₦airaland Forum

safarigirl: as it is, Iheanacho stands a greater chance of getting the Golden boot on our team since he's just a goal away, Awoniyi is tied with Yahaya at 4 goals, besides with Isaac certified fit, Awoniyi may have limited playing time. That being said, these boys are genuinely more interested in the trophy than a Golden boot, I was impressed by Iheanacho's interview where he stated that it doesn't matter who scores or if they get a Golden Boot, these guys are a true team. The '09 set was full of men who were more interested in individual glory than the trophy. These boys just want a cup

...and the trophy they must get, amen

adexsimply: Do men like this still exist?

Some mothers do have them!

LocalChamp: Mr. Falana noted that at the press conference Governor Chime succeeded in confirming the allegation that he has held his wife in illegal custody but attempted to justify the illegality by alleging that his wife has "a medical challenge".

The Governor infringed on her right, I expect the Court to examine the matter critically and I think she should claim damages too.

The Governor is a beast . In a normal society, he would have resigned and prosecuted accordingly. Slave-master

Mr Aboki: SO you people dont want Abuja to be secure abi?!

Mr Boki - Mr friend as your handle implie s, the city gate secures nothing. It has no gate in the real sense. It is just an edifice that beautifies the city and a unique one at that. Most cities around the world have monuments like this that differentiate them from others. Kaji ko

Every morning Mondays-Fridays, commuters battle each other to gain access from the city gate. The road leading in and out of the gate is too narrow for a city like Abuja. I think the current FCT administration should be saddled with the responsibility of completing the other lane and if possible enlarge the lanes so that the holdup every morning would reduce drastically. This should be the priority and not proposing to site another city gate that will gulp N64billion. I suspect some never-do-well people wants to use this avenue to divert funds.

tomakint: The best way to finish Buhari is just, 'Give Him the Mic' he must surely misyearn! He is even wooing a PDP he keeps condemning into his fold, youth unemployment is the reason there is 'boko haram insurgency' another one from Buhari kai...this mallam na wa

The reason why Akande always shut him down stylishly

Gwekzy: . That game ended in a draw bro...Penalty shootouts aint counted

Who won the trophy?Cameroun won it whichever way they did,they won it.They score more penalties than we did.Nobody remembers the country that placed second in all competitions,the winner's name is never forgotten

Seriously,there is something about the country that makes us different from others.Have you ever asked yourself how we have been able to survive all the troubles confronting the nation.They are surprised as to how we are surviving.We have made their predictions looked ordinary.So many countries would have been in flames if confronted with the issues we deal with.2015 is knocking and their prediction is that the country wont survive it.I laugh this off because that prediction had failed many times and this will not be any different.That is the unique thing about Nigeria.Wish our leaders can translate this uniqueness by doing the right thing towards making us greater and better.We can achieve this if we are willing to make Nigeria work.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, has said President Goodluck Jonathan has come under intense pressure from his supporters to contest 2015 presidential election.

Gulak said this at a meeting of the Elders’ Advisory Council of the Goodluck Support Group in Abuja on Thursday.

He explained that Nigerians in the Diaspora were “itching” to come back to the country in order to cast their votes for the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.

Gulak said, “Since our last meeting, we have received various support groups being coordinated by the GSG. We have, as of today, 1,665.

“The last to visit was the Ochendo Solidarity Movement from Abia State. About 150 (groups) of them came to this office. We discussed. They have called on of Mr. President to declare his intention. They said they were not flattering.”

The Presidential Adviser, who is also the National Coordinator of the GSG, however, said Nigerians should be patient with the President till 2014 as he would not break his promise to declare his decision in 2014.

safarigirl: which yeye history? We played a 3-3 draw with Sweden in group stage and won em 3-0 in a RE-MATCH. We have already used history to cook proper Egusi. Tomorrow, history wil have it that Nigeria is the first team to have won U-17 4 times. History will have it that Nigeria has scored the most goals in an U-17 tournament. History will have it, that Mexico suffered the worst loss in an U-17 final game. Men make history my brother.

