Nigeria star Mikel Obi has said he wishes for more success with club and country as that would make him a more matured player and person.
“Every big tournament you win seems to take you to another level, both as a player and a person,’ Mikel told Chelsea official website.
“You mature by winning major trophies, that’s what it’s done for me since I’ve been at Chelsea, I’ve won pretty much everything but I’m still hungry for success.”
Mikel won his first Africa Cup of Nations winners’ medal earlier this month and he has won all the major trophies on offer with Chelsea – UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, English FA Cup and League Cup.
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.
Super Eagles’ hero at the 2013 Nations Cup, Sunday Mba has balked at claims by Warri Wolves officials that he is their bonafide player. There are conflicting claims by Rangers of Enugu and Warri Wolves on the where the player’s affirnity lies. But the Mba who scored the only goal that earned the Nations Cup for Nigeria at South Africa 2013 stated that he has fulfilled his contractual pact with the Wolves and wondered why all the noise about his affiliation with the club.
“We were four players that left Warri Wolves before the Nations Cup. Why is it that I am the only one they are bothering. The truth of the matter is that I have no contract with Wolves,” the player said. Following his impressive run at the Nations Cup scoring two winners against Cote’d Ivoire in the semi-final and Burkina Faso in the final, Mba is primed for a move to Europe. And both clubs are laying claims in order to benefit from the imminent transfer of the player. Enugu state FA boss Chidi Ofor Okenwa said Mba has always been a player of Rangers. He argued that the player was loaned to Dolphins of Port Harcourt who in turn loaned him to Warri Wolves.
“We don’t have to start joining issues with Warri Wolves on who owns Sunday Mba. Any contractual agreement of a player is with the state FA, and that is Delta state F A. Like when Mba joined Rangers from Enyimba, he was duly registered in Enugu F A and his papers are still on my table,” said Okenwa.
“Even his loan deal to Dolphin was duly documented.”
However, Warri Wolves spokesman Moses Etu stated that: “ Mba signed a two year contract with us. But last December he told us that he wanted to go back to Rangers. And we let him go, because we didn’t want to hinder any player’s ambition.
“As I am talking to you, I have a letter from the NPL signed by Tunji Babalola which states that the player belongs to Warri Wolves. Foreign clubs are already talking to us concerning his signature. We have all his documents concerning his contractual agreement right with us.”
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Qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morroco may turn out a herculean task for Nigeria with the Super Eagles likely to be drawn against former champions Cameroon or Egypt.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has revealed the seeding for the draw for the qualifiers which holders, Nigeria have been seeded among the top seeds in pot 1 while the likes of Egypt and Cameroon who hitherto were amongst the continent’s super powers in pot 2.
The Super Eagles are among the 11 countries named in Pot One of the draw to be held next month in Morocco.
Among the countries seeded are 2013 quarter finalists, the Black Stars of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The draw ceremony will take place on March 10 in Morocco during Caf General Assembly, with the qualification procedure reverting to its normal format as opposed to the modified mode for the just-concluded
edition.
Forty-four teams are on the starting line and seeded in four pots of 11 teams each according to their current ranking.
The Preliminary Round is scheduled to start in June.
As host country, Morocco qualified automatically.
Pot one: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Mali, South Africa, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Zambia, Tunisia, Ghana.
Pot two: Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Uganda, Congo, Central African Republic.
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Tunisia referee, Slim Jedidi came under scrutiny after he generously gave Ghana a penalty, ignoring a foul on Jonathan Pitroipa whom he unduly gave a red card in the semi-final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations between Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Jedidi who was speaking for the first time to football365.fr since the tournament stated that he did not collect any bribe as being insinuated. He also refuted reports that he was expelled from the tournament.
“I did not meet or take money from any Ghanaian representatives. It is difficult to see that people do not accept that I could make mistakes.
Jedidi admitted that he performed below expectations in that game.
