The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olalekan Okusan

  • W/Cup: Omeruo, Iwobi return as Mikel leads Eagles against Zambia

    W/Cup: Omeruo, Iwobi return as Mikel leads Eagles against Zambia

    Months after his last appearance for the Super Eagles, Alanyaspor of Turkey defender Kenneth Omeruo and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi make a return to the national team as Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi tops the list of 23 players invited for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Zambia’s Chipolopolo in Ndola on October 3.

    In the list released on Thursday by the Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, the Franco-German tactician retained belief in the squad that piped Tanzania 1-0 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Uyo on September 3, with the inclusion defender Kenneth Omeruo, Belgium –based mid-fielder Anderson Esiti and English Premiership duo Isaac Success and Alex Iwobi.

    Skipper Mikel John Obi, assistant skipper Ahmed Musa, goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, defender Elderson Echiejile, mid-fielder Ogenyi Onazi and in –form Manchester City of England forward Kelechi Iheanacho are in the 23 –man roster.

    Rohr has excused Watford FC forward Odion Ighalo, who will attend his father’s burial in Nigeria on Saturday, 8th October – eve of the big match at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

    Injured KAA Gent of Belgium striker Moses Simon is listed after assuring Coach Rohr that he has started treatment and would be fully healed well ahead of the encounter.

    All invited players are expected to start arriving in Abuja from Sunday, October 2.

    The invited players are:

    Goalkeepers – Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah).

    Defenders – Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Paul Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (Standard Liege, Belgium), Kingsley Madu (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)

     Midfielders – Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Anderson Esiti (KAA Gent, Belgium)

     Forwards – Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)

  • NTTF national championships to ignite Lagos

    NTTF national championships to ignite Lagos

    Lagos National Stadium will come alive in November as hundreds of players across the country are expected to battle for the 18 titles at stake at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) national championships.

    As table tennis action returns to the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, the six-day championship is expected to throw up talents for the country with senior, junior, cadet, para and veteran expected to compete for the diadems at stake.

    The tournament director, John Peters, said singles and doubles events would be part of the tournament while singles events will be the major event in all the categories.

    “This is another opportunity for our players to showcase their skills as well as play themselves into the national teams. After the performance of Aruna Quadri at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, it is clear to us that with more efforts we can produce more Quadri that will stun the world. This national championship is another platform that our players have to prove their mettle and we are set to ensure that it is of high standard. Also, we are adding that para events in order to give more of the special athletes to exhibit their talents so that we can have more of them making it to the Paralympic Games,” Peters said.

    Peters, who was one of the umpires that handled proceedings at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, said that that deadline for registration of teams and players for the championship is scheduled for October 31while the championship holds on November 15 to 19.

    According to the President of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, the tournament is meant to complement efforts being made by the Federation to unearth talents as well as engage the players in order to keep them active for major competitions.

  • W/Cup: Underrate Zambia at your own peril, Mweene warns Nigeria, others  

    W/Cup: Underrate Zambia at your own peril, Mweene warns Nigeria, others  

    One of the members of the 2012 AFCON winning Zambian team, Kennedy Mweene believes Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon would underrate Chipolopolo at the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers at own peril.

    According to The Post of Zambia, the Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa goalkeeper says that the underdog tag would spur Zambia on when they battle Nigeria and others in the qualifiers.

    “We will prove people wrong in the World Cup qualifiers because we perform well when we are written off. It won’t be easy, yes, we are in a tricky group but I think Zambia does well when written off but I can tell you our opponents know that it will not be easy. And I think going into these qualifiers as underdogs gives us that motivation to want to prove people wrong. 

    “All we need is determination; we can overcome and we have got a lot of players coming up in Zambia today. That’s why all of us need to understand that there are no personal to hold positions in the national team, we need to work very hard,” Mweene said.

    Also, Zambian veteran tactician, Jericho Shinde says Chipolopolo players need commitment to rekindle the ‘spirit of 2012’ as they embark on the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

    Shinde, who played for Chipolopolo in the 1980s, said a lot of dedication was needed from the players. “The draws are okay, the boys need to be patriotic enough and apply themselves. We need a lot of dedication from the players. We want players that are committed to the cause,” Shinde said.

    He added: “We need the players to exhibit the spirit that they exhibited in 2012. That team that won the AfCON was not the best team, but because of the spirit they exhibited, they won. If only we can rekindle that spirit as we play the World Cup qualifiers.”

    Zambia will begin its quest for a maiden appearance at the World Cup next month as the team have a tricky tie against the ‘Super Eagles’ of Nigeria on October 3.

    The former African champion is in the same group with Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria, all of whom have featured at the World Cup.

  • Nigeria eyes top five finish at 2016 Africa rugby cup

    Nigeria eyes top five finish at 2016 Africa rugby cup

    • Draws Kenya, Senegal

    Nigeria’s national rugby team – The Black Stallions believes they can surpass their eighth place finish in 2015 with a top five target after been drawn in Group A against four-time champion, Kenya and Senegal in the 2016 Africa Rugby Cup Sevens holding in Nairobi this weekend.

