The Nation Newspaper

Tag: world cup

  • Blatter against use of VAR at Russia 2018

    Blatter against use of VAR at Russia 2018

    Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter has spoken out against using video evidence at Russia 2018 World Cup as teething problems continue to trail trials in countries such as Germany.

    “You cannot use the World Cup as a guinea pig for such a serious intervention in the game,’’ Blatter said in an interview with Wednesday’s Sport Bild magazine.

    Blatter, 81, was banned from football for eight years in 2015 by the FIFA ethics committee over a “disloyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs (2.07 million dollars).

    The payment was made to former European football chief Michel Platini.

    The FIFA appeals committee later reduced the suspension to six years, while Platini is serving a four-year ban.

    Read Also:  Blatter joins Russia World Cup train

    Blatter’s administration was sceptical of technological innovations during his 17 years as president of the world governing body.

    But he finally advocated goalline technology for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after refereeing errors four years earlier in South Africa.

    “It would be wrong to use video evidence in Russia, it is too immature and many countries still use it differently,’’he said.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • 1,000 supporters club members to cheer Super Eagles in Russia

    1,000 supporters club members to cheer Super Eagles in Russia

    Samuel Ikpea, National Chairman, Nigeria Football Supporters Club ( NFSC ), on Thursday said the club would take 1,000 of its members to cheer the Super Eagles at Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Ikpea made the disclosure in Lagos while reviewing the club’s preparations for the World Cup holding from June.

    He said the club had set machinery in motion toward ensuring that the supporters club was adequately represented in the quadrennial football fiesta in Russia.

    “We are already mobilising our members for the World Cup in Russia. We have sent messages to the 20 registered member states and Abuja to send 50 of their members for the competition.

    “We have been in the business of doing that for a very long time now, we also have members outside the country and we are ensuring that wherever they are, they are going to Russia.

    “Our Marketing Unit is already saddled with sourcing of funds and the sponsors of our trip to Russia because we are a non-governmental organisation (NGO), so we need to source for the funds.

    “I want to assure Nigerians that we have been doing that for the past 62 years when the club was formed and we will not fail this time around,’’ Ikpea said.

    Ikpea said that the club had received little support from the Nigeria Football Federation and the Federal Ministry of Sports, adding that this would not derail its programme in Russia.

    “We have not have not been able to receive any good support from NFF or the Sports Ministry, since the inception of the new government as against the last administration when we received N50 million.

    “We are hoping that since this is a World Cup, something may come out, but we have been talking to various corporate bodies, we have put a machinery in place to achieve that.

    “We have not had any issues like Visa racketeering since the club was formed and to my knowledge of about 16 years in the administration of NFSC, we have yet to record such.

    “We have good understanding with all the embassies as far as visa issuance is concerned and none of our member has ever absconded after competitions. The records are there,’’ he added.

    Ikpea said that the suspended and dismissed members of the club had their fate decided by the congress of the club, a decision which should be respected by all the football stakeholders.

    “There are some people that have been suspended and some dismissed because of their anti-club activities. We have all the evidences against them, including police report.

    “All their actions are well documented and I think every good leader should be able to respect the decision of the congress of any particular entity.

    “We expect that both NFF and the sports ministry should be able to respect the congress on the expelled members but if they chose not to, that is not in consonance with the change mantra.

    “I am aware that those members have chosen to form a parallel supporters club, Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club and Nigeria Athletics Supporters Club. Their actions have truly vindicated us,’’ he said.

    Ikpea said that the suspended and dismissed members had ulterior motives of causing disaffection in the club, adding that since they could not achieve that they went on to form another group.

    “The dismissed members were able to form another group since they cannot achieve their aim of scattering us in NFSC, so they have formed another group.

    “Their actions, I may not be able to clearly state whether they have the support of the Minister of Sports and NFF or not, but they are not part of us.”

     

    NAN

  • World cup: Russia to hammer greedy hotels

    World cup: Russia to hammer greedy hotels

     

    Hotel operators eager to make excess profit at the expense of visitors to Russia for the World cup next year, are to be taught a lesson they will never forget in a jiffy.

    Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency dished out the warning adding that the country is determined to host a hitch- free Mundial.

    The Agency hinted that it will create a public blacklist for hotels that hike their prices for the 2018 World cup.

    The agency has already identified several hotels guilty of price inflation in Volgograd and Saransk, among other cities. Prices for hotel rooms in these cities rose 40 times, the head of the agency Oleg Safonov was cited as saying by the Izvestia newspaper..

