Nigeria, the reigning U-17 World Champions, have begun their title defence on the right foot after taking down USA 2-0 in the Super Eaglets' opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.
A scoreless opening 45 minutes saw plenty of chances go begging for both sides. USA's Haji Wright came the closest to opening the scoring 13 minutes in after getting on the end of Christian Pulisic's cross but the No7 could not keep his effort from going over the crossbar.
Pulisic in particular tormented the Nigerian backline with his pace and skill attacking down the left, but the Super Eaglets held on and five minutes after the break took the lead. The Americans were unable to clear during a scramble in their area and Chukwudi Agor capitalised on the Stars and Stripes' mistake and smashed the ball into the net, leaving William Pulisic no chance.
The opening goal did not diminish the Americans' attacking spirit, but Richie Williams' side could not create any clear-cut chances to find an equaliser. And with half an hour remaining, Victor Osimhen doubled Nigeria's lead after cleverly beating two defenders and calmly finishing past Pulisic.
To make matters worse for USA, Auston Trusty was shown a straight red card three minutes from time, which will require coach Williams to make some changes in his backline ahead of the Americans' next match against Croatia on Tuesday. With the man advantage, the Super Eaglets confidently controlled the tempo of the game until the final whistle to put them on top of Group A, at least temporarily as Croatia take on tournament hosts Chile, also in Santiago, later on Saturday evening in the group's other match-up.
"Considering it was the first match, I think it was a good game. At the beginning it was pretty even, everything very tactical, neither of us wanted to make a mistake. At half time I told my players to believe in themselves, and it worked, because we were more precise. Besides the three points, which are very important, I also liked that we kept our heads even when we could not get things going," Emmanuel Amuneke, Nigeria coach.
"We are obviously disappointed because of the outcome. We played a good first half, we were balanced, solid and we even created some chance that we were not able to convert. Nigeria scored two quick goals, but thank to unfortunate errors on our side. We were hoping to be more effective, but we lost against a good Nigerian team," Richie Willams, USA coach.
All Africa
Monday, October 19, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
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Nigerian military general jailed for losing weapons to Boko Haram
The Nigerian military on Thursday convicted a Brigadier General, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, blamed for the loss of Baga in Borno State to Boko Haram insurgents in January.
Mr. Ransome-Kuti, son of Beko Ransome-Kuti, a foremost Nigerian pro-democracy activist who died on February 10, 2006, was arraigned before a military court, sitting in Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja, in May.
He was accused of cowardly behaviour, loss of weapons to Boko Haram, and negligent performance of military duty under section 62b of the Armed Forces Act.
In its judgment Thursday, the court dismissed the charge bordering on cowardly behaviour, following a no-case submission by the defendant.
The court said the officer was right in withdrawing his troops in the face of superior firepower from Boko Haram terrorists.
He was however sentenced to six-month imprisonment for loss of equipment to the extremist sect.
He was also found guilty for negligently performing his duties and was therefore dismissed from service.
Femi Falana, SAN, assisted by a retired Army Major, Femi Oyebanji, represented the convicted General during the trial.
Mr. Falana told PREMIUM TIMES Friday morning that his team was still reviewing the judgment, which he described as contradictory.
He promised to provide further details later.
Mr. Ransome-Kuti, his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Suru, and some other senior officers, were arrested for failing to repel Boko Haram attack on the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force [MNJTF] in Baga in January.
Also arrested at the time were the Commanding Officers of the 134 and 174 Battalions — Lieutenant Colonel Haruna and Major Aliyu. The two battalions were under the MNJTF during the period.
Mr. Ransome-Kuti was the commander of the multinational force during the attack.
The commanders were detained shortly after they arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, from Monguno, where they took refuge with troops after being dislodged from Baga.
Military sources told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that authorities were especially angry with Mr. Ransome-Kuti for his inability to lead his troop to counter the onslaught in Baga, despite the high calibre weapons and ammunition available to his unit.
After their arrests, the senior officers were held at the officers’ mess of the 21 Armoured Brigade, and were asked to account for the weapons lost to the insurgents.
The Nigerian Army had in August said cases of convicted and dismissed soldiers and the ongoing trials of officers and men would be reviewed.
But despite that announcement, the Special Court-Martial trying Mr. Ransome-Kuti at Abuja continued to sit.
