Afcon qualifiers draw - find out who plays who

Courtesy: mtnfootball.com

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday held the draws for the final round of qualifying ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Below are the fixtures 

Mali vs Botswana
Zimbabwe vs Angola
Ghana vs Malawi
Liberia vs Nigeria
Zambia vs uganda
Cape Verde vs Cameroun
Mozambique vs Morocco
Sierraleone vs Tunisia
Guinea vs Niger
Sudan vs Ethiopia
Libyavs Algeria
Cote D'voire vs Senegal
DR Congo vs Equitorial Guinea
Gabon vs Togo
Central Africa vs Burkinafaso

The matches will be played over two legs, the first to take place on the weekend of September 7-9, with the second legs scheduled for the weekend of October 12-14. The 15 teams who emerge victorious from the ties will join hosts South Africa in the field for the Nations Cup which runs from January 19 to February 10 next year.  

 

Arsenal Postpones visit to Nigeria

For all expectant Arsenal fans in Nigeria and the and its environs, it is quite unfortunate that you won’t have that opportunity just yet to meet with the team this year. The club, Arsenal Football Club on Wednesday announced that it is reluctantly postponing its proposed trip to Nigeria this summer.

According to a statement released by the club the decision was taken as a result of complexities linked to the planned game against Nigeria on Saturday, August 5 in Abuja.

Arsenal marketing director Angus Kinnear said: "Bringing a top-level club to an international market is always complicated and logistically challenging. With the proposed match in Nigeria planned for early August, we could not get comfortable on everything needed to satisfy our requirements, so we have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the team’s visit."

Kinnear continued: “We have a huge and loyal following in Africa, and we are sorry that the team will not be visiting this summer. However, we have a long-term commitment to Nigeria and we are already making plans for a visit next summer.

"In addition, we also have some exciting forthcoming activities planned with our commercial partners in Nigeria - Emirates, Airtel and Malta Guinness, which will kick off in the next few weeks.”

Emirates are the presenting partner of the Arsenal 2012 Tour and Boutros Boutros, divisional senior vice-president of corporate communications said: “Emirates shares Arsenal’s disappointment that the team’s visit to Nigeria has been postponed. We look forward to working with Arsenal to bring the Club closer to its loyal Nigerian fans through new initiatives over the coming months.”

Well and good, Arsenal remains the same but am sure it would have been to the delight of many to have them this year. Go Gunners!

Money Talks: Euro clubs cash-in on Euros and UCL

More European soccer clubs have been promised a greater share of UEFA's billions in commercial income from the European Championship and Champions League.

According to AP (Kiev), UEFA says around 580 clubs from across Europe's 53 soccer nations will collect from a promised $127 million fund from Euro 2012 profits.

UEFA also announced a 22-percent increase in Champions League revenue, to $1.7 billion for each of the next three seasons.

The Euro 2012 deal that pays clubs a daily rate for releasing players is now extended to include qualifying matches.

UEFA says $76 million will be distributed for the finals tournament, and $51 million.

 Most represented club-country in the Euros

England	80
Germany	46
Spain	33
Italy	31
Russia	29
Ukraine	28
France	25
Greece	17
Netherlands	16
Portugal	12

Best represented domestic clubs in Euro 2012 quarterfinals
11 - Real Madrid (ESP 5, POR 3, GER 2, FRA 1)
9 - Bayern Munich (GER 8, FRA 1)
7 - FC Barcelona (ESP 7)
7 - Liverpool (ENG 6, ESP 1)
7 - Manchester City (ENG 3, FRA 2, ITA 1, ESP 1)
7 - Chelsea (ENG 2, ESP 2, CZE 1, FRA 1, POR 1)
7 - Juventus (ITA 7)

From the above table and analysis, It is quite obvious which teams/country will be highest beneficiaries of this largesse. Smile to the bank!

EURO 2012 Championship: "Boring" Spain indeed

Despite heavy criticism of the Spanish style of football, they went all the way to become the first European team to ever win three back-to-back international tournaments as they defended the European Championship with a comfortable 4-0 win over Italy thanks to goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata in Kiev.

