The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Morocco

  • Nigeria’s lethal attack vs Morocco’s meanest defence

    Nigeria’s lethal attack vs Morocco’s meanest defence

    Today’s CHAN quarterfinal between Nigeria and Morocco will see the best attack up against the meanest defence in the tournament.

    Nigeria have the best attack at CHAN having scored nine goals at the end of the first round, while Morocco have meanest defence marshalled by goalkeeper Nadir Lamyarghri as they have only let in two goals thus far.

    Both countries are making their CHAN debut, but they have met 18 times at full international with Morocco winning eight, Nigeria winning six, while four matches have ended in draws.

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said he hopes his team will be playing the CHAN final on February 1.

    “We will continue to work hard to put smile on the faces of Nigerians,” said Keshi, who clocked 52 on Thursday.

    “Our aim is to take every game as they come and hopefully we will be here until the first of next month.”

    He said Morocco will be difficult opponents.

    “They are a very good side. And we will expect a difficult game, but we will see how it goes,” he said.

    Defender Azubuike Egwuekwe told MTNFootball.com the team are aware of what is expected of them against the North Africans.

    “Actually, at the beginning, we did not start well, and then we had to talk to each other. We had to encourage each other that we did not come here to make up the teams that came here to represent their countries. We are here to win the trophy,” he declared.

    “We know Morocco is a good side, we too are a good side. For me, I always go to a match with a positive mind that I am going to win.’’

    Kano Pillars midfielder Shehu Abdullahi said Keshi’s pep talk has helped to raise the team’s performance in the tournament.

    “He always came to us to encourage us, ‘I believe in you’, he always encourages us and so we will not let him down,” he revealed.

    Barnabas Imenger told MTNFootball.com that they are ready to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    “This is an important game for us, we need to win to progress to the next stage. We are ready for the game and we will put smiles on faces of Nigerians,” Imenger promised.

    Cheering news for Nigeria is that all 23 players were involved in the training on Thursday at the Hamilton Rugby Football pitch of the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

    Injury-hit Benjamin Francis, Ikenna Paul, Barnabas Imenger were fully involved in the session that lasted two hours.

    They are expected to be further galvanised by a $100,000 cash promised them by the country’s sports ministry to win today.

    Morocco, on the other hand, are not just about a solid defence as they parade two dangerous forwards in Mouhcine Iajour and Abdessamad Rafik.

    They eliminated defending champions Tunisia to qualify for 2014 CHAN.

    And like most North African teams, they rely on fast counter attacks to catch their opponents napping.

    Kick-off is 4pm Nigerian time today.

     

  • Super Eagles promise to defeat Morocco

    Super Eagles promise to defeat Morocco

    Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, on Thursday said the team had promised to defeat Morocco in their quarter final match in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN). The quarter final match to be staged at the Cape Town Stadium would hold on Jan. 25.

    Alaiya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Cape Town, South Africa, that the morale of the team was high as the players were eager to win in the encounter.

    “Very positive, very determined. The type of morale that you will like in a team that wants to win a championship. That is what you can see, everybody, I mean, even before we say we should leave the hotel by three–thirty, by three- twenty, everybody was in the bus.

    “Everybody is eagerly ready to come back after the day off that was given to them yesterday (Wednesday) just to relax and feel the city of Cape Town. Everybody is rearing to go because that is the reason why we are here in the first place.

    “So, I must say it’s very positive, the coaching crew is also enjoying the support of the federation and, of course, the players, most importantly.’’

    Alaiya said the fitness level of the team was encouraging as only two players were being watched by the team doctors. The players are midfielder, Ikenna Paul, and striker Barnabas Imenger, who had yet to be certified fit for the quarterfinal match against Morocco.

    “Apart from the red card issued to Solomon Kwambe everything is looking near perfect. We hope that before Saturday, Paul and Imenger will be certified fit,’’ he said.

  • Morocco cannot stop Eagles, says Bewarang

    Morocco cannot stop Eagles, says Bewarang

    The National President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Bitrus Bewarang has boasted that the Atlas Lions of Morocco do not have the ability to stop the Super Eagles in the quarter-final match of the on-going African Nations Championship (CHAN) holding in South Africa.

    According to the former Super Eagles coach, the home-based Super Eagles are composed of players that are determined to make names for themselves; and no team can stop them for now. “The boys are very determined, and will continue to improve as every game progresses. So, it would be difficult for the Moroccans to stand in their way to winning the trophy.”

    Continuing, Coach Bewarang, who is the General Manager of Plateau United FC of Jos, said: “We must all commend the team for their performance so far, and urge them not to rest on their oars until they win the trophy for the first time for the country.

