The Nation Newspaper

Tag: world cup

  • Brazil 2014: Mexico 1- 0 Cameroon

    Mexico on Friday defeated Cameroon 1-0 in the second group A match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Mexico’s 2012 Olympic Gold medal winning hero, Oribe Peralta, scored the decisive goal in the 61st minute, slotting in the rebound after Giovani Dos Santos initial effort was blocked by the Cameroonian goalkepper Charles Itandje.

    The Colombian referee, Humberto Clavijo, had earlier chalked off three goals in the first half – two for Mexico and one for Cameroon.

    The Africans looked laborious in their approach, allowing the more technically gifted Mexicans to dictate the tempo of the match watched by a  capacity crowd  at the Estadio das Dunas, Natal.

     

  • Over 300 Eagles supporters off to Brazil

    Over 300 Eagles supporters off to Brazil

    At least 328 supporters of the Super Eagles on Friday departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, aboard a chartered aircraft for Brazil.

    The trip was facilitated by the official travel and tour agent approved by the Nigerian Football Federation – Wakanow Travel and Tours Limited for the World Cup in Brazil.

    Speaking at a pre – departure ceremony at the airport, the Managing Director of Wakanow Travel and Tours Limited, Mr. Obinna Ekezie, said the special flight arrangement would reduce the stress associated with connecting flights from different parts of the world to Brazil.

    Ekezie said as the official company engaged by the NFF, its workers have fully mobilised to ensure the comfort of Nigerians in Brazil during the World Cup.

    He said: “Considering the fact that there are no direct flights to Brazil, with the minimum flight time to Brazil ranging between 24 to 25 hours that will take Nigerians two days of travel. We decided to get a chartered flight that will take Nigerians directly to Brazil and we will also cater for them while they are in the South American nation.

    “We will get them hotels, get them ground transportation, make sure that we get them logistic services .

    “Our staff will be there in Brazil, we have hired translators, we have even contracted restaurant in Brazil that cook Nigeria food, all these are things that we are willing to do for the Nigerians passengers and we hope that Super Eagles will perform well in Brazil.”

     

  • NFF ‘stays away’ from Eagles

    NFF ‘stays away’ from Eagles

    Nigeria Football Federation President, Aminu Maigari and other officials of the federation are keeping their distance from Super Eagles to allow maximum concentration.

    During the training camp in United States, Maigari and fellow board member Chris Greene were lodged at a different hotel from the Westin where Stephen Keshi and his wards were accommodated.

    Similarly, while in Jacksonville, no NFF official stayed at the team’s Hyatt Regency lodgings.

    Both times, the NFF bigwigs only visited when required.  Like when they arrived ahead to welcome and usher the Nigerian Consuls who came to visit the team.

    In Brazil, the NFF hotel is in São Paulo, a one and half hour drive from the team in Campinas.

    This is in marked contrast to previous years when officials would stay in this same hotel as the team, or even when they did not, would regularly visit team lodgings on a daily basis.

    Maigari told KickOffNigeria.com that the team needed the space.

    “We need to allow the players to concentrate on what they are doing,” he said. “We have our own job to do and we are doing it.

    “They don’t need any distractions. We have provided everything we think they need, but a serene environment with no distractions is important, and that is what they have in Campinas.

    “If they want something, there are easy channels of communication and we are always available to step in and solve any issues.

    “But they have a job to do and we are confident they have everything they need to do it.

    “We have confidence in the coaches and the players and we believe they will make Nigerians proud.”

  • Keshi reassures fans on Eagles

    Keshi reassures fans on Eagles

    Agency Reporter

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has assured fans that there is no cause for alarm as Nigeria gets set to commence its campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Iran on June 16.

    Many Nigerian fans have expressed disappointment at the team performance in its warm-up games against Scotland, Greece and the United States.

    Keshi, however, insisted that the results from the friendlies are not a true reflection of the team strength.

    The “Big Boss” stated that the friendlies were meant to serve as rehearsals for the team, adding that the team is ready to do serious business in Brazil.

    “We are in Brazil for serious business,” Keshi told kickOffNigeria.com.

    “Friendlies are meant to serve as rehearsals; they are different from competitive matches.

    “This is not an excuse for our performance in the matches, but seriously speaking, the results do not mean anything to me, evaluate us in the World Cup.”

  • World Cup: Mark leads FG delegation to Brazil

    .. Imoke, Shema, Haruna, Bala, Duke on the trip

    Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday led a high powered Federal Government’s delegation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    President Goodluck Jonathan had in a letter mandated Mark to lead the delegation which includes Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Gumba and his House of Representatives’ counterpart Geofrey Gaiya.

    Also on the entourage, according to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, are governors of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, his Katsina State counterpart, Shehu Shema, Federal Capital Territory Minister Bala Mohammed, Culture and Tourism’s Edem Duke as well as Youth Development Minister, Boni Haruna.

    Others are –Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo, Minister of State Foreign Affairs 1, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and Commissioner of Police Kola Sodipo.

    According to the statement, Mark will deliver President Jonathan’s goodwill message to the players and officials and also hold pep talks with them ahead of their opening game against Iran on June 16.

  • World Cup: Eagles happy with NFF bonus plan

    World Cup: Eagles happy with NFF bonus plan

    Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, has said the team is satisfied with the Nigeria Football Federation’s proposal for sharing of FIFA World Cup bonus, supersport.com reports.

    Yobo and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel had earlier met with the top NFF members to demand an appearance fee for the World Cup.

    This is outside the $10,000 match bonus proposed by the NFF.

    Yobo said the meeting to demand an appearance fee for the players was “peaceful and normal as players need to demand for their rights.”

    “That’s very true. I haven’t been around for a while. When I came, I heard about several issues that were going on.

    “I have to make sure my players are happy. I am the captain of the national team and if the players are not happy, there is no way I can be happy,” he said.

    The Nigeria captain said the meeting was important to ensure that the Super Eagles put up a creditable outing at the World Cup finals.

    Yobo, however, expressed unhappiness that the development was reported by the media.

    “This was a very peaceful and quiet meeting. I am very disappointed that it came out in the media because it was very peaceful and everybody was very happy about it,” he said.

    “You can’t stop the players from asking for their rights. This is normal. We play for our country and there are certain things that the players are entitled to.

    “As the captain of this team, I am privileged, proud and honoured to represent my country.

    “The players are all happy and they know the task ahead. Like I said, there was a meeting and the meeting will still continue.

    “There’s no problem. We just need to agree on what we want to do. We are ready to play for Nigeria and we don’t represent our country because of money,” he said.

     

  • Brazil 2014: Jennifer Lopez withdraws from opening ceremony

    Football’s world governing body, FIFA, confirmed on Sunday night in Rio de Janeiro that pop star Jennifer Lopez has pulled out of Thursday’s World Cup opening ceremony in Brazil.

    Lopez, who recorded the official World Cup song, “We Are One,” with rapper Pitbull and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte, had been due to perform with them at the Sao Paulo event, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    FIFA said that even with the pull out the opening ceremony would amaze the public, while paying homage to Brazil’s three biggest treasures, nature, people and football.

    The singer’s representatives said in a statement, that regretfully Jennifer Lopez would not be attending this year’s World Cup ceremonies,” but gave no further explanation about why she would not be performing.

    Lopez had said last week she was “thrilled” to be given the chance to perform at the opening ceremony, describing it as an amazing celebration of global unity, competition and sport.”

  • No emotions, sentiments in team selection – Keshi

    No emotions, sentiments in team selection – Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has revealed that he had to “take away emotions” before selecting his 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Keshi dropped seven players from his final squad and revealed that it was not an easy decision.

    “It’s always tough when you have a relationship going on with your players. I had to take away emotions. You have been together with the players for several weeks and some have to go, it’s tough,” supersport.com quoted Keshi as saying to journalists in the team’s training camp in Pennsylvania.

    The Nigeria trainer eventually dropped Daniel Akpeyi, Sunday Mba, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi, Obinna Nsofor and Ejike Uzoenyi from his World Cup squad and revealed that he “removed sentiments” before arriving at his decision.

    “You can’t bring emotions into this. I removed sentiments from this because I knew I had to be pure in my selection.

    “I was realistic and knew I had to do what I had to do. It’s not about me; it’s not even about Nigeria but about Africa because we are flying the flag of the continent in Brazil.

    “It’s a shame that I could not take the 30 of them (named in the provisional squad to Brazil) because if I could, I would have done it but some had to go,” he said.

    Nigeria begins its World Cup campaign against Iran at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba on June 16.

    The Super Eagles will then face Bosnia-Herzegovina at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá on June 21 before rounding off the preliminary campaign against Argentina at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre on June 25.

     

  • Injury cost Nsofor, Joel Obi World Cup places

    Injury cost Nsofor, Joel Obi World Cup places

    A knee injury cost Obinna Nsofor a place in Nigeria’s World Cup squad.

    Nsofor was one of seven players axed by Stephen Keshi when he named his final 23-man squad and team sources told KickOffNigeria.com that Nsofor would have been in the 23 but for his knee issues.

    “His knee swelled up after the first training session, and that’s why he missed out on the Scotland friendly.

    “The doctors worked on it and monitored it over the next few days, but in the end, a decision was taken not to risk it, because he could aggravate it at the World Cup and that could be bad for his career.”

    Joel Obi’s fate was also similar. Although he featured against Scotland, the midfielder was not at full tilt, and Keshi also decided to allow him time off to get fully fit.

     

  • World Cup: Nigeria has team spirit – Wenger

    World Cup: Nigeria has team spirit – Wenger

    Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has tipped Nigeria to reach the second round of the World Cup alongside Argentina in Group F, Goal reports.

    The Frenchman feels the Super Eagles has something going for them this year – “team spirit” and a lack of big egos which has ensured for a united squad and differentiated the team from many African sides of the past.

    He said Argentina should win the group which also has Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina and that Nigeria should join the South Americans in the second round.

    “I think that Nigeria might qualify for the second stage,” Wenger wrote in his Eurosport World Cup preview.

    “The team really made a good impression on me during the African Cup of Nations. Super Eagles seem to have a really good team spirit, which is not always easy for African teams.

    “Nigeria has less star players. They have a real team, and it’s been a while since that happened for them,” Wenger said of Stephen Keshi’s team.

    On Argentina, the Frenchman expects the two-time world champions to do well playing in South America where they would be buoyed by the rivalry with neighbours Brazil.

    He also said that Alejandro Sabella has done better than Diego Maradona in his selection of a balanced side despite the array of impressive attacking talent at his disposal.

    “Normally Argentina should qualify thanks to the team’s offensive potential. You might even say that Argentina has too many good players in attack,” Wenger wrote.

    “It’s not easy to be a manager in Argentina, because it’s hard to build a balanced team without leaving some indisputable players off the field.

    “Argentina has Higuain, Messi, Aguero, and Tevez, who didn’t even make the final squad. They have so many forwards; it will be very hard to keep a balanced team. It’s what happened in South Africa.

    “Still, Sabella’s team seems more balanced than Maradona’s. They can’t make a mess of this World Cup; Argentina just can’t.

    “The two main rivals in South America are Brazil and Argentina. There can’t be a World Cup in Brazil and Argentina be humiliated and not have a great tournament,” Wenger said.