One of the world’s top beach soccer referees, Nigeria’s Jelili Ogunmuyiwa has been appointed again by FIFA for the World Beach Soccer tournament scheduled for Dubai later this year.
The 30 year old who is presently running an HND programme in economics and cooperative management at the Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele Ibadan, became a FIFA beach soccer referee in January 2008.
It is to his credit that he officiated at the world beach soccer qualifier in Durban in March, 2008. He then moved over to the world tourney in Marseille same year. This year he was again at the world cup qualifier in Durban and did well enough to earn a call up for the world Cup in Dubai.
A premier league referee since 2006, Jelili has handled 20 top league matches including this year’s league opener in Aba between Enyimba and Lobi Stars that ended in a draw.
Nigeria was at the FIFA World Beach Soccer Tourney in 2006 aand2007, missed out in 2008 to Senegal and Cameroun, and have returned in 2009 as Africa champions.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
NO HEAD-TO-HEAD RULE FOR EAGLES. November 14 Ties Are Winner Takes All Affair
The dreaded head-to-head rule which ultimately denied Nigeria a place at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany will not apply in Nigeria’s hunt for a ticket to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
There will be no complications in deciding which country between Nigeria and Tunisia qualifies for South Africa 2010, as all Shuaibu Amodu’s team need do is get a win over the Harambee stars of Kenya on November 14 while they hope Tunisia slips in their fixture against Mozambique, by either losing or getting a draw.
If the above scenario is achieved, that is Nigeria winning and Tunisia drawing, both countries will tie on 12 points with Nigeria scaling through on goals difference.
As it is now, both Nigeria and Tunisia have the same goal-difference and a win for Nigeria with Tunisia not winning will automatically lift Nigeria above the North Africans in goals difference which is the first option FIFA is considering in determining the group winners in case of tie as against the head-to-head rule used four years ago.
In the battle for Germany 2006 both Nigeria and Angola tied on points with the Eagles also having a better goals difference. But the almighty head-to-head rule, which was FIFA’s first option then handed the ticket to the Angolans.
The following are the options FIFA will apply in order of importance in case of a tie
1. The goal difference in all group matches
2. The greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
In case a tie still exists between two (2) or three(3) teams the following will be considered:
1. The greatest number of points obtained between the teams concerned
2. The goal difference between the teams concerned
3. The greatest number of goals scored between the teams concerned.
Furthermore, in the case of a tie still persisting a draw will be made by the Organising Committeee that could be replaced by a play-off match with possible extra time and penalty kicks.
The play-off is FIFA’s last resort to determine the team to qualify for the World Cup when other means are intricately locked.
Instructively, the regulations for determining the qualified countries for both the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations are no identical.
The 2010 Nations Cup finalists will be decided by:
1. Greatest number of points during their direct encounters
2. Highest goal difference during their direct encounters
3. Greater number of goals scored during their direct encounters
4. Greater number of away goals scored in their direct encounters.
The overall goal difference for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations only applied when a perfect tie appears during the direct encounters or when more than two (2) teams possess the same number of points.
Cameroun, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Angola have confirmed their places at the Nations Cup while six more countries will join them when the qualifiers round off in November.
There will be no complications in deciding which country between Nigeria and Tunisia qualifies for South Africa 2010, as all Shuaibu Amodu’s team need do is get a win over the Harambee stars of Kenya on November 14 while they hope Tunisia slips in their fixture against Mozambique, by either losing or getting a draw.
If the above scenario is achieved, that is Nigeria winning and Tunisia drawing, both countries will tie on 12 points with Nigeria scaling through on goals difference.
As it is now, both Nigeria and Tunisia have the same goal-difference and a win for Nigeria with Tunisia not winning will automatically lift Nigeria above the North Africans in goals difference which is the first option FIFA is considering in determining the group winners in case of tie as against the head-to-head rule used four years ago.
In the battle for Germany 2006 both Nigeria and Angola tied on points with the Eagles also having a better goals difference. But the almighty head-to-head rule, which was FIFA’s first option then handed the ticket to the Angolans.
The following are the options FIFA will apply in order of importance in case of a tie
1. The goal difference in all group matches
2. The greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
In case a tie still exists between two (2) or three(3) teams the following will be considered:
1. The greatest number of points obtained between the teams concerned
2. The goal difference between the teams concerned
3. The greatest number of goals scored between the teams concerned.
Furthermore, in the case of a tie still persisting a draw will be made by the Organising Committeee that could be replaced by a play-off match with possible extra time and penalty kicks.
