Osazee back to Eagles-clears dispute with Siasia

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the much-publicized mis-understanding between Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Samson Siasia and one of his star players, Osaze Odemwingie has been laid to rest.

The frosty relationship between former World Cup star Siasia and ace winger Odemwingie was brought to the front pages of the international press in May, when the former announced that one of his key actors had walked out on cast and crew without stating his destination.

Osaze missed the top grade international friendly against Argentina in Abuja on the first day of June as a result and was also overlooked for the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier away to Ethiopia on June 5.

But the NFF said on Monday that the mis-understanding is now history and the fleet-footed forward can look forward to a recall ahead of another top grade international friendly, against the Black Stars of Ghana in London next month.

“It’s now history; Siasia and Osaze have settled their little tiff and we are happy about that. Nigeria can now call on her very best legs in subsequent games without any exception”, stated chairman of NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green.

A meeting initiated by NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari took place in London some weeks ago and on Friday, Siasia, who scored a wonder goal for Nigeria against Argentina at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and then became the first Coach to lead Nigeria to beat Argentina at senior level, in a 4-1 friendly thrashing in Abuja last month, scored another important ‘goal’. He announced that he has forgiven the effervescent striker and that he should come back to the fold and sin no more.

“No problems again, we are now on the same page and things can move ahead in the best interest of Nigerian football. I like to say here that Osaze is one player I like very much due to his enthusiasm and total commitment to the cause on-field. But, to reach higher heights as a great player and person, it is also important to observe rules and regulations and respect team-mates and other persons off-field.

“Everything is now under control and Osaze is back in the squad”, said Siasia.

The Super Eagles’ supremo, who has been holidaying in the United States of America, is expected back in Nigeria on Sunday to kick-start his programmes for the high-profile friendly against Ghana in London on August 9 and the crucial 2012 Nations Cup qualifier away to Madagascar on September 3.

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U-23: Eguavoen writes off Ghana

National U-23 coach Augustine Eguavoen has told the Black Meteors of Ghana to forget about the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique in September.

Nigeria won the first Leg AAG qualifiers 3-1 in Benin City on June 25. Nigeria will engage the Ghanaians in Kumasi on Sunday and Eguavoen said his side would be playing for victory.

“Ghana stopped us from featuring in the last All Africa Games in Algiers in 2007, this is our time to ensure they suffer a similar fate. They should just forget about going to Maputo,” Eguavoen told our correspondent in Benin City.

“They played a wonderful game and we respect them but only one of us will have to qualify. We’ll go there to protect our advantage and possibly beat them on their soil.

“We know the implications of the away goal they have but that will count for little by the time the game is over.”

The former Super Eagles defender told Ghanaian radio, Hot FM, during the week that he expected an explosive encounter on Sunday, saying he was aware of Ghana’s plans to pick victory.

“I expect an explosive game against Ghana,” he said.

“We have a lot of respect for the Ghana team and I am sure the Ghanaians also have similar respect for us so I guess its going to be a nice game.”

“We are well prepared and focused on the task ahead to make sure we beat Ghana this time around since they denied us the ticket for the last All Africa Games.”

The U-23 team are expected in Accra on Friday and leave for Kumasi for the match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

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Super Falcons break 12yr-jinx -Beat Canada 1-0

Super Falcons Of  Nigeria

THE Super Falcons yesterday in Dresden, Germany, ended their campaign at the ongoing FIFA Women's World Cup on a good note with a 1-0 victory over Canada to break the 12-year old jinx.

It will be recalled that the Falcons last won in a World Cup game at USA '99 when the team beat Denmark 2-0, also in a last group match.

A mild drama ensued after 70 minutes of play due to power outage at the stadium which forced the game to be put on hold for 10 minutes. The game was restarted after power was restored.

The Falcons lost three gilt-edged chances in the first half as Ebere Orji in the 19th minute failed to beat the Colombian goalkeeper on a one-on-one situation.

Orji again in the 25th minute hit the woodwork with the Colombian goalkeeper already displaced while striker Perpetua Nkwocha, followed suit in the 43rd minute when her effort was stopped also by the woodwork.

The match winner for the Falcons later turned out to be Nkwocha in the 84th minute, when she connected a loose ball into the net. 

It was Nkwocha's first goal at the World Cup after featuring in three past finals from USA 2003.

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Ghana to host Nigeria in Kumasi

Nigeria’s crucial All Africa Games qualifier against Ghana will no longer come up in Accra but in Kumasi.

The game had initially been billed to come up at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, venue of the final match of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Nigerian team enjoying a two goal cushion after winning the first leg tie in Benin 3-1.

But the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the second leg of the final qualifying fixture between the Under-23 teams of both nations will now be played in Kumasi, which is 250 kilometres Northwest of Accra.

The game comes up at the Baba Yara Stadium, which is Ghana’s biggest stadium with a sitting capacity of 40,500, and which serves as the home ground of one of Ghana’s most popular club side, Asante Kotoko.

In addition, the GFA also announced that the game will now come up on Sunday, July 10 instead of Saturday, July 9.

Fan power

The decision to shift the match venue comes just days after a leading member of the supporters group of Asante Kotoko, Ali Maradona appealed to the GFA to bring the crucial second leg match to the 52-year-old stadium.

To qualify for September’s All Africa Games in Mozambique, Ghana will need to beat the Nigerians by at least two unreplied goals.

And the Kotoko chieftain, in an interview with Ghana’s Asempa Sports on Monday, stated that if GFA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi took the game from Accra to Kumasi, the Ghanaian team will definitely qualify for the All Africa Games ahead of the Nigerians.

According to the Kotoko supporter, in an interview with Ghana’s Asempa Sports, Kumasi will be the ideal place for the Ghana Under-23 side to secure qualification to the All Africa Games.

He told Asempa Sports on Monday that, if GFA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi ensures that the match is played in Kumasi, the team will surely qualify ahead of the Nigerians.

Ghana stopped Nigeria from reaching the 9th All-Africa Games Men’s Football Tournament in 2007 after both teams finished 0-0 in Sunyani only for the Ghanaians to force a 1-1 draw in Abuja to qualify on the away goal rule.

Ghana’s women’s team, Black Queens, last month eliminated Nigeria’s Super Falcons from the race for the Women’s football event of the 10th All-Africa Games.

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Falcons crash out of World Cup

The Super Falcons have been eliminated from the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of tournament hosts Germany last night in Frankfurt.

With France beating Canada 4-0 earlier in the day, the Super Falcons needed to avoid defeat against the Germans to stand a chance of progressing to the quarter finals. But following a goalless first half, Simone Laudehr scored early in the second half to hand the Germans the lead which they held on to for the remainder of the Group A encounter.

The win moved the Germans into a tie for first place in Group A with France with six points apiece, while the Nigerians and Canadians remain in search of their first point of the tourney.

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