The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FIFA

  • FIFA: Amuneke, Drogba Others to Pick World Best Player

    Federation of International Football (FIFA) on Wednesday named former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke among the 12-man panel that will shortlist candidates for the men’s footballers and coaches of the year for the 2017/18 season.

    The World Football governing body also named former African footballer and Ivory Coast ex-player Didier Drogba, as a member of the panel for the annual awards of the round leather game.

    The men’s panel also includes legends Ronaldo, Fabio Capello and Frank Lampard, and Kaka amongst others.

    The judges will shortlist 10 candidates for each category, which will be unveiled on 23 July 2018 – with a public vote opening on the same day.

    Football fans, national team captains, head coaches and more than 200 media representatives will then cast their votes to decide who will be crowned the best players and coaches in the men’s and women’s games from last season.

    With the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia currently showcasing the finest footballing talent on the planet, the race for the Best FIFA Football Awards is even more intense and the showpiece event will take on added significance when it returns to London for a second time on 24 September 2018.

    At last year’s awards, Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the Best Men’s Player Award, Netherlands’ Lieke Martens was crowned Best Women’s Player, French icon Zinédine Zidane was named Best Men’s Coach and the Netherlands’ Sarina Wiegman was Best Women’s Coach.

    Separate panels will shortlist candidates for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award, the FIFA Puskás Award and the FIFA Fan Award, with the winner of the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award chosen by a panel of FIFA Legends.

    In recognition and celebration of the essential role played by football fans in the game, the FIFA Fan Award, an appreciation of memorable moments created by fans, is voted for by supporters.

    The FIFA Puskás Award, handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year, is also determined by fans’ votes.

    The voting process for the men’s and women’s awards will open on July 23 and close on August 10.

    FIFA will announce the final list of the three nominees for each of the four categories listed above – as well as for the FIFA Puskás Award, the FIFA Fan Award and the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award – in September.

  • 10 candidates for football’s 2018 best player award – FIFA

    The 2018 men’s world footballer of the year will be picked from a list of 10 players instead of from a list of 23 as in the past, global ruling body FIFA said on Wednesday.

    The players in question will be selected by a 13-strong panel that includes legends such as Brazil’s Ronaldo and Germany’s Lothar Matthaeus.

    National team captains and coaches, media and fans then elect the best player in a poll between July 23 and August 10. The winner will be crowned at The Best FIFA Football Awards on September 24 in London.

    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won the prestigious award – now called The Best FIFA Men’s Player and formerly known as FIFA World Player and Ballon d’Or – five times each over the past 10 years.

    Awards will also be given out for best women’s player, best men’s and women’s coach, best goalkeeper and best goal, and there is also a fair-play prize.

    Read Also:FIFA sanctions hosts Russia, three others, warns Egypt over Salah

    The Newsmen reports that in 2014, Argentina had three nominees in Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi, while their opponents in Sunday’s final, Germany, have four.

    Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Phillip Lahm and Thomas Muller are the players nominated from Joachim Low’s side.

    Colombia’s James Rodriguez, Brazil’s Neymar and Arjen Robben of Netherlands complete the 10-man shortlist.

    Fifa has also announced the nominees for the Golden Glove competition, awarded to the best goalkeeper at the World Cup.

    Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas, Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Argentina’s Sergio Romero will compete for the prize.

    Meanwhile, Netherlands’ Memphis Depay and Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane of France were nominated for the best young player at the tournament.

  • FIFA: Takeaways from Eagles’ ouster 

    LONG after the ongoing FIFA soccer World Cup would have been won and lost in Russia, certain memories will definitely haunt us in Nigeria. One is the ghost of superstition and the other is the limitation of human judgement.

    To say gambling is part of the global football fiesta is to restate the obvious. Of course, this has led to the rise of voodoo and myth-making as stakers bay for the dough. Animal species have been dragged into the racket. In the last World Cup, for instance, we were treated to the fairy of Octopus.

    This time, the ancient Octopus morphed into the mystic pig credited with predicting outcomes with uncanny accuracy, match after match.

    On the eve of the crucial Nigeria Vs Argentina match penultimate Tuesday, the anointing of prophecy apparently transposed to a smaller animal – cat. A short video began to circulate in the social media showing the feline creature tipping Nigeria’s green/white/green flag for victory over Argentina’s.

    Such depiction was enough to sway those easily given to superstition. So, not a few supporters of Super Eagles I know in Lagos made a huge bet and had begun to salivate in anticipation of bumper harvest even before the match kick-off in faraway Russia that fateful Tuesday.

    But one and a half hours later, the tally only meant one thing: the oracle had failed spectacularly. So, it is safe to state that some of those who later wailed bitterly and gnashed their teeth across the country the night Eagles lost did so not only for national pride hurt but also the purse lost.

    In summary, there can only be two possibilities: the cat’s prophecy was made up by fraudsters to con the gullible. Or, the outcome is yet another validation of the extant existentialist argument that nothing is predetermined; that man’s reward is a function of his exertion.

    On the other hand, FIFA’s vaulting claim that its VAR (video assistant referee) recorded 99.3 percent success rate in the prelimary stage will hardly make any meaning to still distraught supporters of Eagles. The promise of VAR was to minimize – if not erase – the possibility of human bias. But we didn’t see that in the moment of doubt over the Argentine player whose left hand clearly touched the ball in their penalty box.

    We all held our breath as the Turkish referee halted the game in the dying minutes to consult the VAR tube on the sideline.

    Alas, our suspicion of bias was confirmed when he returned and ruled out a foul. Had the penalty been awarded, it potentially could have closed the game early for Nigeria.

    The implication: whereas machine may bear dispassionate witness, there is no guarantee man will not be subjective in his judgement.

     

     

  • Final group tables at 2018 FIFA World Cup

    Following the conclusion of six matches in each of the eight groups at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on Thursday, below are the groups’ final tables:

    Group A

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    Uruguay 3 3 – – 5 0 +5 9

    Russia 3 2 – 1 8 4 +4 6

    Saudi Arabia 3 1 – 2 2 7 -5 3

    Egypt 3 – – 3 2 6 -4 0

    Group B

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    Spain 3 1 2 – 6 5 +1 5

    Portugal 3 1 2 – 5 4 +1 5

    Islamic Republic of Iran 3 1 1 1 2 2 – 4

    Morocco 3 – 1 2 2 4 -2 1

    Group C

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    France 3 2 1 – 3 1 +2 7

    Denmark 3 1 2 – 2 1 +1 5

    Peru 3 1 – 2 2 2 0 3

    Australia 3 – 1 2 2 5 -3 1

    Group D

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    Croatia 3 3 – – 7 1 +6 9

    Argentina 3 1 1 1 3 5 -2 4

    Nigeria 3 1 – 2 3 4 -1 3

    Iceland 3 – 1 2 2 5 -3 1

    Group E

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    Brazil 3 2 1 – 5 1 +4 7

    Switzerland 3 1 2 – 5 4 +1 5

    Serbia 3 1 – 2 2 4 -2 3

    Costa Rica 3 – 1 2 2 5 -3 1

    Group F

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    Sweden 3 2 – 1 5 2 +3 6

    Mexico 3 2 – 1 3 4 -1 6

    South Korea 3 1 – 2 3 3 0 3

    Germany 3 1 – 2 2 4 -2 3

    Group G

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    Belgium 3 3 – – 9 2 +7 9

    England 3 2 – 1 8 3 +5 6

    Tunisia 3 1 – 2 5 8 -3 3

    Panama 3 – – 3 2 11 -9 0

    Group H

    Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

    Colombia 3 2 – 1 5 2 +3 6

    Japan 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4

    Senegal 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4

    Poland 3 1 – 2 2 5 -3 3

    The top two sides in each group have advanced to the Round of 16 which gets underway on Saturday in Kazan, with 2014 runners-up Argentina taking on 1998 champions France.

  • FIFA fines Mexico, Serbia over fans’ misbehaviour

    The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed a 10,000 Swiss Francs fine on both the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and the Serbian Football Federation for the misconduct of their fans.

    FIFA said in a statement on Thursday that the disciplinary measure, which was in line with article 67 of its Disciplinary Code, was in relation to discriminatory and insulting chants by the fans.

    The Mexicans committed the offence during the first half of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match played between Germany and Mexico on Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Group F opening match ended 1-0 in favour of Mexico.

    “The decision was passed after a thorough assessment of the relevant match reports, the FMF’s precedents and the evidence provided.

    “The evidence included videotapes of the incidents and examples of certain sustainable actions taken by the FMF to raise awareness among its supporters.

    “Moreover, the Disciplinary Committee gave a warning to the FMF, who may face additional sanctions in case of repeated infringements of this type,’’ the committee said in the statement.

    The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by a Ghanaian, Yeboah Anin, also sanctioned the Serbian Football Association with a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs for the display of an offensive and political banner by Serbian fans.

    This reportedly occurred during the Group E match played between Serbia and Costa Rica on Sunday at the Samara Arena.

    The committee added that it took its decisions after analysing all specific circumstances of each case.

    “These, in particular, were the match officials’ reports, the position adopted by the association (if any), as well as the relevant evidence available.

    “This included the report of the anti-discrimination match observers, who have been deployed for the first time at a FIFA World Cup,’’ it said.

    FIFA has a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and has stated it would not tolerate such behaviour from fans in the stadium.

    A series of measures to fight discrimination and promote diversity have been implemented, including an anti-discrimination monitoring system, which has been active since 2015.

    “This has been in place to observe and report on all 871 matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and all matches of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup,’’ the committee said in the statement.

    Furthermore, FIFA has published a Good Practice Guide on Diversity and Anti-Discrimination to support all of its member associations.

    “In general terms, FIFA calls on all fans to come to the stadiums in a spirit of unity, peace and friendship,’’ the committee added.

  • NFF, FIFA celebrate Ighalo on 29th birthday

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and World football governing body, FIFA, have sent birthday wishes to Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, who clocked 29 on Saturday.

    Ighalo, poised to lead Nigeria’s attack when they take on Croatia in their opening group game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on Saturday, was born on June 16, 1989, in Lagos.

    The NNFF wished the Chinese-based striker, on its official Twitter handle, “a happy birthday will love to see him get a goal or two in Kaliningrad this evening.

    Read Also: Ighalo, Echiejile thank Nigerians

    “Happy birthday to @NGSuperEagles forward @ighalojude. We wish you a great day full of goals and goodies,” it said.

    Similarly, FIFA said to the birthday boy on its official handle, “Happy Birthday @ighalojude! He’ll be hoping for a good result in #CRONGA.”

    Since making his debut in 2015, Ighalo has scored four goals in 17 games for Nigeria. He is currently on a six-game goal drought.

    He began his career with the defunct Julius Berger FC, Lagos, before joining Lyn Oslo in Norway.

    He also played for Udinese in the Italian Serie A where he was loaned out to Cesena and Granada before he made a switch to Watford.

    Currently he plays in the Chinese Super League with Changchun Yatai.

    NAN

  • FIFA to hammer Jibril Rajoub over Messi Comment

     

    FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Palestinian FA president Jibril Rajoub for urging fans to burn photos of Lionel Messi.

    Rajoub faces the punishment after making comments about the Barcelona star ahead of Argentina’s proposed World Cup warm-up game against Israel in Jerusalem.

    FIFA says it has started proceedings against PFA president Rajoub because of comments “widely reported in the media”.

    Argentina called off the game against Israel on June 9 which had originally been scheduled to be played in Haifa following protests by pro-Palestinian groups upset by the match taking place in Jerusalem.

