Category: Sports

 

 

 

. Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny set for another epic Nigeria, Cameroon battle 40 years after

 

Nigeria football legends Olusegun Odegbami and Garba Lawal have advised the Super Eagles to be extremely cautious, stay focused, be disciplined and have self-belief when they step onto the field against the Indomitable Lions in their Africa Cup of Nations’ Round of 16 encounter in Abidjan on Sunday.

(PHOTO: Nigeria captain Stephen Keshi (right) in a handshake with Cameroon captain Theophile Abega just before the 1984 AFCON final. Middle is Tunisian referee Ali Bennaceur.)

Both giants of the African game have made a rendez-vous at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, following the Lions’ late surge that ensured a 3-2 win over The Gambia in Bouake on Tuesday, and Nigeria’s earlier second-place finish in group A behind Equatorial Guinea.

(The new Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs Tinuke Watti, on Wednesday paid a visit to the NFF Secretariat. She was met on arrival by the Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Babatunde Akinsanya and two deputy directors, Messrs Rajan Zaka and Danlami Alanana.)

“We may say that Cameroon have not pulled up any trees at this tournament, but the way they turned the game around against The Gambia sends a message. They are not to be taken for granted. I watched their game against Guinea and it was a fight-to-finish. We have been creating a lot of opportunities in our games but this time, we have to be clinical.

“Cameroon could prove to be a different proposition from the teams we have played against at this competition. Apart from the rivalry between our two countries, the present generation of Indomitable Lions have a point to prove. They want to be seen in the garbs of the likes of Rigobert Song Bahanang (who is their coach), Samuel Eto’o Fils, Patrick Mboma and Geremi Njitap, and going further back, the likes of Roger Milla, Theophile Abega, Gregoire Mbida and Francois Omam Biyick.”

 

Lawal, nicknamed Chindo, played four times against the Lions in 1997 (LG Cup), 2000 (AFCON final), 2003 (LG Cup) and 2004 (AFCON quarter-final). He says that self-belief will go a long way in steering the Eagles past the Lions on Saturday.

 

“They must go in there believing in themselves to do the job. Self-confidence is a good feeling when approaching a game like this. I see the Super Eagles getting past the Cameroonians if they believe in themselves and keep it tight at the back.”

Nigeria and Cameroon have clashed at the Africa Cup of Nations seven times, with each team winning thrice and one game drawn. Cameroon won the Final matches of the 1984, 1988 and 2000 AFCON tournaments, while the Eagles won the bronze-medal match 2-1 in 1992, defeated then Cup holders Cameroon 2-1 in the 2004 quarter-finals and won 3-2 in the Round of 16 in Egypt four years ago. Both teams drew 1-1 in the group phase in 1988, Samuel Okwaraji scoring a scorcher after only two minutes in Rabat and Roger Milla equalizing with a header when the Andrew Uwe-led Nigerian defence thought they had kept him off-side.

 

As the Eagles returned to training on Wednesday, after resting on Tuesday, the match venue is also getting ready to welcome the two teams. It was on the same turf where both teams battled out the 1984 AFCON final.

 

On 18^th March 1984, Président Félix Houphouët-Boigny had declared a public holiday to encourage football fans to troop to the stadium for the final, as public interest in the competition had waned following the group stage elimination of the Elephants. Nigeria got in front after 10 minutes when Muda Lawal toe-poked a deflected pull-out past Joseph Antoine-Bell.

(PHOTO 1: Mr. Akinsanya (left) welcomes Mrs Watti (right) and Director of Facilities, Mr. Alanamu (middle))

The Lions equalized just before half-time, Stephen Keshi unwittingly diverting the ball into his own net from a free-kick, and they seized the game by the throat in the second half, deploying the experience and exposure from playing three matches unbeaten at the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals in Spain. They won 3-1.(Flowerbudnews)

 

 

 

Nigeria bounced into reckoning at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations with a lone-goal victory over hosts Cote d’Ivoire at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Sunday.

The win was enough to pick up three valuable points and push the Elephants down to third place.

Before kick-off, both teams knew they had much to do as defeat would take steam out of either team’s campaign, following Equatorial Guinea’s manful 4-2 defeat of Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs earlier in the day at the same venue.

Nigeria was most pressed to turn up with the goods having only drawn with Equatorial Guinea’s Thunder in their first match on Sunday.

They were not shy to make their intention known, only that Victor Osimhen heaved over the bar from a great pass by Samuel Chukwueze in the 8th minute.

In an early warning that it would be the end-to-end encounter it turned out to be, the Eagles were in an anxious moment a minute later, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was on hand to deflect to corner after Zaidu Sanusi’s weird header put the defence under pressure.

On the quarter-hour, Nwabali had to be alert as the Ivorians swept on the Eagles’ rear and Ibrahima Sangare fired towards goal.

Eight minutes later, William Ekong checkmated an Ivorian onslaught, and at the other end, Samuel Chukwueze was checkmated by Ousmane Diomande.

In the 31st minute, Nwabali saved from Seko Fofana and the rebound was wasted by the Elephants.

Nine minutes into the second half, referee Mustapha Ghorbal’s attention was drawn by the Video Assistant Referee to a foul on Africa Player of the Year Osimhen by Diomande in the Ivorian box.

It was a penalty to Nigeria, and on-field captain William Ekong, who has provided much-needed stability to the Nigerian defence at this tournament, stepped up with assurance and blasted it past goalkeeper Yahia Fofana into the net.

Sangare, Seko Fofana, Franck Kessie, Jeremie Boga, Christian Kouakou Kouame and Jean-Philippe Krasso all tried their best to put the Elephants back into the game, but the Ekong-led Nigeria defence remained impenetrable.

Chukwueze and substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel had gilt-edged opportunities to extend Nigeria’s lead but bungled things, and in the 73rd minute, Nwabali was again on the alert to foil an onslaught by the Elephants.

 

Victory took the Super Eagles to joint-first in group A, only behind Equatorial Guinea on goal difference, while the Elephants sank to third position and must beat Thunder on Monday to guarantee a place in the Round of 16.

On the same day, the Super Eagles will take on the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau, needing only a point to be assured of a place in the Round of 16. (Flowerbudnews)

 

 

Abidjan: The streets of Cote d’Ivoire’s commercial capital Abidjan was agog on Wednesday, as fans discuss and anticipate the epic clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.

The match is the second for both teams in Group A of the on-going 2023 AFCON.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ivorian fans draped in their orange-white-and-green flags were seen dancing, while joints blare music and big screens dot all corners of the city.

“We are ready for the match (tomorrow) against Nigeria, this is going to be a very interesting match because both countries are super powers in African football.

“I am confident we will beat Nigeria tomorrow, ” Yao Kouassi who owns a bar in the city told NAN.

Aminata Kouadio who owns a restaurant close to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, said business has been good since the start of the tournament.
She expressed confidence in the ability of the Elephants to trample on the Super Eagles on Thursday.

“Our team will trample on your Eagles tomorrow,” she said in a smattering of English.
Some Nigerians resident in the city also said the Super Eagles had all it takes to defeat Cote d’Ivoire, only if they up their game.

Emmanuel Okafor, a business man resident in the city said the Nigerian community will be going to the stadium to support the Super Eagles, in spite of the economic crunch.

“I have been living here for more than six years, so I know the city very well, it is always like this when there is a major football match.
“So I want to appeal to our players to do us proud tomorrow.

We’ll be going to the stadium to support them all the way,”he said.
NAN reports that the match comes up at 5pm (local time) at the 60,000 capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium , Abidjan.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

The camp of Nigeria’s senior men football team, Super Eagles has decried reports in sections of the media that have continued to garnish the medical case of Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar with conspiracy theories, incorrect assumptions and unbecoming insinuations.

The camp has released a statement with regards to how the player was withdrawn from Nigeria’s squad for the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals ongoing in Cote d’Ivoire.

We are surprised at the news trending on social media concerning Sadiq Umar and how he was withdrawn from the team camp.

The fact is that our medical team meticulously abided by the best medical procedures and were diligent in their processes and conclusions before advising Head Coach José Peseiro that the player be withdrawn from the squad.

The player, Sadiq Umar, was okay when he arrived at camp; he had to undergo the standard pre-competition medical assessment and he was good. He started to train with the team. Unfortunately, he copped an injury on the back of his left knee during our friendly match against Guinea in Abu Dhabi on 8th January, that led to a penalty against our opponents.

The medical team advised that he substituted, as a cautionary measure, but he said he was fine and could continue the game. At half time, he said he reiterated that he was good to continue playing, and he played the entire 90 minutes.

However, the following day, he woke up to see the knee swelling, and the medical team had to apply ice which is the normal thing. The same day, we had to travel to Lagos and on the 10th January, flew to Abidjan. Then, the swelling became worse.

Most of the reports we have seen are not a true representation of what actually happened. We have a very competent medical team who are well-trained in sport and exercise medicine and highly experienced and exposed to the most modern techniques and practices. They followed all due processes and protocol in tandem with the consultant knee surgeon that the player himself contacted in Spain, before the decision was made in the interest of the nation and the career of the player.

As much as the medical team has refused to join issues with anyone due to their professional patience and privacy policy, we will not allow anyone to rubbish our collective responsibility as Team Nigeria to this Africa Cup of Nations championship. We reiterate that the player was carried along throughout the process, and he started his rehabilitation with the team physiotherapist before he returned to his club in Spain./ Flowerbudnews

 

Nigeria’s playing body has long concluded a diagnosis of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with neighbours Equatorial Guinea and looking very much forward to what they believe will be an ‘interesting encounter’ with host nation Cote d’Ivoire at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.

The table-topping Elephants, two-time champions of the continental competition, will look to book an early Round of 16 ticket by defeating Nigeria at the newly-built Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe, while three-time champions and podium appearance-leaders Nigeria, joint-second on the group A log, are determined to wrestle all the points and enhance their prospects of a slot in the knockout rounds.

Defender William Ekong, who led out the squad on Sunday, has appealed to Nigerians from all walks of life to keep supporting the team as they seek for all three points against the hosts on their own turf on Thursday evening.

“We went all out to pick the three points against Equatorial Guinea, but it didn’t happen. We live to fight another day. From our side, we are appealing to Nigerians from all over the world to keep supporting and believing in the team. Our objective is to first reach the knockout rounds and then we push strongly from there.”

 

Nigeria created opportunity after opportunity against the Thunder, but poor finishing ensured a 1-1 draw and share of the spoils on Sunday afternoon.

 

Coach José Peseiro has been provided with options in the fore with the arrivals of Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi, and the camp believes strongly that the team that scored 22 goals in qualifying (more than any other team in the series) could start firing better on Sunday.

“We expect a tough game because the Ivorians are the hosts and they are also top of our group. But we have our aspirations as well and we believe in ourselves,” defender Kenneth Omeruo said on Monday.

 

Half of the squad spent Monday morning in the gym before the evening training session, which was open to the media.

 

The stature of Thursday’s encounter has been enhanced by current realities around the two teams, but it was always going to be a game to behold since the draw was made, as matches between both countries at senior level have been furious and feisty on the terrain, and even outside it.

Both countries first clashed at the Africa Cup of Nations when Nigeria hosted in 1980. The encounter at the National Stadium, Surulere ended scoreless, and it was Nigeria’s second game (as it will be on Thursday) of the tournament. The Eagles had to defeat Egypt in their third match to qualify for the semi finals (in which they pipped Morocco 1-0) to make progress, and eventually win the trophy for the first time.

 

Ten years later, both countries again clashed in the group phase, with Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) scoring the match’s only goal after just three minutes in Annaba. The Eagles eventually made it to the Final, losing 0-1 to the host nation, Algeria.

 

In 1994, both teams clashed in the semi-finals at the Stade El Menzah in Tunis. It ended in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, with petite Michel Bassole scoring for the Ivorians and Yekini and Benedict Iroha netting for Nigeria. Yekini scored the winning penalty for the Eagles, and Nigeria notched her second crown by defeating Zambia 2-1 in the Final

In 2006, both teams met in the semi-finals in Alexandria, with the Ivorians running away 1-0 winners. Two years later, the Ivorians were again 1-0 winners after Salomon Kalou scored the only goal in a group phase encounter in the Ghanaian city of Sekondi.

