₦airaland Forum

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, as reigning African football champions, will be representing Africa at the 2013 elite football competion, the Confederations Cup. This is the secodn time Nigeria will be representing Africa at the tournament. Nigeria, as 1994 African champions, had represented Africa in 1995 edition (then known as King Fahd Cup), emerging 4th, no thanks to Emmanuel Amuneke penalty loss in the third place match against Mexico.

The best performance by an African side in Confederations Cup was in 2003, when the then African champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, narrowly lost in final to France, courtesy Henry ‘Igwe’ Thierry’s solitary extra-time strike. Cameroun had a fantastic outing in that tournament, beating Brazil in the group stage with a Samuel Eto’o cracker. The tournament is better remembered for the death on pitch of Manchester City midfielder, Marc Vivien Foe. Egypt also had a good tournament in the last edition (2009)

The tournament will see world champions (Spain), meeting other continental champions (Nigeria – Africa, Uruguay – South America, Italy – Euro Runners Up, Japan – Asia, Mexico – Carribean & Central America, Tahiti – Oceania ), and hosts Brazil.

http://jarushub.com/2013/06/13/nigeria-in-2013-confederations-cup-a-preview/

Confirming my availability again.

damosky12: Onazi, I heard is injured. "Serious Injury"- completesports

That will be bad news, because he is another midfielder that can score goals.

This Confederations cup, the four key players I would have loved us to have are: Emenike, Moses, Kalu Uche and IK Uche.

I have always believed in power playing strikers, so if I were Keshi, I would have invited Martins and drop one of Ujah or Akpala.

I dont believe Martins had a bad game vs Kenya in Calabar. But the coaches were not patient with him.

Our best attack now is:

Moses --- --- Ideye


--- Emenike ---

(With IK Uche, Kalu Uche amd Musa as subs, depending on who's not clicking)

But if not available, our second best is:

Musa --- Ideye

--- Martins ----

Unfortunately, Martins also not available. I don't have much confidence in our attack for thsi Confed cup. I believe in Ideye, but when he's not clicking, no reliable option.

damosky12: In that same way IVC will lose some matches we can never lose. I agree with you, but considering IVC style of play, could they have beaten Kenya at home??

CIV are known for winning qualifiers 5-0, 3-0 etc, but fumble on the real stage (Nations cup, World Cup). Nigeria struggle in qualifiers and do better in tournaments.

How can anyone conceive that CIV's generation (with stars almost at par with Brazil) do not have a Nations Cup or World Cup secodn round to their name?

Afam4eva: It seems Ideye has one season ahead of Emenike and the competitive nature of the league could also be a factor.

That's why I did goal per season (average), where Ideye still beats him.

French League, where Ideye scored 17 goals in one season, is more competitive than Emenike's Russia and Turkish leagues, and even almost at par with EPL.

Ukrainian league is also at par with Turkish and Russian league.

So I think we are impatient for Ideye. He has proved himself in these leagues. He has scored in Champions leagues as well. I believe in him anyway. I still believe he is our best striker if Emenike is not available.

Soso990240: and how many games did he play 4 nigeria b4 nations cup? Stop spitin trash.we ar sayin dat d team is too young to be missin key playerz.check emenike's club record as a stricker,it beats ujah,akpala and even ideye's own.d truth is dat he used d nation's cup 2 sign in.was he among siasia's squard? No.

No sir.

Ideye beats Emenike in club goals

Emenike

2009/2010 - 14 goals (Karabukspor, Turkey)
2010/2011 - 16 goals (Karabukspor, Turkey)
2011/2012 - 13 goals (Spartak Moscow, Russia)
2012/2013 - 5 goals (Spartak Moscow, Russia)
(48 goals in 4 seasons, 12 goals per season)

Ideye
2008/2009 - 10 goals (Xamax, Switzerland)
2009/2010 - 13 goals (Xamax, Switzerland)
2010/2011 - 17 goals (Sochaux, France)
2011/2012 - 10 goals (Dynamo Kyev, Ukraine)
2012/2013 - 19 goals (Dynamo Kyev, Ukraine)
(69 goals in 5 seasons, 14 goals per season)

NB: Ideye was 2nd highest goal scorer in Ukraine last season

Even Ujah has a strike rate of 13.6 goals per season since he moved to Europe in 2010.

CFCfan: Abi O. The Super eagles haven't lost a competitive game on home soil since 1981

vs Cameroun in 2000 Nations Cup final?

He looked like he would make it. No sign of death at all.

pawpawsir: I feel the super eagles are playing like this on purpose because the confederation teams will be watching their matches and moves, so it only smart they play like this and bash teams good performance when d confederation cups begins........

You think they are naïve like you, not to know that this match is more important than confederation cup?

adolfe bad: When you click the link, you will see the picture of a small stream flowing from Namibia to Abuja. You will also see a small boat beside the stream with a canoe man shouting 'Enter Abuja N1000!! Enter Abuja N1000!!!'.
Just board the boat and enjoy the ride to abuja. That's all.

Happy streaming.

Hahha, struggled to contain my laughter in office for that matter

Sabilla Abidde

Are you familiar with these names? Bala Mohammed Bauchi; Ayo Bamgbose; Kenneth Dike; Adiele Afigbo; Ayodele Awojobi; J. F. Ade-Ajayi; Tekena Tamuno; Oyetunji Aboyade; J.P. Clark; F. Niyi Akinnaso; Kelsey Harrison; E.J. Alagoa; Kalu Ezera, Chike Obi; Grace Alele Williams; Christopher Okigbo; Dipo Fashina; Eskor Toyo; Biodun Jeyifo; Claude Ake; Kole Omotosho; Tam-David-West; Gani Fawehinmi; Tai Solarin; Christopher Okigbo; Toyin Falola; and Niyi Osundare.

Frankly, I could give you more names. Hundreds more, in fact. Many are academic giants: intellectuals. But there are a few social critics amongst them; and of course, fewer numbers are both intellectuals and social critics. As with their western counterparts — Jean-Paul Sartre, Edward Said, Linda Colley, Noam Chomsky, Antonio Gramsci, Richard Dawkins, Lillian Hellman, Henrik Ibsen, and James Baldwin – many of these intellectuals were based in the Ivory Towers.

Generally speaking, intellectuals — sometimes called Polymaths — are men and women who have committed their lives and times to the pursuit and or dissemination of rigorous ideas and serious knowledge. They can be found in all areas of life – including music, arts and culture, medicine, mathematics, economics, politics, law, philosophy, and literary criticism. Within or across many areas of specialisation, they are considered “the master,” the authority.

Beside the university or institution-based intellectuals, there are the public intellectuals who, for the most part, are engaged in very public discourses within the public sphere. Noted public intellectuals and critics include Solarin, Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Ishola Oshobu, Cornelius Ubani, Ola Oni, and Sam Amuka. However, it should be pointed out that there are times when it is difficult to differentiate between public intellectualism and political activism — or between political activists and social critics.

But in the final analysis, all four – ivory tower intellectuals, public intellectuals, political activists and social critics – all exist to make society better. In years gone by, many of these men and women – especially those outside of the university system – were labelled “radicals,” “leftists,” or “gadflies” by military regimes, and sometimes, by the Press. But those who knew better knew that these were the salt and honey of our nation. They were the nation’s conscience. Across geographical landscapes, they were at the heart of human civilisations – helping to shape collective destinies, illuminating challenges, and influencing collective thinking.

I once opined that any society without a bourgeoning class of intellectuals cannot truly flourish. Such a society may stagnate, regress or even disintegrate. Even as brutal and repressive and unpredictable as some military regimes were, the Nigerian intellectual class, along with a budding class of social critics, helped to keep the government in check. But today, things have changed. Nigeria is different. It is almost unfathomable how the nation went from great heights to low ebbs (insofar as social criticism and intellectualism are concerned).

