Eguavoen apologises, resigns as Olympics Eagles coach

By: Online Publisher's

NATIONAL Under-23 Coach, Austin Eguavoen, has quit as coach of the Olympic team after he failed to qualify the team for London 2012.

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Nigeria's Olympics Eagles failed to go past the group stage of the qualifiers in Morocco after losing two games and winning one.

His letter of resignation was forwarded to the Chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Green.

"I hereby resign my post as coach of the national U23 team despite all the support I received from the NFF. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it," Eguavoen wrote in part.

Eguavoen has been involved in the national team set up since 2003, when he first handled the U17s and has been in charge of the full international side as well.

He has taken full responsibility for his team's failure to reach London 2012 after raising so much expectations in the earlier rounds of the qualifiers where Nigeria thumped Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.

"First of all football has given me what I have today. I thank every Nigerian for being there for me and giving me all the support needed for this tournament,"  said the 46-year-old coach.

"We came into this tournament prepared. Losing Kingsley Udoh in the first game, just three minutes was a big blow.

"Our first half against Senegal was awful but we were in our best against a very technical Algeria but unfortunately we rose up to the occasion late.

"I apologise to Nigerians for our disappointing outing. I had an option to come and not to but I had confidence in this team, unfortunately it didn't turn out the way we wanted. I am deeply sorry".

Eguavoen said he hopes to take a two-month break and possibly return to work in the Nigeria Premier League.

"My contract is tied to this tournament with a target of reaching at least the semi-finals of the Olympics in London, but I have failed in that target. Right now I would just take two months out and maybe return to the local league," he said.

The Former Super Eagles coach also spoke on the positives from the tournament.

"First we were able to redeem our image hoping that Morocco will keep their winning streak. But the biggest positive for me is that my 'Skippo' ( the Super coach Stephen Keshi) was here. As we all know, we are rebuilding and I believe he must have spotted players here that would help him in the national team."

Names of Players Nominated for 2011 FIFA Wolrd Best Player

By: Online Publisher's

 

FIFA today announced the names of 23 football players in contention for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011,  simply known as World Football Player of the Year. It's listed below in alphabetical order.

Éric Abidal (France), Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain), Diego Forlán (Uruguay), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Müller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Gerard Piqué (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suárez (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

Who do you think should win? Meanwhile, continue to see the ten coaches nominated for FIFA World Coach of the Year...


The coaches are listed in alphabetical order, first nationality and then team...

Vicente Del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United FC), Rudi Garcia (France/Lille OSC), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jürgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Löw (Germany/Germany national team), José Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid C.F.), Óscar Tabárez (Uruguay/Uruguay national team), André Villas-Boas (Portugal/FC Porto, Chelsea FC), Arsène Wenger (France/Arsenal FC).

The nominated footballers and coaches will be cut down to top three on December 5, 2011. The top 3 will be those with the highest number of votes.

MIKEL SPEAKS ON HIS $5000 FINE: I AM NOT AWARE - MIKEL

By: Online Publisher's

Chelsea and Super Eagles striker John Mikel Obi has said he was not aware of the purported fine said to have been imposed on him by the team’s Coach Samson Siasia for arriving late to camp.

Mikle Obi

Mikel who joined the team Wednesday morning – one day after Tuesday’s deadline- also said he informed the Coach of his inability to join the team before the expiration of the deadline.
Mikel, who is sure to start against Guinea tomorrow added that he did not expect to be penalized  after being permitted to arrive on Wednesday.
“I am not aware of any fine,” the Chelsea midfielder told our correspondent in Abuja, Thursday.
He however, expressed optimistic that the Super Eagles would beat the Syli Stars of Guinea  tomorrow to pick up the only ticket from the group for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Mikel  Obi’s optimism was also s
hared by Inter-Milan midfielder, Joel Obi who also said he was sure   Nigeria would carry the day in tomorrow’s African Nations Cup tie.

PEPSI TO GIVE THE SUPER EAGLES TEAM 50 MILLION TO BEAT GUINEA

By: Online Publisher's

Senate President to lead support for Eagles
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have no reason to fail when they take on their Guinean counterparts in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Abuja, as support has been pouring in from all angles.
The latest support is coming from Pepsi, the official beverage of the African Cup of Nations which yesterday announced a whopping N50 million winning bonus for the Super Eagles of Nigeria should they beat the Syli Stars of Guinea.
In addition, a princely some of N100 million for the Super Eagles players if they can repeat the feat of the Tunisia ’94
Eagles by winning the continental trophy in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next year.
Spokesman for Pepsi, Jimi Awosika, said during a press briefing in Lagos that the N50 million bonus award to the players was a clarion call to the players to fight for the honour of their fatherland and ensure that Nigeria’s football  glory was restored.
Awosika, who doubles as the Managing director of Insight Communications stated in clear terms that the Pepsi N50 million largess was conditional: the Super Eagles must win and qualify.
Senate President to lead support for Eagles
President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Distinguished Senator David Mark will be special guest of honour at Saturday’s 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying cracker between Nigeria and Guinea at the National Stadium, Abuja.
The country’s Number Three Citizen, an ardent fan of the Super Eagles, was leader of the Federal Government delegation to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, and accompanied President Goodluck Jonathan to meet the players and officials at the Protea Hotel Wanderers in Johannesburg on the eve of their opening match of the tournament against Argentina.
Also expected at the big occasion on Saturday afternoon are Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, Governors of Bayelsa, Delta and Nasarawa States, cabinet ministers, senators, members of the House, the Inspector General of Police and other highly-placed Nigerian political and business leaders.

Robben Undergoes Successful Groin Surgery

By: Online Publisher's

The  Dutch winger Arjen Robben has undergone successful surgery to remedy a troublesome groin problem, his club Bayern Munich confirmed on Friday.
Robben had been left “frustrated” after the injury flared up recently ruling him out of the Netherlands’ forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers.
After a long consultation Thursday with Bayern medical staff the club and player decided it was time to undergo surgery.
Bayern said in a statement: “Inflammation of the pubic bone had evolved in recent days leading to complications around the groin area. A successful operation was carried out at the Munich clinic of Dr Hoffmann Tomas.”
Bayern said Robben could return to training in around a fortnight.
Robben had said Thursday: “I’m worried. I don’t know where I am with this injury and it’s really frustrating.
“It’s a complicated injury. No-one can tell me exactly what I need to do.”
Robben has already missed several matches for Bayern this season due to a succession of injuries.
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said he would not call up a replacement, despite also being without Maarten Stekelenburg, Wesley Sneijder, John Heitinga, Hedwiges Maduro and Ibrahim Afellay due to injury.
The Netherlands’ two final European qualifiers, against Moldova on Friday and Sweden next Tuesday, are of little consequence as van Marwijk’s side have already qualified for next year’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Yobo, Odemwingie, Ike Uche hit Eagles’ camp for Guinea

By: Online Publisher's

Joseph Yobo

Osaze Peter Odemwingwe

I.K Uche

Fenerbhace defender, Joseph Yobo and West Brom attacker, Osaze Peter Odemwingie, are expected to arrive the country later today from their respective locations in Europe in preparation for this weekend's Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea in Abuja.

Yobo is expected to resume training tomorrow with other players who are already on ground for the crucial duel. The player travelled out of Turkey 24 hours after helping Fenerbhace to record a 4-2 victory over Istanbul Belediyesi.

Fenerbhace is topping Turkish league with 13 points after five matches, winning 4 and drawing a game with Istanbul in the second place with 10 points. Yobo is determined to scale through the last hurdle of the qualifier to give Nigeria a deserving independence anniversary gift with victory over the dreaded Guinea.

At the same time, Odemwingie hopes to translate his prowess at club level in the national team as he arrived today from England to warm up against Guinea. Odemwigie was one of Albion players who earned the praise of Roy Hodgson for showing the mental strength after letting a two-goal lead slipped in during the club 2-2 draw at Sunderland. Hodgson was pleased with the improvement in his team's attacking qualities, albeit after seeing his side concede twice at the other end.

The coach believes so much in Odemwingie. He says the Nigerian star is good enough and has the skills to overcome the problem, just like Cristiano Ronaldo did at Manchester United. Odemwingie, 30, banged in 15 goals in his first Premier League season as West Brom went on a run of only two defeats in 12 games under Hodgson to stay up last term.

The striker has scored only once this term as he struggles to recapture that form. But coach Samson Siasia is waving off the pressure to building a formidable team capable of subduing the Syli Stars. He has been working underground to give Nigeria the very best result.

Ferguson sees squad rotation as key for United

Sir Alex Fergusson

Injuries that are keeping Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez out of Tuesday's Champions League match against FC Basel give Manchester United the chance to implement the squad rotation policy that manager Alex Ferguson says is the key to success.
Rooney's hamstring injury and Hernandez's dead leg have ruled the potent striking duo out of the Group C match at Old Trafford, paving the way for the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Danny Welbeck to make their mark.
Even if they had not been injured, Ferguson may well have looked to his back-up players -- which include last season's joint top scorer in the league and England's fourth highest international scorer.
"Having a squad gives them a better chance of winning things, so they've accepted (the squad system) a long time ago," Ferguson told a news conference on Monday.
"And they want to do well when they get the opportunity because as a group we all want to do well.
"They all have a part to play in the context of the number of games you have in the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup, FA Cup, it's an exhausting season unless you use your squad."
Berbatov, who scored 20 goals to share last season's Premier League golden boot, found himself edged in the second half of last term as Hernandez's goal-poaching prowess was preferred to the Bulgarian's more languid approach.
Owen showed last week the devastating touch that netted him 40 England goals in 89 internationals was still there with two goals against Leeds United in the League Cup.
Both would be glad to be given a chance to shine at Old Trafford on Tuesday in Europe's elite club competition but face competition from youngster Welbeck, who was given the nod ahead of them when Hernandez was sidelined earlier this season.

ON YOUR TOES
Winger Ashley Young, who missed United's 1-1 draw at Benfica in their opening Group C game earlier this month, is hopeful of making his first Champions League appearance against Basel but is aware there is no guarantee.
"When you come to a club like Manchester United, you are going to be challenged," the 26-year-old, who joined United from Aston Villa in the close season, told the news conference.
"It's always nice to know you've got to be on your toes 24/7 in training every day, you've got to go out there and give 100 percent because you know someone else could take your spot."
The attacking berths are not the only ones up for grabs as injuries to Chris Smalling (groin) and Jonny Evans (ankle) have created vacancies in defence.
Captain Nemanja Vidic remains sidelined with a calf problem and Ferguson hopes the centre back might have recovered from it by the time the two-week international break is over in the middle of next month.
The manager had no idea when Rooney, who has already scored nine league goals this season, would return but said Hernandez should be available for Saturday's league game against Norwich City.
Without Rooney and Hernandez, who missed most of Saturday's league game at Stoke City after being forced off early, United dropped their first points of the season with a 1-1 draw although they still top the Premier League on goal difference.
After appearances in three of the last four finals, including victory in the 2008 edition, United have set their sights high again this time.
"We have been consistent in the Champions League, our form away from home has been outstanding and we hope we can do better this year and win it, that's the aim of this club all the time," Ferguson said.
"The Champions League is the best competition in the world now, better than the World Cup, better than the European Championships, it's a fantastic tournament.