Sports
Nigerians Tip Super Eagles To Beat Pharaohs
As Nigeria’s Super Eagles play her first match tomorrow in the 27th edition of African Nations Cup against two times defending champions, Egypt, in Angola, football analysts, fans and administrators have expressed their opinions and feelings against the match.
In his reaction, former youth international Benebi, ‘Carlos Numa said the match against Egypt would not be easy, because as defending champions, they will like to prove their pedigree.
According to him, Nigerians should not be in a haste to conclude that the Super Eagles would lift the trophy.
“I can draw conclusions when I see the performances of Super Eagles in their first two matches, particularly against Egypt, I am saying this because everybody knows how we qualify for the 2010 World Cup”, he said.
Numa continued that Coach Shaibu Amodu should understand that his team is playing against a good side that is tactically and technically sound. Consequently, should ensure that his defence is very tight.
The 1985 U-17 World Cup winner in China advised the Super Eagles to be careful in their tackles because of the antics of on the North Africans.
He further advised the Eagles to put in their best in the game, saying that determination and commitment are the keys to success.
Benjamin Wiko, chief coach of the Pioneers FC, Port Harcourt described Egypt as a strong team apart from being two times champions, so, Coach Amodu should field players that would be ready to make sacrifice for the nation and not manage any player no matter his pedigree.
According to him, Egypt play fast football and the Super Eagles should try to slow down the game and take their chances as they came.
“I know that our Super Eagle’s will definitely win the Pharaohs, but we should be careful with them because in football anything can happen” he warned.
James Onoja, a renowned sports analyst, in his contribution said the match against Egypt would be a very tight one for Nigeria because Egypt’s failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup would spur them to compensate themselves with the nations cup by lifting it again.
Onoja predicted that the least Eagles would get is a draw in the game. He observed Eagles performed below expectations during the past two editions of the tournament and need to raise their game.
He used the forum to call on Coach Shaibu Amodu to concentrate more on his strike force, because it is goals that are needed not fancy displays that we used to see in most of the Eagles matches.
Otis Asonye, chairman Dolphins FC Port Harcourt Supporters Clubs, in his opinion tipped Super Eagles to win the match.
He, however, expressed fears over the inadequate preparation of the Eagles. He suggested that the authorities concerned should ensure that Nigeria have a full squad of home based Super Eagles team to complement the foreign based players because right now, there is no good team work in the Super Eagles team.
Simeon Ojoko, the Chief Coach of Gateway International Church Football Academy, advised Super Eagles players to take the Egypt match seriously, because playing with defending champions, is a high profile match, especially, in an opening game.
Former Rivers State Commissioner for Sports Hon. Alwell Onyesoh believes that the opening match of the group C could go either way given the pedigree of both teams in African football.
Onyesoh remarked that the encounter would be keenly contested and interesting to watch, but, would record a low score line at the end of the day.
He noted that Egyptians teams are known for their good mid field play, thus, he would not be surprised to see the Eagles and Pharaohs play out their hearts.
Tonye Orabere and Nancy Briggs
England captain Harry Kane netted a hat-trick to guide Bayern Munich to an impressive victory against Stuttgart.
Kane’s goals, plus one from Kingsley Coman, helped Bayern end a three-game winless run in all competitions.
They faced a tough task against a Stuttgart side who sat back and limited their chances, leading Vincent Kompany’s side to enter the break frustrated and with the deadlock unbroken.
Bayern eventually found a way past Stuttgart’s steely defence when Kane drilled a low effort into the bottom corner from around 30 yards out after Joshua Kimmich overturned possession.
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, is full of thanks to God after he miraculously survived another life-threatening automobile accident recent at Kara, along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, where a heavy-duty truck ran into his SUV.
Narrating his ordeal, the 51-year-old, who guided Nigeria to gold in the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, broke the news in a statement on his social media handles on Friday.
“To God be the glory, another death escaped by Grace and Mercy of God. Me and my friend SM were at Enyo Filling Station after Ojodu Berger bus stop to get fuel on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, around 6 p.m. when this MACK truck fully loaded with iron, with registration number LND 470 XX, left the road and crushed my car beyond repairs. Thank God for life,” he stated.
This is the second time the soft-spoken club proprietor will cheat death by a whisker, having been involved in an accident in 1997 that ended his career at 23 and left his spinal cord in bad shape.
He helped Julius Berger win the Nigeria FA Cup in November 1997 shortly a memorable Olympic outing by keeping a clean sheet in the finals against Katsina United. The following year, he was involved in the auto along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, which not only cut his career short but also left him almost paralysed, ending his spell at Serie A club Reggiana.
The former Nigeria international, who also kept goal for Julius Berger FC, said the case has been reported to Isheri Police Station, Ogun State, where the driver is currently detained and the truck also seized.
According to him, the owner of the truck said he can’t fix the badly damaged SUV until after a year.
Ex – Super Eagles of Nigeria, Okwuchukwu Waobikeze has observed that sports development in Nigeria is going down.
According to him, grassroots sports is very important, without it, the administrators cannot get it right. So everybody should key into grassroots sports development, he said.
Waobikeze said this last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after the Port Harcourt All Stars Independence football festival (OCTOBERFEST) at the Port Harcourt club, Rivers State.
He explained that for sports administrators to get it right, grassroots development is key. “They should be organising competition at the grassroots level to fish out the young ones for different sporting activities.
“Grassroots sports is very important so the administrators have to go back to the grassroots.
” Sports Development in Nigeria is going down we need to go back to the basics.
“Look at the just concluded Paris Olympics, Nigeria did not win any medal.
” Our football team did not even qualify for the Olympics. We are going down.
” If they should go back to the grassroots, they will get young ones in the games and talents will be developed.
” I started from school games, to youth games before playing for the national team. Now everybody wants to fly board to play professional football and a lot do not know the basics of the game.
” A lot of people did not know the little things about the game, they just want to play. It is not done so,” Waobikeze stated.
Kiadum Edookor