Some say they played a 4-6-0 formation that gives no place for the natural forward (striker), the midfield and and attack composed of midfielders who can fall into the place of a striker at any time, they play a tiki-taka pattern, knock the ball around, have the most completed passes, retain possession, what a philosophy!

Football is all about result, if the world will criticize a side that win matches, break and make records, win individual titles and become the best so be it.

OLIVIER GIROUD: Here comes another Gunner

For all Arsenal fans, this Summer has been "good"  at least, with the signing of new players for the 2012/2013 Football Season.

Adding to the list,  Arsenal have completed the signing of Olivier Giroud. It was announced on Tuesday that the France international has agreed to join the Club for £13m after a hugely successful two-year spell at Ligue 1 champions Montpellier.

According to the 25year old forward who scored a total of 21 goals for his club in last season's campaign, “I think I have the weapons to do well here,” Giroud told Arsenal Player. “I will need some time to adapt of course, but I’m not worried about that. I think I will adapt well.

“I’m a player who likes to play, who likes to participate in the game. That’s why I think the way Arsenal play will suit me. I like scoring goals and Arsenal create a lot of chances, so if I do well, then we will do well.

“There is a nice sporting challenge as well at Arsenal, and I will play to create history and enjoy myself and give pleasure to the fans. I think that the Premier League corresponds well with me.”

With Lukas Podolski from Cologne and now Giroud, it is very clear what the Arsenal management intends to do next season. Keeping Robin Van Persie is key to the club, if it means adding to their arsenals, why not? 

Every player that joins Arsenal at this point in time should be aware of the current status of the club in terms of winning titles and pressure from fans. I will take more than skills boy. Good luck Arsenal.

Coach Keshi avoids 99-1 defeat to India

Done with the busy schedule of June, Nigeria recorded two wins at home  and one away draw  against Malawi, Namibia and Rwanda in the 2013 AFCON and 2014 Nations cup respectively.

Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has however revealed that during the August 15 Fifa open window,  in which Nigeria was invited for Nehru Cup four-nations competition in India, he would prefer his side to play against any top African team and not India. Basically because He wants to keep the Rhythm against another African Team. 

Could it be that Keshi is trying to avoid another 99-1 defeat against India as the fable tale goes? Am sure you have at one point in time heard that story. It is a blatant lie. Nigeria has never loss against India.

Mafoluku/Oshodi Successfully host Footballers Pally

By: Amos Joseph

The match was indeed a friendly affair as football lovers in the Mafoluku and Oshodi neighbourhood trooped to Agege Stadium to watch the Europe Based professionals trade tackles with Nigerian based footballers.

Foreign Pros

The match was played last weekend and it ended 2-1 in favour of the home Based Footballers. Obviously, the fans were thrilled and pleased to have taken to the stands in their numbers as they cheered the players all the way.

 İn an interview with the organizers of the Match, İt was revealed that it took a lot of effort to put of such a game. Alexander Oluwatayo  Akande of Hong Kong Sapling said "it is indeed a pleasure to be a part of this development where the Pros had to come together to unite players who grew from our communities".

He further commended the other players who bought the idea and did everything possible to ensure that the plan saw the light of day. Among them are Azubike Hycent, Bola Akanbi Sani Gideon, coach Afolabi Ojekunle and Akeem Agbetu who could not make it down to Nigeria but sent their support.

Alexander Oluwatyo Akande

Sani Gideon 

Izunna Uzochukwu 

   

Middle: Azubike Hycent

Some of the Nigerian based players

Coach Afolabi Ojekunle (Folley)

Also, Coach Afolabi Ojekunle popularly known as coach folley, White speaking in a phone interview expressed great Joy to see the players he groomed play in different parts of the world, come together to arrange such a game.

He is currently under-going a coaching course in the United Kingdom with the London Football Association having obtained a certificate from the National Institute of Sports, Lagos Nigeria.