Burkina Faso striker, Alain Traore has said that it was a shame that the Stallions lost the final match of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa to the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Both sides had first played to a thrilling 1-1 draw in a Group C opening match but in th final match held Sunday at the National Stadium in Johannesburg, Nigeria ran away with a 1-0 win to lift the Cup for the third time, while the Le Stallions, were left counting their loses.
Speaking during the team’s arrival in Ouagadougou, Traore, who scored three goals in the competition but missed out of the knockout stage because of a tournament-ending injury, said that their dream was to win the Cup for the first time but remained positive of the good things that would come to their football with their final stint at AFCON 2013.
“We honor the people of Burkina Faso. Our desire when we are going to South Africa was to at least give pleasure to the people of Burkina Faso. This nation has always supported us even in difficult times.
“It is a shame that we have not brought the trophy to Burkina Faso but the people can be rest assured of one thing, that the result from this tournament will be interesting”, added Traore, who netted the equaliser against Nigeria in the last minute of stoppage time.
On the injury which ruled him out of the tournament, Traore said that “when I was hit in the foot, I admit I was shaken in my heart because I really wanted to play. But my teammates gave me the strength to stay positive”.
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.
Fourty Eight hours after President Goodluck Jonathan honoured the Eagles and rewarded them with cash, National Honours and plots of land in Abuja, topmost sports loving governor in Nigeria, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan takes his turn today to thank the team for making Nigeria proud at the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Uduaghan will welcome the team today in Asaba where plans have been made to not only honour the players and coaches but also to make Delta people feel the Eagles and be part of the history they made by winning the Nations Cup with a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the final last Sunday.
“Asaba will almost close up today for the Super Eagles,”Amaju Pinnick, the Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission said yesterday.
Amaju said that the players will ride in a motorcade on the streets of Asaba and will later, at night, be entertained at the Dome.
“It will be a night of entertainment,” Amaju said.
“Top musicians like Inyanya, Ice Prince, D’Prince, Dr. Sid, Chudike and Burna Boy will play. It will be a Valentine Night for Eagles in Asaba. Notable comedians like I Go Die, Okey Bakasi, Seyi Law, Da Klint De Drunk, Elemu and AY will also entertain on the night.
“His Excellency, Dr. Uduaghan will appreciate the team,”Amaju said adding “he had breakfast with the current and past Warri Wolves players in the team in Abuja.”
He meant Nosa Igiebor, Fegor Ogude, Sunday Mba, Chigozia Agbim and Ekwuekwe.
It is likely going to be more than a breakfast for the entire team today.
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.
Let me start by offering my heartiest congratulations to all Nigerians. On Sunday, February 10, 2013, home-based soccer journeyman, Sunday Mba, on the sandy turf of Soccer City, Johannesburg in South Africa, fired a single shot after shaking aside a handful of struggling Burkinabe players.
That was all we needed to clinch the African Cup of Nations for the third time.
It was a stunning end to a Cinderella story for Nigeria. Nobody, not even the ever-confused Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, expected the cup.
They set a semi-final target for Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. Keshi went into this assignment a beleaguered man. Nigeria is a country of 160 million football coaches and administrators. Keshi was just one out of this number. He was crucified for leaving out some prized foreign-based players.
In fact, some Nigerians, after noticing that players from their part of the country were not selected, declared Keshi’s squad as “not a Nigerian team but a Biafran team”.
Well, I hope these fellows will be nice enough to rejoice in the victory of this “Biafran” team for Nigeria! Many called Keshi a low quality tactician when his substitutions did not meet their expectation.
In fact, there were already rustlings within the Nigerian football administration circles that if Keshi failed to make it into the quarter finals he would be dumped, with Zambian expatriate coach who won the AFCON in 2012, Herve Renard, strongly touted.
Keshi’s accomplishment, for me, was not due to “luck”. I don’t know if there is such a thing as “luck”. Nobody has plotted an equation or graph to prove it exists.
It had nothing to do with Fanny Amun’s theory of “I will womble (sic) and fumble into the final, and I will womble and fumble and win the cup”. He simply applied the tricks he learned from his coach/mentor, Clemens Westerhof.
He knew the type of football he wanted to play. He swept the local scene for the players he needed, spicing the team with the foreign-based who fitted into the scheme.
The first three matches against Burkina Faso, Zambia and Ethiopia were clumsy. They gave us all soccer malaria. But once he broke through the prelims everything changed.
The Eagles started playing soccer like Barcelona Football Club of Spain, reputed as the “greatest football club in the world”. The standard of artistry that came out flabbergasted everyone. One after the other, Nigerians dropped their pessimistic predilections and it became “Up Eagles, Up Keshi, Up Nigeria!”