    In the draw late on Monday in Nairobi,  host and the second ranked team in Africa, Kenya will be aiming to claim the title again as they battle Nigeria and Senegal in Group A of the competition which kicks off on Friday at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani.

    As the Nigeria team departs on Tuesday for the championship, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Olatunji Fasimoye, believes the quality of Kenyan team has continued to reflect in their global performance following the investment on the sport by the Kenyan government, while adding that they are optimistic of a good outing in the championship.

    “I think we are growing in Nigeria because in 2014, we finished 12th while last year we were eight and this year we are hoping to make it to the top five in the tournament. This goes to show that we want to continue to improve on our performance. The Kenyan team is a strong side because they have really invested in the sport. They are the favourite but we are not going to look at that when we take them on as our target is to continue to improve and this is also based on funding which we have been lacking. With good funding, we can have good preparation and take part in more tournaments but the team we are taking to Kenya is dominated by local-based players and we hope they can make the country proud,” Fasimoye said.

    Also, captain of Black Stallions, Azeez Ladipo believes with the quality of their training in the last one week, they can improve on their previous outings in the championship.

    The top teams in each group progress to the semifinal stage while others compete for classification.

  • WCQ: Zambia propose S’Korea friendly

    WCQ: Zambia propose S’Korea friendly

    To ensure that they play a strong side ahead of 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on October 9, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is courting South Korea, among other teams, for an international friendly.

    According to The Post of Zambia, the FAZ General Secretary Ponga Liwewe only confirmed that the association was engaged in discussions with two nations for a friendly on September 28 ahead of the Nigeria match. “We are in discussions with one or two teams for a possible friendly on the 28th, but we cannot say who for now,” said Liwewe.

    However, a FAZ source indicated that South Korea was one of those teams being courted as the association wanted to give the new coach Wedson Nyirenda a high profile match before the qualifiers begin. “What I know is that South Korea is a possible candidate, the idea is to give Wada (Nyirenda) a chance to look at the players in a competitive friendly, but it may not be South Korea, there are other big teams being talked to, I am sure you will be told if we succeed with any of them,” said the source.

    Meanwhile, former President of Zambia Football Coaches Association, Patrick Kangwa has said that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to prepare Chipolopolo for the World Cup qualifiers.

    Kangwa said it was a difficult task to qualify the team to the World Cup.

    “We have a lot of work to do to prepare the team for the World Cup, but we have all the resources and all the personnel, I am positive that we can do it before the qualifier next month. It is a difficult task but we are equal to the task,” Kangwa admitted.

    The former African champion is in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers alongside seasoned campaigners Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”category” link_target=”_blank” category=”5″ count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Quadri tunes up for ITTF World Cup with French league

    Quadri tunes up for ITTF World Cup with French league

    As the continent’s flag-bearer at the forthcoming the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup, Aruna Quadri hopes to use his involvement in Monday’s French league tie away to Angers Vaillante as warm up to the global championship in Germany next month.

    After leading Jura Morez to one loss and a win in the prestigious French elite league, Quadri is expected to spearhead his team against the Sweden’s Jon Persson-captained side.

    With four points from two league matches, Jura Morez will have their hands full when they battle the trio of Persson, Belgium’s Jens Lundqvist and France’s Christophe Legout in today’s exciting tie.

    With just few days to the ITTF World Cup in the city of Saarbrucken, Germany, Quadri believes his involvement in the top flight league serves as preparation for the tournament.

    “There is no doubt that playing in the French league will put me in top shape for the World Cup and I am also training well personally to ensure I make a lot of impact in Germany. I know all eyes will be on based on my performance at the Rio Olympic Games, but I am also aiming to do better than what I did in 2014. I hope and pray that I get a good draw in Germany. I am also hoping that the German fans can also support me just like they did in 2014 when I got to the quarterfinal stage of the competition,” Quadri said.

  • Rio 2016 paralympics: Nigeria retains dominance in power-lifting

    Rio 2016 paralympics: Nigeria retains dominance in power-lifting

    With the conclusion of the power-lifting event at the ongoing Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Nigeria once again showed its prowess in the sport just like it did at London 2012.

    Despite not matching its six gold medals, five silver medal and one bronze medal haul at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the sport contributed six of the country’s eight gold medals that Team Nigeria won so far at the at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.

    Out of the 20 gold medals at stake in the men and women events of power-lifting, Nigeria claimed six with female athletes winning four of the six gold medals for the West African nation.

    With China and Egypt finishing second and third respectively on the medal hauls of the event with both nations matching each other with three gold medals. But China claimed six silver and three bronze medals with Egypt settling for four silver and three bronze medals.