Commenting on this issue in 2010, Dr. Olayiwola Abegunrin, formerly of the Obafemi Awolowo University, now a professor at Howard University, posited that the Nigerian military bears some of the responsibilities for ”destroying our institutions by some of the policies they promulgated and pursued, beginning from the Gen. Yakubu Gowon era. Some of the policies they pursued, along with the coups and countercoups, helped weaken, and, in some cases, destroy our sense of nation-building and sense of self.”

What was said a few years ago remains true today: “During the military era, many of our national treasures were prosecuted, persecuted, harassed, jailed, or sent into exile; and in some cases, the military simply made life and living miserable and unbearable for them. Civilian administrations also contributed to the malaise. In the end, some of our best and brightest left in search of stability and greener pastures. Gradually, the distasteful and impermissible became permissible and sacred. It became okay to not only steal, but to loot. It became acceptable to be a professional sycophant. And it also became fashionable to be an illiterate in a literate and globalising world.”

Look around you, what do you see? From one Government House to another, what do you see? From the state Houses of Assembly to the National Assembly in Abuja, what do you see? From one private and public function to another, you see men and women being honoured for hypocrisy and mediocrity. We give chieftaincy titles to bandits; honorary PhDs to ruffians; and national honours to many an unqualified folk. Damn! This is no longer your grandfather’s Nigeria. Instead, this is the Nigeria Fela Anikulapo-Kuti warned us about — the Nigeria where many people look up to, prostrate for and or genuflect before men and women with inferior sensibility and dubious character. Great nations or nations of consequence have men and women at the front line of intellectualism and nation-building. Not in Nigeria.

In more recent times, especially since the 1990s, the pool of home-grown intellectuals has greatly diminished. The flight and the rot began at the secondary school level. Before you knew it, the universities and other institutions of higher learning were taken over by political maggots. What happened to Ife (now the Obafemi Awolowo University)? What’s going on at the University of Ibadan, and at the University of Lagos? The Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka are today empty.

As far as I can tell, there is not a university in the US or Canada where you will not find, at a minimum, one Nigerian professor or professional. There is not a single hospital where you will not find Nigerian medical doctors and or nurses and other professionals. There is not a single private or public institution anywhere in the US that you will not find Nigerian students. Same may be true of the UK. They are everywhere because successive Nigerian governments, military and civilian, made the country a living hell. How do you thrive in a country that frowns at excellence, at dissent, at courage, and at frontierism?

To say that intellectual pursuit and social criticism is a dying art in Nigeria is an understatement. There is a price to be paid for silence and cowardice in the face of oppression and injustice. Most everyone wants to be on the side of the government for expected crumbs. Nigeria is now paying the price for abandoning intellectual pursuits. We already see the decay in the system. We see this in our national priority. We see it in how and what our country is becoming. And we see it in the pervasiveness of hopelessness and in the moral and political corruption that have come to characterize our country. This is not our Nigeria.

http://www.punchng.com/viewpoint/of-intellectuals-and-social-critics/

chidindufrank: What is Lagos state waiting for to declare June 12 public holiday?

When the state has been declaring June 12 public holiday for more than 5 years now.

Maybe you thought you will also not to go work in the private/FG establishment you work?

2010, but it's already giving me sign of replacement. Likely to be changed within the next couple of months.

Cultured: To the best of my knowledge " FATE " is different from " LUCK " .

All are nomenclature, as teh writer noted.

I believe I am lucky as explained by the writer, although as a religionist, I prefer to use "God's favour" to luck. I have got so many things that I knew I wasn't better that some guys who didn't get them.

Cultured: Jonathan did not ascend to the top through luck , rather he prepared himself and sought for the opportunity ( directly or indirectly ) and when it materialized he grabbed then . Innovation is the key .

Prepared himself for it by knowing Alams will be impeached and Yar'adua will die, right?

