Amodu faces rival for Nigeria World Cup coach post

January 20, 2010

Shuaibu Amodu faces the man who could succeed him as coach of Nigeria when they play Mozambique in a key Africa Cup of Nations game at Tundavala Stadium on Wednesday.

Reports have linked Mart Nooij from the Netherlands with the awesome task of leading Nigeria against Argentina, Greece and South Korea at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

And if Mozambique win the Group C match and qualify for the quarter-finals at the expense of Nigeria, Amodu seems certain to be sacked while the shares of Nooij will inevitably soar.

Pressure on Amodu heightened after a 3-1 loss to defending champions Egypt in their first match before surviving a win-or-quit ultimatum as a Yakubu Aiyegbeni penalty delivered a laboured victory over Benin.

Nigerian football officials have told the coach nothing less than a Nations Cup semi-finals place will do although he was fired ahead of the 2002 World Cup despite finishing third at the African tournament the same year.

Nooij caught the eye of Nigeria after his Mambas (Snakes) were unlucky to be held in Maputo and lost to a stoppage-time goal in Abuja when the countries met in 2010 Nations Cup qualifiers.

Before heading south to Mozambique the Dutch coach had a major impact at youth level in the west African state of Burkina Faso, leading the national team to the world championship for the first time.

Egypt, who face Benin in the other group fixture to be staged at the same time in Benguela, have a maximum six points from two outings and are certain of a quarter-finals slot.

The other three countries remain in contention to join the ‘Pharaohs’ with twice champions Nigeria favoured because a draw will suffice while Benin and Mozambique must win to have any chance of surviving the mini-league cull.

Although collecting a solitary point from a possible six and lying bottom of the standings, Mozambique have impressed during their fourth appearance at the biennial African football showcase.

They came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Benin and matched Egypt for 48 minutes before a second Dario Khan own goal in as many games gifted the title holders a lead they doubled via a late volley.

“We made it very hard for Egypt despite giving away a soft goal that forced us to chase the game. Otherwise it would have been a lot more difficult for the reigning champions to beat us,” said Nooij.

But Nigeria midfielder and man of the match against Benin Osaze Odemwingie is convinced his team-mates will emerge victorious and reach the knockout phase as they seek a first African title since beating Zambia 16 years ago in Tunis.

“We lacked confidence against Egypt in our first game but were much more relaxed when beating Benin and I believe we will deliver an even better performance on Wednesday,” promised the Moscow-based star.

“Mozambique are a team we know having played them twice last year and I am confident we will give our best display so far in Angola, win the match and advance to the last eight.”

LUBANGO, Angola (AFP)

Tags: abuja, africa cup of nations, african football, Argentina, Benin, Burkina, burkina faso, cull, cup qualifiers, Egypt, football officials, greece, heading south, lubango, Maputo, nations cup, nigeria, nigerian football, pharaohs, quarter finals, six points, South Africa, stoppage time, the Netherlands, time egypt, time goal, Tundavala Stadium, tunis, west African, yakubu aiyegbeni, Zambia

Wounded Eagles wary of falling prey to the Cup curse

January 13, 2010

Zambia are out to continue the tradition this Africa Cup of Nations is fast gaining of producing shocks against Tunisia in their Group D clash here on Wednesday.

Tunisia turned up in Angola wounded from missing out on a World Cup berth at the last throw of the qualifying dice.

The Carthage Eagles, who won the Nations Cup on home turf in 2004, led Nigeria for five World Cup qualifying rounds only to lose in Mozambique and be overtaken by a Super Eagles team that grabbed a late Nairobi triumph over Kenya.

Coached by local man Faouzi Benzarti, who was snapped up after being sacked by Libya, Tunisia are seeded to go through with group favourites Cameroon ahead of Zambia and Gabon.

But evidence from the opening shots in this competition nothing can be taken for granted, with Angola letting slip a four goal lead against Mali, Algeria falling to Malawi, and Burkina Faso holding favourites Ivory Coast to a goalless draw.

Benzarti said: “As we have seen the first games are very difficult, even if Zambia are classed as ‘outsiders’.

“We will have to be careful and concentrate on the game to get the first three points which will be good for our team in the next two matches, especially against Cameroon who are the group’s favourites.

“There are no bad teams in Africa, they’re all on the same level – may the best one win.”

The new man in charge added: “I’m approaching this in a very positive spirit as I can’t countenance the notion of defeat.

“The aim is to qualify from the first round, and then we’ll see after that.”

Benzarti’s men are out to better their last two quarter-final exits in the biennial African competition.

Their hopes of progress in Angola will in part rest on playmaker Oussama ‘Picasso’ Darragi.

The former national reject has become an instrumental figure, and gets on well with the coach who was in charge of him at Tunis club giants Esperance.

Germany-based defender Karim Hagui is the lone survivor from the 2004 title winning squad.

Tunisia go into the game on the back of a surprise 2-1 loss to Gambia last Saturday in a warm-up match, with their sole goal coming from Armine Chermiti in the fourth minute of injury time.