    Earlier in December, the Russian consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor initiated a case against a hotel in Volgograd that increased prices 20-fold, the state-owned TASS news agency reported.

    The Gallery Park Volgograd Hotel asked 130,250 rubles ($2,262) or N814, 320 for a one-night stay in its presidential suite during the World Cup, which will be held in Russia between June 14 and July 15. The regular price for the room is 5,990 rubles.

    The standard room in the Volgograd hotel also went up in price, up from the usual 1,600 rubles to 55,000 rubles during the tournament.

    The Federal Agency for Tourism plans to publish a blacklist of such hotels in early 2018.

    Based on ticket sales and requests, at least 1.5 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Russia during the World Cup. The Federal Agency for Tourism estimates that they will spend up to $2 billion during their stay in the country.

    Nigeria has been grouped alongside Argentina Croatia and Iceland with the Super Eagles expected to play Iceland at the Volgograd Arena, Volgograd area on June 22nd. The Minister of sports Solomon Dalung recently confirmed that it will take about N3 billion to prosecute the world cup in Russia.

  • W/Cup: How a stitch in time saved Nigeria

    W/Cup: How a stitch in time saved Nigeria

     

    Nobody can rule out the possibility of Nigeria crashing out in the first round in Russia, after all it has happened before in  Korea/Japan 2002 and  in South Africa 2010.  None can rule out the possibility of making it to the round of 16 after all it has happened before in USA 1994, in France 1998 and in Brazil 2014.

    None can rule out the possibility of hitting the Quarterfinal after all Cameroon achieved that for themselves and for Africa in Italy 1990 followed by Senegal in Korea/Japan 2002.

    So should the Super Eagles achieve any of these, they wouldn’t be breaking any records except their own but should they make it to the semifinals and perhaps the finals they would have set a new record.  Irrespectively of where how they eventually end up in Russia one thing is clear Nigerians are, and have been in celebration mood following the qualification for Russia 2018, more so when it was done with panache.  It is  the first time  the team will qualify for the world cup without anyone having migraine neither did anyone see the need to carry the usual calculator to work out our chances of qualifying viz a viz that of those in our group usually after being boxed into a corner by poor performance or complacency.

    The new vigor with which German tactician and the Super Eagles pursued and eventually achieved the qualification even before the last match against Algeria which is now leaving a sour taste in the mouth  made the whole difference and of course they have started reaping the fruit of their labour. The feat fetched the coach a fresh two year contract and ensured that his salaries were settled.  As for the players the issue of bonuses and sharing formula which hitherto was reason for unending squabbles in camp was discussed, agreed upon and sealed which implies Nigerians will be spared the distraction of unpaid winning bonus and other allowances although the Nigeria Football Federation’s idea of paying players per minute played is still on the table but has received condemnation or better put dead on arrival and many have said you cannot hold a player responsible for the number of minutes he plays as he is not the one fielding himself. If he is ready and available, he has done his part and deserves to be paid. End of story!

    Back to the issue, the 2-1 defeat of Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola,  and 1-1 draw against  Indomitable Lions of Cameroon away in Younde after 4-0 demolition at home are some of the impressive feats that fast tracked Nigerians ticket to Russia.

    Even before the last match against Algeria which ended 1-1 in Algeria Nigerians had started dreaming of how they will enjoy the world cup and those with business minds have started seeing vision about profits that can be made during the world cup.  One could therefore understand the shock when FIFA hammered the country for fielding an ineligible Shehu Abdullahi leading to point deduction and fine of 6,000 Swiss Francs (about N2,177,280) in the said match against Algeria. Shehu by virtue of having two yellow cards was to serve automatic one match suspension, ironically FIFA had the record which the

    NFF did not have. So Nigeria lost three points and conceded three goals so to say for a match that ended 1-1, ending the qualifying race at 11 points as opposed to 14 points the boys had posted without losing a match. The implication of this costly blunder is that if the Nigerian group (B) had ended like Group A which had Tunisia finishing on 14 points and Congo Dr, finishing on 13 points, Zambia would have replaced Nigeria in Russia because we would have ended on 11 points and Zambia on 13 points! Did I hear you say God forbid! That would have been the reality even if you forbid it with all your might. Little wonder Nigerians have been thanking God that the deduction and fine did not affect the qualification. They are appreciating the Eagles for doing the needful at the right time.