    “I will specifically commend the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi for his efforts in turning the team round within the shortest possible time. We are very proud of him, as he has restored the hopes of indigenous coaches in the country. We are confident that he has the capability to win the trophy for the country.”

    He however cautioned the team to approach the match against the Moroccans with all seriousness, and ensure that they do not fall for the antics of the North Africans at this stage of the championship.

  • African countries issue $8.1b bonds

    North and sub-Saharan Africa countries raised $8.1 billion bonds in the last one year, the largest ever amount of hard currency from international capital markets.

    A report by Financial Times (FT) said the bond issuance record set in 2010 has been broken by this year’s feat.

    Egypt and South Africa have issued the largest share of United States’ dollar bonds so far this year in Africa, with smaller contributions from Ghana, Nigeria and Rwanda.

    Moody’s, the credit rating agency, said the raised fund is above the previous record of $7.2 billion set in 2010 for the whole year and far above the $1.2 billion they raised from bonds a decade ago.

    It said although the issuance has increased substantially, the size of the international bond market in Africa remains small. Moody’s put the total stock of government and corporate debt in hard currency at 3.7 per cent of the size of the African economy, compared to 11.3 per cent in Latin America and 5.1 per cent in Asia.

    The record issuance comes as the World Bank warned that Africa’s economic outlook could suffer due to the impact of higher global interest rates arising from the “inevitable” tightening of monetary policy in developed countries.

    “The search for yields among investors has supported strong capital flows to developing countries in recent years, including sub-Saharan African countries,” the Washington-based body said in its semi-annual report on the continent, adding that a “disorderly increase in interest rates”represented an economic risk.

    African officials and some investors are worried that an increase in interest rates in countries such as the US would reduce the significant portfolio inflows that nations including Kenya and Nigeria have seen in their local securities markets.

    But Aurelien Mali, a senior analyst at Moody’s, told FT that the African region had shown considerable resilience to financial shocks.

    “We expect that investors’ interest for the region will be sustained given the strong macroeconomic growth outlook for Africa, which we estimate to average five to six per cent over the next five years,” he said.

    The JPMorgan Nexgem Africa index, which tracks the bond market in the region, is yielding 6.8 per cent, down from a peak this year of 7.9 per cent in late June when fears about the direction of Fed policy drove rates higher. But the index is up from a low-point in January of 5.3 per cent. Yields move inversely to prices.

    Moody’s anticipates that six new African countries will debut in the international capital markets with hard currency bonds within the next few years: Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique.

    “We see significant potential in Africa for increasing the use of international capital markets in the medium to long term,” the rating agency said in a report.

    “African sovereigns will probably lead the region’s bond issuance, and we believe this will promote further international issuance by government-related institutions,” Moody’s added, saying that state-owned, strong utility companies could use the yield on any existing government bonds as a benchmark for their own issuance.

    Africa showed up on foreign fixed income investors’ radar first in 2001, when Egypt issued its first global bond.

    South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco had earlier tapped the international capital markets in small amounts. The region’s attractiveness increased after the Seychelles and Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African countries outside South Africa to issue bonds in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

  • Fight over lovers’ spot Morocco

    The management and students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) are on the war path over the restriction of movement around Morocco, a students’ rendezvous on the campus. Is the management right to give the order? IBRAHIM JATTO (400-Level Biology Education) asks?

    LIKE in other higher institutions, the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has its own peculiar terms used by students. On the campus, terms such as “DV”, “Infinity”, “Ice Cream”, “Berlin Wall”, “Bush” and “Nfa” among others, are not new to students.

    But, of all the terminologies, the word “Morocco” is the most popular. A first time visitor to the school would be inundated with the word as soon as he approaches the school gate. But then, Morocco is a name of a country in North Africa. In UDUS, the name means another thing.

    Morocco is commonly used to refer to the areas around female hostels – both the I Block and Nana Asmau Hall of Residence – where male and female students meet to discuss. During the day, the area is a classroom of sorts, where students engage in extramural tutorial. In the night, Morocco assumes the image of a motel; it is the perfect rendezvous for lovers to meet.

    No student knows how Morocco came about, but some alumni said the area may have been the meeting point of students since the institution was established.

    Lately, Morocco has been a subject of controversy between the management and students. The authorities are concerned over the students’ activities around the Halls of Residence occupied by female students beyond 10pm.

    The management was said to have been disturbed by the “declining morals” amongst students, who engage in erotic discussion and acts around the dim-lit area at night. The university is dissatisfied with the “illicit affairs” going on around Morocco.