 

In 2013, on their way to a third triumph, the Eagles edged the Elephants 2-1 in a quarter-final like no other at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba scored for Nigeria.

 

In-between, there have been FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures, the most memorable of which remain the two matches between both teams in the race to USA 1994.

 

In Abidjan on 2nd May, 1993, Yekini scored after only five minutes, but Abdoulaye Traore and Ibrahim Ouattara got the goals that gave the Elephants victory at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny. In Lagos four months later, goals by Yekini (a brace), Daniel Amokachi and Thompson Oliha handed Nigeria a 4-1 win. The Eagles went ahead to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals.

PHOTO 1: William Ekong leaps above an Equatorial Guinea striker on Sunday while Alhassan Yuuf watches for any slip.

PHOTO 2: Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel in action.

 

PHOTO 3: Victor Osimhen leaps above all in the encounter with Thunder on Sunday. (Flowerbudnews)

 

London:  (dpa/NAN) Flowerbudnews) José Mourinho has been sacked by Roma, the Serie A club have announced.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss led Roma to the Europa League final last season after winning the Europa Conference League the campaign before.

Roma, who have won only one of their last five Serie A matches to slip to ninth in the table, said on their official website.

“AS Roma can confirm that José Mourinho and his coaching staff will leave the club with immediate effect.”

Club owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin added: “We would like to thank José on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club.

“We will always have great memories of his tenure at Roma, but we believe that an immediate change is in the best interests of the club.”

Mourinho replaced Paulo Fonseca as Roma’s head coach in May 2021 and guided them to a sixth-place finish and the Conference League title in his first season.

Roma finished in sixth place in Serie A again last term and reached the Europa League final in Budapest, where they lost 4-1 on penalties to Sevilla after a 1-1 draw.

Mourinho won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups during two spells in charge of Chelsea after winning the Champions League with Porto.

The 60-year-old also won the Champions League as manager of Inter Milan, claimed the La Liga title with Real Madrid and won the Europa League with Manchester United. (dpa/NAN)/ Flowerbudnews

 

Flowerbudnews

Nigeria’s U20 girls have intensified their general preparations for Sunday’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round, first leg encounter against the U20 girls of Burundi, with another training session in Dar es Salaam on Friday afternoon.

Sunday’s match at the Azam Stadium Complex in the Tanzanian capital will kick off at 4pm Tanzania time (2pm Nigeria time), with the winner over two legs qualifying as one of Africa’s four flag-bearers at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia. The final tournament has been scheduled for 30th August – 22nd September.

The Falconets, ever-present at the finals since the competition was launched in Canada in 2002, reached the quarter-finalists at the last edition in Costa Rica, and are much-fancied to brush aside the Burundian challenge and pick another World Cup ticket.

Nigeria’s delegation arrived in Dar es Salaam – which is hosting the match as Burundi does not have an approved stadium for international games – on Wednesday and players immediately shook off the jet lag with a light training session. They also trained on Thursday.

The team is looking forward to Saturday’s official training at the match venue – the same venue where they drew 1-1 with Tanzania’s U20 girls in their last round of the qualifiers, before sealing qualification to this stage with a 2-1 defeat of the Tanzanian girls in Abuja in the return leg.

 

Head Coach Chris Musa Danjuma and his crew travelled with 19 players, led by Captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem, and also including goalkeeper Faith Omilana, defenders Jumoke Alani and Shukurat Oladipo, midfielders Taiwo Afolabi and Chima Olise, and forwards Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Opeyemi Ajakaye and Janet Akekoromowei.

 

FALCONETS IN BURUNDI

 

Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi; Shukura Bakare; Faith Omilana

 

Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem; Jumoke Alani; Rebecca Adegbemile; Shukurat Oladipo; Oluwabunmi Oladeji

 

Midfielders: Adoo Yina; Taiwo Afolabi; Olushola Shobowale; Aminat Folorunsho; Chioma Olise

 

Forwards: Opeyemi Ajakaye; Chiamaka Okwuchukwu; Chisom Chima; Janet Akekoromowei; Chiamaka Osuigwe; Oluwayemisi Samuel

 

Dominican Republic 2024: Olowookere invites 35 to Flamingos’ camp for CAR

 

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has called 35 players to the camp of the Nigeria U17 girls, Flamingos, ahead of their 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against their counterparts from the Central African Republic.

 

The list is composed of five goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and 14 forwards.

 

Olowookere, who along with his assistants from the FIFA World Cup bronze medal-winning feat from India 2022 was restored to his position by the NFF Executive Committee earlier in the week, will lead his new birds to the first leg of the qualifiers scheduled for the weekend of 2nd – 4th February in Bangui, with the return leg to take place at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 10th February.

 

The FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup was launched in New Zealand in 2008. Nigeria has featured in every edition of the competition bar one – the 2018 finals held in Uruguay. This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be staged in the Dominican Republic, 16th October – 3rd November.

 

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

 

Goalkeepers: Ayomiposi Anifowose (Dream Stars Ladies); Elizabeth Boniface (Kwara Ladies); Chiamaka Enebeli (Remo Stars Ladies); Favour Edward (Naija Ratels); Jacqueline Opara (Imo Strikers)

 

Defenders: Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Ayoade Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Kausara Akanji (Dream Stars Ladies); Omolola Ibidun (Naija Ratels); Rokibat Azeez (Royal Queens); Patricia Habilah (Fosla Academy); Pelumi Olaleke (Royaltom Queens); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies)

 

Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens); Aishat Sanni (Dream Stars Ladies); Olanike Olanipekun (Jagunmolu Queens); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Busayo Akinfolaju (Kaduna State)

 

Forwards: Edidiong Etim (Bayelsa Queens); Yetunde Ayantosho (Osun Babes); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Suliat Ajibade (Sunshine Queens); Precious Oscar (Imo Strikers); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons); Dorathy Eshiet (Remo Stars Ladies); Chisom Chima (Ekiti Queens); Wuraola Olayinka (Ogun State); Tobiloba Sarafa (Ekiti Queens); Ijeoma Joseph (First Mahi Babes); Adanna Nwachukwu (Naija Ratels); Amarachi Ohiaeri (Green Foot); Ramota Kareem (Honey Badgers) Flowerbudnews)

 

 

The Super Eagles will play a friendly match against Guinea’s Syli Nationale in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening as they prepare for a feast of Guinean attrition in the group phase at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire.

Head Coach José Peseiro has the opportunity to put to the crucible different patterns and tactics against quality opposition, only seven days before the three-time champions’ opening game against Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang National inside Abidjan’s Stade Alassane Ouattara

Nigeria’s Eagles are in Group A of the four-week, 24-nation finals alongside host nation Cote d’Ivoire and Africa’s other two Guinean nations – Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.

The Syli Nationale was one of Africa’s strongest teams in the 1970 and 1980s, winning the silver medals at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia, and giving the so-called big teams a good run for their money at the Africa Cup and in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

The Eagles pipped Syli Nationale 1-0 in a group phase encounter at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Far back in 1981, Syli Nationale held the Eagles to a 1-1 draw in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Conakry, and in Lagos, Nigeria won with a long-range Henry Nwosu strike to the far corner of Abdoulaye Keita’s goal.

Monday’s encounter has been scheduled for the Bani Yas Stadium, and is sure to slightly open a window into the mind of Coach Peseiro and how he intends to line out his army when Africa’s flagship football championship begins next weekend.

Twenty-four of Nigeria’s 25-man squad assembled in the Gulf earlier in the week and have been training ahead of the continental houseparty, with forward Kelechi Iheanacho hampered by injury and set to join the group in Lagos on Tuesday evening, ahead of departure to the Ivorian capital on Wednesday, 10th January.

Nigeria is seeking a fourth African title (after wins in 1980, 1994 and 2013) which will put them at par with West African arch-rivals Ghana, and leave only Egypt (seven wins) and Cameroon (five wins) ahead of them in the inverted pyramid of glory.

After their opener against Equatorial Guinea on 14th January, the Super Eagles will confront the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on 18th January, before a final group phase clash with the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau on 22nd January. Their first two matches will hold at the brand-new Stade Alassane Ouattara, while the date with the Wild Dogs will be at the Stade Houphouet-Boigny – where the Eagles tackled Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations. (Flowerbudnews)