“I was wrong. What else to say? How to explain? I do not know. God willed that I’m wrong here. On the semi-final, I was not good, I made several mistakes, and this is undeniable.”
I frowned, misinterpreted things. Who can say that he has never made a mistake? I’m sorry for those who are affected, I would apologize. But today, I’m trying to move on, to move forward.
“During CAN I refereed tough matches, including the semi-final which was considered very delicate, it means CAF trusted me. This confidence has not vanished in a game. I was short-listed to officiate at the next World Cup, I stay in contention. That has not changed. “
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.
The biggest African football tournament has come and gone. The stadiums have emptied out, the fans have made their way back to their home nations and the flags, face-paint brushes as well as other memorabilia have been stored away- lying in wait to be utilised once again in two years at Morrocco 2015. For the bean-counters at CAF and the Local Organizing Committee in South Africa, there is more to all the glamour and exertions on the pitch. To them, one question matters the most: Was the AFCON 2013 a financially successful event?
Confederation of African Football made the defining decision to move the AFCON to odd numbered years for many reasons. One of those may have included optimizing TV rights acquisition purchases as in odd years, the AFCON will not have to compete with arguably bigger football spectacles; the World Cup, the Olympics and the Euros which take place later in the year and will more often than not take a slice of broadcasters’ TV rights budgets. Instead, the only competition held in the same year as the AFCON will be the less heralded Confederations Cup and the Copa America. In the coming years, the financial wisdom of this move will be better debated but given as Nigerian broadcasters could not afford the rights to broadcast in Nigeria given what they termed ‘exorbitant prices’ of TV rights, it appears CAF’s masterstroke is already paying dividends. Also, having announced viewership figures of the AFCON 2012 as 6.6 billion cumulative viewers, the CAF can do no wrong. The ‘sell-to-the-highest-bidder-game’ will be an enjoyable one.
Away from TV rights, another major revenue stream of the AFCON for CAF is the jostle for brand association and equity. In the 2013 edition, Pepsi, Adidas, Standard Bank, Samsung and Puma all continued with existing contracts of partnership running through 2016 (Samsung’s deal runs until 2015). In some cases, these deals are not strictly tied to AFCOn but extend to all CAF championships in some cases. However, new sponsors came aboard the CAF/AFCON event for 2013. Nissan, IFD-Kapital and Nasuba Express enjoyed their first years of AFCON partnership nonetheless, the cherry on the cake was telecommunications firm Orange who emerged as new title sponsors of the tournament, signing a deal that runs through 2016.
With Orange operating in several participating countries, such as third place winners Mali, pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Morrocco, Mali and the Democratic Repblic of Congo, the telecommunications giants enjoyed a strategic position which they have since leveraged on with the development of ‘Orange Villages’ , a football centre for fans to enjoy viewership on giant screens, across major cities where the network operates. The Orange Football Fan Club, a mobile platform which gives news and updates on African and European football, has also seen its figures rise to two million users since its launch. All of these ensured that CAF registered a pass-mark in the sponsorship column of their ledgers.
From all indications, CAF had a financially viable tournament but the host nations’ affairs also matter. For South Africa, hosting the World Cup two years earlier ensured that the cost implications of hosting Africa were significantly slashed as all the major expenses had been taken care of two years earlier albeit at an astronomical price (the cost of hosting the World Cup in 2010 was put at about $1.5 billion). At the end of the 2010 World Cup, South Africa had ten stadiums (five were newly constructed while the other five were renovated and enlarged) with a crowd capacity that ranged between 40,000 to 64,000. Herein, lies the first problem. The ABSA Premiership in South Africa averaged about 8000 spectators per game two years ago. What this means is the South Africa, post-World Cup, were saddled with huge edifices that they struggled to fill and the AFCON 2013 attendances, with the exception of the opening ceremony, the games featuring the host nation and the final match, were no different. As far as ticket sales go, it is hard to see South Africa making a fortune.