“Since the other courts-martial have been dissolved while the suspects have been directed to appear for a review of their charges filed against them it is discriminatory, inequitable and illegal to continue with the trial of Brigadier-General Ransome-Kuti, Mr. Falana had told PREMIUM TIMES in August.
“The case should be reviewed in the interest of justice.”
The Army is yet to comment on the judgment.
Premium Times
Mr. Ransome-Kuti, son of Beko Ransome-Kuti, a foremost Nigerian pro-democracy activist who died on February 10, 2006, was arraigned before a military court, sitting in Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja, in May.
He was accused of cowardly behaviour, loss of weapons to Boko Haram, and negligent performance of military duty under section 62b of the Armed Forces Act.
In its judgment Thursday, the court dismissed the charge bordering on cowardly behaviour, following a no-case submission by the defendant.
The court said the officer was right in withdrawing his troops in the face of superior firepower from Boko Haram terrorists.
He was however sentenced to six-month imprisonment for loss of equipment to the extremist sect.
He was also found guilty for negligently performing his duties and was therefore dismissed from service.
Femi Falana, SAN, assisted by a retired Army Major, Femi Oyebanji, represented the convicted General during the trial.
Mr. Falana told PREMIUM TIMES Friday morning that his team was still reviewing the judgment, which he described as contradictory.
He promised to provide further details later.
Mr. Ransome-Kuti, his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Suru, and some other senior officers, were arrested for failing to repel Boko Haram attack on the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force [MNJTF] in Baga in January.
Also arrested at the time were the Commanding Officers of the 134 and 174 Battalions — Lieutenant Colonel Haruna and Major Aliyu. The two battalions were under the MNJTF during the period.
Mr. Ransome-Kuti was the commander of the multinational force during the attack.
The commanders were detained shortly after they arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, from Monguno, where they took refuge with troops after being dislodged from Baga.
Military sources told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that authorities were especially angry with Mr. Ransome-Kuti for his inability to lead his troop to counter the onslaught in Baga, despite the high calibre weapons and ammunition available to his unit.
After their arrests, the senior officers were held at the officers’ mess of the 21 Armoured Brigade, and were asked to account for the weapons lost to the insurgents.
The Nigerian Army had in August said cases of convicted and dismissed soldiers and the ongoing trials of officers and men would be reviewed.
But despite that announcement, the Special Court-Martial trying Mr. Ransome-Kuti at Abuja continued to sit.
“Since the other courts-martial have been dissolved while the suspects have been directed to appear for a review of their charges filed against them it is discriminatory, inequitable and illegal to continue with the trial of Brigadier-General Ransome-Kuti, Mr. Falana had told PREMIUM TIMES in August.
“The case should be reviewed in the interest of justice.”
The Army is yet to comment on the judgment.
Premium Times
Video - Boko Haram possibly using cluster bombs
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Video - Bomb blasts in Maiduguri, Nigeria leaves dozens dead
At least 39 people have died after multiple explosions in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, an emergency official says.
Three female suicide bombers, thought to be aged between 11 and 15, struck on Friday morning, an official with the National Emergency Management Agency told BBC Hausa.
It follows bomb attacks on a mosque on Thursday, which killed at least 32.
Maiduguri is often targeted by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
No group has yet said it was behind the attack during Thursday's evening prayers, that also left many people injured.
More than 100 people were killed in three explosions last month in the city, which is considered the birthplace of Boko Haram.
In Thursday's attack, officials say the first suicide bomber blew himself up inside the mosque, with a second bomber detonating explosives as people rushed to help those injured in the initial blast.
The explosions caused parts of the mosque to collapse, leading to further injuries.
Nigerian military spokesman Sani Kukasheka Usman told the BBC's Newsday programme that Boko Haram was resorting to suicide attacks because "they have been degraded to the extent that they can no longer fight collectively".
This year the security forces have reclaimed most of the territory previously captured by the group in north-eastern Nigeria.
Two million people have been forced from their homes since the militants launched their insurgency in 2009.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made combating the group a key campaign pledge as he sought election this year, but attacks by the Islamist group have intensified since he came to power.
Mr Usman said the Nigerian army was still determined to meet a deadline set by President Buhari to defeat Boko Haram by the end of the year.
BBC
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