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VANGUARD SPORTS


Surprise for fans at FIFA U-20 tourney

Friday, December 05, 2003

Group D: England 0 - 1 Egypt; Japan 1 - 4 Colombia The crowds of Egyptian fans packing the stands of Dubai’s Al-Maktoum Stadium played a key role in urging Hassan Shehata’s team to their first victory in the tournament. On the receiving end were England, who suffered their second defeat in as many games. A superb goal by Emad Motab (74') gave the Africans their just reward after going all out for a win from the kick-off. The Egyptians erupted into dance on hearing the final whistle, while Les Reed’s boys, in contrast, could do no more than slump to the ground in exhausted despair.
In the group’s second game, Colombia’s forwards hit form to allow the team to file off at half-time with a two-goal advantage over the ever-eager Japanese, looking for their second consecutive win in the competition. Goals by Joséé De La Cuesta (35'), with a delightful back-heel, and Jaime Castrillóón (43') were a reflection of the South Americans’ clear dominance in the first 45 minutes. Kiyoshi Okhuma’s charges saw more of the ball in the second half, but they did not quite know what to do with it. Reinaldo Rueda’s boys, meanwhile, were to prove more effective and Abel Aguilar (65') and Avimiled Rivas (90' + 3') put two more on the scoreboard before time was up. A Tatsuya Yazawa free-kick (59') gave the Japanese some small consolation. The result takes the South Americans to the top of the group with Egypt, while Japan are third with a point less.
Group E: CIV 2 - 2 Ireland; Mexico 1 - 1 Saudi Arabia The city of Al-Ain was the stage for a thrilling encounter between Côôte d’Ivoire and Ireland. The Africans were nothing but trouble for the Europeans in the opening 25 minutes. Arouna Kone, with two strikes (one of them a penalty), joined the tournament’s top goal scorers and came within a whisker of snatching victory for his side.
But the Irish twice managed to pull back with goals by Stephen Paisley and Stephen Elliot. As the game drew to a close, Daniel Yeboah’s sending-off only added further spice to the tie, though the scores were to remain level. The result means both teams go into that all-important third game neck-and-neck at the top of Group E with four points.
Saudi fans who had travelled to Dubai to cheer on their national side against Mexico were soon glad they had made the effort, as Naji Majrasghi promptly opened the score for Daniel Romero’s boys (15'). The striker, alongside team mate Eisa Al Mahyani, was not giving the sluggish Mexican defence a moment’s peace, but Fausto Pinto (30') popped up on the half hour to silence the jubilant stadium and send Eduardo Regis’s side into the dressing room with a more than generous reward for their efforts. In the second half the Tricolores sorted themselves out at the back and withstood the Saudi pressure until the final whistle. With one game left to play, Group E is wide open: the Saudis and the CONCACAF giants are bringing up the rear with just a single point each.
Group F: Germany 3 - 1 United States; Korea Republic 0 - 1 Paraguay The United States went into the clash at the Al-Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi keen to capitalise on their opening victory, while the Germans were out to make up for defeat against Korea Republic. The North Americans ran up against a tough European side in what was to prove a relatively low-key first 45 minutes. In the second half, however, Uli Stielike’s charges blew up a veritable whirlwind of football and settled the tie in just 16 minutes, with goals from Robert Huth (47'), Piotr Trochowski (60 ´) and Sebastiáán Kneissl (63 ´), respectively. The United States were intent on clawing their way back into it, but not even the appearance of the fresh-faced Freddy Adu (the second-youngest player in the history of the competition) could turn things round for them. Zak Whitbread (77') bagged a consolation goal towards the end of the game. Both teams are now level on three points and with everything to play for in the last game.
There were many memories of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japanää floating in evening air in Abu Dhabi. Thousands of Korean fans chorused the songs that carried the senior team to fourth place in that tournament. But any attempt to recreate the atmosphere for the nation’s stars of tomorrow were silenced by rivals Paraguay, who just like in their first game against United States, went in at half-time with the lead, this time thanks to a Gilberto Veláásquez headed goal (14'). Unlike against the Americans though, the Albirrojos heeded coach Rolando Chilavert’s orders and held out until the final whistle. So how will this group end up? No-one knows: all four teams are level on three points, though the Taeguk Warriors have a slight advantage on goal difference

