₦airaland Forum

Back to NPFL today. 4 matches, the star match being Kano Pillars vs Sunshine stars of Akure. My darling sootin is playing tomorrow away at Bayelsa. For the past week, the main concentration has been for sootin to score its first away goal at Bayelsa. It must to happen ni!

I dont believe in 'good english'. Communication is the 'koko'. If you are good in English and go to Germany, you will still look uneducated as you are not literate in German terms.

Was he the PM when the pix was taken? I doubt it. Having said that, western leaders are more accountable to their citizens than us Africans. Last naija president that did a similar thing was murdered in cold blood.

honeric01: to win the league, a club must stop leaking goals at home. 3sc playing with fire!

A team that plays fine attacking football is bound to concede goals. It is always best to outscore one's opponent rather than park the bus.
Kano pillars initial 'gra gra' will soon be busted.

Highlights of Shooting Star's last match against Wikki. Leading comfortably at 3-0, then sluggish to allow Wikki back to 3-2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HhU89QxkaVo#!

Afam4eva: Gbolahan Salami looks like a Rashidi Yekini. he doesn't have the physique of a footballer but he's good.

The guy is very good, but very very hot tempered. I'll say he's Rooney + Balloteli in one. Unfortunately he's injured and may miss the next game.

SHOOTING STARS goals of the month of March shown below. A shame we havent scored any away goals yet, but guys look at the quality of the goals, stadium and all. Anyone who understands Yoruba can hear the guy on the loud speaker telling Gbolahan Salami to please not remove his shirt during celebration for goals. I see Salami as Nigeria's future striker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RtAhXGvNNrU#!

PHEW! Full time 3-2. 3sc win

honeric01: LOL, see fear for your face o

this is their second 3:2 for the season within week 5.

90 minutes. sootin survive another scary corner. ref should end the match now

Sooting want trouble ooo. its 3-2. Real drama in Adamasingba

Wikki pull one back

up Sooting. Another 3 points guaranteed. Moving up the table slowly.

Shooting Stars left back, Mutiu Adegoke is a veteran! Watch this video and enjoy:

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

But why is K1 always sleeping with/dating or fathering children of men that come to his party? Almost all his women were snatched from men who innocently took their women to his party.
As for 38 children, oh well...Igbeyin ni dun oloku ada.

Shooting will score 2

That is a female handwriting. I am 80% sure. The way the strokes are, the size of the letters relative to the first letter in each word, the tone of the writing. I think this is a hoax at best.

6 hours later...

honeric01: You're wrong, they played today and Pillars won (i think), should get the scoreline soonest.

Ok. According to Shooting Spox, the team arrived in Kano today and trained this evening. See his fb screen shot

Kano Pillars vs Shooting is 4pm tomorrow Thursday. The team only trained today

If Nigerians in UK getting first class yearly were to be getting £1,000, I assure you the ambassador will be paying close to £500k. Nigerians get first class for Shizzy. If state govts emulate this, I won't be surprised there will be a surge in first class grads.

Ref books salami rightly for pulling off shirt to show the sign ' I love balotelli'. Salami just love controversy! Lobi reply instantly. Shooting wasteful.

Heading to the game it’s time to have a look through the truth files for both sides.

Fact

After two rounds into the qualifiers, Nigeria is top of Group ‘F’ with four points while Kenya is fourth and bottom with no goals scored and one point. In between the two is Namibia and Malawi with three and two points respectively.

In the upcoming tie that will kick off at 1800hrs local time, Nigeria is plotting to down the Harambee Stars to consolidate their position atop the log while the latter has the same agenda – hoping to turn fortunes around with an away win.

Nigeria and Kenya have faced off 12-times before in all competitions. From the 12 games, Nigeria have picked up eleven wins (91.7%) the other result being a draw. Goal wise, Nigeria has outscored Kenya 30 to four.

The only time Kenya avoided defeat to Nigeria was during a 1998 World Cup qualifier played at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on 12 January 1998. Under German Coach Reinhardt Fabisch, a new-look Harambee Stars held a star studded Nigeria to a 1-1 draw.

Of the 12 games played between the two, four (33.3%) have been friendlies (1981, 2003, 2007 & 2011); two (16.7%) ties have been during the Africa Cup of Nations (1988 & 1992) while the other six (50%) have been qualifications games towards the World Cup (two games in 1985, two in 1997 and two in 2009).

The first ever encounter between Kenya and Nigeria was a friendly played on the 3rd of August 1981 which ended 3-1 in favour of the hosts. The last of the 12 games was a friendly played in Abuja on 29 March 2011.

