Sports Briefs
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THE Nigeria Football Association, NFA, wants the Super Falcons to sustain its winning momentum by beating the She-Amavubis of Rwanda on Saturday in Kaduna. This was contained in a statement by Gracious Akujobi, the team’s media officer, quoting Emmanuel Ikpeme, NFA’s director of technical, who visited the national senior women football team in Abuja on Monday June 2, 2014.
The Falcons are billed to host the Rwandese in a final round second leg match in the 2014 African Women Championship, AWC, qualifiers. The match is billed for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, with the Nigerian side holding a 4-1 advantage from the first leg game the Rwandese hosted in Gisenyi on May 24.
Ikpeme told the team at their training session at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the Abuja National Stadium to confirm its superiority by beating the She-Amavubis again. “I came to congratulate you girls for defeating Rwanda in its own backyard, but I want you to sustain the tempo and the winning mentality by finishing what you started in Rwanda. Although playing in front of your fans can bring pressure on you, but you just have to make sure that at the same time, you did not disappoint them,’’ he said.
Super Falcons would need to avoid a wide goal margin defeat from the She-Amavubis to qualify for the AWC scheduled to hold in Namibia between October 11 and October 25.
Chelsea Rejects Inter’s Bid for Mikel
CHELSEA has turned down a bid by Inter Milan for Mikel Obi, Nigerian midfield football player. Inter, which wants to strengthen its squad ahead of a UEFA Europa League and Serie A campaign, next season had thought that Mikel would release by Chelsea, where he plies his trade at the moment.
Indeed, Mikel is the player who has caught the attention of the Nerazzurri side and it approached the London club to try and initiate a deal.
Reports in The Daily Mirror, an English newspaper, suggested that the Inter had initially inquired about a loan move for the 27-year-old midfielder, but that was turned down by Chelsea, which was said to have in turn responded by making the player available for £11 million price.
Mikel, who moved to Stamford Bridge after a controversial transfer in 2006, has gone on to make more than 300 appearances for ‘The Blues’ as the Chelsea team is fondly called by their supporters.
Danagogo deplores state of National stadium facilities
TAMUNO Danagogo, the newly appointed sports minister, is very unhappy about the decay at the National Stadium, Lagos. Danagogo who visited the stadium on Monday June 2, 2014 was startled by the state of facilities in the complex.
Addressing sports journalists after his fact-finding tour of the sports city which was followed by a meeting with staff of the National Sports Commission, the minister said, the poor state of facilities at the stadium was unacceptable and that everything would be done to rectify the situation.
The minister also expressed helplessness in the face of the dilapidated state of facilities, saying that government could only operate on budget. “We can only act when the budget for the repair of facilities is released. But be rest assured that everything would be done to ensure the facilities are given a face lift soon,” he said.
Danagogo recalled the Presidential Retreat on Sports held last year in Abuja and said a committee had been formed to look into the recommendations of the retreat and point the way forward. “We will follow the road map as expounded in the recommendations of the presidential retreat and implement them.”
The minister harped on the benefits of Public Private Participation in the development of sports and pointed out that government would encourage every initiative that will attract private participation in the scheme.
“We want to explore ways that can bring the private sector into sports development,” he said, adding: “We want them to see sports as some form of business.”
Nigeria‘s World Cup Squad Named
STEPHEN Keshi, head coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles, has released his list of 23 players for the Brazil 2014 World Cup, on June 2. Defender Joseph Yobo will play in his third FIFA World Cup finals and have opportunity to become Nigeria’s first–ever century – international after he was named in the African champions’ final list of 23 for Brazil 2014.
Also going to their third World Cup are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, but John Mikel Obi, midfield strongman, will only be attending his first World Cup after Nigeria narrowly missed Germany 2006 and was omitted from South Africa 2010 because of injury.
Elderson Echiejile, former junior international defender and Osaze Odemwingie, Olympic silver medallist, who were also in South Africa four years ago, made the cut for the biggest showpiece in football.
Emmanuel Emenike, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer, would be joined in the attack by England-based duo of Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi, and Uche Nwofor, former junior international. But there is no place for Obinna Nsofor, Olympic silver medallist, and nimble–footed Nnamdi Oduamadi.
Daniel Akpeyi, a home–based goalkeeper, Joel Obi, diminutive midfielder, Sunday Mba, South Africa 2013 hero, Nosa Igiebor, former U-23 star and Ejike Uzoenyi, 2014 CHAN most valuable player, also missed out on the trip to South America.
The team list in full:
GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim
DEFENDERS: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami
MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel
FORWARDS: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor.
— Jun. 23, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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