Category Archives: Sport Bird
EPL Watch: Everton held in Merseyside derby, Chelsea win, Arsenal go four points clear
The Premier League returned today after the latest international break and showed what we have been missing, with a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Merseyside derby in the early kick-off.
Coutinho gave the visitors an early lead, firing past Tim Howard, after finding himself in acres of space inside the box. Mirallas provided an instant reply, poking in at the near post, to draw Everton level. Suarez restored Liverpool’s lead, with a cracking free-kick.
Ballon d’Or: “I like Ronaldo, but I have my favourite” – Blatter
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, has once again stated that he admires Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, but prefers Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Blatter, 77, has been criticized in several quarters, for openly declaring his preference for Messi and mocked Ronaldo who “spends more time at the hairdresser”.
He apologised for his comments and praised Ronaldo’s talent, but he still made it clear that he prefers the Argentine.
“To me, he [Ronaldo] is still an outstanding player and an outstanding commander in the field,” he said. “But obviously each of us, in our heart, has our favourite.”
Nigeria – Yes, Yes, Yes!
Nigeria became the most successful team in FIFA U-17 World Cup history with a 3-0 win over holders Mexico at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The final was a rematch of the 6-1 win Nigeria inflicted on the Mexicans in Group F play and sees the Golden Eaglets lay hands on the junior world trophy for the fourth time in their history, one better than South American giants Brazil. When the final whistle went in the UAE capital, fans and players alike rejoiced, fingers pointed to the sky, with what has become the traditional Nigerian celebration of: “yes, yes yes!”
Mexico kept the ball for a full two minutes at the start of the game, moving it around well and making the Nigerians chase. El Tri even managed the first chance on goal after six minutes. Osvaldo Rodriguez crossed from the left, but Alejandro Diaz couldn’t keep his close-range effort the right side of the post. Two minutes on and Ivan Ochoa – who scored twice in the semi-final win over Argentina – saw his off-balance header pushed over the bar by Dele Alampasu.
I signed a deal to replace Ferguson as coach of United” – Sven-Goran Eriksson
Former Manchester City manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, has revealed in his new autobiography, that he signed a deal to become Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United in 2002.
Ferguson initially stated he was going to step down in 2002, before deciding to stay on till this year, when he was replaced by David Moyes. Eriksson claims that he held talks with United’s chiefs and accepted the offer.
In an extract from the book, reproduced in the Mail on Sunday, Eriksson wrote: “I knew it would be tricky. I had a contract with England until the 2006 World Cup and I would be severely criticised if I broke that contract.
“But this was an opportunity to manage Manchester United. A contract was signed – I was United’s new manager.”
VICTORY FOR THE EAGLETS
Three-time champions Nigeria had no trouble with Iran racking up three goals in the first half en route to a 4-1 scoreline. The result sets up a quarter-final date for the Nigerians with Uruguay, a game in which they will likely be missing two of their best attackers – Kalechi Iheanacho and Success Isaac – through injury.
The Golden Eaglets came out all guns blazing in the opening seconds. Iheanacho, who scored four goals in the opener on this very pitch, fired a vicious shot from the corner of the penalty area inside the first minute that only just flew over the bar. It wasn’t long after that Chidiebere Nwakali raced through midfield on the end of an elegant heel flick from Zaharaddeen Bello. His shot from way out, however, also went over the goal.
The pressure was mounting on Iran, who’d been so sturdy up to this point in the competition. Nigeria were attacking up both flanks and crossing dangerously, but the storm subsided and Iran began to get some touches on the ball. And when Nwakali tried to dribble the ball out of defence, he was stripped by Mohammad Bazaj, whose effort from a tight angle after 21 minutes was the Iranian’s first chance of the half.
32 countries to storm Warri for Athletics championships
Over 421 athletes from 32 countries have so far confirmed their participation at the maiden African Athletics Youth Championships billed for March 27-31 in Warri, Delta State.
The Championships are open to athletes who are under-17 as at this year. Confederation of Africa Athletics CAA confirmed Nigeria as the hosts last year, at its congress in Porto Novo, Benin Republic. Some of the countries that have registered include traditional athletics nations like South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria. Hosts, Nigeria have the highest number of entry with 80 athletes. Ethiopia have the second largest delegation with 42 athletes, South Africa is coming with 30 athletes, while Cape Verde, Guinea, Zimbabwe and Comoros Islands have only two athletes representing them.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi resigns after winning 2013 AFCON title
The Super Eagles won the continental title by beating Burkina Faso on Sunday, but their boss has promptly left his post, claiming he was doing what he felt was “right.”
