International Football
CHAN 2018: To Be or Not To Be for Nigeria?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Is the old order changing? Will Nigeria miss out from another CAF competition for national teams? Will Nigeria pick a qualification ticket in Kano for the very first time?
These are the three crucial questions begging for answers as the Nigerian home-based national team squares up this Saturday, with counterparts from the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
It is the quest for qualification for the African Nations Championships which finals are holding next January in Kenya. Ahead of the second leg duel in the soccer crazy and densely populated ancient city of Kano, Benin Republic comes with a goal advantage, prompting the poser: Is the old order changing?
Last Sunday’s late and surprised 1-0 defeat of Nigeria was the first time ever in 21 clashes that spanned across 58 years that the Nigerian western neighbours won a match against a Nigerian national team.
Before then, it could have been normal that pre-match thoughts would have been on margin of victory rather than a contemplation of draw, let alone a loss.
In fact, Benin Republic over the last decade or so had to build its national teams around Nigerians who defected. Such was the situation that cerebral Nigerian journalist, Ojeikere Aikhoje once wrote an article titled: “The other ‘Super Eagles’ in Benin Republic”.
He enunciated from goalkeeper to several outfield players and concluded that one day, the national team of Benin, the Squirrels, will one day field a complete ‘Republic of Benin Super Eagles’ against Nigeria’s Super Eagles as there were a dozen of Nigerian-born players who have been drafted into the Benin team.
Sports Village Square recalls the last competitive clash of Nigeria and Benin Republic at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Benguela, Angola. Nigeria struggled to get a 1-0 win over Nigerians-powered Benin Republic which had players like Mouri Ogoubiyi (real name: Muri Ogunbiyi), Razack Omotoyossi (Razak Omotoyosi) among others.
So tough was the encounter that Nigeria was saved by a 42nd minute penalty kick converted by Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Before then, virtually every encounter with Benin ended with unmitigated defeat of the Nigerian western neighbours.
Typical results included the 10-1 humiliation in an Nkrumah Cup encounter on November 29, 1959. Recall another 7-0 defeat of February 14, 1977 when Adokiye Amesimaka, as a Law undergraduate at the University of Lagos made his debut international appearance.
The 7-0 defeat was also repeated on the same date the following year with Amesimaka scoring a brace and defender, Godwin Odiye scoring his only goal for Nigeria to atone for an own-goal he scored barely three months earlier.
Even the Nigerian second string national team had also made a mince-meat of Benin when on August 10, 2005 the Benin national team was beaten 6-0 at the Abuja National Stadium.
But is the old order changing? This explains why the Salisu Yusuf boys more look beyond just a two-goal margin win over Benin. Sports Village Square also recalls that another neighbor, Niger Republic eliminated Nigeria in the quest for the 2011 edition.
Nigeria, beware of your neighbours! Recall that the elimination of Nigeria by Niger was completed in Kano on March 27, 2010. Will another dream be buried in Kano this weekend? The home-based Super Eagles must work hard to eliminate Benin and remove any jinx that any adverse result will bring to the football-loving city of Kano.
It was in that city that the dream for the 2006 World Cup literarily died following a 1-1 draw that gave Angola the edge. Niger Republic also held the home-based Super Eagles to a goalless draw in that city seven years ago after having won the first leg 2-0 at home.
Arise, Ikechuwu Ezenwa and others, Nigeria’s call obey!
Nigeria Previous 21 Encounters with Benin Republic
P W D L F A
Nigeria 21 15 5 1 61 9
Benin Rep. 21 1 5 15 9 61
• 8 Nov.1959 (Nkrumah Cup) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 29Nov.1959(Nkrumah Cup)Nigeria 10-1 Benin
• 25Jan.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Benin1-1 Nigeria
• 2 Feb.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Nigeria 4-1 Benin
• 2 Jan.1965 (AAGq) Nigeria 1-1 Benin *Abandoned
• 11 December. 1965 (F) Nigeria 1-0 Benin
• 27 Feb. 1966 (F) Benin) 1 -2 Nigeria
• 20 Dec. 1972 (F) Nigeria 3- 0 Benin
• 14 Feb. 1977 (F) Nigeria 7- 0 Benin
• 14 Jan.1978 (3 AAGq) Nigeria 7-0 Benin
• 17 Jan.1978 (3AAGq) Nigeria 2-0 Benin
• 14 Oct. 1979 (F) Benin 1-1 Nigeria
• 4 Nov. 1979 (F) Nigeria 5-0 Benin
• 1 Feb. 1987 (SCSA) Benin 1-1 Nigeria
• 30 Sept. 1990 (ACNq) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 27 April 1991 (ACNq) Nigeria 3-0 Benin
• 2 Feb 2004 (ACN) Benin 1-2 Nigeria
• 10 Aug, 2005 (F) Nigeria 6-0 Benin
• 28 Jan.2008 (ACN) Benin 0-2 Nigeria
• 16 Jan. 2010 (ACN) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 13 Aug. 2017 (Chanq) Benin 1-0 Nigeria
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
This is my story: Odegbami on how he is stranded in London
BREAKING! Odegbami stranded in London as saboteurs cause travel chaos in France before Opening Ceremony
Host club at Super Falcons’ Olympic match venue, Bordeaux is bankrupt
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoI prefer a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, says Amaju
-
Olympics5 days agoBrazilian women train in Zidane’s birthplace ahead of Nigeria Super Falcons clash
-
Premier League1 week agoNigerian-born Man United’s new striker promises creativity and unpredictability to fans
-
Olympics13 hours agoThis is my story: Odegbami on how he is stranded in London
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoOsimhen’s outburst was a moment of madness, says Amaju
-
OBITUARY1 day agoBREAKING! Former Heartland FC owner, Iwuanyanwu, dies at 81
-
Olympics6 days agoTeams plan for lack of toilets on Paris opening ceremony barges
-
Olympics1 week agoWhat you need to know about the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony