₦airaland Forum

Nigeria U20s on Sunday qualified for next year’s AYC after they defeated South Africa 3-1 to advance 4-2 on aggregate.

Flying Eagles coach John Obuh commended the resilience of the South Africans.

“They are a very good team and they kept us on our toes from start to finish,” said Obuh.

“Kudos to the entire team for putting in their best to ensure we will be in Algeria to now defend our crown.”

The Flying Eagles took the game from the first blast of the whistle but it was not until the 38th minute when MVP Abduljaleel Ajagun turned smartly inside the six-yard box before firing past goalkeeper Lebo Ngubeni.

But almost immediately the Amajita drew level on the back of a quick counter attack as the Nigerians seem to still be celebrating their opening goal.

And again it was danger man Thabani Mthembu who scored for South Africa, just as he had done two weeks ago in Nelspruit.

“It was a mistake on our part as we over celebrated our goal and we got punished for it,” lamented Obuh after this exciting clash between two good sides.

The game was then delicately balanced at 1-1 before Ajagun delivered the best goal of the day on 45 minutes when he blasted home into the roof of the net to the relief of the big crowd at the Kwara State Stadium.

Enugu Rangers striker Alhaji Gero further settled the nerves of the home crowd when he slipped home a stylish through ball by the outstanding Ajagun. It was his fourth goal of the campaign.

However, to the credit of the visiting South Africa they did not give up the fight as they now opened up and took the game to their hosts.

Goalkeeper and skipper Samuel Okani was at his best as he kept out a goal-bound shot in the 74th minute and in stoppage time, Okani tipped another effort for a corner as Amajita continued to press for another goal.

And when the Ghanaian referee blew the final whistle, players, officials and fans erupted into a wild celebration.

Flying Eagles vs South Africa

Samuel Okani (skipper) – Mohammed Aliyu, Kenneth Omeruo (Shehu Abdullahi 46), Ikechukwu Okorie, Chizoba Amaefule – Moses Orkuma, Abduljaleel Ajagun, Chidi Osuchukwu - Bright Ejike (Yahaya Adamu 64), Alhaji Gero (Uche Agbo 75), Umar Aminu

Unused Subs: Jonah Usman, Halilu Obadaki, Agboyi Ovboka, Harrison Egbune

Coach: John Obuh

Booking: Alhaji Gero 53.

Nigeria U-20 team will on Sunday in Ilorin battle their South African counterparts for a ticket to the 2013 African Youth Championship.

Both teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg a fortnight ago in Nelspruit.

Reigning African champions Flying Eagles will be the favourites to qualify for next year’s AYC in Algeria as they already have an away goal in the bag and will be playing in front of their fans at the Kwara State Stadium from 2pm local time on Sunday.

However, experienced coach John Obuh has insisted they are not leaving anything to chance in their quest to advance to Algeria 2013.

“South Africa have an excellent team and they gave us a good fight in the first game. They would have been disappointed with the result from that game, but still we cannot take anything for granted because we want to qualify for the AYC again,” said Obuh.

“We have prepared very well for this game and we believe our hard work will be rewarded on match day.”

Obuh has picked Europe-based pros Kenneth Omeruo and Aliyu Mohammed Goyi to fortify his defence with Sunshine Stars striker Harrison Egbune the only other addition to the squad from the first meeting in South Africa.

Enugu Rangers striker Alhaji Gero is the team’s leading scorer in the qualifiers with three goals thus far.

However, the big centre-forward was shut out by big Amajita central defender Ishmael Mngonyama, who was booked in the process.

The South Africa U-20 side arrived Ilorin on Friday morning with five changes from the squad last month.

The exciting midfielder Keagan Dolly is out of this clash after his club Ajax Cape Town refused to release him, but his direct replacement will be another mercurial Supersport United player Snethemba Ngidi, who missed the first game.

The petite Ngidi loves to be in the thick of the action and he makes up for his lack of inches with his speed and quick thinking.

Pretoria University FC goalkeeper Lebo Ngubeni is expected to keep his place after a five-star showing to stop Nigeria from winning the first leg.

South Africa will again be banking on goal scorer in Nelspruit, Platinum Stars’ striker, Thabani Mthembu to deliver. He is the team’s leading scorer and forms a great partnership with Percy Tau.

