Yes, these boys can be as good as ’94 Eagles – Amokachi supports Keshi

0 0
Read Time:54 Second

SUPER Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi has added his voice on the growing controversy over the quality of the present Super Eagles squad compared with the 1994 Nations Cup winning squad.

Amokachi who was a member of the ’94 squad told Sports Vanguard in Nespruit, South Africa that the Stephen Keshi tutored squad presently campaigning in Afcon 2013 could be as good as the famous ’94 team.

He supported Keshi’s assessment of the team this way,“These boys have quality. They can be as good as the 1994 team. The only thing they are yet to get is the experience we had. They are still very young, compared to our team.”

Asked if he could identify one Amokachi in the present squad, Da Bull, as he was fondly called in his active days said, “Yes. Emenike, Ideye, Efe, are all good players. They will all grow and become household names.

The only difference is that they are new and they have not won trophies. With time, everything will be okay.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

NIGERIA: Ojido lists 3 best Eagles coaches, hopes Keshi joins them

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 43 Second

VETERAN sports administrator and commentator Pa John Ojido is wishing Stephen Keshi and the Eagles well, hoping that Keshi would later be listed among the great coaches of Nigeria. Ojido spoke at length this way:

“Three coaches have stood out in Nigeria in the past 20 to 25 years. They are Clemens Westerhof, Phillip Troussier and Shaibu Amodu. Westerhof changed our football.

He won our first Nations Cup outside our shores in Tunisia in 1994, qualified us for our first World Cup finals among other things like one Nations Cup silver and one bronze.

But he did more by developing our players. Phillip Troussier qualified us for France ’98 World Cup and he was playing good matches.

But then sports minister Chief Jim Nwobodo plotted his removal on the grounds that he was not a world class coach.

It was naïve and painful. Westerhof did a lot here. Was he a world class coach before he came? So many people have destroyed our sports with poor decisions. I felt bad when they sacked Troussier.

After Troussier, the next coach that did well for Nigeria as far as the records show is Amodu. He qualified Nigeria for two World Cups and also won bronze medal at the Mali Nations Cup.

Interestingly, Keshi was his assistant in Mali and when they qualified for the 2002 World Cup. I hope that Keshi joins this list.

He is doing well and should be given a chance to continue the good work. He is at the Nations Cup with six local players, the first time such a thing was happening in about 20 years.

I commend him. Our football is down and somebody has to build it. That’s what Keshi is doing now.”

Ojido spoke passionately on track and field, sports administration and other issues from Illah, near Asaba. We’ll serve you the juicy interview he granted from his sick bed.
The body was weak but his brain was as sharp as ever. He will be 87 years in June.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Super Eagles begin as favourites

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 50 Second

Nigeria open their Africa Cup of Nations account as clear favourites in their group C clash against Burkina Faso in Nelspruit today.

The Super Eagles will no doubt be looking for successful return to the tournament after missing out on the last edition in Gabon and Equitorial Guniea.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has brought a new-look side to this year’s finals, with only a handful of his team having competed at the continental showpiece before.

However, he will be able to count on the experience of captain Joseph Yobo, who takes part in a record sixth AFCON for the Super Eagles.

Expect the ever present John Obi Mikel to control the game from midfield with Chelsea team-mate Victor Moses providing the width in attack.

Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi is the most notable absentee for Nigeria, having chosen not to represent the country of his birth after playing for England at youth level.

Keshi said of the situation: “I was very impressed with him and he would have added a lot to our team.

“But we can’t dwell on the players who are not here. We have selected a group of very talented players who are ready to give their all for their country and I believe in these boys to do what they are asked to do.

“Burkina Faso are the team in front of us now, and we are prepared. The boys want to do their best and want to do their country proud.”

The Stallions of Burkina Faso will offer a stern test in their opening match and will look to bounce back from their disappointing showing at their last AFCON in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea where they went out in the group stages after losing all their games.

Jonathan Pitroipa is the player most likely to give Nigeria problems, and with his creativity and pace in midfield, the Rennes attacker is more than capable getting the better of defences on his day.

Moumouni Dagano and Alain Traore are expected to start alongside Pitroipa in midfield and will have to play well if the Stallions are to have any chance of pulling off an upset

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Zambia begin title defence against Ethiopia

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 56 Second

Zambia kick off the defence of their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations crown against minnows Ethiopia at the Mbombela Stadium today.

