The Nation Newspaper

Tag: world cup

  • Robbie Williams to perform at World Cup opener

  • World Cup: Police assures football viewers 24-hrs protection

    Enugu State Police Command says it will provide adequate protection for residents during the World Cup through its 24-hour patrol and surveillance.

    The Command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s Super Eagles and 31 other countries would trade tackles at the June 14 to July 15 football fiesta.

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles are in Group D comprising Argentina, Croatia and World Cup debutantes, Iceland.

    The event would feature 64 matches, all of which would be televised by various Pay Television Networks being subscribed to by football match viewing centres, relaxation spots and hotels.

    Amaraizu said that residents of the state are free to watch the World Cup matches even very late into the night without fear as there would be adequate police presence.

    “We don’t sleep in our duty especially on minute-by-minute patrols in the state. That is why there is always night life in Enugu.

    “However, we are redoubling our efforts to strengthen the existing patrol and other security frameworks during this World Cup season.

    “This is knowing what it means for the residents and visitors to watch the matches live in a secured environment,’’ he said.

    The spokesman also urged football lovers and residents to be of good conduct especially in the aspect of controlling their emotions as a match progresses.

    “Do not allow your emotions to cause commotion. Football is a game meant to promote peace, love and oneness among people.

    “Residents should watch matches and make new friends notwithstanding the outcome,’’ he said.

    According to him, the officers and men of the command are wishing the Super Eagles a fruitful outing and superlative performance that would make the country proud.

    “For those who cannot make it to Russia due to one circumstance or the other; the person, family or group can come to Enugu and watch the matches through Pay Television Network in viewing centres and hotels as well as experience the peace and hospitality the state offers,’’ he advised. (NAN)

  • Six Days to Russia: FIFA under attack over bribery scandal

    Football governing body, FIFA has come under attack since Kenya referee Adel Range Marwa was exposed in a bribery scandal captured in a video which surfaced online on Thursday.

    The Kenyan referee who has since resigned from the World Cup referees committee was captured on camera receiving a $600 cash gift which is against FIFA ethics.
    The money was for Marwa to influence the outcome of an international football match involving Ghana in the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).
    An undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposed Marwa, along with Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi whom FIFA has suspended for 90 days.
    The video has continued to elicit reactions with some saying it was a conspiracy against African referees on FIFA duty. Others said it was a shame
    “Why did the investigating journalist do this to our Aden Marwa? It doesn’t add up at all, so Fifa decided to set up Aden and eliminate him from World Cup and get at African officials.
    “Fifa would have tested all the referees then released an official report not just targeting one Black Referee. SO SAD,” Dennis Nyambane said on Twitter.
    “Sad that Kenyan Fifa referee Aden Marwa has had to pull out of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. I have reviewed Anas’s footage (Ghanaian undercover reporter) of the alleged bribe taking and I honestly think as journo, the method used by him to news gather leaves a lot to be desired,” journalist Odeo Sirari on Twitter.
    “Aden Marwa has not brought shame to Kenya, the shame was already there, he just lifted the veil and took it global. We can keep dreaming of a corrupt free Kenya or we need to look inside ourselves and awaken. “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Jung,” said Sam Gichuru on Twitter.
    “Aden Marwa, first Kenyan to have been appointed by Fifa as an assistant referee for the World Cup 2018 has been removed after accepting a paltry us$600 (Kshs. 60,000/=) bribe from Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Ghana’s fabled incognito Investigative Journalist … What a shame. What a tragedy,” A Lawyer Donald B Kipkorir said on Twitter.
    “Corruption is everywhere in Kenya this referees don’t live in heaven they live in a corrupt society,” Clarke Sumbule on Facebook.
    Six African referees were chosen by FIFA to officiate in Russia. The referees make the total of 99 officials selected from 46 countries.
    The African referees are: Mehdi Abid Charef from Algeria, Malang Diedhiou of Senegal, Bakary Papa Gassama from The Gambia, Gehad Grisha from Egypt, Janny Sikazwe from Zambia, and Ethiopian Bamlak Tessema Weyesa.