The real carrot for host nations is the implications of the tournament on their economies. Sadly, the economic effects of sporting events reach their zenith during and shortly after the event is concluded. It is hardly ever long-lasting. The Olympics and World Cup are not exclusive of this feature especially where host nations spend a bulk of cost of new constructions. For South Africa, the AFCON will, at best, have lit an ephemeral fire in the belly of its economy through the main revenue source of host nations: tourism. Many football fans travelled to South Africa for the tournament to support their teams and many more may decide to go in the coming months, having been endeared to the nation via television broadcasts, but the real catch is that the impact on the tourism sector will not be anywhere stellar as South Africa currently enjoys sky-high ratings as a premium tourism destination on the African continent. Simply put, even if AFCON 2013 did not happen, South Africa was still going to be a tourist hotbed.
For the African continent as a whole, the AFCON represents a big chance of player sales which sees funds flow into the various football systems in the individual countries in the case of African based players. For these players, the lure of European football is overwhelming and their sales generate a nice slice of the jackpot as in terms of revenue, the European football market is estimated to be valued at an astonishing £14 billion ($22 billion). For the African based players and their football clubs, this is a win-win scenario.
Same cannot be said of the CAF-host nation relationship which is not as symbiotic as is acclaimed to be. In essence, the football governing body CAF may have reaped bountiful financial rewards from AFCON by way of sponsorship deals and TV rights while, in comparison, the host nation South Africa will only have seen its streets light up, decibel levels rise and its general mood lifted but little else.
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.
Former Nigeria Football Federation, NFF secretary-general, Taiwo Ogunjobi has tasked the nation’s soccer ruling body and the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to put behind the drama of the Africa Cup of Nations and consolidate on the triumphant return from South Africa 2013.
Keshi threw in his resignation after their 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso but later rescinded his decision after the presidential intervention through the sports minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. The coach who entered the history books as the second African to win the trophy as captain and coach had accused the NFF bigwigs of undermining his position at the critical moment of the tournament.
Ogunjobi, a former national team player, stated that it was important that the two parties have a harmonious working relationship, if Nigeria were to make any impact at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“I expect them to put all that happened in South Africa behind and forge a harmonious working relationship. We won the Nations Cup and that was the overriding interest of all Nigerians.
“It is good that Mike Adenuga has offered Keshi all the incentives he needed to succeed. It will be good if the NFF support him as we look forward to the 2014 World Cup,” said Ogunjobi in Lagos.
The Eagles surprised Nigerians who had written them off at the AFCON 2013 tournament, when they gallantly strode to the final and won 1-0 against Burkina Faso after a poor start to their campaign.
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.
Nigeria deservedly toppled title-holders, Zambia’s Chipolopolo and dismantled a resurgent Cote d’Ivoire’s star-studded Elephants enroute to winning the African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Our Sports Editor, story teller, Tony Ubani, who followed the team from Mbombela to Rustenberg and to Durban and Johannesburg chronicles the story of the surprise success that has sent warning signals to African teams and made many Nigerians eat their words and put Stephen Keshi in a king-size position against his detractors.
Our goal is always to play well as a team, a collective. We all work together as a unit with a great sense of cohesion; for us this is the greatest component”. Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi remarked before their opening game against defending Champions, Zambia. His words seem almost prophetic in retrospect as the steel-willed Super Eagles produced the most remarkable and sparkling performances of their championship run when the collective unit fired on all cylinders to move from zero to hero.
Conversely, the team’s weaknesses were only revealed when the cohesion showed brief signs of fraying at the preliminary stages.
And that was when the heavens opened its mouth to swallow the team. A colourless draw with defending champions Zambia sparked off the criticisms. Truly, the Eagles lacked bite and finesse. Their physical strength to withstand the 90 minutes was suspect as they put every foot wrong. The Zambians, too, were not different from the Eagles.
