The Nation Newspaper

Tag: world cup

  • Gambo targets CHAN success for World Cup place

    Gambo targets CHAN success for World Cup place

    Super Eagles and Kano Pillars forward, Gambo Muhammed has told SportingLife that he will work very hard to make the African Nations Championship (CHAN) final list so he can prove to Super Eagles Chief Coach Stephen Keshi that he merits an inclusion in the 2014 World Cup squad.

    “As you can see nobody is sure of making the team yet until the Chief Coach names his squad. So I am working very hard to make the CHAN final squad and from there anything can happen.

    “I love football. It is my life and profession. I love scoring goals too because it makes me and everybody happy. That is why I am working very hard at training. I know I have the talent to score goals and that is what I will do, I mean score goals here in training and in CHAN Insha Allah (by God’s grace) if I am picked for the competition.

    “If I make the CHAN team I will work hard to help my country achieve success in the competition so that I can have the opportunity of breaking into the Super Eagles’ World Cup squad,” Mohammed told SportingLife yesterday.

    The gangling striker has the talent to be a potent attacker but has not proved his abilities to the maximum since he joined the Eagles. There is, however, no doubt about his talent as a striker since has proved it times without number with Kano Pillars.

  • Nigeria can win the World Cup in Brazil

    Nigeria can win the World Cup in Brazil

    On Monday September 30, 2013, one of Nigeria’s greatest sports columnist Mr. Tayo Balogun in his popular Column ‘Talking Turf’ wrote an article I christened an extra-terrestrial piece on Nigeria’s Super Eagles titled ‘FIFA World Cup 2014’: Champions Nigeria!, where he masterfully crafted a dreamer’s graphic account of Super Eagles World Cup exploits in Brazil 2014 and at the end of this masterpiece, he stated that he just realized it was a dream. I carefully noted this piece in my diary with his name and mobile phone, waiting for the conclusion of the African playoff qualifiers to confirm the five African representatives in Brazil 2014. Interestingly, Nigeria, the African Champions in 2013 is one of the confirmed representatives with Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroun and Algeria.

    These countries are not greenhorns in the Senior World Cup.

    After our qualification, as we crossed the Ethiopian hurdle and played Italy two days later, the night to the morning of Tuesday November 19, 2013, I had the same dream of Nigeria winning the World Cup in Brazil 2014.

    It is real and it will come to pass, only if we collectively as a nation believe and work towards the success of this team with great potentials to becoming World champions. With the 2-2 draw with four times World Champions Italy, I got a glimpse of what we should expect in Brazil 2014.

    Let me state it clearly, Africa would parade worthy representatives in Brazil and wait for it, the World will get the biggest shock in this football fiesta next year. We know that the World Cup has always been won by the traditional heavyweights – Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, England, Germany, Italy and now joined by Spain in South Africa 2010, regarded before this victory as under-achievers. These are the Super powers of World football which is an exclusive club and Nigeria will join that club by 2014. The Brazil weather in summer 2014 is the same tropical weather of West Africa and the European countries will be at a clear disadvantage. African representatives should capitalize on this advantage to win this trophy.

    To make this dream possible, what should we do? Let me start by recalling Super Eagles Head Coach’s comments on November 14, 2013 – Stephen Keshi says going by Super Eagles progression in the past one year, Nigeria is capable of winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Keshi told Journalists in one of the training sessions before he played Ethiopia in Calabar, “the Super Eagles can win the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Why not? My brother it is possible, anything is possible in football”. Yes, the Big Boss has got a big weapon of success – ‘Believe in possibility’.

    This is the weapon of success in any endeavour in life. To realize this target, the NFF should keep the Super Eagles busy with Grade A friendly matches with South American and European countries, who are participating at this World Cup in 2014.

    Within the next six months, the Super Eagles should line up friendlies on monthly basis with countries like Columbia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Spain, Netherlands, France, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire. The importance of this friendlies will help to plug all loopholes in our Defence, Midfield and Attack. The Italian friendly exposed the left side of Nigeria’s Defence.