    Apart from dominating the sport, Nigeria’s gold medalists also set new world and Paralympic games records.

    From the six Nigerian gold medalists in Rio, Lucy Ejike remains the only athlete that won silver medal in London 2012 and also recorded a much higher feat with gold and a new world record at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.

  • World Cup: Zambian coach admits Nigeria, Algeria tough opponents

    World Cup: Zambian coach admits Nigeria, Algeria tough opponents

    After been appointed as the acting assistant coach of Chipolopolo of Zambia, Wedson Nyirenda believes the presence of Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroun has confirmed the group as the toughest for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

    The coach who was engaged until the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) finalizes the recruitment of an expatriate coach is willing to lead the Zambia side against Nigeria next month.

    “I am humbled but it is overwhelming. It has come at a time when we have crucial matches and we are in the group of death but it measures the worth,” Nyirenda said.

    He said he had done enough abroad and it was time to get back home. “I am happy to come back home, I have done my part in Mozambique,” said Nyirenda.

    FAZ on Tuesday relieved George Lwandamina of his national team duties so he could focus on Zesco and appointed Nyirenda as acting assistant coach but will act as coach.

    The coach said he was happy to return home and he is likely to in be charge of Chipolopolo’s first World Cup qualifier match against the Super Eagles on October 9.

    Chipolopolo are in Group B of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers alongside seasoned campaigners Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.

  • Lawal wants Lagos to host FIBA World Cup

    Lawal wants Lagos to host FIBA World Cup

    After just spending three minutes at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, D’Tigers star, Shane Lawal is eager that the city of Lagos should host the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

    In an interview with FIBA website recently, the Michigan-based star believes the city has the capacity to stage such prestigious tournament.

    Lawal, who had wanted to make impact at his first Olympics in Rio de Janeiro but after just three minutes against Argentina, Lawal went down with a knee injury that knocked him out of the tournament.

    The 29-year-old had to watch the rest of Nigeria’s games in a wheelchair.

    The disappointment lingers, but Lawal is already thinking of ways for Nigeria to be a better basketball nation.

    For example, he wants the city where he spent the first eight years of his life before moving to Michigan in the United States, Lagos, to host FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

    “Why not?” he said, adding, “It’s a great city. I want the World Cup in Lagos. 2023! Let’s make it happen!”

    “We’ve got a lot of guys with vested interests in making basketball bigger not just in Nigeria, but in Africa. That would be a great way to do it. Like South Africa for the World Cup (2010), it would  bring so much basketball to the continent. It would be awesome.”

    “When you play for the land that you were born in and where your parents were born, it pays itself at the end of the day.” – Lawal

    Lawal and Nigeria have every reason to think big on the court. They’ve become the most exciting, and successful team on the African continent. D’Tigers, FIBA AfroBasket winners for the first time last year, climbed nine spots in the FIBA World Ranking to No. 16 after the Olympics.

    They leapfrogged Tunisia, who rose two spots to No. 21, and Angola, who fell eight spots to No. 23. Nigeria’s ranking is impressive, yet it’s not the one that Lawal wants.

    Lawal loves playing for his country. “When you play for your club, you’re playing for money,” he said. “You’re playing for other people. You’re a mercenary. But when you play for the land that you were born in and where your parents were born, it pays itself at the end of the day. And to do something to help my country become better, to have the opportunity, it hurts not to be able to help your brothers, it hurts.”

  • 2016 paralympics: Nigeria leads Africa’s medal haul

    2016 paralympics: Nigeria leads Africa’s medal haul

    Team Nigeria yesterday toppled Tunisia on Africa’s medal haul at the ongoing Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil after Lauritta Onye and Ndidi Nwosu claimed gold medals.

    Prior to Monday’s feat by Onye and Nwosu, Tunisia was leading the continent’s medal haul with four gold medals but Nigeria overtook the North Africa with Onye setting a new world record in the women’s  shot put F40 of athletic event.

    paral
    Lucy Ejike, Para Powerlifter

    It was Onye fourth throw of 8.40 metre that set a new world record for her ahead of Tunisia’s Rima Abdelli (7.37m) and Netherlands’ Lara Baars (7.12m) that both claimed silver and bronze medals respectively. Onye first throw of 7.83m had erased her own world record of 7.72m set at the 2015 IPC world athletics championships in Doha but the Nigerian went further to set the best record in the history of the event.

    Also, Nwosu claimed the fifth gold medal for Nigeria when she lifted 140kg in the women’s -73kg of the Powerlifting event.

    The first bronze medal for Nigeria was won by Nnamdi Innocent in the men’s -72kg of Powerlifting.

    Apart from the medal won in athletics by Onye, all the medals won by Team Nigeria came from Powerlifting with hope for more medals in the event.

    So far, Team Nigeria is placing nine on the medal table with five gold, two silver and one bronze medals, while China is topping with 40gold, 31silver and 24 bronze medals.