The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Russia

  • Super Eagles off to Russia

    Members of the Super Eagles are on their way to Yessentuki, Russia, after camping in Austria for three weeks, ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Yessentuki is a city in Stavropol Krai, Russia, located at the base of the Caucasus Mountains.

    The Super Eagles fell 1-0 to Czech Republic last week in a friendly match in Russia after which Coach Gernot Rohr admitted that more work needed to be done ahead of the World Cup. The team also received the delegation of Nigerian-born Bayern Munich striker, David Alaba in camp, during their stay in Austria.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: David Alaba in Super Eagles Camp

    Left-back Elderson Echiejile tweeted shortly after the team’s departure: “Tell the World we are coming.”

    For John Ogu, “After three weeks of Intense training , we off to Russia with full energy . May God lead us and give us the ability to function.”

    Ahmed Musa simply announced on his handle that the Super Eagles were “off to Russia”.

    Nigeria will face Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the first match against Croatia in Kaliningrad, on Saturday 16th June.

  • 5 Days To Go: All eyes on departures and arrivals!

     

    If there is one place to avoid blinking now, it is the Sheremetyevo International Airport and indeed the major airports into Russia.  When four years ago after the last World cup in Brazil it was highlighted that the next point of call will be Russia, it looked more like ages away.  But here we are counting in days and very soon in hours that will snowball into minutes and seconds.

    All the entry points have become beehive of activities as the 736 players representing 32 countries and their supporters converge on Russia to again fulfill a once in four years ritual that often leaves some in cheers and some others in tears. Offering many opportunity to sing victory song while giving others opportunity to sing lamentation songs.

    One unique thing about the participating teams is that they grace official sent forth, garnished with prayer and best of wishes.  The Language may be different but the message remains go in Peace, go prove yourself, and go bring us the cup.

    Don’t bother to blink, the favorites and the underdogs are touching down in droves. The Super Eagles will join the party on Sunday and will play their first match on June 16 against Croatia at the Kaliningrad stadium.

    A 35,212 capacity stadium, considered unique, not in terms of design but that  it  is the only stadium based outside of mainland Russia. In a city annexed between Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad is where England will round off Group G against Belgium.

    Croatia v Nigeria Group D, 16 June

    Serbia v Switzerland Group E, 22 June

    Spain v Morocco Group B, 25 June

    England v Belgium Group G, 28 June

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 78-year old Polish fan heads to his 11th FIFA World Cup

    Dressed in a patriotic red and white suit and a golden crown adorned with small footballs, Andrzej Bobowski is getting ready to attend his 11th FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    The 78-year-old Poland fan has been to every World Cup since 1978, even when his own national team did not qualify.

    There are no such worries this time, though, “I actually dreamt that we’ll play in the final against Russia.

    “I am going to attend the first match with Senegal at Spartak stadium. Then I fly to Kazan … then to Volgograd,” he said.

    Well-known at home as “King of Polish fans”, Bobowski, nicknamed Bobo, said he had been told by fans he has met at previous tournaments to expect a “royal welcome” in Kazan.

    The former builder, who also supports the Polish club champions Legia Warszawa, has seen 135 World Cup games since he headed to Argentina in 1978 with a ticket bought by his wife.

    Read Also: FIFA World Cup™ ticket sales proceed on FIFA.com

    Since then, he has married again and even at 78, does not baulk at making the complex travel arrangements for two people.

    “I worked out my routes using the internet: first – where I land, second the hotel, third how to get to the stadium from the hotel,” he said.

    He said his outfits are already prepared.

    For day wear, he has a T-shirt with the contest’s emblem on the front.

    He also has a list of all the World Cups he has attended on the back – with a question mark for Qatar in 2022.

    For the matches, he will wear an appropriately regal coat in Poland’s red-and-white, with its white-eagle crest on the back.

    The coat, made by a local theatre company, has a white furry collar and cuffs with a motif of small footballs.

    Under the coat will be a white tail-coat, red shirt, red bow tie and red trousers.

    And on his head, above the mandatory scarf, a soft golden crown, decorated with badges from the tournaments he has attended, and emblazoned with the slogan “King of Polish fans”.

    NAN

  • Court jails human trafficker in Edo

    An Edo State High Court has sentenced one Ehigie Richard to seven years imprisonment for trafficking people to Russia.

    Richard was arraigned on a four- count charge of recruitment of a person by means of abuse, position of vulnerability and facilitation and exportation of persons for prostitution, contrary to various provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

    He was said to have recruited one female victim identified as Miss X, and trafficked her to Russia where she was exploited.

    A statement signed by Zonal Commander of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Nduka Nwanwenne said the victim was taken to the shrine, where an oath of secrecy was administered on her and asked to pay back the sum $55,000 for a period between six months and one year.

    Nduka explained that the victim was warned not to run away or report her madam in Russia to the police of failed to pay the money or the oath would make her go mad.

    He said the case against the accused was investigated with the collaboration of Joint Border Task Force (JBTF) – a multi-disciplinary crime fighting task force.

    Read Also:Immigration arrests four human traffickers, rescues 38 victims in Katsina

    According to the statement, “On arrival in Russia, her phone and international passport were seized by her madam, Bridget, and her boyfriend, Kingsley. The madam allegedly opened a website for prostitutes for the victim, where her information and pictures were downloaded.

    “Customers usually check and call for appointments. A notebook was procured for the recording of all earnings. Similarly, the victim was made to pay 10,000 rubble for rent and 50,000 rubble to service the website.

    “Before the victim threw in the towel, she had paid $40,000 to her madam. On the day the victim escaped, her madam went out to shop. She used the opportunity to run to one of her Russian friend, who took her to the Nigeria Embassy in Moscow, before she returned to Nigeria.

    Delivering his judgment, Justice Alero Edodo- Erauga, said the law must have its way despite the accused plea for leniency and not wasting the time of the court.

    Justice Alero sentenced the accused to one year imprisonment on count one or a fine of N250, 000 while the accused was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on other counts or a fine of N1m on each count.

    The jail term is to run concurrently.

    Director- General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okha –Donli, said all traffickers who indulged in taking victims for exploitation would be made to answer for their crimes.

    She advised human traffickers to desist from their nefarious acts and redirect their energy to positive ventures.

  • Russia 2018: Super Eagles midfield needs right combination, says Bewarang

    Bitrus Bewarang, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director, has urged Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, to strike the right balance in the team’s midfield ahead of the World Cup.

    Bewarang gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to the Super Eagles 0-1 loss to the Czech Republic national team in pre-World Cup friendly match.

    The match, played in Austria where the Super Eagles are camping for the World Cup, was the final warm-up match slated for Nigeria before the team departs for Russia.

    A Tomas Kalas 25th minute strike condemned the Super Eagles to their second consecutive defeat, having lost 2-1 to England in their previous friendly match at the Wembley Stadium on June 2.

    Bewarang, who was a former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, said Nigeria’s midfield had to be more mobile.

    “I feel that we need to get the right combination in our midfield. We need speed and more mobility in the midfield so that the attack could function better.’’

    Coach Rohr made two changes to the team that started against England on June 2, with Wilfred Ndidi and John Ogu given a nod in place of Joel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi.

    Bewarang, a former Plateau United Coach and General Manager, however, expressed the belief that with 10 days to Nigeria’s first match against Croatia, the coach had to stabilise his team.

    “I think the coach has been trying to build a team and I believe that now he has seen all the players from the various friendly matches.

    “With 10 days left before Nigeria’s first match, I am sure what is next for him will be to stabilise the team.

    “Hopefully, by the time we play our first match on June 16, we will be able to get the result we desire,’’ the former Green Eagles player said.

    He, however, said he was optimistic that the Super Eagles would perform well in Russia.

    “As a coach I always believe that we should always expect the best from our players.

    “Our players under Rohr have been doing well in terms of passion and dedication.

    “That is why everybody has the confidence that they will do better than in previous competitions and I believe that too,’’ Bewarang said.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles managed to win only one of their five pre-World Cup warm up matches.