    We have a lot of work to do to fortify our Defence. The friendly with Italy at Graven Cottage revealed another kid on the block staking a strong claim in the Eagles attack – Bright Dike. He proved a point, when we played Catalonia of Spain before the Confederations Cup and he has shown it again against the Azurri of Italy.

    The next point is tactical discipline and a lot of technical input on our team is necessary for the team to achieve success.

    The Coaches have to impact this to the team. Our formations against some teams from Europe and South America must be tested with the friendlies by lining up some discovered good players so as to determine how they may adapt against some of the great teams from South America and Europe.

    The tradition which holds that if a World Cup holds in South America, a South American team wins and if in Europe an European team wins will be broken by Nigeria’s Super Eagles in 2014. Brazil is a dangerous contender as hosts and having won the Confederations Cup in 2013, they are cued to winning the FIFA 2014 World Cup to add to their numerous collection of the World cup. Do we need to play friendly with them? I would say no? This is for tactical reasons. Rather, we can play Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Honduras, Uruguay. However, if the Brazilians request for a friendly with us as I anticipate they may want to, our first 11 must not be presented to line up against them now. Keshi and crew take note! Try other players, at least two to three rising stars that may not be known to see if they can break into the main team.

    Again, to motivate the team for success, we need the patronage of Corporate organizations in Nigeria. The Super Eagles are a brand. Corporate organizations should pump in money for their camping towards the World Cup.

    Our collective goal for success borders on hardwork, discipline, tactics, technicality, formations, the psychology of players before each match and the current form of the players as they make the team.

    At this stage, the Coaching crew should not be distracted.

    Stephen Keshi as Head Coach, does not need a technical assistant. The NFF should expose the coaching crew to any FIFA coaching workshop before the World Cup.

    This is what the coaching crew needs to get updated. The NFF should sort out all administrative problems and ensure the coaches get their salaries as and when due as they prepare the team for this great task. We are a praying nation. We have to pray while the hardwork for success starts now.

    The victory of the Golden Eaglets in Dubai 2013, has given us a glimpse of what to expect in 2014. This dream is a reality.

    Uncle Tayo, we wait to see this dream manifest in Brazil 2014.

  • NFF advises journalists on 2014 FIFA World Cup accreditation

    NFF advises journalists on 2014 FIFA World Cup accreditation

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has advised Nigerian journalists intending to report the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals from Brazil to, without delay, apply for media accreditation through the usual FIFA Media Channel.

    “The media accreditation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals opened on the FIFA Media Channel on 7th December, 2013 and it is important that our journalists start the process immediately,” NFF’s Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire said at the weekend.

    Media accreditation, according to information made available at the team seminar on the eve of the Final Draw in Costa do Sauipe, Salvador, will close on 31st January, 2014.

    FIFA will begin the distribution of accreditation approval letters by 28th February, 2014 and media ticketing for the 48 group stage matches will be launched on 17th March, while media persons will start to receive ticketing approvals as from 5th May.

  • Ogu hopes for a great World Cup

    Ogu hopes for a great World Cup

    Reactions from the recent FIFA 2014 World Cup draw have continued to pour in from different quarters as well as the major actors themselves.

    Nigeria and Academica de Coimbra midfielder John Ogu, says he is happy with the draw and hopes Nigeria will have a decent outing at the World Cup next June.

    The former Uniao Lleria midfielder told supersport.com that the draw was kind to Nigeria and it’s a good opportunity for the country to better their previous records at the global tourney.

    “It’s a good draw I must admit, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy by any means. We will have to work our socks off to scale out of our group as no country can be considered minnows any more,” he said.

    Ogu, 25, who was part of the team that beat Ethiopia 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for the football showpiece event, feels all the teams in the group are capable of advancing as well as causing problems for Nigeria.

    “I won’t dwell on only Argentina as the main threat in the group, that will only spell doom. We can’t afford to underrate Bosnia or Iran. Every team in the group has the potential to qualify from the group.”

    When asked about how the other African teams will fare in their own groups, the tall midfielder said: “To be frank, I haven’t even thought in that direction since the draw came out. I’m only thinking about our own group and Nigeria and how we can have a great tournament. Those are the thoughts that have been on my mind,” Ogu revealed.

    Nigeria have been drawn in Group F of the 2014 World Cup alongside Argentina, Iran and Bosnia- Herzegovina.

  • World Cup: Oliseh tips Eagles for second round

    World Cup: Oliseh tips Eagles for second round

    Former Nigeria captain, Sunday Oliseh, is confident that the African champions will qualify for the round of 16 when the FIFA World Cup begins in Brazil next year.

    Oliseh said he is “ecstatic” like his countrymen following Friday’s World Cup draw in Bahia, Brazil that pitched the Super Eagles in Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran.

    The member of the FIFA Technical Study Group took time to talk on Nigeria’s opponents ahead of next year’s World Cup.

    “The Nigerians are ecstatic, myself included, because we have Iran in the group – with all due respect to them I think we should be able to negotiate this encounter.

    “We’ve also got the Bosnians, who are playing for the first time in the World Cup finals as a nation. Our chances are pretty bright and it’s looking interesting,” supersport.com quoted Oliseh as saying on CNN.

    The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder also spoke on the prospect of the Super Eagles coming up against Lionel Messi.

    He also reeled out the qualities of the FC Barcelona talisman.

    “Messi is one of the best to have ever played football. He can do everything except head the ball. The question is how do you stop him?

    “You can’t really if he’s on a good day. What we need to worry about is Messi going to be healthy come 2014? If he is healthy, we have a problem. But we have nothing to fear – for the first time in a long time we feel we have nothing to lose,” said the 39-year-old ex-Nigerian midfielder while analysing the World Cup draw.

    Oliseh then warned that all the 32 nations know “what is at stake” at the Mundial and believes it is not time to start celebrating or despairing over favourable or unfavourable draw.

     

     

  • FIFA WORLD CUP DRAW FALL-OUT: Nigeria is so strong —Iran’s coach

    FIFA WORLD CUP DRAW FALL-OUT: Nigeria is so strong —Iran’s coach

    • Says Eagles are playing well

    Iran national coach, Carlos Queiroz has hailed Nigeria’s consistency under chief coach Stephen Keshi ahead of their opening match of group F for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He also added that they are a very strong side.

    With such high regard for the African champions, Querioz considered it an opportunity for his side to play alongside the Super Eagles. They clash on June 16 in Curitiba.

    He made his remark after Friday’s draw held in the city of Salvador. “Nigeria are playing very well at the moment,” he said.

    Other teams in the group are Argentina and Bosnia-Herzogovinia.

    Querioz is however not losing sleep over the pedigree of the other teams which many feel could work against Iran’s chances.

    “Playing in the World Cup is an opportunity for every participating team. And based on this, it will be wrong for anybody to write off any team,” he said.

    With such confidence, Querioz, who has vowed to take Iranian football to greater heights, has predicted a second round ticket.

    Iran, who are making their fourth appearance, have never gone beyond the first round at a FIFA World Cup.

  • MOCK WORLD CUP DRAW: Eagles get Uruguay, Croatia

    MOCK WORLD CUP DRAW: Eagles get Uruguay, Croatia

    •Grab USA too in Group B

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles were handed an ‘easy’ draw with Luiz Suarez inspired Uruguay in Group B for the World Cup 2014 group stages…but don’t worry – it was just a rehearsal.

    The African champions came out in a group with the former world and South American champions, as well as USA and Croatia.

    However, England’s Three Lions were handed a nightmare draw with Spain alongside African powerhouse Cote d’ Ívoire and South Korea.

    Hosts Brazil on the other hand were also handed a daunting task, as they were thrown in a pool with Italy, France, and Australia.

    The ‘group of death’ as manny football pundits believe was a result of France being draw as the unlucky team from Pot 4, who will be moved to Pot 2, and can therefore face a top South American seed from Pot 1 as well as European heavyweights from Pot 4.

    Meanwhile, the proper draw will hold today in Brazilian city of Salvador after which they will know the task ahead at next summer’s Brazilian festival.

