Yobo confident of victory against Ethiopia

Super Eagles team captain Joseph Yobo has assured Nigerians of a good result against the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia today in Rustenburg.

Speaking during the team's press conference in Rustenburg on Monday afternoon, Yobo noted that the Rustenburg pitch would help the Eagles' style of play that was greatly impaired by the sandy pitch of the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit where the team had played its last two games.

Yobo also said he was quite confident of the Eagles moving to the next stage and even the final because 'after so many caps he needs to win something for Nigeria' and he wants the 2013 Nations Cup trophy and was ready to help the team get there.

There was however a mild drama when questions on his fitness got the Fenerbahce defender furious at the gathered pressmen.

On his part, Coach Keshi remained jovial throughout the press conference except when he came to Yobo’s aid on the issue of fitness. He maintained that everyone in his team was all right and ready for the Ethiopia encounter.

Keshi declares Yobo fit, as Efe returns

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has slammed reports that team captain Joseph Yobo is not fit enough to play for the team at the Nations Cup.

Speaking at the team’s press conference in Rustenburg on Monday, the former Eagles captain expressed his disappointment at the reports making the round that Yobo was unfit and too old to play in the team that is eyeing a third African title.

He noted that such reports were shabby treatments of African players that were trying hard to impress compared to treatments of European stars.

“I don’t get it. There are players in Europe such as Javier Zanetti that are 37 years and older and when they play, people applaud them. But when an African player is 35 years and he has just one bad game, people will say he is too old and unfit. I just don’t get it.

“He (Yobo) is fit. If he was not, he would not be here. So, I don’t care what anybody says,” a very angry Keshi said.

There have been conflicting reports about Yobo’s fitness with some reports claiming that he was not yet fully fit to return to action for the Eagles.

Yobo sat out the match against Zambia in Mbombela after putting up a poor performance in the team’s opening game against Burkina Faso on January 21.

On his part, Super Eagles and Celtic of Scotland defender Efe Ambrose that was red-carded in the team's opening match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit will return to the team's ranks for the final group match against the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia. 

This was confirmed by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Assistant Director on Media, Ademola Olajire in a brief interview.

According to Olajire, although Ambrose is now available to the team, whether he would be featured in the squad in the cracker against Ethiopia on Tuesday is entirely dependent on Coach Keshi.

"Efe Ambrose is returning to the team but whether he would play on Tuesday depends entirely on the coach," he said. Ambrose was handed a match ban by CAF after he saw red following two yellow-card offenses.

Meanwhile, the NFF has denied being involved in the punishment handed out to Egyptian referee, Ghead Grisha who was centre referee in the controversial draw between the Eagles and the Chipolopolos on Friday.

Olajire said that although the NFF did petition Confederation of African Football (CAF), the decision was arrived at without any pressure from the Federation.

"No, we did not pressure CAF for the decision. It was a unilateral decision by the African body which did not want the name of the game brought into disrepute," he said.

Grisha was sacked from officiating at the 2013 Nations Cup after a controversial penalty call handed Zambia a draw against Nigeria in their second group game.  

Be focused, NFF tells Keshi

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told Coach Keshi and his technical crew to remain focused after the draw with Burkina Faso on Monday.

The NFF gave this directive on Tuesday during an urgent meeting between the national football body and the Super Eagles' technical crew just as the team begins preparations for the clash with defending champions Chipolopolo of Zambia. The meeting that was held at the team's hotel, we gathered was to look at what went wrong against Burkina Faso and to offer the team the necessary motivation to move ahead.

NFF President Aminu Maigari after the meeting denied that the Federation was piling pressure on the team's coaching crew. According to him, all the Federation wanted was a better result than the one seen in the team's first match on Monday.

"No pressure on the team. We just want a credible performance," he said.

Meanwhile, there are indications that Super Eagles and Chelsea forward Victor Moses will again miss the match against Zambia on Friday. According to sources close to the camp, Moses is not yet fit. He is however being penciled down for a return in the third match.

Moses, who saw the draw on Monday as having a positive side, cleared the air on why he was absent in a twitter message on Tuesday.

"Tough first game 1-1. Plenty of positives for us. Reason for those asking why I didn't play was (I) picked up minor injury in training. (I will be) back soon," he said.

Meanwhile, the team's camp got an unexpected visitor on Tuesday in pint-sized Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme (popularly known as Paw Paw). The actor said his visit was to cheer up the players and motivate them. He wished the team luck against Zambia.

