Players of the Super Eagles realise that Sunday’s Cup of Nations quarter final duel with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire is the biggest test of character that any of them will ever go through in a long time to come.
As they trained in Rustenburg on Friday morning, the players whispered to themselves that Sunday’s clash will be like no other. On paper, the Ivorians have better rating as a team and on the balance, as individual players. But so many things have flown from paper through the window at this tournament, reminding everyone at every turn that football is all about current form and who turns up at the party.
There is hardly anything to choose from five previous Cups of Nations clashes between these two West African giants. On their way to lifting their first title, on home soil in 1980, the Eagles led by Christian Chukwu could not break the Ivorian defence in a 0-0 draw in Lagos, and had to battle hard to overcome resilient Egypt in their third game to reach the semi finals.
Ten years later when Algeria hosted, both teams were in the same group. In the opening match, Clemens Westerhorf’s Eagles got pole-axed 5-1, while the Ivorians dismissed a second-string Egyptian team 3-1.
Nigeria won against Egypt 1-0 while the Elephants were bashed 3-0 by Algeria. It came to the crunch in the final group phase match but Nigeria held on to a goal by Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) in the second minute to go through to the semi finals.
Four years later, both teams would clash in the semi finals of the 19th edition of the Cup of Nations in Tunisia. In an absorbing, give-and-take game with no let-up and minimal breathing space on a cold evening at Stade El Menzah, the Ivorians went ahead twice but Nigeria replied each time, and the affair had to be settled by penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw, which Nigeria won 4-2.
On another cold evening in the Egyptian Mediterranean city of Alexandria in February 2006, Elephants avenged by pipping the Eagles 1-0 in their semi final clash, the same result when both teams clashed in the group phase at the 26th finals in Ghana in 2008.
Vincent Enyeama, arguably the best goalkeeper in Africa, will stand between the rampant Ivorians and goal and he has sparkling pedigree to do a great job. Nigeria has never lost a Cup of Nations quarter final match with Enyeama in goal.
In 2004, on a tense evening in Monastir, Cameroon went a goal up after Samuel Eto’O rounded Isaac Okoronkwo on a counter-attack, but goals by Jay-Jay Okocha and John Utaka saw Nigeria through to the semi finals.
Two years later, Enyeama was the hero when Nigeria eliminated Cup holders Tunisia on penalty shoot-out on another memorable evening in Port Said. In 2010, Enyeama stood firm against the Zambians in Lubango and kept his nerve to score the kick that took Nigeria to the last four.
Enyeama, whose massive intervention 36 seconds after Victor Moses’ first penalty, kept Nigeria in the good against Ethiopia on Tuesday, is expected to be protected by Nigeria’s record caps’ holder Joseph Yobo, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile.
With midfield enforcer Fegor Ogude suspended, it could be opportunity for precocious home-boy Reuben Gabriel to confirm his quality at championship level.
Much will be expected of star midfielder Mikel Obi in holding balls and doing the long thrusts, while an attack of Brown Ideye, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses and Ikechukwu Uche have capacity to spring surprises against the Elephants.
Tag: ready
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Eagles ready for huge test
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Tiote: I’m ready for Mikel
Newcastle United strongman, Tiote says he‘s ready to take on John Mikel Obi in the midfield when the Ivory Coast Elephants tackles Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Sunday’s quarter-final game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
In a chat with SportingLife after the Elephants’ last group match against Algeria, the Magpies midfielder stated: “We’ll prepare for the cracker like every other match we have played; the world knows Nigeria very well, as they have got a lot of quality players that play their football in topflight European clubs.
“It’s going to be hard for both teams despite the Elephants being tipped as the tournament favourites by book makers.”
Responding to the question whether Mikel posed a threat to him at the midfield, Tiote said: “Mikel is a player I know with Chelsea. Just as we play against each other in the EPL, it’s going to be a battle between him and me, so I’m prepared for him come Sunday.”
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INJURY HOAX: Mikel, fit and ready
On Sunday morning in the chilly weather of Faro, Portugal, which was running at 10 degrees celcius, John Mikel Obi, was one of the first players to step out for the morning training and the moment he entered the football pitch of the Browns Sports and Leisure Club, he went around exchanging pleasantries.
When it was the turn of the Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, to shake his hand, the first thing he asked after the happy New Year greeting, was, “what is this talk about your fitness level and readiness for the Nations Cup?” Mikel threw a bewitching smile and said “Bros, I’m okay. Team Secretary Dayo Enebi Achor and Chief Security Officer, ACP Gideon Akinsola, were watching the unfolding drama.
“So, what do you want us to tell Nigerians, since many believed you were not listed for the FA Cup game on Saturday because you were still nursing an injury?” Noooo, I had a knock two weeks ago and was told to rest for sometime, but now I’m fit and I actually started training two days ago with the Chelsea first team. So there is no fear about any injury. I’m ready for the Nations Cup”. With that he dashed to join his mates in knocking the ball around before Big Boss Stephen Keshi gave his familiar howl of “Hey guys, bring it in”. ‘Training wan start be dat ‘as we say in pidgin parlance.
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I’m ready for council poll, says Obi
Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday said he would conduct a local government election when legal impediments to the exercise are settled.
He urged all parties, who are in court, to withdraw their suits.
The governor addressed reporters at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Iyiowa Odekpe, during the funeral service for Mr. Azubike Nwebili, the husband of Anambra House of Assembly Speaker Chinwe Nwebili.
He spoke on some issues, including the abolition of the Joint Account and direct allocation of funds to local governments.
Obi said he supported the move, if it would not jeopardise the interest of teachers, who he described as a critical component of the education sector. The governor called for caution in handling the issues, to avoid compromising the welfare of local government workers.
He hailed the people for supporting ongoing projects.
Obi warned those who park their vehicles on the Nkpor axis of the Onitsha-Enugu dual, carriageway to remove such vehicles.
The governor explained that the action is to ensure that there are no obstacles during the construction of the roads.
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Ghana ready for polls
Ghana’s electoral commission chief has told the BBC everything is ready for today’s parliamentary and presidential elections, in a country seen as a model for democracy in Africa.
Kwadwo Afari-Gyan said the new biometric voter identification system worked smoothly during extensive tests.
President John Mahama, 54, is expected to face a strong challenge from Nana Akufo-Addo, 68.
The 2008 election was decided by just 30,000 votes in the run-off.
After gaining the most votes in the first round, Akufo-Addo, from the then governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), was praised for peacefully accepting his defeat.
Mahama, from the National Democratic Congress, took over as president after John Atta Mills died suddenly in July.
Ghana has held two peaceful transfers of power since military rule ended in 1992.
“We are ready to go,” Afari-Gyan told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.
He said all the election material had been delivered to districts and constituencies around the country.
He said the new biometric system had been tested over two months and again earlier this week, when security personnel voted, but added that if there were any problems, voting would be extended until tomorrow.
“If everything is normal and goes smoothly, we give ourselves 72 hours [to announce the result],” he said.
There are eight presidential candidates overall.
As well as being praised for its democracy, Ghana also has one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, thanks to its recently tapped oil reserves.
Both Mahama and Akufo-Addo have promised to accept the result, but 5,000 soldiers have been put on standby just in case.
A run-off will be held on December 28, if no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of today’s vote.
There are six other presidential contenders and hundreds of candidates for the 275 parliamentary seats.
Though six other candidates are on the ballot, they are not expected to win more than 1 percent each, according to polling groups. Both candidates have been holding back-to-back rallies and posting constant campaign messages to Twitter and Facebook.
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2013 African Cup of Nations; Keshi’s Eagles 80 per cent ready
Contrary to fears in some quarters about the readiness of the Super Eagles squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations holding in South Africa between January 19th and February 2013, the Chief Coach of the Nigerian team, Stephen Keshi has already picked 80 per cent of the players he hopes to parade in the competition.
A credible source close to the team blared, “do you think the coach doesn’t know what he is doing? He is already sure of at least 18 of the players he would parade in the Nations Cup.
“I always laugh when you people (sports journalists) talk about the readiness of the team. Keshi is a very serious person and very professional in whatever he does. He already has his team. He is only putting finishing touches to some areas in the team.
“He is only worried about the right back and central midfield of the team. He is hoping that Gabriel Reuben regains his full fitness on time before the competition, if not he may have to look the way of other players like Sani Kaita, Raheem Lawal to pair Nosa Igiebor in that area. Also, Keshi is desperately looking for lasting solution as regards the right back position. Besides this areas I think the team is ready”, the source revealed.
Keshi is expected to be back from his holidays in the United States of America on December 15th, 2012, two days before the start of the final preparations with the home based Eagles after which the team would jet out to Faro in Portugal in January 4th, 2013 for the final phase of Nigeria’s preparations for the competition.
