Sport

AFCON 2021: Nigeria Draws Egypt, Sudan, Guinea Bissau

By Web News 525

Nigeria’s Gernot Rohr-led Super Eagles who are chasing a fourth title have learned their opponents for the biennial African football showpiece.

Nigeria will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in Group D of the preliminary round of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations where they are joined by Sudan and Guinea Bissau.

The draw ceremony which took place at Yaounde Conference Centre in Cameroon, served up plenty of interesting battles.

Debutants at the tournament, Comoros, will they take on Senegal, Ghana and Gabon in Group C.

Tunisia have been zoned alongside Mali, Mauritania, and Gambia in Group F.

While Algeria must make their way past Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire in Group E if they hope to get to the second round of the competition.

The Super Eagles will begin their quest for glory against the Pharaohs at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua on January 11, 2022.

The 33rd edition of the biennial African football showpiece was due to begin on January 9, 2021, however, it was pushed back to January 2022 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic that crippled football-related activities.

Full Draws

Group AGroup B
CameroonSenegal
Burkina FasoZimbabwe
EthiopiaGuinea
Cape VerdeMalawi
Group CGroup D
SenegalNigeria
GhanaEgypt
ComorosSudan
GabonGuinea-Bissau
Group EGroup F
AlgeriaTunisia
Sierra LeoneMali
Equatorial GuineaMauritania
Cote d’IvoireGambia

Maxwell Oyekunle

Sport

You are indeed super! – Sports Minister Hails Super Eagles

By Web News 744

The Super Eagles are truly worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.

The Minister of Youth and sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare made this known in a statement issued following the team’s qualification for the 2022 Nations Cup in Cameroon.

A statement by the Minister’s media office said “Congratulations, Super Eagles for making us proud once again through your qualification to the Nations Cup. You are indeed super. Keep soaring to the creed of your name. You are worthy  Ambassadors of our great country. So delighted  that you qualified in grand style Nigerians are very excited and proud of your feat.”

The Gernot Rohr led team secured their ticket to the Biennial event on Tuesday following their 3-0 win over the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

On Saturday, they had defeated the Squirrels of Benin Republic 1- 0 in  Port Novo to take an unassailable lead into the last group game which they won convincingly.

Maxwell Oyekunle

Sport

Gernot Rohr contract renewal is a welcome development – Ogun SWAN Chairman

By Web News 816

The renewal of the contract of Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has been described as a welcome development.

The Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Ogun state chapter, Alhaji Akeem Akintunde said in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Abeokuta that the decision would put to rest the long term speculation regarding his contract renewal.

Alhaji Akintunde said there was the need to give the coach the needed support and assistance towards the development of football in the country.

Alhaji Akintunde also encouraged the Nigeria Football Federation to strengthen the technical department and ensure that all hands were on deck in a bid to move football forward at the national level.

Olusegun Folarin

Sport

NFF Denies Owning Rohr, Clarifies Dennerby’s Situation

By Web News 720

The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, says it is not owing any of the Coaches in its employ any salary.

This is contained in a statement it issued on Twitter via has its handle @thenff.

The Football body also cleared the air concerning Super Falcons coach, Thomas Dennerby.

Full Statement

“The NFF wishes to put records straight with regards to a claim in the social media on Friday, 11th October 2019 that the football house is owing Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, three months’ salary.

As we speak, Mr. Rohr is only being owed salary for the month of September 2019, which is being processed.

As for Mr. Thomas Dennerby, we have received his resignation letter and of course, he has his right to resign from a job.

We want to put it on record that no Head Coach in the history of the Super Falcons has been afforded the level and readiness of support that has been provided Mr. Dennerby by this Board.

Perhaps, one of the reasons he left was because we did not accede to his request to bring in more expatriate coaches and an indigenous coach who does not have the required license.

If we had agreed to his request for more expatriate coaches, that would have left our indigenous coaches presently with the team in the lurch.”

Maxwell Oyekunle