The play-off is FIFA’s last resort to determine the team to qualify for the World Cup when other means are intricately locked.
Instructively, the regulations for determining the qualified countries for both the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations are no identical.
The 2010 Nations Cup finalists will be decided by:
1. Greatest number of points during their direct encounters
2. Highest goal difference during their direct encounters
3. Greater number of goals scored during their direct encounters
4. Greater number of away goals scored in their direct encounters.
The overall goal difference for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations only applied when a perfect tie appears during the direct encounters or when more than two (2) teams possess the same number of points.
Cameroun, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Angola have confirmed their places at the Nations Cup while six more countries will join them when the qualifiers round off in November.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Obiora Nwankwo Is Hot Cake. Agents Battle Over F/Eagles Star
Despite the seeming poor run of the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, midfield ace, Obiora Nwankwo looks to be catching the attention with a flurry of agents and European club scouts on his heels.
The interest in the light-skinned player has even led to a face-off between two Nigerian licensed agents.
Nwankwo, whose registration is owned by ECO Football Club of Lagos, but featured for Nigerian Premier League side, Wikki Tourist, in the 2008/2009 season in Nigeria on loan, had started out Egypt 2009 in central defence for the Eagles before coach Samson Siasia moved him into midfield in the same game against Venezuela.
Complete Sports now have it on good authority that not a few clubs in Europe have taken more than a passing interest in his silky ball-playing skills, so much so that Italy based Nigerian agent, Sam Udeagbulam, has been accused of trying to poach the boy.
Peter Ejiasi, another Nigerian agent, who is based in Spain told Complete Sports:
“I’m the official agent of Obiora Nwankwo and I want to tell you that any other person that claims to represent the boy is a blatant liar.
“I can’t discuss about clubs interested in a player in the middle of a competition but what I have to say is that it is absolutely wrong for an agent that says he is licensed to start talking to a player that he does not have a contract with after that player had told him that he has an agent.
“That is what this Sam guy did and for me, doing such on the eve of an important match for the team is bad because you are going to distract the player.
“If he or any other agent for that matter, has something for the boy he can come to me and we can discuss, but the player should not be distracted with talk about interest from clubs until after the competition.”
Udeagbulam, who was said to have been introduced to the player by one of the coaches of the team, could not be reached for his own side of the story as he did not pick when Complete Sports placed a call to his mobile phone.
The interest in the light-skinned player has even led to a face-off between two Nigerian licensed agents.
Nwankwo, whose registration is owned by ECO Football Club of Lagos, but featured for Nigerian Premier League side, Wikki Tourist, in the 2008/2009 season in Nigeria on loan, had started out Egypt 2009 in central defence for the Eagles before coach Samson Siasia moved him into midfield in the same game against Venezuela.
Complete Sports now have it on good authority that not a few clubs in Europe have taken more than a passing interest in his silky ball-playing skills, so much so that Italy based Nigerian agent, Sam Udeagbulam, has been accused of trying to poach the boy.
Peter Ejiasi, another Nigerian agent, who is based in Spain told Complete Sports:
“I’m the official agent of Obiora Nwankwo and I want to tell you that any other person that claims to represent the boy is a blatant liar.
“I can’t discuss about clubs interested in a player in the middle of a competition but what I have to say is that it is absolutely wrong for an agent that says he is licensed to start talking to a player that he does not have a contract with after that player had told him that he has an agent.
“That is what this Sam guy did and for me, doing such on the eve of an important match for the team is bad because you are going to distract the player.
“If he or any other agent for that matter, has something for the boy he can come to me and we can discuss, but the player should not be distracted with talk about interest from clubs until after the competition.”
Udeagbulam, who was said to have been introduced to the player by one of the coaches of the team, could not be reached for his own side of the story as he did not pick when Complete Sports placed a call to his mobile phone.
MY F/EAGLES STARS ARE BARELY AVERAGE!
Flying Eagles coach Samson Siasia has declared that the players he paraded as the best Nigeria can offer at the U-20 level are barely average players who,as they are now cannot make it to the Super Eagles.
The coach said they need to do a lot of work before being able to challenge for places in the senior national team – even if they are struggling to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
“I think it’s going to be very difficult because you need players who are tactically very sound,” he said.
