The Nation Newspaper

Tag: world cup

  • Eaglets’ Coach Amuneke screams: We don’t have a World Cup team

    Eaglets’ Coach Amuneke screams: We don’t have a World Cup team

    •As Rapture Academy boss clamours for friendlies

    The Chief Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel Amunike, has confessed that he has no team yet for the forthcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup slated for Chile from October 17 to November 8, 2015.

    The ever blunt former Super Eagles attacker did not hide his feelings when he revealed that, “I don’t have a team for now. I am just being honest with you. Let us not try to create or hype things that are not real. You guys (Abuja-based sports journalists) came here today and you are expecting a miracle. We have been here for the past two weeks now and I don’t even think any of you have picked interest to come and see what we are doing.

    “So, let us be realistic as regards what we are doing. You guys know me. I don’t need to tell you who I am. I believe in my principles. I believe in what I am doing regardless of what anybody thinks of me. But I believe that everything in life has its procedure and that is the procedure we are following now.

    “Are we the best people on earth? No. But can we work hard to improve ourselves? Yes, of course. So, we are not here to convince anybody, we are not here to convince any tribe or individual. We are here to serve Nigerians with the best of our abilities. That is what we offer to Nigeria with all fairness.

    “I will also tell you that there is no pressure from any quarter as regards this job. Let me be honest with you. I have played this game to the highest level. As a coach I have been privileged also to coach to the highest level. So, everything  you do in life there will always be a process to it and that is the process I am following.

    “Am I going to do a miracle? Am I going to do this? I’m not telling you I am going to do this. But I am doing the best I can.

    “What we are doing here (with the team in Abuja) is that we remain focused, we remain loyal and honest with what we are doing. For the past two weeks we have seen some Nigerian youths that are enthusiastic and want to play football. What we have to do now is to guide them and see if we can get the best from them. That is all we are doing here”, the former African Footballer of the Year disclosed.

    Meanwhile the Chairman of the Rapture Academy International of Uyo, who lost 2-3 to the Golden Eaglets at the Goal Project Center, Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, Sammy Etuk, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to arrange more local and international friendly matches for the Eaglets in order to knock the team to shape for October’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.

    According to the veteran journalist, who is based in the United States of America, time is not on the side of the team and the only way to get the boys going is through quality friendly matches.

    “If you ask me I would say we have barely four months to the kick-off of the U-17 World Cup, which I believe is not a long time to prepare. So the Nigeria Football Federation needs to help this team by getting quality friendly matches for them to play to put the players in a competitive mood”, he advised.

  • World Cup ‘ll fetch me deal —Success

    World Cup ‘ll fetch me deal —Success

    Spain-based Flying Eagles striker Isaac Success has said he expects the U20 World Cup in New Zealand to earn him a new offer.

    Success is on loan to CF Granada from Udinese of Italy and has already made his debut for the La Liga outfit this past season.

    He said his performance in New Zealand with the Flying Eagles could well determine his immediate future.

    “I am just a player and the decision is left for Udinese whether to recall me. If they do not need me, I will continue to play in Granada,” he said.

    “I believe if I have a good World Cup, I will definitely get a good offer.

    “This is the World Cup and even kids who know nothing about football will be watching. Players at U20 level are capable of playing in the top leagues across the world, so I am ready to do what I can do.”

    He said he is delighted that Granada will play again in the Spanish top flight after yet another successful battle against relegation.

    “I did not have enough playing time at Granada. But at least I am happy that we are staying up in La Liga and this will give me a second chance to prove myself if I am so opportuned,” he said.

  • Nwabuoku confident ahead of World Cup

    Nwabuoku confident ahead of World Cup

    Super Falcons skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku is in buoyant mood as the team continue their build up to the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

    The Falcons are currently in Toronto preparing for the tournament which will see them play the United States, Sweden and Australia in the group stage.

    Nwabuoku told supersport.com that the girls are getting down to their paces and cannot wait for the tournament to start.

    “We are getting set for the tournament as we are preparing hard and are focused on the business ahead,” the Biik Kazygurt of Kazakhstan player said.

    “The girls know what is at stake and will definitely give their best when the tournament starts.”

    Nigeria will start the tournament with a crunch game against European powerhouse, Sweden, on June 8 at the Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg and will be looking to surpass the quarterfinal feat of 1999 when Nigeria lost to Brazil in that unforgettable game coming from 3-0 down to tie the game at 3-3 before losing 4-3 in extra time through a Sissi golden goal.

    Nwabuoku wants the current squad to beat that feat and go all the way to show that African and Nigerian women’s football can be a force to reckon with.

    “I want us to surpass previous outings first, that’s the first objective,” the Falcons skipper revealed.

