The Nation Newspaper

Tag: hails

  • NFF hails team spirit as Eagles set to tame Leopards

    NFF hails team spirit as Eagles set to tame Leopards

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick on Wednes-day hailed the spirit in the camp of the Super Eagles in Belgium, as Nigeria’s senior boys banished memories of a brief misunderstanding that reared its head on Tuesday night.

    “I’m happy there is absolute peace in the camp and the players and coaches are thinking of nothing other than the two matches against DR Congo and Cameroon.

    “Whatever misunderstanding that happened on Tuesday night has been peacefully resolved and everyone’s forgotten about it. Anywhere you have a group of people there is propensity for misunderstanding now and again. The key thing is the immediacy of resolution and the maturity to forgive and forget.”

    Head Coach Sunday Oliseh assured there were no longer issues and that the three –time African champions were focused on Thursday’s high –profile friendly against the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    DR Congo, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1968 and 1974, has remained a strong force in African football, and never a squad to treat with kid gloves. But they face a supercharged Eagles loaded with plenty of new and enthusiastic talent, and fortified by some of the old guard.

    There are three –time FIFA World Cup star Vincent Enyeama, defenders Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile, midfielders John Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi as well as forwards Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike (who have all played at the FIFA World Cup), and relatively new faces Carl Ikeme, Dele Alampasu, Leon Balogun, Abdullahi Shehu, Kingsley Madu, Wilfred Ndidi, William Troost Ekong, Obiora Nwankwo, Rabiu Ibrahim, Sylvester Igbonu, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi.

    Oliseh called up former junior international goalkeeper Dele Alampasu from Portugal, as well as defenders Kingsley Madu and Wilfred Ndidi, and on Wednesday directed the six players and backroom staff yet to be issued visas by the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja to report to Port Harcourt.

    Today’s clash of the Eagles and Leopards will start at 7pm at the VISE Stadium, and will be the first between both countries’ senior teams in five-and-half-years.

    A largely home –based Nigeria squad walloped the Leopards 5-2 in a friendly in Abuja in March 2010. Two goals by Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) accounted for the Leopards in a quarter -final match of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, just as Yekini had scored the only goal of another quarter -final tie between the two teams in Senegal two years earlier.

    Yet, the most memorable clash between both nations was far back in March 1976, when a young Green Eagles’ squad stunned the reigning African champions 4-2 in a Cup of Nations group phase match in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

    After a meeting on Tuesday that involved officials of the Union Royale Belge des Societes de Football Association (Belgian FA), a decision was taken to stage the Super Eagles’ clash with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Sunday at the Edmond Machtens Stadium in Brussels, with the match now to start at 8pm local time.

    In Port Harcourt, the home –based professionals continued their preparations for the 2016 African Nations Championship final qualifying round against the Etalons of Burkina Faso. All 19 players trained on Monday evening and on Tuesday.

    PLAYERS IN BELGIUM: Vincent Enyeama, Carl Ikeme, Leon Balogun, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, William Troost Ekong, Efe Ambrose, Ogenyi Onazi, Obiora Nwankwo, John Mikel Obi, Rabiu Ibrahim, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Sylvester Igbonu, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi. NEW INVITEES: Kingsley Madu, Wilfred Ndidi, Dele Alampasu

    PLAYERS IN PORT HARCOURT: David Obiazor, Okemute Odah, Solomon Kwambe, Kalu Orji, Osas Okoro, Idris Aloma, Ezekiel Bassey, Samson Gbadebo, Jamiu Alimi, Abdulrazaq Aliyu, Stephen Eze, Bright Onyedikachi, Bature Yaro, Ifeanyi Mathew, Usman Mohammed, Chisom Chikatara, Tunde Adeniji, Dayo Ojo, Gbolahan Salami. EXPECTED: Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Paul Onobi, Prince Aggrey.

     

  • Amapakabo hails Ezeji

    Amapakabo hails Ezeji

    Enugu Rangers head coach, Imama Amapakabo, has described Glo Premier League star, Victor Ezeji, as a natural goal scorer and one of the true legends of the domestic league.

    Amapakabo, who was Sharks captain when Ezeji joined the Port Harcourt side a rookie, applauded his recent move to Heartland, where the forward intends to end his career.

    “Ezeji is a finisher.That’s his strongest attribute. I can’t remember any goal he scored with a shot, but he has his unique way of putting the ball in the net especially inside the box.

    “The good about him is that he makes goal scoring look easy. Ezeji has a natural left foot and knows how to make use of his right foot. And he’s good in the air.

    “I’m proud of his career”, Amapakabo stated.

    Ezeji is expected to make his Heartland debut at Bayelsa United on match day 31.

     

  • Aspire academy hails NFF, stages ninth finals

    Aspire academy hails NFF, stages ninth finals

    Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence has heaped plaudits on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for its strong backing for the activities of its Nigeria arm, which has been running for the past eight years.

    At a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday to herald the 9th Top 50 finals scheduled for today also in Lagos, Director of the Aspire Football Dreams Nigeria, Colonel Sam Ahmedu (rtd) and other top officials of the world-renowned academy from across the globe, stated clearly that they woud not have been able to make the giant strides without the NFF’s support.

    Ahmedu said: “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has remained our backbone with the support they have continued to give to this project every year. We value their support and backing all the time.”

    Aspire Football Dreams Nigeria is the country arm of Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, based in Doha, Qatar. The academy with its magnificent sport and medical facilities has been of immense value to Nigeria football, with the U-17 and U-20 National Teams having previously camped at the academy before, most notably the U-17 National Team that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2013.

    With 800 playing fields all over the world (80 of them in Nigeria), over 6,000 volunteers and over 3 million players screened, Aspire Academy remains the leading youth development program in the universe. Its mission to aid the development of football amongst the youth of developing countries of the world has seen more than 30 Nigerian young men horn their skills in Doha since the country joined the program in 2007.

    Goalkeeper John Felagha was part of the Nigeria U-17 squad that won silver at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and was also in the U-20 squad to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2011, forward Funsho Bamgboye is in the Nigeria U-17 squad to the FIFA U-17 World Cup starting in Chile next month.

    Senegal, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Cameroon, Guatemala, Paraguay, Vietnam and Thailand are also part of Aspire Academy’s global program.

    hree successful players from among the Top 50 selected from the preliminaries held across the country will enjoy Aspire Academy’s special facilities and grooming regime for the next five years.

    Among Aspire’s global coordinators who attended Tuesday’s parley were Lamine Savane (Director for Africa), Steven Othoro (Kenya), Juanjo Rovira (Spain), Xavier-Comas (Spain), Andrea Price (Australia) and Shahe Ohannessian (Spain).

    Aspire Academy then presented a special gold medal to the NFF for its support of its programs

     

  • NFF hails U-23 over Ghana win

    NFF hails U-23 over Ghana win

    General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has commended the output of the U-23 National Team in a 2-0 win over their Ghanaian counterparts at the All-Africa Games on Wednesday.

    In the team’s first match of the Men’s Football Tournament of the Games as a result of the withdrawal of Egypt, the Dream Team lashed 1992 Olympics bronze medallists Ghana 2-0 at the Stade l’unite 3 in Brazzaville.

    Ace forward Junior Ajayi, who hit two goals in the Olympics qualifying defeat of Congo-Brazzaville in Port Harcourt in July, scored Nigeria’s first goal in the 54th minute. Enyimba FC midfielder Kingsley Sokari, who played for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand in the summer, made the game safe for the Samson Siasia –led squad with four minutes to the end.

    Sanusi, who is with the Dream Team and the Super Falcons in Brazzaville and watched the U-23 boys’ victory, said: “The U-23 boys played very well. They exhibited excellent cohesion and this is one National Team to be proud of.

    “My charge to the team is to learn to take their chances. The scoreline would have been higher if they had not been profligate in front of goal. I believe the coaches will work on that aspect as the competition progresses.”

    The Dream Team’s next match of the Games is against Senegal’s U-23, at the same Stade l’unite 3, on Saturday.

  • Ikeme hails Port Harcourt fans

    Ikeme hails Port Harcourt fans

    Wolverhampton Wanderers netminder Carl Ikeme was pleased to keep another clean sheet on Tuesday as the Super Eagles beat their Nigerien counterparts 2 – 0 in Port Harcourt.

    Furthermore, the Anglo – Nigerian had kind words for the fans that came to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium to cheer the team to victory.

    “Nice to finish the week off with a 2 – 0 win with Super Eagles,” the 29 – year – old Ikeme said on his Twitter page.

    “Great atmosphere yesterday (Tuesday) from the fans in Port Harcourt. Thank you. ”

    Ikeme would have played second fiddle in last weekend’s clash against Tanzania but Lille goalie Vincent Enyeama withdrew from the squad days leading up to the clash in Dar es Salaam.

  • Abdulrahman hails referee despite defeat

    Abdulrahman hails referee despite defeat

    The Technical Adviser of Kwara United FC of Ilorin, Tunde Abdulrahman on Wednesday was full of praises for the centre referee in charge of his team’s match day 27 with Kano Pillars in Kano describing his performance as hundred percent.

    A seven-minute strike by Rabiu Ali from a free kick gave Kano Pillars the maximum three points in Kano.

    Abdulrahman said Nworie performance was one of the best he has seen this season both home and away and called on him to maintain such display.

    “If this man (Nworie) continues like this, the sky will be the beginning of his limit.

    “If he can keep this display we will see him in the world cup very soon.

    “If we can get this kind of performance, week in week out our league we improve drastically,” Abdulrahman said.