“If they’re asked to do things, they have to carry out instructions on the field of play and you can see from our play that we don’t do that.
“I think it’s going to be a long way for them to get into the Super Eagles.”
The coach is also at a loss how ‘his barely average players gave up the lead twice and eventually lost to Germany in a match they dominated both in terms of possession and chances created.
‘It’s hard. We scored twice for the first time in the tournament but it still wasn’t enough. At the end we were a man up but we were still having problems. When you lead twice, you need to preserve that lead, and we didn’t do that. My team were too disorganized to keep their shape’,said Siasia.
The Bayelsa state born tactician
insists the whole team must take responsibility for the loss to 10-man Germany which ensured their exit from the championships.
Siasia blasted his players for failing to follow instructions in the game.
“For the first time we scored two goals after playing four games, but now we’ve found out we can’t defend,” he said.
“All I did was to tell them to keep possession.
“You can’t keep kicking long balls when you only have one man up.
“But they didn’t even listen. You keep shouting all day – but if the players don’t listen to you, this is what actually happens.”
Siasia lead the Flying Eagles to second place in this event four years ago in the Netherlands, and accepted his share of the responsibility for what has been a disappointing performance in Egypt.
“I’m not going to blame players because I picked the players, so all the blame is on me, because if you have players who are not playing to instruction this is how you lose games,” he said.
He was also severely critical of the refereeing at the tournament – saying Germany’s winner in Suez sprang from a foul.
“The referee was five yards away [from the challenge] – and that was a foul, that was a foul,” he complained.
“They kicked him and took the ball and I don’t know why the referee allowed a chance like this – I think Fifa should do something about the referees too.
“Even though it’s the players fault, the referee has a lot to do about what actually happened too.”
The coach said they need to do a lot of work before being able to challenge for places in the senior national team – even if they are struggling to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
“I think it’s going to be very difficult because you need players who are tactically very sound,” he said.
“If they’re asked to do things, they have to carry out instructions on the field of play and you can see from our play that we don’t do that.
“I think it’s going to be a long way for them to get into the Super Eagles.”
The coach is also at a loss how ‘his barely average players gave up the lead twice and eventually lost to Germany in a match they dominated both in terms of possession and chances created.
‘It’s hard. We scored twice for the first time in the tournament but it still wasn’t enough. At the end we were a man up but we were still having problems. When you lead twice, you need to preserve that lead, and we didn’t do that. My team were too disorganized to keep their shape’,said Siasia.
The Bayelsa state born tactician
insists the whole team must take responsibility for the loss to 10-man Germany which ensured their exit from the championships.
Siasia blasted his players for failing to follow instructions in the game.
“For the first time we scored two goals after playing four games, but now we’ve found out we can’t defend,” he said.
“All I did was to tell them to keep possession.
“You can’t keep kicking long balls when you only have one man up.
“But they didn’t even listen. You keep shouting all day – but if the players don’t listen to you, this is what actually happens.”
Siasia lead the Flying Eagles to second place in this event four years ago in the Netherlands, and accepted his share of the responsibility for what has been a disappointing performance in Egypt.
“I’m not going to blame players because I picked the players, so all the blame is on me, because if you have players who are not playing to instruction this is how you lose games,” he said.
He was also severely critical of the refereeing at the tournament – saying Germany’s winner in Suez sprang from a foul.
“The referee was five yards away [from the challenge] – and that was a foul, that was a foul,” he complained.
“They kicked him and took the ball and I don’t know why the referee allowed a chance like this – I think Fifa should do something about the referees too.
“Even though it’s the players fault, the referee has a lot to do about what actually happened too.”
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Don’t Bank On Yak For Mozambique
Everton boss, David Moyes has indirectly told Super Eagles coach he would be making a big mistake if he expects Yakubu Aiyegbeni to rescue him and the Eagles in their remaining 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique in Abuja on October 11 and Kenya in Nairobi in November because the striker would need about six months to regain his goalscoring touch and sharpness as well as regaining full fitness from his serious Achilles injury.
The Nigerian returned to goalscoring form on Wednesday with the opener in Everton’s 4-0 Carling Cup victory at Hull City.
It was the striker’s first start since rupturing his Achilles at Tottenham Hotspur last November having previously made three substitute appearances after making his comeback to the first-team fold last month.
Yakubu was substituted at half-time in midweek after complaining of a slight thigh strain that kept him out the Toffees visit to Portsmouth last Saturday.