"Bumped into Pawpaw in hotel today, Nigerian actor and legend came to wish us luck! Great to meet you," Moses posted on twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

Yobo promises victory against Zambia

Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo has assured Nigerians that the team would come out victorious in the match against Nations Cup defending champions Chipolopolos of Zambia on Friday.
Speaking just hours after the team was forced to a draw by the Stallions of Burkina Faso in its opening match on Tuesday night, the Fenerbahce of Turkey signing confidently assured disappointed Nigerian football fans that the team would 'return to winning ways against Zambia.'
Yobo, who played poorly in the match against Burkina Faso, believes that the team has what it takes to get victory from the crucial encounter against the Zambians.
Yobo had before the clash against Burkina Faso, said he had faith in the team's ability to bring joy to Nigerian fans.
"I do believe in this squad. We do have a lot of young players, but also a lot of experience, so there is a good blend.
"Most of them are not inexperienced players, they have played qualifying games, and they are ready for it.
"Previous squads I have been in we have had more experience, but this squad has an abundance of talent.
"We did not qualify for the last Nations Cup, but this squad has been able to do it," the former Everton defender.

Super Eagles gets 5-star welcome in South Africa

Super Eagles was treated to a five-star welcome on its arrival in South Africa on Thursday for the 2013 Nations Cup.
Hundreds of fans based in the southern African country beseiged the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg  to get a view of the Nigerian squad and to welcome it.
Although the team arrived later than its earlier scheduled 11am (10am South African time) arrival, the fans waited patiently until the team touched down. The team's initial flight was delayed for around an hour due to the huge crowd that was at the airport.
The Eagles then boarded another flight from Johannesburg to Nelspruit which will serve as its base for the group phase of the championship.
The Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa Sonni Yusuf had told everybody earlier in the week to expect such a crowd. He revealed that the High Commission had contacted the Nigerian community in Nelspruit and also expected the closeness of the area to Mozambique where there are also many Nigerians to boost support for the team.
“In the area of support for our team, there will be no problem at all. Nigeria has one of the largest immigrant populations in South Africa.
“The proximity of Mbombela to Mozambique, where we also have a large Nigerian community is another advantage for us.
“So starting from Thursday when the team will arrive in South Africa, the huge support of the Nigerian community in South Africa will be felt,” Yusuf said.
In the same vein, fellow West Africans, Ghana on Thursday also arrived in Port Elizabeth where it would prosecute all its group matches.
Meanwhile, a total of 16 state Football Association chairmen and 14 sports editors have been penciled down as part of Nigeria's contingent to South Africa. The country's contingent which also includes sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi is expected to depart for South Africa on Friday afternoon.
 

FIFA ranking: Nigeria gets boost ahead Nations Cup

Super Eagles of Nigeria on Thursday got a boost from FIFA just days ahead of the kickoff of its Nations Cup campaign as it was placed ninth in Africa on the latest rankings released by the international football body.
The Eagles that was previously ranked tenth on the continent moved up a place to ninth even though its global ranking remained 52nd.
Ivory Coast remained the best team in Africa while Algeria maintained its second spot even though it dropped three places in the world. Mali also stayed on third and Ghana on fourth though it moved four places up in the world while Africa's defending champions Zambia retained its fifth position even though it dropped five places on the global rankings. Libya moved six places up in the world to place sixth on the continent while Gabon dropped the same number of places to in the world to place seventh.
New African football sensation, Central African Republic (CAR) is now eighth on the continent, a place up from its previous ninth position while Tunisia dropped eight places to the tenth position on the continent and 53rd in the world.
The Eagles will tango with the Zambians in its second group match. It will play Burkina Faso in its first game on Monday, January 1 just as Zambia tackles Ethiopia.
The Eagles that landed in South Africa on Thursday afternoon is hoping to qualify from Group C and take a shot at the title that it wants to win for a third time. Pundits have tipped the team to finish in the first two alongside Zambia.

Champions League: CAF approves Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium for Rangers

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the use of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu for the home matches of Enugu Rangers in this year's edition of the Champions League.
An elated Rangers announced this on Thursday via its twitter account.
"CAF has approved Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium for our Champions League matches," the club wrote.
Rangers qualified for the Champions League after finishing the season in second place behind winners Kano Pillars after a very tumultous term in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).
Rangers has been trying to put itself in the proper shape for the Champions League. It even bought Warri Wolves captain, goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim and forward Sunday Mba that are presently in South Africa with the national male team, Super Eagles.
Rangers chances of doing well on the continent has however not been impressive, particularly with the team finishing in the last place with just a point at the just concluded Super Four pre-season tournament.
But the club is going ahead with its preparations nevertheless. It revealed on Thursday that it would be shyifting base to Nanka in Anambra State to continue with its training for the continental affair.
"Plans are on to move to Nanka, Anambra State for the final phase of camping before our first Champions League match in February," the club disclosed. "We are opening a two weeks camp in Nanka."

Eagles thrashes Farense 5-0 in Faro

Super Eagles

Super Eagles on Tuesday thrashed Portugese third division side SC Farense 5-0 in its final warm-up match played in Faro, Portugal. 

