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Brazil World Cup: Turkish Ambassador Rates Eagles High

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Turkey’s Ambassador to
Nigeria, Mustafa Pulat, has in Abuja said Nigeria’s Super Eagles have “a good chance’’ of excelling at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June.
Pulat told newsmen that  his submission was on the basis of Nigeria’s pedigree in football, as well as quality of players and the element of luck.
“Nigeria is a strong football nation, and with this it has a strong chance of doing well at Brazil 2014.
“Moreover, Nigeria has a rich football tradition, going by what the likes of Daniel Amokachi, Austin Okocha, Uche Okechukwu and Joseph Yobo have done.
“Nigeria also has a qualitative player in Emmanuel Emenike, and with luck coming into it, the Super Eagles can make it to the second round at least. From there, anything can happen,’’ he said.
The ambassador also said the Super Eagles would get it right by being motivated by the fact that they were playing at the highest level of the game.
“The World Cup is the highest level of all football competitions, and teams get motivated into doing better at that point.
“This can happen to Nigeria, and then the element of luck comes into play too,’’ he said.
Pulat, however, tipped Nigeria to join Argentina in picking the two second round tickets from Group F, with Bosnia-Herzegovina having an outside chance of dislodging Nigeria.
“Argentina is sure for a ticket, with Nigeria picking the second ticket. But Bosnia-Herzegovina can spring a surprise too to challenge Nigeria for the other ticket,’’ he said.
The Turkish diplomat said further that it was going to be difficult to predict the competition’s winners.
“It is difficult to tell who would lift the Cup after the final on July 13, but it is usually normal to expect it to be between Brazil and Spain. They are always one of those at the top.
“But it is hard to assess now, until the end of the first round. This is because most of the players expected there are still in their various leagues and it is difficult to assess them for now,’’ he said.
Pulat was, however, unsure of whether an African team would be able to win the trophy this time around.
He said it needed more than being competitive for an African side to win the World Cup.
“The draws, for one, always have a strong impact on what the African teams can do. But it is a fact that African teams are always good and competitive. However, football is always full of surprises.

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CAFCC: Enyimba International In Pot 3 For Draws

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African soccer governing body has released the pots for the qualified teams for the group stage of the Confederation Cup, Tidesports sources reports.
Enyimba International is among the 16 qualified teams for the group stage of the competition.
The People’s Elephant was placed in pot 3 alongside ASJaaraf, CS Constantine; Bravos Do Maquils, Lunda Suliat, Orapa United, Black Bulls, and Stellenbosch. Pot 1 consists of Zamalek, RS Berkane, Simba SC, and USM Algers while Pot 2 has ASEC Mimosa, Stade Malien, Al Masry, and CS Sfaxien.

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AFCON 2025 Qualifiers : Super Eagles Host Libya, Oct 11

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria will host the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matchday three encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, October 11.
The two teams will clash in a matchday four encounter at the Tripoli International Stadium four days later.
The Super Eagles started their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 home win against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
The three-time African champions were held to 0-0 draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda in their second group game.The West Africans occupy top spot in Group D with four points from two games.
Libya are bottom of the group after amassing one point from two games.
Only the top teams in each group will advance to the tournament proper in Morocco beginning in December 2025.
Meanwhile, Libya has opted to host Group D leaders Nigeria at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium, in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Matchday 4 encounter. The facility is located in the city of Benina, some 19 kilometres outside the country’s second city, Benghazi.
Known previously as Hugo Chávez Stadium, the stadium is a 10,000-capacity facility with an artificial turf.
Both countries will do a Matchday 3 battle at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 11th October, before the clash in the city at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, 15th October.
While the match in Uyo will kick off at 5pm, the battle in Benina will commence at 8pm Nigeria time.
Libya remain bottom of Group D after two rounds of matches, following a 1-1 at home to Rwanda (a game that was played at the Tripoli International Stadium) and a 1-2 loss to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan.
Nigeria tops the pool with four points, after a 3-0 spanking of Benin Republic in Uyo on Matchday 1 and a scoreless draw with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali on Matchday 2.

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NYG: Kano Athletes Protest Over Allowances In Asaba

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Kano State athletes, who participated in the concluded 8th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, last Friday called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to address the issue of their poor camp allowances.
The athletes, speaking anonymously, expressed dissatisfaction with the daily allowance they received, claiming it was significantly lower than that of their counterparts from neighbouring Northwestern states.
“We were given less than N20,000 for ten days, while athletes from Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara received N50,000. Jigawa athletes were paid the highest, receiving N80,000,” one of the athletes said.
Despite the disparity in allowances, the athletes secured five gold, three silver, and one bronze in the competition.
They urged the governor to intervene and resolve the issue.
Also, the athletes commended the Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, for supporting other athletes representing the state in sports like football and basketball and hoped for similar support.
The objective of the National Youth Games, initiated by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, is to promote unity, peace, and understanding among youths while addressing issues of restiveness and unemployment across the country.

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