And Moyes believes it will take time for the Nigeria international to get back to peak condition after such a major injury.
“Yak is fit, but not back to the level where he was before the injury,” said the Everton manager. “When you have had a ruptured Achilles, a serious injury, the nine months out was the healing part of it.
“It might take five or six months for Yak to get back to his where he wants to be. If you’ve had a serious injury like he has, then it takes a lot longer to get over it.
“Is he back in and around the squad and bale to do bits of games? Yes, he is.
“If you can get the ball to Yak in the box we know his history of scoring goals. But maybe the team at the moment is not ready for that, we need a centre forward to contribute more in other ways.
“That’s why we need Yak to get more games and more playing time. But if there’s somebody you want the ball to fall to in the box, it’s Yak.”
The Nigerian returned to goalscoring form on Wednesday with the opener in Everton’s 4-0 Carling Cup victory at Hull City.
It was the striker’s first start since rupturing his Achilles at Tottenham Hotspur last November having previously made three substitute appearances after making his comeback to the first-team fold last month.
Yakubu was substituted at half-time in midweek after complaining of a slight thigh strain that kept him out the Toffees visit to Portsmouth last Saturday.
And Moyes believes it will take time for the Nigeria international to get back to peak condition after such a major injury.
“Yak is fit, but not back to the level where he was before the injury,” said the Everton manager. “When you have had a ruptured Achilles, a serious injury, the nine months out was the healing part of it.
“It might take five or six months for Yak to get back to his where he wants to be. If you’ve had a serious injury like he has, then it takes a lot longer to get over it.
“Is he back in and around the squad and bale to do bits of games? Yes, he is.
“If you can get the ball to Yak in the box we know his history of scoring goals. But maybe the team at the moment is not ready for that, we need a centre forward to contribute more in other ways.
“That’s why we need Yak to get more games and more playing time. But if there’s somebody you want the ball to fall to in the box, it’s Yak.”
STRIKERS CRISIS HITS FLYING EAGLES
Challenges keep mounting for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup as the team’s attacking personnel has been striped to its barest minimum.
Despite losing its second match in the tournament 0-2 to Spain on Monday, the Eagles still have an outside chance to make it into the second round as one of the four best third-place finishers from the competition’s six groups if they run up a cricket score victory over Tahiti on Thursday.
But prospects of that happening seem to be dimming after Complete Sports found out that there could just be only one striker available to the Eagles for the encounter.
Team captain, Odion Ighalo, who has led the front line for the Eagles since EGYPT 2009 got under way, talked himself out of contention against Tahiti when he bagged a second yellow card in successive matches for persistent harassment of the referee.
The Udinese of Italy marksman had got his name in the arbiter’s book for the same offence against Venezuela.
Gbolahan Salami, a winger who has played as a central striker for the Eagles in the past, is also forced out of the game after he was shown a straight red card against Spain.
The probable absence of the Nigerian junior national team’s other forward liners on Thursday is on medical grounds.
Romania-based Kehinde Fatai, who came into the tournament as the Eagles best goals prospect following his net-shaking exploits during the team’s preparation, went down to sickness even before the end of the Spain tie.
Fatai, it was revealed to Complete Sports, had complained of headache even before the match, which he started, and could not return for the second half after he started vomiting in the dressing room during the interval.
It remains to be seen how well he will recover in the next two days before the game against Tahiti as he is expected to sit out Tuesday morning’s training.
Stanley Ohawuchi, who took Fatai’s central attacking place on Monday, will himself not finish the game after he was elbowed in an off-the-ball incident in the 62nd minute.
The Bayelsa United forward, who finished the last season in Nigeria as one of the top scorers before his transfer to Atletico Baleares of Spain, would be taken to hospital and only joined the rest of the team at their hotel two and half hours after the game.
Despite being discharged from hospital, Ohawuchi was still not fully okay as he told Complete Sports that he could not stand straight and was also having problems walking, making him a big doubt for the October 1 match.
With the likely absence of four players in the Eagles attack, Nigeria could be going into their last Group B game with only one recognisable striker in Daniel Chima Uchechi.
Despite losing its second match in the tournament 0-2 to Spain on Monday, the Eagles still have an outside chance to make it into the second round as one of the four best third-place finishers from the competition’s six groups if they run up a cricket score victory over Tahiti on Thursday.