That is the way of life. My people say: Onu kwuru njo ga-ekwu mma. The same mouth that condemns shall commend – once you succeed. Nothing succeeds better than success. Success has brothers, sisters and a large family but failure is an orphan.
I should know, because I have personally experienced it and I allow it to drive me. Keshi stayed focused on the objective until the crown of glory became his.
Now comes the harder part. What does a person do when he succeeds where most people expected him to fail? When people called him dirty names?
How does he handle it when those who were already looking for his replacement now turn around to embrace him? Keshi chose to turn in his resignation, or so we were made to understand. Definitely it was a gambit.
Some called it a political gambit, but I choose to call it a gambit in a typical game of chess where you make moves to score advantages towards achieving the final objective.
It was all a display of orthodox Westerhofism. When Clemens was in charge with Keshi as his Captain, he had little tolerance for the over-bloated egos and selfish antics of the football administrators. As he gradually rebuilt the national team, Westerhof’s charisma appealed to those in the corridors of power. Military President Ibrahim Babangida drafted his Chief of General Staff, Augustus Aikhomu, to intervene regularly in the affairs of our football to give Clemens what he needed to do his job.
It worked like magic. Clemens went to his native Holland and brought a trainer-assistant, Bonfrere Jo, amidst loud but sterile grumbles of Nigerian Football Association, NFA, officials. The result: Nigeria won the African cup of Nations in 1994 with Clemens as the Technical Adviser in full control of the Eagles. He raised a new pack of world class stars that were instrumental, two years later, to winning the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games, USA. Remember what followed?
Soon after the AFCON victory, Westerhof quit Nigeria unceremoniously. He actually threw the job in the face of the FA and the nation. After the gold medal win, Jo also simply quit. He never bothered to attend the reception for the team. This is exactly what Keshi has done, though I do not think he will boycott the reception and the goodies lined up for him and his boys. He won’t dare.
Both Westerhof and Jo suffered unpleasant consequences for their actions. Try as they did much later to return to the job the door was slammed firmly against them, even with Nigerian football wallowing in abject mediocrity.
Right now, we are all begging Keshi not to go. He had better heed our pleas. If he turns us down and another local coach, such as Sunday Oliseh, takes up the job and reaps from the seeds he has sown Keshi might become a persona non grata like Clemens and Jo. Already, Aminu Maigari, the NFF President is telling him he is free to go. He can afford to say so because he has no hand in Keshi’s success. He would gain by having an opportunity to hire another coach; Nigerian soccer goes to hell.
But I don’t think Keshi will go. The resignation is a ploy to assume the political upper hand over the FF chaps. With popular support from Nigerians, the Presidency and Corporate Nigeria, Keshi can ride the FF roughshod like Westerhof and take Nigerian soccer to the land of his dreams. That is the objective of this move.
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.
What looked like a replay of defining moment of the Westerhof era when some sports administrators in the country were bent in frustrating him, happened yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja when President Goodluck Jonathan assured Keshi of his full support.
Westerhof was reported to have complained to IBB when he had opportunity to meet with the former head of state that ‘the boys’ at the NFF would not allow him to work due to their unnecessary interferences.
This, it was gathered made IBB to give the former Eagles handler direct access to the presidency for every assistance he needed to discharge his duties.
Some close watchers of the unfolding event during and after the Afcon 2013 were of the opinion that this was what Coach Keshi had planned to achieve with his purported resignation – to have direct access to the presidency.
According to them, it would not be surprising if Keshi, who captained the Eagles during that period has taken a clue from his former boss to achieve the same purpose.
President Jonathan told Keshi and his team during a well attended reception organised for the victorious Eagles at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, that they would have his full support.
Based on the promises and assurances of President Jonathan, Coach Stephen Keshi now, not only have direct access to the presidency but also to that of leadership of the National Assembly.
As it is today, Keshi can go direct to the president for whatever assistance he may need without necessarily going to the football federation begging for everything.
What do you make out from all this? If you were Keshi, would you have resigned in view of humiliation and lack of respect from NFF and other stakeholders? Will having direct access to the president in any way assist him in discharging his duties?
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.
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP, Delta North has hailed the Nigerian Super Eagles on their victory in the African Cup of Nations tournament saying they point to the renaissance of the Nigerian spirit.
Senator Okowa especially brought out for praise the significance of the victory on the team coach and former captain of the team, Stephen Keshi who he said has becoming a darling to all elements in his Delta North constituency.
“The Super Eagles have lifted the morale and hearts of all Nigerians involved in productive engagements whether business, politics, entertainment or sports. The can-do spirit that was demonstrated by the players and coach despite the reported constraints will no doubt encourage many others towards excellence in their own endeavours.”
“I am particularly moved by the record attained by our own brother, Stephen Keshi who has entered the record books as the first indigenous coach to lift the trophy and the second person in Africa to win the cup as player and coach.”
“Keshi has taught us that many better things indeed will also flow from our Delta State .”
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.
President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday night conferred members of the victorious Super Eagles national Honours for their feat in winning the African Cup of Nations, nineteen years after Nigeria attained that feat.
This was in addition to cash donations of ten million naira for the Head Coach, Stephen Keshi and five million naira each, to the assistant coaches and the twenty three players that took part in the championship.
In a well attended ceremony at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, the President also announced that each member of the team and the technical crew would be allocated a plot of land in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Announcing the national honors, President Jonathan conferred Coach Stephen Keshi with the honour of Commander of the order of Niger (CON) while the assistant coaches and captain of the team, Joseph Yobo were conferred with Officer of the Order of Niger (OON). Other members of the team were conferred with Members of the Order of Niger, (MON).
The President who announced cash donations from other Nigerians including $1million from Mike Adenuga (Jnr) to the players and $200,000 to Stephen Keshi while Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote donated five million naira to each of the players.
Other cash donations announced by President Jonathan include $500,000 each from Emeka Ofor, Jim Ovia and Tony Elumelu.
President Jonathan told members of the team that their victory in South Africa has, “put a spring in our steps, golden smiles on our lips and has indicated that Nigeria is a land of opportunities.
“Not many people believe you could win. Inspite of the skepticism, there was no despair.
“Your victory is a good indication that there is victory for us as we work hard to transform Nigeria. We will continue to give sports its pride of place. The major lesson of your victory is that no matter the number of people who doubt you, never doubt yourself”.
For coach Stephen Keshi the president told him ” you have my full support” adding that the “qualification of the team for the 2014 world cup in Brasil is your next agenda and you must not fail”.
The president emphasised that the feat achieved by the team was an indication that “we must not let our differences define us” noting that whether it was “moses or Musa, Chistopher of Mustapha” that scored, it did not matter to Nigerians. In his speech, the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi said the victory of the Super eagles “is another moment of national rebirth. It is a breath of fresh air. As we celebrate, we are not unmindful of the responsibilities this bestow on us. We waited for nineteen years. We cannot wait for that long again.
“We have won it and I congratulate the president. Winning this trophy is not destination. The sporting arena is complex. We should put all the years of rancour and acrimony behind us and stop creating problems where non exist. The victory has shown that with determination and unity of purpose, we can achieve” he said.
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 Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has attributed Nigeria’s Afcon success to coach, Stephen Keshi’s boldness in team selection and his ability to absorb pressure and translate same to his players.
“They went into the tournament with so many people doubting their ability to achieve anything meaningful,” Rufai said, adding, “but Keshi’s trust in his players and the support he got from his technical crew was able to keep the players calm. They did not panic at any time, even when things were going rough.”
Rufai who said he was overwhelmed by Super Eagles triumph at the continental soccer fiesta said, “I am overwhelmed because the victory has brought respect and honour to indigenous coaches, who hitherto were seen as not good enough for the big job.
Similarly, Rufai said by winning the Afcon trophy, Keshi has thrown a you-too-can-do-it challenge to his colleagues. “Yes, it will serve as a wake-up call to other indigenous coaches to further their training so that they too can be considered for similar appointments because now their nations can believe in them too.”
The former Super Eagles captain also said that the victory of the national team, after 19 years of waiting has shown that “whether a player plays at home or abroad once you are good, your performance will speak for you.
It also reminds our football administrators on the need to develop our league so that we can retain our best for our league instead of losing them to other leagues that don’t deserve them.”
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.
Cross River state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has hailed the Super Eagles for delivering on their promise of winning the AFCON trophy.
Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 on Sunday in South Africa to claim her third AFCON trophy and Gov Imoke is thrilled the team has done him,the government and people of Cross River State who supported the team all through the qualifying games for the championships and indeed 160 millions proud.
‘I am delighted that the Super Eagles have delivered on the promise they made to me during their last qualifying game against Liberia in Calabar that they will win the AFCON trophy and bring it to Calabar to present to me”, revealed Gov Imoke who spoke through his Sports and Youth Development Commissioner, Honourable Patrick Ugbe.
