The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Italy

  • Russia 2018: Is this Africa’s time?

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Egypt, returning to the Mundial for the first time since 1990, will be the first African team in action when they confront Uruguay on Friday as the 2018 FIFA World Cup began in Russia on Thursday, 14th June.

    The last African match at the World Cup was Algeria’s ouster to Germany at the Round of 16 on June 30, 2014. France had earlier that day sent the Super Eagles of Nigeria packing, falling to two un-replied goals by Paul Pogba and Captain Joseph Yobo, who scored against his own team.

    No African country has ever reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup since its first edition in 1930.The pain of 2010 is still fresh on African minds, eight years down the line. With the World Cup party hosted on African soil for the very first time, many thought Africa would emulate Asia, who hosted the mundial for the first time in 2002 and broke their jinx, with South Korea getting to the semi-finals.

    And it almost turned out right, with one penalty kick from Ghanaian striker, Asamoah Gyan, separating Ghana and Africa from a semi-final place (after Uruguay’s Luis Suarez had committed a foul, stopping a goal-bound header from Dominic Adiya with his hands, and getting sent-off in the process). But the Ghanaian skipper missed it, and his team lost the resultant penalty shoot-out.

    Egypt became the first African team to participate in the World Cup in 1934 in Italy, and bowed out without a win. Africa went on to record its first victory in the FIFA World Cup 44 years later, in 1978, when Tunisia defeated Mexico 3-1.

    Morocco advanced to the Round of 16, taking Africa to that stage for the first time in 1986. They had recorded two draws against Poland and England, but went on to beat Portugal 3-1 in the last group match. They would go on to lose 0-1 to West Germany in the second round.

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    In 1990, Cameroon got to the quarter-finals for the first time, after Roger Milla scored two extra-time goals against Colombia in the Round of 16. The Indomitable Lions would go no further than that, losing 2-3 to England at extra time.

    Senegal also got to the semi-finals in 2002, but fell to a golden goal by Turkey in extra time of the quarter-finals match. They had a good outing at the finals which included a shock 1-0 victory over defending champions France in the opening match and a golden-goal win against Sweden in the second round.

    Nigeria and Algeria however have the Round of 16 as their best outing so far at the FIFA World Cup, with Algeria falling short to Germany in 2014, and the Super Eagles failing on three attempts in 1994, 1998 and 2014, to qualify for the quarter-finals. They lost to Italy, Denmark and France respectively.

    With five teams representing Africa in 2018, one wonders whether luck will shine on Africa, taking the continent to the last four for the first time ever.

    There is a possibility of two African countries meeting at the Round of 16 or quarter-finals. Egypt, the most successful national team on the African continent, Morocco, who won every match in their qualifiers without conceding a goal, and Nigeria, who make a sixth appearance at the finals, are in Groups, A, B and D respectively. Tunisia, returnees after their last outing in 2006 and Senegal, who makes their second appearance at the World Cup finals, have their slots in Groups G and H respectively. Given that anything is possible in football, two of these sides can meet in the first two knockout stages, and victory can guarantee a place in the semi-finals for the first time.

    It should however be recalled that in 1998, Morocco, Cameroon, South Africa and Nigeria were in Groups A, B, C, and D respectively with only Nigeria advancing to the Round of 16 (following Tunisia’s ouster from Group G).

    In 2002, Senegal and South Africa were in Groups A and B respectively, with Cameroon, Nigeria and Tunisia camped in Groups E, F and H. Only Senegal scaled the group stage, and got to the quarter-finals.

    In 2006, Cote d’Ivoire and Angola were in Groups C and D respectively. Ghana, Togo and Tunisia were in Groups E, G and H. Only the Black Stars of Ghana made it to the Round of 16, and fell to Brazil.

    In 2010, with six African teams in the competition, Ghana alone got to the quarter-finals.

    And in 2014, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire got Groups A and C, and Nigeria, Ghana and Algeria were camped in Groups F, G and H.  The Super Eagles of Nigeria and Desert Foxes of Algeria got to the second round, and crashed out there.

    So the arithmetic of a possible meeting based on the group they have found themselves may not visible, seeing that these groups also have the presence Uruguay, Portugal, Spain, Argentina and Belgium.

    Africa however hopes luck will shine this time, 88 years after the first edition.

  • Sustain campaign against irregular migration, expert urges FG

    A migration expert and resource person at the European Union-International Organisation for Migration (EU-IOM) reintegration training in Nigeria, Osita Osemene, has urged the Federal Government to sustain the tempo of campaigns against irregular migration.

    According to Osemene, this would, “in no distant time”, bring the problem under control.

    He spoke against the backdrop of recent reports about the rescue of no fewer than 50 Nigerian migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, en route Italy.

    The Nigerians were said to be among 110 migrants, comprising 18 women and one child, that were intercepted and jointly rescued by the Libyan coastguard and an international charity organisation, Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

    Osemene, who expressed shock at the development, added: “It is regrettable that despite campaign efforts by the Nigerian government, international bodies and local agencies to curb irregular migration, Nigerians are still taking the risk.”

  • 17 Nigerian migrants sue Italy for returning them to Libya

    Seventeen Nigerian migrants who survived a deadly sea crossing last year have filed a lawsuit against Italy for violating their rights by supporting Libya’s efforts to return them to North Africa, their lawyers said on Tuesday.

    The plaintiffs, two of whom have returned to Nigeria, petitioned the European Court of Human Rights last week, Violeta Moreno-Lax, a legal advisor for the Global Legal Action Network, told reporters. She was among four lawyers and several humanitarian groups involved in the case.

    The migrants, who were not identified, said Italy violated multiple articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including that people not be subjected to torture, held in slavery, or have their lives put in danger.

    The United Nations, rights groups and news organizations say migrants face these conditions in Libya.

    According to Global Action Network, on 6 November 2017, the Libyan Coast Guard interfered with the efforts of the NGO vessel Sea-Watch 3 to rescue 130 migrants from a sinking dinghy. At least twenty of them died.

    The Libyan vessel was donated by Italy a few months before. The intervention was partly coordinated from Rome by the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC), an Italian Government agency. An Italian navy ship was nearby, part of the Mare Sicuro operation which has operated in Libyan territorial waters facilitating interceptions by the Coast Guard.

    The Libyan Coast Guard ‘pulled back’ the survivors to Libya, where they endured detention in inhumane conditions, beatings, extortion, starvation, and rape. Two of the survivors were subsequently ‘sold’ and tortured with electrocution.

    The two Nigerians said they were starved of even basic food and healthcare, before returning to Nigeria with the International Organization for Migration.

    All the plaintiffs were rescued at sea, but at least 20 migrants drowned when a part of their rubber boat deflated.

    German humanitarian ship Sea Watch 3 rescued 59 people that day and collected the body of a small child, all of whom were brought to Italy.

    The Libyan naval vessel, which had been donated by Italy and was operated mainly by a crew trained by the EU, returned 47 to Libya. In a video shot by Sea Watch, the Libyans are seen beating the migrants they intercepted with a rope, and the vessel then speeds off with a man clinging to the side.

    This is the first lawsuit to be filed against Italy for its decision to back the Libyan Coast Guard. The country lost a case in the same court in 2012 for directly handing over migrants intercepted at sea to Libyan authorities.

    The legal process can take up to three years but should the migrants win they can be awarded damages, and Italy would be forced to abandon its policy of equipping, training and coordinating the Libyan Coast Guard, Moreno-Lax said.

    “Using the Libyan Coast Guard as a proxy to turn back migrant boats is just a new way of camouflaging (Italy’s) strategy of fighting irregular migration in the Mediterranean by trapping them in what the Italian Foreign Ministry itself has qualified as ‘the hell’ of Libya,” Moreno-Lax said.

    The lawsuit highlights a stand-off between humanitarian groups seeking to save lives on the open seas and Italian authorities backed by the European Union who are trying to stop people from making the dangerous crossing in the first place.

    A spokesman for Italy’s Interior Ministry, which has spearheaded the policy, had no immediate comment.

    Libyan naval spokesman Ayoub Qassem said the coast guard does its job within the terms agreed with Italy.

