SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 23, 2013
World Cup: Be worthy Ambassadors, Hayatou charges African 5 C AF President, Issa Hayatou has congratulated the five African teams who picked tickets for the FIFA World Cup
holding in the summer of 2014 at the conclusion of the final play-off decided last weekend and Tuesday even as he charged
CHECKED.... Super Eagles defender Azubuike Egwuekwe (right) attempts to block Italy ’s maverick attacker, Mario Balatelli’s cross in front of the Eagles’ goal during the friendly match in London on Monday. The match ended 2-2. Photo: Courtesy AFP.
Brazil 2014: Eagles not yet a perfect team — Ibru BY JACOB AJOM
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HE performance of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi came under scrutiny from a former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Emmanuel Ibru in Lagos. His verdict? He scored Keshi 60 out of a hundred. “Sixty per cent of the job on the team has been done, but a critical 40% needs to be done before the World Cup,” Ibru told Vanguard Sports in his office Thursday. “He (Keshi), himself will admit that there is still a lot of work to be done but one thing going for him is that Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of talents, despite the prevalence of poor administration.” On the positive side, Ibru said Keshi has been able to turn around the fortunes of the country’s football within such a short time. “Keshi has been able to achieve three major things within his nearly two years of being in charge. He won
*Admits Keshi’s done well
the Africa Cup of Nations, qualified for the World Cup and for the first time qualified Nigeria for CHAN. These are no mean feats. Similarly, he said Keshi’s tenure has seen to the return of confidence in the Nigeria Premier League players as their likes have taken permanent shirts in the Eagles first team. “Some of them like Godfrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Francis James, among others have shown that they too have the quality to compete among the best in the world. Keshi has raised the profile of home-based players like never before.” He also praised the team for the resilience exhibited against the Azzuris of Italy last Monday in England. “In terms of fighting spirit, I score them high as they were not intimidated and they got a very good result. “But in terms of technicalities, I observed
we played in fits, as we were blowing hot and cold. For long periods we were outplayed. There is still a lot of work to be done. We must not bask in the euphoria of the 2-2 result and gloss
over what needs to be done,” he warned. “To win the World Cup, the team has to show enough tactical discipline and consistency. There is still work to be done,” Ibru stressed.
CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Super Eagles Right-back and Celtic FC Defender, Efe – (7) 5 L.G.A in Yobe State – (5) 8 Beverage – (3) 9 Oyo State Governor, Abiola – (7) 10 Former Heartland FC Coach, Ndubuisi – (5) 11 Worry – (3) 12 L.G.A in Oyo State – (7) 16 L.G.A in Katsina State – (5) 17 State in Nigeria Known as the “Sunshine State”? – (4) 19 Mongolia Currency – (6) 22 Former Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mr. John – (6) 25 Sea Vessel – (4) 27 Delta State Capital – (5) 28 L.G.A in Adamawa State – (7) 32 Prosecute – (3) 33 Ondo State Capital – (5) 34 Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Olusegun – (7) 35 African Waterbuck – (3) 36 L.G.A in Niger State – (5) 37 L.G.A in Lagos State – (7) Down 1 Special Adviser to the President
on Media & Publicity, Mr. Reuben – (5) 2 Oman Currency – (5) 3 Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun – (5) 4 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (6) 5 Thailand Capital City – (7) 6 Country in Africa – (7) 7 Assistant Director-General, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Lance – (7) 13 Former Sports Minister, Adamu Isa – (3) 14 Equipment – (3) 15 Sporting Event – (4) 18 General manager, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu – (6) 19 Swaziland – (7) 20 President, National Olympics Committee, Sani – (7) 21 Former MD, NNPC, Mr. Gaius – (7) 23 Colour – (3) 24 Asian Ox – (3) 26 Super Eagles Striker and Newcastle United Forward, Shola – (6) 29 Egyptian Capital City – (5) 30 African Deciduous Tree – (5) 31 Former Super Eagles Coach, Shuaibu – (5)
them to be worthy ambassadors of the continent. Nigeria’s Super Eagles were the first team to pick a ticket after they handed Ethiopia a 2-0 defeat at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar last Saturday. Others who also qualified are Algeria at the expense of Burkina Faso, Cameroon who dumped Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire who dismissed Senegal and Ghana who shocked Africa’s most successful Nations Cup side, Egypt. “On my behalf, the CAF Executive Committee and African football family, I congratulate the five National Associations - Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire Ghana and Nigeria for qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014,” said Hayatou. Whilst applauding the high level of performance exhibited during the qualifying phase, the CAF President has also tasked the qualified teams to work hard and be worthy ambassadors of the continent at the final tournament. Meanwhile, the final draw for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, will be held at Costa do Sauípe Resort, Mata de São João in Bahia on December 6, 2013.
•Issa Hayatou
Today’s matches Everton Arsenal Fulham Hull City Newcastle Stoke City West Ham 1
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