    That is what blunders which appear to have become part of us can do. Would it be the first time that we will be committing expensive blunders? NO. We have had to forget our playing jersey ahead of a crucial match; we have had to reportedly forget players’ passport in a taxi, we have had to write players number with mere marker and then attached it to their back with gum. You will say what can we think of next?

    On this latest blunder a four man panel has been set up by President of Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick who apologised profusely to Nigerians when the news broke out. The initial explanation as funny as it sounded was that the mail reminding the Federation that the player is not eligible to play was not assessed because  an officer whose responsibility it is to respond to such mails had surgery and was not available to access the mail. You ask will an official email account be attached to just one person to the point that when he is not there nothing happens? A story for the birds if you ask me. Do you expect any genuine finding from the four man panel in a country where white papers seldom see the light and where setting up panels make news but you never get to know their findings?

    A caller on a radio program on Friday, December 12 revealed he had wanted to commit suicide had the latest NFF blunder stopped Nigeria from heading to the world cup in Russia. You could say that is tantamount to taking it to the extreme, but that tells you how serious the matter is. In a country where people are seeking for little opportunity to smile in the midst of frustration you never can say what his plan and dream for the world cup qualification is. He could be a printer who is hoping that the usual souvenir on players and countries which they print during the Mundial would be the source of money for him to break even next year. He could be a travel agent hoping that one or two clients will patronise him for the trip to Russia and he could equally be an operator of a viewing centre who is foreseeing a boom during the world cup, a boom which can only come if Nigeria is in the race and hopefully doing well.

    Let’s just say we thank God that the unexpected didn’t happen. If it did I tell you most solemnly it would have been hot for the occupants of the Glass House. No doubt Nigerians would have called for the sacking of all not minding the so called FIFA hammer over government interference. They would have opted to damn the consequence after all in 1996 Nigeria boycotted the African cup of Nations in South Africa and the heavens did not fall. To put it the way a Demola a diehard sports fan  who was baring his mind in a public bus to whoever cared to listen put it “If  this mistake had denied us world cup, everybody in the NFF  would have been sacked interference or no interference we cannot continue this way. Record keeping is part of their job,” he said

    Let’s pray against future occurrence!

  • First Official W/cup Store Opens in Central Moscow

    First Official W/cup Store Opens in Central Moscow

     

    The first official World Cup store opened in the center of Moscow on Tuesday, just in time for the New Year’s shopping rush.

    The shop is located on the first floor of Detsky Mir, or Central Children’s Store, on Lubyanka, at walking distance from Red Square. It offers official World Cup souvenirs, ahead of the tournament in Russia next summer — such as the Telstar 18 football, t-shirts, backpacks and stationery, among other items.

    St. Petersburg and other World Cup host cities will also have their own official fan stores, as the Russian authorities continue to clamp down on fakes.

    Last week, border guards in Russia’s Far East confiscated 640 counterfeit stuffed toys of the official World Cup mascot, the wolf Zabivaka, the state news agency TASS reported earlier.

    And in 2016, more than 61,000 counterfeit products with images of Zabivaka were found in Moscow, the Moskva 24 news channel reported earlier.

    Nigerian national team the Super Eagles have opted for the  Sanatorium Mashuk Aqua-Therm Resort based in Pyatigorsk, South Russia.

    Eagles play their first match against Croatia at the 35,000 –capacity Kaliningrad Stadium on Saturday, June 16 before taking on Iceland and lastly Argentina.

    Kaliningrad is 1256 kilometers from Moscow and takes an hour fifty minutes by air.

  • Germany players to pocket €350,000 each

    Germany players to pocket €350,000 each

     

    Germany’s players each net a bonus of €350,000 if they retain the World Cup in Russia next year.

    Joachim Low led Die Mannschaft to their fourth world title in Brazil in 2014, as Mario Gotze’s extra-time strike sealed a 1-0 win over Argentina in the final.

    Bolstered by a new generation of fine talent, Germany and Low will look to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962.

    If they fall at the final hurdle, a €200,000 runners-up windfall will be a crumb of comfort, while third-place would net €150,000.

    The German Football Association’s (DFB) bonus structure also accounts for €125,000 in the event of a semi-final berth and €75,000 for the quarters, following talks with a players’ delegation led by Bayern Munich and national team goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

    DFB president Reinhard Grindel said: “It’s a big motivation for our players to become back-to-back World Cup winners for the first time in the history of German football.

    “This would be an eternal title and is worthy of a special bonus. But we can sense that the challenge from a sporting point of view is the focal point for the team and not financial interest.”

    Germany will open their Group F campaign against Mexico in Moscow before taking on Sweden and South Korea in the round-robin phase.

  • Maradona unveils personal 12ft statue 

    Maradona unveils personal 12ft statue 

     

    Diego Maradona was on hand to unveil an incredible 12ft statue of himself holding the World Cup in Kolkata, India, but questions were immediately raised over whether it actually looks like him.

    The former Argentina international has become something of an icon in the football-mad city after an original visit in 2008, during which thousands of fans packed into the airport to catch a glimpse of one of the game’s greats.

    His second public appearance has been a long-time coming having originally been scheduled for September, meaning the statue had to stay behind its blue and white curtain for months before the man himself could unveil it at a ceremony on Monday.

    An original photo from Argentina’s World Cup wins in the Atzeca Stadium over 31 years ago

    But despite the extra time his delayed arrival allowed sculptors, they were still unable to produce a statue that bared much resemblance to the enigmatic young man who inspired Argentina to a World Cup victory in Mexico 31 years ago.

    The chubby cheeks and double chin given to his effigy seem to bear more likeness to Maradona’s more portly figure of today rather than the athletic physique he sported during his playing career.

    The Argentine was on hand to make donations to charity and waved off a new ambulance

    The 57-year-old, along with girlfriend Rocio Oliva, were also in Kolkata for charitable reasons and handed cheques worth 10,000 rupees (£116) to 11 cancer patients. He also waved off a new ambulance before addressing the huge crowd.

    ‘I am not god of football but a simple footballer,’ he said modestly. ‘I’m happy to be here in Kolkata again. It’s amazing to have my statue here.’

    Maradona is also due to take on cricket icon Sourav Ganguly in an exhibition match titled ‘Diego vs Dada’ in nearby Barasat, although local media appears to doubt it will actually happen.

    In other recent statue news, Lionel Messi saw his own likeness in Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires targeted by vandals for a second time in the space of a year. Last week, the statue was cut down and left beside its podium for local authorities to later discover.

  • W/Cup: Russia to unveil Nigerian Sculpture Dec 29

    W/Cup: Russia to unveil Nigerian Sculpture Dec 29

     

    An Ice Sculpture celebrating Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup and that of the remaining 31 other countries competing in the prestigious fiesta, is to be unveiled on December 29.

    More than 40 ice sculptures will be erected in Moscow to celebrate countries that qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia next summer, City Hall has announced.

    The sculptures will feature symbols from the participating countries, including ice replicas of their architectural gems, football stars and literary characters. They will reportedly include England’s Sherlock Holmes, Germany’s Baron Munchausen and Sweden’s Karlsson according to Moscow Times.

    There are strong indications that the Nigerian Sculpture will feature Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel whose wife Olga incidentally is Russian

    About 2,000 tons of ice from Lake Baikal and lakes near Yekaterinburg and Arkhangelsk will be used to make the World Cup statues.

    The sculptures will be put up in Moscow’s Park Pobedy as part of the Ledovaya Moskva festival that takes place from Dec. 29 to Jan. 8. They will be split into eight compositions that correspond to the eight groups that will play in the first round of the international tournament.

    Nigeria has been drawn against perennial group opponents Argentina, Croatia and Iceland with permutations already taking the stage over how the Gernot Rohr tutored side can emerge from the group and forge ahead. The Nigeria Football Federation is hoping that the team will go beyond the group of 16 which the highest the Nation has reached at the World Cup. The feeling in the Glass House is that a quarter or semifinal stage will be heartwarming.

    The Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung only recently dispatched a request to President Muhammadu Buhari asking for N3billion to prosecute the World cup in Russia.

    Interestingly FIFA has confirmed that all the 32 teams participating at the world cup will be guaranteed $9.5million each, with opportunity to earn more as they progress at the event. Teams that make it all the way will be having a Dollar rain according to FIFA’s release.

    The winners will receive USD 38 million, while the runners-up will get USD 28 million and the third-place team USD 24 million,” the World soccer ruling body assured. Some analysts in the country believe the Eagles who had an impressive run in the qualifiers can earn from USD16 million and by hitting the quarters and beyond.

