News
Nations Cup: Nigeria Pair Mozambique
The draw for the Angola 2010 Africa Cup of Nations took place yesterday in Luanda, the Angola capital with Nigeria pairing Mozambique, Benin and defending championships, Egypt in Group C.
The draw of the 27th edition of the championship also pitched host Angola with Mali, Algeria, and Malawi in Group A, while Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso will slug it out in Group B.
Group D will feature Cameroon, Tunisia, Zambia and Gabon.
Angola versus Mali will be the opening of the tournament.
Group A will be based in Luanda, Group B will be in Cabinda in the north of the country, Group C will play in Benguela, and Group D will be based in Lubango.
Former Angolan football legend Akwa said he thought all the groups looked difficult.
“It’s not just Algeria and Angola that could go through, Mali have a good national team and they can give us a lot of problems,” he said.
However, when asked ho far Angola can go, he said “I believe we can reach the final.”
Group B is being touted as the group of death with the prospect of Ghana and Ivory Coast renewing their rivalry.
The Chairman of Ghana’s Football Association said “there is no better description of this group.”
“Ivory Coast and Ghana are two of the best teams in Africa.”
“The group is interesting because Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo are all our neightbours.
“Togo has Adebayor, one of the best players in the world, and Burkina Faso’s Moumouni Dagano is the top scorer of the World Cup qualifying campaign,” he said.
However history favours Ghana as they’ve met seven times and the Ivorians have won just one of those encounters.
Egypt versus Nigeria looks like an exciting fixture to open Group C on January 12 in Benguela.
Nigeria’s coach Shaiubu Amodou was present at the draw and said that on paper Nigeria should emerge from Group B, but he added a word of caution.
“There are no small teams in football anymore” he said.
Nigeria’s former captain Sunday Oliseh described Nigeria’s group as a “delicate” one.
“Mozambique gave us a lot of hassle during qualifying” he said.
Oliseh also thanked Mozambique for helping Nigeria qualify for the World Cup.
They scored a lot goal against Tunisia in the final qualifying game which helped to put Nigeria through to South Africa 2010.
Mozambique’s most capped player and recent goal scorer Tico-Tico said he thought it was a tough draw for his side.
“We will just have to compete and see what happens” he said.
“Egypt are the champions of Africa so that won’t be easy but if we believe in ourselves maybe we can spring some surprises,” he says.
“Nigeria and Egypt would seem the obvious teams to qualify but anything can happen,” he said.
Former Cameroon striker, Patrick Mboma said that Group D will be no pushover either.
“We’ve only recently seen what Gabon can do’ he said.
However he predicted that the Indomitable Lions would reach the semi-finals, after which anything can happen.
“We have a new Indomitable Lions, a new captain, a new coach and hopefully a new reality, and I hope we can start the new year in the best way,” he said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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