The Nation Newspaper

Tag: QUALIFIERS

  • 2018 World Cup Qualifiers: Algeria’ll beat Eagles to sole slot, says Alcaraz

    2018 World Cup Qualifiers: Algeria’ll beat Eagles to sole slot, says Alcaraz

    Few days after taking charge as the new coach of Algeria, Spaniard Lucas Alcaraz believes the North African still has the chance to beat group leader – Nigeria, African champion, Cameroun and Zambia to the sole slot to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Lucas Alcaraz is optimistic that their next two games against Zambia remains crucial to their eventual qualification for the World Cup.

    With only one point from three matches played so far, the coach of Les Fennecs told FIFA.COM  that despite the Herculean task of qualifying, he said: “Obviously, we’re not the favourites, but we have to do everything in our power to get as many points and wins as we can. We have to fight hard in every game to make sure there are no regrets at the end of it all.”

    The former Granada boss believes Algeria can still qualify, provided they beat Zambia in their next assignments: “We’re going to prepare in depth for the two matches against Zambia.The players and the staff know what they have to do, what’s expected of them and the importance of these two matches. I need a lot of players for those two games and I’m absolutely convinced that if we beat Zambia, then we’ll qualify.”

    He, however, refuses to lose hope on Algeria’s chances, “If we can get through to the last match with morale high and full of hope after a couple of wins, I think we’ll be able to go into it with confidence high.”

    With the last group match at home to Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the Spaniard said: “If we can win our next home games, we’ll be in a good position to welcome Nigeria on the final day.”

  • Rio Olympics qualifiers: Siasia contacts Ndidi

    Rio Olympics qualifiers: Siasia contacts Ndidi

    Genk of Belgium ace Wilfred Ndidi has disclosed he has been contacted by Nigeria U-23 coach Samson Siasia to be part of next month’s Rio Olympics qualifier in Senegal.

    “Siasia actually spoke to me when he came to watch the Super Eagles friendlies in Belgium. He said he wants me to be part of his squad for the Olympic qualifiers,” ex-Nath Boys of Lagos star Ndidi revealed.

    “I am always honoured to play for my country but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have to first get my release from my club.”

    The Africa U-23 Nations Cup is not on the FIFA international calendar even though it will serve as a qualifying tournament for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

    Ndidi, who will be 19 in December, has already featured for Nigeria at U17 and U23 levels.

    He is first and foremost a central defender, but this season he has played as a defensive midfielder for his Belgian club.

    He has won two full international caps against DR Congo and Cameroon during the Eagles recent friendlies in Belgium.

     

  • WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Emenike faces axe

    WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Emenike faces axe

    There are very strong indications that Sunday Oliseh will axe Emmanuel Emenike from next month’s World Cup qualifier against Swaziland after the striker failed to deliver in four matches under the new Eagles coach.

    Oliseh is a big admirer of Emenike after he top scored at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, but he has now gone more than two years without a goal for the three-time African champions.

    His last goal was in Ethiopia in October 2013 in a final 2014 World Cup play-off.

    A top source close to the team revealed: “Oliseh is disappointed Emenike has not justified the confidence he has in him.

    “He has been given his chance by the coach, who is now seriously considering Odion Ighalo to lead his attack against Swaziland next month.”

    Watford striker Ighalo responded to his snub by the Eagles coach for his first set of call-ups by scoring in a 3-0 win over Cameroon in Brussels.

    It was his second goal for the Eagles after he fired his first against Chad in Kaduna in June.

    Nigeria and Swaziland will battle for a place in the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

    The two legs are slated for between November 9 and 17 with the overall winners to a third round to be played on a mini-league basis.

  • ACCW qualifiers: Coach Aderemi, four players rejoin First Bank BC

    First Bank Basketball Club coach, Adewunmi Aderemi and four players who have been with the national team at the African Games (AG) and the Afrobasket will rejoin their team on Wednesday to continue preparation for the FIBA African Champions Cup for Women (ACCW), which will hold early next month at a yet to be disclosed venue.

    The four players, who were part of Nigeria’s second and third place finish at the AG and the Afrobasket are Akashile Nkechi, Udeaja Chioma, Upe Atusu and Akaraiwe Nkem Uwa.

    Aderemi told SportingLife that the experience gathered by the players at both events would come in handy when the ACCW qualifiers take place next month. He said the players who returned early last week would have rested well before rejoining their teammates on Wednesday.

    He stated that the players were now more exposed, experienced and would have no fear facing players from other teams at the qualifiers, noting that they can transfer some of the new techniques they have learnt in their absence to their teammates.

    “I must praise the players for their contribution to the D’Tigress campaign at the AG and the Afrobasket. They will resume on Wednesday and they will bring their experience to the team and hopefully we will make it to the final of the ACCW in December. Some of the players at the AG and Afrobasket will also be at the ACCW qualifiers and the finals and some of my players have played against them, which is good for the team.”

    Coach Aderemi said he has been able to see some of the players that would play at the qualifiers and also expressed hope that what he has learnt would come in handy as he rejoins his team on Wednesday. Going by what took place at the AG and the Afrobasket, Aderemi stated that his team would have to improve on defensive and offensive plays to make an impact on the continent.

    He also stated that he would have to meet with the management to decide whether or not to bring new players to bolster the team for the challenges ahead. He, however, assured that his team would do everything possible to qualify for the finals.

  • Dream Team not seeded for Rio Olympics qualifiers

    Dream Team not seeded for Rio Olympics qualifiers

    Nigeria’s Dream Team VI have not been seeded for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, which will serve as qualifiers for next year’s Rio Olympics as hosts Senegal and Egypt are the seeded teams for today’s draw.

    Hosts Senegal will top Group A, while Egypt will headline Group B.

    This means that the other six finalists – Nigeria, Algeria, Mali, Zambia, Tunisia and South Africa – could be drawn in either group.

    The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

    The top three teams will automatically qualify for the Rio Olympics while the fourth best team will playoff for a ticket to the global competition.

    The Africa U-23 Cup of Nations  will be staged in November.

  • AAG qualifiers: Mixed fortune for Nigerian teams in Niamey

    AAG qualifiers: Mixed fortune for Nigerian teams in Niamey

    It was mixed fortune for Nigerian teams at the just concluded All Africa Games qualifiers in Niamey as the women handball team emerged winners to qualify for the Games, while the Nigerian men team lost in the final to Cote D’Ivoire to concede the sole ticket to the Ivoriens.

    The Nigeria women team had booked their place in the AAG after beating close rivals, Cote D’Ivoire 17-16 in the last group, but went a step further to beat Burkina Faso 34-32 in the final game to confirm their superiority in the zone. The game was, however, decided on penalties after both teams could not be separated after four overtimes. Both teams will represent the zone at the AAG.

    In the men’s final, the Nigerian team went down to Cote D’Ivoire 32-35 in another pulsating encounter. At some point, it looked like the Ivoriens were running away with victory. However, the Nigerian team clawed their way back, but it was the Ivoriens who grabbed the victory and the AAG sole ticket.

    Technical director of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Pat Atusu, who led the contingent to the qualifiers, praised the Nigerian teams for giving a good account of themselves in Niamey. He noted that the Nigerian men’s team deserved to be at the AAG and questioned why only a slot was given to the zone.

    “I must praise the Nigerian teams for their splendid performance, though it was not enough to get the men’s team to the AAG. The women were flawless in their defeat of favourites, Cote d’Ivoire in the last group game as well as their pulsating final game against Burkina Faso. I wish the Confederation of Africa Handball (CAHB) had given two slots to the male category,” Atusu added.

    He also blamed the referees who were mostly from france for being biased against Nigeria wondering when the conspiracy would stop.

  • AFCON QUALIFIERS: NFF denies inviting 66 players

    AFCON QUALIFIERS: NFF denies inviting 66 players

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied reports in the Nigerian media about the invitation of 66 players by new Super Eagles coach Amodu Shuaibu for AFCON 2015 qualifying games.

    The body denied the reports through the Super Eagles of Nigeria Twitter handle, but confirmed to SL10 the listing of a pool of players from which Amodu Shaibu is expected to pick players.

    “Coach Shaibu has not invited 66 players for 2015 AFCON qualifiers in November. NFF tech department only gave him a pool of players as guide,” reads a tweet from the handle.

    “It is the normal procedure for NFF tech department to give such guidance for any new technical crew for all national teams.”

    The coach is, however, at liberty to pick any player out of that pool he/she feels has something special to offer his/her team.

    Furthermore the statement confirmed that the Super Eagles will play a friendly match with a yet-to-be-known team in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to formally open the Akwa Ibom Stadium where they will play South Africa in their last group game of the AFCON 2015 qualifiers.

  • OCTOBER 2014 FIFA RANKINGS: Nigeria drop five places

    OCTOBER 2014 FIFA RANKINGS: Nigeria drop five places

    •Now 42nd in the world; 9th in Africa

    Nigeria have dropped five places from their  previous 37th position, and are now placed 42 on the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday.

    The Super Eagles’ uninspiring displays have seen the team plummet to number nine in Africa below countries like Cape Verde and Senegal.

    The Les Fennecs of Algeria, who have won four out of their four AFCON 2015 qualifiers, are the number one team in Africa with 989 points and 15th on the world ranking ahead of England.

    Nigeria are behind several countries, including Ivory Coast who are second, Tunisia, Ghana, Cameroun and Cape Verde. Egypt and Senegal make up the remaining African top ten spots.

    Evidently, the goalless draw in South Africa and the 1-0 loss to Sudan didn’t do the Eagles any good in the latest rankings.

    World Cup winners Germany still maintain the number one spot in the world. Argentina and Colombia are in second and third respectively while Brazil, who hosted the FIFAWorld Cup lie in sixth place on the world rankings.

  • 2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles claim a point in Cape Town

    2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles claim a point in Cape Town

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria claimed their first point in qualifying after drawing 0-0 with South Africa in their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at Cape Town Stadium.

    Chances were hard to come by in the opening 45 minutes, as South Africa and Nigeria went into the halftime break with the scores tied at 0-0.

    South Africa were seeing a lot of the ball early on, and were asking most of the questions in the first half, with Sibusiso Vilakazi proving to be a bit of trouble for the Nigeria defence.

    The home side nearly went ahead in the eighth minute as Manla Masango broke down the right flank and his cross ended at up at the feet of Oupa Manyisa, but his effort was blocked by Efe Ambrose.

    It took a while for Stephen Keshi’s men to get into the game and they produced their first meaningful effort on target, with Nosa Igiebor blasting just over the bar from the edge of the area.

    Keshi was hoping to see more from Russia-based duo, Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike, with the latter virtually non-existent in the first half.

    Tokelo Rantie came close to giving Bafana the lead in the 60th minute, the striker latched onto a through ball from Andile Jali, before firing one into the side-netting.

    The Super Eagles nearly took the lead in the 80th minute, as substitute Osaguona’s header was cleared off the line by Erick Mathoho.

    Minutes later and South Africa almost went ahead, as Rantie was left one on one with Austin Ejide, but the Super Eagles goalkeeper did well to deny the striker.

    Keshi’s men pushed on for the winner in the closing stages but they could not break the deadlock and had to settle for a point.

  • 2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    Ex-international, Friday Ekpo has described the Eagles one point from their two AFCON 2015 qualifiers as unacceptable after they lost to Congo in Calabar (2-3) and drew with South Africa (0-0) in Cape Town.

    Ekpo merely suggested figuratively that the players spill blood in their next match against Sudan if it will secure all three points for the team.

    “One point is not good for us; we have lost about five points already but right now, we need to work hard and even spill our blood if need be to get the three points at stake.”

    Nigeria will be away to play Sudan on October 10 while Congo will receive visitors, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.