    “After that we want the world to see women Nigerian players as a force to reckon with by playing good and attractive football.”

    Nigeria are in Group D of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup which starts on June 6, 2015.

  • NFF set World Cup target for Super Falcons

    NFF set World Cup target for Super Falcons

    Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director, Emmanuel Ikpeme, has charged the Super Falcons to make sure they qualify for the knock-out stages of the FIFA World Cup in Canada.

    Speaking during his official welcome of the team to camp for their upcoming qualifiers, Ikpeme congratulated them for winning the Africa Women Championship (AWC), adding that they should extend their dominance to the world stage.

    “You must work hard by your actions, conduct and utterances. It is not impossible to go beyond the group stages; it is football we are talking about. You can go to Canada and become an upstart and scatter all earlier permutations and make a statement to the whole world.

    “It is not a question of coach inviting you to camp and you just come here and struggle to make the team to the World Cup and them you go there and just relax.

    “You girls must go beyond the group stage at the World Cup. It’s not a question of playing friendly matches where you win by big margins, your ultimate goal is to go to Canada and exceed all expectations.

    “You must come out of that group D. I want you guys to tell Nigerians that you are not only champions of Africa, but can conquer the world. Your ultimate goal is to go to Canada, qualify from your group and ultimately surpass any earlier record,” he told thenff.com.

  • Flying Eagles target AYC, World Cup titles

    Flying Eagles target AYC, World Cup titles

    Flying Eagles stand-in captain Taiwo Awoniyi has said that the target of the team is to win the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) and also the FIFA U-20 World Cup later in the year.

    According to Awoniyi, the team has all it takes to achieve that feat, all they need to do is to remain focused and be able to convert most of the chances they create.

    “Our target is to win  the AYC and the U-20 World Cup this year. For us to do that, we must  win all the matches that come our way. As a striker, my concern now is to perfect all my goal scoring antics, so that I would always put my team ahead. However, that does not mean that whenever I lose such chances, I should be dejected and continue to think over it”.

    Awoniyi, who had a fantastic game against Enyimba on Saturday, said though they defeated the Aba Elephants, they learnt a lot from them.

    “Enyimba were a good side, and were much experienced, and we learnt a lot from them,” he said.

  • NFF to receive additional N56m FIFA World Cup bonus

    NFF to receive additional N56m FIFA World Cup bonus

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is to receive additional $300,000 (about N56m) from World football governing body, FIFA from 2014 World Cup revenues.

    This is in addition to the $9 million (about N1.7bn) accruing to the Super Eagles for reaching the last 16 at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    FIFA said the payment which is meant for each of its 209 member federations, will help cover “the costs of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”

    The payments follow FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s promise in June that each member will get a $750,000 bonus.

    The world football authority banked more than $4 billion from commercial deals linked to the tournament.

    The bonuses would be paid equally to South American nations playing 18 qualifying matches and teams in other confederations set to be eliminated after just two matches.

    In 2014 World Cup qualifying, four of FIFA’s then-208 members did not enter and two later withdrew.

    FIFA said payments must be approved by audit committee chairman Domenico Scala.

  • Super Falcons qualify for World Cup

    Super Falcons qualify for World Cup

    • As Oshoala’s brace inspires Nigeria to 2-1 win over Bayana Bayana 

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria are the first country from Africa to qualify for next year’s FIFA senior Women’s World Cup after they beat Bayana Bayana of South Africa 2-1 in the semi-final of the African Women Championship in Windhoek yesterday.

    The Nigerian women dominated the opening minutes of the first half and should have taken the lead  more than twice with Asisat Oshoala missing incredible chances, but the Canada 2014 U-20 Women World’s Cup MVP and Highest goal scorer made up for her earlier misses when she grabbed the first goal for the Falcons in the 36th minute.

    The Rivers Angels star got a through ball from the left wing, out ran two of her markers before placing the ball to the far corner to calm anxious minds on the Nigerian bench.

    Her second goal came in the 45th minute of the encounter, Oshoala having being left unmarked in the far right, got a pass, controlled the ball and volleyed over goalkeeper Philadelphia Mndaweni in goal for the Bayana Bayana.

    Knowing that they needed at least a goal to come into the game, the South Africans stepped up the game in the second half with their quick inter change of passes spearheaded by the inspirational Portia Modise but it was not until mid way in the second half did their goal come in the most controversial manner.

    The Nigerian defenders rallied to clear on the line from a pull out that was sailing into the net while the centre referee Damaris Kimani from Kenya blow for an infringement against the South African, the assistant referee ruled that the ball crossed the line.