    “Regarding the abuse and violations against the migrants, these are all considered as individual acts … We can’t say Libyan state institutions commit these acts,” Qassem said.

    SEA CROSSINGS DOWN
    Italy has supplied Libya with seven refurbished vessels so far, and three more have been promised, while the EU has trained about 190 Libyan coastguards.

    Italy is also coordinating communications with the Libyan Coast Guard about possible boats in distress, according to court documents filed recently in Sicily.

    Between 2014 and 2017, more than 600,000 migrants arrived on Italian shores, but crossings have fallen dramatically since Italy and Libya signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at stemming the migration flow in February of last year.

    During the first five months of this year, arrivals from Libya fell more than 80 percent versus last year to 6,700 during, official data show. Over the same period, the Libyan Coast Guard intercepted almost 6,000 migrants and refugees. In 2017, the Libyans turned back almost 19,000.

  • Stopping the menace of Human Trafficking

    Human Trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the traffickers or others.

    This may encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage, or the extraction of organs or tissues, including for surrogacy and ova removal; it’s occurs within a country or trans-nationally.

    The recent repatriation of the denizens of our dear nation from countries like Libya, Spain, Italy etc., is a pointer to the fact that human trafficking have eaten deep into the moral, social and economic fabric of our country.

    There is an urgent need to curb this menace.

    Human Trafficking is a crime against the person because of the violation of the victims rights of movement through coercion and because of their commercial exploitation.

     According to the research made by the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) in 2012 was about 21million victims are trapped in modern day slavery, that 14.2 million (68%) were exploited for labor,4.5 million (22%) were sexually exploited and 2.2 million (10%) were exploited in state imposed forced labour.

    National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) as an agency is saddled with the onerous responsibility to bolster its tracking and monitoring apparatus in order to sanitise not only our physical space, but also the squalid mentality that breeds and encourages human trafficking and exploitation especially amongst the youths.

     

    TYPES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

    1. Children Trafficking
    2. Sex Trafficking
    3. Forced Marriage
    4. Labour Trafficking
    5. Trafficking for organ trade

       

    STRUCTURAL FACTOR

    1. Poverty & globalization
    2. Political & institution challenges
    3. Commercial demand for sex

     

    EFFECT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

    1. Psychological
    2. Health
    3. Societal
    4. Economic effect

    Below are some of the ways in which human trafficking can be prevented in our society:

    1. Pray
    2. Learn
    3. Read good books
    4. Express your concern to your political representatives
    5. Support local law enforcement
    6. Be responsible to consumers
    7. Be alert when traveling
    8. Trust your gut instincts
    9. Man up!
    10. Woman up!
    11. Speak up!
    12. Host a dinner
    13. Sponsor a child
    14. Get involved
    15. Protect by prevention
    16. Give
    17. Use your talents
    18. Set an example
    19. Think outside the box

    It is imperative we join forces and resources together as a people to stop human trafficking in our society. Governments should encourage and collaborate with private and nongovernmental organisations to educate and enlighten our citizens on the dangers of trying to cut corners in order to travel out of the country.

  • Video: Over 50 Nigerian migrants rescued on way to Italy

    Video: Over 50 Nigerian migrants rescued on way to Italy

    No fewer than 50 Nigerian migrants were among the hundreds of migrants rescued yesterday in the Mediterranean by Libya’s coastguard and an international charity, Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

    The Nigerians were aboard a boat with 110 migrants.

    They were rescued by Aquarius, a ship being operated by MSF, 21 miles from the coast west of Tripoli.

    The ship will deliver the migrants, who included 18 women and one child, to Italy.

    More than half the migrants on that boat were Nigerians, with the rest from other sub-Saharan African countries as well as two Palestinians.

    The Libyan coastguard vessels also intercepted two of the migrant boats, the first an inflatable dinghy that had broken down with 125 people on board off Zawiya, just west of the capital, Tripoli, said Ayoub Qassem, a coastguard spokesman.

    https://twitter.com/nicolacois/status/972492129594499073

    The second boat was turned back off Garabulli, east of Tripoli, and had 112 people on board. The migrants and their smugglers were trying to take advantage of calm seas as they launched a flurry of boats towards Italy.