Histories and records are meant to be made and broken.

Coach Garba Manu has confirmed the availability of Golden Eaglets’ vice captain for the Fifa U17 World Cup clash against El Tri on Friday

Isaac Success has been certified fit for Friday’s U-17 World Cup final against Mexico. The team's top striker in the lead to the World Cup is back to full fitness after getting injured in the second game of the championship.

The Golden Eaglets striker has missed four games in this competition after suffering a hamstring injury in Nigeria’s 3-3 draw against the Blagult of Sweden in the group stages in which he scored a goal. He also scored a goal in the 6-1 demolition of Mexico in their opening game.

Head Coach of the high flying Eaglets however insisted that the BJ Foundation Academy forward who was top scorer at the African Junior Championship in Morocco earlier this year will be starting from the bench in the crunch cracker against the defending world champions.

In his absence, Taiwo Awoniyi has impressed in the Nigeria U17 attack scoring a total number of four goals with five assists.

Isaac Success has two goals to his credit in the competition after finding the back of the net against Mexico and Sweden.

Source: Goal.com

My annoyance is simply the sacking of Gbenga Ashiru. Honestly, he would have made the difference. I think for whatever political intimidation that led to his sacking, it still doesn't make sense at all.

eGuerrilla: Sacrificed on the altar of political expediency by the latest JP in town.

JP got it wrong completely.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday in Ibadan arraigned former Head of Service of the state, Iyabo Adeleke, and 11 others at a State High Court for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of N5.6bn from the state’s Local Government Staff Pension Board account.

Muili Aderemi, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Ayoade, Banji Oguntayo, Adebiyi Olasumbo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Bosede, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde were arraigned with the former the HoS on 213 counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, forgery and stealing of pension fund.
One of the particulars of the offences before Justice Bolaji Yusuf by the EFCC counsel, Gbolahan Latona, was that the accused persons on or before September 29, 2010, conspired to obtain money by false pretences from Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board Account at Finbank, now FCMB.
EFCC alleged that the sum of N5.6bn was withdrawn by the accused persons from the account through various banks in bits, ranging from N8.7m to as much as N138m between September 2010 and March 2011. The said amount of money was alleged to have been collected on the pretence that it was meant for the payment of gratuity of various pensioners in the state who were teachers.
One of the accused persons, Oguntayo, a former internal auditor at the pension board, was alleged to have collected the sum of N46.2m between October and December 2010 from the pension board account while Olujimi was said to have stolen the sum of N35.5m within the same period.

EFCC also alleged that Ayoade stole N138.6m from the pension treasury between September 2010 and March 2011.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Hundreds of pensioners, mostly teachers, who were affected by the scam, however, besieged the court on Thursday.

They told our correspondent that despite 35 years of service in the state, they were denied of their gratuity by a few people, who fiddled with their pension funds, calling on the Federal Government to come to their aid by ensuring that justice prevailed.
Source: Punch

Dannylux: It's high time Nigerians started seeing Divorce as a good alternative to a failed marriage!! Not everything can be worked out! Being too conservative will ruin us all

Unfortunately, we always attach religion to everything. With that at the back of our minds, divorce is a no-no.

Another reason to thank God that I am the way I am. It is indeed a rare privilege to be normal.

I was thinking the first guy should have claimed that title. He looks as though he has down-syndrome. Is this dude not finer than our own Taiye Taiwo? Just asking ooooo.

Honestly she is not bad but obviously she isn't the most beautiful. Comb the whole West Africa and the magazine owners will remove that picture asap Just joking sha

We’ll cause an upset in Nigeria – Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s preparations are in top gear after the arrival of Finland based Fuad Ibrahim in camp ahead of the do or die Nigeria return leg on the 16th November.

Despite the cancellation of an intended friendly against Burkina Faso, coach Sewnet Bishaw has been conducting training in Addis Ababa with 23 players in camp .

Bishaw is delighted that the morale in camp was upbeat and he was happy with the training programme.

