The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ethiopia

  • Ethiopia skipper insists Nigeria can fall at home

    Ethiopia skipper insists Nigeria can fall at home

    Ethiopia skipper Degu Debebe has said despite the 2-1 loss to Nigeria Sunday they could still turn the table in the 2014 World Cup playoff.

    The return leg match will be played in Calabar on November 16 with the overall winners qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

    “We missed some good scoring chances today, but we are capable of going to Nigeria and also winning,” said Debebe after the tough encounter at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa.

    After a barren first half, the hosts took the lead through Behailu Assefa in the 57th minute, before Emmanuel Emenike levelled matters 10 minutes later.

    But the Super Eagles showed more aggression and got a penalty that Emenike made no mistake converting for the match winner.

    Debebe said although they lost the game which was very unfortunate, he thought the referee did not give them many of the advantages.

    “We badly needed a win at home, but we have lost. We need to go back to the drawing board and work hard to be able to win away from home,” added the skipper.

    Ethiopia coach Sewenet Bishaw said he was disappointed with the loss.

    “We wanted this win so badly, but we lost,” said Bishaw,who said they will now focus on preparing the team for the second leg.

    The hosts had five players cautioned (Tesfaye Seyoum, Girma Adane, Behailu Assefa,Addis Hintsa and Aynalem Hailu),while the Super Eagles had no player booked.

  • WCQ: Nigeria beat Ethiopia 1-2

    WCQ: Nigeria beat Ethiopia 1-2

    Super Eagles of Nigeria secured an away win on Sunday against their Ethiopian counterparts in the first leg of the of FIFA 2014 World Cup Play-Off.

    The African Champions came back from a goal down in Addis Ababa to snatch three points from the determined Ethiopians ahead of the second-leg billed for November.

    Behalu Assefa put his side up in the 56th minute  through a cross from the left flank. His effort was adjudged a goal for crossing the line even though it was caught by the Nigerian goalie, Vincent Enyeama.

    Emenike found the back of the net in the 67th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box sending the stadium quiet.

    The CSKA Moscow forward was dragged down in the box for a clear penalty — he calmly dispatched the penalty to give  Eagles the victory and a leg in Brazil.

     

     

     

     

  • Super Eagles mobbed in Ethiopia

    Super Eagles mobbed in Ethiopia

    Super Eagles players were mobbed by adoring fans on Saturday after the team chartered plane landed in Addis Ababa for Sunday’s crucial World Cup qualifier against hosts Ethiopia, futaa.com reports.

    The fans, who will come out in their thousands on Sunday to cheer the Walya Antelopes put patriotism aside and openly expressed admiration for the star-studded Nigerian team.

    According to reports, John Obi Mikel, who has won two European trophies in the last two years with English Premiership side Chelsea, was one of the major attractions.

     

     

  • Battle of Ethiopia Presidency approves funds for chattered planes

    Battle of Ethiopia Presidency approves funds for chattered planes

    • Supporters, others to storm Addis Ababa in large numbers
    • Minister coordinates Nigerians in Ethiopia to attend match

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved funds for the National Sports Commission (NSC) to chatter planes to fly players, officials and large number of fans and Nigerian supporters to Addis Ababa to support the Super Eagles in the October 13th, 2013 all important first leg of 2014 World Cup qualifying play-off against host team the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia.

    SportingLife gathered from Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi in Abuja yesterday.

    “To ensure a hitch-free game, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved funds for the contingent,” Abdullahi disclosed.

    The Minister also expressed appreciation to President Jonathan for showing huge interest in the match and for his full support for the Super Eagles.

    “I am delighted to say that Mr. President has given us his full support. He has approved funds for the NFA to ensure that large contingents of Nigerian fans are taken to Ethiopia for the game.

    “Everyone who witnessed AFCON 2013 knows how vociferous Ethiopian fans could be. So, we are responding appropriately to ensure that large contingents of Nigerian supporters are represented.

    “As Mr. President has approved financial support for this, we are doing everything possible to ensure that we come back from Ethiopia with a very good result.

    “The preparation is going on very well. I speak everyday with officials of the Football Federation and everything is going on well,” Abdullahi assured.

    He also disclosed that he has put machinery in motion with the full support of the Nigerian Ambassador in Ethiopia to encourage Nigerians in Ethiopia to troop out in large numbers to support their darling Super Eagles team for the Nigerian national team to come out victorious at the end of the match and to make the return leg in Nigeria much easier.