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CAF, South Africa ready for Nigeria — Ojo-Oba
Former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and CAF top official, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, has voiced it loud and clear that the Confederation of Africa Football, the main organizer of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup, and host South Africa are super ready for the forthcoming Africa’s biggest football tournament.
“CAF is ready for South Africa and South Africa is ready for CAF so we are expecting a befitting and fulfilled tournament in all its ramifications,” the Director of Elite Athletes in the National Sports Commission told SportingLife in Abuja.
He further assured on the competition. “We are expecting a good tournament since South Africa organized the last 2010 World Cup and FIFA the world football ruling body gave high marks for the country for organizing a very good tournament. The facilities are there, they only need to put one or two touches there. So we should not entertain any fears, Countries should go and prepare well for the competition because CAF and South Africa are ready to host the competition.
“CAF has always organized good tournaments and the last edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea was a huge success and there was no hitch so the one holding in South Africa should even rates better at the end of the competition. Everything is on ground in SA as I speak with you now. The host country presented five good stadia and there are four groups that would compete in the tournament. So I am confident and can tell you everything is on course,” Ojo-Oba told SportingLife.
Ojo-Oba also used the opportunity to assure soccer loving Nigerians that their darling Super Eagles would be ready to do the nation proud under handler, Coach Stephen Keshi but should not rate the chances of the team now in the competition since the technical crew are still working on the team. He said Eagles qualification alone is commendable because the team rates as one of the best 16 in the continent of Africa that has 53 countries.
“The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the 2013 AFCON as one of the best 16 teams in the continent of Africa of 53 nations and by that alone is commendable. One does not cross the river until he has gotten to the bank, so we need to wait patiently for the Eagles preparations and wish them well when they being their campaign starting from January 19th, 2013.
“For now the team is in the process of being built so we should just pray for the team’s success. I believe they are going to do well in the competition,” he assured.
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Eagles now ready for any team — Echiejele
Super Eagles defender Elderson Echiejele has described the team’s win over Venezuela in a friendly encounter yesterday in Miami, Florida, as a morale-booster for the team as they prepare for the Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa in January.
Speaking immediately after the match in the early hours of Thursday, the former Bendel Insurance defender said the team needs such friendly matches to enable the players bond better. “We need these matches at this point in time, because it will help us to understand ourselves better.
“It will also give the coaches the opportunity to look at other good players that may likely fit into the team,” Echiejele observed.
He declared that the Super Eagles would surely be the team to beat when the AFCON tournament begins in the former Apartheid enclave. Echiejele, who could be making his second appearance at the Nations Cup in January, said the introduction of new players in the match against Venezuela really helped the team to find their rhythm in the second half of the game.
He assured Nigerians that the team will continue to improve with subsequent matches. Echiejele also gave kudos to the home based players that featured in the defence along with him.
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We’re ready for any team —Ambrose
Super Eagles and Celtic free-scoring defender, Efe Ambrose told SportingLife Monday that the Nigerian side is battle-ready for any country that today’s Africa Nations Cup draws would pitch against the Eagles.
“Right now I am in Spain for the (UEFA) Champions League against Barcelona (played last night). But my eyes are on the draws too.
“In as much as I pray for favourable opponents for the Eagles in the draws in South Africa, I believe we have a quality and talented team that can stand shoulder to shoulder with any team in the world with good preparation. That is the most important thing; if we have a solid preparation we will achieve successin the Nations Cup.
“With all sense of humility I don’t see any team stopping us when we are in top form. All the same, a good draw would make us feel better,” he told SportingLife during a telephone chat from Spain Monday.
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Ambrose: I’m ready for Barca
Efe Ambrose netted his first goal for Scottish power house Glasgow Celtic in the 5 – 0 spanking of St Mirren on Saturday. And the Nigeria international, who celebrated his first goal for Celtic in style, with some somersaults, insists he is ready for the Champions League on Tuesday.
Ambrose’s reputation as a goalscoring defender is increasing. Only last weekend, his first minute header against Liberia was the tonic the Eagles needed as they hammered the Lone Stars 6 – 1.
”No, I am not that good in gymnastics, I am trying to learn. I was overjoyed and I had to celebrate like that being my first goal for Celtic. I am dedicating this goal to my lovely wife, ”Ambrose told allnigeriasoccer.com.
Next for Ambrose and Celtic is a mouth-watering clash against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.
He said: ”This is football and the game would be played for 90 minutes. We are prepared for Barcelona’s attacking threat – Messi and company – it is all about teamwork.”