Sports
AFCON 2021: S’Eagles Target Perfect Record Against Motivated Guinea Bissau
Despite being assured of qualification and top position in Group D at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who are expected to ring some changes in the starting eleven, would still go for the kill and maximum points against the African Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau in today’s last group match.
The Eagles, apart from chasing a 100 per cent haul of points would want to match a record of winning all group matches in the tournament, set on only two previous occasions while playing under the same Coach Austine Eguavoen.
Two wins in as many games have set the Eagles up for the round of 16 but today’s game with Guinea Bissau is an opportunity for Eguavoen, while keen on victory, to test run some players yet to be fully tested at the championship.
Interim Coach Augustine Eguavoen has already admitted that he will be rotating players for this match: “Everybody in this team has a chance to play in this tournament, so with qualification secured, we will be giving some players the opportunity to play in the next game.”
Though the coach would like to remain competitive in the game, players like Wilfried Ndidi and Joe Aribo are likely to be rested for Kelechi Nwakali and Frank Onyeka to prove their mettle. Also, Samuel Chukwueze and energetic Moses Simon may give way to Alex Iwobi and Chidera Ejuke to try to expresss themselves and provide confidence on squad depth going forward.
It remains to be seen if Umar Sadiq will come in for Taiwo Awoniyi, although you are inclined to give the Almeria frontman significant minutes despite the ongoing criticism over cameos against Egypt and Sudan.
Admittedly, making a glut of changes has its demerits, including a lack of rhythm for the incoming players owing to a dearth of game time, the risk of an incoherent display and preferred starters losing momentum.
The Super Eagles may have played themselves into reckoning with their performance in the two previous matches, Guinea Bissau, who drew their first match 0-0 with Sudan and lost narrowly 0-1 to seven time winners, Egypt in controversial circumstances may pose a potential banana peel for the Eagles.
According to one of their midfielders, Pele, “It is our ambition to qualify and we are not giving up on that, we must do everything to defeat Nigeria because it is very important for us,” said the Monaco player. “We will fight with everything we have and if we played as we did against Egypt, we will qualify. We want everyone at home proud of us.”
This is why the Eagles, their handlers and whoever gets the chance to play today must not take anything for granted. The team has evoked great expectations from Nigerians and their fans, they must not lower the standard already reached.
While today’s game does not change the Eagles’ fate, Eguavoen will hope that the stand-ins flourish as they look to end the group stage without a blemish. Nine points from a possible nine for the first time since 2006 has a nice ring to it.
Meanwhile, Sudan will seek an upset win over old rivals Egypt when the teams meet in the other Group D clash at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde today.
Sudan heads into this clash sitting bottom of the log after a 0-0 draw with Guinea-Bissau and 3-1 loss at the hands of Nigeria this past weekend.
The Falcons of Jediane are still in last 16 contention, but they must beat Egypt to have a chance of snatching second place or being one of the top-ranked third-place finishers.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
Head coach of Police Crime Burster FC of Port Harcourt, Inspector Douye Ghomorai, has attributed the impressive performance of his players to early preparation and hardwork.
The Police team thrashed Dolphins Youth FC 4-1 at the ongoing Rivers State Football Association Challenge Cup, (RSFCA) .
Ghomorai said this on Friday in an exclusive interview with Tidesports shortly after his team ran over Dolphins Youths 4-1 in their opening match of the competition, at the
Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt.
According to him, their victory was as a result of hard work and early preparation,adding that as defending champions of the State Keves Global Football Competition, they will ensure they keep that momentum of winning.
“ My boys are good, we train five times in a week to keep fit. I commend my players for the good performance.
“We want to ensure that we do well in any upcoming tournament.
We train five times in a week, we know it is not easy, but we are doing it because we know what it takes to win a tournament in this State,” Ghomorai said.
He commended the State FA over the manner they handled the competition but urge them to not change their fixtures as it affects most clubs adversely.
In another match played, De Cardinals FC upset Go Round FC by 5-4 through penalty shoot out after playing goalless in regulation time.
By: Kiadum Edookor
The head Coach of Khana FC in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sam Ledor, has revealed that he has gained more knowledge at the just concluded coaches’ clinic held on Thursday, at Adokiye Amiesimaka Studium, in Port Harcourt.
According to him, he had been to Lagos and Uyo for coaching courses but none was as rich in content as this clinic, adding that it has also boosted his morale and coaching career.
Ledor said this in a telephone interview with Tidesports, saying that as a coach he will now apply new techniques in the game of football.
“ I have been to Lagos and Uyo for coaching courses but this is a very good foundation for me, it will help me a lot in my grassroots coaching.
The clinic has imparted new knowledge in me so much, because there were certain things I do not know before that I have known now.
It is a nice one I commend the organisers for bringing such a programme to Port Harcourt,” Ledor said.
The coaching clinic was organised by the Rivers State Football Coaches Association (RSFCA) and Bright Stars Sports Agency United Kingdom for Nigeria coaches.
The Clinic which was tagged “Continuous Professional Development Coaching (CPD) was designed for developing football coaches.
The former captain of Enyimba FC encouraged his members to always key into such projects because the knowledge gained will change their mentality towards the game.
By: Kiadum Edookor
A two-day basketball programme tagged” Uplifting the African Youth through Basketball” sponsored by Organised Basketball Network (OBN) has ended on Saturday.
The event which was held at Port Harcourt basketball court, Niger/ Bende Streets saw a huge crowd and over 300 youths participated in the programme.
Speaking in an interview with sports journalists shortly after the closing ceremony, the coordinator of OBN, a retired professional basketball player, Obinna Ekezie, said his aim was to develop the youth to have a career through basketball.
” OBN is to support youth on different skills, mostly on enterprenuership and technology. This is also to prepare them to have a career after basketball.
Our goal was to make this programme a sustainable one,” Ekezie said.
He used the forum to thank the Rivers State Government for its support, especially for giving them the venue to use. He also appreciated the United States Consulate in Nigeria for their support.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme, the United States Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Jennifer Foltz said United States and Nigeria have very special and close relationship, adding that the Consulate feels this was the right time to do a sports programme.
By: Tonye Orabere
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