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has announced his resignation from his post just a day after the Super Eagles’ 2013 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
The coach’s future had been subject to speculation throughout the tournament, and he has now revealed that he gave the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) his notice shortly after the 1-0 final win over Burkina Faso on Sunday.
“I did what I feel is right by resigning,” Keshi told Metro FM. “I gave the NFF a letter last night [Sunday] after the celebrations.”
The 51-year-old Keshi made 51 appearances for the Super Eagles as a player, and he has held coaching posts with the Togolese and Malian national teams. With Keshi stepping down, someone else will be charged with leading Nigeria at this summer’s FIFA Confederations Cup, a tournament for which Nigeria qualified by virtue of winning the Cup of Nations.
Nigeria’s win a triumph for Keshi
Nigeria’s third Africa Cup of Nations title, clinched on Sunday against Burkina Faso, was a huge personal triumph for coach Stephen Keshi –although the man himself would be loathe to admit it.
Big Boss, as the captain of the 1994 title-winning side is affectionately known, was hitting the continental jackpot as a coach at the third time of asking, after first-round knockouts with Togo in 2006 and Mali in 2010.
Part of the key to the Super Eagles’ 2013 success has been the 51-year-old’s bold yet heavily criticised gamble in calling up local-based players.
And, fittingly, it was one of this number, Sunday Mba, drawn from Nigerian league outfit Enugu Rangers, who got the decisive goal in the 1-0 victory to follow up his winner in the quarterfinal over Ivory Coast.
Keshi had described his players as ‘his Hollywood Stars’ after sending Didier Drogba and company packing – but he, too, deserves an Oscar for defying the tens of millions of ultra-critical wannabe national managers back home in Lagos.
At times charismatic, belligerent, terse and witty, but never dull, the former bull of a centre-back gained entry to an exclusive club of those to be crowned kings of Africa as both player and coach.
The only other man to accomplish that feat was the late Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary, who helped his country defeat Sudan 2-1 in the 1959 final and guided the Pharaohs to a 2-0 victory over South Africa 39 years later.
As a player, Keshi triumphed with a golden generation of Super Eagles in a 2-1 victory against a Zambia team rebuilt one year after the plane crash off Gabon that wiped out the national squad.
Reflecting on the differences between then and now, Keshi, who spent most of his playing career in Belgium, said: “The 1994 squad was unbelieveable.
“We were brothers, there was a great spirit in the team, now there is the talent, but we need a strong mentality and character.”
His band of brothers demonstrated plenty of that here on Sunday night.
This win also laid to rest the bitter memories of the 1996 Nations Cup, when Keshi and his fellow Eagles were denied a shot at defending their title on South African soil when a political spat between the South African and Nigerian goverments kept them at home.
Fast forward 17 years and the imposing figure of Keshi could be seen pacing the Soccer City touchline like a lion hunting its prey up at Kruger National Park – barking instructions, arms flailing, his shaven head glistening under the floodlights.
On 40 minutes he had his arms in the air celebrating Mba’s opener.
Mba it was who had scored the winner in the 2-1 quarterfinal win over Ivory Coast – after which Keshi, showing his caring gentler side, said “I want to kiss him!”
He has shown plenty of dignity, too, in South Africa.
On Saturday, at the eve-of-final press conference when he turned up looking like a Lagos street rapper, his baseball cap back to front, he warmly backed the decision to rescind the red card meted out to Burkina’s Jonathan Pitroipa.
When the final whistle sounded on Sunday, barely audible over the deafening din of 80 000 vuvuzelas (plastic trumpets), Keshi punched the air again, this time in a victory salute – before getting lost in a sea of embraces from his players and coaching staff.
AFCON Update
The Super Eagles face the Elephants at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday, Cote d’Ivoire having already secured their spot in the last-eight with a match to spare.
The perennial AFCON favourites lost out to Zambia in last year’s final, but unlike the ousted champions, Sabri Lamouchi’s team have looked a potent unit in 2013.