Na wa o. For a team that cannot qualify for WC, threat or not threat.

yuzedo: Jarus, bro, wazzap? am loyal sah! i hope am locky to meat u one day sah!

Yes sir. Wont mind coming to your Banana Island Mansion.

Afam4eva: This sounds like a religious topic...

I've always wondered why a lot of Christians and Muslims attribute their success to God when in those same religions, there are poor people and people who don't worship any God are equally successful.

That's why it is 'favour'. Favour is to a great extent random. For example, you don't have a choice whether to be born into rich or poor home.

Michael Taiwo, PhD


Many people deride the role luck has played in their success. They even deny having any! Some are embarrassed by the idea that they are lucky and others are annoyed if an attempt is ever made to show how luck has factored into their achievement. The leadership literature has not made matters any easier. Leadership gurus flood the market with clichés like ‘Luck is when preparation meets opportunity’, or ‘I have found out that the harder I work the luckier I become’, or ‘Luck is the residue of design.’ It is against this tide of conventional wisdom that I wish to swim. And this article is the first I will write in a three-part series to take a shot at this misguided popular opinion. I am going to argue here, and in the two articles coming after this one, that all successful endeavors have luck to thank. No one – whether an individual, a team or a nation – would be successful without luck and if you disagree with this statement then I have you right where I want you: the other side.

Some religious folks have strongly objected to the use of the word “luck”. They believe it is a sacrilegious attempt at giving credit to an unknown. They prefer to use “favor,” “blessed,” “God’s mercies,” or any other term that ascribes their success to an “Other.” This “Other” is usually a know-all, be-all Deity. His omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent powers order the universe and assign men their fates. I have no problem with that. In fact, with respect to my argument, we are on the same page. Why? Because we both agree that whatever goodies we have were not all purchased by our sweat but by something outside of ourselves that we have absolutely no control over. After all, can you control God? So to my religious friends, I will say you should please humor me and let me carry on with the word “luck” knowing full well that we are both saying the same thing. Don’t let us get caught up with the semantics. Isn’t it Shakespeare that said “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name will smell as sweet?”

I look at my own life and gladly acknowledge the role luck has played. I got into the University a year ahead of my high school friends not because I was smarter or more far-sighted but simply because of Serendipity. My elder sister was about to write JAMB (the entrance exam into Nigeria’s colleges and universities) and when she got to where she would purchase the exam application forms realized she had enough money for two forms and thought “What the heck? I can buy one for my kid brother too. There’s no harm in letting him try early.” I seized that opportunity and worked my butt off to score just enough to be offered an admission into my dream department at my dream school. You could say I got into college when I did because I “worked my butt off” but what if my sister didn’t have enough money for two forms? What if she had but didn’t think of me when buying hers? I never said hard work wasn’t part of the success equation; my point is that luck is very much a part too.

I also think of how I got my current job. I had applied for the same job online with no luck and I got the classic “Sorry, after looking at your resume, we regret to inform you that you have not been considered for the job” response. A few months later, at a Geoscientists’ conference, I ran into a recruiter from the same company that rejected my online application; she took one look at my resume and said “I have a job for you!” Nothing had changed in those intervening months: I was still the same me, doing the same research, having the same GPA and working at the same rate. The only difference now was that I happened to be at the right place at the right time talking to the right person. I was lucky to be at the conference. I am not a Geoscientist but I have friends who thought it okay to invite me. I was lucky to meet a recruiter who knew exactly what the company was looking for and quickly saw a fit. (I have since found out not all recruiters are that competent.) I got a Chemical Engineering job at a Geoscientist conference. Yes, I am lucky.

Look, my point is that in trying to extol the virtues of hardwork, resilience and planning we have swung too far to the other side. We have become extremists in expressing those views and we have almost made luck a vice. Whereas, in the daily grind of life, we over and again find that it ain’t just so! You need to be at least a little lucky to survive in this world and you definitely need a large dose of it to thrive, to have your place among the very best. It is about time you came off your high horse and humbly accept: yes, I was lucky.