Tunisia, ranked 53rd in the world, are making their 14th appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations, which puts them on a par with Zambia, whose best showings have been two runners-up spots in 1974 and 1994.

Zambia are skippered by Christopher Katongo, who knows a thing or two about the command structure from his time as a Lusaka-based national army corporal.

He was promoted to sergeant after a devastating hat trick against South Africa in qualifying for the 2008 Cup.

Now a professional with German second division outfit Arminia Bielefeld Christopher, who will need to rediscover his scoring touch after one goal in qualifying, is joined in the squad by his younger brother Felix.

Zambia are coached by Herve Renard, who gained invaluable experience for Angola as an assistant to the then Ghana coach Claude Le Roy in 2008.

Zambia’s big problem is their scoring record, which by all accounts was abysmal with only four goals in 10 qualifying games.

Renard knows he must unlock Zambia’s attack if his side are to have any chance of causing an upset in a group that houses potential champions Cameroon and Gabon.

LUBANGO, Angola (AFP)

Tags: africa cup of nations, algeria, Angola, burkina faso, Carthage, Christopher Katongo, eagles team, Felix, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, home turf, Ivory Coast, karim hagui, kenya, Libya, lone survivor, Malawi, nairobi, nations cup, new man, nigeria, opening shots, Oussama, picasso, playmaker, positive spirit, Roy, shocks, South Africa, tunis, Tunisia, world cup berth

Tunisia sack coach Coelho

November 24, 2009

Tunisia have sacked coach Umberto Coelho after their failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) announced on Monday.

Faouzi Benzarti was named as Coelho’s replacement with the 59-year-old Tunisian taking charge of the country’s African Nations Cup campaign in January.

Benzarti is currently coach of Tunis club Esperance and he will combine both club and national duties until his contract with Esperance runs out next June.

Coelho took over from Roger Lemerre, the Frenchman who was himself sacked for lack of results, in 2008. His sacking comes after Tunisia’s 1-0 loss to Mozambique eight days ago which shut the World Cup door for the north African country.

Tunisia are in Group D in the January 10-31 African Nations Cup with Cameroon, Gabon and Zambia.

TUNIS (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, cameroon, coach, coelho, cup campaign, eight days, failure, football federation, frenchman, ftf, Gabon, Mozambique, roger lemerre, tunis, Tunisia, tunisian football, umberto, World Cup, Zambia

Nigeria drop John Utaka from Malta training camp

June 13, 2009

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu has left out Portsmouth striker John Utaka from a squad that will fly out from Lagos to Malta on Sunday ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Tunisia.

Utaka, who returned to the national during last month’s friendly against Ireland in London, is one several players dropped from the squad.

The other players are Yusuf Ayila of Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev, Chidi Odiah of CSKA Moscow, Sone Aluko of Aberdeen as well as Bayelsa United’s Chibuzo Okonkwo.

Odiah said he was unhappy by the manner he was dropped.

“I am not happy, not because I was told to go but because I should have been informed of this decision a lot earlier,” said the defender.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have insisted that Amodu travels out with a squad of only 23 players, as opposed to all 30 players who trained with the team prior to the last qualifier against Kenya.

Nigeria tackle Tunisia at the November 7 Stadium in Rades, near Tunis, on June 20 as part of the regional qualifying series for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The North Africans lead the standings with six points from two matches, two points ahead of closest rivals Nigeria.

Tags: Aberdeen, aluko, chidi, cska moscow, dynamo kiev, football federation, Ireland, John Utaka, kenya, Kiev, LAGOS, london, Malta, Moscow, nigeria, nigeria football, north africans, okonkwo, Portsmouth, rades, rivals, six points, sone, South Africa, striker, training camp, tunis, Tunisia, World Cup, world cup qualifier, Yusuf Ayila

Tunisia will be key, says Nigeria´s Kanu

June 9, 2009

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria skipper Nwankwo Kanu has said a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia on June 20 could well decide the country’s qualification to the football extravaganza in South Africa next year.

Tunisia lead the standings in Group Two on six points, two points more than Nigeria. Mozambique and Kenya are the other teams in the group.

“The standings in our group shows clearly that the match in Tunis will go a very long way in determining who qualifies for the World Cup,” said Kanu, who was first capped by Nigeria in 1993.

“We all know the importance of this match. It’s a do-or-die affair and we cannot afford to lose this game. We want to beat Tunisia right there in Tunis.” At 32, Kanu has defied critics who say he is over the hill and should give way to much younger players.

Last week, he played the first half in a friendly against France which Nigeria won 1-0 and he came on as a second half substitute to inspire a youthful Nigerian side to a big 3-0 home win over Kenya in World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

“I’m still needed in the Eagles. I will quit when the time comes but for now, the boys need to tap from my experience and knowledge. And they are learning very fast,” he said.

“The little I was able to show them against Kenya is that they need to be composed when things are not going right for the team and take the initiative.

“I hope to remain a part of the team until the coach tells me he no longer needs me.”

In the meantime, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will depart for a training camp in Malta on Saturday preparatory to the match against Tunisia.

A squad of 23 players will then leave for Tunis on Thursday, June 18, for the match

Tags: coach, eagles, extravaganza, France, game, initiative, kenya, LAGOS, Malta, match, Mozambique, nigeria, nwankwo kanu, six points, skipper, South Africa, training camp, tunis, Tunisia, World Cup, world cup qualifier

Nigeria defeat Kenya to revive World Cup hopes

June 8, 2009

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria defeated Kenya 3-0 at the Abuja National Stadium Sunday to get their World Cup qualification campaign back on track.

Getafe forward Ikechukwu Uche opened the scoring after just two minutes before Obinna Nsofor from Inter Milan grabbed a brace in the second half.

Tunisia stay top of Group B with six points from two matches after they defeated Mozambique 2-0 at home Saturday, with Nigeria two points behind in second place.

Mozambique are on one point while Kenya remain pointless.

Both Tunisia and Nigeria clash in Tunis in two weeks time at the Rades Stadium in a match that could well provide an indication of the overall leadership of this group.

Inside a packed 60,000-capacity Abuja National Stadium, Nigeria started a youthful team without established internationals like Joseph Yobo, Mikel John Obi and Taye Taiwo, who stayed away from the team’s recent friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland and France.

It took the Super Eagles only 180 seconds to go in front when Ikechukwu Uche combined with his older brother, Kalu Uche, before a poor clearance by Kenyan defender George Owino let in Ikechukwu Uche to drive the ball past goalkeeper Arnold Origi.

Kenya’s first attempt at goal came after quarter of an hour when Dennis Oliech let fly from distance but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama saved easily.

Italy-based MacDonald Mariga tested Enyeama with a cleanly struck shot on 26 minutes, and a minute later, Oliech came even closer but his shot from the edge of 18-yard box brushed the crossbar.

Odemwingie would have doubled Nigeria’s lead when he was set up by Ikechukwu Uche, but Origi blocked his powerful shot.

The Russia-based striker wasted an even better chance three minutes later when his effort from top of the box missed target by inches.

Just before the interval, Kenya’s Origi spilled an Ikechukwu cross from the right but Esperance of Tunisia striker Eneramo could not take advantage of this clanger with the ball metres from the goal line.

In the 62nd minute, Kenya got their best chances of the match in quick succession with Oliech involved on both occasions.

First, he chose to square the ball to a teammate with the Nigerian defence on the back foot and seconds later, he again decided to pass the ball inside the box after he had rounded up goalkeeper Enyeama.

That was the wake-up call Nigeria needed to increase their lead 10 minutes later. Substitute Obinna Nsofor put away a penalty after goal-bound Odemwingie was brought down inside the box and Moroccan referee El Achiri Abdellah pointed to the penalty spot.

Four minutes later Nsofor thundered home from inside the box for Nigeria’s third goal. A superb move started by Kanu saw Echejile deliver a cross from the left, Ikechukwu miskicked to allow Nsofor control the ball before firing home.

Kenya lost by the same score line in their last two visits to Nigeria, in 1997 and 2003.

Tags: abuja national stadium, Arnold Origi, better chance, clanger, Dennis Oliech, France, George Owino, goal line, Goalkeeper, inter milan, internationals, Italy, joseph yobo, kenya, LAGOS, mikel john obi, Milan, Mozambique, nigeria, odemwingie, origi, republic of ireland, six points, striker, Taiwo, target, taye taiwo, three minutes, tunis, Tunisia, Vincent, World Cup, world cup qualification

Esperance win Arab Champions League

May 22, 2009

Tunisian side Esperance de Tunis have won the 2008-09 edition of the Arab Champions League. Wydad Casablanca were beaten 2-1 on aggregate in the final.

The first leg, played in Morocco, ended in a 0-1 victory to Esperance for whom the 1-1 draw in the return leg was enough to clinch the trophy.

Wydad almost forced extra time as Rafik Abdessamad netted from the penalty spot in the 66th minute but things went wrong when striker Mustapha Bidoudane was sent off, shortly followed by a penalty to the hosts.

Oussama Darragi converted that spot kick with four minutes to go, thereby securing the final victory.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: aggregate, arab champions league, Bidoudane, CAF Champions League, Casablanca, Darragi, Esperance, extra time, final victory, four minutes, hosts, morocco, Mustapha, Oussama, return leg, trophy, tunis, Tunisian, wydad casablanca

The Netherlands held by Tunisia

February 12, 2009

The Netherlands have been held to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia in an international friendly played in Tunis this Wednesday.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who recently switched from Ajax to Real Madrid, scored the opening goal for the Dutch on 61 minutes.

Just six minutes later though, Jamel Saihi levelled for the Africans to earn his side a 1-1 draw.

The Netherlands resume World Cup Qualifying against Scotland on March 28th. With nine points from three games, Bert van Marwijk’s men occupy the top spot in UEFA Group 9.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda