium, we have the facilities to host international matches , we believe that from now on NFF will allow us to host other international matches, especially Super Eagles .

    “I hope you people realise that it is important you defend your country , you need to make your country proud and we will give you the support .

    “We want to tell you that we need this match against the Congolese,  and we want to win convincingly , we want to win by you playing good football.

    “The president will be happy that you win this match against the Congolese on Sunday.”

     

  • U-23 Championship: Siasia Focuses on fatigue, finishing

    U-23 Championship: Siasia Focuses on fatigue, finishing

    Ahead of the Sunday’s African U-23 Championship final round, first leg qualifier at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Coach Samson Siasia at the evening training on Friday focused on fatigue and finishing.

    Siasia had earlier complained of poor finishing of his boys.

    The training which lasted about two hours was witnessed by the State Governor, Barrister Wike Nyesom.

    Speaking to sports journalists inside the main bowl of Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium, the media officer of the team, Timi Ebikagboro said the boys are ready to unleash terror on the Congolese come on Sunday.

    Timi said though the Congolese Coach had boasted to collect the three maximum points, he however reminded the coach that Coach Samson Siasia had beaten the team in Congo before and Sunday match will not be taking likely.

    However, the Congolese team arrived the Porthartcourt international Airport at 3:5pm and headed straight to the presidential hotel where they are lodged.

    The team is expected to train at the Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium Saturday.

    Meanwhile, total renovation is currently ongoing at the stadium with men putting finishing touches at the sitting and the stadium surroundings.

     

  • Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo

    Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo

    E milio Nsue emerged the man of the match after his performance almost secured Equatorial Guinea a winning start to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations yesterday.

    The 25-year-old Middlesbrough player opened the scoring in the 16th minute after a great assist from Kike Boula, but his goal was cancelled out late in the game by the Red Devils’ Thievy Bifouma.

    In between, Nsue worked tirelessly up front for the hosts and should have been awarded a second goal in the 74th minute when he latched onto a long ball over the defence and successfully lobbed on-rushing goalkeeper Chris Mafoumbi, only to be incorrectly denied by the offside flag.

    He also set up Javier Balboa with a glorious chance just past the hour mark, but Nzalang Nacional’s number 11 failed to beat the Congolese goalkeeper.