The Eagles opened scoring in the fifth minute through a penalty kick by Chelsea's John Obi Mikel. Ike Uche, who was brought in by Coach Keshi in the second half grabbed a hattrick to make the scores 4-0 before Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike put in the fifth goal.

The victory over Farense was the first decisive win that the team recorded in its four warm-up friendly matches.

The Eagles had earlier drawn 1-1 with a selected side from Catalonia on January 2 in Spain, then 0-0 with Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on January 9 at the Estadio Algarve before recording its first victory in a 1-0 triumph over Netherlands side Sparta Rotterdam on January 12. 

Sunshine Stars defender Godfrey Oboabona was the only home-based player that made the Eagles starting eleven in the match that had been earlier slated for 1pm Nigerian time but was postponed for logistsics reasons till 3.30pm yet did not start until several minutes later.

The team is billed to depart Faro for South Africa on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports have claimed that Eagles coach Keshi has drawn the ire of sportswear company Adidas which is angry after spotting him wearing a Nike tracksuit during training. This is not the first time that Keshi has been chastised for wearing brands he should not.

NPL management confirms February 16 kickoff date

.Draws hold February 2

Chairman of the Interim Management of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), Nduka Irabor has confirmed that the league kickoff date of February 16 remains unchanged.

Speaking in a brief interview monitored on Tuesday, Irabor said that the management was seriously focused on the earlier scheduled date and had no intention of having it changed.

He also revealed that the league draws that had been postponed from its initial date of January 16 and 17 would now hold at least two weeks before that date. This implies that the draws would hold around February 2.

In the same vein, Irabor expressed his delight at the inclusion of six home based players in Coach Stephen Keshi's Nations Cup squad. He noted that the league had more talented players like them that could make the team as well.

Irabor further expressed confidence in the league getting better this term. He said the league would try its best to pick up from where it left off and do better in the new season.

But a source very close to the league has said that nothing good will come out of the league this year in spite of the many efforts being made.

The source noted that contrary to widely held opinions, the league was far from being all right and argued that only 'God can save the league' as many issues remain unattended to. 

NFF monitors Cote d' Ivoire, Ghana for Eagles

NFF President, Maigari

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been monitoring 2012 Nations Cup runners-up Cote d'Ivoire and semifinalists Ghana, we have gathered. 

Super Eagles team spokesperson, Ben Alaiya revealed this much on Tuesday in his daily update of activities in the team's camp in Faro, Portugal.

Alaiya said although the NFF was also monitoring all the other 15 teams participating in the championship, including debutants Cape Verde, much attention is being paid to these two teams that the Eagles could end up meeting before the final of the championship.

He noted that emphasis on these two teams does not mean that others like defending champions, Zambia are not important.

Meanwhile, Chapadungu Lungu, Sports Editor of popular Zambian daily, Daily Mail has said that ignoring Zambia would be at Nigeria's own peril.

Lungu noted in a live interview with a Nigerian radio monitored on Tuesday that the current Zambian team was indeed stronger than the last one contrary to what most people think. 

He said that he and other Zambians were pretty sure that the team would defeat the Super Eagles when the two sides meet at the Nations Cup, notwithstanding that past records favour the Eagles.

"The national team (Chipolopolo is stronger than the one of last year. Zambians believe that we can get this one over Nigeria. We outplayed Nigeria in 2010, but we could not win. But Zambian fan, analysts and stakeholders believe that this time we can get past Nigeria," a confident Lungu said.

Bwalya confident Zambia will beat Nigeria

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya, has expressed confidence in his country's team, Chipolopolos' ability to defeat Super Eagles of Nigeria ahead of the preliminary stage of the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Speaking at the weekend, Bwalya told local media in Zambia that he was sure of a good result in the match between the two teams although he admitted the encounter would be a 'crunch match'.

“Nigeria, it will be a big match, crunch match for us and for everyone,” he said. “I have confidence we will play well against Nigeria."

Speaking on other members of the group, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso, Bwalya expressed confidence that the team can achieve good results as well. He revealed that his team would come out 'with guns blazing' in its first encounter on January 21.

“From the back of my mind we should get six points from the first two games and this should resolve a place in the group stage as quickly as we can, so for the first game we are absolutely ready.

“Ethiopia, they are a good side, they have improved tremendously, I have seen the game they played against South Africa, when South Africa were only able to equalise. So it is a team that should be respected and I am sure the coaches will do their homework,” Kalusha said.

"Burkina Faso is a dangerous team, they played very well at the last Africa Cup and they have some tough players. With our experience, we hope to go into the third game with everything in our hands. We should have already done all the work so that we should not be facing an uphill battle.