    Abdulrahman maintained that Nigeria is full of talented people and the league organisers should continue to encourage referees like Nworie.

    The former Wikki Tourists of Bauchi gaffer said if not that his goalkeeper was late to follow Ali’s free kick, he will be going home at least with a point.

    “I’m very happy with my boys today.

    “There are lots of positives from this game today and we will go home to see how we can maintain it.

    “If not because football is football, I’m suppose to be in cloud 9 by now,” he said.

    Kwara United will host Abia Warriors in Ilorin on Sunday in a Match Day 28.

  • Zone Two PCRC hails recruitment of additional officers

    The Police Community Relations Committee(PCRC), __Zone Two Police Command, Lagos,_ yesterday applauded the Buhari administration’s directive for the recruitment of 10,000 fresh police officers by the Nigeria Police Force.

    In a statement by the Chairman, Archbishop George Amu, the organization said it is exceptionally gladdened by the news, in view of the security challenges facing the country at the moment, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari should compel the police authority to commence the recruitment exercise immediately to avoid any bureaucracy or unnecessary foot dragging.

    Archbishop Amu called for full police / public partnership in all the zones of the police commands in order to modernize the Police Force by “buying modern training equipment which are now obsolete, building of police quarters and total improvement of the police infrastructure. Private partnership should be involved to enhance the police force because government could not do every thing alone.”

    “My opinion is that government alone cannot do everything for the Nigeria Police. Government cannot effect modernization of all obsolete police equipment. I hereby advise and recommend that the government should authorize full private partnership with Police Zones. The police has a Trust Fund in Lagos State. What stops the Police to also set up Trust Fund__s with business partners in their zones.”

  • Buhari hails Special athletes

    Buhari hails Special athletes

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s team to the just concluded Special Olympics in Los Angeles, United States.

    Buhari, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, commended the team for their diligence, dedication and wonderful performance at the games in which they won a total of 71 medals, including 34 gold medals.

    The President applauded the special athletes’ inspiring victories in Los Angeles, which, he believed, epitomize the true Nigerian spirit and his personal conviction that whatever challenges Nigeria faces as a nation can be overcome with dedication, hard work and perseverance, rising to the highest possible levels of accomplishment.

    He assured the athletes that the Federal Government and Nigerians are very proud of their exhilarating and dominant performance at the Special Olympics in which they won medals in all events the team featured in.

    “The President looks forward to receiving members of the team at the Presidential Villa to celebrate their brilliant victories in Los Angeles,” the statement stated.

  • Oshiomhole hails NUJ President Odusile

    Oshiomhole hails NUJ President Odusile

    •‘Fight for journalists’ welfare’

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the victory of Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile as the president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is a reflection of the commitment of members to move the union to a higher level.

    In a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, the governor said: “Waheed Odusile’s victory at the keenly contested election reflects the wishes of members to effect the desired change in the affairs of the union.

    “I have implicit confidence that with you as president of the NUJ, the union will no doubt get a true and selfless leadership needed to key into the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari and bring unparalleled growth to members of your great union.

    “Your pedigree as a reputed journalist in many media houses and a unionist with experience spanning over two decades have prepared you for the onerous task of leading the NUJ to a higher level.

    “Even as we celebrate your victory, I give kudos to the other candidates for a gallant fight, and for the peaceful conduct of the delegates’ conference. There is no doubt that other unions can learn from the peaceful and transparent manner with which the NUJ election was conducted.

    “I urge the other candidates to join hands with the new NUJ President to reposition the union as the conscience of the nation.”

    Also, a former governorship candidate in Cross River State, Mr Patrick Okomiso, has urged  Odusile to fight for better working conditions for journalists.

    Okomiso told our reporter in Calabar, the state capital, that Odusile needs to take journalism practice to a higher level.

    The politician noted that without modern journalism, democracy cannot be sustained.

    He said: “Given his antecedents, I believe his election victory as president is a plus for Nigerian journalism. He should improve the quality of journalism in the country.

    “I urge him to fight for the welfare of journalists. He must ensure that they are remunerated in a manner equal to what they go through. He should also work for insurance of journalists.”

  • Ikhana hails Ilorin fans

    Ikhana hails Ilorin fans

    Enyimba FC Coach Kadiri Ikhana has described leading his team to a win in Ilorin against Kwara united FC as a sweet home coming after the former Kwara United boss inflicted the second home loss of the season on the Harmony warriors.

    Ikhana told www.footballlive.ng that the Kwara fans showed an unexpected appreciation to him and his team despite condemning their darling side to a defeat.

    ”It was like a home coming for me, I never knew the Kwara people loved me so much. Enyimba is a big team and you can expect we’ll get good results anywhere we played.

    ”The crowd wasn’t aggressive, their reaction was amazing as they even cheered Enyimba.”