The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Serbia

  • Injured Ronaldo expects to return in ‘one or two weeks’

    Cristiano Ronaldo says he expects to return to action in one or two weeks as he does not think his recent injury is overly serious.

    The injury had forced him out of Portugal’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Serbia on Monday which ended 1-1.

    Ronaldo went off in the first half with an apparent hamstring injury.

    “I’ll know more in 24 or 48 hours,” he told reporters.

    “It happens, it’s football. If you go out in the rain you get wet … I’m calm, I’ll be back in one or two weeks.”

    A long absence would be a blow to his Italian club Juventus, who signed Ronaldo last year to boost their chances of winning the UEFA Champions League.

    Juventus travel to face Ajax Amsterdam in their quarter-final first leg on April 10 with the return six days later.

    Both Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos said the referee had apologised to them for not awarding a penalty kick to Portugal for handball in the second half.

    Read Also: Ronaldo fined $22,000 by UEFA for celebration gesture

    The referee initially gave the penalty kick, but then changed his mind.

    The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is not used in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

    “It was very clear, the referee should have given it,” said Ronaldo. “The linesman was 40 metres away. So, it seems a bit strange.”

    Santos said: “We saw the incident in the dressing room afterwards and neither we nor he had any doubt —- it was a penalty kick… He apologised.”

  • Eagles ready for World Cup despite loss to Serbia – Dalung

    The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung on Wednesday said that the Super Eagles loss to Serbia does not mean that the Nigeria team was not prepared to excel at the coming World Cup.

    Super Eagles had on Tuesday lost 2 – 0 to Serbia in a friendly encounter in preparation for 2018 World Cup slated for Russia.

    He said “I’m quite confident of the Super Eagles. We mustn’t win every match before we can say we are prepared.”

    The defeat, he said, will only put the team on their toes towards achieving good outing in Russia.

    On the progress report given to FEC, he said “The major highlights of the achievements of the Ministry of Sports are the democratisation of the national federation by the ministry as a policy trust. I have gone a long way by improving performances in sports. It has also rebuild the confidence of our athletes which is giving the Ministry the desirable results we are having.

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory in 2015, a political revolution’ – Dalung

    “Before 2017, the situation in the national federations where the Minister had the power to apoint 150 board members and these were seen as political appointments which were counterproductive to the progress and development of sports and we have overcome that.

    “We also analyzed national federations and their performances one after the other and of course it has been harvest of medals since the reforms in the national federations.

    “Then we looked at the issue of youth development where the ministry has reviewed the national youth policy which was reviewed last since 2009 and we presented to council for approval and we looked at youths empowerment programmes of the Ministry which trained 400 young people in 2015 and 500 have been trained in 2018 in agro allied services including physical and leadership training. The beneficiaries are usually given take off grants which enable them to establish themselves.

    “We also brought to council the progress recorded in National Youth Parliament youth training program where 109 young people are selected from the 109 senatorial districts in the country and are constituted into a parliament to discuss the issue of young people.

    “Before coming onboard, the programme has been abandoned for a very long time and we resuscitated it. We also informed council about the last national council of sports meeting which we withdrew the hosting right from Calabar which has been with the right since 2012 and has been unable to host the festival. The festival now will take place in November this year in Abuja and the Federal Government is hosting.

    “We also tried to draw the attention of the Council on the need for an effective synergy between the MDAs to be able to address the youth question which is more or less growing like a tsunami and if due attention is not given to it, we will likely have problems.” he said

     

  • Ebonyi fans plead with Nigerians over Super Eagles loss to Serbia

    Ebonyi football fans have pleaded with football fans in the country over the Super Eagles 2-0 loss to Serbia in a friendly on Tuesday in London.

    The fans in an interview with the our reporter on Thursday in Abakaliki pleaded with Nigerians not to crucify the Super Eagles over the 0-2 loss to Serbia in the friendly.

    Commenting on the outcome of the match, the fans, however, noted that the NFF and the team’s technical crew had lots of work to do before the World Cup.

    Emmanuel Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. David Umahi, said the match provided the essence of friendly games which was to reveal the actual condition of teams.

    “The match is a wake-up call on the players and coaches that several issues need to be addressed before June, for the country to perform credibly at the world Cup.

    “All aspects of the team need to be reviewed and strengthened and the players need to be adequately motivated to perform optimally,’’ he said.

    Sule Abubakar, Head of Sports Development of the Hausa community in Ebonyi, urged the NFF to urgently address the issue of Captain John Mikel Obi’s unavailability for national call-ups.

    “The skipper is sorely missed in the two matches as the situation is reminiscence of the AFCON 2019 qualifier against South Africa when he and other top players were missing.

    “All issues concerning his work permit need to be sorted out before the next set of friendlies because serious contenders for the World Cup are presently playing with their best players,’’ he said.

    Chief Abel Nwankpuma, a hotelier, urged Coach Gernot Rohr to stop experimenting at this stage and stick to the starting team which ensured Nigeria’s World Cup qualification.

    “The coach used the friendlies to experiment and I believe that he has assessed the players and determined their capabilities to perform at the world stage.

    “He should now use the remaining three friendly opportunities to assess his starting team and experiment on formations instead of players,’’ he said.

    Billy Agbai, Goalkeeper Trainer of Bright Light FC of Abakaliki, urged Rohr to give opportunities to some experienced players in the remaining friendly matches.

    “Rohr should test Austin Ejide who is presently performing well in Israel if he has no confidence in Ikechukwu Ezenwa because Francis Uzoho is inexperienced for such a big stage.

    “Uzoho did not inspire confidence during both friendlies but Ezenwa has been consistent since the qualifiers, while Ejide can offer the needed experience having been to previous World Cups,’’ he said.

    Mrs Uzomma Chukwunweike, a Physical and Health Education Teacher, also called for the re-assessment of players such as Obafemi Martins and Efe Ambrose.

    “The Eagles attack spearheaded by Odion Ighalo has been blunt with the goals coming from schemers such as Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi.

    “Obafemi Martins with his experience can be tried in the next friendlies due to time constraints while a more experienced Efe Ambrose can supplement Leon Balogun instead of the rookie — Chidozie Awaziem,’’ she said.

    NAN

     

  • Baruwa to Rohr: Play Uzoho in goal against Serbia

    Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has been urged to retain Deportivo La Coruna shot-stopper Francis Uzoho against the Serbian senior national team when the team takes them on Tuesday night, AOIFootball.com reports.

    Uzoho, who was in goal against Poland, had a below average first half but improved in the second half and former Nigerian goalkeeper, Abiodun Baruwa believes the young goalkeeper can be better with more games and has advised Coach Rohr to give him another chance to help build his confidence in goal.

    Baruwa stated this while speaking on Brila FM, monitored by AOIFootball.com.

    “Uzoho did well overall against Poland, though he had a poor first half, he improved in the second half. My opinion is that the coach should give him another chance to help build his confidence. I think he will come good with time,” he said.

    Nigeria battles Serbia on Tuesday night at the Hive, Barnet FC Stadium, Canons Park at 8pm.

  • Serbia to unveil squad for Nigeria friendly today

    The Football Association of Serbia have tweeted that Head Coach Mladen Krstajic will announce his roster for the upcoming friendlies against Nigeria and Morocco today.

    The likes of Marko Grujic (Cardiff City), Uroš Spajic (Anderlecht), Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace), Dušan Tadic (Southampton) and Marko Dmitrovic (Eibar) will discover if they have been included in the squad.

    However, one name certain to be summoned for the game is Manchester United central midfielder Nemanja Matic, but the same cannot be said about his brother, F.C. Copenhagen midfielder Uroš Matic.

    Serbia will battle Morocco at Stadion Rajko Mitic (Beograd) on March 23 and four days later they will face the Super Eagles at the Hive Stadium in the English capital.

    The Football Association of Serbia arranged for the friendlies against the two strong African teams to prepare the national team for the World Cup as there’s a possibility they will meet African opposition in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup if they qualify from Group E.

    The Serbian national team occupy the 34th position in the latest Fifa ranking for the month of February.