Sports
‘S’Eagles Can’t Afford To Lose Against Liberia’
Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa has talked up the importance of winning their 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying match against Liberia tomorrow.
The three-time African champions need to avoid defeat in Morocco as they aim for a place in the final play-off round that would see 10 group leaders face-off for the five tickets allotted to Africa.
The Super Eagles currently lead Group C with nine points after four matches while Cape Verde trail in second spot with seven points.
The last time Nigeria faced Liberia in Lagos on September 3, the encounter ended in a 2-0 victory for Gernot Rohr’s men with Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho grabbing a brace.
Musa, who became the country’s most-capped player with 101 games in October, disclosed the team’s mission at the Stade Ibn Batouta before they host Cape Verde for their final group fixture on Tuesday.
“As you can see everyone is happy and we are ready for the game. We have 22 players here. Tomorrow (yesterday) we are expecting the goalkeeper (John Noble) and Odion Ighalo,” Musa told Tidesports source.
“We know the importance of the game, we can’t afford to lose. We have to go for the three points. At the end of the game on Saturday, we hope to celebrate another important win.”
The Fatih Karagumruk forward also compared the weather in Tangier to be similar to their European base.
“I think the weather is very good, it’s just like Europe and I think most of us love the weather. I hope the weather will give us what we want,” he said.
Meanwhile, Liberia Football Association communication manager Gologo Ben Garkpah has said that the Lone Stars want to silence Nigeria to make things edgy in Group C.
A 1-0 defeat to Cape Verde meant that the aspirations of Peter Butler’s men to qualify for a maiden World Cup faded into thin air, leaving the Super Eagles and the Blue Sharks in the race for a third-round ticket.
Ahead of tomorrow’s fixture, the LFA official claims his compatriots will be all out to maintain their impressive home record against the three-time African champions as well as play the role of spoilers.
“When the Lone Star reflects on the defeat in Nigeria in which I don’t think we were particularly bad, we want to win,” Garkpah told news men.
“We have not lost a competitive home game against Nigeria over a long period. We are motivated to win and make things nervous for any of the two contenders on the last day.
“I think we can upset the three-time African champions. With all respect to them, the Super Eagles are not infallible. They can be beaten.
“They’ve lost a World Cup qualifier to us before, and we can replicate that.”
Coach Butler made eight changes to the squad that lost 2-0 in Lagos, and for Garkpah, that is an indication that Liberia is in Morocco for serious business.
“The complexion of the squad I think is a little stronger than the one on matchday one,” he continued.
“We’ve brought in new and energetic lads with greater experience and ambition. I think this group will spring a surprise.
“Central African Republic showed that Nigeria can be beaten. We need to take our chances which has really been a difference between us and the Super Eagles.
“We’ve scored only twice and that shows we require improvement up front, and the coach has been working on that.
“Our backline has leaked five goals which aren’t too bad but on paper, those five goals conceded seem to be the difference between us and the rest of the other teams because we aren’t scoring much.
“With the inclusions of Mark Pabai and Jamal Arago, I’m sure we’ll be solid at the back.”
Sports
Organsing Committee Set For Obaseki Football Tourney
The organising committee for the 2023 Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) has promised a better experience for followers of the yearly competition, which has been acknowledged by stakeholders as the country’s best pre-season female soccer tournament.
The nine-man committee, headed by chairman of Edo Sports Commission, Yusuf Alli, with the Commission’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Sabina Chikere as Secretary, was inaugurated on Thursday last week by Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, in Benin City.
Other members of the committee are Maria Edekor, Kingsley Ehigiamusor, Crusoe Osagie, Dr. Andrew Obi, Dr. Peter Okonofua, Dr. Kweku Tandoh and Emmanuel Igbinosa.
Speaking on behalf of other members of the committee, Dr. Tandoh expressed appreciation to the state government for giving them opportunity to serve, adding: “The last two years have been wonderful with the Deputy Governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu, and the team showing that women can make a way even in football. We want to assure you that this year, we will put in our best.