  • 2014 World Cup: Chukwu tips Eagles for 2nd round

    2014 World Cup: Chukwu tips Eagles for 2nd round

    •Says Nigeria will be difficult to beat

    Former Super Eagles Chief Coach and Captain, Christian Chukwu has tipped the Eagles to scale through the group stage hurdle and at least get to the second round of the 2014 World Cup slated for Brazil.

    Chukwu who is also a member of Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee told SportingLife that the Super Eagles team is strong enough to make the second round of the competition no matter the group the Nigerian team found itself in today’s draws.

    “One thing about the present Super Eagles team under the leadership of Coach Stephen Keshi is that they are bunch of devoted, patriotic and glory-seeking players that can wreck any highly rated team on their good day. So no matter where the Eagles are drawn I am confident that they will at least get to the second round of the 2014 World Cup holding in Brazil,” Chukwu disclosed.

    The former Rangers strongman stressed that in as much as he would prefer the Eagles avoid the big football nations like Brazil, Spain, Germany and the rest, he still believes that the Nigerian team could stand to be counted when pitched against these teams in the group stage. He, however, warned that there are no minnows in world football again. He said that the so-called small football nations are the ones that normally pose as threats to other big football nations.

    “I always laugh if I hear people saying they prefer the Eagles meet a small team. What do they mean by a small team? There are no more minnows in world football. All the countries that qualified for the finals of the 2014 World Cup passed through strenuous, rigorous and energy-sapping qualifying series and worth their qualification for the 2014 World Cup. So to me all the 32 teams going to Brazil for the Mundial worth being there and are threats to other opponents,” Chukwu called ‘The Chairman’ during his playing days for being a tough and dependable defender told SportingLife.

    He, however, urged the Nigeria Football Federation not to relent in their efforts of preparing the team well for the task ahead in June 2014.

    “I am urging the NFF to as a matter of importance and urgency use the opportunity of attending the World Cup draws that is holding tomorrow (today) to discuss with the representatives of other countries coming for the draws to arrange friendly matches in other to toughen the Eagles for the World Cup.

    “The Eagles need at least three to five friendly matches between now and June date of the World Cup to knock the team to shape and be ready for the competition,” he added.

  • NFF seeks World Cup base for Eagles

    NFF seeks World Cup base for Eagles

    Nigeria Football Federation officials are working on a plan for the African football champions to train in Colombia, Argentina or the United States for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

    “We plan to camp the team in Colombia, Argentina or the United States of America,” supersport.com quoted Chris Green, the head of the NFF technical committee, as saying on Wednesday.

    “These countries share the same climatic conditions with Brazil. We will be inspecting many camp sites to finally decide where to camp the team.”

    Brazil 2014 will be Nigeria’s fifth World Cup appearance after debuting at the 1994 tournament in the U.S.

    The NFF is waiting for the outcome of Friday’s World Cup finals draw before deciding on the base.

     

  • World Cup: Nigeria shouldn’t expect easy draw – Echiejile

    World Cup: Nigeria shouldn’t expect easy draw – Echiejile

    Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile, has warned that Nigeria should not expect an easy 2014 World Cup draw on Friday.

    The 32 World Cup finalists will know their first round opponents at the draw in Brazil from 4pm Nigerian time and Sporting Braga star Elderson said Nigeria will most likely to get a tough group because of the quality of teams going to Brazil 2014.

    Elderson told MTNFootball.com: “We should not expect the best draw because there are a lot of great teams going to the World Cup, we would just wait to see what happens on Friday.

    “Whatever team we would be paired against in the draw would be a difficult team because they all went through the qualifiers before getting there, so they would be tough to play against.”

    However, Elderson maintained that as African champions the Super Eagles will be in Brazil to compete and not to complete the numbers.

    “As African champions, I can confidently say we have a good team right now. We have more confidence as a team and that is what I think is going for us right now and that would really help us at the World Cup,” reasoned the ex-Flying Eagles defender, who made his World Cup debut in South Africa three years ago.

    Nigeria last went past the group stage in 1998, but the Portugal-based star said he expects the Eagles to make an impact in Brazil.

    “You know football is not predictable. And you know in football a lot of changes come in. But personally, I believe so much in this team to shock the world in Brazil. I know we would pull a lot of surprises in Brazil,” he predicted.