P.S.
In my next article, I will write on “The many faces of Luck” and in the last article of this Luck series I will go a bit more philosophical and touch on “Our Struggle with Luck.” I am really excited to share these with you and can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

http://jarushub.com/2013/06/10/femi-taiwo-on-monday-yes-i-am-lucky/

The unbeaten run will end in Confederation cup. Either Spain or Uruguay to end it.

Bleep

Garri the 1st: Sannusi's action is indefensible!!

Only a paid hack would defend SLS especially with the clear evidence available...

Very sad!!

This is beyond defence.

Of course, I'm not on his payroll, all the defence I did in the past were out of personal convictions, never because of any gratification. So it is easy for me to 'port'.

Still respects him as a brilliant guy, but I may not be able to vouch for his morality again.

Ola one:
And the media and the journalists.

To be fair, he's not in support of Mr Sanusi right now

SLS fall for my hand big time and I told him to his face(phone).

I don't know Premium Times for lying or for fabricating stories. Even if everyone has a price, PT's price is literally prohibitive. I even rate PT ahead of SR in terms of accuracy (SR rushes to press without concluding their investigations sometimes, hence some inconsistencies e.g chaning Patience Jonathan's nature of ailment up to 6 times).

Plus the guys behind PT have a history of high level investigative journalism. MM and IA won African imvestigative journalism award.

Directly contacted one of them and he confirmed their story was real. Also did some personal checks within CBN and FBN and even a top newspaper editor. Unfortunately, the stories I heard are not amusing.

I expressed my disappointment to him, when I can't chest it. The guy fall my hand.

Still a brilliant dude, but this is a low.

marutimon: 12/05/2013 (Sunday)

Russian Premier League
Lokomotiv Moscow - CSKA Moskva 1:4
25' Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moskva) (0:2)
11th league goal, 14th for the season. Small small... Simple tap in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRxQO1e_tmg

Spanish League 2nd Division
Alcorcon - Villarreal CF 1:3
8' Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal CF) (0:1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCAG0USpKHY

Romania Divizia A
CFR Craiova - Pandurii 1:3
50' John Ibeh (Pandurii) (0:3)

Portugal Liga de Honra
Maritimo II - Tondela 4:1
47' Ibrahim Obayomi (Maritimo II) (3:0)
67' PG Ibrahim Obayomi (Maritimo II) (4:0)

Turkey Second Division
Goztepe - Tavsanli Linyitspor 0:1
79' Akeem Agbetu (Tavsanli Linyitspor) (0:1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6yFNQrudi0

Finland Veikkausliiga League
IFK Mariehamn - MyPa 0:4
40' Olajide Williams (MyPa) (0:2)

Finland Ykkonen League Div. 1
AC Kajaani - PK-35
7' Michael Nzekwe (AC Kajaani) (1:0)

Swiss Challenge League
FC Biel-Bienne - Wohlen 7:0
14' Emmanuel Sani (FC Biel-Bienne) (1:0)
21' Steven Ukoh (FC Biel-Bienne) (2:0)
34' Steven Ukoh (FC Biel-Bienne) (3:0)
53' Emmanuel Sani (FC Biel-Bienne) (5:0)
54' Emmanuel Sani (FC Biel-Bienne) (6:0)
Nice to see Sani. Loved him and feel he can be a big player in the future.

Indian I-League
United Sikkim - Mohun Bagan 0:3
71' PG Odafa Okolie (Mohun Bagan) (0:2)

Indian I-League
Dempo - Salgaocar 2:1
15' Gabriel Obatola (Salgaocar) (0:1)

Akeem Agbetu, holidaying in Nigeria, came to play with us in our field this morning. Just left.monkey post.

librangyps: Iv bn suffering from pile symptoms but hav come to learn over time that its all about good diet filled with fruits and vegetables and that operation might never be necessary.

Because of d fear of pile getting to level 3 or 4 (operation stage), I choose what I eat, I feel healthy, I hav a trim figure and I exercise more.