But prospects of that happening seem to be dimming after Complete Sports found out that there could just be only one striker available to the Eagles for the encounter.
Team captain, Odion Ighalo, who has led the front line for the Eagles since EGYPT 2009 got under way, talked himself out of contention against Tahiti when he bagged a second yellow card in successive matches for persistent harassment of the referee.
The Udinese of Italy marksman had got his name in the arbiter’s book for the same offence against Venezuela.
Gbolahan Salami, a winger who has played as a central striker for the Eagles in the past, is also forced out of the game after he was shown a straight red card against Spain.
The probable absence of the Nigerian junior national team’s other forward liners on Thursday is on medical grounds.
Romania-based Kehinde Fatai, who came into the tournament as the Eagles best goals prospect following his net-shaking exploits during the team’s preparation, went down to sickness even before the end of the Spain tie.
Fatai, it was revealed to Complete Sports, had complained of headache even before the match, which he started, and could not return for the second half after he started vomiting in the dressing room during the interval.
It remains to be seen how well he will recover in the next two days before the game against Tahiti as he is expected to sit out Tuesday morning’s training.
Stanley Ohawuchi, who took Fatai’s central attacking place on Monday, will himself not finish the game after he was elbowed in an off-the-ball incident in the 62nd minute.
The Bayelsa United forward, who finished the last season in Nigeria as one of the top scorers before his transfer to Atletico Baleares of Spain, would be taken to hospital and only joined the rest of the team at their hotel two and half hours after the game.
Despite being discharged from hospital, Ohawuchi was still not fully okay as he told Complete Sports that he could not stand straight and was also having problems walking, making him a big doubt for the October 1 match.
With the likely absence of four players in the Eagles attack, Nigeria could be going into their last Group B game with only one recognisable striker in Daniel Chima Uchechi.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Orelesi Goofs On Club Status
The status of Flying Eagles left back, Nurudeen Orelesi, keeps been mired in comical controversy after another mix up has seen him identified as a player of a club he left two years ago.
Orelesi, who has been impressive for the team since Coach Samson Siasia converted him from his original midfield position, had been displeased after the official squad list of teams participating at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on the FIFA website indicated that he was without a club.
It was an error of omission as the player’s club was not written against his name when the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, sent the 30-man provisional squad list of the Nigerian team to the world football governing body even before the team left Nigeria on August 29.
Secretary of the Eagles, Abdullahi Magaji, had explained to Complete Sports on Monday after the anomaly was noticed on the FIFA website:
“It was a minor error which can be rectified because there is still going to be an accreditation of the whole members of the team tomorrow (Tuesday) by FIFA where the final data of everybody will be compiled.
“So, really there isn’t much for him to worry about.”
However, during the accreditation of the team there was another blunder, but this time it was by the player himself.
When asked by the FIFA officials the club he plays for Orelesi gave FC Bonifika, the Slovenian team he left two years ago.
After featuring for First Bank of Lagos , Orelesi moved to ECO F.C of Lagos from where he went on loan to Bonifika of the Slovenian second division. Following pay disputes, the enterprising left-footed ace ended his brief spell and returned to his last Nigerian club.
In finding out that he had goofed during the short interview by the FIFA accreditation team, Orelesi said he was confused by the question that he thought he was asked to give his last club in Europe .
How comical.
Orelesi, who has been impressive for the team since Coach Samson Siasia converted him from his original midfield position, had been displeased after the official squad list of teams participating at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on the FIFA website indicated that he was without a club.
It was an error of omission as the player’s club was not written against his name when the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, sent the 30-man provisional squad list of the Nigerian team to the world football governing body even before the team left Nigeria on August 29.
Secretary of the Eagles, Abdullahi Magaji, had explained to Complete Sports on Monday after the anomaly was noticed on the FIFA website:
“It was a minor error which can be rectified because there is still going to be an accreditation of the whole members of the team tomorrow (Tuesday) by FIFA where the final data of everybody will be compiled.
“So, really there isn’t much for him to worry about.”
However, during the accreditation of the team there was another blunder, but this time it was by the player himself.
When asked by the FIFA officials the club he plays for Orelesi gave FC Bonifika, the Slovenian team he left two years ago.
After featuring for First Bank of Lagos , Orelesi moved to ECO F.C of Lagos from where he went on loan to Bonifika of the Slovenian second division. Following pay disputes, the enterprising left-footed ace ended his brief spell and returned to his last Nigerian club.
