Brazil 2014

Entertainment

"They made a good impression on me". Arsene Wenger backs Nigeria to qualify for second stage.

63 year-old Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger believes Nigeria would qualify for the second stage of the of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil. Nigeria according to the Frenchman has a good team spirit and even made a good impression on him during the last. AFCON tournament.

“I don’t know about second place. I think that Nigeria might qualify for the second stage. They really made a good impression on me during the African Cup of Nations. They seem to have a really good team spirit, which is not always easy for African teams. They have less star players. They have a real team, and it’s been a while since that happened for them.” He stated.

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Entertainment

Brazil 2014: Inside Nigeria's base camp (Photos)

What often comes to mind when the phrase ‘base camp’ is mentioned is usually an old barrack building. Far From it. For the forthcoming tournament which will start in Brazil by June 12, 2014, our dear Super Eagles will be practising and preparing for their matches in a well-appointed hotel in Brazil.
According to Goal.com Nigeria, the hotel Vitoria Hotel Concept, Campinas a 19-floor edifice with 253 rooms was chosen by the Nigeria Football Federation. It also boasts of a spa, a hydrotherapy room, a swimming pool, a heliport, fully fitted gym, four restaurants, shopping centres, bakeries to mention a few. They will also be training at the 40,988 capacity Estadio Brinco de Ouro de Princesa stadium located in the heart of the city of Campinas.
Barbara Porto, the hotel’s General Manager told Goal.com, “We are very prepared to host the Nigerian delegation. We have three more hotels in the Vitoria chain and we have been in this market for 15 years. Last year we hosted the USA, Russia, Brazil and Poland volleyball teams for two weeks and everything was alright (food, room, events, breakfast). We are training our employees to give the best service and teaching almost all of them to speak English. I think we are not going to have any problem with the Nigerian delegation.”
Credit: Goal.com Nigeria
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Entertainment

"Ivory Coast will always let you down, Nigeria will go furthest"- Emmanuel Adebayor offers insight into African teams ahead of Brazil 2014

Togolese international, Emmanuel Adebayor has offered an insight into some of the African teams who will represent their countries at the 2014 World Cup. Speaking to Daily Express, the former Manchester City player started with Ivory Coast which boasts of fantastic players like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, but his analysis of the team was a bit harsh.
“I never trust them. They are the country that will always let you down. I know all of them from the bench to the manager. Sabri Lamouchi their coach is my very good friend. How come for the last four or five years have they not won the African Cup of Nations? They have got the best striker in Europe in Didier Drogba. They have got the best midfielder today, Yaya Toure. You’ve got one of the best strikers in the league today, the one that plays at Swansea, Wilfried Bony. You have all of those players.
“But the thing is, are they going to be collective enough? I don’t know. I am not an Ivorian. They will be talking, laughing and enjoying themselves but when the time comes, they will forget about their job. There’s no togetherness. Everyone wants to be the hero. Everybody wants to be the one to finish on a high so the folks remember them for what I have done, not for what we have done as a generation, nor for what we have done as team. Everyone wants to be like a hero and that is what is killing Ivory Coast.”

The 30 year-old however spoke highly of the Nigeria squad: “Out of these teams, my choice for which of the African teams will go the furthest would be Nigeria because of their concentration. Because of Stephen Keshi the coach, he knows a lot about football and everything. He has been there as well as a player for Nigeria. And they have got Victor Moses, who is a great friend of mine, and I like the way he plays. Jon Obi Mikel played a lot for Chelsea this year and showed how good he is. Their goalkeeper is very good. Nigeria have all the ingredients to be good in the World Cup.”
The Tottenham forward has also backed the Ghanaian team to do well in the tournament. “Ghana have a good team. I hope they do well but they have done everything that is possible. Asamoah Gyan is a great player and great friend of mine but he is now playing in Dubai. He is still their main man. If he is not in form or if he does not match the level of the World Cup, then Ghana will struggle.
Indeed they will. In fact, during my time as a player, I got to know many of those who will be taking part in the World Cup for their respective African nations. Experienced players like Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari will need to be at their best to help Ghana.” He concluded.
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Entertainment

"I'm very disappointed but life goes on". Brown Ideye on World Cup exclusion

Nigerian/ Dynamo Kiev forward, Brown Ideye has taken to his twitter account to vent his disappointment after he was excluded in the provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

“I’m very disappointed, but life does not end here. Life goes on.” He tweeted.

Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu took the exclusion in good faith. He didn’t only wish the squad the best in the tournament, he also implored Nigerians to support and pray for them.

“Gutted I didn’t make the preliminary Squad. Nigeria is blessed with a lot of players. We all can’t make the list. Every player wants to be at the World Cup.

I want to thank Coach Keshi for opportunities he gave me. I remain grateful for all, for he made my dream come true as a player to serve my great nation, which I’m always proud of. Thanks everyone for your support. Please let’s pray for the lads. Let’s support the team as much as we can because I believe in the managers and the squad selected. We are family. I’ll come back stronger. And also thanks to the Football Federation NFF for their support to the Countries Football… God Bless the Super Eagles”.

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Entertainment, Sports

2014 World Cup: John Dumelo, Jackie Appiah, Becca, 10 others named Ghana's official ambassadors

13 Ghana celebrities have been unveiled as Ghana’s official ambassadors for the 2014 Brazil World Cup. They include Becca, John Dumelo, Jackie Appiah, Grace Ashy CK Akonnor, Tony Baffoe, Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew, Kwame Ayew, Augustine Ahinful, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Tony Yeboah, Azumah Nelson and Ali Jarrah.
As ambassadors, they are expected to make several campaigns ranging from getting the corporate world and the general public to lend their support to Ghana for the World Cup as well as raising funds to enable the supporters union of Ghana to travel to Brazil.
Photocredit: Ameyaw Debrah
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Entertainment

2014 World Cup: Stephen Keshi releases 30-man squad list

The wait is finally over! National team head coach, Stephen Keshi has finally released his 30-man squad list for the forthcoming World Cup. Surprisingly, Osaze Odemwingie made the list (well, a source hinted few weeks ago that he would be considered), while Ike Uche was dropped.
Meanwhile, all invited players are expected to report in camp on May 26. Nigeria will face Scotland in a friendly on 28 May at Houston, Texas; Greece and the United States in June 3 and June 7 respectively. The final 23-man players list for Brazil 2014 will be compiled on 2nd June, 2014.

LIST OF PLAYERS

Forwards:  Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy); Peter Odemwingie (Stoke City, England), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium); Victor Moses (Liverpool, England), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen, Holland).

Defenders:  Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Efe Ambrose (Celtic, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough, England); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Norwich City, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders:  John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Joel Obi (Parma, Italy); Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese, Italy); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain), Sunday Mba (CA Bastia, France), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren, Belgium), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine).

Goalkeepers:  Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United)
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fashion, Sports

Keshi kick off right! Ladies, would you rock this football-themed hairstyle?

 
 
Olaboludele Simoyan, writer and author of 2- in-one book ‘8th wonder of the world Made in Nigeria’ rocked this football-themed hairstyle to support Nigeria for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil. According to her, the hairstyle which is called ‘Keshi kick off right’ is “to inspire the Super Eagles to do the extraordinary at the World Cup and bring the world cup back home.”
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Entertainment, Sports

2014 World Cup: Solid star named Super Eagles Ambassador

Solid star

The Nigerian Football Supporters Club have named dreadlocked hip-hop singer, Joshua Iniyezo, fondly called Solidstar Super Eagles ambassador for the 2014 World Cup. Solid star who gained prominence in 2010 for his hit single “One in a Million” will also record and perform the official Super Eagles theme song for the tournament.

Dr. Rafiu Oladipo, President, The Nigerian Football Supporters Club stated that the choice of the singer was borne out of the need to select ” someone who was passionate about Nigerian football and who had that gyration in his voice and who the new and old generation can relate to and it was just Solidstar that came to mind.”

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Entertainment

2014 World Cup: FIFA cancels Nigeria's ticket allocation

Interesting! FIFA has cancelled about 11,000 tickets meant for Nigeria simply because Nigerians have refused to buy them. Idris Adama, Head of Marketing, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday revealed that only 400 Nigerian fans purchased match tickets by the deadline.
“It is unfortunate that our share of about 11,000 tickets was cancelled because of the refusal of our people to buy the tickets. We sent news releases and even did event in Lagos to create awareness, but people did not respond. Only 400 real fans bought the tickets as at midnight of February 7, which was the deadline. As I speak, our three group matches have sold out and what ordinary should be our share of the tickets to pick up have been allotted to fans from other parts of the world waiting for the tickets to be withdrawn from the African participating nations,” He stated.
Unfortunately, the Brazilian government has mandated its embassies worldwide to make provision of match ticket as condition for issuance of visa.
“Except you are going to Brazil for other business, you can’t get a visa without a World Cup ticket, because it is one of the conditions the Brazilian government has set for its embassies globally. You need evidence of a ticket, either physically or approved proof from FIFA that you have purchased a World Cup ticket. We will have to wait till the next balloting in April which is based on first come, first served basis.” He added.
Top Ten countries with the highest no of ticket Allocations.
* Brazil – 906,433 tickets
*USA- 125,465
*Colombia – 60,231
*Germany – 55,666
*Argentina – 53,809
*England – 51,222
*Australia – 40,446
*France – 34,971
*Chile – 32,189
*Mexico – 30,238
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