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Prayers for Finidi George

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BY CORNELIUS EHIMIAGHE (A supporter of Bendel Insurance FC).

 The fact that Finidi George is now the Super Eagles coach is no longer news. What will be news is how long is he going to last on this hot seat. Is he going to be kicked out after two matches? Are his players going to play to his instructions? Are the fans going to be singing: “all we are saying, no more indigenous coach?” Will the NFF be able to pay his salary?Decades ago, millions of Nigerians used to be inspired by the gallant performances of the Super Eagles. Recent inconsistent display by Super Eagles has led to the average Nigerian football followers diverting their attention to other diversionary activities in order to survive the current economic hardship. Gone are the days when Nigerians put all their hopes on the Super Eagles using the “never say die Naija spirit” to win a losing match. With two international matches experience under his belt, can Finidi George become the lucky general that Napoleon Bonaparte talked about, or is he going to be the field marshal that failed to deliver the World Cup ticket to millions of Nigerians?As the Super Eagles start their bid to revive their 2026 World Cup hopes, can a tree make a forest? Mind you, Finidi did not lay the shaky foundation of Nigeria’s quest for a 2026 World Cup ticket. The NFF has just bestowed on him the herculean task of awakening the Super in the Eagles. Finidi needs all the best wishes and prayers of Nigerians and the intercessions of our ancestors. Let us pray:· May your assistant coaches not back stab you. Ise (Amen).· May your star strikers not hit the post during time added on. Ise (Amen).· May the spirit of “Odiye” not enter the body of any Super Eagles players, during your tenure. Ise.· Under your watch, may no Super Eagles player die on the football field or in hospital after a football or training match. Ise.· May you and your players not be invited by state security officials to be tongue lashed and frog marched for not being able to sing the Nigerian national anthem (Nigeria we hail thee). Ise.· Under your watch, may no Super Eagles supporter at home or abroad be stabbed, shot at by trigger happy police officers, soldiers, or rival football supporters. Ise.· May you not be sacked because the kit man of the Super Eagles forgot the jerseys of the Super Eagle players in the hotel room. Ise.· The day football match fixers are looking for someone to collaborate with them, may they not find your telephone number or email address. Ise.· May you or your assistant coaches not collect money or undeclared gift items, aid, or abet the collection of money to invite any player to the Super Eagles camp. Ise.· May the NFF not owe you salary arears beyond one month. Ise.· May the irresponsible actions of an over zealot football fan or ball boy not lead to the abandonment of a Super Eagles match. Ise.· May the “oga of the oga at the top” not change your team selection of the Super Eagles in a crucial World Cup match. Ise.· Under your watch, may no referee or VAR conspire against the Super Eagles. Ise.· May members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) not write your professional obituary. Ise.· May you not be held hostage by football fans, football administrators, kidnappers or unknown gunmen. Ise.· May the “ladies of pleasure” not twist the waist or reduce the pace of acceleration of any Super Eagles player. Ise.· Under your watch, may FIFA or CAF not deduct any point of the Super Eagles. Ise.  · May you not qualify the Super Eagles for the 2026 World Cup, and be relieved of your duty before the commencement of the tournament. Ise.

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.

World Cup

Many fans risk missing 2026 World Cup as Visa window for visitors is closing

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The window to obtain a first-time U.S. visitor visa for the FIFA World Cup in 2026 is closing for some soccer fans, the U.S. Travel Association said at a press event this week, though the federal government says travelers still have time.

Visitor visa processing times have risen to 600 days for travelers in some countries, a big hurdle for fans who want to support one of the yet-to-be-determined 48 teams set to compete in the globally watched sporting event.

“If you don’t have your visa today, you’re not getting here for a World Cup that’s taking place in 2026,” Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the non-profit U.S. Travel Association told a group of reporters.

The U.S. State Department says the situation is not that dire, as it regularly assesses capacity and wait times in countries likely to play in the tournament, scheduled from June to July 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“While we encourage prospective FIFA World Cup visitors who will need U.S. visas to apply now, there is still plenty of time for fans to apply for their visas,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.

