PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPLAUDS FALCONETS, SAYS TEAM CAN BECOME GREAT FORCE IN WOMEN’S SOCCER

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPLAUDS FALCONETS, SAYS TEAM CAN BECOME GREAT FORCE IN WOMEN'S SOCCER

On behalf of himself, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Nigeria's under-20 women's football team, the Falconets for winning the silver medal at the just concluded FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup Tournament in Canada.

President Jonathan assures the Falconets that despite their loss in extra time to their German counterparts in yesterday's very keenly contested final, all Nigerians remain proud of the skillful, highly spirited and patriotic performance they put up throughout the tournament.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN HAILS FALCONETS’ QUALIFICATION FOR UNDER-20 FEMALE WORLD CUP FINALS

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
 PRESIDENT JONATHAN HAILS FALCONETS' QUALIFICATION FOR UNDER-20 FEMALE WORLD CUP FINALS
 
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan heartily congratulates Nigeria's under-20 female football team, the Falconets on their qualification for the final match of the ongoing FIFA tournament in Canada.

 The President applauds the Falconets' scintillating display which earned them a 6-2 victory in Wednesday's semi-final encounter with North Korea as well as their very commendable performance in earlier matches.
 
As the Falconets prepare for the final match of the tournament against Germany on Sunday, President Jonathan urges them to put in their very best effort to win the under-20 Female World Cup for Nigeria and Africa for the first time in the history of the competition.
 
He assures the girls and their handlers of the full support of the Federal Government and the prayers of all Nigerians for their triumph on Sunday.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 21, 2014

Nigeria comeback seals passage, meet New Zealand in quarter final

Nigeria edged England with a 2-1 comeback win to top Group C, leaving the Europeans to head for home. Nigeria have a strong tradition of success at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and displayed their fortitude by coming from a goal down to secure this decisive win.

England opened in perfect fashion scoring in just the fifth minute as Hannah Blundell played a clever through ball for Nikita Parris, who took one touch and then clipped a shot past the advancing Nigeria goalkeeper Ibijoke Sangonuga from the edge of the box.

The African champions drew level in an even contest four minutes before the interval after Loveth Ayila beat her marker with a skilful drag-back and shot powerfully from 25 yards. Goalkeeper Lizzie Durack got a hand to it but was unable to prevent the ball hitting the back of the net.

The second half was a tale of two penalties, with England’s Bethany Mead firstly missing after Parris was adjudged to have been fouled by Sangonuga. Within minutes at the other end, Asisat Oshoala was brought down after dribbling into the penalty area and stepped up to coolly side-foot the resultant spot-kick into the bottom-right corner.

England were saved from going further behind only by the width of the crossbar as Nigeria finished strongly in a match that ended amid joyous scenes on the Africans’ bench.
Nigeria, who will feature in their fifth consecutive quarter-final, now tackle Group D runners-up New Zealand.

Source: Vanguard News

AWC: Falcons no longer strongest team –Mabo

Former Super Falcons coach, Ismaila Mabo, has warned the team against overconfidence when they face hosts Namibia, Ivory Coast and Zambia in Group A of the 2014 African Women’s Championship in Namibia from October 11 to 25.

Falcons

According to Saturday’s draw in Windhoek, South Africa will face Cameroon, Ghana and Algeria in Group B of the tournament.

The top three teams at the tournament will represent Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada next year.

However, eight-time African champions Falcons will begin camping for the championship in August and Mabo believes only the best players should make the final selection by coach Edwin Okon.

Nigerian President assures players

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the country's senior players at the World Cup that the squad will be paid their bonus money.
The president's guarantee comes a day after after the Super Eagles players boycotted training on Thursday.
BBC Sport understands Nigeria's players fear they will not be paid after the tournament - a situation that occurred after last year's Confederations Cup.
Nigeria play France in the last 16 of the tournament on Monday.
While the players have demanded they receive their money now, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is not in a position to make that payment until it receives its prize money from Fifa.
It is that impasse that has led President Jonathan to intervene.