Imoke is particularly happy that his government played a huge part in ensuring the Super Eagles had a conducive atmosphere to qualify for the tournament
‘My government and the good people of Cross River state are delighted we provided the platform for the Super Eagles to restore their and Nigeria‘s pride as well as paste smiles on the cheeks of Nigerians who have waited 19 long years for the team to be crowned African champions.
‘I congratulate coach Stephen Keshi and the boys as well as the Nigeria Football Federation on this historic feat.
We are delighted to be a part of the success story and wants to assure the team of our continued support”,said the governor who,according to Ugbe is eargerly waiting to host the team in Calabar.
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.
INSPECTOR General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has advised the Nigerian youths to emulate the patriotic spirit of the Super Eagles in bringing joy on the faces of Nigerians and shun crime and criminality that will dent their future.
The IGP who gave the advise while felicitating with the victorious Super Eagles for conquering Africa in the just concluded African Cup of Nations in South Africa told the youths to redefine their priorities and contribute their quota in the task of building a great Nigeria that will be the pride of Africa not only in the world of sports, but in the global comity of nations.
He congratulated the Super Eagles for their emphatic victory over the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the finals of the Afcon, saying that it was well deserved, superlative and heart-warming victory.
Abubakar said, ‘’The victory of the Super Eagles is a strong unifying force that has brought Nigerians together in joy, at a time government and its agencies are doing everything humanly possible to ensure the well being of the citizenry.”
The Police boss who was a former member of Nigeria Football Association and former chairman of security Committee, Nigeria ‘99 FIFA World Cup said the victory has once again brought hope and smiles to Nigerians as the country continued in her match to national greatness.
He expressed his belief that the Super Eagles victory will help in strengthening and catalyzing ongoing sports renaissance within the police force and promised to use the forthcoming police games slated for Port Harcourt, Rivers State to discover, encourage and groom future Olympians and champions for the country in all sporting events.
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.
A proud Globacom, leading and pace-setting supporter of Nigeria Football at all levels, yesterday in Johannesburg, opened the floodgate of rewards to the Super Eagles and reaffirmed its commitment to make the Super Eagles fly comfortably in the Confederations Cup in Brazil later this year.
Demonstrating a rare joy of seeing the Super Eagles win the Nations Cup for the third time, by taking a close look at the gold trophy in front of him, Chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga said he was so glad to see this day happen and that “we are very proud of the Super Eagles as they have made us very proud”.
And whilst thanking members of Nigeria Football Federation and members of the team represented by the team’s Captain, Joseph Yobo, Vice Captain, Vincent Enyeama, Mikel Obi as well as Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi and his Assistant Daniel Amokachi, Chief Adenuga responded to the plea for all round support from the Nigeria Football Federation President, Aminu Maigari by giving the team $1million (One Million US Dollars). He also invited the team to a reception in Abuja after their visit to President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday.
Chief Adenuga was particularly glad at the performance of the team and he said, “if we don’t support our own, nobody will do that. Globacom has through the thick and thin, struggled with the National Team and thank God we have seen this day”.
The all-smiling Globacom boss said Globacom will further support Super Eagles’ preparations for the Confederations Cup in Brazil coming up in June this year and turning to his left in an early morning reception for the delegation, he responded to the Federation who requested for car and house for record winning Stephen Keshi and said, “you should tell me exactly the kind of car Keshi wants and that will happen immediately.
We have to deliver to him (Keshi) and make him comfortable and don’t allow him do an Andrew on us because he has a very big edge now particularly with his fluent French, he is wanted by so many other countries; we don’t have to go far to look for top success; we must treat our own very well”
Acknowledging Keshi’s contributions, he added that the success of the Super Eagles today was as a result of the support of yesterday which Globacom has consistently given to the National Team and he congratulated all the boys and members of the team for their victory in the finals which also gave joy to the Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda who was present at this heart-lifting ceremony which lasted for just 30 minutes at his Johannesburg residence.
Also present was the Marketing Consultant to Nigeria Football Federation and CEO of Padmodzi, Chief Mike Ituemagbor who said the reward of $1 million was the first official material appreciation coming to the Super Eagles and that any other organization making such rewards must have to come through Nigeria Football Federation.
He reiterated that the only partners of the National Team, who have been with them, have the right to enjoy the benefits of this moment.
In a brief comment, the newly appointed Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of Nigeria Premier League, Hon Nduka Irabor thanked the Globacom boss for his outstanding contributions to Nigeria football especially the Professional League.
He solicited for his further support of the Nigeria Premier League as they look ahead to resolving lingering issues affecting the take-off of the League.
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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