    Meanwhile the coastguard in Zuwara, a former Libyan smuggling hub west of Zawiya, said they had foiled a departure during the night and arrested some migrants whilst others had escaped with smugglers.

    Libya is the main departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea. More than 600,000 migrants have crossed the central Mediterranean to Italy over the past four years as people smugglers took advantage of a security vacuum in Libya.

    Since last summer the rate of departures dropped significantly after smugglers in the Libyan town of Sabratha struck a deal with the Tripoli government to halt their activities and were then pushed out of the town by rival armed groups.

    Libya’s EU-backed coastguard has also stepped up interceptions, often cutting migrant boats off before they can reach international vessels that would bring them to Europe.

     

  • Nigerian drug dealer triggers shooting in Italy

    A suspected Nigerian drug dealer is being linked with a shooting yesterday in the central Italian city of Macerata in which at least five African migrants were targeted.

    It is feared the attack might be racially or drug motivated or a revenge attack.

    Unconfirmed report said one of the Africans hit by the gunman died.

    The shooter identified as Luca Traini was arrested at 12.45pm, at a monument in the city, after he gave the Nazi salute.

    The shooting happened just days after the body of an 18-year-old Italian woman Pamela Mastropietro, was discovered dismembered and hidden in two suitcases.

    A Nigerian migrant, Innocent Oseghale, 29, with a history of drug dealing, was arrested in connection with the death.

    According to Picchionews, published in Macerata, the Nigerian has denied the charge.

    “I did not kill her,” he was reported to have told the police repeatedly.

    Oseghale is said to be an asylum seeker with a residence permit, which expired last year.

    He is married and has a daughter. He however stays alone in an apartment, not rented in his name.

    Police, after searching his flat, found 70 grams of hashish but not heroin.

    Yesterday’s shooting put the city in a virtual lockdown as the Mayor ordered people to stay indoors.

    He was arrested around 12.45pm.

    He drove around the town, as a passenger in a black Alfa Romeo.

    Police confirmed that “gunshots have been fired and there are wounded”.

    No fewer than five Africans were hit, with unconfirmed reports stating one person died.

    The shootings began at 11am local time (10am) when the man shot at two young African migrants, according to local media.

    Another migrant and an African woman were reportedly shot shortly afterwards.

     

  • Italy to deploy 470 troops to tackle traffickers in Niger

    Italy to deploy 470 troops to tackle traffickers in Niger

    Italy aims to deploy up to 470 troops to Niger to help tackle traffickers, the military General Staff said.

    Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on December 24 that some of the 1,400 Italian troops now stationed in Iraq could be transferred to the Sahel region in West Africa, which includes Niger, after victories against Islamist militants in Iraq.

    Gentiloni said the redeployed troops could also help to combat terrorism in the Sahel.

    The military said in a statement that a reconnaissance mission was underway in Niger to help decide the scale of the assistance, which the African country’s government has requested but which still needs to be approved by Italy’s parliament.

    The general staff said if the necessary approval is given, Italy would aim to gradually send up to 470 troops, probably posting an average of 250 over the course of a year.

    Read also: Dogara leads Nigerian delegation  to Italy over Human Trafficking

    “The aim of the mission is to increase the operational capacity of the Niger forces and put them in a position to guarantee stability in the area and fight illegal trafficking of migrants,” the military added.

    Italy’s president dissolved parliament on Thursday ahead of an election due in March, but lawmakers will continue to meet, and could approve Gentiloni’s request to transfer the personnel.

    Italy is especially keen to help tackle the people-smuggling gangs because it has borne the brunt of seaborne illegal migration to Europe from Africa.

    No fewer than 600,000 people have made the perilous journey across the central Mediterranean from Libya in the past four years.

    Arrivals have fallen sharply since officials working for the UN-backed government in Tripoli persuaded smugglers to stop boats leaving and the Libyan coastguard stepped up interceptions at sea.

    (Reuters/NAN)

  • Lippi: World Cup without Italy not complete

    Lippi: World Cup without Italy not complete

     

    Marcello Lippi believes a World Cup without nations such as Italy and Netherlands is “not complete”, with the veteran coach backing a FIFA proposal to expand the tournament to 48 teams.

    Lippi, who led the Azzurri to glory at the 2006 tournament, is in charge of China, who missed out on qualification for Russia 2018.

    Italy lost a play-off to Sweden after failing to score in either leg, while Netherlands finished third in their qualifying pool behind the Janne Andersson’s side and Group A winners France.

    But 69-year-old Lippi believes the World Cup will not be the same without two of Europe’s traditional superpowers.

    “Italy and Netherlands failing to qualify for a World Cup is a low-probability event,” Lippi told Chinese outlet PPTV.

    “FIFA’s current plan to expand the tournament to 48 teams [from 2026] is quite reasonable because it serves to reduce the likelihood of such low-probability events.

    “I recommend eight European teams and eight South American teams are automatically qualified for the World Cup.

    “A World Cup is not complete without such strong teams. We need to respect the fact that the World Cup has a history of hosting traditional superpowers.

    “Argentina qualified for the World Cup in the last round [of qualifiers]. Just imagine a World Cup without [Lionel] Messi. Something doesn’t seem right.”

    The 2002 tournament – which was held in South Korea and Japan – is the only time China have ever made it to the finals.

    But Lippi, who survived strong speculation he could be fired in August, holds out hope China will be able to reach the World Cup again.

    “I hope China make it to the World Cup in 2026 – and I will be 82 years old by then,” Lippi added.

    “If China could only qualify for the World Cup in 2030, I will still have a celebration, even on crutches.”

  • Italy Sack Venture as Coach after 2018 World Cup Miss

    Italy Sack Venture as Coach after 2018 World Cup Miss

    Italy could not wait to sack coach Giampiero Ventura after the four-time champions failed to reach the World Cup for first time after 60 years.

    The Azzurri lost a play-off with Sweden 1-0 on aggregate to spell the end of 69-year-old Ventura’s 17-month tenure.

    Ventura said his record was “one of the best of the last 40 years”.

    “I lost only two games in two years,” he told Italian television show Le Iene before the Italian Football Federation fired him on Wednesday.

    Ventura replaced Antonio Conte in June 2016, and was described as a “master of football” by Italian football federation president Carlo Tavecchio.

    However, Italy took one point out of a possible six against Spain in qualifying and also drew at home to Macedonia.

    “I can only apologise to the Italians, not for the will or effort but for the result, which as I know is the main thing,” said former Napoli and Sampdoria boss Ventura after Italy’s World Cup hopes were ended.

    When he was appointed he was given a two-year deal which would have taken him to the end of the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.

    At the time, Tavecchio called Ventura an “innovative” coach with “limitless experience” who had helped many players reach the national side.

  • Italy chase Ancelotti after World Cup miss

    Italy chase Ancelotti after World Cup miss

     

    The Italian football Association (FIGC) have made contact with Carlo Ancelotti about taking over as national team manager following their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, according to reports.

    Italy will miss out on the World Cup for the first time in 60 years – and their first major tournament since Euro ’92 – after being beaten by Sweden in a two-legged qualification play-off.

    Although manager Giampiero Ventura is still clinging to his post, it is widely expected he will be sacked or resign in the coming days.

    According to Italian broadcaster Premium Sport, the FIGC are already looking for a new head coach, with Ancelotti the prime target.

    Ancelotti, 58, who has a long and distinguished career in club management on his CV, is currently unemployed after being sacked by Bayern Munich in September.

    He played 26 times for his country and has gone on to win league titles across Europe with some of the world’s biggest clubs as a manager.

    These include AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as three Champions Leagues.

    The reports state that once the formalities of Ventura’s departure are settled – namely whether he should resign or be sacked – Ancelotti will be offered the job.

    Italy will play two friendly matches in March against England and Argentina before kicking off their inaugural UEFA Nations League campaign and Euro 2020 qualifiers.

    Italians are still mourning the world cup miss with authorities thinking of an all-encompassing program that will serve engage the nation in the summer when the world cup will be taking the centre stage across the globe.  It is understood that one of the events being planned could be a massive musical festival that will feature all genre of music for all ages.