In finding out that he had goofed during the short interview by the FIFA accreditation team, Orelesi said he was confused by the question that he thought he was asked to give his last club in Europe .
How comical.
Eagles List
Enyeama Vincent
Dele Aiyenugba
Greg Etafia
Joseph Yobo
Apam Onyekachi
Yusuf Mohammed
Adefemi Olubayo
Taiye Taiwo
Elderson Echijile
Nwaneri Obinna
Adeleye Dele
Kaita Sanni
Ayila Yusuf
Nwakwo Kanu
Mikel Obi John
Ajilore Femi
Olofinjana Seyi
Eneramo Mike
Obafemi Martins
Obinna Nsofor
Obasi Chinedu
Odemwingie Osaze
Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Akpala Joseph
Peter Utaka
Danny Shittu
Etuhu Dickson
Sodje Sam
Chibuzor Okonkwo
Ekwosa James
Dele Aiyenugba
Greg Etafia
Joseph Yobo
Apam Onyekachi
Yusuf Mohammed
Adefemi Olubayo
Taiye Taiwo
Elderson Echijile
Nwaneri Obinna
Adeleye Dele
Kaita Sanni
Ayila Yusuf
Nwakwo Kanu
Mikel Obi John
Ajilore Femi
Olofinjana Seyi
Eneramo Mike
Obafemi Martins
Obinna Nsofor
Obasi Chinedu
Odemwingie Osaze
Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Akpala Joseph
Peter Utaka
Danny Shittu
Etuhu Dickson
Sodje Sam
Chibuzor Okonkwo
Ekwosa James
AMODU UNVEILS 30-MAN LIST FOR MOZAMBIQUE
FOOTBALL:
In what appears to be a sign of confusion or outright desperation, Super Eagles chief coach Shaibu Amodu on Wednesday released a 30-man list of players to prosecute the World Cup qualifier against Mozambique but which is peopled by players of questionable credentials.
Top on the list of such players is Switzerland based Yusuf Mohammed who is on the books of FC Sion but who has made only three starts for the club since making a move from Sudan.
Complete Sports’ checks also revealed that Mohammed’s teammate Obinna Nwaneri has made two starts and played another two as a substitute.
Sam Sodje who is said to be on the books of Charlton Athletic has not featured for the Addicks this season though he made seven appearances for Leeds United before moving away from Ellands Road.
France based Elderson Echiejile is not listed by Stade Rennes for the current season while Taiye Taiwo is just returning from injury.
This development leaves Dele Adeleye, Olufemi Olubayo and Joseph Yobo as well as Apam Oyekachi the only active Super Eagles defenders with their respective clubs.
It is unknown why Amodu chose to ignore other players who have been posting impressive results with their clubs. Chidi Odiah with CSKA Moscow was voted man-of-the-match and rated highly in his club’s last two matches but apparently he is not good enough to make Amodu’s Super Eagles defence.
The game against the Mambas of Mozambique is a must-win if Nigeria must harbour any hope of reaching South Africa 2010.
In what appears to be a sign of confusion or outright desperation, Super Eagles chief coach Shaibu Amodu on Wednesday released a 30-man list of players to prosecute the World Cup qualifier against Mozambique but which is peopled by players of questionable credentials.
Top on the list of such players is Switzerland based Yusuf Mohammed who is on the books of FC Sion but who has made only three starts for the club since making a move from Sudan.
Complete Sports’ checks also revealed that Mohammed’s teammate Obinna Nwaneri has made two starts and played another two as a substitute.
Sam Sodje who is said to be on the books of Charlton Athletic has not featured for the Addicks this season though he made seven appearances for Leeds United before moving away from Ellands Road.
France based Elderson Echiejile is not listed by Stade Rennes for the current season while Taiye Taiwo is just returning from injury.
This development leaves Dele Adeleye, Olufemi Olubayo and Joseph Yobo as well as Apam Oyekachi the only active Super Eagles defenders with their respective clubs.
It is unknown why Amodu chose to ignore other players who have been posting impressive results with their clubs. Chidi Odiah with CSKA Moscow was voted man-of-the-match and rated highly in his club’s last two matches but apparently he is not good enough to make Amodu’s Super Eagles defence.
The game against the Mambas of Mozambique is a must-win if Nigeria must harbour any hope of reaching South Africa 2010.
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