  • Disgraced World Cup bound referee in $600 bribe scandal

    Fresh stain on the credibility of African referees in Russia has emerged with six days to the commencement of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    The fresh concern emerged as a $600 bribe scandal involving Kenya’s Adel Range Marwa was uncovered.

    A report surfaced on Thursday that the World Cup-bound referee and a member of the FIFA Council received a $600 cash gift against FIFA ethics.

    Marwa who has since been relieved from his assigned duty at the mundial by FIFA allegedly received the sum in cash from an undercover journalist; Anas Aremayaw Anas.

    Ghana’s Fifa Council member Kwesi Nyantakyi, the second most powerful man in African football, was also caught up in a separate sting operation in the report.

    Since aired on BBC the Anas Aremayaw Anas’ report which has raised wide dust on the caliber of referees from Africa for the World Cup.

    NationSport can report that FIFA has chosen six African officials for the Russia mundial and in addition there will also be 10 assistant referees from Africa.

    The referees and the assistants make up a total of 99 officials selected for the tournament and are selected from 46 countries with Nigeria excluded.

    The African referees are: Mehdi Abid Charef from Algeria, Malang Diedhiou of Senegal, Bakary Papa Gassama from The Gambia, Gehad Grisha from Egypt, Janny Sikazwe from Zambia, and Ethiopian Bamlak Tessema Weyesa.

  • 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

  • 2018 World Cup: Iran is first team to arrive Russia

    The World cup is not just about winning the cup; it is not just about participation, it is also about making and breaking records.

    With 9 days to the kick off of the World cup, Iran made record Tuesday as the first participating country to arrive Russia.

    Placed 36th on the FIFA Ranking, Iran are playing in their fifth world cup and will begin their campaign in Group B against arch rivals Morocco on June 15, just  a day after the opening game between host Russia and Saudi Arabia June 14.The Iranians first made appearance at the World’s most celebrated sports fiesta at the 1978 edition hosted and won by  Argentina

    after beating Netherlands 3-1 in  Buenos Aires, in front of 71,483 spectators. 

    The team has never gone beyond the first round in their four previous appearances. At the last edition in Brazil, the Iranians were grouped with Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Argentina and Nigeria progressing to the next stage while Iran finished last in the group with only one point after pulling a goalless draw against Nigeria, losing by a lone goal to Argentina and losing 3-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Early arrival by Iran may not unconnected with a desire to acclimatize with intent to do better in Russia.

    The team has this time been pitched against Morocco, 2010 champions Spain and Portugal.  The country will take on Spain on June 20 at the Kazan Arena stadium with the last group match against Portugal billed for June 25.

    Forecast of the match against Spain indicate 80% chance of Spain winning 15% of the match ending in a draw and just 5% chance of Iran winning.

    In the tie against Portugal, forecast indicate 70% of Portugal winning , 19% of the match ending in a draw and only 11% of Iran winning.

    The opening match against Morocco however fared better with 32% chance of ending in a draw, 27% chance of Iran winning and 41% chance of Morocco winning.

  • World Cup: Ezenwa to Wear Eagles No.1 Shirt

    Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa will adorn the number one jersey in Russia, while Spanish based Francis Uzoho has 23 leaving Daniel Akpeyi with shirt number 16.

    This was revealed in a 59 second video online on the new squad numbers for the Super Eagles ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    While skipper Mikel Obi retains his number 10, newly signed Brighton and Hove Albion player, Leon Balogun will settle for number six, and Russia based Byran Idowu will wear the number two shirt.

    Forwards Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho will grace numbers 18 and 14, respectively. Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi is with number 17 jersey while recuperating Wilfred Ndidi will wear number four.

    Portuguese based Tyronne Ebuehi will be seen in number 21, as fellow defender Chidozie Awaziem will put on number 20 while Abdullahi Shehu holds 12

    The team continues its build up for the World cup, as it prepares to face Czech Republic on Wednesday in Austria.