“The mood in the camp is very positive. It was disappointing for the Burkina Faso friendly to be cancelled but sometimes this things happen. Our focus is on ahead of the Nigeria game as I always believe anything is possible and we will work on our mistakes “

“It will be a tough match in Nigeria but the truth is that we will fight for the entire 90 minutes as we intend to cause an upset “ he added.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/well-cause-upset-nigeria-ethiopia/#sthash.CY2jledk.dpuf

Golden Eaglets are like brothers – Alfa
In a thrilling Nigeria team that relentlessly launches attack after incisive attack, the attributes of Abdullahi Alfa can easily go unnoticed. Unlikely to feature prominently in the post-match statistics, his passes are usually those that pave the way for his team-mates further forward to lay on assists.

Take a closer look, however, and the importance of Alfa to a style of play that has yielded 23 goals in six matches becomes evident. In a baggy No8 shirt that seems too big for his slight build, the midfielder efficiently shifts the ball from side to side, dictating the rhythm of play of one of the finalists – and major revelations – of the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013.

“That’s the way I like to play,” said Alfa, who was born in the Niger delta region. “I need to keep a cool head and pivot in all directions to start our attacks.”

It is a template he has adopted from the player he looks up to as his role model, Andres Iniesta: “I love the way he plays, turning this way and that to receive the ball and to initiate moves.”

Interestingly, Alfa’s eulogising of the Spanish star comes hot on the heels of similar words from his team-mate Musa Yahaya, who plays further forward, who also told FIFA.com of his unconditional admiration of the Barcelona midfielder. The Nigerians share similar tastes, but there is more to it than that. By singling out Iniesta for special praise, Alfa speaks volumes about how his team have played at UAE 2013.

Alfa is supposedly a holding midfielder for Nigeria, playing in a withdrawn position near the central defenders. Why supposedly? Truth be told, in a team that is such an attacking machine, and which likes to pin opponents in their own half, the diminutive midfielder – at 5′ 7” the shortest player on the pitch in the 3-0 victory over Sweden – has not yet had his man-marking skills properly tested.

Usually stationed on the right, he has license to roam, with static positioning contrary to the philosophy of coach Manu Garba. “The coach gives us lots of freedom,” explained Alfa. “He has fostered a great team spirit. We all get along with one another as if we were brothers.”

I love the way he plays, turning this way and that to receive the ball and to initiate moves.
Abdullahi Alfa on Andres Iniesta

Nigeria indeed seem to be a perfectly functioning family. Up front, Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi are wreaking havoc, having accumulated nine goals and 12 assists between them. But to get the best out of this duo, they have to receive the service.

That is where Alfa comes in. “The three of us have trained and played together for a long, long time now, which has enabled us to strike up a great understanding on the pitch,” said one of the foot soldiers behind the forwards’ success.

Maradona and Mexico
In the semi-final, Alfa put in an especially eye-catching performance, with none other than Diego Maradona watching from the stands. “I didn’t know he was there, but even if I had it wouldn’t have made me nervous,” he said. “It’s obviously pleasing to know that one of football’s all-time greats was watching me and my friends play.”

Alfa and his team-mates certainly put on a show at the Rashid Stadium. The constant swift-passing moves through midfield were a delight to behold. Perhaps the simplest manner to describe each touch is to accompany it with a yell of “olé!”, as is the wont of Mexican fans when appreciating a long sequence of passes.

In the UAE 2013 final on Friday, in Abu Dhabi, these fans will be in attendance as Nigeria and Mexico square off for a second time in the tournament. The Africans thrashed their Central American opponents 6-1 in their opening group-stage encounter.

“We saw them play before our semi-final, and they looked strong against Argentina,” said the midfielder. “We’re hoping for a repeat performance [of the group match]. In football it’s difficult to make predictions but, God willing, we’ll beat them again. Mexico can make all the changes they want, but it will be the same team we faced in the group stage.”

Alfa is clearly not one for mincing his words. Some may interpret it as overconfidence, but the midfielder simply believes his team are on an unstoppable run of form.

In a jarring contrast to his discreet playing style, Alfa concluded with a bold statement when looking forward to the upcoming decider: “I promise our people back home that we will bring back the trophy. Yes, I can promise that.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/golden-eaglets-like-brothers-alfa/#sthash.UieAUA5S.dpuf

Say AMEN if you believe Ethiopia will be thoroughly beaten.

Afam4eva: Nigeria lost to Cameroon in the final of Ghana/Nigeria 2000 at the National stadium in Sululere.

Surulere

Brown Pride: Whatever! You cheaters!! Your players are older than 20 years!

We are not cheats at all. Our boys are within the age bracket and to say your players are not more than 17years, is like telling a blind man that it is raining outside.

Brown Pride: In Mexico, we are register at birth, while in Africa you get registered at 3 or 4 years.

Listen d.ic.k head,we might be a developing country but that doesn't mean we don't know what we are doing. Children are registered at birth here and are given birth certificates.

Brown Pride: So, why so f.... Proud of cheating?

Seems you have not recovered from the 6-1 thrashing you received. We aint cheats but we will show you class when the stage is set tomorrow. Don't come crying foul play after the game might have gone in our favour.

Brown Pride: Even worst will taste your defeat next Friday when much younger players beat you.

Are you parading a different Mexican team?The last time I checked, it was the same team we thrashed thoroughly.

PDD will appeal the judgement and when the chips are down, nothing will happen.

ffo: The House committee report said having accepted that she actually approved the request for the purchase of 54 cars for the NCAA worth N643 million against the approved N240 million by the National Assembly, Oduah also violated the appropriation act.
The report described as ‘flimsy’ the excuse by Oduah that she asked the NCAA to “Kindly do the needful,” after she had given approval.

She should not only be sacked but prosecuted at once .

ffo: The report also indicted former acting Director General of the NCAA, Joyce Nkemakolom, for inflating the contract sum, observing that the initial request letter to the minister was for N564 million, but it was jerked up to N643 million when the loan for the car purchase was finally taken from First Bank.

Adding 76million naira in excess!!! na wa ooo . This person should also be prosecuted with the Minister asap.

ffo: It also accused Coscharis of conniving with NCAA officials to inflate the cost of the armoured cars, even though the whole transaction was done contrary to laid down laws.

Coscharis motors should be made to refund the amount the company added in excess and appropriate punishment apportioned to them .

ffo: Also, the report faulted the N10 million waivers granted by finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala when there was no practical evidence to show that the beneficiary fulfilled all the requirements for waiver. It also questioned Okonjo-Iweala’s powers to approve such waiver.

She over-stepped her boundary and should be queried for that reckless action .

KwoiZabo: I wonder the tribe that made us win the African cup of nations

It was a collective effort by spirited Nigerians that got us that trophy.

KwoiZabo: I wonder the tribe that fought for Nigeria's independence

Sir Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikwe. These are Nigerians and not just one ethnic group.

KwoiZabo: I wonder the tribe that produced the person that led to the cancelation of our foreign debt

He was president of Nigeria and not a president of an ethnic group. He employed the services of a Minister to serve and she was able to cancel the debt. She was Minister in Nigeria and not minister of an ethnic group.

KwoiZabo: I wonder the tribe that are at the forefront of Nigeria's industrialization

We all know the most industrious ethnic group in the country but at the same time, it was made possible by other ethnic groups providing the conducive environment for them to thrive.

KwoiZabo: I love that tribe

I love Nigeria.

geeez: It's time we allowed these people create their own country so the billboards will be appropriately captioned

chidindufrank: APC bunch of drunks. They don't obey the law but they want our votes. Thunder fire the devil

Is PDP any better?

noblezone: Everybody chill.
That was only a "progressive" fight!

APC is as confused as PDP. The land needs cleansing.

Dagoma: Tactical victimisation of the Fulanis.

Controlling their cattle-heads from wrecking havoc in local communities.

slimthugchimee: Front page hurray anyway i have one thing to say

Ooops, got you here!!! I can see you are also happy you made front page