Super Eagles Promised Another N16m To Beat Ghana
…Sports Minister Optimistic of Clinching the Trophy
Nigerian Sports Minister Bolaji Abdulahi has offered the Super Eagles another $100, 000, about N16m cash incentive to win their CHAN semi-final match against Ghana on Wednesday.
The Minister had a similar incentive for a quarter final win, and says that would be redeemed before Wednesday, while applauding the fighting spirit that saw them claw their way back from a 3 0 deficit to win 4 3 against Morocco last Saturday.
The incentives according to the Sports Minister are government’s way of motivating the players to give their best and triumph over their opponents.
“If the boys qualify for the final and go ahead to win the trophy, they can be confident that a grateful nation will remember for a long time to come that they, with typical Nigerian grit and determination, have extended our dominance of African football.
“I have no the doubt in my mind, that with the Almighty God on our side and with the same commitment and will to succeed, the home-based Super Eagles will come to excel,” Bolaji Concluded.
Nigeria will tomorrow take on their perennial rivals Ghana in the second semi-final game of the ongoing CHAN competition in South-Africa as the two West-African nations fight to be in the final against Libya or Zimbabwe. The Eagles (Home based players) are featuring for the first time in the competition which is in its third edition and if they win the trophy, it will be on record as the first nation to hold the AFCON and CHAN trophy at the same time.
Nigeria Top Seed For 2015 AFCON Qualifiers
Champions Nigeria will be the top seed for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, according to CAF. Their top ranking was summed up based on a points system from recent AFCONs, the 2013 AFCON as well as their performance in the qualifying tournament for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Other top seeds for the qualifying tournament for the 2015 AFCON include Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali and Zambia. The 2015 AFCON will be hosted by Morocco in four cities from January 15 to February 7. The draw for the qualifiers is scheduled for April 27 in Cairo, Egypt. Meanwhile, CAF are to decide on the hosts for the 2019 and 2021 AFCONs in September. Algeria has tabled a formal bid for both tournaments. Other countries who are vying to stage the biennial tournament are Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, DR Congo, Zambia (2019 AFCON) and Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea (2021 AFCON).
Ohaji/Egbema Lawmaker Rounds-off Soccer Tourney
…Set to Empower 90% of Constituency Youth Members
The member representing Ohaji/Egbema state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Luke Chukwu has disclosed that the Umuapu Centre being constructed by him for skills acquisition and youth empowerment will empower 90% of youths in the area.
Hon Chukwu stated this while answering questions from newsmen shortly after the grand finale of Hon. Luke Chukwu Unity Cup Competition match between Umualum Umudu and Elechi Oji in Ohaji/Egbema LGA advising the youths to shun violence and anything that will bring bad name to the area.
He pointed out that the essence of the competition is to fish out talents for future competitions adding that about 5 people have already been registered from this tournament and expressed his determination to set up a tournament for the entire Ohaji/Egbema LGA.
The lawmaker emphasized that the competition was organized to encourage the youths and expressed delight on the turn out hoping that something better will come up in future.
He expressed his resolve to always assist the masses and improve their welfare charging people in power to always put priority attention to the interest of their people and reiterated his determination to ensure that the area remains united.
Hon Chukwu however, described the supreme court judgement recently which upheld the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha as the best judgement ever seen since 2011 election and suggested that government sets things up for one month celebration of governor’s victory.
The tournament which is worth N200,000 favoured Umualum-Umudu who got the first position with cash prize of N100,000, Elechi Oji took the second position with N60,000 and Akanu-Umudu N40,000
ympathetic Stars Defend
Adnan Januzaj After
‘stingy’ Nando’s Date
Premier League stars have leapt to the defence of Manchester United star Adnan Januzaj after he was castigated by The Sun for taking a girl on a date to Nando’s while wearing a tracksuit.
Under the headline, ‘My cheap date at Adnando’s’, the newspaper carries an interview with Melissa McKenzie, who claims she was ‘treated’ to an £18 meal at a Nando’s diner – only after she paid £5 for parking.
McKenzie also details how the pair watched X-Factor together in a three-star hotel before the 18-year-old playmaker, who has been one of United’s best players this season and is reportedly paid £30,000 per week, had to return home at 9pm.
Januzaj was also criticised for wearing jogging bottoms and red trainers while his apparent unwillingness to splash out on the alleged date saw him teased by the paper.
“I’ve never met anyone so stingy in my life,” she told The Sun. “I was so excited for the date. We met on a social network site and I got all dressed up and even got my make-up done costing me £30.
“I expected him to come to me in a flashy car but I ended up driving him about in my old blue Fiesta and I was left to pay and display. Then he said he was taking me to Nando’s my face fell.”
The restaurant have quickly capitalised on the social media buzz generated by the story by offering Januzaj a gift card with £50 on it, as well as advising him to dress a bit
