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EXCITEMENT GALORE AS THE SUN’S WORLD CUP SEMINAR GATHERS MOMENTUM

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

As the clock ticks down to the May 22 date of The Sun Publishing Limited’s seminar aimed at galvanising support for the World Cup-bound Super Eagles, one of the key actors of the event, Mallam Nasir Danladi Bako has expressed deep appreciation to the gesture of the publishing house in organising the seminar.

Holding in Port Harcourt, incidentally, the city where the Super Eagles began their home campaign for Russia 2018, the event will assemble technocrats, administrators, football enthusiasts, former national team players and other stakeholders in the project aimed at propelling the Nigerian team to scale previous barriers.blankSuper Eagles players looking dejected after another Round of 16 ouster at Brazil 2014. The Sun Publishing Limited is urging the team to soar higher this time.

The best the Super Eagles had attained in the global showpiece is getting to the Round of 16 on three occasions and losing to European oppositions. “It is our wish to see the team perform better, hence the theme of the seminar is ‘That Super Eagles may excel in Russia and beyond”, Eric Osagie, the Managing Director of The Sun explained to www.sportsvillagesquare.com.

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We are mobilising support for the Super Eagles”, says Eric Osagie, MD of The Sun Publishing Limited.

The Nigerian team scaled the group stage in 1994, 1998 and 2014 before losing to Italy, Denmark and France respectively in the round of 16.

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However, three African countries had crossed that barrier into the quarter finals and were at the brink of even getting to the semi-finals.  Cameroon performed the feat at Italia ’90 and were at the brink of semi-finals in the tie with England before a late penalty kick saw their aspirations going into smokes.

Senegal debuted in 2002 beating defending champions 1-0 in the opening game just as Cameroon did in 1990 and eventually got to the quarter finals before losing 1-0 to Turkey after extra time.

Ghana also did the same thing and were even closer to the semi-finals before losing to Uruguay.

“Our aspiration is not just to see the lead brand of Nigerian football getting through to the second round and exiting, we need to equal the feat already achieved by other African countries and even getting beyond that.

“That explains why we added the phrase ‘beyond 2018”, Osagie explained. One of the proposed key speakers at the event, Mallam Nasir Danladi Bako, a veteran broadcaster and former Director General of National Broadcasting Commission, spoke in similar vein.

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blankDanladi Bako: : “For me, the seminar is very timely and a bold attempt at galvanizing public support and awareness for Super Eagles”.

He commended The Sun for organizing the seminar which will further galvanise support for the Super Eagles.

Bako, the originator of ‘Morning Ride’ and Master Sports on the NTA2, Lagos in the early 1990s confirmed he would be attending the seminar holding in Port Harcourt.

He described the seminar is an audacious attempt at galvanizing public support for the Eagles.

In his words: “For me, the seminar is very timely and a bold attempt at galvanizing public support and awareness for Super Eagles.

“More importantly, the effort is a brainchild of one of Nigeria’s most widely read newspapers.

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“I have had the privilege of attending five World Cups and I would be in Port Harcourt to bring my knowledge and experience to bear at the conference” said the Kogunan Sakwatto.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

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An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

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Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

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Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

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Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

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Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

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Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina

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Referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine of Cape Verde

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.

He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.

Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.

Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).  

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