Sports

AFCON: Rohr Rules Out New Players

Published

8 months ago

April 24, 2019

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, has ruled out bringing in new players to bolster his squad ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The three-time African champions are returning to the tournament after missing back-to-back editions in 2015 and 2017.
They won the competition during their last appearance in 2013 in South Africa.
Despite admitting that he has goalkeeping concerns – with first-choice Francis Uzoho struggling for regular football this season, Rohr is not ready to call up another goalkeeper.
“We have a little challenge because our young goalkeeper Uzoho has not really played at his club this season.”
“Uzoho made one mistake in the last qualifier (against Seychelles) but we gave him a chance with the U-23 side and it was good for his confidence.
“Daniel Akpeyi is playing now for a big team in South Africa and doing very well. Our third goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa too is good, so we can work harder with them.
“We have a good spirit as a team since the World Cup, so there’s no time to bring in new players,” Rohr told Tidesports source.
The Eagles have struggled to fill the void created by the shock retirement of the country’s most capped player, goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama in 2015, and the premature exit of his replacement Carl Ikeme over health reason.
A lack of experience has been highlighted as a weakness but Rohr, who led Gabon to the last eight of the 2012 Nations Cup on home soil, is focusing on turning his young team into a major force in North Africa this summer.
“We can work on every aspect to improve the team, that is why we have the friendly matches,” he added.
“We qualified without two of our most experienced players in Obi Mikel and Victor Moses. I know what pressure is because I have experienced it with Gabon as hosts in 2012 – so this (challenge) is nothing new.
“For the World Cup, our (Nigeria Football Federation) president said we could go to the semi-finals but we saw what happened – now in Egypt he says we have to win it.

Sports

Diobu Football Competition Is To Foster Peace – Nsiegbe

Published

7 hours ago

December 12, 2019

The Tide

The Chairman of the organising committee of the ongoing Diobu Peace/Unity Football Competition (DPUFC), Okechukwu Nsiegbe, has said that the competition is to bring peace, love and unity among youths in the area.
He explained that the competition is intended to discover talents that will excel in the football industry.
Nsiegbe stated this in an exclusive interview with Tidesports on Wednesday at the Roumuowaji play ground after Ikwerre Street FC defeated D/Line FC 9-10 in a penalty shout out after regulation time.
“The essence of the competition this period is to bring peace, l ove and unity among youths, because Christmas season is time to make peace “Nsiegbe said.
According to him, scout will be around to discover players during the tournament.
He further revealed that 16 teams registered for the tournament.
“The competition is a knock out basis, by this weekend the competition will reach quarter final stage” he stated.

By: Kiadum Edookor

Sports

Rivers Boxing Championship Discovers New Talents

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2019

The Tide

The President of Nigeria Boxing Federation (PNBF), Kenneth Minimah, says the second edition of the Rivers State Open Boxing Championship (RSOBC) has discovered new talents and exposed them to limelight.
He stated that the competition is an important avenue to discover hidden talents.
Minimah, said this on Wednesday, in an exclusive interview with Tidesports in day two of the Championship, at the Port Harcourt boxing gym, Basketball court complex, Old Port Harcourt township.
The boxing President noted that the state has been the home of professional boxers in the 80s.
According to him, talents discovered during the championship will be given the right direction for the sport.
“Rivers State Open Boxing Championship is trying to rejuvenate the sport in the state” Minimah said.
The retired general used the medium to call on those who have passion for boxing and cooperate bodies in the state to support sponsorship of boxing competitions in the state.
“Boxing should also be taken to the grassroots,” he stated.
In the same vein, he commended Anthony Joshua, as he reclaimed his titles after had beaten Andy Ruiz Jr.
According to him, Joshua has his career back on track, adding that he had also put his mother nation back in the boxing board.
He also urged the upcoming boxers in the state to see Joshua as a role model.

By: Kiadum Edookor

Sports

2022 World Cup Qualifiers: Eagles Know Foes, January

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2019

The Tide

Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles will know their group stage foes for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying series next month.
The Super Eagles had featured in each of the last three World Cup tournaments and will be bidding to make it four in a row for the first time ever and seventh overall in Qatar in 2022.
Tidesports gathered that Nigeria will be joining thirty-nine (39) other African countries in the second round (group stage) draws, which has been scheduled for the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.
The second round of the qualifiers will kick off in March 2020 and will conclude in October 2021. Group winners will advance to the third round, which is scheduled for November 2021.
The ten group winners from Round 2 will be paired up for knockout matches, with the five winners securing a berth at Qatar 2022, a format reminiscent of the 2014 World Cup qualifying race which saw Nigeria defeating Ethiopia en route to qualification.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played in Qatar between 21 November and 18 December 2022.