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  • Why Super Eagles must qualify for 2018 World Cup

    Why Super Eagles must qualify for 2018 World Cup

    When the Super Eagles class of 1997 qualified for France ’98 World Cup, they did so with a match to spare; and 20 years later history is about to repeat itself.

    But for the Super Eagles to qualify the way their illustrious predecessors did in 1997, under the tutelage of Phillipe Troussier, the famed “White Witch Doctor’’; the team must scale the Chipolopolo obstacle.

    With three points separating the two archrivals, with the Super Eagles topping Group B with 10 points and closely followed by the Chipolopolo with 7 points; the Zambians believe that they can close the gap.

    The back-to-back victory recorded by the Chipolopolo over hapless Desert Foxes of Algeria, and the 1-1 draw with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at Yaoundé; the Zambians are now hopeful of qualifying for the World Cup.

    Even though the Super Eagles have all, but qualified for the 2018 World Cup, they must affirm their qualification by beating the Chipolopolo in Uyo; before the final qualifying match against the Desert Foxes.

    This is where the tactical acumen of Coach Gernot Rohr must be brought to bear on the Super Eagles as they engage their very worthy opponents; who are hell-bent on knocking the Eagles off their perch.

    The likely defensive quartet of Shehu Abdullahi, Leon Balogun, Troost Ekong and Elderson Echiejile must play as a cohesive unit, and maintain their shape against the expected onslaught from the Zambians.

    As for the midfield, depending on the combination, Mikel Obi is expected to roam box-to-box, Wilfred Ndidi and Ogenyi Onazi or whoever, must provide a near impregnable cover for the defence line.

    Victor Moses and Odion Jude-Ighalo and others in the attack must be razor sharp in front of goal, and make hay when goal scoring opportunities come their way.

    The Super Eagles must be focused, must be professional in their approach, must be their “brother’s keeper’’; so to speak; by closing ranks when the team is under attack from the rampaging Zambians.

    The team must guard against conceding a goal before scoring their own, because where the Zambians should score before the Super Eagles; we stand the chance of conceding more goals from counter attacks.

    Even if the Zambians should score against us, let it be after we might have scored a couple of goals that would likely swing the match our way; even a 1-0 scoreline and the vital three points would be enough to take us to Russia.

    The fans must not relent in their support for the Super Eagles, even if the team is not living up to their expectations, their ultimate aim is to cheer the team non-stop until victory is achieved against the Chipolopolo.

    Even a draw against the Chipolopolo; much less a defeat can reduce our chances of qualifying for the World Cup to the barest minimum; hence the need to go for an outright win against the Zambians.

    By beating the Chipolopolo, the Super Eagles will automatically qualify for the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia with a match to spare, thereby making the final qualifying match against the Desert Foxes a mere formality.

    NAN

  • Don’t invade pitch, Umar urges fans

    Don’t invade pitch, Umar urges fans

    CP Garba Umar, Senior Security Advisor to the Super Eagles, has urged football fans to be orderly as they throng Uyo to watch the team’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia on Saturday.

    Umar made the appeal when he spoke with a reporter on Friday in Awka on the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Chipolopolo of Zambia at the Godswill Akpabio  International Stadium, Uyo.

    He said that the team had been talking to fans on the need to be ruly as well as the consequences of field encroachment.

    The Police Commissioner in Anambra said that enough mobilisation of personnel had been done ahead of the game in the light of the high expectations and excitement that would surround the game.

    “We have been working towards a hitch-free game, talking to fans against pitch invasion or encroachment because FIFA is very strict about such behaviours.

    “Our men have been mobilised and are on ground, we understand the nature and tempo of the game, it is a crucial one.

    “And we hope that with the preparations on ground, it will be a very free security atmosphere,’’ he said.

    Contributing, Arthur Ebunam, the Chairman of ex-Rangers International players in Anambra, said that though pressure would be on the Eagles, they would come out triumphant.

    Ebunam, a former Green Eagles player, said they should approach the game with positive minds and attack their opponents and score as many goals as possible.

    He the Eagles were almost World Cup-bound but should play the Zambians as though their qualification depended on the game.

    “Our team is under pressure whether you like it or not; they have almost qualified, people are hoping they win the game; they are at home unlike their opponents who are here to spoil their fun.

    “Technically, they should attack, attack and attack, get many goals in the first half and consolidate in the second half, I am confident we will win,’’ he said.

    A win over Zambia in Uyo will be enough to see Nigeria return to the Mundial after reaching the second round in Brazil in 2014.

    NAN

  • Court dissolves 8-yr-old marriage in Ibadan over infidelity

    Court dissolves 8-yr-old marriage in Ibadan over infidelity

    Mr Ademola Odunade, the President of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Friday  dissolved  the  eight-year-old marriage between one Temitope  Osunbote, and her husband, Elijah,  over infidelity.

    Odunade held that the couple had refused to be pacified and he consequently terminated the union in the interest of peace and order.

    “Temitope is awarded custody of the two children produced by the union, while Elijah is directed to pay a monthly feeding allowance of  N8,000 for the upkeep of the children.

    “This is in addition to being responsible for their education and other welfare needs,” he said.

    Earlier, Temitope, who resides at Imalefalafia area of Ibadan,  had described her  husband as a womaniser  who had no regard for  the sacredness of the marriage institution.

    “My Lord, Elijah is deeply engrossed in infidelity because he brings his concubines to our matrimonial home every now then and even takes them to our matrimonial bed without any  respect for me.

    “Besides, Elijah often beats  me at the slightest mistake.

    “In fact, he is too troublesome and highly irresponsible.

    “ That is a part of what I have been facing in addition to frequently starving the children and I.

    “There is no more love between Elijah and I. Please, separate us,” Temitope said..

    In his response, Elijah, who consented to the dissolution,  denied all the allegations levelled against him.

    “Temitope is a thief and can also never be trusted for a moment as I have noticed that she has been sleeping with different men in my house.

    “With my experience as a computer engineer, I installed a camera to monitor her activities while I am away and that monitoring device revealed her unfaithfulness to me.

    “I have been paying the children’s school fees regularly till  date.

    “I no longer have any feelings for her,” Elijah said.

    NAN

  • Unilorin holds 33rd convocation Oct. 21

    Unilorin holds 33rd convocation Oct. 21

    The University of Ilorin ( UNILORIN ) will hold its 33rd Convocation on Oct. 21, the Registrar of the institution, Mr Dada Emmanuel, has said.

    The registrar in a statement on Friday in Ilorin said the convocation would include award of Degrees and Diplomas as well as prizes to deserving graduates.

    According to him, other events for the convocation, including a book presentation in honour of the out-going Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, would commence from Oct. 13.

    He said the convocation lecture on the topic `The Genius in You: New Tools, Techniques and Technology for Developing the Individual and Institutional Greatness,’ would be delivered by Prof. Chris Imafidon of Oxford University, United Kingdom.

    NAN

  • Ex-Iraqi President Talabani’s body arrives in Kurdistan

    Ex-Iraqi President Talabani’s body arrives in Kurdistan

    The body of former Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, arrived in the Iraqi Kurdish City of Sulaimaniya on Friday for an official funeral attended by several Iraqi and regional officials.

    A coffin carrying Talabani’s body was wrapped in the Kurdish flag carries by military personnel from the plane coming from Germany.

    Talabani died on Tuesday, according to Kurdish television station and internet new portal Rudaw.

    His body would be taken to the Great Mosque in the Sulaimaniya city before he is buried.

    Talabani’s wife, Hero, and Kurdish President Masoud Barzani were joined by Iraqi President Fouad Massoum and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the airport.

    A key mediator in Iraq’s divided political scene, Jalal, who died at 83 years, became the first Iraqi Kurdish president in 2005.

    Talabani has been hospitalised several times in recent years, ever since he suffered a stroke in 2012.

    NAN

  • Elumelu to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs from 54 countries

    Elumelu to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs from 54 countries

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation ( TEF ), Africa’s leading philanthropy, on Friday announced plan to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs, Business leaders and Policymakers from 54 countries in Lagos.

    Mrs Parminder Obe, the TEF’s Chief Executive Officer, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, said the 3rd Annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum was slated for Oct. 13.

    She said the 2017 invitation had been extended beyond the usual 1,000 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs to include selected SMEs, media, hubs, incubators, academia and investors from across Africa.

    “Assembled SMEs will build networks, share knowledge, connect with investors and link with corporate supply chains.

    “Since launching the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme and committing $100 million to empowering 10,000 African entrepreneurs in a decade, we have unleashed our continent’s most potent development force, its entrepreneurs.

    “In just three years, our first 3,000 entrepreneurs have created tens of thousands of jobs and generated considerable wealth.

    “On Oct. 13 and 14, the global entrepreneurship community will gather in Lagos to build a New Africa, a thriving, self-reliant continent capable of replicating the results of our ground-breaking programme.

    “The two-day forum will feature plenary panels, master classes, sector specific networking opportunities and policy-led forums focused on enabling African business growth.

    “This is the first year we have opened the forum up to include the full pan-African entrepreneurship ecosystem.

    “In doing so, we are enabling African SME communities to come together and expand the possibilities for intra-African partnerships.

    “I am looking forward to welcoming our invited policy-makers and investors to join us at the forum, as we empower the next generation of African business leaders,’’ she said.

    Also speaking, Mrs Owen Omogiafo, the TEF’s Chief Operating Officer, said speakers at the forum would include Wale Ayeni of International Finance Corporation, Stephen Kauma, Afrexim Bank and Andre Hue, African Development Bank.

    “Others are Stephen M. Haykin, USAID Nigeria, Heikke Reugger, European Investment Bank and Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, United Nations Development Programme,’’ she said.

    Omogiafo said TEF’s long-term investment in empowering African entrepreneurs was emblematic of Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africa Capitalism, which positions Africa’s private sector, as catalysts for social and economic development.