Luis Suarez bite: Reaction to Fifa's four-month ban from world football

Fifa's decision to give Uruguay striker Luis Suarez a four-month ban from world football for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has made headlines around the globe.

Uruguay's Luis Suarez grabs his teeth after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini

He will now miss nine international matches and the first nine games of the Premier League season for Liverpool, as well as three Champions League matches.The World Cup ban is the third he has been handed for biting someone during his career.
Here BBC Sport rounds up reaction to Thursday's ruling and the possible repercussions for club and country.

Luis Suarez's controversies
July 2010: Handles the ball on the line to deny Ghana a winner in the last minute of extra time in the World Cup quarter-finals. Asamoah Gyan misses the resulting penalty and Uruguay win the shootout to reach the semi-finals.
November 2010: Given seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Ajax.
December 2011: Given eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
February 2012: Refuses to shake hands with Evra at Old Trafford and is described as a "disgrace" by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
April 2013 : Suarez apologises for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. Gets 10-game ban.
June 2014: Given nine-match international ban and four-month suspension from all football-related activity for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

FIFA bans Suarez for four months

Uruguay striker also fined $112,000 and banned for nine international games after biting Italy defender in Brazil.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was banned for nine matches by FIFA after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez was also suspended from any football-related activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

"Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field," Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, said in a statement.

Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng kicked off Ghana team

Ghana threw Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng out of its World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons on Thursday, plunging the African team into further chaos ahead of its decisive group-stage match against Portugal.

Just a day after seeming to resolve a possible player mutiny over World Cup bonus payments, the Ghana Football Association released two separate statements saying two of the country's stars had been "suspended ... indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect."

Ghana threw Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng out of its World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons on Thursday, plunging the African team into further chaos ahead of its decisive group-stage match against Portugal. (Associated Press)

Muntari was suspended "in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr. Moses Armah" on Tuesday, one statement read.

World Cup 2014: Lionel Messi 'is from Jupiter', says Nigeria coach

World Cup 2014: Lionel Messi 'is from Jupiter', says Nigeria coach

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said Lionel Messi "is from Jupiter" after the Argentina forward scored twice in their 3-2 win over the African nation.

The 27-year-old scored a half-volley and a free-kick as Argentina recorded a third win to finish top of Group F.
"Messi is one of heck of a player. He's blessed. You can't take it away from him," said Keshi, whose Nigeria side still qualified despite the defeat.
"There are good calibre players in the team but Messi is from Jupiter."

Argentina goal-scorers Lionel Messi (left) and Marcos Rojo (right) celebrate with Angel Di Maria
World Cup 2014: Nigeria 2-3 Argentina highlights
Keshi, whose team advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup after Iran lost to Bosnia-Hercegovina, added: "I feel honoured and happy it's going our way, I want to thank the players and the fans and some of the media."
Messi is now joint top scorer at the 2014 tournament with four goals, alongside Brazil's Neymar. Prior to Brazil 2014, he had scored just once in eight World Cup matches.
The Barcelona star paid tribute to Nigeria, who equalised twice through Ahmed Musa before Marcos Roja scored a second-half winner for the two-time champions.
"We played against a team that wanted to play," Messi said. "I think we saw a good Argentina. We need to continue on this path."
Messi had previously only scored one World Cup goal in 571 minutes, but former England striker Gary Lineker believes he is now comparable to Argentine compatriot Diego Maradona.
Maradona inspired Argentina to their 1986 World Cup triumph, scoring twice to eliminate Lineker and his England team-mates in the quarter-finals.
"I don't think since Maradona we've seen anyone quite like Messi on the field," said the Match of the Day presenter.

Ghana’s Boateng ready for ‘fight to death’ with brother, Germans

(AFP) – Ghana’s Berlin-born midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has turned up the heat for Saturday’s World Cup Group G match against Germany by comparing it to a gladiator-style ‘fight to the death’.
Boateng1“It’s like in ancient Rome. There will be people around the pitch who want to see how two teams fight,” the Schalke 04 star told German magazine Sport Bild.

Manchester City sign Sagna

Bacary Sagna

The 31-year-old France international right-back completes his long-awaited free transfer to the Premier League champions after saying goodbye to Arsenal on Thursday.

Sagna joined the likes of Porto midfielder Fernando as City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s top targets in the close-season and he opened formal negotiations with his soon-to-be-new side on May 19.

Source: The Punch

Scolari salutes 'fantastic' Oscar

Neymar stole the show for Brazil in their opening World Cup triumph over Croatia, but coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hailed the impact of Chelsea midfielder Oscar.

Brazil won 3-1 with Neymar scoring twice - the 22-year-old's 32nd and 33rd goals for his country in only 50 caps - with Oscar getting the third after Croatia had taken an early lead through Marcelo's own goal.
There have been doubts expressed in the Brazilian media about 22-year-old Oscar's form, but Scolari insisted he had never lost faith.

World Cup 2014: Brazil v Croatia referee scandalous - Dejan Lovren

Brazil vs Croatia

The referee who awarded Brazil a controversial penalty should not be officiating at the World Cup, says Croatia defender Dejan Lovren.
The hosts won 3-1, but, with 20 minutes left and the score 1-1, Japan's Yuichi Nishimura ruled that Lovren had pulled down striker Fred.
Neymar scored from the spot before Oscar added a late third.
“If that's a penalty, we don't need to play football anymore... let's play basketball instead”
Croatia coach Niko Kovac.

PHOTONEWS: Mercy ‘Omo London’ Ajisafe strips down to wish Super Eagles World Cup win in Brazil

The 6 foot 4 model, Cool FM OAP, actress and presenter teases the Super Eagles to victory in a series of football themed images. In the images, ‘Omo London’ as she is best known flaunts her endless legs as a special gift to the national team. Mercy has previously modelled for High Street U.K brands such as Marks & Spencer and Boux Avenue. In Nigeria, she has worked with fashion heavyweights Lanre Da Silva, Frank Oshodi and Ituen Basi.

Mercy "Omo London" Ajisafe

Mercy "Omo London" Ajisafe

Mercy "Omo London" Ajisafe

Mercy "Omo London" Ajisafe

Mercy "Omo London" Ajisafe

Mercy "Omo London" Ajisafe

Mercy cheers the Super Eagles on in one look with a Nigerian jersey and white hot pants, in her other look, she simmers down with a sultry halter bikini top and black bikini bottom waving the Nigerian flag.
“Goodluck Super Eagles! With love from ‘Omo London’

Uzoenyi Lands In Brazil

Ejike Uzoenyi, Super Eagles winger

Ejike Uzoenyi, the Rangers International winger who was named by Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi as replacement for injured left back, Elderson Echiejile arrived Brazil yesterday around 4pm Brazil time.

As reported by Complete Sports yesterday,the player flew out of Murtala Mohammed International airport in Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight and arrived at the Oliver Thambo international airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning where he connected a flight to Sao Paulo.

Uzoenyi’s Brazil trip had become a major news report in Nigeria with some quoting Rangers officials that they will not release the player for the World Cup because there was no correspondent between the club and the Nigeria Football Federation. Meanwhile Eagles administrator cum secretary,Dayo Enebi Achor revealed all logistics to reintegrate Uzoenyi into the team quickly have been made.

“I guess when he arrives and start training Nigerians will finally come to the reality that we will miss Echejile in this World Cup”.

Source: Complete Sport

I didn’t insist on Echejile –Keshi

Elderson Echejile

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has denied he insisted on keeping injured Elderson Echiejile in camp against medical advice.

Keshi says although he is not happy that Echiejile, who is a very key member of the squad, will miss the World Cup, he will not put the player’s career at risk.

“We have spoken to the medical team and the NFF and we have agreed, so I was a bit shocked when I got a call from some of my friends back home that I insisted on keeping an injured player. It’s a fallacy because I never spoke to anyone about Echiejile,” the former Nigeria captain was quoted by the team’s Media Officer Ben Alaiya as saying on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers forward Ejike Uzoenyi, who was invited by Keshi to replace Echiejile, was scheduled to arrive in Brazil to join the team on Wednesday.

Ejike Uzoenyi

Source: The Punch

World Cup begins

Super Eagles arrive in Brazil

Despite widespread protests and violence the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup begins in Brazil on Thursday with the hosts taking on Croatia in the opening match in Sao Paulo.

It is the second time Brazil will be hosting the competition, the previous being in 1950, when they endured a heartbreaking defeat to Uruguay in the final.

After winning last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup, the hosts, who have won the World Cup five times, are the major favourites to reclaim the trophy won by Spain four years ago in South Africa. However, perennial contenders Germany, Italy and Argentina will be waiting to spoil the party for the Brazilians.

Brazil are hoping to become the first nation to win the World Cup on home soil since France did it in 1998.

World Cup history

In 1930, FIFA held the first World Cup tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay with the hosts emerging winners of the inaugural tournament.

Nigeria Super Eagles Odemwingie & Emenike

After another two events in 1934 (Italy) and 1938 (France), there was a 12-year break due to the World War, before recommencing in 1950 in Brazil. Since then, the World Cup has been held every four with Brazil, the most successful team, the only country to have competed in every finals series.

African representatives

African champions Nigeria, who are in Group F alongside two-time champions Argentina, Iran and debutants Bosnia, lead four other countries namely Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Algeria as the continent’s representatives at this edition of the Mundial.

Nigeria will open their tournament campaign against Iran on Monday.

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has kept faith with the majority of the players that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, bringing in the experienced striker Osaze Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo, who returns as team captain.

Nigeria Super Eagles Emenike & Yobo

Youngsters Uche Nwofor and Ramon Azeez have also been brought in as Keshi aims to blend experience and youth in the squad while best player at January’s African Nations Championship, Ejike Uzoenyi, was a late replacement for injured Monaco left-back, Elderson Echiejie.

Cameroon are making a record seventh appearance while captain Samuel Eto’o will be making his fifth appearance at the finals.

Group A

Brazil, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the last two tournaments, have won 15 of their last 16 matches, but a below par outing against Serbia in their last preparatory game before the World Cup, has raised questions about the ability of Felipe Scolari’s squad to deliver when the chips are down.
Barcelona 22-year-old forward Neymar has the huge burden of leading the squad to a sixth triumph on home soil. He would be complemented by other youthful players Oscar, Willian, while captain Thiago Silva will lead from behind.

Peter Odemwingie & his teammates

Croatia, led by Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric, will hope to pull off a monumental upset today but coach Niko Kovac’s side won’t be at full strength against the hosts.

Forward Mario Mandzukic, who was red-carded in the team’s final qualifier, will miss the crucial opener while the experienced Niko Kranjcar was dropped from the squad because of a late hamstring injury.

The other teams in the group Cameroon and Mexico will take to the field in Friday’s only game but while the hosts are huge favourites, it would be difficult to pick who joins them in the next round of the competition.

Group B

Defending champions Spain will play Holland in a replay of the 2010 final. Both sides are favoured to advance ahead of Chile and Australia.

Group C
Colombia and Greece will open hostilities in Group C on Saturday before Ivory Coast and Japan take to the field next day. This is probably the last chance for the underperforming golden generation of Ivory Coast footballers like Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue, the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya, and others to create a positive impact on the international scene

Group D

This is a very tough group with all the four teams standing a chance of moving ahead to the Round of 16. The group promises to be explosive as three-time champions Italy, two-time champions Uruguay, 1966 champions England and Costa Rica all jostle for a knockout ticket.

Group E

Peter Odemwingie & his teammates

France are overwhelming favourites here but Switzerland and Ecuador are two teams that can test the might of Les Bleus. Honduras are the outsiders.

Group F

Once again the Super Eagles are drawn against Argentina. Both teams have met thrice in the competition (1994, 2002 and 2010) and the South Americans triumphed on all occasions. Nigeria begin their campaign on Monday against Iran while Bosnia Herzegovina engage the Argentines in the other group game.

Group G

Tagged the Group of Death, analysts pick Germany and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal as the two teams who will advance to the next stage of the competition while Ghana and USA, despite their fighting spirits, will battle for the scraps.

Group H

Belgium are the hottest team going into the World Cup. The group, which also parades South Korea, Russia and Algeria, looks relatively soft, with Russia as the main competition for the Belgians but South Korea could be the banana skin in this group though.
Past winners
 Year        Winners
1930          Uruguay
1934          Italy
1938          Italy
1950          Uruguay
1954          W’Germany
1958          Brazil
1962          Brazil
1966          England
1970          Brazil
1974          W’ Germany
1978          Argentina
1982          Italy
1986          Argentina
1990          W’ Germany
1994          Brazil
1998          France
2002         Brazil
2006         Italy
2010          Spain
2014          ???

Nigeria Super Eagles arrive in Brazil

Nigeria Super Eagles

Source: The Punch

Eagles arrive Brazil today

The team had its last training session on Monday evening in the United States and will depart this morning for Miami, Florida, from where they will connect and American Airways airliner to Samba land Brazil. The flight from Miami to Sao Paulo is scheduled to be eight hours, according to Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor.

Already, the NFF and FIFA have perfected plans to give the team a grand welcome at the airport, including a media press conference and reception by the city authorities in Sao Paulo, before the team will retire to its camp base in Brazil’s bustling commercial capital.eagles-train.

Eagles set for Greek test

THANK YOU ALL . . . Super Eagles’ striker Peter Odemwingie
(2ndL) thanks the fans after their international friendly match
against Scotland at Craven Cottage in London ahead of the
FIFA World Cup . Photo: AFP

Nigeria’s preparation for the Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup will step up a notch when the Super Eagles take on the Greek national team in an international friendly in Pennsylvania, United States at the PPL Park, Chester 12 am tonight.
Coach Stephen Keshi has pruned down his 30-man squad to the final 23 that will wear Nigeria’s colours at the prestigious tournament.

It is expected that Keshi will use this game to test the core of his squad after reliables like John Obi Mikel, Vincent Enyeama and Kenneth Omeruo were left out of the 2-2 with Scotland at Craven Cottage last week.
Like the proverbial shepherd tending his flock, Keshi will look to lead his charges into the game to see how far the team have come and what he needs to do in time for Nigeria’s opening Group F fixture against Iran on June 16.

Brazil 2014: Nigeria Picks Yobo, Osaze, 21 Others; Drops Nsofor, Mba-PREMIUM TIMES

Joseph Yobo
Super Eagles Captain

Nigeria’s captain, Joseph Yobo, will play in his third FIFA World Cup finals and has the opportunity to become Nigeria’s first ever player to have 100 international caps after he was named in the African champions’ final list of 23 for Brazil 2014.

Also going to their third World Cup are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide.

Midfield anchorman, John Mikel Obi, will only be attending his first finals after Nigeria narrowly missed qualifying for Germany 2006 and he was omitted from South Africa 2010 due to injury.

Former junior international defender, Elderson Echiejile, and Olympic silver medalist, Osaze Odemwingie, who were also in South Africa four years ago, make the cut for the biggest showpiece in football, which starts on June 12.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer, Emmanuel Emenike, is joined in the attack by England-based duo of Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi, as well as former junior international, Uche Nwofor. But there is no place for Olympic silver medalist, Obinna Nsofor, and nimble–footed Nnamdi Oduamadi.

Home based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi; ex-Inter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi; South Africa 2013 hero, Sunday Mba; former U-23 star, Nosa Igiebor; and 2014 CHAN most valuable player, Ejike Uzoenyi; also miss out on the trip to South America.

NIGERIA’S FINAL 23 FOR BRAZIL 2014

GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

DEFENDERS: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel

FORWARDS: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor