In the second semifinal of the Olympic men’s soccer tournament, Germany bested Nigeria 2-0.
To start the match, Germany had the better run of play and found a goal early on to take the lead.
In the 8th minute, Maximilian Meyer sent in a cross that beat Nigerian goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel and found Lukas Klostermann for a tap-in goal to put Germany up 1-0.
Germany nearly gave up its lead four minutes later as German goalkeeper Timo Horn mishit the ball, giving Nigeria’s Sadiq Umar a great look at the goal. However, Horn came up with a save.
In the 20th minute, Nigeria’s Daniel made a huge stop on a Lars Bender shot from point blank range to keep his side’s deficit at one.
It looked like Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel was going to equalize in the 31st minute as he made two defenders miss in the box, but his shot was blocked at the last minute by Matthais Ginter.
The teams went into halftime with Germany leading 1-0.
In the second half, there was little separating Germany and Nigeria.
In the 89th minute, Germany’s Davie Selke sent the ball toward the far post that Nils Petersen deflected into the back of the net to double his team’s lead. With the goal, Petersen ties teammate Serge Gnabry for the tournament lead in goals with six.
Germany maintained its lead through stoppage time as it earned a 2-0 victory.
Germany recorded 12 total shots, five on goal compared to Nigeria’s 12 total shots, two on goal.
Germany advances to the Gold Medal Match where it will face Brazil on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Nigeria will play Honduras in the Bronze Medal Match on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Video - Chevron closes its doors in Nigeria as protests continue
US oil company Chevron has been forced to shutdown operations in Nigeria's oil rich niger delta region after protestors cut off Access to its storage facility. The protests have been going on for the last week at Chevron's Escravos oil storage tank farm.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Chibok parents identify their daughters in new Boko Haram video
The parents of two abducted Chibok girls have identified their daughter in a new video released by Boko Haram. While the footage shows the alleged bodies of some of the girls - these young women are shown alive. Its revived hopes that more of the kidnapped girls may still come home -- more than two years after they were snatched.
Brazil knocks Nigeria out of Olympic basketball
Nigeria’s D’Tigers on Monday crashed out of the ongoing Rio Olympics men basketball event, losing 69-86 to hosts Brazil.
The team showed some signs of exploit in the early minutes of the game but succumbed and never regained its focus from the second quarter of the game.
Alade Aminu, Ike Diogu, Uzoh Ben, Chamberlin Oguchi were all at their best as Nigeria dominated proceedings in the first quarter, having led 16-15.
The tide turned around in the second quarter when D’Tigers were forced to commit some fouls, leading to free throws which the Brazilians converted.
Brazilian point guard Raulzinho Neto, kept D’Tigers on check as the hosts made 18 turnovers against Nigeria’s 11 to rally to a 42-31 lead at the end of the second quarter.
D’Tigers came close to stealing the show in the third quarter but the combination of Chicago Bulls Felicio Cristiano and Houston Rockets forward Nene, ensured the Nigerians did not get more opportunities to shoot from the centre.
The third quarter, however, ended 59-52 in favour of the hosts.
The Brazilians continued their dominance and produced 10 steals against Nigeria’s three to end the last quarter 86-69.
The defeat ensured D’Tigers had no chance of progressing in the Olympics after raising the hopes of Nigerians with a stunning 90-76 win against Croatia.
The defeat of Croatia was Nigeria’s first win of the Olympics basketball event after a string of disappointing defeats to Argentina, Lithuania and Spain in their first, second and third games.
The team showed some signs of exploit in the early minutes of the game but succumbed and never regained its focus from the second quarter of the game.
Alade Aminu, Ike Diogu, Uzoh Ben, Chamberlin Oguchi were all at their best as Nigeria dominated proceedings in the first quarter, having led 16-15.
The tide turned around in the second quarter when D’Tigers were forced to commit some fouls, leading to free throws which the Brazilians converted.
Brazilian point guard Raulzinho Neto, kept D’Tigers on check as the hosts made 18 turnovers against Nigeria’s 11 to rally to a 42-31 lead at the end of the second quarter.