    To restrict movement and stop the “illicit affairs”, the management is enforcing a regulation prohibiting male students from walking under shelterbelt around the female halls as soon as it is 10pm.

    Since the unveiling of the rule, it has been a tug of war between the security personnel who are called “Baba Blue” and students. As soon as it is 10pm, the security men, who dress in blue uniform, are dispatched around the area to chase students and visitors away.

    But some students feel the management’s action is misguided, saying people that regularly visit the area are adult. Others expressed support for the move.

    Aliyu Abdulsamad, a student of Faculty of Sciences, said Morocco provided the students an avenue to interact, wondering why the area was being portrayed in bad light. “The management should understand the fact that we are mature people and as such, we need the freedom to interact as undergraduates,” he said.

    Abiodun Adewunmi of the same faculty describes Morocco as a free land for students to meet and discuss after academic hours. She said: “I think from whatever angle you choose to look at it, Morocco is a normal place where students need to interact as human and there should not be a restriction. If the management feels something bad is happening in the area at night, it should do something logical rather than sending the security men to molest students.”

    Habeeb Zubair, a final year student, said such a place is found in all campuses, wondering why Morocco is brewing a controversy on the campus. “Morocco exists in virtually in all tertiary institutions but with different names. The management needs to be more open in dealing with the issue because it is not all the students that visit the area that engage in bad thing,” he posited.

    However, Sanni Bako Mafara, a student of the Faculty of Education and Extension Services, supported the move by the management to stop meeting of students beyond 10pm around Morocco. He said: “I think the authorities got it right to restrict movement around Morocco after 10pm. One needs to visit the place and see how female students misbehave with men at night; a lot of shameful acts are committed in the name of freedom.”

    Daniel Phillips, a student of Pharmaceutical Sciences, said: “I support the management’s resolve to ban movement around Morocco after 10pm. It is true that university students are adult but I believe absolute freedom corrupts. But the security men should be trained on how to handle offenders.”

  • Morocco qualifies for CHAN

    Morocco qualifies for CHAN

    The Moroccan national football team on Saturday qualified for the African Cup of Nations (2014 CHAN) after being held scoreless by its Tunisian opponents.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that match was played in the city of Tangier in northern Morocco.

    This is Morocco’s first qualification for the CHAN, having defeated reigning champions Tunisia 1-0 at Soussa’s Olympic Stadium in the first leg, two weeks ago.

    The finals would be held from January 10 to February 1 in South Africa.

     

  • ISAAC TO WRITE SUCCESS STORY IN MOROCCO

    ISAAC TO WRITE SUCCESS STORY IN MOROCCO

    EAGLETS striker Success Isaac has said he hopes to live up to his name in Morocco after he scored five goals in six qualifying matches.

    The burly striker was blooded at the famous Megap Soccer Academy in Benin City. Incidentally, it is the academy that produced Super Eagles defender at the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, Elderson Echejile, who now serves as a mentor for Success.

    Success is indeed a real admirer of great strikers including the late 1993 African Footballer of the Year, Rashid Yekini.

    Yet his burning desire is to score as many goals as possible to ensure that the high-flying Golden Eaglets are crowned champions on April 27 at Stade de Marrakech. He has the built and proficiency in front of goals similar to that of Yekini, who fired the Super Eagles to glory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

    “Yes, I have heard so much about Rashid Yekini,” revealed Success with a wide grin. “In fact, he is one of my favourite Nigerian players because he was a great goal scorer.

    “Of course, yes. I would like to score goals for the Golden Eaglets to win the African Under-17 title since I was told Yekini did same for Nigeria at the Nations Cup in 1994 and that would be a dream come true for me.”

    Success’ story with the Golden Eaglets is inspirational. He was actually not on the list of shortlisted players who were picked at the open screening conducted for budding players. But like a thief in the night, he sneaked his way into the team’s closed camping and was given a look-in by the ever-patient

    GOLDEN EAGLETS COACH, MANU GARBA.

    “Success has the attributes of a good striker,” said Garba who seldom singles out players for praises. “He’s strong on the ball, very effective and always ready to learn.”

    The same was attested to by Rwanda’s Under-17 French coach, Richard Tady when Success rose from the substitutes’ bench to destroy the Junior Wasps in a 3-0 win in a friendly last September by assisting teammate, Chidera Ezeh, in scoring two of his hat-trick.

    “That boy (No 9) actually changed the course of the game,” a crest-fallen Tady said after the near collapse of his wards after Success was brought into the fray.

    “You could see that we were coping well in the first half, but the game changed immediately that boy came in; he is strong and you can see that he created two of the goals against us.”