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Travelers are waiting on average 260 days for an appointment to interview for a first-time visitor visa, Freeman said. Average wait times in Colombia are currently about 670 days, according to the association, which would mean those visitors would miss the tournament.

In Mexico, the average wait is 458 days, and travelers from India are facing waits of up to 404 days for an interview.

More than 30 million travelers hold valid U.S. tourist visas and therefore would not have a problem if they wanted to attend the event, the State Department said.

FIFA is working with the Canadian, Mexican and U.S. governments to ensure that those who need visas can get them, a spokesperson said.

-Reuters

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Uruguay’s Suarez bids farewell in goalless draw with Paraguay

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- World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Uruguay v Paraguay - Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay - September 6, 2024 Uruguay's Luis Suarez in action REUTERS/Mariana Greif

Paraguay held Uruguay to a goalless draw in their South American World Cup qualifier on Friday, with striker Luis Suarez bringing his 17-year international career to an end at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo.

The 37-year-old forward reached 143 appearances for his country, finishing as their all-time leading scorer with 69 goals.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who finished third in the Copa America, played without five players from their starting line-up, including Darwin Nunez, who were suspended for their involvement in clashes with fans following the defeat to Colombia in the continental showpiece in July.

Uruguay wasted several chances, most notably a first-half right-footed volley from Suarez that struck the post after Facundo Pellistri’s cross.

Paraguay also created clear-cut opportunities, with Miguel Almiron coming closest only to be denied by goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, but neither side managed to capitalise.

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Uruguay remain second in the World Cup qualifying standings on 14 points, four behind leaders Argentina. They face Venezuela on Tuesday, while Paraguay take on Brazil.

-Reuters

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Brazil return to winning ways with dreary win over Ecuador

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- World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil v Ecuador - Estadio Antonio Couto Pereira, Curitiba, Brazil - September 6, 2024 Brazil's Rodrygo celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Rodolfo Buhrer

Brazil got back to winning ways in the South American World Cup qualifiers with a drab 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Friday thanks to first-half goal by Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.

After its first streak of losses in three successive qualifiers, Brazil did just enough to earn the win that lifted the struggling five-time World Cup champions to fourth in the standings with 10 points.

They are eight points behind leaders Argentina and only two points over Ecuador in sixth, the last spot guaranteed a berth at the 2026 finals.

Playing their first match after a disappointing Copa America defeat to Uruguay in the quarter-final, Brazil had another lacklustre performance, dominating possession but failing to create clear chances throughout the match.

Brazil misplaced too many passes and struggled to connect up front, out of ideas on how to beat Ecuador’s rock solid defensive block.

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Ecuador were relentless while applying a physically aggressive pressure high with three hardworking forwards, making the locals uncomfortable when putting the ball in play. They Brazil almost no room to get inside their box either, forcing them to roam the ball horizontally around their penalty area and resort to strikes from long range.

Brazil’s only two shots on target on the first half were made by Rodrygo, who, after stinging the goalkeeper’s hands from a free kick early, were lucky to break the deadlock in the 29th minute. His effort fired from the edge of the box deflected off a defender and arched around the wrong-footed goalkeeper before hitting the right post and finding the back of the net.

Ecuador almost levelled in a counterattack right before the break, but defender Gabriel Magalhaes denied Moises Caicedo’s effort with a last-minute goal-line clearance.

Brazil came back even worse in the second half, with an uninspired Vinicius Jr creating their only shot on target in an absolutely morose 45 minutes, with boos greeting the final whistle.

“We needed this win, doesn’t matter if it was ugly or not. I’m happy with the victory and to have scored, and I hope it helps us getting better and progressing to the level that we want to reach moving forward,” Rodrygo told Brazilian TV Globo. Brazil will face Paraguay at Asuncion on Tuesday while Ecuador is set to host Peru in Quito on Monday.

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-Reuters

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