The Saturday game will be the seventh between Nigeria and Kenya – in Nigeria. Interestingly Kenya has lost all its previous five games played in Nigeria by receiving a constant score line of 3-0

Except for the first ever tie between the two in 1981 where Kenya managed a goal in losing 3-1, all the other five losses have been by a constant 3-0 margin.

In Nigeria, the Super Eagles has outscored the Harambee Stars 18 to one.

Ranking

As per the latest FIFA Ranking released on Thursday 14 March, Nigeria is placed 30th globally, sandwiched between Norway (29) and Romania (31). In Africa, the Super Eagles are fourth after Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mali.

Compared, Kenya is at 126 and right behind Guyana and ahead of Sudan. In Africa, Kenya is 37th behind Burundi and just above Sudan.

When the two last faced off in an Africa Cup of Nations/ World Cup qualifier Nigeria on 7 June 2009, Nigeria was ranked as Africa’s second best nation behind Cameroon and at the same position 30 globally. Kenya was at 32 in Africa and 109 worldwide.

However during their last ever meeting in Nigeria – Abuja in the friendly on 29 Mar 2011, both had had considerable falls; Nigeria was at position 39 worldwide with Kenya at 128.

Coaching

When the two last faced off in a World Cup/Cup of Nations qualifier in June 2009 in Abuja, the man in charge of the Super Eagles was Amodu Shaibu.

By the time the two meet in the friendly on 29 Mar 2011, the man in charge was Samson Siasia. Several changes occurred in between with Lars Lagerbäck and Augustine Eguavon having been privileged to have sat on the hot seat.

For the Saturday game, Stephen (Ukechukwu] Keshi will be in the Nigerian touchline.

Kenya will have Algerian-born Adel Amrouche, a Belgian, in charge for the Saturday game. Last time round during the World Cup/Africa Cup of nations Cup qualifier in 2009 in Abuja Kenya had German Antoine Hey as Coach.

For the friendly in 2011, Kenya was led by Zedekiah Zico Otieno. Twahir Muhiddin and Jacob Ghost Mulee, had handled the team between Hey and Zico and thereafter there has been Francis Kimanzi, Henri Michel and James Nandwa who is now assistant to Amrouche.

Against Kenya, Keshi will be leading Nigeria for the 21st time where he will be looking for win number 11. For Adel, the Super Eagles tie will be his first ever as boss of the Harambee Stars.

World Cup qualifier records

In terms of qualifiers towards the World Cup (some combined with Africa Cup of Nations) Nigeria has participated in a total of 87 games, the first being back on 20 August 1960 against Ghana.

Broken down, 44 of the 87 qualifiers have been home games from which Nigeria has posted 35 wins (79.5%), six draws (13.6%) and just three loses (6.8%)

The last time Nigeria lost a World Cup qualification game was back on 10 October 1981 when the team was handed a surprise 2-0 defeat by Algeria in Lagos. The other two home losses have been to Ghana (1973) and Tunisia (1977).

Kenya on the other hand has featured in 60 World Cup qualifiers since 16 July 1972 (against Sudan).

Split, of the 60, Kenya has featured in 30 away World Cup qualification games managing only two wins (3.6%), five draws (17.9%) and 23 losses (78.6%).

Kenya’s most recent away win in a World Cup qualifier was on 11 November 2011, a 3-0 win over Seychelles in a 2014 preliminary round qualifier. The only other was back on 16 August 1997 when, under German Coach Reinhardt Fabisch, the team beat Burkina Faso 4-2 in Ouagadougou in a 1998 World Cup qualifier.

Form

Ahead of the Saturday clash, the Super Eagles carry a 14-game unbeaten streak. Since falling 1-0 to Peru (away) on 24 May 2012 in a friendly game, Nigeria is yet to lose an international game.

Narrowed down to home games, Nigeria is yet to lose on home soil since being shocked 4-1 by Ghana on 6 February 2007 in a friendly game.

Nigeria is buoyed by great form in the recent past. They go into the Saturday clash as the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Champions, a trophy they bagged after seeing off Burkina Faso 1-0 in South Africa on 10 February 2013. To have won the tournament, Nigeria went through six games unbeaten, posting four straight wins in their final games.

While Nigeria was busy at the Africa Cup of nations, Kenya was relatively idle and since the turn of the year the Harambee Stars have played only two international games; against Burundi on 6 January (ended 0-0) and Libya on 6 February (ended 3-0).

Players

Vincent Enyeama, voted best African keeper in the past century, is in line to make another start against Kenya as he has been named in the squad by Keshi. Of the past three games against Kenya, Enyeama has featured in two.

Also with the same statistics is Chelsea’s dependable John Obi Mikel who is in line for yet another showdown with the Stars.

On the Kenyan side, Peter Pinchez Opiyo, George Owino, Victor Wanyama and Dennis Oliech have been part of the Harambee Stars in two of the recent three games

2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier – 7 June 2009, Abuja – Nigeria

Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama, Uwa Uchejile, Michael Eneramo (Victor Obinna - 54), Peter Odemwingie, Seyi Olonfinjana, Ikechukwu Uche, Dele Adeyele, Samuel Sodje (Onyekachi Apam - 76), Dickson Etuhu (Nwankwo Kanu - 46), Mohammed Yusuf

Substitutes not used; Danny Shittu, Joseph Akpala, Austin Ejide, Yussu Ayila

Coach: Shuaibu Amodu

Kenya; Arnold Origi, Musa Otieno, George Owino, Julius Owino, Pascal Ochieng, John Mwangi, McDonald Mariga, Austin Makacha, Patrick Oboya (Victor Wanyama - 72), Robert Mambo (Allan Wanga - 63), Dennis Oliech (Peter Opiyo - 76)

Unused subs; John Muiruri, Joseph Shikokoti, Mulinge Ndeto, Willies Ochieng

Coach: Antoine Hey

2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier – 11 November 2009, Kasarani, Kenya

Nigeria; Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Obina Nwaneri, Michael Eneramo (Victor Obinna - 61), Yakubu Aiyegbeni, John Obi Mikel, Peter Odemwingie, Seyi Olofinjana (Yussuy Ayala - 30), Onyekachi Apam, Uwa Echiejile, Ebenezar Ajilore (Obafemi Martins - 46)

Substitutes not used; Taye Taiwo, Nwankwo Kanu, Dele Adeleye, Dele Aiyenugba

Coach: Shuaibu Amodu

Kenya: Willies Ochieng, Musa Otieno, George Owino, Julius Owino, Edgar Ochieng, John Njoroge, Peter Opiyo, Victor Wanyama (Allan Wanga - 73), Dennis Oliech, Emmanuel Ake (Hillary Echesa - 78), Patrick Oboya (Patrick Osiako - 51)

Subs not used; John Baraza, Jockins Atudo, Pascal Ochieng, Wilson Oburu

Coach: Twahir Muhidin

Friendly; Nigeria – Kenya – Wed 29 March 2011, Abuja - Nigeria

Nigeria: Dele Aiyenugba, Taye Taiwo, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Joseph Yobo (Dele Adeleye), Efe Ambrose, John Obi Mikel, Joel Obi (Fengor Ogude), Ahmed Musa, Victor Obinna (Solomon Okoronkwo), Victor Anichebe (Ekigho Ehiosun), Peter Utaka (Ike Uche)

Unused subs: Sunday Rotimi, Olubayo Adefemi , Ikechukwu Uche, Kalu Uche, Nnamdi Odumadi

Coach; Samson Siasia

Kenya: Arnold Origi, James Situma, Dennis Odhiambo, Joseph Shikokoti, Edgar Ochieng, McDonald Mariga, Jamal Mohammed (Collins Okoth), Victor Wanyama, Bob Mugalia (Stephen Waruru), Joseph Nyaga (Kevin Omondi), George BlackBerry Odhiambo (Paul Were)

Subs not used; Francis Ochieng, Johanna Omolo, Lloyd Wahome

Coach: Zedekiah Zico Otieno

Called up squads for game on 23 March

Nigeria (initial squad)

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel), Agbim Chigozie (Rangers), akpeyi Daniel (Heartland), Ajiboye Dele (3SC)

Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands), Egwueke Azubuike (Warri Wolves), Papa Idris (Kano Pillars), Zango Umar (Kano Pillars), Oboabona Godfrey (Sunshine Stars), Kwambe Solomon (Sunshine Stars), Chibuzo Okonkwo (Rangers), Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars), Benjamin Francis (Heartland), Zubaru Muhammed (Tornadoes).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra, Portugal), Mba Sunday (Nigeria), Gabriel Reuben (Kano Pillars), Gambo Muhammed (Kano Pillars), Ubale Mannir (Kano Pillars), Pius Samson (Ranchers Bees), Ohanduku Gomo (Sharks), Obinna Nwanchukwu (Heartland)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv,Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Babatunde Michael (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine); Nnamdi Oduamadi (A.S Varese 1910 FC, Italy); Obafemi Martins (Levante FC, Spain), Saka Ayo (Enyimba), Jiya Muhammed (Bayelsa Fc), Emeka Ezeh (Rangers), Anthony Okputu (Lobi Stars), Adepoju Taofeek (3SC)

Kenya (20 players)

Goalkeepers: Arnold Origi, Duncan Ochieng

Defenders: Abdalla Juma, David Owino, Brian Mandela, Mark Odhiambo, Mulinge Ndeto, Aboud Omar

Midfielders: Victor Wanyama, George Owino, David Ochieng, Jamal Mohammed, David Gateri, Edwin Lavatsa, Peter Opiyo, Francis Kahata, Johanna Omolo, Cripin Odula

Strikers: Christian Bwamy, Dennis Oliech, Jacob Keli.

ogugua88: [size=13pt]You're singing a very different tune compared to when you were in politics some weeks back.

By the way, no one would care. People would change their dps, create hashtags, send BB broadcasts, and say they've done their part. If people were this proactive about things that mattered, the country might actually look differently.[/size]

You really have not said anything intelligent in this post. I suggest you take a deep breath and read the events that led to this. Read it and re-read it many times, then make sense out of it. Come back to comment after that.

Dolphin get second half underway

An Article from Kick Off..
Nigeria say Kenya are responsible for their own travel troubles in Nigeria, and chose a dilapidated primary school to train despite being offered a much better pitch at National Stadium, Lagos.

On Wednesday, pictures emerged showing Harambee Stars players training on a grassless ground in Lagos, and their officials reportedly blaming their Nigerian counterparts for shoddy arrangements

But NFF official Bola Oyeyode, who is the coordinator for the game, told KickOffNigeria.com that the Kenyans had no one to blame but themselves.

“To start with, they were playing hide and seek about their travel arrangements,” Oyeyode began. “They refused to communicate their arrival date to us despite numerous letters from us to them.

“In all those communications, we copied their embassy here and Fifa and we still have the letters here.

“It was only on Monday afternoon that they wrote to us informing us they would arrive on Wednesday afternoon.

“Even their embassy was finding it hard getting information out of them. an embassy official called Mr Tony was doing his best to help us, but even he could not get anything out of them.”

When information eventually came, it was too limited, according to Oyeyode.

“They told us they were coming with a 25-man delegation, but didn't give us any names, so we could not book the connecting flight to Calabar early.

“When it was getting late, we used our relationship with the airline to book 25 seats with no names, only for them to arrive with a 35-man party.

“In their letter, they never said they wanted to train in Lagos. The arrangement was for them to come in and fly straight to Calabar. But their flight arrived at noon, and the flight to Calabar is usually at 11am.

“At no time did we discuss anything about a chartered aircraft. Even our own team, who are African champions, flew to Calabar on a regular commercial flight.”

Regarding the training ground, Oyeyode said the Kenyans picked the substandard ground on the advise of one of their ‘consultants’.

“We went out of our way to book the training pitch of the National Stadium in Surulere for them at very, very short notice.

“But they refused to go there, after they were advised but one their men on the ground here, and they chose that primary school to train.”

The story I heard is different. Firstly, the match takes place in Calabar, not Lagos. Lagos was supposed to be a transit point, not for any form of training. The NFF arranged a charted flight for 25 people from Lagos to Calabar. However, Kenyans came with 34 people and came in very late. The flight could not be met, and they had to settle for local flight. Knowing the DANA and Aero problems, they found it difficult to connect to Calabar. Needed to note that Oba Martins and Victor Moses also had problems connecting to Calabar.
The Kenyan FA expected everything on a platter of gold, made it no point to communicate flight delays to the NFF. The use of this pitch again was at the Kenyan instance. The NFF offered them national stadium and Onikan stadium for training, but they wanted somewhere closer to their impromptu hotel to do some light work out. I hope the photographer can take the pictures of the hotel given the team in Calabar.

Ajiboye has rescued 3SC two brilliant saves, another free-kick, blocked by Osagona. 12min. Game still goalless--Sootin twitter page

Meanwhile Kaduna Utd 1-0 against Sharks of PH

shame on NFF. These guys are almost all over 25. This is not progress.

courtesy of Shooting stars page...

Boys are in Port Harcourt...

if only UK news outfits report the soaring HIV incidence amongst gay men, Nigerians would not even touch it with a pole.