International Football
We Are Focused On World Cup Says Onazi
Nigeria’s young and vibrant squad is thinking of little else apart from qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, so says stand-in Captain Eddy Ogenyi Onazi.
The petite but lion –hearted midfielder spoke on Sunday during a meeting of the Super Eagles with NFF President Amaju Pinnick, at the team’s Crowne Plaza London Ealing hotel.
“I am always delighted anytime I look at the faces of everyone in camp. The determination is real and infectious. It is a young and focused group; we all want to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018 and the next Africa Cup of Nations.
“We are happy that the NFF President is here and spoken very well, and we want to assure Nigerians that we will keep up the momentum in the World Cup qualifying race and at the same time go all out for the Cup of Nations ticket.”
Onazi, who plays for Trabzonspor FC of Turkey, added that the friendly against Senegal’s Teranga Lions on Thursday was an excellent preparation for the Super Eagles’ very crucial five competitive matches later this year.
Nigeria host South Africa in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in June, before quick, home-and-away 2018 FIFA World Cup sessions against Cameroon late August and early September, and concluding World Cup qualifiers against Zambia (at home in October) and Algeria (away in November).
Earlier, Pinnick appreciated the players and officials for their sense of duty and commitment to the cause, while assuring that the Federation will work assiduously hard to see that their outstanding entitlements are offset soonest.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development, Senator Obinna Ogba also assured the group of the Nigeria government’s appreciation of their toil, and charged them to go ahead and earn the tickets to the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
International Football
Grudgingly, Eto’o accepts new Cameroon coach Brys, but fails to attend ceremony
Cameroon’s new coach Marc Brys penned a contract on Monday but the Belgian’s appointment by the government remains contentious as the football federation did not attend the signing ceremony.
Brys has been handed a 2-1/2-year contract by Cameroon’s sports ministry but the federation (FECAFOOT) was conspicuous by its absence at the event in Yaounde.
Last week, FECAFOOT criticised the unilateral decision of sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombito to appoint the 61-year-old Brys, who has no prior experience as a national team coach and has not previously worked on the African continent.
FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o issued a statement on Monday, excusing himself from the unveiling event.
“We thank you for inviting us to the ceremony. Following this, we inform you of the fact that we received the letter two hours before the said ceremony,” wrote Eto’o.
“Unfortunately, we are busy organising the funeral of our late Dad, and for this reason we will not be able to attend presence at the ceremony.”
His father’s funeral is to be held at the weekend.
Eto’o balked at Brys’ appointment and is now in a deepening standoff with the minister.
In Cameroon, the government has long paid the salary of the national team coach and therefore held powerful sway over FECAFOOT’s affairs, even if such state interference is frowned upon by world football’s governing body FIFA.
Any heightened dispute risks a potential ban from international competition for Cameroon, one of the heavyweights of African football.
FECAFOOT held an emergency meeting on Saturday and asked Eto’o to propose an alternative coach for the national team.
Earlier on the weekend, the minister had defended the appointment, saying he had acted in accordance with national and international regulations.
In a letter to FECAFOOT, Kombi said his ministry’s appointment of coaching staff “in no way affects the autonomy of FECAFOOT and does not violate any of the ‘supranational regulations”.
He said FECAFOOT had suggested three candidates to the ministry but their salary demands ranged between 1.5 million euros and 2.5 million euros ($1.63 million and $2.71 million) per year.
“These are excessive amounts never paid to any coach in the history of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi said.
-Reuters
International Football
Cameroon FA to propose national coach after emergency meeting –
Cameroon’s football federation (FECAFOOT) held an emergency meeting on Saturday and asked its president to propose an alternative coach for the national team, deepening a standoff with the sports ministry.
FECAFOOT on Wednesday accused the ministry of unilaterally appointing Belgian Marc Brys as coach and other staff to manage the Indomitable Lions, who are five-times African champions.
The dispute risks a potential ban from international competition as world soccer’s governing body FIFA has strict rules against government interference in national federations.
In a statement, FECAFOOT said its emergency committee had met on Saturday and unanimously confirmed that the federation had not been involved in the appointments in alleged contravention of regulations.