So I'll advise anyone with pile symptoms to eat healthy.

I'm glad Ngozi Nwosu is better.

If anyone has pile symptoms, go see a gastro shap shap for detailed tests.

Not all cases of blood in stool are pile. Some may be symptoms of worse things like colon or colorectal cancer. These things don't become full blown overnight, they start will all those little symptoms. When symptoms appear to subside don't think they are gone

Always investigate deep with experienced specialist doctor.

oluwaoghene: Out-of-favour Spain striker Fernando Torres has been named in his country's provisional Confederations Cup squad.

The Chelsea striker, 29, who won the Europa League with the London club this season, had failed to make Spain coach Vicente del Bosque's recent squads.

Eight other English-based players have been selected, with the 26-strong party being reduced to 23 before the start of the tournament in Brazil on 15 June.

Barcelona's Carles Puyol and Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo miss out.

Real Madrid goalkeeper and Spain captain Iker Casillas also returns, having broken a finger in January, while midfielder Javi Martinez's superb form for Bayern Munich - who won the Bundesliga title and Champions League - earns him a comeback.

"When Torres and Martinez didn't come in before, it was because we didn't think the moment was right. Now it is the opposite - they are both in good form," said Del Bosque.

He added: "It's almost impossible to have every player who merited a place. (Cesc) Fabregas, (David) Villa, Torres and Soldado are our four strikers. You could just as easily ask why we didn't include (Imanol) Agirretxe, Iago Aspas, Michu.

"We can't bring in everybody. We've deemed it fit to call up Soldado because he's had a great season.

"We've called up those players who are going to help us have the best tournament."
The world and European champions have two friendlies in the United States - against Haiti in Miami on 8 June and Ireland in New York three days later - before heading to Brazil.

Spain's first game in the Confederations Cup is in Recife on 16 June against 2011 Copa America winners Uruguay, with Tahiti and Nigeria also in Group B.

The eight-nation warm-up event for next year's World Cup runs until 30 June.

Goalkeepers:Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona).

Defenders:Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Benat Etxebarria (Real Betis), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Javi Garcia (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Pedro (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City) Xavi (Barcelona).

Forwards: Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Roberto Soldado (Valencia), David Villa (Barcelona).

http://futbolgist.com/2013/06/08/confederations-cup-2013-spanish-squad/

Na wa o. Spain and their midfielders. See number of midfielders.

Anyway, I'm not afraid. They are not different from the Catalunya this team drew with last year. Most of their guys played for Catalunya

Soso990240: what ar u sayin? D late goal we conceded against bokinafaso who caused it? And dnt say ideye is nt suppose 2 be ther,the guy assists like a world class player(dnt 4get our 1st 2013 nations cup goal,he did it).am seein what keshi saw in dat boy dat he cant let go.

I agree we are underrating Ideye. He has high work rate and good with assists. He partnered well with Emenike in ANC, a la Amokachi behind Yekini. Even if he has not been scoring goals for Eagles.

It is not for nothing that he has been scoring more than 15 goals every season, from Swiss League to French League to Ukrainian League. He finished last season as 2nd highest goal scorer in Ukriane with circa 19 goals , despite being absent for Nations cup duty.

To me he is still the guy I have most confidence with upfront after Emenike.

The 2 most critical missing players are Moses and Emenike.

I also think IK Uche would have been an option forward. His skills can be useful in breaking tough defences.

I also fear for that defence. I'm fine with the regular 4: Echiejile, Oboabona, Omeruo and Ambrose. But the problem is the other guys are unproven at such big level and what happens if any of those 4 picks an injury? Juwon Oshaniwa should have been considered. Or even Yobo.

No big deal. I also served extension for writing article critical of governor of teh state I was serving.

slap1: Unless it was translated or edited, the English is a tad higher than what a primary 5 pupil can produce.

So you think if a news reporter interviewed a person in Yoruba for example, he would publish the story in Yoruba?