Amajita young coach Solly Luvhengo has promised to upset the home team to reach the eight-nation tournament proper next March.

“We hope for an upset,” Luvhengo said on arrival in the north-central Nigerian city of Ilorin.

“It was a tough game in South Africa and it will be even tougher with Nigeria playing at home now.

“Nigeria are a very good team. Normally, Nigeria bring big, slow and sluggish players to this level of the game, but not this time when they have very good and quick players.

“They will also be playing at home and that should also be an advantage for them.”

methodman: ...Are you already dat old?

^^^ Simple Arithmetic my friend

Meanwhile, wetin be your CGPA for school or your graduating CGPA if you're indeed a graduate?

Is it enough to flash glo to glo?

lalaosky: GBAM...spot on..300 was great. As for someone sayin 3 idiots is over hype, he must be high...that flick together with MY NAME IS KHAN are my best bollywood movie i've watched so far

Abegii, make we hear word jare. I'm tired of peeps talking 3 Idiots all the time as if it's the S.I unit for Bollywood movies.

I watch Indian movies a lot and I've seen many better ones. e.g. Ghajini (2008), Guzaarish (2010), Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Fanaa (2006), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Namastey London (2007), Race (2008) etc. Try watch some of these movies if you haven't seen 'em and come back to thank me

3 Idiots is not THAT good and it's over-hyped IMO.

Billyonaire: So in essence, The Telcos are ripping us off, cos despite high subscription there is no tariff reduction.

Guy, e easy to give away $1m and Brand New Aeroplane?

puskin: This is just a typical example that what works in other countries just doesn't work in naija. In US and most European countries......CDMA is more popular than GSM, but here, the reverse is the case or could it be that the Interconnect tariffs still doesn't favor them.

Anyways.......like you said........let's wait and see if they will die.............afterall, they are hugging transformer now.

True but me dey look the figures

101.4 million active GSM lines? That's about 70% of our population. Still, I can't help but wonder how many of these active lines are owned by people with more than one phone. If number portability was in effect, the figures wouldn't be that high.

I now know why the GSM Networks can afford to give away $1m, brand new Airplanes and such gifts in their promos

Vodacom go everly dey regret sey dem pull out of that Econet deal.

Google is issuing a warning similar to one it had sent in June to tens of thousands of Gmail users to inform them that their accounts may be targeted by hackers.

https://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/streams%5C2012/October/121003%5C4129452-googlesupport.streams_desktop_medium.jpg

"We believe state-sponsored attackers may be attempting to compromise your account or computer," the warning reads in black text on a red banner. "Protect yourself now," a link to Google support page says.

"It's likely that you received emails containing malicious attachments, links to malicious software downloads, or links to fake websites that are designed to steal your passwords or other personal information," warns the support page. "Google's internal systems are not compromised and that this message does not refer to one specific campaign."

The page encourages users to treat all links and attachments with skepticism, ensure that they're on the real page when logging into Google and to enable 2-step verification, a recent feature that sends a unique code to the user's mobile device to be used in conjunction with their password. Users are also encouraged to keep their software and plug-ins up-to-date.

Google said the warning will be seen by tens of thousands of new users in the coming days. Malicious traffic has been heavier than the software developer expected

Information security team manager Mike Wiacek told Bits that Google has gathered additional information about the sophisticated hacking groups targeting Google users and the techniques they employ. He said the attacks were coming from "a slew of different countries" but declined to identify any by name.

In January 2010, hackers, believed to be backed by the Chinese government, used sophisticated hacking methods to break into the Gmail accounts of Chinese dissidents and human rights advocates. They also attempted to steal Google's intellectual property and caused problems for another 20 companies including Adobe Systems.

According to Wiacek, there has been an increase in state-sponsored online attacks overall. They're unlikely to abate anytime soon.

Taraba State House of Assembly on Thursday, in Jalingo impeached the state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, from office.

The action followed the Assembly’s adoption of the recommendation of the seven-member Judicial Commission of inquiry set up by Justice Josephine Tuktur, the acting Chief Judge of the state.

The commission, with Mr. Usman Dangiri as Chairman, was set up to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor.

Dangiri submitted the findings of the panel to the plenary sitting of the assembly on Thursday, saying the deputy governor was found guilty of the three allegations against him.

