The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FIFA

  • Nigeria drops in FIFA Ranking

    Nigeria drops in FIFA Ranking

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria dropped six places in the latest FIFA Coca Cola world rankings despite impressive results against Cameroon in the World Cup qualifying matches.

    The rankings released on Thursday by Football World Governing body showed that the Eagles dropped from the 38th to the 44th position in the world and fifth in Africa with 695 points.

    It said that Egypt retained the first position on the continent and 30th in the world with 815 points, followed by Tunisia with 810 points and 31st in the world.

    Senegal is third on the continent and 33 in the world with 774 points while DR Congo is 4th in Africa and 42 in the world with 709 points.

    African Champions, Cameroon are 6th in Africa and 45th in the world with 689 points.

    In the top 10 ranked countries, Germany became the number while Brazil is second.

    Portugal is third, Argentina fourth, Belgium fifth and Poland sixth.

    Osita Okeke, Chairman, Nigeria Football Supporters Club, South Africa chapter, said that there was no cause to worry about the latest rankings as it affects the Eagles.

    “ Our concern now is to get the World Cup ticket from group B. That should be our immediate priority.

    “ It is not that the FIFA ranking is not good, but, the Eagles should be focused on beating Zambia in their next match.

    “The ticket is our immediate goal and the Supporters club in South Africa are solidly behind the Eagles,” Okeke said.

  • NFF: Mischief makers at work

    NFF: Mischief makers at work

    The attention of the Nigeria Football Federation has been drawn to a video being circulated by some persons who claim the said slide showed a couple of players of the Super Eagles refusing to shake hands with NFF President

    Amaju Pinnick as the Nigerian delegation arrived Yaounde, Cameroon on Sunday, 3rd September 2017 for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cameroon.

    The said players, Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses, (and Alloy Agu) never  showed disrespect to the NFF President, as can be attested to by the comments of Moses and Musa in the aftermath.

    Perhaps, the objective of the said video was to create disaffection between the NFF President and the said players, but this fell flat on its face as the players afterwards met with the NFF President and laughed the whole thing off as ridiculous.

    The truth is that by his position, the NFF President is father to players of all the National Teams. In reality, the present crop of players in the Super Eagles sees and takes Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick as a big brother, and holds him in very high esteem.

    Nothing has happened to change that perception. The NFF President came down from the Bombadier CRJ 1000 jet on landing and opted to stay by the aircraft to appreciate the players and officials on arrival. The said players, and even goalkeepers’ trainer Alloy Agu, obviously did not know that the NFF President, having flown with the delegation on the same aircraft, would still be waiting by the aircraft to shake hands with them.

    Nothing was planned. He stood there simply appreciating the troops that had decimated African champions Cameroon in Uyo and were determined to do a double over the Cameroonians in Yaounde.

    As the NFF and the Super Eagles unite to stay on the same page and prepare adequately for the MUST-WIN 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Zambia in Uyo next month, we appeal to all genuine stakeholders of Nigerian Football and friends of Nigeria elsewhere to focus on the many positives from the qualifying campaign so far, encourage both the Federation and the team to continue to give its best and appreciate that together, each will always achieve more. No scheme fashioned by anyone can bring schisms within the Super Eagles camp or between the NFF and the squad.

  • Zambia win puts pressure on Super Eagles

    Zambia win puts pressure on Super Eagles

    Chipolopolo of Zambia kept up the pressure on Group B leaders, the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday by beating hosts Algeria 1-0 in Blida to stay firm in their new position.

    Zambia had beaten Algeria 3-1 in Lusaka on Saturday to move above Cameroon who were then with two points only from two draws in two games.

    Read also: ‘Super Eagles victory a wonderful Sallah gift for Nigeria’

    This had set the stage for Zambia to win on Match Day 3 and then Match Day 4 of the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Africa Zone.

    Zambia are now second in the group with seven points from four matches, after two wins, one draw and one loss.

    Cameroon are in third place with three points from four matches, after three draws and one loss.