    With the goal line technology not available for the African Women Championship, there was no clear cut conviction whether the ball crossed the line or not.

    Coach Godwin Okon introduced veteran Perpetua Nkwocha for skillful Ngozi Okobi and Esther Sunday for Francisca Ordega who struggled in the game but it was the resurgent South Africans who piled more pressure in the closing stages until the referee ended the game as the Super Falcons avenged their loss to the Bayana Bayana at the same stage two years ago.

  • QUADRI FEARS NO FOE AT ITTF WORLD CUP

    QUADRI FEARS NO FOE AT ITTF WORLD CUP

    Despite the pedigree of players already listed for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup scheduled for this month in Germany, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri believes he will not be intimidated by anyone’s rating.

    The Portugal-based player told SportingLife yesterday that he was aware of the task ahead of him in Germany, and he would be ready for the challenge against the world’s best.

    “It is true that the players listed for the World Cup posses qualities but that does not mean I cannot withstand their level. I seriously believe that I can still do better than what I achieved during the 2009 edition in Moscow, Russia. In the line-up of the players listed for the championship are two players ranked among the top 30 in the world and I defeated them last month at the Czech Open. With this kind of success I think better days are ahead for me at the World Cup,” he said.

    The world number 73 ranked player added: “I am not going to be intimidated by their ranking as I believe that ranking means participating regularly in tournaments. I know it is not going to be a walk-over for me because I need to give 100 percent in all my matches in Germany.”

    Quadri, who is expected to lead his Portuguese club – GD Toledos to the knockout stage of the European Table Tennis Cup (ETTU) in Luxembourg, believes with the number of matches he would be playing at the ETTU Cup, he would be in good shape for the World Cup.

    “I am prepared for the competition in Germany because I have stopped playing in tournaments for two weeks now in order to rest well before the World Cup. I will commence my build up to the tournament in Luxembourg, with the second round of the ETTU Cup, where we are to compete against four teams in the group with one team expected to qualify to the third round. I will be playing six tough matches and I think it is going to get me more ready for the World Cup,” he said.

    Continuing he explained, “By upper weekend, my club will also be participating in the Mediterranean Championship taking place in Istanbul, Turkey. Over 16 teams will be playing in the competition and I will be playing from the beginning to the end for my team. I am going to play at least 16 to 10 tough matches and with all these, I should be able to be fully ready for the World Cup.”

    On his target in Germany, Quadri said: “My primary objective is to surpass my previous World Cup record and also to qualify from the group stage. If I qualify from the group stage, I seriously believe I can cause an upset in the knockout stage and in the main draw nobody knows what might happen. It is possible for me to make it to the knockout stage and if I am lucky and God is on my side during the tournament, making it to the quarterfinal is possible also. I think I have equal chances with all the players in the group stage.”

  • Enyeama to miss Congo, South Africa clash

    Enyeama to miss Congo, South Africa clash

    •Cites family committments

    Nigeria international goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama has announced that he will be unavailable for Saturday’s 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Congo.

    Enyeama cited “family commitments” as the reason for his withdrawal from the squad.

    He added that he had already informed Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi of his decision.

    “I spoke to the coach and explained to him why I couldn’t make it. I have some very pressing family issues to attend to at this time and it’s important for me to be there with my family at this time,” Enyeama said.

    Enyeama stated after the 2014 FIFA World Cup that he would be analyzing his future with the national team.

    He, however, told supersport.com in July that he has yet to call time on his international career.

    Speaking further on his decision to skip the game against Congo, Enyeama said he would be available for future matches of the Super Eagles.

    “I’ve told the coach that I will be available in future. But this time, I need to be there for my family,” he said.

    Enyeama has been capped 94 times for Nigeria at senior level.

  • World Cup final: Falconets arrive Montreal

    World Cup final: Falconets arrive Montreal

    Nigeria U-20 Women Team, the Falconets are in Montreal ahead of their final match against Germany.

    The Falconets qualified for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after beating Democratic Republic of Korea 6-2 in their quarter final match played on wednesday in Moncton.

    The team left Moncton on Thursday for Montreal where the finals will take place.

    The Nigerian delegation are currently staying at Sheraton Hotel Montreal.

    All players are in good condition with no reported injury.

    They are having two training sessions as part of preparations for the finals.

    Nigeria defeated Korea Republic 2-1, England 2-1 and drew 1-1 with Mexico.

    The Falconets also thrashed New Zealand 4-1 in the quarter finals to proceed to the semi finals where it edged out Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea 6-2 to advance to the finals.

    Nigeria and Germany met four years ago in Germany and they lost 2-0 to the Germans.

    The final comes up on Sunday by  12 midnight in Nigeria.