  • Ethiopia may face Zambia for Eagles

    Ethiopia may face Zambia for Eagles

    Ethiopia may face Zambia in a warm-up match ahead of a 2014 World Cup playoff against Nigeria after they could not secure Ghana or Cameroon.

    The Walya Antelopes welcome the Super Eagles on October 13 in the first leg clash for a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

    Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) vice-chairman Teka Asfaw told a local radio station ShegerSport Radio that Ghana and Cameroon have rejected a warm-up against Ethiopia.

    He said Ghana and Cameroon told EFF that their foreign-based players’ late arrival was the main reason for turning down Ethiopia’s request for a friendly.

    The only chance remains for friendly match to the Walya’s seems to be with Zambia which the Zambian officials had confirmed their willingness to be in Addis Ababa as soon as their team returned from a similar friendly overseas.

    The East Africans had also proposed to Egypt, but the seven-time African champions insisted the game be played in Cairo, which officials turned down as their qualifier against Nigeria is at home.

    Ethiopian Football Federation vice Chairman Teka Asfaw also disclosed that the key players Shemelse Bekele,Addis Hintsa and Getanhe Kebede will be join the rest of the squad in Addis Ababa this weekend.

  • Bonus Row Panel Recommendation: Keshi seeks decisions before Ethiopia trip

    Bonus Row Panel Recommendation: Keshi seeks decisions before Ethiopia trip

    •Minister gives word on implementation

    With the recommendations of the ministerial panel on the Super Eagles bonus row yet to be officially disclosed and implemented, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has stated that such information should be passed on early enough before the World Cup playoff against Ethiopia, so as to avoid what happened in Namibia in June.

    The Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) had earlier set up a panel to investigate the bonus row issue that ensued between the Super Eagles and the Nigeria Football Federation.

    Speaking to Brila FM, Keshi warned that there could be problems if the situation isn’t properly managed.

    “We have to lecture everybody; informing them well ahead of time what is going to happen, the decision that has been taken and it won’t be proper if the information comes when the game is about to start.

    “Such things have happened before in the national team and if not well taken care of, it will happen again and there might be crisis if not properly done,” he cautioned.

    Meanwhile, Sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi has assured that the recommendations of the bonus row panel will be implemented.

    NSC set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the circumstances that led to players of the men’s senior national team to strike after a World Cup qualifier against Namibia in June and as a result, arrived late for the 2013 FIFA Confederation’s Cup in Brazil.

    “Definitely we will implement the panel’s report, the idea behind it all is that we must continue to set up systems and reduce opportunities for people to use their discretion.

    “When there are systems in place, things are predictable and everybody will know what they are supposed to do and that is exactly what we want to do,” Abdullahi said.

    The Eagles will face the Wayla Antelopes of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on October 13 in the 1st leg of the final round of African World Cup qualifiers en route to Brazil 2014.

  • ETHIOPIA VS NIGERIA: NFF sticks to $5,000

    ETHIOPIA VS NIGERIA: NFF sticks to $5,000

    •Rules out increase in winning bonuses

    •Shortfall in federation’s subvention cited

    •Glasshouse shops for cash for Addis Ababa trip

     

     

    Eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have vowed not to pay anything over the stipulated $5,000 as match winning bonuses to Super Eagles players, if the country beats Ethiopia in the two-legged games in Addis Ababa and Calabar.

    A decent source in NFF informed Sportinglife on Monday night that there would be a short fall in the federation’s next subvention occassioned by the volume of cash used prosecute the country’s football matches across all the national teams, especially the 2013 Africa cup of Nations held in South Africa, which Nigeria clinched.

    Consequently, the football chief stated that there would not be any raise in the winning bonuses adding that: “You don’t give what you don’t have. Even if we have to consider an increase, there must be justification from it.

    “We are shopping for cash to facilitate the trip to Addis Ababa and our budget for the players is specific on what we can afford to pay. We also do not have any plan to crawl to the government for cash. We are condemned to rely on our next subvention and other sources to get the money that we need.

  • Ethiopia will be tricky, Esin warns Keshi

    Ethiopia will be tricky, Esin warns Keshi

    The draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying round in Africa that threw up the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia clash has continued to generate reactions from members of the football fraternity in Nigeria.

    Former international midfielder, Etim Esin is the latest in line to air his views as well as throw a challenge at the Stephen Keshi-led team to do their best and make the nation proud.

    Esin, who was part of the Flying Eagles squad to the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in 1987, told supersport.com he is optimistic that Nigeria will get to Brazil in 2014.

    “On paper, It looks like an easy game. But I must warn that we shouldn’t take them lightly at all.

    “There are no more minnows in the African game again and we have to be at our best considering what happened in the last tie we played at Addis Ababa.

    “The boys have to be physically fit and willing to run beyond 90 minutes. But I trust Stephen Keshi to prepare his team for the battle,” he reiterated.

    The former SK Lierse player also said the approach to the game should be like a one-legged affair where winner-takes-all.

    “I would not remind anyone of the altitude issue because we are all aware of it.

    “The Super Eagles need to approach this game like a one-legged play-off game, we need to at least get a goal or two.

    “Whatever happens, we must not lose to the Ethiopians in the first leg away. It would be a disaster if we do, because the second leg could be a cagey affair and the pressure will be on us,” he concluded.

    Nigeria were drawn to play the final leg of the Africa zone of the FIFA 2014 World Cup against Ethiopia, in what promises to be an interesting encounter.

    The last time the two sides met was at the group stage of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where a brace from Victor Moses, who is on loan to Liverpool from Chelsea, gave Nigeria a 2-0 victory.

  • Ameobi major doubt for Ethiopia playoff

    Ameobi major doubt for Ethiopia playoff

    Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi could well miss out on Nigeria’s World Cup playoff next month in Ethiopia because of injury.

    Ameobi returned to Newcastle United with a knock after playing for Nigeria against Burkina Faso in a friendly in which he scored his first International goal.

    Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said in his press conference on Friday that the Nigeria striker may be out of action for three weeks.

    “Shola’s not available again, and could be out for one to three weeks,” Pardew said.

    He was said to be nursing a slight knock, but that slight knock has turned into something that will now keep Shola out for up to three weeks or so, and that seems to have happened a lot in Shola’s career.

    Shola has been injury prone and he rarely plays more than half a season without a major injury.

    Nigeria are away to Ethiopia in October in a first leg playoff for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

  • Ethiopia’ll be hard nut to crack for Eagles—Green

    Ethiopia’ll be hard nut to crack for Eagles—Green

    •’Eagles should work hard for ticket’

    Chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Barrister Christopher Green has warned those who have started celebrating that the Super Eagles have been drawn against a relatively weaker team in the final play-off of the 2014 World Cup to have a rethink because it would be very hard for the Eagles to easily run over Ethiopia at this stage of the qualifier.

    He then gave panacea for Nigeria to conquer the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia and book her place in the finals of next year’s World Cup which include hard work, dedication, concentration and full focus on the qualifying matches.

    “First of all I thank Almighty God for what he has done for the Super Eagles so far. I see today’s (Monday) draw (in Cairo, Egypt) that pitched Nigeria against Ethiopia as a fair draw.

    “But I must confess to you that the draw against Ethiopia is a little tricky because at this level and stage of a World Cup qualifiers you can never take any team for granted. It is not easy to get to this stage of the qualifiers and these teams have worked very hard to get to this stage and there is little or no difference between Nigeria and Ethiopia at the stage we are now because all the teams that got to this stage are fully motivated to pick the 2014 World Cup ticket.

    “The last qualifier as we all know is not a one off thing but a two-legged qualifier. Yes I agree with the fact that Ethiopia has never beaten us (Nigeria) in any competitive match till date. Nut we shouldn’t take anything for granted because anything can happen in the game of football.

    “What is important for us is to work very, very hard to get the World Cup ticket. It is also very important for us as (NFF) Technical Committee to formulate a very good policy that can make us work hard and get the desired World Cup ticket”, Green told Nationsport in an exclusive chat yesterday.

     

     

     

     

     

    He also urged the Chief Coach of the team, Stephen Keshi to be fair and firm in his invitation to players and shouldn’t base the invitation of players on mere sentiments and bias.

    “We must invite and use our best legs (best players) without any bias. There should be no gambling and any risk as regards the players to be used for the two-legged encounter.

    “And again, I must state clearly here that we must invite players based on their current form. This means that these players must be very consistent in their club and in their country. And more importantly, the dform of our players between now and the time of the play-off matches. matter most. I also pray that all our best legs shouldn’t have injuries before the play-offs.”