As defending champions, many had expected to see a sparkling performance that would send signals to other opponents that they were in South Africa to retain the trophy. Honours were shared and bookmakers dissected the chances of two of Africa’s powerhouses with the hammer falling heavily on Nigeria, a two-time winners of the African prize. Keshi tried to weather the storm but the second match against Burking Faso almost justified all fears that Nigeria was in the competition to complete the numbers.
The Sports Ministry, like every other interested partner expressed disgust and breathed down on the Nigeria Football Federation while the NFF transferred the anger to Keshi and crew and told them to justify the huge money and free hand given them. Nigeria was on the edge of suffering a huge humiliation facing a possible exit not getting to the quarter finals. “I still have absolute confidence in this team. Despite that we are staying together as a unit for the first time(three weeks), they have the character of champions”, Keshi said at the post conference to which he was greeted with hisses and sighs from the ever-critical press. Some lily-livered Nigerians changed their flight ticket dates while Nigerians resident in South Africa complained bitterly. Distraction set in. An un-confirmed information that Nigeria was searching for world-class foreign technical adviser leaked . Keshi naturally lost weight. But he still carried along knowing that his chances of surviving as coach of the Eagles was on a thread. Ethiopia beckoned. Before now, the Wayas of Ethiopia had given Africans much to deliberate on with their champagne display. “The Eagles do not have the strength, they do not have the star players, their midfield will not contain the Ethiopians”. Fear spreads.
But once the Ethiopians were crushed, Nigeria had set up the most mouth-watering quarter-final cracker with the most dreaded Ivorian squad, having such stars like the dreaded Croc, Didier Drogba, Alain Didier Zokora, Salomon Kalou, Cheik Tiote, Gervinho, Yaya Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Souleman Bamba. Big names in World football. Millionaires! It was going to be the battle of David and Goliath. And the Ivorians walked with an air of arrogance and enjoyed all the trappings of a champion waiting for the trophy to be handed over to them. Eboue heightened the tension when he was alleged to have posted on twitter that the Ivorians would devour fried chicken or fried Eagles. Keshi and his team went to work while the Ivorians went to sleep. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama sensed danger and declared that big names don’t play football. Assistant coach, Sylvanus Okpalla professed that the Eagles had gotten to a level that no team would stop them – not Cote d’Ivoire. It was such an exciting match that even the most impartial fans were jumping up and down in the stands. There could not have been a better thriller.
To and fro, backwards and forwards, shots at and into goal, rebounds off posts, and crossbars, dazzling moves, mesmerizing dribbles, a match contested with passion and fairness – in short, a showcase of pedigree. Could these be same Nigerian team that wobbled in the prelims?”, many asked as the Nigerian team matched them grit by grit and over-powered the showmanship of Drogba. Mikel imposed himself in the match and saved what could have turned the match in the favour of the Ivoirians. Unknown little players whose sign-on fees and salaries could not match the one-week pay of Drogba, Toure and their likes kicked dust into their eyes. How were the mighty fallen!
It took the bullet of power-horse, Emmanuel Emenike to break the ice and Tiote brought things at par, before a home-made Eagle, one of the revelations of the Nations Cup, Sunday Mba put it beyond the loquacious Ivorians. The camp of the Eagles rumbled in Rustenberg. It restored confidence and made Nigerians walk with their noses in front. The drive to the camp of the Eagles was long and loud. Songs of praise were rendered in the luxury, banters were thrown while it seemed like a fairy tale. But Keshi would not let it slip. Against all odds, he gathered the players and thanked them for their resilience and pointed out a few errors and insisted that there would be training the following. “The battle is not yet over. This is the time we have to up our games.
This cup is starring us on the face. We have to work hard for this opportunity of our lives time”, he said as the players roared in ecstasy hailing him ‘big boss’, coachila!”. Like they say, it is not the strongest who win, but those who want it the most. There was this joke in camp that those who asked Keshi ‘who are you now turned around to ask him how are you?’ . Confidence soared. But Keshi tightened the noose on discipline as bed time was adhered to, breakfast was compulsory and timely and importantly, no phone calls during meals and bedtimes.
NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari remained resolute in prayers. “I believe in this team because we agreed with Keshi on his transformation agenda. We gave him all and he showed the appetite to work with local players. That’s when I knew and believed that he had something to offer. No coach will ordinarily want to start with local players in the midst of stars all over the big clubs”, Maigari offered.
Mali! They owe their existence to fire-power of the Nigerian troops sent to bring peace to their troubled home. They knew that the bell tolled for them after Ivory Coast were shoved aside. They too bite the dust and Burkina Faso who also started the mediocre play in the group with Eagles faced the firing squad in the final.
But back to the camp of the Eagles, the players were disillusioned by talks that Keshi was going to be sacked, and the coach after gaining respect with his victories threatened not to continue with Nigeria. Sunday Mba, the Lion-heart, Elderson Echiejile felt troubled. “This is the not the time to be talking about sacks”, Eagles spokesman, Ben Alaiya complained but trusted in the professionalism of Keshi to tinker the team to victory. “This team is a winning one. They are a family and Keshi’s has shown why he is called the Big Boss. The team have also hit form and understanding”, Alaiya a Journalist of repute before he crossed the border said.
Questions were posed to Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi on the allegations of his wanting Keshi to be replaced by a foreign technical adviser.
“I don’t think that Keshi belived. There is no such thing. How can you? After the match against Burkina Faso where we conceded the last minute goal, I told Keshi that there is no need to dwell in the past and lament on what would have been done. A tournament is not decided by one match. We did not set any target for the Eagles. That has helped because there is no deadline. It has allowed them to express and rediscover themselves.
Having said that, no Nigerian can say that he was happy with our first two games in the tournament.So doubts were created, fears were expressed, sentiments, anger ruled the air. Maybe people picked up all these and thought the Minister will react. Don’t forget the coach is hired by the NFF. I have absolute confidence on the team. That’s why when I left after the prelims I told people that I would be back for the finals to watch the Eagles. People looked at me with disbelief”, the Minister who has added the trophy to one of his achievements as Sports Minister said.
And the final hour came. Burkina Faso again! “We were not blended when we played them in Nelspruit. Also, the pitch was not conducive for smooth playing”, one of Nigeria’s highest import to the world of soccer Mikel Obi said. And truly, he shone gloriously that he won individual awards for his artistry. The final was yet to be played on a Sunday and in the Eagles is one Sunday Mba, a local material who extinguished star millionaires and made them look miserable. He rose to the occasion and nicked one goal against the Burkinabes. That was enough to set the skies of Johannesburg ablaze with colourful fire-works. Stephen Keshi raised his head and hands unto heaven apparently from where he draws his strength. The players ran riot in celebration. The stands where the drumming Nigerian supporters were draped in green white green signatures of Nigeria were in amok. A peep at the VVIP stand saw Senate President in banters with mighty men who came to lend their support to the team.
Daniel Amokachi who played great football in his days, lifted Keshi aloft on his shoulders to show him to the World. Other assistants, Sylvanus Okpalla, Ike Shorunmu lent a hand. Overwhelmed by emotions, Keshi waved to the jubilant crowd and tears glistened from his eyes. He has created record as the only player to have played and won the Nations Cup as skipper and also as coach. The other one of blessed memory is El-Gohary of Egypt. Brand new T’Shirts from the NFF came out declaring them; “Nigeria: Champions of Africa”.
The Press rumbled to get an interview from the indigenous coach who dismissed all the foreign coaches to crown Nigeria as third time winners of the African Cup of Nations. “Are you still going to remain as coach of Nigeria?”, I fired.
Keshi smiled and fired back; “Do Nigerians want me as their coach? They do not appreciate me”.