D’Tigers came close to stealing the show in the third quarter but the combination of Chicago Bulls Felicio Cristiano and Houston Rockets forward Nene, ensured the Nigerians did not get more opportunities to shoot from the centre.
The third quarter, however, ended 59-52 in favour of the hosts.
The Brazilians continued their dominance and produced 10 steals against Nigeria’s three to end the last quarter 86-69.
The defeat ensured D’Tigers had no chance of progressing in the Olympics after raising the hopes of Nigerians with a stunning 90-76 win against Croatia.
The defeat of Croatia was Nigeria’s first win of the Olympics basketball event after a string of disappointing defeats to Argentina, Lithuania and Spain in their first, second and third games.
Parents of kidnapped Chibok girls react to new Boko Haram video showing their children
Esther Yakubu gazes longingly at the familiar grainy photograph of her daughter and sings a favorite tune as she thinks of her.
But two long years after Maida and more than 200 of her classmates were kidnapped by Boko Haram, another image is now foremost in her mind: that of the teenager at gunpoint, pleading for her freedom.
"Seeing my baby standing with a terror[ist] with ... ammunition around his neck is not easy for a mother," says Esther. "But I also give thanks to God almighty. They say most of the girls are dead but mine is alive."
Maida's captors used her as an unwilling spokeswoman in a new video showing some 50 of the Chibok girls -- alongside graphic, grisly video scenes showing the lifeless bodies of young women, taken in the aftermath of what the terror group says was a Nigerian airstrike.
Wearing a faded black abaya and patterned headscarf, the 18-year-old looks down as a camouflage-clad militant armed with a gun instructs her to speak.
In contrast to the screensaver on Esther's phone, which shows Maida as a bright 16-year-old in her Sunday best, her life stretching out before her, in the new footage there is no happy grin, and Maida's future is decidedly uncertain.
The parents say the girl in the Boko Haram video is their daughter.
Hesitantly, she explains who she is, and where she is from, before issuing a scripted plea for freedom.
Behind her, fellow hostages in floor-length robes watch, stone-faced, as she urges their parents to press the Nigerian government to free terrorist fighters in exchange for their release.
For Esther and her husband Yakubu Kabu the clip, released by Boko Haram on Sunday, is the first proof that Maida is alive since she was taken from her school in April 2014.
"When I saw that video, I am very sad because this is my baby standing there with someone holding a gun," says Yakubu. "All of us we start crying.
"I give God the glory that she's alive. This video gives us hope that our daughter can be rescued."
Maida, named after her aunt, grew up as one of five children (two boys and three girls) born to the couple, a driver and a local government worker.
A hardworking student, she was known as Dorcas at school (like many Nigerians, the family has both native and English names), and had been looking forward to her graduation; the photo on her mother's phone was taken for a calendar planned to mark the occasion.
Her family says she was keen to continue her education, and hoped to become a lecturer.
"I promised her that I will try my utmost best to say that she makes first and second degree," says Esther. "Unfortunately ... she has not graduated from secondary school. Not only that she's nowhere to be found."
A proud member of the choir in Chibok, she loved to sing, even while cooking, Esther says, breaking out into her daughter's favorite tune.
"I used to hear her sing [it] always," she says. "Anytime I want to recall her to my soul, I sing that song."
Esther Yakubu is furious at what she sees as a lack of action by successive Nigerian governments to secure the release of her daughter and the rest of the girls.
"The government has not done anything," she says. "When they attacked Chibok, the girls that escaped managed to escape themselves, by dropping ... down from the truck -- some girls even broke their legs.
"[They got] no aid from the government, no counseling. Nothing at all. Amina Ali that escaped [in May 2016], she managed to escape herself. It's unfair."
The Nigerian government has said it is still "in touch" with Boko Haram and "working for the girls' release," the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture said on its official Facebook page.
Esther Yabuku says the ongoing trauma of Maida's kidnap has had a lasting impact on her health: "My blood pressure has risen and it's not coming down."
At least 16 of the Chibok girls' parents have died while their daughters have been in captivity.
But the family says its unwavering Christian belief has kept it going through the darkest times.
They pray together every morning and every midnight that their daughter will make it home safely. The video, though disturbing, has given them fresh hope that Maida will soon be freed.
"I'm very, very happy," says Yakubu, having seen the video. "Because as long as she's alive, we will see her one day."
But two long years after Maida and more than 200 of her classmates were kidnapped by Boko Haram, another image is now foremost in her mind: that of the teenager at gunpoint, pleading for her freedom.
"Seeing my baby standing with a terror[ist] with ... ammunition around his neck is not easy for a mother," says Esther. "But I also give thanks to God almighty. They say most of the girls are dead but mine is alive."
Maida's captors used her as an unwilling spokeswoman in a new video showing some 50 of the Chibok girls -- alongside graphic, grisly video scenes showing the lifeless bodies of young women, taken in the aftermath of what the terror group says was a Nigerian airstrike.
Wearing a faded black abaya and patterned headscarf, the 18-year-old looks down as a camouflage-clad militant armed with a gun instructs her to speak.
In contrast to the screensaver on Esther's phone, which shows Maida as a bright 16-year-old in her Sunday best, her life stretching out before her, in the new footage there is no happy grin, and Maida's future is decidedly uncertain.
The parents say the girl in the Boko Haram video is their daughter.
Hesitantly, she explains who she is, and where she is from, before issuing a scripted plea for freedom.
Behind her, fellow hostages in floor-length robes watch, stone-faced, as she urges their parents to press the Nigerian government to free terrorist fighters in exchange for their release.
For Esther and her husband Yakubu Kabu the clip, released by Boko Haram on Sunday, is the first proof that Maida is alive since she was taken from her school in April 2014.
"When I saw that video, I am very sad because this is my baby standing there with someone holding a gun," says Yakubu. "All of us we start crying.
"I give God the glory that she's alive. This video gives us hope that our daughter can be rescued."
Maida, named after her aunt, grew up as one of five children (two boys and three girls) born to the couple, a driver and a local government worker.
A hardworking student, she was known as Dorcas at school (like many Nigerians, the family has both native and English names), and had been looking forward to her graduation; the photo on her mother's phone was taken for a calendar planned to mark the occasion.
Her family says she was keen to continue her education, and hoped to become a lecturer.
"I promised her that I will try my utmost best to say that she makes first and second degree," says Esther. "Unfortunately ... she has not graduated from secondary school. Not only that she's nowhere to be found."
A proud member of the choir in Chibok, she loved to sing, even while cooking, Esther says, breaking out into her daughter's favorite tune.
"I used to hear her sing [it] always," she says. "Anytime I want to recall her to my soul, I sing that song."
Esther Yakubu is furious at what she sees as a lack of action by successive Nigerian governments to secure the release of her daughter and the rest of the girls.
"The government has not done anything," she says. "When they attacked Chibok, the girls that escaped managed to escape themselves, by dropping ... down from the truck -- some girls even broke their legs.
"[They got] no aid from the government, no counseling. Nothing at all. Amina Ali that escaped [in May 2016], she managed to escape herself. It's unfair."
The Nigerian government has said it is still "in touch" with Boko Haram and "working for the girls' release," the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture said on its official Facebook page.
Esther Yabuku says the ongoing trauma of Maida's kidnap has had a lasting impact on her health: "My blood pressure has risen and it's not coming down."
At least 16 of the Chibok girls' parents have died while their daughters have been in captivity.
But the family says its unwavering Christian belief has kept it going through the darkest times.
They pray together every morning and every midnight that their daughter will make it home safely. The video, though disturbing, has given them fresh hope that Maida will soon be freed.
"I'm very, very happy," says Yakubu, having seen the video. "Because as long as she's alive, we will see her one day."
Related story: Video - New video shows schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram
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