    She said the foundation, which was founded in 2010 by Tony Elumelu, was aimed at empowering a generation of successful pro-profit entrepreneurs who drive Africa’s economic and social transformation.

    According to her, the foundation received 20,000 applications in 2015 from residents of 53 African countries out of which 1,000 applicants were selected, with Nigeria contributing 64 per cent.

    “In 2016, 45,000 applications were received with Nigeria contributing 30 per cent with 1000 selected applicants.

    “Agriculture leads the sectors represented with 26.67 per cent: a great number are into poultry and fish farming.

    “Fashion and ICT followed in second and third with 10 and 8.8 per cent respectively.

    “This year, we received 93,246 applications out of which 1,300 applicants had been selected in 52 African countries with 57.1 per cent from Nigeria for the forum.

    “Entrepreneurs are coming from Kenya. Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Rwanda, Botswana and Cote d’Ivoire,’’ she said

    NAN

  • Sodangi wants Nasarawa North to produce governor in 2019

    Sodangi wants Nasarawa North to produce governor in 2019

    Sen. Abubakar Sodangi on Thursday threw his weight behind the calls to zone the Nasarawa State governorship seat to the north senatorial district in 2019.

    “Nasarawa North is the only senatorial district yet to produce a governor. The first civilian governor, Abdullahi Adamu, was from the West senatorial district, while his successor, Akwe Doma, and the incumbent, Tanko Al-makura, are from the south.

    “It is only fair that the north be given a chance as well. We must consider their request for justice and the need for oneness,” Sodangi told reporters in Nasarawa.

    Sodangi, a three-term senator, who represented Nasarawa West in the Senate from 1999 to 2011, under the platform of PDP, defected to the APC last year.

    “I have told the people of Nasarawa North to put their house in order; I have told them to unite so that we can beg other zones to support them.

    “It is not anyone’s right to insist on the governorship, but we need to listen to each so as to build a strong and united state with equal opportunities.

    “I understand that my former political party, the PDP, has already zoned the seat to Nasarawa North. If my  present political party, the APC, equally zones it to the north, I shall be happy,” he said.

    NAN

  • Police arraign man for breach of trust

    Police arraign man for breach of trust

    The police on Friday arraigned one Kabiru Garba of no fixed address in a Minna Magistrates’ Court for alleged breach of trust.

    Garba is standing trial on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating, offences that contravened the provisions of Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Danladi, had told the court that one Iliya Musa of Sardauna Motors, Minna, reported the matter at the police station on Sept. 8.
    Danladi quoted the complainant as alleging that the defendant deceitfully collected his car valued at N650, 000 on the pretext that he had a buyer.

    The complainant said Garba remitted only N230, 000 to him after he sold the car and kept the balance.

    The defendant denied committing the offences, while the prosecutor asked for an adjournment to enable the police conclude investigation.

    Magistrate Maryam King granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 and a surety in like sum.

    King said the surety must be a civil servant, not below grade level 14, who resides within the court’s jurisdiction

    NAN

  • Odegbami urges Nigerians to support Eagles against Zambia

    Odegbami urges Nigerians to support Eagles against Zambia

    An ex-international, Segun Odegbami, has appealed to Nigerians to support the Super Eagles in their match against the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Saturday in Uyo.

    Odegbami on Friday in Ota, Ogun state said that this would qualify them for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Super Eagles, topping the Group B with 10 points, had earlier beat Chipolopolo of Zambia at home by 2-1 in the first leg.

    According to him, Nigerians should support Super Eagles through vocal and their prayers, because it is a game that Nigeria must win.

    ”We must do everything possible to win the match so that we can qualify for Russia 2018 World Cup,” he said.

     Odegbami, however, implored Nigerians to turn out massively at the Godwin Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to lift up the Super Eagles’ spirits.

    The ex-international also urged Nigerians to leave the technical aspect to the coaching crews to decide.

    NAN

  • Heynckes to take over at Bayern Munich

    Heynckes to take over at Bayern Munich

     Treble-winning coach Jupp Heynckes is set to take over at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich for a fourth time, succeeding sacked Carlo Ancelotti, German media reported on Thursday.

    The 72-year-old Heynckes led Bayern to the domestic league and Cup double and the Champions League title in 2013, but then had to make way for Spaniard Pep Guardiola.

    According to the Bild newspaper, Heynckes, who also led Real Madrid to the Champions League title and coached Benfica, Athletic Bilbao and a string of Bundesliga clubs, will take over until the end of the season.

    The club could not be immediately reached for a comment.

    Italian Ancelotti took over last season, but was fired last week after the German champions slipped to second place in the league after twice squandering a two-goal lead in consecutive games.

    They had also been beaten 3-0 at Paris St Germain in the Champions League.

    Heynckes, who has not worked since 2013, had also coached Bayern from 1987 to 1991 and briefly took over at the end of the 2008/2009 season before becoming head coach from 2011 to 2013.

    NAN