The Copper Bullets, who defeated Ivory Coast on penalties to claim their first AFCON title, were drawn in Group B which also includes Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard has a fully-fit team to choose from following the return of midfielder Rainford Kalaba, who had been suffering from a groin injury.

The Frenchman has selected 19 members of the team that conquered their more illustrious opponents in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Renard realises the importance of his side’s opening clash and hopes they can secure all three points, much like they did when beating Senegal 2-1 in 2012.

He told the BBC: “The first game against Ethiopia is very important – it is crucial that we start the tournament with a win just as we did last year.

“A lot of pundits do not believe we can win the title again and do not want to take risks with their predictions. It is easier to say Zambia will never win the Cup of Nations again.

“Should we fail to retain the trophy, it simply means another team was better than us. However, it will be very difficult to beat this Zambian team.”

Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw has no injury worries from his squad that is largely made up of domestic-based players.

Bishaw is insistent that after earning their right to be at the continental showpiece in South Africa, the 110th-ranked nation will not go down without a fight.

He said: “We worked really hard to qualify and people should appreciate that.

“We cleared difficult hurdles in Benin and Sudan and will not make life easy for any opponents”.

Hard work and unity are our strengths.

“We succeeded because of intense training and a high level of discipline. I just hope we can learn from some of the silly goals we conceded in Khartoum.”

Leading up to their AFCON opener, Zambia lost to Tanzania and Angola before being held to a draw by Morocco.

The Walias Antelopes, meanwhile, defeated Niger 1-0 before holding Tunisia to 1-1 draw in warm-up matches leading up to the competition.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

AFCON: We can’t take chances – John Mikel Obi

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 57 Second

AFTER a hectic trip from Faro, Portugal, through Lisbon and from there to Johannesburg, South Africa, before arriving its Nations Cup 2013 first round base in Nelspruit, last Thursday evening, the Super Eagles have quickly settled down with four training sessions so far at the lush green pitch of Ingwenyama Sports and Resort Centre.

The workout session supervised by Head Coach, Stephen Keshi,first started at 8am local time and 7am in Nigeria on Friday. Keshi took the players on regaining the physicality after a long trip and told them that there will be another training session later in the evening at 7:30pm, which will be 6:30 in Nigeria.

The training sessions have since been done once daily in the evenings at about 7:30pm, which is one hour less in Nigerian time.

Not even the heavy downpour of Saturday and Sunday could prevent the Nigerian side from having its training sessions as it prepares for its opening game on Monday against Burkina Faso.

“We can’t take chances whether it rains or not”, Chelsea John Mikel Obi said when asked about the readiness of the team.

All the players responded very well and the team is injury free, with Skipper Joseph Yobo saying it was good to be back in the bright sunny weather of Africa.

“Its been good since we got here and I think the players are gradually getting used to being together and I know we will have a beautiful tournament”, the Eagles skipper declared.

The national team held a media parley with the international press at 3:30pm local time on Sunday evening and trained later in the evening at 7:30pm for today’s game.

The cheery news was the return to full training by goalkeeper, Austin Ejide. Ejide had copped an injury in the team’s international friendly against Cape Verde in Portugal.

“I feel real good and ready but I am taking it easy as the medics have advised but am feeling real good”, he declared. On Saturday evening, goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, took Ejide on a special training session with Ejide turning out in impressive dives, punches and general conditioning of a good goalkeeper.

He should at least be good for the bench in Monday’s game.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Afcon: We will do everything to win – Burkina Faso

0 0
Read Time:57 Second

Burkina Faso have vowed to put up the fight of their lives when they tackle the Super Eagles in their Group C opener Monday at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Paired in a group that also includes Zambia and Ethiopia, the Stallions of Burkina Faso find themselves in a  tough situation to progress from the first round stage of the 16-nation tournament.

The west African side had a  new conference yesterday and their French-born coach, Paul Put, used the forum to set their priorities at the tourney, stating that they were in South Africa to compete amongst the top teams on the continent.

“We will fight the fight of our lives against Nigeria. We are here to compete and every game, for us, will be a fight”, said Put.

He said that he was not going to be deceived by talks on Nigeria coming to the tournament with inexperienced players or young players, stating that “the name Nigeria is big and for us, we have to give them a big fight. We will do everything to win the first game”.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Ghana’s Badu scores 2013 Afcon opening goal

0 0
Read Time:31 Second

Ghana midfielder Agyemang Badu is the first player to score at the Orange 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Udinese midfielder was on the end of  a Kwadwo Asamoah cross on 40 minutes to beautifully slot the ball home to give Ghana the lead in their opening Group B game taking place in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

This is his second goal in two consecutive Afcon tournament after his goal against Mali last year was shortlisted for the FIFA Puskas Award.

