Sports
Mixed Reactions Trail Plan To Cancel AFCON
Ex-Super Eagles stars and fans alike have expressed divided opinion on the prospect of the Confederation of African Football cancelling the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Cameroon next year due to the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
A top CAF official told newsmen on Wednesday that the continent’s football governing body was deliberating over having the continent biennial competition cancelled due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant.
“I can’t say anything about whether the AFCON will hold or not until it (meeting) is concluded,” the CAF official said.
“We are presently deliberating on the next action to take and its likely CAF may call off the competition because Cameroon doesn’t seem to have the necessary COVID-19 protocols to curtail the new Omicron variant.”
With the tournament just 24 days away, the potential cancellation of AFCON has left former internationals and fans split in their opinions.
Former Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, added that there was no reason to ponder cancelling the competition.
“I don’t know why they’ve decided to take such a decision because we are Africans and our weather is better and favourable to battle the virus,” Shorunmu said.
Atlanta ’96 Olympics gold medallist Abiodun Obafemi, is, however, in support of the competition being called off.
He said, “This situation is of great concern to me because it has to do with players’ health and I don’t want any life to be in danger. So, I think whatever decision they (CAF) take, that will avoid any life being lost, I think I am for it in totality.
“I am very sure the medical team in CAF in collaboration with the World Health Organisation will come out with the best solution for African football.
“We know the Euro 2020 took place despite the coronavirus but we know they could manage the situation because they are very proactive. We can’t compare the way we respond to emergencies in Africa to that of the Europeans.”
Ismaila Mabo, former Super Falcons coach, said cancelling the major Africa tournament would be a hasty decision by CAF.
“I think it is too early for CAF to be talking about cancelling the AFCON tournament,” Mabo said.
“I’m not in support of this idea of cancelling the tournament; what they should be doing is devising other means to comply with the COVID-19 protocols.
“As a coach, my fear is this may affect the psyche of some players who have been working hard to be at the tournament.”
But Ibrahim Shonekan, a football fan, disagrees with Mabo.
“As much as I would have loved for the AFCON to hold, I think we need to put safety first. The lives of the players and others involved are at stake and if the competition cannot be held next year, we can wait another year.”
“Football is not a do-or-die affair and players’ well-being should come first. The virus is deadly and we don’t wish any of the players dead. If cancelling it (AFCON) will keep them safe, I am in total support of it.” Rita Akintoroye added.
Daniel Ebhodaghe, a Lead Cost engineer, questioned the intention to cancel the tournament.
“Has Premier League or LaLiga been cancelled because of this new variant?”
“They can control the recorded cases and at best they put the players coming to play in one camp, restrict their movements and anybody that breaks the protocol should be sent home.
“This is 2022 we are talking about and we are still thinking like we are in the 90s. Last season’s matches were played in empty stadiums.” he explained.
Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke has praised his players for not losing focus at the crucial moment in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Shooting Stars in a NPFL Matchday 24 fixture in Owerri.
The Naze Millionaires defeated the Oluyole Warriors through Chukwuma Agor and John Bassey goals in the 31st and 88th minutes with Mustapha Adam’s 80th minute spot kick a mere consolation for the visitors.
Amuneke while speaking to journalists shortly after the encounter, said his boys showed the zeal and determination to seal the three points and that despite the shenanigans of the centre referee, Kolawole Emmanuel, the boys were never troubled.l
“We were eager to get the three points and we were aware Shooting Stars are a good side and won’t allow us to have our way easily,” Amuneke told journalists in Owerri.
“We planned for them and almost throughout the entire game, they were never a threat to our team. We were able to control the game from the beginning. It was unfortunate how the game ended. We were just focussed on the three points and we are thrilled we got it. It was a very good game from both sides but we subjected them to constant pressure almost throughout the game.”
While he was asked if he believed his boys could finish the season impressively, Amuneke was evasive but noted that he and his players would continue to work harder.
“Everything in line is possible but we know that nothing happens without hard work. We will continue to work harder and continue to see how we can grow as a team. We have a lot of young players in the team. Some of them just got their topflight breakthrough.
“We didn’t lose focus at the time of the controversies. We continued to do the same thing we have been doing and taking the game to them.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, turned the sod of the new Olympic-standard 25,000-capacity Bayelsa Stadium project at Igbogene, Yenagoa, as part of the activities marking the fifth anniversary of the Senator Douye Diri administration.
The former Nigerian leader performed the ground-breaking ceremony as Governor Diri restated his appeal to the federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oil firms operating in the state and the private sector to join hands with his administration to develop sporting talents.
The Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) equally thumped up Governor Diri for initiating the project.
Dr. Jonathan expressed delight over the project, saying as a Bayelsan, he was duty bound to celebrate with the state government for the progress so far achieved.
He lauded Diri’s developmental strides, urging him not to rest on his laurels and that the contractor and the state government should ensure the project met the highest standards.
Jonathan also called on the state and federal governments to set up a sports fund to cater for sportsmen after their active days and encourage younger ones to be involved in sports.
He said: “This is my state and I have to celebrate with the government for the progress so far made. This is an iconic project that will develop the state. Please do not rest on your laurels as we want this stadium to meet the best standards.
“I am happy with the presence of relevant federal government officials. I hope they will guide the state well and support where necessary.
“As a country, we must have a fund to care for sportsmen. The federal and state government can think about it so that the younger generation will be interested in sports.
“I am happy that you gave a target of 24 months and I hope that by that time I will escort President Tinubu to Bayelsa to inaugurate it.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condoled the family of former Nigeria international midfielder, Ayo Ogunlana, who died in Kaduna on Friday after observing his early-morning walk.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, showered tributes on the departed midfield pearl, who was a star attraction during a number of important Nigeria FA Cup battles in the 1980s and held sway in the middle for the Super Eagles in the late 1980s, and at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria.
“We are very sad to learn of the sudden passing of Ayo Ogunlana, only a couple of weeks after the demise of another former Eagle, Moses Effiong (a member of the 1980 AFCON-winning Green Eagles squad, in far-away USA). Ogunlana was a great midfielder who made playing football look so easy with his majestic touches and turns, and his magnificent free-kicks.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant both of them eternal rest and grant the families they have left behind the fortitude to bear the losses.”
Ogunlana was magisterial in the midfield as Nigeria overhauled Guinea and Zimbabwe to qualify for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, and was imperial against Cameroon in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan that the Super Eagles won with an emphatic 2-0. He also played in the 1990 ECOWAS Cup competition that Nigeria hosted in Kaduna.