Mr. Charles Maijankai, the House’ Majority Leader, moved the motion for the adoption of the report.

The report said Abubakar used his office to divert MDG projects to Yagai Academy, a private school, which belongs to him.

Similarly, the report stated that the deputy governor was guilty of using his office to influence the posting of an officer and interfering in the affairs of Karim-Lamido Local Government Area.

It said the interference was to the extent that the communities were complaining of the negative attitude of the officer.

THERE were indications on Thursday that the Federal Government was set to ask for a review of the judgment of the International Court of Justice which ceded the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to neighbouring Cameroon.

The PUNCH learnt in Abuja that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to file for a review of the judgement delivered 10 years ago.

Nigeria has barely one week remaining before the window for a review against the judgment closes. The country has till October 9, 2012 to seek for the review of the judgment delivered on October 10, 2002.

Under the ICJ statute, aggrieved parties have no right to appeal judgments but under its Article 61 one could seek for a review of decided cases within 10 years if fresh facts emerged after the judgment.

Jonathan reportedly passed the directive to Adoke after a late night meeting between the President and the leadership of the National Assembly on Wednesday. The meeting held at the Aso Rock Villa.

At the meeting were Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; and some other principal officers of the National Assembly.

Others included the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, and Adoke.

Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, who also attended the meeting told State House correspondents thereafter that a committee had been set up to explore the review option and that the committee would also consider how to take care of the displaced people of Bakassi.

Imoke who did not disclose the composition of the committee said it would work within a specified time.

The Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Leo Ogor, who was also part of the meeting, hinted on Thursday that the Federal Government had decided to review the judgment.

“I attended a meeting where this issue was discussed and I can confirm that Mr. President instructed the AGF to file for the review.

“Mr. President directed him to comply with the resolution of the House on the Bakassi issue”, Ogor stated in Abuja.

Adoke was also scheduled to attend an investigative hearing at the House on Thursday but he did not turn up.

He had written the House pleading for a shift of the event on the grounds that he had a pressing national assignment of attending to the review of the ICJ judgment on Bakassi.

The House had on Thursday last week passed a resolution advising the government to file for a review of the judgment.

The resolution followed an investigation into the Bakassi dispute by its Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs/Justice.

The committee, which was headed by Ms Nnena Ukeje, had recommended that due to “fresh facts” now at the disposal of Nigeria, it was in the interest of the country to file for a review of the judgment.

The Ukeje committee had said, “There are new grounds to enter a review for the judgment.

“One of the issues that has come to the fore is the fact that the 1913 Treaty, which the court based its decision has been faulted.”

The committee had also observed that Nigeria had yet to ratify the 2006 Green Tree Agreement under which the Federal Government ceded Bakassi to Cameroon.

The committee told the House that by the provisions of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), no treaty could be binding on Nigeria until it is ratified by an Act of the National Assembly.

Part of the committee’s recommendation reads, “The GTA is a clear violation of Section 12 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that ‘no treaty between the Federal Government and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which any such treaty have been enacted into law by the National Assembly.”

The Senate passed a similar resolution, calling on the government to file for the review.

Until the pressure from the National Assembly, the Federal Government had consistently argued that Nigeria had no grounds to enter for a review of the judgment.

In 2006, under the watch of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Federal Government signed the GTA with Cameroon and ceded the oil-rich territory, but the Bakassi people have continued to complain of unfair deal by Cameroon.

The country’s mobile telephone subscriber base has continued to record strong growth with the number of active mobile telephone lines hitting 105.2 million in August, the latest subscriber data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission has revealed.

The data, which was released on Thursday, revealed that mobile network operators in the country added over 1.8 million new lines in August alone thereby, increasing the subscriber base from 103.4 million active telephone lines in July to over 105.2 million at the end of August 2012.

Industry analysts said the promotions currently being run by Global System of Mobile telecommunications operators in the country might have been responsible for the huge subscriber growth in August.

While the total connected lines increase to 141.2 million in the month, the NCC data showed that GSM companies such as MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat attracted most of the new subscriptions between January and August, while the Code Division Multiple Access operators such as Visafone, Multi-Links, Starcomms and ZoomMobile continued to witness month-on-month decline in combined subscriber base.

