Sports
CHAN: Coach Lauds Eagles’ Performance
A former national
under-17 male team coach, Godwin Izilein, says there is great potential in Super Eagles players with the team’s performance at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN). Izilein told newsmen on Saturday in Benin that the team had done well in the championship in spite of Friday’s 1-1 draw with Tunisia. Tidesports gathered that the team had beaten Niger Republic 4-1 in their first match on Monday at the championship holding in Rwanda. “The team’s pattern of playing reminded me of the exploits of the Super Eagles of 1994. Their aggressiveness, mobility and cohesion are commendable,’’ he said. Izilein said he was not surprised with the team playing a draw with Tunisia, pointing out that Nigeria played a similar pattern with the North African team. The former coach said he had expected Nigeria to be more aggressive in their opponents’ penalty box in order to emerge victorious. “I warned before the match that we needed to be aggressive in our opponents’ vital area for us to win, because of the similar pattern we played. “And, again, I had expected Chisom Chikatara to play from behind the top striker, instead of being played top man. “His performance against Niger had placed him in the eye of the opponents, especially the defenders. This would have afforded him the opportunity to swing surprises and assist the team to win,’’ he said. Izilein, however, commended Chikatara who scored three goals against Niger Republic, saying the Abia Warriors FC forward was a player to watch out for in future. “He is a wonderful player and we should watch out for him,’’ he said.
Sports
Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
Sports
ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
Sports
DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
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