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T H I S D AY •WEDNESDAY MAY 25, 2016
WEDNESDAYSPORTS
Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com
S I AS I A’S R I OT ACT TO D R E A M T E A M V I
Report to Camp Today or Forget Rio2016 Duro Ikhazuagbe Dream Team VI Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has warned that any of the selected foreign-based players for the Suwon Invitational Tournament in Korea who fails
to report to camp today to forget about going to Brazil for the Olympic football event in August. Speaking after Monday evening’s training session at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, Abuja, an obviously angry Siasia expressed
Enyimba in Stiff Champions League Test Draws Zamalek, Setif, Sundowns Nigeria champions Enyimba have been handed a tough group as the draws for the 2016 CAF Champions League which held yesterday in Cairo. The seven-time Nigerian champions will be in Group B alongside Egyptian giants Zamalek, Entente Setif of Algeria and South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Enyimba, two-time champion of the competition, are looking to win the tournament for the first
GROUP A
Zesco (Zambia) Al Ahly (Egypt) Asec Mimosas (Ivory Coast) Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
his displeasure with most of the players who are holidaying in the country after the break in Europe. “Most of the players invited for the Suwon Tournament have arrived Nigeria but are not willing to report to camp,” observed the coach who is aiming to improve on the silver he won at the Beijing 2008 Games in China. He said that the only way he can select players for the Olympics is when they train together as
a team, adding that no player will walk into his team without earning it. “It is annoying that these boys have not placed the same importance myself and other members of the technical crew have placed on the Olympics. I have information that aside one or two players who are involved in their team’s play-off games, the others have arrived the country but have just refused to report
to camp. “If they don’t report to camp on time, how can I work on them to know their level of adaptability to my game plan? It’s frustrating sometimes. Except for Saturday Keigo who reported to camp on Sunday, the others have not bothered to report,” revealed the former Eagles forward. Siasia also disclosed that “if any of the invited overseasbased players thinks because he has been registered for the
competition in South Korea and as such cannot be dropped,” he has a surprise for that player. The affected foreign-based players include: Amuzie Stanley, Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Sodiq Popoola, Saviour Godwin, Taiwo Awoniyi and Nathan Oduwa. Meanwhile, the Dream Team will tomorrow play a friendly with a local club side as part of its build-up for the Suwon Invitational Tournament.
time in 12 years after triumphing in 2003 and 2004. Group A will see Zesco of Zambia, Al Ahly of Egypt, Asec Mimosas and Tunisian side Wydad Casablanca battle it out for honours. South African side Mamelodi Sundowns was a late addition to the draws in place of AS Vita of DR Congo who were disqualified for fielding a banned player in the preliminary rounds of the competition.
GROUP B
Enyimba (Nigeria) Zamalek (Egypt) ES Setif (Algeria) Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Onazi, Eight Eagles Off to France for Friendlies Nigeria and Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, was at the head of eight Super Eagles players who traveled out with the assistant coaches and other backroom staff from Abuja for France last night. The Super Eagles take on Mali at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen on Friday, before traveling to Luxembourg City on Saturday, ahead of the game with Luxembourg at the Josy Barthel Stadium on Tuesday evening. Others are goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Elderson Echiejile, Musa Muhammed, Abdullahi Shehu and Kingsley Madu, midfielder Etebo Oghenekaro and forwards Aminu Umar and Brown Ideye. Of the original 26 players that were listed by interim Head Coach Salisu Yusuf for the games against Mali and Luxembourg, the NFF has released captain John Mikel Obi and his assistant, Ahmed Musa for former captain Joseph Yobo’s testimonial game in Port Harcourt on Friday, while defender Chidozie Awaziem is a big doubt and forwards Aaron Samuel and Victor Moses are out, the former
as a result of injury. Defender William Troost Ekong will be on duty for his Norwegian club on Thursday and is only in consideration for the match against Luxembourg in Luxembourg City on Tuesday next week. Goalkeepers Carl Ikeme (England-based) and Daniel Akpeyi (flying in from South Africa), defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Gbenga Arokoyo and Leon Balogun, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Raheem Lawal, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi are also expected in camp in France this morning. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has applauded the French Embassy in Nigeria after Super Eagles’assistant coaches and backroom were granted visas yesterday. Assistant Coaches Imama Amapakabo and Kennedy Boboye, and physiotherapist Chris Anozie were among those issued visas. Team administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, doctor Ibrahim Gyaran and equipment officer Chidi Ngoka left Nigeria on Monday night.
Former IBB Golf Club Captain Loses Mother Lady Cecelia Nwaezekaibea Azogu, mother of former Captain of the IBB Golf Club, Tony Azogu, is no more. Lady Azogu passed away in Oguta, Imo State, on May 11, 2016. She was aged 87. According to a statement from the Azogu family, burial rites will begin with Vigil Mass on June 3 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oguta. “This shall be followed by a Burial Mass on June 4 while interment will hold same day at
her No 59, Agunze Road Oguta,” observed the statement. Azogu said of his late mother: “Mama was kind to all and she exhibited undying love for her children. She was a rallying point for about every woman in our community. I shall miss her so much. When the burial rites are over, I intend to arrange a special Golf Kitty for her. I want friends from the golfing world to know how much I really appreciate my mom.”
L-R: Former Super Eagles player and Coordinator of the Joseph Yobo Testimonial Game Committee, Waidi Akanni; Ex international, Joseph Yobo; Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung; and Legal Adviser to the Testimonial Committee, Uzor Konyeaso, during Yobo’s courtesy call on the minister in Abuja…yesterday
Eagles Will Miss Yobo’s Charisma, Says Dalung Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has pointed out the need to have players with Joseph Yobo’s leadership qualities and charisma in the senior national football team. Speaking when a delegation of JosephYobo Centenary Committee paid him a visit yesterday in his office in Abuja, Dalung tasked the former Super Eagles captain to use his wealth of experience in the game to groom players who will step into his shoes. “There is need for us to have people who will succeed us. We have to produce people who will replicate what we did.Your (Yobo) charisma and leadership in the national team was outstanding and you have to think along the line of having a system that produces players who replicate that in the national team. No doubt, the national team will miss you,”
noted the minister while recalling the positive role played by Yobo in the senior national team. Dalung has fond memories of Yobo at Mali 2002. “I was a member of the Federal Government delegation to the Nations Cup in 2002 in Mali. You were so young then. I appreciate your commitment to the national team.There was this match (against Senegal) that we lost and we would have conceded more goals if not for your doggedness in defence. In fact, at a time you rushed forward to help the attack when the attackers were not biting enough. “The good thing is that you are being celebrated while you are alive. At least, you will know that all your labour was not n vain for Nigeria,” he added. Earlier in his speech, Yobo
expressed his joy at playing for Nigeria. “It is now that I look back and ask myself ‘did I do this much?’ After 101 games, three World Cups, six AFCONs, it is now that I feel what a blessed man I am,”, the former Everton defender recalled. Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, will score the first goal of the Yobo Testimonial match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Friday, May 27. Yobo, in whose honour the game is being played, said instead of the usual ceremonial kick off, there will be a ceremonial penalty, to be taken by the governor against former Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama “Governor Wike is a man of unique qualities, so it is only right that we give him the distinction of opening this special game in a
unique fashion,”the former Nigeria captain announced yesterday. “Although he is great goalkeeper and a great penalty saver, I don’t think that Enyeama can stop that penalty,”Yobo joked yesterday. A host of international stars and former Nigeria players will be in Port Harcourt for the match, which follows last weekend’s international golf tournament andYobo insists it is a credit to the Wike administration that the state is hosting major events without any incidents “High profile events and people are coming to Rivers State and it is a credit to the governor that all these events are happening in peaceful circumstances.” The Kick off time for the game is at 4pm with SuperSport promising to televise it on SuperSport 3HD and SuperSport 9.
Excitement Heralds Ekundayo’s ABU Title Defence Two Africans will take the centre stage in world boxing come June 4 as the African Boxing Union (ABU) is set to stage its welterweight title defence at the prestigious York Hall in London. Title holder, Nigerian born Larry Ekundayo, nicknamed“The Natural” is being challenged by Tanzanian champion, Saidi Mundi and both boxers will be making history as it is the first time an African title defence will be hosted in the York Hall which is known
as the British home of boxing. Organisers said tickets are selling fast as boxing fans in Britain and other parts of the world are expecting an exciting and thrilling display of African pugilism. The fight has been described as a“time of reckoning”for Ekundayo to prove his invincibility just as many say the battle is not only between both fighters but also between their compatriots from West Africa and East Africa from
where both boxers hail, going by the buzz which the fight is generating across the United Kingdom. Larry ‘The Natural’ Ekundayo is the undefeated African Boxing Union champion, International Masters welterweight title holder and the 2012 Prizefighter champion while the Tanzanian champion, Mundi, brings an impressive ring record of 14 wins and only two losses. Both athletes will sure be looking
to get the best of one another on the night but victory is especially non-negotiable for the phenomenal Ekundayo as it will propel him up the world rankings ahead of a potential title defence in homeland Nigeria scheduled as part of activities to mark the nation’s Independence anniversary on October 1. Ekundayo’s manager, Ben Gray, has consistently assured that the boxer is in great shape to produce an excellent performance to achieve victory and also thrill boxing fans.