Nigerian Football
All WELL THAT ENDS WELL; NFF THANKS ALL
The bottles of champagne are still being popped as Nigeria celebrates the sixth qualification for the World Cup. President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick on Monday expressed the gratitude of the body and that of the Nigerian football family to the Presidency and various other individuals and groups who contributed to the Super Eagles’ qualification for Russia 2018 World Cup finals.
The Super Eagles beat hard –fighting Zambia 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday to become the first African team to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. But Pinnick noted the Eagles would not have been able to make light work of the so –called Group of Death without the support of so many people and institutions.
Pinnick praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his keen love and support for the team, while also commending Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Sports Minister Solomon Dalung and the sports committees of the National Assembly.
“Mr. President was always there for the team and for the NFF; he supported us not only by providing whatever we asked for but also by keenly following the progress of the team. We remain eternally grateful to him.
“The Vice President came to see the team at training session during one of the qualifying matches and showed immense interest in the team’s welfare. The Senate President personally attended the matches against Algeria and Zambia and sent representatives to the other qualifying matches.
“The Sports Minister? He was a pillar for the team and the NFF during the qualifying series. Apart from always taking up the case of NFF and the team at the Presidency whenever we needed funds for the assignment, he was personally present at all the qualifying matches we played in the group phase.”
The Eagles played all their home matches in the group phase in Uyo, and the NFF supremo spared no encomium for Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State.
“Governor Udom Emmanuel did tremendously well. He never wavered in his belief that the Eagles would make it. The Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State showed warmth and commendable hospitality throughout.
“We also commend the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Sports Committee and the House Sports Committee for their support and encouragement.”
The NFF President equally lauded the hard work that the Members of NFF Executive Committee and the NFF Management and Staff did to ensure a smooth run of the campaign.
“The Members of the NFF Executive Committee, my colleagues, were marvellous. I doff my hat for them, for their energy and enthusiasm. The NFF Management and Staff led by Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary) also did a wonderful job. Everyone put themselves at the disposal of the Federation for any duty assigned to them, and they did their work well.
“We cannot probably mention the names of all those who helped, but we give kudos to our partners and sponsors, and all stakeholders of Nigerian Football, indeed every Nigerian who played a role in this success.”
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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