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Tunisia 2004: Chukwu invites Ogbechie

By Akeem Oyetunji,
Monday, December 15, 2003

SUPER Eagles chief coach Christian Chukwu, has extended call up to Paris-Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Bartholomew Ogbeche to join the 41 players already invited to the team’s camp in Faroe, Portugal ahead January’s Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.NFA Secretary General, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, told sports journalists in Abuja at weekend before jetting out to meet with players in Europe that his call up was not an after thought but was an oversight by the technical crew.
Every Nigerian professional player abroad must be given equal opportunity to prove their worth (provided they are fit and in good form) before the best 22 players are selected. Ogunjobi assured that Ogbeche has given his word of his willingness to be part of the training camp.
He said no stone would be left unturned and added that he would be meeting with some players in England and in France too to hold talks with officials of PSG.
The FA left for London at the weekend and is expected to hold talks with the team’s captain Austin Okocha, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Issac Okoronkwo and was also expected to hold talks with Inter Milan’s Obafemi Martins before returning home.Ogunjobi assured that other invited players with the exemption of England-based professionals would report to the camp on schedule expressing optimism that the Premiership players would join the camp in Tunis.
The Super Eagles are billed to leave Faroe camp on January 9, 2004 for Tunis where they would camp for another 10 days to acclimatize before moving to where they will play their group stage matches.

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Former African Nations Cup hero and Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin striker Kadiri Ikhana who coached and led Enyimba of Aba to lift the Champions League trophy is calling it quits. ...
TB

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Obafemi teams up with Jay Jay in Buddie team

Tuesday, January 06, 2004

Nigerias hottest soccer sensation, Obafemi Akinwumi Martins of Inter Milan FC of Italy, has signed brand endorsement deal with Econet Wireless Nigeria Limited.
The deal was signed in Lagos last Wednesday. Martins is the third Nigerian football star to endorse the popular mobile package, Buddie.
Two other star players, Super Eagles and Bolton Wanderers” Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Arsenal FC of London striker, Nwankwo Kanu, have a similar deal with Econet.
The deal opens the way for Martins to feature in Buddie adverts and some other promotional activities.
The signing ceremony was directed by Buddie Brand Manager, Opemipo Olabiosu, who also signed on behalf of the mobile company, while Martins was assisted by “Soccer Ambassador” Friday Nwankwo-Kujah.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Olabiosu said Martins was chosen as brand ambassador because of his outstanding talent, humility and rising profile on the football field.
Econet Corporate Affairs manager, Emeka Oparah has attributed the success of Martins to his high fitness level and consistency on the soccer pitch.
“Obafemi Martins has lived out his pet name, Obagol (king of goals) by scoring very important goals for Inter Milan both in the domestic league and in the UEFA Champions League. His contribution to the 5-1 demolition of Arsenal FC of London is still very fresh in mind as well as his role in the 6-0 humiliation of Reggina FC of Italy in a league match.
“His work rate and power play approach to the game has made him one of Nigeria”s brightest hope in the global soccer business. He is a source of pride to many Nigerians. Whenever he is in Inter colours both in the respectable Italian leagues and in the rigorous UEFA Champions Leagues matches, he inspires hope and joy in many Nigerians just like our reliable and popular brand, Buddie. We are happy to be identified with this soccer wiz kid”.
The kid star broke into Inter Milan first team from the Italian club's youth team after series of impressive appearances for the feeder team in the lower division of the league.
Am impressed former coach, Argentine former star, Hector Cuper drafted the Nigerian to the San Siro side's first team to beef up his attack line after watching him display outstanding goal scoring prowess week in and week out.
New team handler, Alberto Zacheroni, has also demonstrated his faith in the teenage sensation by bringing him back to the starting line-up after a short spell on the reserve bench.
He has since justified his inclusion in the first team by scoring very vital goals and providing valuable support to the team's other key striker, Christian Vieri.

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Players, officials react to Nations Cup list


By Tony Ubani in Faro
Friday, January 16, 2004


Austine Eguavoen is Assistant coach of the Super Eagles
“I’m just hearing from you that the list has been released. We met last week and talked about the list and I didn’t know that it has been released”. After going through the list from me he said, “it’s not a bad list. The list represents almost all the ones we agreed in the meeting with the exception of Taribo who lost to injury and Melkam. I must commend Chukwu for taking us into consideration and confidence. He’s the boss. He would have done otherwise and nothing would happen. But, I thank him. The list is a perfect list. The only thing about it is the Premiership players. We have not played Celestine Babayaro and Victor Agali before. The other players we know and have played with them in one way or the other. I hope they join us so that we can do things together before we head to Tunisia for the Nations Cup”.