And appreciation came in rains and Dollars with Telecommunication guru, Dr Adenuga splashing millions of Dollars on the team. An appreciative federal Government sent a chartered aircraft to ferry the players and coaches draped with their gold medals to the Federal Capital Territory. When skipper Joseph Yobo held the cup aloft, a tumultuous crowd surged to appreciate Keshi and his players, but the security guards with their dogs barring fangs charged to keep them at bay.
Senate President David Mark revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation had pressured Keshi into signing a fresh clause in his contract that would have placed a foreign technical adviser above him.
With a national award of CON, N10 million and land in Abuja, I crept to ask Keshi if he was still going ahead to resign? He looked at me and smiled; “this is not the time to talk about that. The Senate President and others are on it”. He looked at the crowd and declared; “I’m happy to see Nigerians happy”.
Who says that Nigerians are not appreciative? No. Nigerians are critical but very appreciative.
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.
Ex-international, Victor Ezeji is excited that players from the Nigerian league proved their mettle alongside their foreign-based compatriots that enabled the Super Eagles to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
He declared Sunday Mbah as the face of the Nigerian League players going by his scoring ability in the competition.
“Sunday Mbah truly reflected the strength of our league, that it is highly competitive with abundant talents. His performance added value to what we have been clamouring for over the years that Nigerian league players should be given equal opportunity as those abroad because they are equally good and able. Mbah and Oboabona really have my commendation,”he said.
Continuing, an elated Ezeji, who emerged the FA Cup most valuable player in 2006 and 2007, said, “I am particularly happy at the goals scored by Sunday Mbah, they were so fantastic and I cannot forget the final match goal because of the professional way he did it. That goal can be rated among the best around the world.”.
The former U-23 team player therefore urged coach Stephen Keshi to keep faith with the local players and continue to build on what have been achieved as he charged the NFF to work on the league.
“Despite the fact that the league has been without sponsorship, there is glaring evidence it is worth investing in. So, the NFF, in my view, should ensure the league is sustained on good course yearly to ensure that talents continue to grow in the country,” he stressed.
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.
Super Eagles victory in far away Tunisia in 1994 could be likened to last Sunday’s win in South Africa in many respects.
First, both wins were on away soils and the teams were propelled by two people you could label father and son. Clemens Westerhof who tutored the 1994 squad, being the father as he coached Stephen Keshi who was part of the squad then.
Keshi as captain of the Westerhof team, could be rightly called the son, who learned great things from his Dutch benefactor and rightly applied the same tactics for the 2013 victory.
When Westerhof was in-charge, he included home-based players as well as some who plied their trade in some African countries like Emmanuel Amuneke, who was new as a player of the great Egyptian club, Zamalek.
The 1994 squad had great players like the Late Rashidi Yekini, who was the hottest striker in the continent at that time as well as Samson Siasia and Mutiu Adepoju. Therefore, Amuneke, as a young and fresh member of the team was on the bench till the final against Zambia when Westerhof introduced him as his joker.
As one of the journalists who covered that tournament, I could recall how Amuneke’s introduction changed the course of the game as the Kalusha Bwalya led Chipolopolo knew next to nothing about him. And rightly he did the damage, scoring the two goals that gave Nigeria the victory.
Only Westerhof knew why he introduced Amuneke. He must have watched him closely at training sessions and felt he could always sneak in behind the defence of the Zambians whose eyes must be on Yekini.
Keshi also adopted the same tactics in the 2013 AFCON. He selected his team, and boldly included six home-based players, a departure from the usual scenario of inviting and using only Europe-based players after the departure of Westerhof from the Nigerian scene.
Not many people, including his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, who wanted only foreign-based players who they thought were better exposed to tackle other teams in the competition, could spare Keshi a tongue-lashing for including Sunday Mba and five other home-based players for the Nations Cup assignment.