    Chinese based Odion Ighalo has nine, leaving newly capped Simeon Nwankwo with number 13, as Russia-based Ahmed Musa holds seven.

    Chelsea’s Victor Moses stays with 11, as William Troost-Ekong has number five and Elderson Echiejile with three.

    Jersey number 19 is given to John Ogu while Italy based Joel Obi has 15, leaving Oghenekaro Etebo with the number eight shirt and Kenneth Omeruo on 22.

  • Chelsea celebrate Moses, Mikel for making World Cup

    English Premier League, Chelsea FC on Monday congratulated Victor Moses and Mikel Obi for making the Super Eagles World Cup Squad.

    The Blues also celebrated Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo who has been on loan to Kasimpasa of Turkey from Chelsea.

    Chelsea conveyed the wishes on Monday reckoning that the duo of Moses and Omeruo are on the list of players from the football club that will feature of their various national teams in Russia.

    Eagles Captain, Mikel was mentioned in the congratulatory message as Chelsea reckoned that the 31 year old spent more than a decade at Stamford Bridge before joining Tianjin TEDA in China.

    “Congratulations to @VictorMoses, @Omeruo22 and former Blue, @Mikel John_Obi who have all been selected to represent Nigeria in Russia!,” the club wrote on its web.

    Williams Borges Da Silva, Eden hazard, Courtois Thibaut, Batshuayi Mitchy, Geroud Olivia, and Kante  Ngolo are some of the Chelsea players that will feature for their national teams in Russia.

  • 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).

  • Russia 2018: Simon not fit for World Cup, Rohr says

    Eagles Head Coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that injured Moses Simon would not be fit to merit a berth in the final 23-man squad for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rohr stated this during his pre-match press conference before the team’s training session at the Wembley Stadium on Friday.

    Simon was initially ruled out of the World Cup by Head Coach Gernot Rohr after the player’s first scan results confirmed he would be out of the tournament.

    However, Moses requested for a further scan in the UK, with Rohr granting him his wish to prove his fitness ahead of the world cup.

    Reports on the NFF official Twitter handle on Wednesday had quoted Coach Rohr as saying that he was willing to wait and see if the player could make a late push for the World Cup in Russia.

    But Rohr hinted that the Gent of Belgium winger had finally been ruled out of the World Cup after a latest medical scan confirmed that he won’t be fit for the competition.

    “We have all our players in camp. Victor Moses was the last to arrive camp and he has had just one training session with us and will have another today (Friday).

    “All the players are ready for the World Cup except for Simon Moses who is out for four weeks,” he said.

    NAN also reports that with the team’s first choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme also ruled out of the World Cup on health grounds, the fight for Eagles’ number one shirt has generated heated arguments among the fans.

    Young goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, seems to be the favourite after the team’s last three games against Poland, Serbia and DR Congo but Rohr insisted that the position was still up for grabs.

    “Uzoho came in against Argentina and since then he has been showing confidence and making great efforts. However, we have three goalkeepers,” he said.

    The former Niger Republic and Gabon coach also played down the Super Eagles’ chances of becoming the first African country to win the World Cup.

    “We are not among the favourites. If you look at the FIFA ranking, you will see there are teams who are better than us.

    “It is important for us not to think we can win the World Cup,” Rohr said.

    He also highlighted the importance of Saturday’s friendly match against England to the team’s quest of having a successful outing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    The three-time African champions will face the Three Lions in their second pre-World Cup friendly at Wembley Stadium.

    Captain Mikel Obi, Alex Iwobi and a number of first team regulars were not involved from the start in Monday’s 1-1 draw against Democratic Republic of Congo in Port Harcourt.

    However, Rohr noted that he would name a strong side against Gareth Southgate’s men.

    “Tomorrow, we would play a big team like England, it is an important game for us.

    “It will be an interesting game for us. In the game against Congo, we didn’t play our best team, but we will change things against England and play our best players.

    “The atmosphere is going to be great and we hope to enjoy it and possibly win the game,” he said. (NAN)