  • Adamu selects 10 players for COPA Lagos

    Adamu selects 10 players for COPA Lagos

    Ten players have been selected at the Brinin Kebbi camp of the Super Sand Eagles for the COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament, opening in Lagos on December 8.

    The Head Coach of the team, Audu Adamu, said in Lagos on Thursday that the new team would represent Nigeria at the CAF Beach Soccer tournament, billed for Egypt next year.

    “These selected players will represent us at the World Cup qualifiers in Egypt. I have so much hope in them and I’m confident that they will deliver.

    “Our performance in COPA Lagos will further reveal to us where we need to work on and improve on,’’ Adamu said.

    The players selected are Paul Danjuma of Kastina United, Arome Isah of Sambrin FC Kogi, Victor Tale (Captain) of Kogi United FC, Emmanuel Oweferia and Taiwo Adams both of Owibeseb FC Ojo.

    Others are Ekujumi Eganosi and Emeka Ogbonna both are of Lead UTD FC in Ojo, Lagos, Abu Azizz of Rangers FC Enugu, Suleiman Muhammed of Ifeanyi Uba FC and Bulangi Umar of Kebbi Beach Soccer.

    The four new players, who made the team are Muhammed, Umar, Eganosi and Ogbonna.

    The Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, Samson Adamu, the organizers of COPA Lagos, said that this year’s event would be huge because of the partnership with the Lagos State Government.

    “We have come a long way and with our partnership with Lagos State, we know things will only get better.

    “Already because of this partnership, one of the most renowned coaches in the world Tehina Rota of Tahiti would help train our home-based coaches,’’ he said.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode was partnering with the tournament organizers as part of his commitment to making Lagos a centre of attraction.

    Read also: Arsenal Beach Soccer Team Arrives Today as Lagos State Supports COPA Lagos

    “Tourism, arts and sports are sectors that our amiable governor understands to be the oil sector, we have seen Kinetic Sports manage COPA Lagos and the tournament has all these traits.

    “We believe in the future of COPA Lagos and we are ready to continuously work harder to ensure that we tap into every area this tournament comprises of.

    “Talking about sports, fashion, music, tourism, all these and more are embedded in COPA Lagos and will keep our youths engaged during the festive period,’’ he said.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Deji Tinubu, said that Lagos State was proud to be a part of the success story of Kinetic Sports.

    “Samson is a Nigerian youth that has single-handedly organised a tournament of this magnitude for almost a decade now; because of his consistency he is a success story.

    “I want our youths to challenge themselves, nothing is too small as long as you have passion for it and you have a vision that sees beyond your challenges.’’

    The COPA Lagos tournament is to hold from December 8 to December 10 at Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    NAN

  • Second phase world cup ticket sales begins Dec.5

    Second phase world cup ticket sales begins Dec.5

     

    Second phase of tickets sales for the 2018 World cup in Russia opens Tuesday with fans able to purchase tickets for all matches except for the opening match and the final.

    If the number of applications exceeds the number of available tickets, allocation will be by the random selection draw procedure. During this sales period,from 5 December 2017 until 31 January 2018 it will make no difference whether applications are submitted on day one, the last day or any time in between, as all will have the same chance of being successful.

    Official supporters of all 32 participating member associations can request supporter tickets and conditional supporter tickets (CSTs) for their national team’s matches. Supporter tickets are tickets for each of a team’s three group matches. CSTs are tickets for each of the four knockout-phase matches that could potentially be played by a team, and are conditional upon the team qualifying for the respective rounds of the tournament. Participating member associations are allocated 8 per cent of the purchasable capacity of each stadium in which they are playing

    All customers will be notified about the status of their application by 12 March 2018 at the latest.

    A total of 742,760 tickets were allocated during the two periods of sales phase 1. While most of the applications in sales phase 1 came from Russia, international demand increased steadily and has accounted for 47 per cent of all applications so far. Fans from the USA, Brazil, Germany, China, Mexico, Israel, Argentina, Australia, and England all rank in the top ten in this regard.

    At the request of the Russian authorities, all fans attending matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia need to apply for a FAN ID – the official identity document issued to fans. Fans are encouraged to apply for this free document as soon as possible after they have received their ticket confirmation email.

    The FAN ID and a valid ticket are required for fans to be able to enter the 2018 FIFA World Cup stadiums. Having a FAN ID gives fans additional benefits and services provided by the host country, such as visa-free entry to the Russian Federation, certain free inter-host city travel and free use of public transport on matchdays.