Sports
2013 AFCON Qualifiers: Lone Star Denies Super Eagles In Monrovia
Liberia and Nigeria played out a 2-2 draw on a bumpy pitch at the Samuel Doe Stadium in Monrovia.
Omega Roberts stunned the Super Eagles with a goal after just eight minutes.
But the lead was short-lived as Nosa Igiebor found the equaliser just six minutes later.
Ike Uche then put the visitors in front from the penalty spot after the impressive Victor Moses was brought down inside the box.
A goalkeeping howler by Vincent Enyeama allowed Sekou Oliseh to score Liberia’s second deep into the second half.
Zambia with work to do after narrow win over Uganda
BBC Sport reviews Saturday’s final-round first-leg qualifiers for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Zambia 1-0 Uganda
Christopher Katongo’s first-half strike has handed the reigning champions a slender advantage ahead of what will surely be a tough return leg in Kampala.
The Zambian goal came after 20 minutes, an easy tap-in from the skipper following Davies Nkausu’s long throw.
Uganda threatened little and will feel relieved to head home trailing by just a lone goal.
Katongo had an effort ruled out for offisde. The Chipolopolo also hit the post during a long spell of domination, as they went hunting for a second.
Uganda have not lost at home since 2004. This tie is far from over.
CAR 1-0 Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso will have to come from behind in their final round qualifier for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 1-0 to Central African Republic in Bangui on Saturday.
‘The Stallions’, who have been regular participants at AFCON tournaments in recent years, succumbed thanks to a first half goal from the host team’s Vianney Mabide.
They will try to turn the tie on its head in the second leg in Ouagadougou next month.
For CAR, who shocked former African champions Egypt in the previous round, this result puts them on course to qualify for their first ever Nations Cup finals.
Gabon 1-1 Togo
A late equaliser from Emmanuel Adebayor – on his return to the Togo team – gives them the upper hand after a dramatic finale in Libreville.
Meeting for only the second time in a competitive fixture, the 2012 co-hosts Gabon proved stubborn opponents and did well to initially keep the Sparrow Hawks at bay.
It was Gabon who finally broke the deadlock, when veteran striker Daniel Cousin powered in a header with around 15 minutes remaining.
But Adebayor, back after yet another self-imposed exile, struck moments later to set up an intriguing second leg in Lome next month.
Ghana 2-0 Malawi
A goal in each half handed the Black Stars a comfortable victory in Accra, leaving Malawi with much to do in the return leg.
Christian Atsu gave Ghana the perfect start, settling any nerves with the opener after just eight minutes.
With Malawi sitting deep and seeking to soak up Ghana pressure, the hosts were made to work for their second, which fell the way of Anthony Annan only six minutes after the interval.
Malawi’s cause was not helped when James Sangala was dismissed in the latter stages, and they now face a big ask if they are to reach the Cup of Nations finals for only the third time in their history.
Sierra Leone 2-2 Tunisia
Tunisia twice came from a goal down to severely dent Sierra Leone’s hopes of reaching their first Nations Cup finals since 1996.
The Leone Stars led through Azerbaijan-based Sheriff Suma after only seven minutes.
They held that advantage until midway through the second period, whereupon Fateh Gharbi beat Christian Caulker with a left-foot shot following a fine move.
Alhassan Kamara headed in what he felt must have been the winning goal just five minutes before the end, only for Youssef M’sakni to equalise two minutes later.
Ivory Coast 4-2 Senegal
Ivory Coast came out on top in the clash of the titans but they had to twice come from behind against a determined Senegal.
A late surge by the Ivorians – beaten finalists earlier this year at the 2012 Cup of Nations – ensured they go to Dakar for the return leg with a bit of breathing space.
Dame N’Doye opened for Senegal, before Salomon Kalou punished the visitors just before the break to level matters.
The home crowd was hushed once again when Papiss Cisse hit Senegal’s second on the hour mark, before the Elephants stormed back with goals from Gervinho, Didier Drogba (pen) and Max Gradel.
Drogba also had a late goal disallowed for handball.
Cape Verde 2-0 Cameroon
Cape Verde recorded arguably one of their greatest-ever results as they triumphed 2-0 at home to the four-times champions Cameroon.
The second leg awaits, but goals from Ricardo – his first at international level – and Djaniny will have the minnows believing that they can reach the Cup of Nations finals for the first time in their history.
Without Samuel Eto’o, it seems, Cameroon are finding goals hard to come by, but it is goals they so desperately need in the return leg if they are to avoid missing successive Nations Cups for the first time since 1980.
Mali 3-0 Botswana
Mali trounced Botswana 3-0 in Bamako on Saturday to give themselves a great chance of making it to South Africa next year.
France-based Cheick Diabate put the home side in front after 27 minutes when he converted a penalty, before Mahamadou Ndiaye added a second just before the hour mark.
Modibo Maiga sealed victory 20 minutes from time as Mali’s superiority in all areas of the game left the Zebras chasing shadows.
A three-goal cushion means the Eagles, who finished third at this year’s finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, head into the return leg in Gaberone with no major fears.
For Botswana, the result was another reality check for a team that made its debut at the continental showpiece this year and promised to do it again in South Africa next year.
Sports
Football Pundit Lauds Chelle’s Effort In Monitoring Nigeria League Players
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Sports
LGA Boss Pledges To Reintroduce School Sports
Sports
Ezechukwu Eyes Double Gold In African Champs
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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