The Nation Newspaper

Tag: world cup playoffs

  • World Cup playoffs: Portugal draws Sweden

    World Cup playoffs: Portugal draws Sweden

    …  France tackles Ukraine

    The draw for the European play-offs took place at the home of FIFA in Zurich on Monday afternoon as the eight nations that remain in the race for a ticket for the 2014 World Cup found out their opponents and four enticing ties await next month.

    Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates face a tough task to make it to Brazil as they were paired with the Swedish team led by PSG star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    France will meet Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine in another key playoff tie.

    Finally, Euro 2004 winners Greece take on Romania, while surprise package Iceland faces Croatia.

    Goal.com reports that the first legs will be played on November 15, with the returns scheduled to take place four days later.

     

  • World Cup playoff: It was a team victory – Emenike

    World Cup playoff: It was a team victory – Emenike

    Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has said Sunday’s victory in Ethiopia was achieved by the entire team.

    Emenike scored twice for the Eagles to take a 2-1 advantage into November 16 return leg in Calabar.

    “We prepared well for this game and we deserved the three points. It was not all about me because this was a collective victory for us. We all worked hard as a team to show the spirit of champions,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com

    “It was a tough game, it is one of the toughest games I have played for Eagles so far and I am happy to have conquered the fears.

    “I went to Ethiopia with a determination for victory, so the victory was a mission accomplished. We remain humble in victory.

    “I must give God the glory and adoration because he made it happen for me and my team.”

    The 2013 AFCON top scorer said he expects the return leg to be even tougher.

    “The return leg will be tough, we are not there yet, but we are in a comfortable zone. We just need to be focused and wrap it up in the second leg with another victory,” he said.

    Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi told MTNFootball.com he did not panic even when Ethiopia went ahead.

    “It was a tough match no doubt, they came at us to win but we gave our best to curtail them. I never felt we will not win the game, I was very upbeat there was no way the Ethiopians will beat,” he said.

    “I was sure of victory. I am happy to be part of the team. World Cup here we come!”

    Oduamadi was one of Nigeria’s best performers at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil in June and said he will be glad to return there for the World Cup.

    “I was at the Confederations Cup this year, I am glad that I will be going back there for the World Cup, it is a football country,” Oduamadi told MTNFootball.com.

     

  • Eagles won’t fail in Ethiopia – Kwambe

    Eagles won’t fail in Ethiopia – Kwambe

    Super Eagles defender, Solomon Kwambe, has assured the side will not disappoint against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia on Sunday.

    The African champions will confront the Ethiopians in the first fixture of the two-legged African World Cup play-offs at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    Kwambe said victory is already assured in the crucial game given the winning aura his teammates are bringing into the match as shown in their smiles upon arrival at the camp.

    “The mood in camp and among the players is charged with anticipation of resounding victory against the Walya Antelopes in Sunday’s duel in Addis Ababa.

    “There is no iota of panic among the players in camp as the new arrivals wore broad smiles.

    “Victory is written on everybody’s faces, all the players are smiling indicating that fortune will smile at us on Sunday.

    “I don’t think there is any cause for alarm, we just need the support and prayers of every Nigerians to further soften the challenge.

    “It won’t be an easy game, it’s a match one can’t predict straight-forward the outcome as the Ethiopians are surely preparing and want to win the duel as well as ourselves.

    “I’ve heard a lot about the harsh weather over there in Ethiopia but that’s nothing compared with the winning mentality right now among the players.

    “Twice of the anticipated harsh weather nor the Ethiopians won’t stop us from winning the match right there in Addis Ababa.

    “We’re the African champions and we must demonstrate the stuff that made us African kings in whatever and wherever we see ourselves, we’ll surely triumph against the Ethiopians,” said the Sunshine Stars strongman to supersport.com.

     

  • World Cup playoffs: Walya Antelopes host Eagles October 13

    World Cup playoffs: Walya Antelopes host Eagles October 13

    Ethiopia will host Nigeria in a 2014 World Cup playoff on October 13 in Addis Ababa.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier complained that Ethiopia had not confirmed the match day.

    The General Secretary of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF), Yigsaw Bezuayehu disclosed that the match will be played on October 13.