But like Amuneke in 1994, Mba became the saviour of the Eagles in the most crucial matches of the 2013 AFCON. First against Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter finals when all had thought the Eagles had reached their final destination, Mba, hungry to make an impact, took the fight to the Ivorians and unleashed a ferocious shot that beat the Ivorian goalkeeper for the winning goal.
That singular victory gave the Eagles the push and can-do-it spirit that propelled them to roll over Mali in the semi final before the crunchy tie against the rugged and determined Burkinabes in the final. There were palpable fear among Nigerians that Jonathan Pitriopa, just recalled after a wrong card call that ruled him out of the final, could inspire the Stallions to upset the Eagles, but the Eagles held their own, playing cautiously until Mba again, did a yeoman’s job of waltzing through the Burkina Faso defence to chip the ball beyond their goalkeeper for the lone goal that separated both teams.
After the 1994 final, Amuneke moved from Egypt to Europe where he starred for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and Barcelona in Spain. That could be Mba’s lot too after he superlative performance at the 2013 AFCON where could have caught the attention of some agents and clubs alike.
Many have said that the Warri Wolves player, who moved from Rangers Football Club of Enugu, may not stay too long on the Nigerian scene before he is snapped by European clubs. And he is already dreaming it as was quoted to have said that “I hope I can also get a deal in Europe after what I achieved at the Nations Cup.”
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.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has said that Super Eagles victory in the recently concluded African Nations Cup in South Africa calls for soul searching as he splashed a total of N59 million on the team and the supporters club members.
Rewarding the victorious Eagles, the Lagos state governor announced a cash reward of N2.5 million for the Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, his immediate assistance, Daniel Amokachi; N2 million, while the 4 other assistance were rewarded with N1.5 million each.
The captain of the team, Joseph Yobo got N1.5 million while other 22 players got N1 million each for their effort in the tournament. And the team got N500, 000 for each of the goals scored in the competition. The backroom staff were rewarded with N15 million just as the Nigerian Football Supporters Club were rewarded with N4.5 million.
The governor commended the team determination in the tournament and called for respects for the team coach to enable him perform his duties.
Governor Fashola decried the poor development of the game in the country as he called for inward search for the way forward.
“I have watched the lack of development in our football in pain and personal agony. So today is a day for soul searching among all footballers. This is a day we must talk to ourselves honestly; there is a victory, yes. But the question to ask is what next. We have Kenya in a few days”, he said.
He also cautioned that the team should not be carried away in the euphoria of their victory as the reigning African Champion, saying that now is the time to start even for the title defence, FIFA Confederation Cup coming up in June and the World Cup preparations.
He said, “l et us remind ourselves that the defending champion of the cup failed to make it past the first round. Now, the Confederation Cup will be coming up in few months time, it is an opportunity for the team to improve its ranking before the World Cup. And the advantage of this is that it will give the team the opportunity to be seeded and avoid strong opposition. Really, the work isn’t done yet. It is a building block from process to process.”
Alluding to the pressure put on Keshi by the football federation, he said,“There is need for us to moderate our expectation from our team. Let us respect those we have employed to do the job. It is time for everyone to support Keshi or whoever is appointed as the chief coach of the team always. All the criticism against the team must stop and allow all the experts employed to do their job.
“If we think that those we have employed cannot do the job, let’s set time line or change them. And I think that the practice where officials dash into the dressing room at half time while the coach is speaking with the players should stop. That is the team coach domain. The 15 minutes he has with his team must be judiciously used. And I think the NFF should stop this”, he said, as he thanked Guinness Nigeria PLC and the Rivers and Cross River states government for their support to the team.
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.
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![PRESENTATION… Seni Adetu, MD/CE Guinness Nigeria Ltd[left] and Coach Stephen Keshi (right), presenting the trophy to Gov. Fashola during the reception held in honour of the team at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.](images/stories/Africa/Africancup2013/16022013C-Keshi-n-Fashola.jpg)