Tag: ready

SUPER Eagles defender Efe Ambrose is certain that Nigeria will beat South Africa on Wednesday in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in Durban.

Ambrose feels this will send a warning to Malawi that Nigeria will overcome them when they visit Calabar in a 2014 World Cup Qualifier on Saturday September 7, 2013.

The Celtic defence ace told SportingLife from Scotland that his colleagues believe the Mandela Challenge is a good way to prepare for the Calabar battle against Malawi.

“What is important for us now is the match against Malawi. I am very happy our Chief Coach has called up a very strong team for this Challenge which I think will be used to also prepare for the match against Malawi.

“We left South Africa in February with fond memories having defeated a resilient Burkina Faso 1-0 to win the 2013 Africa Nations Cup.

“So, our going back to South Africa should be great and what will make it great is to beat the Bafana Bafana on their soil in Durban to echo the fact that we are African Champions.

“We need to win the match to send jitters to the spines of the Malawian national team. This, I am confident we will achieve”, Ambrose told SportingLife yesterday.

The former Kaduna United Football Club Captain also confessed that his greatest wish is to have a handshake with Nelson Mandela.

“I would have loved to see the greatet African personality in the world, Nelson Mandela and to have a golden handshake with him. This would be my most memorable moment as a football player. But I doubt if this will happen because of the health situation of the man. So, I am using this medium to wish him quickest recovery”, Ambrosed said.

The player also disclosed that he would be in Durban later today for Wednesday’s match.

“I am in great shape for the match like the rest of my colleagues.

“I hope to be in South Africa on Monday for camping for the match.

“Nigerians shoulsd expect a great match because we won’t disappoint”, he vowed.

Chigozie Agbim, Super Eagles goalkeeper, said on Wednesday in Abuja that the Super Eagles were battle ready to take on the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the return leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The Eagles will take on the Ivorians on July 27 in the return leg of CHAN scheduled for Abidjan.

Agbim told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his team mates had been training hard for the game and that they recognised the tasks ahead of them.

“This game is like a battle; there must be a victor and the vanquished. The Ivorians are going to come all out to fight, but I can assure you that we are battle-ready to win. We don’t intend to sit back and defend our 4-1 lead, but we will attack all the way, because attack is the best form of defence,’’ he said.

Sunday Mba, a midfielder, said they were currently in high spirit in the camp.

“We are looking forward to the game; with the kind of spirit in our camp, I believe we will come out victorious,’’ he said.

Godfrey Oboabona, the team’s defender, thanked God for the 4-1 victory they secured in the first leg, stressing that all that they would need would be to build on that victory.

“It is just a matter of focus and determination. We have been warned not to be distracted when we get there. We know it’s going to be a very difficult game for us because the Ivorians will deploy all tactics to get us to react negatively.

“We have discussed and taken care of all that during our training sessions. I hope by the special grace f God that we are not going to be distracted by their antics,’’ he added.

The Eagles are expected to leave for Abidjan on Thursday via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, according to the team secretary, Dayo Achor.

The team carries a 4-1 advantage from the first leg played in Kaduna in the match.

Super Eagles defender Azubuike Egwuekwe has told SportingLife that the team is prepared for anything in the return leg match against Cote d’Ivore this weekend in Abidjan.

The Warri Wolves strong man said: “We know it will not be an easy task for us in Cote d’ivore, but with the present attitude in training, there is nothing stopping us from winning.

“You should know that in football, there is always a spirit of playing at home, and that of playing at away. What we are doing now is building that spirit of playing away matches, and by the special grace of God, we will not disappoint Nigerians.

“We know very well that we are going for war in Abidjan, but we are prepared for it. What makes a player is for you to stand on what you want, and that is exactly what will happen in Cote d’Ivore next”.

On the goal the Ivoirians scored here In Nigeria, Egwuekwe said: “It was just mere loss of concentration on our part, and a situation where they got their chance and utilized it. That is purely a football situation and that is all”.

Egwuekwe also shared his thoughts on the Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, saying he was exposed to various football styles.

The player, who came on as a second half substitute for Kenneth Omeruo in the last group match against World Champions Spain, said: “I saw a different type of football in Brazil.

“In that tournament, I was able to see the way the Europeans play their football, I saw South American and the Oceania countries play.

“So, I think I am now well exposed to all these, and will never be intimidated at any point. It is a worthy performance.

“As a player the few minutes I had, I tried to make good use of.”

He continued: “When I saw Kenneth Omeruo on the turf, and there was evidence that he could not continue, I started warming up before the coaches beckoned on me, because I knew I was to enter.

“Immediately, I told myself, that this was a game of 11 players on each side, that I should go there and prove myself.

“I knew the task was Herculean but I was not intimated, because we had played them in that friendly match in Catalonian. So, for me, it was just to go in and do my best.

“I was disappointed in the outcome of that match because they got their chance and utilised it, but we got ours and did not. We were unfortunate not to be on target.”

National record holder in the women’s 400m hurdles, Ajoke Odumosu, is not willing to rest on her oars after hitting the ‘A’ standard of the forthcoming World Championships billed to hold in Moscow, Russia from August 10 to 17.

Instead, the hurdler who set a national record of 54.40secs during the semis of last year’s London 2012 Olympics Games is seeking to lower her time when the Athletics Federation of Nigeria/Cross River State All-Nigeria Athletics Championships takes off at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar today.

The reigning Commonwealth Games had a pre-championship time of 55.73secs but lowered it to an impressive 55.10 at the Warri Relays/Confederation of African Athletics Grand Prix, despite getting to the event venue on the day of the competition.

Odumosu, however, had to overcoming stiff opposition from home breed, Kemi Adekoya, who placed second in 55.30, 10secs above the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ‘A’ standard.

“My target at the national trials is to run low 55s. I’m taking it one race at a time,” the London 2012 Olympics finalist said.

“Calabar is going to be great and I hope I can get into the 54.00s or break another national record, which will be cool.

“I arrived on the day of the competition but I don’t think that affected my performance because I’m used to getting off the plane and competing.”

GROUP A

Brazil: Thiago Silva (28, defender)

The Paris Saint-Germain captain has established himself as one of the most respected defenders in the world, with several seasons of assured performances at the highest level of European football. He rose to prominence following his move to AC Milan in 2009 and his consistency has earned him rave reviews at a club renowned for producing defensive legends. Silva understands the responsibilities that come with being A Seleção skipper. “Wearing the armband makes me remember everything I’ve been through to get here,” he said. “You can be sure that I’m going to do my best to do it proud, so that everyone can look to me as an example to follow.”

Japan: Makoto Hasebe (29, midfielder)

In the holding midfield role, Hasebe dictates the tempo of Japan’s play, and drives his team on from the centre of the park. He plays a similar role for Wolfsburg in Germany, with whom he won the Bundesliga in just his second season in European football. Hasebe made his international debut in 2006 and fulfilled a lifelong dream by captaining his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Mexico: Francisco Javier Rodríguez (33, defender)

One of the few experienced players in a very young Mexican national team and the rock for coach Jose Manuel de la Torre, who made him skipper as soon as it was clear that long-standing skipper Rafa Marquez was not returning to the El Tri fold. A solid player, with a long career in Europe with spells at PSV Eindhoven and Stuttgart, Rodriguez has a strong but silent personality, preferring to lead by example rather than bark orders at his team-mates.

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon (35, goalkeeper)

One of the best keepers in the world for a long time, Buffon inherited the Italian captaincy when long-standing skipper Fabio Cannavaro retired from the national team at the end of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Since then, Buffon has led by example on and off the pitch becoming one of the most respected players in world football. Indeed, Cesare Prandelli recently stated that the Italy No1 is “a fine example for any young player.”

GROUP B

Spain: Iker Casillas (32, goalkeeper)

A captain for club and country, Casillas has skippered La Furia Roja to European Championship success in 2008 and 2012 and the country’s first FIFA World Cup success in 2010. Despite being dropped by Jose Mourinho for Real Madrid this season, he remains Vicente del Bosque’s first choice and with the armband. Between the sticks, his confidence and winning attitude extends throughout the whole team. Del Bosque is unrestrained in his praise of his captain, saying “in footballing terms, he’s a living legend.”

 Tahiti: Nicolas Vallar (29, defender)

One of the few Tahitians to have played professionally in Europe, Vallar has a strong footballing brain and provides an unruffled presence in the backline. He was named player of the tournament in the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, in which the tiny island nation secured a fairytale ticket to Brazil. Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta is, unsurprisingly, effusive in his praise for Toa Aito’s captain. “He has a great athletic presence and is very aggressive on his man,” Etaeta told FIFA.com. “I can tell you that the forwards who’ve faced him this year have been left feeling rather dazed.”

Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama (32, goalkeeper)

Although Joseph Yobo was nominally the Super Eagles’ skipper at the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, it was Vincent Enyeama who wore the armband for the majority of the time. With Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi not selecting Yobo for the FIFA Confederations Cup, Enyeama will now asume the position on a more regular basis. As Nigeria’s No1 for over a decade, ‘the Cat’ also provides strong support for the Super Eagles’ relatively inexperienced defence. The Maccabi Tel Aviv player certainly leads by example at FIFA tournaments, having won two Man of the Match Awards in three appearances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

 Uruguay: Diego Lugano, (32, defender)

The character and personality of this strong central defender are a key part of Uruguay’s defensive structure, however the former Sao Paulo star is also an inspiration for the team off the field. Oscar Tabarez recognised his qualities as soon as he took over the team in 2006, making him La Celeste captain straight away. Since then, Lugano has only been absent from his starting XI through injury or suspension, summing up Uruguay’s spirited qualities.

Ex Marseille wing-back Taye Taiwo has admitted that the Europa League clash with Bordeaux on Thursday night will be difficult.

The Nigeria international returned to the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday from Marbella, where Dynamo Kiev had been preparing for the tie against the French team. Taiwo reckons that weather could be a decisive factor in the outcome of the game billed to be staged at the Olympic Stadium, Kiev.

”Of course, in Kiev colder than in Spain.Do not want to have snow on Thursday, but still we have to make our fans happy. Dynamo long expected a tough match but we are ready,” Taiwo was quoted as saying by championat.com.