Sports
Eguavoen, Akanni Laud Eagles Over Victory
A former Head Coach of
the Super Eagles, Austine Eguavoen, has commended the team’s 2-1 victory against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa last Sunday.
The match was the first-leg of the African qualifying playoffs for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
Eguavoen told newsmen in Lagos last Monday that the team’s success “lies in their hands”.
“It was a good one, we thank God. Experience paid off, the team has come a long way. I can proudly say that we have a team that plays as a team should.
“Initially, I was a bit skeptical about our defence line, but my doubt was cleared. We have a very good team, I’m beginning to have confidence in our defence line.
“Although, the first half was not so good, but they eventually got their act together; We are happy that Eagles have made us proud again,” Eguavoen said.
He noted that securing an away victory would boost the morale of the team and urged the team to consolidate on the victory.
“I know that match was a tough one, their victory will boost their confidence and they also need to consolidate on this,” he added.
Sharing similar views was Wahidi Akanni, a former Super Eagles player, who urged the team to continue with their winning streak.
“They should not change their chemistry, they should keep this going. I believe that the return leg will not be a tough one because we won’t be under pressure.
“Kudos to the technical crew, led by their able coach, Stephen Keshi. I dare say that Super Eagles is back.
“I hope they keep this up. God willing, we will make an impressible mark at the World Cup,” Akanni stated.
Emmanuel Emenike’s goals (67th and 90th minute penalty kicks) gave the Eagles victory over the Walya Antelopes.
The Ethiopians scored their only goal in the 57th minute through Behailu Asefa.
The Super Eagles is so far the only away victor in the African playoffs, which no doubt would make the return leg in Calabar on November 16 a lot easier for the Nigerian team.
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