“I have seen a lot of good things and I have also seen the team train. I have seen a lot of opportunities and different approaches on how the team can play. I hope they continue with this in this final week. there is good morale in training than we had before,” he said. 

Eagles plays final warm-up game against SC Farense

Eagles in training in Abuja recently 

Super Eagles of Nigeria will on Tuesday play its final Nations Cup warm-up friendly match against SC Farense, a third division side in Portugal.

The match will be played at Estadio Algarve, home ground of the Portuguese team and the venue of the warm up friendly match between Eagles and Nations Cup-bound, Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.   

Our correspondent gathered that what the Nigerian team would like in its first Nations Cup match against Stallions of Burkina Faso will be revealed in this match.

Newsblitzz further gathered that the Eagles' technical crew which has been working all this while, will field its team against Farense to take a last minute look at the strategies before the team departs Faro for South Africa on January 16.

Meanwhile, Eagles' media officer, Ben Alaiya has disclosed that Kano Pillars' Gabriel Reuben that had been sick with chicken pox is back to full fitness. He revealed that Reuben was 100 percent fit.

Alaiya's revelation was backed by a source close to the team, who revealed that Gabriel played in the match against Rotterdam because he was fit.

"I can tell you that Reuben is quite all right," the source said.

The Eagles defeated Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 on Saturday at its Faro training ground. The only goal of the encounter was scored by Emmanuel Emenike from an Ahmed Musa cross.

Heartland wins Super Four tourney

Heartland FC of Owerri has won the Super Four pre-season tourney held in Kano.
The Naze Millionaires, as the club is fondly called emerged victorious after scoring a 2-0 win over Lobi Stars of Markurdi on Saturday.
With the victory, Heartland finished top of the table with 7 points. Pillars beat Rangers as expected to finish second on six points while Lobi finished third with three points and Rangers fourth with just a point.
With this victory, Heartland earned itself the N1m prize money that was up for grabs for the Super 4 winners. Runners-up Pillars got N750,000 while third-placed Lobi got N500,000 and Enugu Rangers got N250,000 for its fourth-place finish.
Meanwhile, Rangers has revealed that it would play three friendly matches to tune up for its first CAF Champions League match on February 17th.
"We have lined up three friendly matches to get the boys ready for our first Champions League game February 17th," the club disclosed in a message on Saturday.

Spain, Uruguay to clash in Doha

Current European and world football champions, Spain, and the current South American champions, Uruguay, in an international friendly match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar on 6 February 2013 at 9pm (Qatari time).

Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced this on Friday in a release made available to media houses across the globe.

Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association, said: “We are extremely eager to host the champions of Europe and South America for what promises to be an intriguing battle.

“2013 is already shaping up to be another important year for football for fans here in Doha with the successful resumption of January’s training camps at Aspire – this year with Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 – and now an enthralling spectacle between Spain and Uruguay to look forward to.”

The Battle of the Champions will be a dramatic prelude to the teams’ match-up in Group B of the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 in June. Spain finished 2012 ranked as the best team in the world, winning the UEFA Euro 2012 and having previously won the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, where Uruguay finished fourth. 

Uruguay, known as La Celeste, ended the year ranked sixteenth in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The last time the two teams faced each other was in 2005, when Jorge Fossati, the former Al Sadd manager, was coaching Uruguay. Spain won 2-0 at the Estadio El Molinón in Gijón, Spain.

In the past few years, Qatar has successfully hosted several high-profile international friendly matches, including Brazil vs. England in 2009, Argentina vs. Brazil in 2010 and Egypt vs. Brazil in 2011.  

Eagles defeats Sparta Rotterdam 1-0

Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday defeated Netherland side Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 in an international friendly played at the Nigerian team's camp in Faro, Portugal. 

Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike got the only goal of the match in the second half to give the Nigerian side its first victory in three warm-up matches ahead of the 29th edition of the Africa Nations Cup.

In the same vein, defending champions and group-mates of the Eagles, Chipolopolo of Zambia recorded yet another goalless encounter against Norway in a warm-up match played on Saturday in Ndola.

This brings the total number of warm-up matches played by the Zambians to five, all without a victory. Just last week alone, the Zambians recorded two goalless draws, the first against Morocco on Tuesday and then Norway on Saturday.

The development has been giving Zambian fans sleepless nights although Coach Herve Rennard has assured that everything is fine.

"A lot of pundits do not believe we can win the title again and do not want to take risks with their predictions. It is easier to say Zambia will never win the Cup of Nations again," Renard said. "If we fail to retain the trophy, it simply means another team was better than us. However, it will be very difficult to beat this Zambian team."

Meanwhile, another Group C opponents of the Eagles, Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia defeated fellow central African team, Tanzania 2-1 on Friday in its last warm-up match. The Antelopes played three friendly international matches and won 2 and drew 1.