60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
Eagles revive Nations Cup hope BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja
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HE Super Eagles yesterday at the Abuja National Stadium revived their dream of going to Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship with a 3-1 win over the Falcons of Sudan. A brace by CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa in the 48th and 89th minutes and another strike by China based Aaron Samuel was all that the Nigerians needed to keep their AFCON hope alive. However the capacity crowd at the Abuja National Stadium was silenced when the Sudanese reacted to the first goal in the 55th minute of the encounter. The Nigerian boys who were condemned to win after a shocking poor start to the ongoing qualifying series reacted positively to the expectations of the thousands of soccer loving fans who turned out to cheer them to victory by taking the fight to their opponents. The Nigerians had a life line with the introduction of Omatsone Akuko who replaced Raheem Lawal in the 64th minute and that resulted in the second goal by Samuel in the 65th minute. Before the match there were concerns whether the fans would turn out to support the national team due to the surprising defeats to both Congo and Sudan and the barren draw to South Africa which left the country with only one point from a possible nine. The first half ended without a goal but not without some anxious moments which left the fans gasping for breath. The Super Eagles started the game with the plan to get an early goal but the strike force made up of Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa could not produce the much needed result. However the much criticized China based Aaron Samuel was a delight to watch as he made frantic effort to give the country
something to cheer and his efforts nearly paid off in the 28 minutes when his shot narrowly missed target to the delight of the Sudanese goalkeeper, Akram Ehida. But another begging opportunity was wasted by Akpan Hope Uta who in the 38 minute as his effort went off target. The dou of Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa however made some spirited efforts which never yielded any positive result. But the Stephen Keshi boys were also lucky as a 45 minute counter attack by the visitors through danger man, Bakir Abdelgadir narrowly missed target after he dusted the Nigerian defenders. Meanwhile, the fans who certainly have lost
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EXECUTIONER: Ahmed Musa (r) celebrates his double against Sudan yesterday. confidence in Keshi continued to boo him with many of them carrying placards,
charging and calling for his immediate sack regardless of the result of the match.
Enyimba for Copa Lagos 2014
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INETIC Sports, organizers of Copa Lagos, have announced that Enyimba Football Club of Aba will participate in The FC Barcelona Club Challenge at this year’s edition. Copa Lagos, Nigeria’s highly entertaining international beach soccer festival will hold at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 12th to 14th December 2014. Enyimba FC, the Ababased, two-time African Champions, will compete against other premium Nigerian clubs, including
Asaba to host NOC’s AGM, Merit Award, Elections
Stationary Stores, in the Club Challenge. The sign up of Enyimba FC was announced by the CEO of Kinetic Sports, Samson Adamu in Lagos. During the signing ceremony with club Chairman, Mr. Felix Anyasi, Adamu said “we are delighted to have one of the biggest clubs in Africa and a key ambassador to help place beach soccer on the Nigerian Football calendar. Enyimba is a global export and a very special Nigerian one at that.” Enyimba chairman, Anyasi said “Having conquered
Africa, it is another opportunity to break another ground in beach soccer."
Continues from BP critically ill, he could barely speak. But to hit back, he tweeted the photo with the words "don't believe the hype." The photo was posted online on Tuesday and features the three-time world heavyweight champion posing beside two women. ‘Don’t believe the hype.
HE Executive Board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, yesterday approved Asaba, capital of Delta State as the venue for its Annual General Meeting and elections as well as a Merit Award Night. The election will hold on November 20, 2014. Asaba was overwhelmingly voted for after President Sani M Ndanusa announced that the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had accepted to host the AGM. To this regard, nomination forms to the Executive positions would be available at the Secretariat of the NOC, National Stadium, Surulere and the NOC’s Liaison office in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory from October 20, 2014. The deadline for the return of Nomination forms would be two weeks from October 20, 2014. At the AGM meeting in Asaba, the NOC would confer the Best Current Athlete Award to speedster Blessing Okagbare while the
Ali Feeling great earlier today,’ he tweeted. Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984 but his condition has gradually deteriorated and he is now mostly housebound. Rumors about his illhealth grew after he was considered too ill to attend the premiere of a film about his life
Distinguished Athlete Award would go to Table Tennis Trojan Segun Toriola. Sports-loving Governor of Delta State Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan would be conferred with the Olympic Sport Friendly Personality Award for his outstanding performance in Sports. President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Evangelist Solomon Ogba would be conferred with the Sport Administrator Award. Post humous awards on Promotion of Olympism would go to Late Alhaji Raheem Adejumo, late Chief Abraham Ordia and Alhaji K. A. B Olowu.
•Ndanusa last week. His condition had meant he couldn’t take part in the production of the movie either His brother Rahman, 71, attended the screening of I Am Ali in Hollywood, and told The Sunday People: ‘I have not been able to talk to my brother about this because he is sick. ‘He doesn’t speak too well. But he is proud that we are here for him. He has given this film his blessing.’
Kanu Continues from BP
Samson Adamu (CEO Kinetic Sports); Felix Anyasi (Chairman, Enyimba FC) during the signing of Enyimba Football Club’s participation in the 2014 Copa Lagos
Osaile’s home journey begins Late boxing promoter Martins Osaile will today start his journey home with a Christian wake keep at his residence in Ikorodu, scheduled for 9 Halal Estate Opposite AP Filling Station,
Odongunyan by 4pm. Tomorrow, Friday October 17 his body will be cremated at the Omega Funeral Home, Goodwill Estate, Kings Avenue Ojodu Abiodun Berger by 10 am.
Kanu, an Ambassador of Nigerian Football who was one of the thousands of fans that watched with anxiety, Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Sudan at the Abuja National Stadium said that it was a good thing that African Champions
have finally started firing. Speaking in an interview with Sports vanguard, Kanu said, “It’s a good thing that we won. This victory was very important for us , we needed to win this match. Thank God that we won”.
Kanu said further that Eagles must continue winning to stand any chance of qualifying for the next year ’s AFCON. “We must continue winning because that is the only way we’ll qualify. I wish the team good luck in their remaining two matches” , Kanu said.
Keshi Continues from BP Morocco. He should go because we don’t want him again,” said one of the fans, Ejike Ejiogu Another fan, Taiwo Oyejomi said that it was Keshi’s fault that
Nigeria was struggling to qualify for next year’s Nations Cup. “Keshi does not have the wherewithal at all. It was the boys who gave us victory today
and not Keshi. He shouls go. We don’t want him again.” Another fan, Segun Ayoola urged the NFF to go for a foreign coach to replace Keshi immediately.