The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gabon

  • CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have intervened to ensure Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are issued entry visas to Gabon for an African U-17 qualifier this weekend.

    This followed a formal complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to CAF that the Eaglets do not have visas to enter Gabon after the country shut down all their embassies in the countries hit by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    “After the initial problem, we are right now at the embassy as regards the visa for the Eaglets,” an NFF official informed AfricanFootball.com.

    “CAF have now directed Gabon to issue the team visas.”

    NFF were already working on getting visas at the point of entry for the U-17s.

    U-17 world champions Nigeria are due to face Gabon in Libreville on Sunday in the first leg of a final round qualifier for Niger 2015.

    The winners of this match-up will qualify for the 2015 African Junior Championship in Niger early next year.

  • 2015 AFRICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Gabon shock Eaglets 2-1 in Libreville

    2015 AFRICAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Gabon shock Eaglets 2-1 in Libreville

    • Coach Amuneke says Nigeria will be better at home

    Nigeria’s Under-17 team, Golden Eaglets, were beaten 2-1 by Gabon yesterday in their Final Round, First Leg 2015 African Under-17 Championship qualifier at the Stade Augustin Monedan de Sibang in Libreville.

    Victor Osimhen gave the Eaglets an early fourth minute goal while the home side levelled up through Moubouhy Ngouba in the 26th minute and Maomikolo Boundembi scored the winner in the 80th minute of an engrossing match that saw Osimhen getting a ‘questionable’ red card from Central African Republic referee, Jean Marc Ganamandji in the 70th minute.

    “The boys gave their best under the circumstances that we found ourselves especially the difficult travel arrangement which caused fatigue especially in the second half,” explained Coach Emmanuel Amuneke.

    “But with all sense of responsibility, the officiating of this match was poor but we have to put this behind us and focus on the second leg.

    “From what we have seen, we would have came out with a better result if we had taken our chances in the first half but we can get better at home,” he stated.

    The Golden Eaglets actually started the game well as Osimhen grabbed the curtain raiser in the fourth minute when he pushed the ball beyond the reach of the Gabonese goalkeeper off a pullout from Kehinde Ayinde. They could have increased the tally thereafter but poor marksmanship in front of the Gabonese goal robbed them of such opportunities.

    The Gabonese, however, got their equaliser through Moubouhy Ngouba following a free kick in the 26th minute after referee Ganamandji made a foul call on goalkeeper Amos Benjamin.

    Yet Golden Eaglets’ captain Kelechi Nwakali as well as Ayinde and Promise Orji failed to convert the opportunities that came their way as the first half dragged to an end. There were few chances in between in the second half and referee Ganamandji turned out to be a kill joy when he gave Osimhen a red card in the 70th minute for a spurious offence- albeit after a yellow card in the 55th minute.

    Ten minutes later, Maomikolo Boundembi scored the winner for the Gabonese when he pounced on the ball after a defensive slip up to bury it behind Benjamin yet again.

    Eaglets’ line up vs. Gabon

    A. Benjamin, A. Mohammed, D. Ayodeji, H. Zakari, U. Abass, K. Nwakali, E. Agenor (K. Michael), P. Orji (S. Chukwueze), K. Ayinde (E. Osinachi), S. Abdullahi, V. Osimhen.

  • CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    CAF orders Gabon to issue Eaglets visas

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have intervened to ensure Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets are issued entry visas to Gabon for an African U-17 qualifier this weekend.

    This followed a formal complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to CAF that the Eaglets do not have visas to enter Gabon after the country shut down all their embassies in the countries hit by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    “After the initial problem, we are right now at the embassy as regards the visa for the Eaglets,” an NFF official informed AfricanFootball.com.

    “CAF have now directed Gabon to issue the team visas.”

    NFF were already working on getting visas at the point of entry for the U-17s.

    U-17 world champions Nigeria are due to face Gabon in Libreville on Sunday in the first leg of a final round qualifier for Niger 2015.

    The winners of this match-up will qualify for the 2015 African Junior Championship in Niger early next year.

  • Heartland to attack in Gabon

    Heartland to attack in Gabon

    Heartland forward, Abdul Haruna has said his side will not defend the slim first leg victory at Union Sportive Bitam (USB) in Saturday’s first round reverse fixture of the Caf Confederation Cup in Bitam, Gabon.

    The Naze Millionaires squeezed out a 2-1 win against the Gabonese side on March 17 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri and must avoid defeat in the make-or-mar duel at the Stade Gaston Peyrille, Bitam to progress in Africa’s second tier club competition.

    Haruna said Union Sportive Bitam were ordinary in the first fixture and will suffer defeat at their back yard.

    “We won’t defend our 2-1 win in the first leg but go all out right from the blast of the whistle to attack and I’m confident we’ll net the vital goals that will see us in the next stage of the competition.

    “I know we’ll win because the goal they scored against us was merely luck. They weren’t fantastic but simply ordinary.

    “We’re in high spirit thinking nothing but the battle at Union Sportive Bitam. Our confidence level is further boosted by recent league victories.

    “The coaches have carefully selected the best legs for the encounter and they’re raring to go. We’ll surely come back with the qualification ticket at the expense of US Bitam,” said the former Kano Pillars’ hit-man to supersport.com.

    Strikers, Jolly Osas and Isah Akor scored for Heartland in the first fixture at Owerri while danger man, Alain Djessikadie got his side’s consolation goal.

    Heartland arrived Lagos on Wednesday from their base, Owerri and will depart to Bitam, Gabon on Thursday.

  • NEMA receives 242 Nigerian returnees from Gabon

    The National Emergency Management Agency South-south zonal coordinator, Mr. Umesi Emenike, on Monday received 242 Nigerian returnees from the Republic of Gabon.

    Speaking while receiving the returnees, Emenike said the returnees voluntarily decided to return home after years of sojourn in that country.

    He noted that it was the constitutional mandate of NEMA to “facilitate such nostalgic operation’’ which, according to him, is a demonstration of patriotism.

    Emenike explained that the returnees were not repatriated as could be misconceived, but decided to come home after discovering that Gabon was no longer conducive for their businesses.

    “Let no one misinterpret this return as repatriation; they were not repatriated but they felt things were not working well there.

    “They decided to return home where they would be proud to thrive under any condition because it is their own country,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the NEMA coordinator as saying at the event.

    Emenike confirmed that some of the returnees had been confronted with harsh economic situations and poverty in Gabon, hence they boldly agreed to come home as an escape from hardship.

    The zonal coordinator, who disclosed that many of the returnees were from Bayelsa, assured them of adequate care.

    He added that they comprised of 80 per cent children and an octogenarian.

    One of the returnees, Mr. Layefa Torubeli, who went to Gabon in 1964, said the returnees were subjected to harsh economic situations that compelled them to reason that coming home was the best option.