Yesterday’s opening games between South Africa and Cape Verde, Morocco and Angola all ended in a barren score.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Update: nigeria v burkina faso

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 1 Second

 Nigeria winger Victor Moses is expected to make his Africa Cup of Nations debut on Monday, having overcome a knock to take his place against Burkina Faso.

The 22-year-old is expected to start alongside Chelsea colleague John Obi Mikel in Nelspruit as the Super Eagles begin their campaign for a third title.
Continue reading the main story    

    “Winning the trophy is not going to be easy but we will give it our best”

Joseph Yobo Nigeria captain

Captain Joseph Yobo is poised to equal Nwankwo Kanu's record of six Nations Cup appearances for Nigeria.

Burkina Faso have gone 17 matches without a win in the Cup of Nations.

The team failed to win a point at the tournament in 2012, but with striker Aristide Bance fit to start there is an air of optimism around the squad.

The return to fitness of his strike-partner Alain Traore, after a heel injury, is a further boost for Burkina Faso although Monday's game may come too soon for him.

Traore is seen as a key part of the squad, having scored a decisive stoppage-time goal to put them through at the expense of the Central African Republic.

Nigeria have had mixed results in the build-up to the tournament, drawing 1-1 with Catalonia, being held to a 0-0 draw by fellow qualifiers Cape Verde, beating Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 before easing to a 5-0 victory over Portuguese second division outfit Farense.

But having been among the dominant forces in African football a decade ago, the Group C match against Burkina Faso marks their return to the Nations Cup after missing out on the tournament a year ago.

Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo: "Winning the trophy is not going to be easy but I promise we will give it our best shot. Let us not get beyond ourselves. The focus for now is on getting past the group stages and only then should we think about quarter-finals and, hopefully, the semi-finals and final."

Nigeria winger Victor Moses: "We have prepared well and, having missed the last tournament, wish to make Nigerians proud by the end of it."

Burkina Faso striker Aristide Bance : "I believe we have learnt from past failures and have a realistic chance of getting out of the group."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Soccer-Nigeria looking long term at 2018 World Cup

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 51 Second

Nigeria, who embark on a new chapter as they seek to return to past glories at the African Nations Cup, are starting a five-year project which will culminate at the 2018 World Cup, coach Stephen Keshi said.

"This is a team that is in a process to become better over the next five years," Keshi told reporters ahead of his team's first match at the tournament on Monday.

"We are not looking at this Nations Cup alone but looking at the World Cup in five years from now. That is why we decided to go with some of the younger players in our squad. I have confidence in them, they have been working hard."

Among the changes he has made was the controversial dropping of striker Peter Odemwingie, who responded with a series of furious tweets, and leaving out Spanish-based forward Obafemi Martins.

"The youngsters are desperate, they are on fire. It not just for this tournament but it's a team in a process to become a better side over the next five years," Keshi said.

The Super Eagles were among the dominant forces in African football a decade ago but their match in Nelspruit on Monday against Burkina Faso in Group C marks their return to the Nations Cup field after embarrassingly missing out on the last tournament a year ago.

That failure led to the appointment of Keshi, who captained the side to their last Nations Cup title in 1994 the year they made a World Cup finals debut in the United States.

"That was a side of character, we played with passion, we loved the game. We were very close, we were brothers," said Keshi, known as 'Big Boss' in his playing days.

"When we were out there we saw nothing that could defeat us. We had the mentality that you cannot beat us.

"Right now it's different but it is coming back gradually, we are bringing back that mentality that we used to have. We just need more time. I like what I've seen from my team but we need time and patience."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Govt happy with AFCON start

0 0
Read Time:32 Second

Johannesburg – Sports minister Fikile Mbalula says the government is pleased with opening of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday.

"The smooth and seamless operations by our people is much appreciated, a recorded amount of 70 220 spectators attended the opening ceremony and games," Mbalula said in a statement on Sunday.

"The rainy conditions that took over our country yesterday (Saturday) ahead of the continental showpiece under the banner of the Africa Nations Cup South Africa 2013 did not deter football loving Africans to watch the glamorous opening ceremony and the beautiful game of football at the National Stadium."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %