Sports
Mixed Expectations As London 2012 Begins
As the 2012 edition of the Olympics Games officially begins with the opening ceremony in London today, Nigerians have expressed mixed expectations from their contingents to the Games.
Some sports analysts who spoke exclusively to the Tidesports in Port Harcourt yesterday were of the view that there will be improved performance by the country at the London 2012 better than the previous edition, while others were persimistic, owing to what they saw as poor rating of the country in all round sports in recent times. Some even believed that the country would come back without any medal from the fiesta.
A former Commonwealth and African Weightlifting gold medalist in the 69kg category, Oliver Toby, said that Nigeria will harvest medals from weightlifting and athletic events, especially in the female weightlifting category and 4×400 metres men.
“We can get medals form weightlifting and athletics. The female weightlifters are of world standard and the men’s atheletes, particularly, 4×400 have potentials to win something at the Games.
‘But in other events, I am not sure of any medal.” Toby remarked.
Also speaking, the PRO of Rivers State Sports Council, Barisi Wifa expressed optimism that there would be tremendous improvement in the performance of Nigeria’s contingent to the London Olympics better than the previous outing.
Wifa said that his hopes were hinged on the fact that the build up of Team Nigeria ahead of the Games was better than the other editions.
On the athletics events, Wifa noted that the multiple championships attended by the athletes and various achievements recorded were pointers that the country is sure of fruitful outing in London.
“We expect that they will stay focused and go for medals since the country is not participating in the football event at the Games.”
He used the opportunity to urge the coaches and other officials to build on the massive reception accorded the contingent by Nigerians resident in London and go for medals for the country.
Samuel Duru, who is a sports fan in Port Harcourt said he was hopeful that Nigerian contingent would fare better than their outing in Beijing, China four years ago, where they won only one silva and two bronze medals.
“I cannot accurately say that the country’s contingent will perform very well or not. My hope is that they will do well because the Games is a new challenge and no one goes into the battle or contest expecting to lose.
However, those who have little hopes of Nigerian success at the fiesta point to the fact that apart from one or two athletes, the country would be presenting average competitors in London.
Isaac Nwankwo
Sports
CAA Wants Ghana To Host 2026 Athletics Champions
The Confederation of African Athletics has invited Ghana to bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 African Athletics Championships, following a successful athletics event at the just concluded 2023 African Games.
President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini, stated this and expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the Legon Stadium for athletes and Ghana’s bid to host international competitions.
With a capacity of 11,000, the Legon Stadium played a pivotal role in the recent African Games, hosting both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as various sporting events including athletics, football, and rugby.
Fuseini highlighted the success of the athletics events held at the stadium, which contributed to Ghana winning six medals.
“We have already started getting requests from the Confederation of African Athletics to bid for the 2026 African Athletics Championships.
“When they came and saw what we have put in place and the level of organisation, they told me that for the last 20 years, they’ve never seen any organisation like this before. We did three official courses. And the last one, we had 110, all of them passed. We had a lot of officials and equipment.”
Since its establishment in 1979, Ghana has never hosted the African Athletics Championships, with Nigeria being the host country twice, in 1989 and 2018.
This year, Cameroon will take the reins as the host nation, with the event set to be held at the Olembe Stadium.
Sports
‘I’m Not Under Pressure To Coach Eagles’
Finidi George, head coach of the Nigeria Premier Football Leagues side, Enyimba, has stated that he is not losing any sleep over getting the Super Eagles job on a permanent basis.
Early this month, the Nigeria Football Federation declared the position of the Super Eagles’ head coach vacant, following the exit of Portuguese Jose Peseiro, who led the side to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup Nations in Ivory Coast in February.
In an advertisement on its website calling for applications with a March 13 deadline, the football governing body stated that the prospective Eagles coach “must have proven experience at the elite level of football.”
The former Ajax man, who also applied for the job, was appointed Eagles interim coach for the international window with the former winger picking a win and suffering a defeat.
In an interview with Tidesports source, the 52-year-old tactician said he was not desperate for the job permanently.
“I felt really good when I was told to take charge of the team. I have been with the team for almost two years, I know all the players, their strengths, and their weaknesses but I am only here to serve Nigeria the way I know how to do stuff.
“I will just take these two games and go back to my club. Whatever the decision is taken after, so be it. I’m not under pressure to say I must get the role permanently.”
Sports
‘Reasons Why Eagles Lost To Mali’
The friendly games against Ghana and Mali were to serve as an audition for George Finidi, who was in charge of the team on an interim basis, but the Eagles’ lacklustre display in those friendlies has called for his further evaluation.
Finidi kept faith with ex-coach Jose Peseiro’s defensive formation against Mali on the back of his first win (against Ghana) in charge of the team four days earlier.
But this time, his defence was punished following a combination of defensive errors and poor passes.
The Eagles struggled to play out of defence due to the high pressing of the Malians and it was no surprise that the first goal by Les Aigles was a direct result of their aggression.
Chidozie Awaziem, who started on the right of the back three alongside Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi, lacked composure and was pressured into making a pass across his box straight at Bilal Toure, who made no mistake in getting the ball past Stanley Nwabali. They missed the calming presence of injured William Troost-Ekong.
Vice captain, Kenneth Omeruo, was also culpable of misplaced passes and was beaten for pace when Kamory Doumbia ran past him to seal Mali’s first win in over four decades, firing his shot past a helpless Nwabali, who stood no chance.
Eagles wing backs, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jamilu Collins also did not do enough to support the team in attack when they had the chance to.
Lack of creativity
Finidi paired Raphael Onyedika and Wilfred Ndidi in a double pivot in midfield. Both players are naturally anchor men and neither is a box-to-box midfielder.
They both do not possess the offensive capability to drive the team’s attack forward, which left the Eagles once again craving for a natural creative midfielder.
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