    Read also: Buhari hails Super Eagles’ victory over Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions

    Algeria bring up the rear with one point from four matches, following one draw and three losses.

    This situation means Zambia still have a chance to upstage Nigeria, if they can beat the Super Eagles on Oct. 7 in Uyo.

    A win means they will be level on 10 points with Nigeria.

    Nigeria will then need to beat Algeria away on the final match day on Nov. 6 to win the group.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group winners will qualify for the World Cup finals.

  • World Cup:Results of Russia 2018 Africa Zone Qualifiers

    World Cup:Results of Russia 2018 Africa Zone Qualifiers

    Following are all the results Match Day 4 fixtures in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, played on Monday and Tuesday (listed in the order of date, venue and match):

    Group A

    04.09.2017    Monastir        Libya 1-0 Guinea

    05.09.2017    Kinshasa        DR Congo 2-2 Tunisia

    Group B

    04.09.2017    Yaounde        Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria

    05.09.2017         Blida   Algeria 0-1 Zambia

    Group C

    05.09.2017    Bamako         Mali 0-0 Morocco

    05.09.2017    Bouake          Cote d’Ivoire 1-2 Gabon

    Group D

    05.09.2017    Durban          South Africa 1-2 Cape Verde

    05.09.2017    Ouagadougou Burkina Faso 2-2 Senegal

    Group E

    05.09.2017    Alexandria     Egypt 1-0 Uganda

    05.09.2017    Kintele           Congo 1-5 Ghana

  • FIFA U-20 Qualifier: Danjuma invites 30 Falconets to camp

    FIFA U-20 Qualifier: Danjuma invites 30 Falconets to camp

    Chris Danjuma, coach of the national U-20 Women National Team, has invited 30 players to camp ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifier against Tanzania.

    The players are expected to report to camp in Abuja on Aug. 23.

    Falconets will take on their Tanzanian counterparts in Nigeria on Sept. 16.

    The return leg of the qualifiers is scheduled to hold on Sept. 30 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to conclude the first round fixture Africa qualifiers.

    Demola Olajire, Head of Communication, Nigeria Football Federation said on Tuesday  that invited players are expected to report to camp with their training kits, original birth certificate, and international passports.

    Olajire said in a statement that the players invited to camp include, Midfield stalwarts Joy Bokiri and Cynthia Aku, and star forward Rasheedat Ajibade.

    Others are; Monle Omini (Abia Angels); Tola Adeniyi (Sunshine Queens); Chioma Okoye (Sa’adatu Amazons); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels); Nelly Ekeh (Pelican Stars); Blessing Ezekiel (Rivers Angels), Margaret Etim (Delta Queens).

    Also invited are; Oluwakemi Famuditi (Confluence Queens), Gloria Ogbonna (Ibom Angels),Joy Duru (Nasarawa Amazons); Feyintola Mabokanje (FC Robo Queens); Florence Alexander (Sunshine Queens), Juliet Iorliam (Nasarawa Amazons).

    Kikelomo Odueke (Edo Queens); Joy Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens); Bola Oladiti (Confluence Queens); Josephine Queens (Nasarawa Amazons); Lilian Tule (Bayelsa Queens); Christy Uchebe (Nasarawa Amazons); Blessing Onoriose (Bayelsa Queens).

    Delta Queens,  Adebisi Saheed, Helen Ugar (Pelican Stars); Uche Udefo (Edo Queens); Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo Queens); Charity Reuben (Ibom Angels); Chinyere Igbomalu (Nasarawa Queens); Doosima Tarnum (Adamawa Queens); Cynthia Aku (Rivers Angels).

    Mariam Abdulrasheed (Confluence Queens) and Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons) were also called to camp.

     

  • Foreign scouts storm Esperanza FC open trial

    Foreign scouts storm Esperanza FC open trial

    Over 500 aspiring footballers took part in the Esperanza Football Club’s open trial held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos.

    The three-day screening session which came to an end on Tuesday, was done under the watchful eyes of FIFA licensed agents and scouts, Ricardo Costa and Amaro from Portugal.

    After the players were put through rigorous training sessions, 25 who were selected from the pool will form the bedrock of the non-league club, while about three players who excelled during the trial will have the opportunity of traveling abroad for club football.

    In a chat with NationSport, Costa said Nigeria is blessed with talent players as he was impressed with the players’ attitude during the trial.

    “With what I’ve seen so far, Nigeria is blessed with young and very talented players. We will try to pick two to three players for clubs in Portugal,” Costa noted.

    President of the club, Ovie Efe said the trial was thrown open to young players free as their own way of engaging the youths positively.

    “The idea behind is like humanitarian service, bringing out something out of nothing to the youths. We all can see what is happening in the country as a result of idleness of our young ones.

    We are doing this for the love and passion for the game.

    “I’ll rate this open trial high, the turnout was impressive and I never expected it. This is the first time and I know that with time things will get better.

    “I see good talented footballers who will become great stars in the nearest future.

    “My immediate plan for them is to give them everything that football has to offer, from this stage to the highest level in football,” Efe said.

    One of the best scouting manager in Nigeria, Bishop Joseph Tonny revealed to NationSport that he combed the nooks and crannies of the country for the players who attended the trials.

    Bishop who is the club’s Director of Football said the club remained committed to fishing talents from grassroot and give them opportunity to excel.

    “We thank God for the success of the trial. We had to go all out to ensure that our best players are given the chance to showcase their talents at no cost to them. So out of the over 500 players that came around, 25 have been picked for the club.”

  • FIFA releases Garcia report on 2018 world cup bid

    FIFA releases Garcia report on 2018 world cup bid

     

    FIFA has released the full report from Michael Garcia’s investigation into the controversial bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar respectively.

    The decision from world football’s governing body comes after German publication Bild obtained what it said was a leaked copy of the findings and on Monday published allegations it claimed were included in the document.

    Garcia, a former New York attorney, was appointed by FIFA in 2012 to investigate allegations of corruption surrounding the bidding process for the World Cups in Russia and Qatar.

    His report was submitted to the world governing body in September 2014, with FIFA releasing a summary two months later that cleared Russia and Qatar of wrongdoing. However, Garcia claimed at the time that version was “incomplete and erroneous”.

    A statement on FIFA’s official website said: “For the sake of transparency, FIFA welcomes the news that this report has now been finally published.”

    FIFA claims that former Ethics Committee chairpersons Cornel Borbely and Hans-Joachim Eckert had refused to publish the full report, despite numerous requests from president Gianni Infantino.

    Outgoing chairman of the adjudicatory chamber Eckert said in November 2014 that his department “did not find any violations or breaches of the relevant rules and regulations” regarding Qatar’s World Cup bid.

    Maria Claudia Rojas and Vassilios Skouris – who were elected in May to replace Borbely and Eckert in the investigatory chamber and the adjudicatory chamber respectively – have now taken the decision to release the investigation in its entirety.

    FIFA’s statement read: “This had been called for on numerous occasions by FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the past and also supported by the FIFA Council since its meeting in Mexico City in May 2016.

    “Despite these regular requests, it is worth noting that the former chairpersons of the Ethics Committee, Cornel Borbely and Hans-Joachim Eckert, had always refused to publish it.

    “The Ethics Committee will meet in its full composition under the new chairpersons for the first time next week, and it was already planned to use this opportunity to discuss the publication of the report.

  • FIFA say Cameroon’s participation at Confederations Cup not in doubt

    World football governing body FIFA says Cameroon’s participation at the Confederations Cup in Russia this month is in order, in spite complaints to the contrary.

    A written submission from Cameroonian club Etoile Filante de Garoua argues that Cameroon’s football federation, FECAFOOT, as presently constituted has no authority to send a team to the tournament.

    FIFA has however acknowledged that there are problems in Cameroon football administration, led by Tombi Sidiki, but insist no one should rock the boat for the time being.

    It issued a statement which read: “FIFA is in contact with the football stakeholders in Cameroon to try and find a solution to the dispute that has been affecting the federation for some time.

    “While discussions are ongoing to resolve these governance issues, football continues and the status of the national representative teams is not in question.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cameroon were banned from global football in July 2013 before the establishment of a FIFA-sanctioned Normalisation Committee.

    After elections were held in September 2015, Sidiki and his Executive Committee then assumed office.

    But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) subsequently backed a ruling made in Cameroon nullifying the polls.

    Sidiki’s win was contested by several clubs, including Etoile Filante which claimed that the composition of the voting delegates was illegal.

    The Chamber of Conciliation and Arbitration of the National Olympic Committee and Cameroonian Sport upheld that appeal in November 2015.

    That ruling was ignored and Sidiki continued to run FECAFOOT with the full backing of FIFA.

    NAN reports that local club Etoile Filante took a case against FECAFOOT to CAS a month later.

    Although the Swiss-based court declined to intervene in the matter, it confirmed November’s ruling by the chamber in Cameroon.

    That response from CAS was communicated to both parties in February, but the situation remained unchanged.

    In March, the Association of Amateur Football Clubs in Cameroon received a letter from FIFA.

    It said Veron Mosengo-Omba, its Director of African and Caribbean Member Associations, would be discussing the issue with FECAFOOT.

    That visit is due to take place in August having been postponed from June.

    NAN reports that the FIFA Confederations Cup, which is for national teams, begins on Saturday in Russia and will end on July 2.

    Cameroon are taking part as Africa’s representatives, having emerged African champions in February at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

  • World Cup: FiFA ´in regular contact´ with Qatar Amid Preparation Concerns

    World Cup: FiFA ´in regular contact´ with Qatar Amid Preparation Concerns

    FIFA says it is “in regular contact” with World Cup 2022 organisers amid concerns preparations for the tournament could be hampered by the growing diplomatic dispute involving Qatar.

    A group of nations including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain announced it will sever ties with Qatar on Monday.

    Through its national press agency, Saudi Arabia issued a statement accusing their neighbours of “harbouring a multitude of terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to create instability in the region”.

    Borders have been closed between the countries and air and sea traffic has been suspended between the peninsular nation and a number of other states. Qatar has branded the decision “unjustified”.

    A statement from Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign affairs read: “Qatar expressed deep regret over the decision of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain to close their borders and airspace and cut off diplomatic relations. Such measures are unjustified and are based on baseless and unfounded allegations.

    “Qatar has been exposed to an instigation campaign based on allegations that amounted to absolute fabrications, which proves that there are premeditated intentions to cause damage to the state.”

    Concerns have been raised that the measures could impact the construction of the venues and infrastructure for the 2022 finals – due to be hosted by Qatar.

    In response to the concerns, a FIFA spokesperson told Omnisport: “FIFA is in regular contact with the Qatar 2022 Local Organising Committee and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy handling matters relating to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

    “We have no further comments for the time being.”

    A total of eight new venues are being built for the competition in five years’ time.

    New metro and roadway projects are also in place to help to improve transport links in Qatar in time for the tournament.

    Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia club Al-Ahli have announced that they are ending their sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways.

  • Nigeria moves up in latest FIFA Ranking

    Nigeria moves up in latest FIFA Ranking

    Nigeria moved up to the 38th position in the world and 4th in Africa in the latest ranking released by world football governing body, FIFA .

    The ranking released on Thursday showed that Nigeria moved up two places from her 40th position in May.

    Nigeria ranked 50th in the world in January, 41st in February, 41st in March and 40th in May.

    According to the latest ranking, Nigeria scored 730 points behind Egypt with 903 points, 20th in the world and number one in Africa.

    Senegal came second in Africa and 27th in the world with 839 points while Cameroon is third in Africa and 32nd in the world with 811 points.

    The ranking showed that Brazil retained the number position in the world with 1715 points , followed by Argentina with 1626 points while Germany is third with 1511 points.