[b]According to the NCC data, while active mobile subscriptions on the GSM networks increased from 91 million in January to 101.4 million at the end of August; the CDMA operators’ subscriber base shrank from 4.4 million to 3.3 million during the eight-month period.

The GSM active subscriptions, which stood at 91 million in January, 2012, increased to 92 million in February and 94.5 million at the end of March. The subscriptions continued the upward growth trend, reaching 96.6 million in April and 97.5 million in May.

In June, July and August, the combined active GSM subscriber base increased to 98.3 million; 99.4 million and 101.4 million respectively.

However, the active subscriber base on CDMA networks continued to decline from 4,031,820 lines in February to 3,904,846 in April. It further plunged to 3,718,153 in May; 3,541,355 in June; and fell in July to 3,452,368 and finally to 3,347,716 at the end of August 2012.

The number of fixed lines, which stood at 688,333 as at January, declined to 488,088 at the end of August 2012.[/b]

While the Nigerian telecoms industry continues to experience huge growth year-in-year, it has once again defied industry forecast, with the giant leap it recorded in growth in August.

The former Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, had recently predicted that the country’s mobile subscriber base would hit 105 million in December 2012.

However, the latest NCC data revealed that the target was achieved much earlier, as active subscriptions had crossed the 105 million projections, reaching over 105.2 million at end of August, 2012.

Experts said though it was good that the country’s mobile subscriber base had crossed the 105 million mark, the implication was that it would put pressure on the mobile networks if the operators did not increase their network capacities.

It will be recalled that the NCC had recently fined the four GSM companies in the country to the tune of N1.17bn for poor quality of service on their networks.

With increased subscriber base, analysts, urged the operators to match this with more investments in network expansion.

Chinom: It was a very frustrating match to watch. Naija girls missed at least 2 sure goals, one on one with keeper. Both teams had rather big girls for U17s

Good observation and best post on this thread

World’s football governing body, FIFA has released its rankings for the month of October, and the Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped five spots on the rankings and are now 63rd in the world.

The team also dropped out of the top 10 to now occupy the 13th position in Africa, coming after Cape Verde and Central African Republic.

Elephants of Cote’ d Ivoire remain the highest ranked African team on the list; they occupy the 16th position in the world and number one on the continent.

Algeria, Mali, Ghana and Egypt follow in that order, making it up the top five, while African champions, Zambia are in sixth position and are 41 in the world.

Tunisia, Gabon, Central African Republic and Cape Verde are the other countries that are in the top 10 in the continent.

The African Insurance Organisation has said Nigeria accounts for a quarter of kidnap for ransom cases reported worldwide in the last one year.

The Insurance Institute of Mauritius, the official host of the 18th African Reinsurance Forum of AIO, disclosed this in its newsletter on kidnap and ransom insurance cover during the ongoing forum in Balaclava, Mauritius on Wednesday

For this reason, the insurance association said Nigeria had been designated as the global capital for kidnap for ransom due to the huge record of kidnap cases reported in the country yearly.

Delegates from different countries in Africa and across the globe attended the annual forum.

In the report, AIO stated, “The number of kidnaps for ransom in Africa continued to increase. In the first half of 2011, Africa’s proportion of the global total increased from 23 per cent in 2010 to 34 per cent. Nigeria is now the kidnap for ransom capital of the world, accounting for a quarter of globally reported cases.”

It further stated that kidnap and ransom insurance constituted the illegal taking and holding captive of an insured person and was triggered under the policy by a financial demand as a condition of the release of the captive.

According to the organisation, the perils cover kidnap, bodily injury extortion, property damage extortion, product extortion, computer virus extortion, trade secret extortion, political detention and hijack.

According to the newsletter, there has been an upsurge in the demand for terrorism insurance.

The Minister of Business, Enterprises and Cooperatives, Mauritius, Mr. Jim Seataran, welcomed all initiatives by the insurance industries in Africa geared towards the development of the sector and encouraged collaboration between partners both at regional and international levels.

While speaking on how Mauritius had been able to develop its insurance sector with just a population of 1.2 million people, he said insurance penetration in the country was about 5.2 per cent, while its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product was three per cent.

According to him, the sector recorded a growth of 4.5 per cent in 2011 with asset amounting to Rs95.9bn for 21 insurance companies.