₦airaland Forum

defenders we have currently are alves, montoya, alba, abidal, pique and batra with song as a backup. We can actually make something out of these guys, we can use 3-5-2 or just manage 3-4-3. I know we can scale through.

Teams and Fixtures

[size=18pt]African finalists eye four U-17 spots[/size]

For the eight teams involved in the Africa U-17 Championships, which begins this weekend in Morocco and concludes on 27 April, there is plenty at stake. Not only will the winner be crowned the African champion, but the four semi-finalists will qualify for the showpiece event of U-17 football: the FIFA U-17 World Cup United Arab Emirates 2013.

The 10th African U-17 championships will be held in the cities of Casablanca and Marrakech, with the 67,000-seater Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca hosting Group A – made up of the hosts, as well as Tunisia, Gabon and Botswana - plus a semi-final. The somewhat smaller Stade de Marrakech (45,000), hosts Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Congo in Group B, as well as a semi-final, the play-off for third place and the final. FIFA.com looks ahead to the competition.

African giants aim to return to winning ways
Not too long ago, Ghana and Nigeria not only dominated the African U-17 scene, they were also heavyweights on the global scene, winning five titles between them and finishing runners-up a further five times. The only country to match them was Brazil, whose record of three wins, two second places and a third and fourth place sandwiches the South American side between the Golden Eaglets (three wins and three second places) and Ghana (two wins, two second places and a third and fourth place). But of late, the two West African rivals have found the going much tougher and neither side managed to qualify for the last two finals of the African championships, though Nigeria entered the 2009 edition as hosts.

Disappointingly for them, the draw in Egypt pitted them not only against each other but with the Congolese and Ivorians, who finished third and fourth respectively at the 2011 championships in Rwanda two years ago. Black Starlets' coach Paa Kwesi Fabin has called up a squad of 23 home-based players and embarked on a training camp in Italy ahead of traveling to Morocco. A 6-2 victory against the reserve side of Serie B club Novara, suggests that the side is well prepared to take on the tasks awaiting them.

The Nigerians too, have reason to be optimistic, as the Nigerian Football Federation set up a training camp at Qatar's Aspire academy. The team played two friendly matches during their time in the country which will be hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ and scored a convincing 7-1 victory against the Aspire U-18 side before beating Al Sadd, for whom former Spanish international Raul Gonzalez plays. Coach Manu Garba said that the game against the two-time Asian champions was the best he had seen his team play. "We have prepared well for the forthcoming competition. Our goals are clear, we want to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup as African champions and then we will return to Aspire to prepare for the World Cup," he said confidently.

Congo and Côte d'Ivoire were two of Africa's representatives at the last FIFA U-17 World Cup and both managed to escape the group phase. The Ivorians, for whom Golden Boot winner Souleymane Coulibaly scored an astonishing nine goals in four matches, were knocked out 3-2 by France in the Round of 16, while Congo lost their match at the same stage against eventual runners-up Uruguay 2-1.

North African rivalry resumed
The hosts Morocco, who with Gabon are making their first-ever appearance at the finals of the African U-17 championships, have called up a squad including several players who play for the youth teams of some of the biggest European clubs, such as goalkeeper Anwar Bourmila, who plays for Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund defender Mohamed El Bouazzati and striker Zakaria El Azzouzi, who plays his club football for Ajax Amsterdam. Morocco are expecting their main rivals to be fellow North Africans Tunisia, who have twice qualified for the world stage (1993 and 2007).

En route to the finals, Tunisia had to first overcome a 3-0 defeat in the first leg of qualifying in Ethiopia, winning the return match 5-1. They then ousted the defending champions Burkina Faso 4-2 on aggregate. Rookies Gabon had a similarly difficult road to Morocco, having lost their first qualifying match in Angola 4-1. However, they also came back strong to trounce the Angolans 4-0 in the return leg before seeing off Benin 3-2 on aggregate.

Botswana, who are the only southern African country in the competition, had an even longer qualifying route, having started in the preliminary round. The Botswana team won all three ties on penalties - eliminating Malawi, Rwanda and Algeria. Although it is their third appearance at the finals, they are still waiting for their first win - having lost all six matches they have played previously. That is something that the players are keen to change says midfielder Kabelano Mooketsane. “We can beat any team and we can qualify for the World Cup in UAE,” said the Gaborone Football Academy player.

http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=2057036/index.html

Youngsters Set Africa Aglow In Morocco

The cream of Africa’s junior players is expected to come to the top at the 10th CAF U17 championship, which kicks off on Saturday in Morocco.

The competition has produced stars like Stephen Appiah, Ossei Kuffour, Andrew Ayew, Nee Odartey Lamptey, Frank Amankwah, Daniel Addo, Anthony Yeboah(Ghana), Yousuf Hadji(Moroco), Kanu Nwankwo, Celestine Babayaro, Macauley Christantus,Nduka Ugbade, Mikel Obi (Nigeria), just to mention a few.

This competition will produce four qualifiers for the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October and it is also expected to roll out stars that will take the world by storm in the near future. Nigeria, who have been absent for the last two editions in 2009 and 2011 are looking forward to win their third title at this level and they will open their campaign with what is expected to be a cracking game against perennial rivals Ghana on Sunday at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.

• FLASHBACK: Action from Golden Eaglets of Nigeria and Guinea in one of the qualities for Africa Junior Championship
Nigeria and Ghana have won the continental diadem and are both favourite to lift the trophy in Morocco. Both West African countries have also won the FIFA U17 World Cup with Nigeria having won it three times, while the Black Satellites have done so twice.

The Golden Eaglets are yet to lose any game, be it qualifier or friendly, prior to this tournament and are therefore rated among the favourites for glory in Morocco.

The Nigeria youngsters play a very exciting passing game similar to mighty Barcelona and drawn against another top football country Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo in Group B.
The Eaglets were African champions in 2001 and 2007, beating Burkina Faso 3-0 and Togo 1-0 after extra time, respectively.

They eliminated Niger, Guinea and Mali to qualify for this competition and then trained in Doha, Qatar, for a month. Hosts Morocco will open the competition against Gabon on Saturday at the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

Tunisia and debutants Botswana are the other teams in Group A.
Interestingly, defending champions Burkina Faso are not in Morocco to defend their crown they won two years ago.
The semi-finals are fixed for April 23 with the championship game to be played four days later.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/04/12/youngsters-set-africa-aglow-in-morocco/

Morocco ready to make the most of home advantage

On the eve of the opening match of the 2013 CAF U-17 Championship hosts Morocco is keen to build on home advantage start with a positive result. "This is a tournament on home soil and we need to lead by example and go for it” says Mohamed Benjadi assistant coach of the Moroccan U17 side. "The players do not have a big responsibility but it is the technical staff who are on the spot it is us who will be on the front line of the battle.”

The Atlas Cubs were encouraged by two positive results against Niger (3-2, 4-0) in the preparation. Benjadi is confident in his group which he thinks has qualities, interesting individualities, talent, and a technical ability to do well. Much is expected of the pool of young players from European training centers, especially Nabil Jaïdi (Anderlecht) of Bouazzati (Borussia Dortmund) or Serroukh Anas (Barcelona). Eleven (11) other players are in the same case, being based abroad which makes it a total of about two thirds of the team. Will it be enough to impress Gabon, Botswana and Tunisia, their opponents in the first round? At that age it takes more to be impressed. Instead it is a source of motivation for opponents determined to show they are better than the "pro- apprentice."

All this makes it more difficult for Moroccans it seems but Mohamed Benjadi is already thinking a little further than the first round. "Our priority, he insists, is to reach the semi-finals. The semi-final is the gateway to the World Cup. “Teams they fear most are specialists of youth football in Africa, Ghana and Nigeria, not necessarily in that order. The flood of goals in the qualifiers by the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria does not fail to impress, twenty-one goals in six matches.

Moroccan is hoping to start with a good result against Gabon in the opening match on Saturday afternoon at the stadium Mohamed V in Casablanca. The barometer will be the opener for the ambitions of each team and from that result each will try and build from that platform.

http://www.cafonline.com/competition/can-u-17_2011/news/16829-morocco-ready-to-make-the-most-of-home-advantage.html

Group Stage
04-13-2013 Morocco 15:00 Gabon
04-13-2013 Tunisia 18:00 Botswana
04-16-2013 Gabon 15:30 Tunisia
04-16-2013 Botswana 18:30 Morocco
04-19-2013 Morocco 18:30 Tunisia
04-19-2013 Gabon 18:30 Botswana
04-14-2013 Congo 15:00 Cote d'Ivoire
04-14-2013 Nigeria 18:00 Ghana
04-17-2013 Cote d'Ivoire 15:30 Nigeria
04-17-2013 Ghana 18:30 Congo
04-20-2013 Congo 15:00 Nigeria
04-20-2013 Cote d'Ivoire 15:00 Ghana

African juniors set to showcase future skill and flair


The taste of the future flair, flamboyance, skill and artistry of the African game gets on show from this weekend when the cubs of the Atlas Lions – in the backyard of their den – square off against an equally vicious rising opponent, the cubs of Les Panthères of Gabon in the opening clash of what promises to be an explosive and thrilling championship of the 10th CAN Under 17 games.


The setting could not have been any better than the North African environs of Casablanca’s Complexe Sportif Mohammed V stadium for the opener. With the Atlantic cool wind breezing from the West and the Mediterranean further north, the clash of the cubs of Morocco and Gabon will be followed by another interesting fixture between Botswana’s Junior Zebras and Carthage Eaglets of Tunisia. A showcase of Moroccan cultural, art and music will precede the footy action.

With the two-week tournament underway and Casablanca’s opening matches done, the tourist resort of Marrakech will get a share of the football focus on Sunday with group B games that will see Congo; Cote d’Ivoire and past winners Ghana and Nigeria battle for the top two positions.

At stake at this tournament is not only the chance to replace Burkina Faso (who did not qualify to defend their title) as the reigning Africa champions but the semi-finalists will get to represent the continent at the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in United Arab Emirates from 17 October to 8 November 2013.

Since it was incepted in 1995, the tournament has been curving a name as the breeding ground for future African stars. The 10th edition is certainly one that can be expected to bring to the fore talents that are set to follow in the footsteps of now African superstars who first got a taste of the international platform and recognition from championships gone by. Talents such as John Obi Mikel, the Chelsea and Nigeria star, Marseille’s Andre Ayew, Anthony Yeboah, Morocco’s Yousuf Hadji, Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria, Nee Lamptey among a long of stars all announced the richness of their talents at CAF U-17 championships.


Therefore; other than the contest for the final match on 27th April and places to the UAE, there will be no doubting the attention scouts will be paying to what will be served on the football pitches of Casablanca and Marrakech.



Casablanca Saturday 13th April

Group ‘A’
15:00 Morocco vs. Gabon
18:00 Tunisia vs. Gabon


Marrakech Sunday 14th April

Group ‘B’
15:00 Congo vs. Cote d’Ivoire
18:00 Nigeria vs. Ghana


Past Winners of the CAF U-17 Championship

2011 Burkina Faso
2009 Gambia
2007 Nigeria
2005 Gambia
2003 Cameroon
2001 Nigeria
1999 Ghana
1997 Egypt
1995 Ghana

http://www.cafonline.com/competition/can-u-17_2011/news/16814-african-juniors-set-to-showcase-future-skill-and-flair.html

^^

Its not new, as long as Hayatu is still there, then death to progress!

naijababe: I no understand o. You think say I be atheist ni?

Yes o..

naijababe: . Bros I wish o.

Baba God go make am possible. My crude positions closed at 480 pips in total. [b]Baba modupe [/b]o

Wow, see guys don enjoy tire o.. i hope my pending "old" trades didn't pick.

^^^

Meaning the tides support Barcelona.

RedReact: And our Pillars are ousted from the competition, right?

African style!

RedReact: @honeric01,Any update on Pillar's and AFC match?

No clue bro.

Apr 12, 2013 8:05:00 AM

Akure Gunners and the Flying Antelopes have lost their unbeaten start to the season after going down in Kano and Gombe while Warri Wolves’ poor form at home continued

DOLPHINS 2-1 HEARTLAND

The Port Harcourt dwellers have broken the jinx of the Naze Millionaires who were irrepressible last season. Dolphins triumphed 2-1 this term through strikes from Isiaka Olawale and Fred Okwara.

It was 2-0 after the first half and when Stanley Eguma’s side thought they were cruising to an easy victory, Heartland's leading scorer in the league this season, Isah Akor got his side's only goal and his fourth goal of the season in the process.

Dolphins thus secured their second win at home added to the two points gained in Port Harcourt against Sunshine and Sharks while Heartland are still on seven points from six games.

BAYELSA UNITED 3-1 3SC

Bayelsa United continued their near invincibility in Yenagoa with a 3-1 win over the Oluyole Warriors. The Samson Siasia Stadium has been a fertile ground for them as they have bagged all points from their three encounters decided there against Lobi Stars, Wikki Tourists and now 3SC.

Iyasele Odili shot the Yenagoa side ahead before Gomo Onduku netted the second both in the first half. Chigozie Christopher got the third from the penalty spot before 3SC rallied to get a goal back towards the end of the game.

WARRI WOLVES 1-1 NEMBE CITY

Warri Wolves' unimpressive start to the league season is fast becoming a riddle to Warri fans after they watched another torrid home draw against premier league newcomers, Nembe City at the Warri City Stadium on Thursday.

Dauda Eboh scored for the home team while Asuquo Inyang got the deserved leveller for Nembe. It was Nembe's fourth point secured on the road added to another four gotten at home.

For Wolves, they have bagged five points from six games including five draws. They are unbeaten in the last five games but coach Solomon Ogbeide must fashion out a winning formula else he risks sack from his employers.

KANO PILLARS 1-0 SUNSHINE STARS

Old war horse, Alhaji Mohammed Alhaji was Pillars' saving grace against the Akure Gunners who were yet to be beaten before the tie decided at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

Pillars were protecting their long standing unbeaten home record while new look Sunshine under the guidance of Samuel Abimbola also wanted to protect their impressive start.

The three points ensured Pillars maintain the leadership of the league with 15 points from six games. Sunshine on their part are on eight points from five games. They have a Week 5 outstanding tie against Lobi Stars in Akure.

GOMBE UNITED 2-1 RANGERS

The Desert Scorpions again relied on the heroics of their goal hero, Bishop Onyeudo for goals in their home clash against Rangers.

Two sweet goals from the striker for his fifth goal of the season drowned Rangers before they could only score one of theirs late through Ugonna Uzochukwu.

Although, the Flying Antelopes complained of fatigue and exhaustion owing to their continental engagement last week, but the veracity of their complaint needs to be scrutinised since they registered more than 25 players for both the league and their continental pursuits.

Rangers acquired the services of many quality players and should not be seen making out time for excuses after failure.

Gombe United with Maurice Cooreman in charge are still rebuilding a team but they have managed to win all their three home games till date but are yet to get any away from Pantami Stadium.

Rangers remain on 11 points from six games while Gombe United have nine from same number of matches.

KADUNA UNITED 1-0 ENYIMBA

Ex-Enyimba striker Peter Onoja came back to haunt his former club in this Week 6 duel played at the Kaduna Township Stadium on Thursday.

The Peoples Elephant were looking at the possibility of bouncing back from their goalless draw at home to Warri Wolves in the last game with their latest fixture in Kaduna but Onoja became the Aba Millionaires’ Achilles heel.

It was back to winning ways for Kaduna United who were torn apart 3-1 by resurgent Nasarawa United in Week 5 last weekend.

The northerners now have seven points from a total haul of 18 after six games while Enyimba must buckle up to achieve their aspiration. They have only amassed a point better than Kaduna United in as many matches. They need to wake up as they host wounded Kwara United in Aba this weekend.

LOBI STARS 2-0 SHARKS

Both clubs were in crises leading to this Week 6 tie for different reasons and they needed positive results to turnaround a difficult week.

Lobi were only involved in their first game after their Caf Confederation Cup misadventure in Mozambique where they got smashed 7-1 by Liga Desportivo Muculmana de Maputo last Friday despite taking a 3-1 advantage into the game. Sharks are still not settled owing to their financial woes coupled with instability in the technical staff of the Blue Angels.

Gbenga Ogunbote's first game in charge of the Port Harcourt club though ended in 2-0 defeat at the Emmanuel Atongo Stadium in Katsina Ala on Thursday, but the players’ new found commitment and the zeal as expressed by a top official of the club could signal a turnaround soon.

Despite the heroics of self styled Arugo Monkey, Chijioke Ejiogu during the said tie, goals from Forgive Gberinder and Barnabas Imenger Jnr (from the spot kick) secured the points for the troubled Makurdi based club.

Lobi are still on nine points from five games courtesy of their killer instinct at home while getting a road point seems a tall order till now. Sharks too did not fare better with four points from a possible 18.

KWARA UNITED 0-1 NASARAWA UNITED

The Lafia-based team have got the fifth away win of the season in the elite division after a stoppage time goal by Leonard Ugochukwu at the Kwara State International Stadium, Ilorin on Wednesday evening.

Coached by former Golden Eaglets handler Alphonsus Dike, Nasarawa United players have forged a close-knit partnership which has made them very impossible to beat.

Their only loss thus far through the odd goal was recorded in Aba in Week 2 and afterwards they have chalked up 11 points from a possible 18 to rank among the top teams in the premier league.

Though they lost at home, Ilorin fans should be commended for maintaining proper decorum and displaying sportsmanship in defeat.

Kwara United who were unbeaten under Samson Unuanel in the first four weeks have lost their last two games in Enugu and Ilorin. They have eight points from six games.

ELKANEMI WARRIORS 2-1 AKWA UNITED

After some nervy start to the season, El Kanemi have got their first win of the season and thus have left Warri Wolves with the unenviable record of the only side without a top flight victory in the current campaign.

Haruna Babalo was among the scorers for the home team as coach Zakary Baraje heaved a sigh of relief.

The Maiduguri side are on six points from same number of games while Akwa United who have turned Uyo into a fortress are on nine points. They beat Dolphins, Pillars and Bayelsa United at the Uyo Township Stadium but they have suffered defeat in away games against Lobi, Wikki and El Kanemi.

WIKKI TOURISTS 1-0 ABS

After a tumultuous start to life this season with a home loss against Pillars, Wikki Tourists have managed to recover from that early setback with a road point from their next game in Maiduguri in Week 2.

More importantly they have recorded home wins in their last two games in Bauchi against Akwa United and the latest against ABS.

The Tourists depended on the lone goal of Daniel Frimpong for the maximum points against the only privately owned team in the land.

Wikki are on seven points from six fixtures while ABS’ free fall continued without trace. The ultimatum handed to the players and the technical officials on improved performance has not produced the desired effect as they were beaten again for their fourth loss of the campaign. They however have four points for their efforts after six games.



http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4093/nigeria/2013/04/12/3897159/npfl-week-6-round-up-sunshine-rangers-lose-unbeaten-streak-as-el

fxisreal: is anybody seeing what i saw on EJ, i see a retracement down again? any idea or can we continue bidding high

Maybe it went to take a breather before resumption?

Especially GJ.

Update.

Hehehe, nothing do you!

Hi Traders,

I make my suggestions every day based on where I see the market heading over the next 24 hours. Use my analysis below to aid your trading and to help you keep on the right side of the market.

My suggestions are posted by 6pm EST each day.
Overall there is strength in the NZD, CAD and minor strength in the GBP.

Overall there is weakness in the USD, AUD and minor weakness in the JPY.


Trading Directions I am favouring for the next 24 hours

Buy Trades – GBP/USD, NZD/USD, NZD/JPY

Sell Trades – AUD/NZD, AUD/CAD, USD/CAD


To Your Trading Success and have a fantastic weekend.
Andrew

[quote author=ola_pluto]A very bad afternoon for Shooting Stars so far. Playing superb football at Samson Siasia stadium, Bayelsa. BUT the keeper just fumbled two shots and its 2-0 Bayelsa. With the way he's going, Shooting may be forced to change goalies at half time.[/quote]are they showing the game?

'Like' this post if you think Rubin kazan will win.

For those courting Uchf.

Shollypopz: I am OK, thanks for asking.

My previous reply still stands, EOD.

So what do i do with that? Its your opinion but you do not have to insult me again. Not that i'm that nice for not dishing you in your own plate but one person is expected to step up.

Shollypopz: ^^ I don't understand Yoruba like that and all you have there is pure jargon IMO. Used to think u were smart, so I asked the question in order to give u an opportunity to prove yourself but your reply is just as baseless as the first


Good luck!

Are you ok?

Why the direct attack?

Respect my opinion just like you've respected the opinion of the OP.

You don't agree with my views, state why or counter it same way i'm doing on this thread.

Once more, respect yourself, You've to be smart to recognise other smart people.

Shollypopz: How many Yoruba women out of the millions in Nigeria do know that were unfaithful?






Nice pictures, didn't care too much about what was written. Stereotypes are never funny There is an iota of truth in them but not the complete truth/story. Thereby making them dangerous!

same can be said of how many you know that is faithful.

Ever heard the phrase like 'omo ibadan tikoba lahun, a shalee.
(dunno if i got it right)

Meaning if she's not stingy, she'd commit adultry.

Lastly, they're prone to having kids outside their homes.

(Not all though) and not only the yoruba women but more prone to them.

bump!

Yoruba women and 'faithful' in one sentence? 9th wonders of the world!