    Success is not only a creative player; he has scored his own share of goals for the Golden Eaglets. He is one of the team’s top scorers with 18 goals from all the 27 matches (including qualifiers for CAN 2013 as well as international and local friendly matches) under the belt of the Golden Eaglets.

  • France leads Mali, Morocco, Togo to honour Keshi

    France leads Mali, Morocco, Togo to honour Keshi

    The red carpets were again rolled out on Tuesday for Super Eagles boss Stephen Okechukwu Keshi by Francophone countries led by France in Abuja to tell him that he still has much more to give to football in Africa and indeed the world.

    The event which was held at the French Embassy in Abuja, was the initiative of the France Ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Champagne De Labriolle and had the Mali Ambassador Mary Berth Leonard in attendance, there was also Morocco Ambassador Mustapha Bouch and Togo Ambassador to Nigeria Mathew Sunday Adole.

    Keshi has previously been national team handler of Mali and Togo and it was not surprising that the two countries joined in appreciating his contribution to their football growth. There was also the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria and that of Ivory Coast.

    Among Nigerian official present at the occasion were Assistant Coach, Houadonou Valere, Super Eagles team Secretary, Dayo Enebi Achor and Emmanuel Ayanbunmi of the NFF Protocol Department.

    At the occasion, the French Ambassador presented Keshi with a special Medal from France and urged the Nigerian coach to keep his head high and achieve more glory for Nigeria and the Super Eagles.

  • Cape Verde joins South Africa in AFCON last eight

    Cape Verde joined hosts South Africa in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Angola at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday evening.

    A first half own-goal from Cape Verde captain Nando had put the Sable Antelopes in charge, but late strikes from Fernando Varela and Heldon saw the Blue Sharks to their first victory in the tournament and secured a place in the next round, as Bafana Bafana drew 2-2 with Morocco in a concurrent game in Durban, Supersport.com reports.

    The Angolans were the first to threaten a goal, as captain and star striker Manucho headed just wide of the far post from a 12th minute free kick. The Sable Antelopes dominated the opening 20 minutes, but it was soon the turn of the Islanders to begin to find a foothold in the game and pose some tough questions for their opponent’s defence.

    On 33 minutes Angola took the lead. Gilberto whipped in a low cross from the left flank that was sliced into his own net by Cape Verde defender Nando.

    The Blue Sharks almost came up with an immediate reply, as Babanco’s free kick was flicked just wide of the target by Julio Tavares in the 36th minute. A short while later Angola goalkeeper Lama had to palm away a well-hit drive from Platini.

    Cape Verde introduced both Heldon and Djaniny at the start of the second half and nearly forced an equaliser soon after the restart, with Julio Tavares seeing a goal-bound header cleared off the line by Manucho Dinis.

    On 66 minutes Heldon almost forced a goal for the Blue Sharks with a well-struck free kick, but Lama pushed the ball away to keep his side in the ascendancy.

    Finally, with just under 10 minutes to play, Fernando Varela was able to force home a header from a rebound at a corner kick, making it 1-1 and giving the Islanders genuine hope that they could progress.

    In the final minute of regulation time the Cape Verde’s dream came true when Heldon latched onto a rebound off goalkeeper Lama and fired home a left-footed shot to make it 2-1 and secure a famous victory.

    South Africa finished top of Group A with five points. Cape Verde had the same tally, but finished second due to an inferior goal difference (the teams played to a 0-0 draw in their head-to-head match).

     

  • Morocco’s king plans Gulf tour

    Morocco’s king plans Gulf tour

    Morocco’s King Mohammed plans to tour Gulf Arab countries in the next few weeks to discuss investment and bilateral relations, a senior Kuwaiti official said on Thursday.

    “He is going on a tour in the Gulf countries,” Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled al-Jarallah told Reuters, adding that the king was expected to visit Kuwait as part of the tour in October or November.

    King Mohammed will travel to countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, Jarallah said.

    A Saudi official, who declined to be named under briefing rules, told Reuters that King Mohammed planned to visit Saudi Arabia after the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca which is expected to run from October 24 to 29 this year.

    A tour of the Gulf by King Mohammed would be important diplomatically and financially for Morocco.

    The country largely escaped last year’s Arab Spring unrest but the government is under heavy domestic political pressure to improve living standards.

    In July, King Mohammed urged his government to tap financing from Gulf Arab sovereign wealth funds to help with economic projects that Morocco hopes will meet social needs, in what was seen as an important policy shift for the monarch.

    Morocco’s $90-billion economy is heavily exposed to the euro zone, whose troubles have hit tourism revenues, migrant transfers and foreign investment this year.