    “We have played our home games on Sundays and the match against Nigeria will not be an exception,” said the EFF top official.

    This then means that Nigeria will fly out of Abuja on a chartered flight on Saturday, October 12, so as to beat the effects of the high altitude in Addis Ababa.

    Nigeria has picked Saturday, November 16 as the date for the return leg match at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    The overall winners of this playoff matches will qualify for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

     

  • Injured Ameobi may miss Ethiopia’s clash

    Injured Ameobi may miss Ethiopia’s clash

    Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi could well miss out on Nigeria’s World Cup playoff next month in Ethiopia because of injury, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Ameobi returned to Newcastle United with a knock after playing for Nigeria against Burkina Faso in a friendly in which he scored his first International goal.

    Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said in his press conference on Friday that the Nigeria striker may be out of action for three weeks.

    “Shola’s not available again, and could be out for one to three weeks,” Pardew said.

    He was said to be nursing a slight knock, but that slight knock has turned into something that will now keep Shola out for up to three weeks or so, and that seems to have happened a lot in Shola’s career.

    Nigeria plays away to Ethiopia on October 12 in a first leg playoff for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

     

     

  • World Cup playoffs: Keshi wants longer training camp

    World Cup playoffs: Keshi wants longer training camp

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has asked for a longer training camp ahead of next month’s 2014 World Cup decider in Ethiopia.

    MTNFootball.com gathered that the coach wishes to set up a training camp for players from the local league at least two weeks to the Ethiopia match.

    “He wants to use this training camp to start preparing for next year’s CHAN as well as keeping an eye on the Ethiopia match,” a source close to the coach informed MTNFootball.com

    A broke Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had jettisoned this arrangement before the final group game against Malawi, citing cash constraints.

    The Eagles only had one full training before the Malawi match.

    In the meantime, Keshi has hailed the performance of his players, who were action in the UEFA Champions league and the Europa League.

    Keshi told MTNFootball.com from his United States base:”I am very impressed at their showing. I watch John Obi Mikel in the Champions league, it was unfortunate they lost, but I am happy he was in action and gave a good account of himself.

    “Ogenyi Onazi was in action for Lazio and Nosa (Igiebor) played 90 minutes for Betis. I am impressed because that is what I want, to see our players in action week in, week out.”

    The Eagles coach said ahead of the first leg of the World Cup qualifier in Ethiopia, “We are ever ready. I already know my list and have my programme once I return it would be business as usual.”

    Keshi is back in U.S to take care of his sick wife and said “she is a lot better now.”

    He is expected to make public his list for the Ethiopia decider in the first week of next month.

     

  • World Cup playoffs: Eagles won’t rely on records – Echiejile

    World Cup playoffs: Eagles won’t rely on records – Echiejile

    Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echeijile, has said Nigeria will not depend on their past records against Ethiopia in next month’s World Cup playoffs.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria enjoys a favourable record against Ethiopia having won four, drawn two and lost only once to the East Africans.

    But Sporting Braga defender Elderson said what would matter most when both clash again next month would be what they produce on the pitch.

    “Records are always there, but we will just go all out to do our best so we could be in Brazil next year,” maintained the left back on his official website www.elderson3.com

    He said the Eagles cannot afford to underrate Ethiopia even though most Nigeria fans have already given the Eagles the ticket to Brazil 2014.

    “I can understand the belief the fans now have in the Eagles, but we cannot afford to underrate any team especially at this stage of the qualifiers,” he said.

    “What is certain is that they will come with everything at us because they also want to be in Brazil for the World Cup.

    From our match at the AFCON, they showed they are a good team. They have speed and like to keep the ball. They are tactically not an easy team to come up against.”

    The high altitude of Addis Ababa has been widely seen as a major factor that could swing the first leg in favour of the home team.

    “It could be a problem (high altitude),” admitted Elderson.

    “But we are up for everything that will come up against us because we want to be in Brazil next year.”

    The Braga star would also back Ghana to beat Egypt in possibly the toughest-looking World Cup playoffs in the African zone.

    “It will be a very tough match for both teams,” he said.

    “But I will be supporting Ghana because I have some friends in the team – Asamoah Gyan and John Boye. We were together at Rennes in France.”