“We believe and hope that this year will not be an exception and by the grace of God and with the support that you always give to us, we would do a good job and make you proud.”
Earlier, while inaugurating the committee, Mrs. Obaseki urged the members to improve on the success recorded in previous editions of the tournament.
The First Lady commended the committee for the overwhelming support and their contributions in previous editions of the tournament, noting, “I have good reason to appreciate you for your hard work and commitment even in the first outing that was highly commended by FIFA.
Sports
WAFU B-U20: Four Falconets Make XI
Despite losing the final of the 2023 WAFU B U-20 Cup to Ghana on Saturday, four Falconets players made the team of the tournament, following their individual brilliance at the championship.
After regulation time ended 1-1, Christopher Danjuma’s side lost 3-1 on penalties to Ghana, who won the first edition of the tournament on home soil in Kumasi last weekend.
In the team of the tournament released on Monday, the quartet of Opeyemi Ajakaye, Flourish Sebastine, Esther Onyenezide and Chinyere Kalu were among the tournament’s best 11, which had six players from rivals Ghana and one player from Burkina Faso.
Ajakaye finished as the highest goal scorer of the tournament with six goals, while Sebastine, who scored Nigeria’s equaliser in the final, had four goals. Both strikers were joined in the attack of the 4-3-3 selection by Burkina Faso’s Adele Kabren.
In midfield, Onyenezide who had five goals at the tournament, is joined by Ghana’s duo Stella Nyamekye, who also won tthe ournament’s best player award, and Success Ameeya.
Kalu is the only Nigerian among the defenders and is paired by Ghana’s Sarah Kulible in the heart of defence, while Comfort Yeboah and Fatimata Fuseini flanked them. Ghana’s penalty shootout heroine, Afi Amenyaku, was selected between the sticks.
Sports
Eagles Camp Opens June 12 … As Peseiro Scouts NPFL Super Six Play-Off
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that Super Eagles camp will open on June 12 in Abuja ahead of the 2024 African Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and the Lone Stars of Sierra Leone.
The match will hold on June 18 in Liberia because Confederation of African Football (CAF) did not find any stadium in Sierra Leone good enough for a game of such magnitude.
Speaking with Tidesports on Monday Super Eagles’ Team Coordinator, Patrick Pascal, said everything was being done to ensure Nigeria picks the three points, which would automatically qualify it for the African Cup of Nations.
“The game against Sierra Leone will be tough because they are also eager to qualify for the Nations Cup. “We are happy that most of the overseas-based players earmarked for the game are in good form for their various clubs.
“Although we are not underestimating any country because football is growing rapidly across the world, we are focused on winning the game and qualify for the 2024 AFCON,” he said.
Pascal also added that the ongoing Nigerian Premier Football League Championship play-off in Lagos would aid the coaches’ bid to discover talented players in the local league.
Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, is a constant presence at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, venue of the championship.
“The NFF president has been working hard to improve the Nigerian League. With the Super Six, it will be possible for coaches to see the outstanding players in the Nigeria league because all teams and players are on a equal standing to prove their worth. The highest goal scorer of the league would be seen to deserve it, instead of awarding the award to a player that did not score a convincing goal during the main league.
-
Business2 days ago
Science, Vehicle For Development – NLNG …Concludes 2023 Schools Science Quiz Competition
-
Crime/Justice2 days ago
Assassination Attempt :Monarch Calls For Police Protection
-
Information Technology2 days ago
Digitisation Policy, Impactful On Nigeria – NITDA
-
Sports2 days ago
Rivers United FC Supporters Club Gets CTC
-
Opinion2 days ago
Principle Of Readiness In Development Process
-
Rivers2 days ago
SPDC Refuses To Carryout Remediation To Victims Of Oil Spill
-
News2 days ago
Terrorism: Tinubu’s Charges Security Agencies On Synergy
-
SMEs2 days ago
Experts Highlight Tech Role In Business, Job Creation