Sports
Bonus Row, Unrest Unsettle Super Eagles

A cricketer battling for honour at Indomie Secondary School Championship in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently
It has emerged that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and members of the Super Eagles squd, are yet to reach an agreement on the bonuses the players will be paid at the 2014 World Cup.
According to sources close to the team, “From conversations and exclusive with Joseph Yobo, Eagles are unified as team boards plane to Brazil with bonus issue (hopefully) settled”.
Although the federal government has approved a $12.2m budget for the tournament, the Federation’s officials could not conclude a deal with the Brazil-bound players.
Other African countries seem to have sorted out allowances with their players. The Indomitable lions of Cameroon will get $104,000 each, while the Black Stars of Ghana will receive $75,000 each.
Meanwhile, Stephen Keshi had to come in to settle a feud between the Super Eagles duo of John Mikel Obi and Emmanuel Emenike.
According to reports, the two senior players have been at loggerheards since the goalless draw against Greece last week, but after keshi’s intervention, they both hugged and shook hands.
“Keshi had a family chat with the boys yesterday and in the meeting he made it known to Mikel and Emenike that their rift is unsettling the team”, a source said.
“Äfter a heated exchange both players poured out their minds after which Keshi settled them but not without getting involved in a shouting game with one of them”.
At the end both players shook hands, hugged and even ended up in each other’s room chatting before going to bed, it’s over thanks to Keshi spotting it early”.
It is also understood that other squad players were given the chance to pour out their minds, so that every dispute could be settled ahead of Nigeria’s participation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Eagles face Iran in their opening Group F match on Monday.
However, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Magari, is confident the Super Eagles will impress at the World Cup despite their recent struggles in friendly games.
Maigari arrived on Monday in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the 64th Fifa Congress billed for yesterday and today. The Congress precedes the 20th Fifa World Cup finals, which kicks-off in the same city tomorrow, with host Brazil clashing with Croatia.
Maigari, who was with the Super Eagles at their final training camp in the United States before flying to Brazil for the important gathering of the world’s football administrators, said in Sao Paulo on arrival that he was satisfied with the Super Eagles’ build-up to the tournament and is confident the African champions will impress at the finals.
“I want to assure Nigerians at home and in the diaspora that the Super Eagles will not disappoint in Brazil,” Maigari said.
“For sure, our people would have wanted the team to win the matches against Italy, Mexico, Scotland, Greece and USA. But we drew the first four and lost the last one.
“I have spoken with the head coach and he is optimistic that his boys will be ready for the finals. The earlier draws, and the loss to Team USA have afforded our boys a lot of lessons, which will be useful against Iran in the first match and subsequently,” he added.
Sports
CAFCL: Finidi Laud Players Over Impressive Performance
Sports
Umuahia Hosts Africa Para- Badminton Championship
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Sports
FIFA U20: Flying Eagles Narrowly Loss to Norway
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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