Thursday, August 14, 2014

Nigeria ranked third in Africa FIFA rankings

 FIFA monthly Africa national team rankings released Thursday (Africa ranking, world ranking):

Algeria 1 24

Ivory Coast 2 25

Nigeria 3 33

Ghana 4 36

Egypt 5 38

Tunisia 6 42

Sierra Leone 7 50

Cameroon 8 54

Burkina Faso 9 58

Senegal 10 59

Mali 11 60

Libya 12 62

Guinea 13 64

South Africa 14 69

Cape Verde 15 74

Angola 16 75

Benin 17 77

Congo 18 78

Morocco 19 81

Uganda 20 81

Zambia 21 84

Botswana 22 86

Togo 23 87

Zimbabwe 24 90

DR Congo 25 93

Rwanda 26 101

Gabon 27 102

Kenya 28 104

Lesotho 29 105

Malawi 30 106

Mozambique 31 107

Tanzania 32 110

Ethiopia 33 112

Eq. Guinea 34 113

Namibia 35 114

Sudan 36 115

Niger 37 118

Liberia 38 119

C.A.R. 39 120

Guinea-Bissau 40 123

Burundi 41 129

Mauritania 42 133

Chad 43 140

Madagascar 44 143

Gambia 45 148


Swaziland 46 158

Comoros 47 175

Sao Tome 48 177

Seychelles 49 180

S. Sudan 50 185

Mauritius 51 188

Eritrea 52 203

Somalia 53 204

Djibouti 54 205

Next rankings: Sept 18

Vanguard

Related story: FIFA to lift ban on Nigeria participating in international football

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Nigeria approves use of experimental Ebola drug

The National Health Research Ethics Committee, Nigeria, has approved the use of an experimental Ebola drug, Zmapp, for treatment of patients infected with the virus.
The committee, which composed research scientists, is a national body under the Federal Ministry of Health.

The endorsement is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by Prof. Clement Adebamowo, Chairman of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja.

The decision by the committee is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the use of Zmapp for treatment of Ebola patients.

“It is ethical to use these treatments in the current situation without first submitting an application to National, State or Institutional Health Research Ethics Committee for prior review and approval.

“In addition, the Committee waives the current requirement that international shipment of any biological samples out of Nigeria should be preceded by the establishment of a Materials Transfer Agreement.

“ This waiver is to promote rapid international response to this global emergency,’’ the statement said.

In the statement, the Nigerian National Code for Health Research Ethics emphasised that all innovative and non-validated treatments should be carefully and adequately documented.

According to the statement, the documentation can form the basis for clinical trials of the efficacy and side effects of the treatment according to established scientific principles.

In the statement, the ethics committee enjoined all agencies, development partners and research scientists to follow the guideline for the rapid resolution of the current emergency.

“The guideline will contribute to preparedness in case of future occurrences and contribution to scientific knowledge.

“It must be noted that all Phase O and Phase I Clinical Trials that may subsequently be designed for treatment of this infection can be approved only by the National Health Research Ethics Committee,’’ it said.

Vanguard

Related stories: Third Ebola death confirmed in Nigeria

Video - Nigeria's challenge to contain ebola

Third Ebola death confirmed in Nigeria

A member of the West African regional body Ecowas has become the third person in Nigeria to die of Ebola fever, Ecowas said on Wednesday.

Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, 36, a protocol assistant, was travelling to an Ecowas function with Liberian Patrick Sawyer, the man who brought Ebola to Nigeria last month. Abdulqudir had been under quarantine. The country has reported eight cases of Ebola since Sawyer arrived on July 20.

"The Commission wishes to reassure staff of all Community institutions all over the entire region that it is taking all necessary steps to guarantee their health and safety," Ecowas said in a statement.

Reuters

Related stories: 2nd ebola case confirmed in Nigeria

Video - Nigeria's challenge to contain ebola

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Video - Nigeria's challenge to contain ebola


Nigeria may be Africa's biggest economy. But Ebola is certainly proving a challenge to its public health service.

Related stories: Nigeria confirms 10 cases of ebola

Nigerian government declares ebola outbreak a 'national emergency'

Former Newcastle great Shola Ameobi signs one-year deal with 2nd division Turkish club

Former Newcastle and Eagles striker Shola Ameobi has signed a one-year contract with second-division Turkish club Gaziantep Buyuksehir Belediyespor.

The Nigeria international, 32, was a free agent following his departure from St James' Park, where, after graduating from the academy, he had been a first-team player for 14 years.

"We want to establish an ambitious team in the league this season, and a strong team continues to strengthen by adding players," said a statement on Gaziantep's official website.

"We have therefore tied Nigerian striker Shola Ameobi - from one of the strongest teams in England, Newcastle United - to us for one year."

Ameobi made 312 appearances for the Magpies, scoring 53 goals, but much of his career on Tyneside was plagued by injury and inconsistent form. He scored Champions League goals against Barcelona in 2002 and against Bayer Leverkusen the following year, while his best return in the Premier League saw him score nine goals in 2005-06.

Ameobi's 11 goals in 21 appearances helped Newcastle win promotion from the Championship in 2010 but he steadily became a fringe player as boss Alan Pardew re-established the club in the top flight.

Gaziantep, who are currently managed by Suat Kaya, finished in 14th place in the TFF First League - the league below the Turkish Super Lig - last season.

Vanguard

Related stories: NFF threaten to petition FIFA for Newcastle and Millwall to release Amoebi and Shittu

Shola Ameobi excited to play for Nigeria