    A Victor Moses penalty in the 61st minute gave the team a narrow victory over Poland in Warsaw on March 23, before they fell to a 2-0 loss to Serbia four days later in London.

    The Super Eagles also drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Port Harcourt on May 25 before subsequent defeats by England and Czech Republic. (NAN)

  • England player tells family to miss World Cup over racism fears

    England defender Danny Rose has told his family not to attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals because he fears they may be racially abused in Russia.

    “I’ve told my family I don’t want them going out there because of racism and anything else that may ­happen,” the 27-year-old left back told London’s Evening Standard on Wednesday.

    “I don’t want to be worrying, when I’m trying to prepare for games, for my family’s safety. If anything ­happens to me, it wouldn’t affect me like it would if my family had been abused.”

    Rose, who suffered personal racial abuse when he played for England’s under-21s in Serbia in 2012, added: “I’m fine with whatever may or may not happen.

    “I like to think I’ll be able to deal with it in the right way.”

    Russia has pledged to crack down on racism at the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 15.

    However, cases of racist abuse have continued to be reported in the country in the run-up to the World Cup.

    The country was fined last month after racist abuse was directed at French players during a friendly in March.

    FIFA fined Russia 30,000 Swiss francs ( $30,400/22,650 pounds ) for that incident in St Petersburg, which is one of the 11 host cities for the World Cup.

    Rose said the sanction was nowhere near enough to have the desired impact.

    “A 22,000 pounds fine is disgusting,” he said. “What do ( FIFA ) expect?

    “I don’t want to sound arrogant but if I’d been fined 22,000 pounds, without sounding big-headed, it wouldn’t make a difference. A country being fined 22,000 pounds is just laughable.”

    Read Also: Four Lessons from England, Nigeria Friendly

    Rose, who will be appearing at his first World Cup, said his families were disappointed by his decision to ask them not to attend.

    “My dad’s really upset. He said he may never get a chance again to come and watch me in a World Cup,” he said.

    “It’s really sad. Somehow Russia got the World Cup and we have to get on with it.”

    Rose is the latest player to voice concerns about racism at the World Cup.

    His fellow fullback, Ashley Young, said last week that England’s players had talked about the potential for racist abuse from spectators.

    Rose told the Standard newspaper that players had discussed walking off the pitch in such an event.

    “Until it actually happens, and under what circumstances, it’s hard to say what you’d actually do.”

    NAN

  • Sane misses out, Neuer makes Germany World Cup squad

    Leroy Sane was a surprise omission from Joachim Loew’s final Germany squad for the World Cup finals on Monday as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was named among the 23 players heading to Russia.

    Neuer made the squad despite playing in just one official game, a friendly against Austria on Friday, since breaking a bone in his foot in September but talented 22-year-old Sane was the biggest name to miss out.

    The Manchester City midfielder, goalkeeper Bernd Leno, forward Nils Petersen and defender Jonathan Tah were the four players that failed to make the cut.

    Germany captain Neuer, who won the World Cup four years ago, will also be their first choice keeper for the tournament, ahead of designated number two Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Kevin Trapp.

    Loew announced his squad at the end of a training camp at the Italian Alps.

    The Germans play their last warm-up game against Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday before the start of the tournament on June 14.

    Germany is in Group F along with Sweden, Mexico and South Korea.

    Squad: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St Germain).

    Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea), Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich).

    Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal).

  • Rohr’s final selections will make the country proud-Izilein

    Former Super Falcons’ coach Godwin Izilein has said that Nigeria’s national team coach, Gernot Rohr picked the best players that would make the country proud at the World Cup in Russia.

    Izilein gave the assurance while speaking with the News men on Monday in Benin.

    According to him, the team has had the best of preparation and played quality friendly matches, adding that what the team needs now is prayers.

    “As for the players picked by the coach and comments over his selections, I quite commend the coach for appearing not ruffled by the comments.

    “Rohr’s critics may not see why the coach picked those he picked.

    “He knows what he wants and if he feels those he picked will give him what he wants, let’s wish him the best,” he said.

    Read Also: Upgrade Eaglets to U-20 team – Izilein

    Speaking on the Super Eagles friendly match with England, Izilein said he was not disturbed with the outcome of the game.

    The former Super Falcons tactician noted that those that spied on the Eagles tactical play would have been disappointed.

    “Our opponents came in there to pick one or two things about the eagles to prepare their team against us, but I am happy that they saw nothing.

    “They are still wondering if this is the team they will be playing against.

    “To me, I am happy about the outcome. The Eagles will surprise the world in Russia; I am very convinced that the Eagles will do well at the World Cup,” Izilein said.

    It will be recalled that Rohr on Sunday released the final names of 23 players that will represent Nigeria at the World Cup.

    NAN

  • World Cup: Saraki splashes N18M on Eagles

    Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Senate President Bukola Saraki (CON) has doled out the sum of N18m (50,0000USD) to the Super Eagles to help boost their morale for the Mundial.

    The Senate President has also pledged undisclosed monetary reward suspected to be in US dollars for every unreplied goal the team scored at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    This was revealed on Tuesday as Saraki bade the Eagles farewell for the 21st FIFA World Cup which commence June 14, at an organized forum in Abuja.

    The senator described Coach Gernot Rohr led Eagles as the best set ever and a team without faction.

    “I have been following the performances and general behaviour of this squad. I must confess that I am very impressed. We no longer have schisms and different camps in the same camp, and you sacrifice a lot for the country without demanding so much before you go to battle.

    “From the captain, Mikel Obi to the newest member of the squad, I assure you of the love of the entire country and the well –wishes of every Nigerian as you go to the FIFA World Cup and in fact, in all your endeavours,” he said.

    President, Nigeria football Federation Amaju Pinnick lauded Saraki for his proven love for, support and encouragement of the three –time African champions during the FIFA World Cup qualifying race and even before.

    “The Nigeria Football Federation and this team are indebted to you for your huge support all the time. Your love and keen interest has contributed much to keep this team going and reaching for higher heights.

    “I must note that we are lucky to have a manager like Rohr who himself is calm, focused and very dedicated to his job, as well as a captain like Mikel who is very humble and God-fearing. The sky will be the limit for this team.

     “The Nigeria Football Federation and this team are indebted to you for your huge support all the time. Your love and keen interest has contributed much to keep this team going and reaching for higher heights.”

    Senators Ahmed Misau and Baba Kaka Garbai joined the senate President at the forum.  Also  in attendance were NFF 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko; Executive Committee member, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau; General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Managing Director of Transcorp Hilton, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo among other dignitaries.

  • African fans tip Brazil, Germany to win Russia 2018

    *Give Nigeria , Egypt slim chance

    Some African fans in a recent poll believe none of the continent’s representatives to the 2018 FIFA World Cup is capable of winning the tournament but have rather predicted Brazil or Germany to lift the trophy.

    The finding is courtesy of a survey conducted by Geopoll to determine the level of awareness and interest in the upcoming World Cup, determine viewership habits among Africans, and examine which teams Africans are rooting for Russia

    GeoPoll is a leader in providing fast, high quality market research from areas that are difficult to access using traditional methods.

    In a survey of 2400 respondents across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, GeoPoll found that respondents were fairly evenly split in believing that either Brazil or Germany is  most likely to win the cup, with 22 per cent predicting a win by Brazil and 20 per cent forecasting a Germany triumph.

    In poll took a new dimension in South Africa, where 26 per cent of men believe Brazil will come out glorious, and 26 percent believe Germany will carry the day, but 20 per cent of the women predict victory for Brazil while just 13 per cent think Germany will win.

    From Africa’s five qualifying teams of Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia, the South African public is expecting little, with the greatest hopes being the 1 per cent of men and 3 per cent of women predicting a Nigerian win.

    But in Nigeria and Senegal, football followers see it differently. While 43 per cent of the men of both nations, tip their teams to clinch title. In Nigeria, 44 per cent of the women are of the same view in predicting a Nigerian win.

    The greatest patriotism and optimism however comes from the v Senegalese women with 66 per cent of them tipping the Taranga Lions to win the Cup.

    Estimated 850million African viewers are expected to watch the World cup which kicks off June 14 in Russia