Nigerian Football
Despite Disgrace By Nigeria, Hugo Broos Wants to stay in Cameroon after 2018
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, Yaounde.
With Cameroon arithmetically out of the World Cup qualifying series, Coach Hugo Broos on Sunday told the local press that he had no intention of stepping out as being speculated in the various social media platforms.
Rather, he is asking that he should be allowed to remain and rebuild the team for Africa Cup of Nations’ title defence which he hoped, Cameroon will still host.
“I think we probably will not be in Russia next year. But after this World Cup, there will be CAN 2019. We must prepare this CAN well. Hopefully, despite all the problems that this CAN will take place in this country.
“I believe that there is nothing more beautiful than to become a second African champion in his own country, “he said on Sunday at a press conference.
Beaten 4-0 last Friday in Uyo by Nigeria, Broos and his players have spun their chances of qualifying for the next World Cup. In any case, Hugo Broos is not sure that he can do this. “I think we probably will not be in Russia next year,” he said.
Continuing, he said:”If I can decide, I will stay in Cameroon. I am an ambitious person. There is no one in the world who has achieved all his projects.
“When I arrived in Cameroon, I said that we must at all costs participate in the CAN (2017). We did it. Afterwards, I said that we must absolutely pass the first round: we did it. And we even did a little more; because we won this CAN”.
Indeed, when he joined Cameroon, Hugo Broos had two missions. The first: qualify and lead the national team to the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations 2017.
The Belgian technician did better than what the Cameroonian football authorities expected of him: he led the indomitable Lions at the coronation of this edition organized by Gabon.
The second mission consisted for the coach, to qualify the Cameroonian selection at the next World Cup that will organize Russia, next year.
Enugu Rangers on Sunday beat Plateau United 2-0 to hold on at the top of the Nigeria Premier League. They extended their point haul to 57, two points ahead of their Oriental brothers, Enyimba who also beat Katsina United 1-0 to keep the chase for the title very hot.
Initial second placed team, Remo Stars dropped to the third position but still in contention for either the title, but at worse a continental ticket for next season.
Following Shooting Stars 2-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars in a South West derby, the top four positions of the are now held by the South East and South West as the league gets into its closing stage.
While Rangers and Enyimba are first and second at the moment, Remo Stars, though with an outstanding home game are third while their fellow westerners, Shooting Stars are fourth.
The weekend’s results:
Rivers United 2-0 Katsina United
Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes
Doma United 0-0 Kwara United
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Heartland
Enugu Rangers 2-0 Plateau United
Shooting Stars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
Akwa United 3-0 Kano Pillars
Enyimba 1-0 Katsina United
Gombe United 3-2 Lobi Stars
Sporting Lagos 4-2 Abia Warriors
Remo Stars on Friday inch closer to achieving their first ever title in the Nigeria elite division league after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes 3-0 to move second on the log and just a point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.
Remo Stars are now with 53 points and still have an outstanding home game to play.
Friday’s win which comes on the eve of the proprietor’s birthday has put the team back into contention for the title.
They have progressively become prominent in the Nigerian premier league having placed third two seasons ago and second last season.
Top finish this season will confirm their progression and also a third consecutive continental outing.
Top scorer, Sikiru Alimi launched them of victory path as his 28th minute penalty kick heralded their return to high scoring ways.
It has been a while since they scored high in the league. Barely three minutes later, Sikiru, a contender for the top scorer award increased the tally to two.
Ahmed Akinyele completed the route in the 75th minute.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers
Defending champions Nigeria have been handed a difficult path to the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals after being drawn in the same group as Burkina Faso for next month’s WAFU B qualifying tournament in Ghana.
The Golden Eaglets, who won the last edition of the regional championship in 2022, will also face Togo and Niger in Group B of the competition which runs from 15-28 May.
Hosts Ghana find themselves in Group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Benin in a tough-looking section of the competition to be played in Accra.
The draw was conducted by 1970s Ivorian football legends Kobenan Kouman and Die Foneye at the Ivorian FA headquarters in Abidjan on Friday.
Nigeria claimed their WAFU B U17 AFCON title by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the regional final in Ghana two years ago.
However, they will need to overcome some familiar foes if they are to defend their crown and with the Burkina Faso finishing third at the last TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, some exciting matches are expected.
Arch-rivals Nigeria and Ghana are among the two favourites and could meet in the final in Accra on 28 May, should they top their respective groups and make it through the semi-finals.
Ghana also have pedigree at this level, having the World Cup in 1991 and 1995 as they bid to reach the U17 AFCON finals on home soil.
The top two teams from the WAFU B tournament will qualify for next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Groups:
Group A: Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin
Group B: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Niger.
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