George Abbey
“I’m glad to be among the players going to Tunisia. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait for it to start. Being in the team means a great deal to me. Representing Nigeria alone is enough and to be chosen among the good players. I have to give my best and we have to do well in Tunisia. We are already working hard and have to keep working hard until the big day comes”.

Romanus Orjinta
I have to thank God for making it possible for me to be on the list. It’s not easy making the final of the Nations Cup after winning the Champions League. It shows that I worked for it. It is on merit and all the players know about it. One thing I know is that I’m a winner. This Nations Cup won’t be different from the Champions League. You can see that we “jeem”, meaning they are as fit as fiddle.

Pius Ikedia
“Bros, I’m excited. It shows God’s plan for me. All we have to do is remain focused and work together.
I’m not scared of any team at the Nations Cup The way we are, we are ready for any team. I will give my best and see that we get to the final. My goal is to win the Nations Cup and don’t think it is far away from us”.
Reminded that Nigerians loathe his game when he dribbles too much and puts his face on the ground, Pius agreed with the critics. “They are absolutely right about it. It is also the same complain they make about me in my club. But you can see that things are changing. I’ve learnt about it and don’t over-do those things. Chukwu is also working on it and I promise to overcome it. Thank God I’m still young. That means that I can improve on my weak points. My crosses too used to be poor but they are better, now. Bros, as you can see, our training is tough. Only the tough ones can survive it. We need it. Bros, we need it o. There is nothing different from what they drill us in camp. I’m happy”.

Joseph Yobo
I thank God almighty who made it possible for me to make the team. You can see also that means a lot of hard work from all of us. Unfortunately, Taribo is gone. We miss him. It means a challenge to us. Taribo is going to be missed by his game and his niceness. We have to get along and the players are equal to the task. This team is a winning team. We have great players. I have also seen their determination. The final list is great. It’s unfortunate that some cannot go to Tunisia”.

Ifeanyi Ekwueme
I thank God for this opportunity he gave me to make the list. It is an honour and I’m going to defend it with all might. I know that it is an indication of good things to come to Nigeria. I’m satisfied with the team list. It’s hard to make the final list because of good players who played well in the camp.
People should not be talking about Cameroun. They won’t be an obstacle to us. We should be concerned about Tunisia, the host. We shall take them as they come. I know that we shall triumph at the end of the competition. On the technical crew, they are great. Since we came to Faro, all the training they give to us are the same with what obtains in our big clubs. I doff my hat for Chukwu and his men and all the players say the same thing. This is the time for us to reap more by helping more local coaches to go on refresher courses. From what is happening in Portugal, I don’t think that we need a foreigner again as our coach”.

Bola Oyeyode of the NFA
“Chukwu is a wonderful coach. Working with him has given me hope for the game in Nigeria. He’s too good and you can see the players say it. If not, they would be the ones to say it. The list he made is the best from the camp and the premiership. There is no tribal undertones in the list. It’s the best for Nigeria and we pray that God bless this team according to their hard work. There is no problem about allowances. All decamped players have been paid and there is no rancour of any sort. The NFA is focused for the Nations Cup”.

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Okoronkwo remains Eagles’ rock ...as they win 3-2


By Tony Ubani, Portugal
Wednesday, January 21, 2004


If it was possible to name two players men of the match, the awards

would go to Garba Lawal and Isaac Okoronkwo.
But on a day Lawal scored two goals, an outstanding performance in

Super Eagles’ 3-2 victory against FC Cologne, Okoronkwo stood out in

the estimation of the generality of people here as man of the match.

Rocky as usual, his defensive work made many wonder why he remains in

the reserve team of Wolves, the bottom of the table club that shocked

the top of the table Manchester United 1-0 at the weekend.
The match, yesterday, in Portugal was a friendly match. But the

Germans were not friendly on the pitch. Their faces showed it and

their play proved it. The way they marked, charged and fought for

everything perhaps was a lesson to the Nigerians. In football,

friendly matches matter too. A win goes into the records. The Eagles

appeared not to know this until the Germans scored and showed no

friendly approach in their moves. Cologne hit the Eagles net in the

52nd minute and were really harassing the Eagles. Vincent Enyeama was

in goal, Joseph Yobo, Okoronkwo, Abbey George and Ifeanyi Udeze manned

the defence for Nigeria. They were being tormented but they showed

class in the way they defended. Garba Lawal, a dogged player who is

always a coach’s player equalised in the 66th minute. Now Eagles were

into the game and strongly too. John Utaka made one solo effort and

the result was such a beauty that even the opponents applauded when he

found the net. Eagles led 2-1 before the Germans scored again in the

78th minute. But what Pius Ikedia started doing when he came in for

Osaze Odewenige was another beauty to watch. It was confusion galore

for the Germans. He ran with the ball, ran without the ball and when

he had it, he was mesmerising. He gave hope to the Eagles and they

were really enjoying the game. Coach Christian Chukwu wanted to see

all the players and made many changes.
Victor Agali came into camp in the morning, few hours before the match

and was not dressed. He was quiet and most of the times stayed away

from others.
Garba Lawal would not allow the match end in a draw. He gave Eagles

victory eight minutes to time and that was soothing for the players

who really impressed on this day.
“I’m happy that some of the things we did in training are working

out,” Chukwu said after the match. “I wanted to see many of the

players and that’s what I did by changing almost the entire team. I

think that we are on course,” he said.
The players worked hard, earned a good victory that should place them

in a better psyche and when it was time to relax in the 55 minutes

drive back to their Faro camp, they did it in a reminiscent way. The

video in the bus had a Nigerian film and it was OSUOFIA. That provided

some laughter till they disembarked.

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Eagles land in Tunisia


By Tony Ubani, Faro
Thursday, January 22, 2004

After a month of stiff preparation, Nigeria’s flagbearers, the Super Eagles will land in Tunisia today for the African Cup of Nations which begins on Saturday. The team which rounded off their training in Portugal with a heart-warming 3-2 victory over high-flying Bundesliga side, FC Koln leave Faro to Lisbon today. They would stop over at the Tunisian Embassy in Lisbon where they are expected to pick their visas.
After that, the Nigerian Embassy in Lisbon would give them lunch before they fly Air France to Tunisia. Bola Oyeyode, the eagle-eyed NFA secretary attached to the team said that it’s “been a wonderful experience with the team. I’m confident that this team will do well in Tunisia.

I thank God for the unity in camp and believe that they would do well”. He’s not alone in that bursting optimism. The Leader of delegation, Gideon Akinsola, a police Chief Superintendent said; “You can see that the players are fit. There are no injuries, and the players are bubbling with enthusiasm to roar. Nothing will stop us from getting the cup. The coach has given them the best of training and they are waiting to explode”, he said.

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Nigeria want foreign coach for World Cup qualifiers



Friday, January 30, 2004


Nigeria are determined to hire a foreign coach for the World Cup qualifiers but it will be down to the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to guarantee his salary.
Nigeria’s sports ministry refused to approve former England World Cup skipper Bryan Robson for the job last year, insisting the NFA had failed to follow procedures.

Now, Sports Minister Musa Mohammed says he will give his blessing to a foreign coach for the Super Eagles as soon as the NFA prove they can afford to pay him.
“We need a foreign coach because our own coaches need to be better trained to the required standard and I have demanded to know what was being done as regards the employment of such a coach,” said Mohammed.

“However, the NFA have to follow due process of government. If they do that and they have enough funds to cater for the coach, I will approve them to employ him.”
Mohammed told AFP the NFA had planned to pay Robson a total of 300,000 US dollars upfront but had failed to produce an agreement with one of their sponsors who was willing to foot the bill on their behalf.

“I have insisted on things being done the proper way because we had problems with a former foreign coach, who had to leave Nigeria because he was not paid as and when due,” he said.
“The government is not ready to take up such a responsibility and so the NFA have to go out and look for sponsors who will support them in this exercise.”

Former international skipper Christian Chukwu is in charge of the Eagles at the African Nations Cup in Tunisia but has been roundly criticised for the team’s shock 1-0 defeat by Morocco in their opening Group D match.

Nigeria will begin their qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup to be hosted by Germany in June with a home game against Rwanda.

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