As a result, it asked its president Samuel Eto’o to propose a national coach and other management staff for the national side within 72 hours.
Responding to a request for comment, a spokesperson for the ministry said the result of the FECAFOOT meeting was “an appeal. It is not yet a decision.”
On Friday, Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi wrote to FECAFOOT to defend the coaching appointments, which he said were in accordance with national and international rules.
In a letter seen by Reuters, Kombi said the ministry’s move “in no way affects the autonomy of FECAFOOT and does not violate any of the ‘supranational regulations’.”
A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed the authenticity of the letter.
Kombi’s letter also said the salaries requested by three candidates earlier proposed by the federation for the position of coach ranged between 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) and 2.5 million euros per year.
“These are excessive amounts never paid to any coach in the history of the Indomitable Lions,” Kombi said.
FECAFOOT did not respond to a request for comment on the letter.
-Reuters
RELATED STORIES:
BREAKING! Turmoil in Cameroon federation over naming of new national coach Brys. https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2024/04/03/breaking-turmoil-in-cameroon-federation-over-naming-of-new-national-coach-brys/
Soccer Cameroon appoint Brys as new head coach https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2024/04/03/soccer-cameroon-appoint-brys-as-new-head-coach/
International Football
National team and club-mate Owolabi commiserates with grief-stricken Odegbami –
Powerful left-wing back in his playing days, Felix Owolabi has expressed great grief over the loss of a son of former teammate, Segun Odegbami.
Both Felix Owolabi and Odegbami share common traits as the earliest tertiary institution footballers featuring for clubs and the national team.
While Odegbami was a mechanical engineering student at The Ibadan Polytechnic, Owolabi was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos.
Both were players of the then rampaging IICC Shooting Stars and the Africa Cup of Nations winning team of 1980. The crucial goals that won the cup for Nigeria were scored by the duo.
While Owolabi’s goal against Morocco sent Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations final match for the first time, Odegbami’s two goals in the final against Algeria put a stamp of definity to Nigeria’s victory before another club-mate Muda Lawal put in the third.
“We have come a long way”, remarked Owolabi in a message to the Sports Village Square Thursday morning.
“I have just arrived from Morocco on a national assignment trying to adjust and deal with the extreme and gruelling hot weather here in Nigeria when I got the sad news of the sudden death of the son of my dear brother and senior colleague Dr Olusegun Odegbami.
“Hearing the death of Oluwagbeminiyi Omo Odegbami, I paused for a moment and did not know what to say.
“All the media both print and electronics carried it as a breaking news.
“And that was when it dawned on me that I had to call ‘Big Sheg’ as he is fondly called by me.
“His authoritative confirmation about it dealt a blow on me and put me total darkness.What would have happened to this our vibrant and such an enterprising Oluwagbeminiyi?
“Why would death be so so wicked to suddenly take this gentleman away from us without notice. Going on a journey that he will need not to look at anybody, an eternal journey till Christ come.
“My heart and that of my entire family are with you and the rest of the family”, remarked Owolabi.
“It is well. I pray that God grant him eternal rest. I pray also that the almighty God grant you the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Today the death of Oluwagbeminiyi has made me to believe and conclude that death is real and it is universal
-
International Football1 week ago
Grudgingly, Eto’o accepts new Cameroon coach Brys, but fails to attend ceremony
-
Olympics1 week ago
Zambia women dramatically join Nigeria in winning Olympic spots
-
Athletics7 days ago
A clash of two citizens as Tobi Amusan and Ofili compete in US tourney today
-
World Cup6 days ago
Floored twice in two months, South Africa tremble ahead of treble with Nigeria
-
UEFA Champions League7 days ago
Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta humiliate Liverpool at home
-
FUTSAL4 days ago
Defending Champions, Morocco thrash Ghana to move to the summit of Group A
-
Premier League1 week ago
Premier League to introduce semi-automated offside technology next season
-
Olympics3 days ago
Super Falcons’ Paris 2024 fixtures recall Nigeria’s first matches at Olympic Games football event 56 years ago