    The Argentine FA had faced pressure to cancel the match in the wake of violence which followed the opening of the new United States embassy in Jerusalem.

    FIFA has not disclosed when the case will be looked at by their disciplinary committee. Argentina have been pitched against Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland the world cup which kicked off Thursday.  Messi will lead out the team as they take on Iceland their opening match on Saturday just as Nigeria confront Croatia. Messi who has won so many laurels with Barcelona is eager to crown his achievements with world cup title.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Russia 2018: Fans urge S/Eagles to be wary of best fashion rating

    Ebonyi Football fans on Thursday urged the Super Eagles to be wary of the best fashion rating it has received from nations as the World Cup begins in Russia.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Eagles’ World Cup kits and travel outfit were rated the best by soccer fans, pundits and media across the globe with many saying they had won the World Cup in its fashion sense.

    Major sports dailies, including the Daily Mail wrote: “First, it was the announcement of their tournament kits that sent football supporters crazy.

    “Now it is their travel attire that has got everybody talking again.’’

    Eagles-England-squad-at Wembley

    The British news outfit, The Sun, also wrote: “Nigeria once again won the fashion stakes at this year’s World Cup with their incredible travel outfit.

    “A fan posted that Nigeria is winning the 2018 World Cup fashion parade.’’

    The fans who spoke with NAN on Thursday in Abakaliki on the fashion rating, noted that with the commencement of the global fiesta could be counter-productive if not adequately managed.

    Chijioke Amah, former Manager of Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki, said the players should instead concentrate on correcting the flaws noticed during their friendly matches.

    “It is not a problem for the team to savour the euphoria of its global fashion rating but it should realise that the main rating will be their performances on the pitch.

    “The same attention which their attires attracted will also be applied to their performances on the pitch and if they fail, the same people who praised them would vilify them,’’ he said.

    Chika Nwagele, Captain of Ebonyi United FC of Abakaliki, urged the players to effectively utilise their underdog status to spring surprises at the World Cup.

    “The team should emulate the 1996 Atlanta Olympics winning team which lost its friendly matches but improved tremendously to win Africa’s first Olympic football-gold medal.

    “The players should realise that they have attracted global attention to themselves and faltering at the competition will make people feel their prowess lies in fashion,’’ he said.

    Emeka Nwonuma, a businessman urged Coach Gernot Rohr to correct all lapses noticed during the team’s friendly matches.

    Read Also: World Cup: Police assures football viewers 24-hrs protection

    “The team always improved during the second half of the matches and Rohr should consider using the players who turn things around for him as starters.

    “He should also work on his defence which flopped during the friendly matches to give effective cover to his first choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, who did not inspire much confidence.

    “The coach should also work on set-pieces because the team conceded two of the four goals against it during the friendly matches from such situations,’’ he said.

    A teacher, Mrs Clara Anyanwu, urged Nigerians to pray for the team because of the huge burden of expectations on the players.

    “The team apart from being the best dressed for the World Cup also drew global attention for having the youngest squad and the youngest first choice goalkeeper.

    “Soccer fans should not expect much from the team but be contended with whatever performance it showcases in Russia, adding that they should support the NFF to build on it for the future,’’ he said.

  • World Cup: Spectranet Begins Data Bonanza for Nigeria’s Supporters

    Spectranet 4GLTE on Monday said its new consumer promotion, Connect & Win Big World Cup Bonanza is to show support for the Super Eagles at the FIFA mundial in Russia.

    The Internet Service Provider company also said the promotion was to participate in the happy moments of its customers, new and existing, and multiply their joy by offering incredible price deals on data renewals and device purchase.

    Speaking on the timing of the promo, Head of Marketing, Mike Ogor explained  that, “The Win Big World Cup Bonanza was coined and structured to make customers enjoy more of our affordable and smart internet experience, purchase devices at amazing prices and renew data plans. It is coming at a time we decided to show our solidarity to the national team’s participation at the 2018 World Cup.”

    “We’ve got a prize for everyone. We want to make our customers happy, thus we are propelling the promotion with major open market activations in our coverage areas- Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan. Winners will be picked via monthly draws.

    New customers can participate in the promotion by purchasing any of Spectranet MiFi s  at N20,000 with 40GB and 50% data bonus on six renewals within 210 days from activation as added benefits or Freedom MiFi at N16,000 with 25GB free data and 50% data bonus on six renewals within 210days from activation as added benefits.

    Top on the list of prizes in the promotion is a trip to Dubai for 2 winners. The second prize is one year unlimited data for 10 winners while 40 Inch TV Sets will be given to 20 customers.

    Consolation prizes include: 7GB data for 200 customers and Bluetooth Speaker for 200 customers respectively.

    Existing subscribers are not left out of the world cup exciting offers. All existing customers who renew their Spectranet accounts before Nigeria matches in June and July, 2018, will be awarded 1GB data bonus for every goal scored by Nigeria during the World Cup and 5GB data bonus for every win.

    Customers can log on to www.spectranet.com.ng or visit Spectranet  Shops, Express service Outlets  and Dealer shops to participate in the promotion.

    Spectranet Limited was the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) to launch 4G LTE internet service in Nigeria. The brand is known for providing an affordable, faster and more reliable internet broadband to Nigerian homes and offices. Its internet service is currently available across Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and Port Harcourt. Its state of the art network ensures high speed internet connectivity for the customers.

    Spectranet 4G LTE is a recipient of multiple awards for Best Internet Service and 4G LTE Provider in Nigeria in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

  • Six Days to Russia: FIFA under attack over bribery scandal

    Football governing body, FIFA has come under attack since Kenya referee Adel Range Marwa was exposed in a bribery scandal captured in a video which surfaced online on Thursday.

    The Kenyan referee who has since resigned from the World Cup referees committee was captured on camera receiving a $600 cash gift which is against FIFA ethics.
    The money was for Marwa to influence the outcome of an international football match involving Ghana in the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).
    An undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposed Marwa, along with Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi whom FIFA has suspended for 90 days.
    The video has continued to elicit reactions with some saying it was a conspiracy against African referees on FIFA duty. Others said it was a shame
    “Why did the investigating journalist do this to our Aden Marwa? It doesn’t add up at all, so Fifa decided to set up Aden and eliminate him from World Cup and get at African officials.
    “Fifa would have tested all the referees then released an official report not just targeting one Black Referee. SO SAD,” Dennis Nyambane said on Twitter.
    “Sad that Kenyan Fifa referee Aden Marwa has had to pull out of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. I have reviewed Anas’s footage (Ghanaian undercover reporter) of the alleged bribe taking and I honestly think as journo, the method used by him to news gather leaves a lot to be desired,” journalist Odeo Sirari on Twitter.
    “Aden Marwa has not brought shame to Kenya, the shame was already there, he just lifted the veil and took it global. We can keep dreaming of a corrupt free Kenya or we need to look inside ourselves and awaken. “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung,” said Sam Gichuru on Twitter.
    “Aden Marwa, first Kenyan to have been appointed by Fifa as an assistant referee for the World Cup 2018 has been removed after accepting a paltry us$600 (Kshs. 60,000/=) bribe from Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Ghana’s fabled incognito Investigative Journalist … What a shame. What a tragedy,” A Lawyer Donald B Kipkorir said on Twitter.
    “Corruption is everywhere in Kenya this referees don’t live in heaven they live in a corrupt society,” Clarke Sumbule on Facebook.
    Six African referees were chosen by FIFA to officiate in Russia. The referees make the total of 99 officials selected from 46 countries.
    The African referees are: Mehdi Abid Charef from Algeria, Malang Diedhiou of Senegal, Bakary Papa Gassama from The Gambia, Gehad Grisha from Egypt, Janny Sikazwe from Zambia, and Ethiopian Bamlak Tessema Weyesa.