Monday, October 10, 2011

Fans vandalize national stadium in response to Super Eagles Nations Cup exit

Disappointed Super Eagles' fans on Saturday in Abuja showed their bitterness by vandalising some parts of the stadium and by calling for removal of Coach Samson Siasia.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles drew 2-2 against Guinea's Syli Nationale to seal Nigeria's hopes of participating in the 2012 African Nations Cup.


In the qualifying final round 'Group B' match played at the Abuja National Stadium, the Eagles had come from behind to lead 2-1 until the fifth minute of added time.


While the fans had restrained themselves from booing the team during the game, in spite of a lacklustre performance, they, however, started booing the players after the game.


After booing the players off the pitch, an appreciable number of the fans, who could find their way to the stadium's VIP Section, broke a glass window near the Media Centre.


The fans made frantic attempts to break in and make their feelings known to the horde of journalists who were waiting for the post-match conference.


Military policemen and anti-riot policemen, who were part of the heavy security arrangements put in place for the match, however, stopped the irate fans from entering the VIP Lounge.


Another group of fans also broke down part of the wire fence near the Upper Terrace turnstiles, as they were moving out of the stadium, to show their anger.


But some of them were still able to make their feelings known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, with many of them calling for Siasia's sack.


"Now Nigerians have seen the difference, after they sacked Amodu Shaibu and refused to take either Stephen Keshi or Augustine Eguavoen.


"Siasia has failed us; he should just go and give way before we fail to qualify for the 2014 World Cup," an Abuja-based fan, Henry Akalonu, said.


Gbenga Ogunmuyiwa, a Keffi-based businessman, said that the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) should remove Siasia.


He said: "The coach's hardline stance led him to fall out with many of his players, thereby leading to disunity in the team.


"It is clear that the players are not happy with him. This is the result of his decision to always go hard on them.


"If he had not had problems with Osaze Odemwingie, Vincent Enyeama and Mikel Obi, we could have had a better team to beat Guinea," Ogunmuyiwa said.


NANreports that Bangoura Ismael had given Guinea the lead in the 54th minute to dampen the fans' morale, while Obinna Nsofor drew level in the 63rd minute to raise hopes.


Substitute Ikechukwu Uche scored in the 78th minute to put the Eagles in line for qualification, only for the sloppy defending that led to the equaliser.


Traore Ibrahima sliced through tired-looking Eagles defenders in the fifth minute of added six minutes in the second half to draw level and put Guinea solidly on its way to the Nations Cup.


Leadership


Related stories: Samson Siasia apologizes for Super Eagles Nations Cup exit


Nigeria's Super Eagles fail to qualify for Nations Cup




Samson Siasia apologizes for Super Eagles Nations Cup exit


Nigeria coach Samson Siasia has issued an apology to Nigerians after the Super Eagles drew 2-2 against Guinea to miss out on the 2012 African Nations Cup.


"This is a doom day. We have disappointed Nigerians. It is a very sad day for me in particular. I take responsibility. It is sad, very sad. We lost many chances. You don't create such chances and miss them. If you do the story may not be good. That's what happened. We are sorry".


Vanguard


Related story: Nigeria's Super Eagles fail to qualify for Nations Cup




Saturday, October 8, 2011

Nigeria's Super Eagles fail to qualify for Nations Cup

Nigeria are out of the Africa Cup of Nations after being held to a 2-2 draw by Guinea in Abuja.


The Syli Nationale go through as Group B winners.


After Ismael Bangoura gave the visitors a second-half lead, Nigeria seemed to have turned it around with goals from Obinna Nsofor and Ikechukwu Uche.


But Ibrahima Traore's goal deep into stoppage time ensured Guinea's progress and meant Nigeria failed to qualify for the first time since 1986.


They will be absent from the competition for the first time since 1996 however, having quit those finals for political reasons.


Coach Samson Siasia apologised for the defeat.


"We want to apologise to all Nigerians. We have not qualified for the Nations Cup and we take responsibility as a team," Siasia said.


"We did our best, we dominated the game, we created chances, but we failed to take our chances and we gave up a last minute goal.


"We understand the frustration of the fans because they love their team so much. But sometimes, football can be cruel."


The Super Eagles went into the match needing to win 1-0, or by two clear goals should Guinea have scored, to book their place in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.


Nigeria's plight was not helped when Ethiopia beat Madagascar 4-2 in Addis Adaba on Saturday.


With results against the bottom side in the group not being taken into account, Nigeria's two wins over Madagascar are no longer relevant.


This means the Super Eagles' points tally from their game against Guinea and Ethiopia total just five points - trailing Sudan (seven) and Libya (eight).


"This was a very big surprise - and I must confess that the team was very nervous - the pressure was just too much," former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh told BBC Sport.


"Things have been going wrong for us since 2002 - there's a lack of consistency, we are not that well-rounded and there are too many lapses.


"Not qualifying for a World Cup is one thing but when we don't qualify for a Nations Cup, that hurts as it means we don't belong to the best teams in the continent."


After the match, a number of Nigerian fans reacted angrily to the defeat - attacking the media tribune at the Abuja National Stadium while also damaging its infrastructure.


BBC


Related story: Super Eagles plead with fans for support



Nigerian convicts in Britain to serve prison term in Nigeria

Nigeria's lower house of parliament has approved a deal in which offenders convicted in Britain will serve out their jail terms in their home country.


The agreement still requires approval from the Senate, where it is likely to pass soon.


About 600 Nigerian inmates are being held in British jails, but it is not clear how many will face deportation.


The decision follows a visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to Nigeria in July.


The UK Ministry of Justice said foreigners who "abuse our hospitality" and have no legal right to stay should be deported "at the earliest opportunity".


"Where possible those foreign nationals who receive a prison sentence should serve their sentences in their own countries," the ministry said.


The ministry said the British government had a number of transfer agreements, but most required the consent of the prisoner.


It was now working on transfer agreements that did not require that consent, it said.


Nigerian prisons are already overcrowded but Nigerian MP Jerry Manwe said that they could accommodate the influx of new inmates.


BBC


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Friday, October 7, 2011

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