Super Eagles Camp Opens Oct. 6 for Ethiopia/Nigeria showdown

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Wednesday said the Super Eagles would open camp in Abuja on Sunday, Oct. 6 for preparations against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia.

Musa Amadu, the association’s Secretary-General, in Abuja said that Nigeria could not afford to take things for granted in the crucial World Cup playoff.

The first leg tie of the 2014 Brazil World Cup Playoff between Nigeria and Ethiopia will hold in Addis Ababa on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Amadu said the Eagles would be expected to train in Abuja from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11, before departing for Addis Ababa aboard a chartered flight on Oct. 12.

He said the NFA was liaising with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to make the Abuja National Stadium available for the Eagles to train in.

“This game is very critical to us and we are giving it all the seriousness it deserves. We are doing all we can to secure entry visas for the delegation and team officials before departure.

“You know the Ethiopians are eager to qualify for their first-ever World Cup finals and, because they are playing against the African champions, they will prepare seriously,’’ Amadu said.

He added that arrangements had been made for the Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia to meet with the country’s advance party in Addis Ababa, before the arrival of the main delegation.

“This will enable the Nigerian contingent to put all necessary requirements in place before the match, so as to enhance Nigeria’s chances of picking the maximum points at stake,’’ the NFA secretary-general said.

He disclosed also that the NFA was working towards making the return leg game in Calabar on Nov. 16 an easy game for Nigeria.

 

Super Eagles’ head coach Stephen Keshi had on Sept. 20 released a 23-man list for the Oct. 13 match against Ethiopia.

There were no new additions to the squad which defeated Malawi 2-0 in Calabar, as Keshi decided to stick with the same team which secured the playoff berth.

The list has goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim, as well as strikers Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor and Uche Nwofor.

The defenders are Elderson Echiejile, Francis Benjamin, Efe Ambrose, Solomon Kwambe, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe and James Okwuosa.

The invited midfielders are Mikel Obi, John Ogu, Ogenyi Onazi, Nosa Igiebor, Victor Moses, Sunday Mba and Nnamdi Oduamadi.

Macari: Fergie Saw Disaster at Manchester United Coming

Lou Macari believes Sir Alex Ferguson was well aware of Manchester United’s squad frailties – and that could be the reason why he retired at the end of last season.

The Scot stepped down after 26-years in charge at Old Trafford and handed the reins to David Moyes, who has since struggled to impose himself at the Premier League champions.

The Red Devils have started the season poorly and are currently 12th in the table, following a 2-1 home defeat to West Brom. And former midfielder Macari claims Fergie could see this situation occurring last season.

“He’s always been a good judge of everything,” he told Hawksbee and Jacobs. “When he shocked everyone and said he was retiring, I thought, 'is he aware of what’s around the corner, is he taking the view that one or two of his best players are coming to an end?'. And Macari added Moyes should have improved the squad further during the transfer window.

“Every team in the country needs new blood,” he said. “The supporters get tired of watching the same players.

“I just felt this summer he needed to bring in some news players. They brought in one main player [Marouane Fellaini] but he wasn’t the sort of player the supporters wanted to see. They wanted a little ball playing midfielder.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BAYERN FIRE CITY AT HOME, MOYES’ UNITED HELD

Holders Bayern Munich handed out a Champions League masterclass with a 3-1 drubbing of Manchester City on Wednesday while Cristiano Ronaldo's hot form continued with a double in Real Madrid's 4-0 rout of FC Copenhagen.

Franck Ribery, Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben scored as Bayern left City chasing shadows for the first 80 minutes of a one-sided Group D encounter to end the Premier League team's five-year unbeaten run at home in Europe.

Alvaro Negredo pulled one back for City as Bayern finished with 10 men after Jerome Boateng's straight red card.

Ronaldo followed up his hat-trick in Real's 6-1 rout of Galatasaray in their opening Group B fixture with two goals against Copenhagen to take his tally to 55 in the competition.

In the same group, a dramatic finale in Turin saw Galatasaray, with manager Roberto Mancini taking charge for the first time, snatch a 2-2 draw with Juventus thanks to Umut Bulut's late goal.

Greece forward Kostas Mitroglou outdid Ronaldo with a hat-trick in Olympiakos Piraeus's 3-0 romp at Anderlecht and, also in Group C, Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Paris St Germain crushed Benfica by the same scoreline at Parc des Princes.

Brazil forward Taison's 76th-minute strike earned Shakhtar Donetsk a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United in Group A after the visitors had led through Danny Welbeck.

Bayer Leverkusen left it late to pick up their first win, substitute Jens Hegeler curling in a free kick in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 home victory over Real Sociedad.

Earlier, CSKA Moscow secured their first points in Group D with a 3-2 home triumph over Viktoria Plzen who have lost their first two games.

Pellegrini: City Played Badly

Manuel Pellegrini admitted Bayern Munich taught Manchester City a footballing lesson during their 3-1 win at the Etihad.

 European champions Bayern delivered a masterclass as they powered to a convincing victory in Champions League Group D. The formidable attacking trio of Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben all struck as City were completely outplayed on their home turf, although they also contributed to their own downfall.

Errors from goalkeeper Joe Hart and the defence proved costly but the hosts at least finished strongly as Alvaro Negredo replied and Bayern had former City defender Jerome Boateng sent off.

The result lifted Bayern clear at the top of the group and, even after just two games, probably left City in a battle for second place with their next opponents CSKA Moscow.

The overwhelming feeling was that a City side that thrashed Manchester United just 10 days previously were taught a footballing lesson. And Pellegrini admitted as much, telling Sky Sports: "We played very bad. Bayern Munich played a very good game as always. We learned an important lesson in their goals. "We didn't have enough time with the ball at our feet. "I think that we were playing in a different way. They had possession of the ball and I don't think we can make the change to fight that. "I always think a lot of things before and after the match. It was a possibility, but I thought this was the best way to play. "I will talk about that with the players in private. "All the games are very important. This was an important game to see what level we are playing at."

 Pellegrini added: "I will talk about the team, not individual players. "That was not the team we are seeing every Sunday here in the Premier League and that was the worst thing. "Bayern always had a lot of possession but that was not a good day for us. "The three goals - I think we can do better, not only the goalkeeper. "But you can concede goals to Bayern Munich because they are a strong team."

 Pellegrini also admitted concern over Hart's form but would not go into detail on the issue. He said: "Of course I am worried about the mistakes but I think that it was not an easy game, we played against a very strong team. "Our performance was not the way we have been playing. It is important to think about the future and what are  the solutions.

 "I think that the three substitutes, Negredo, Silva, (James) Milner, they played very well. "They changed the match in the last 20 minutes but the goal of Negredo was just a little thing at the end. "The difference between Bayern Munich and Manchester City was the difference you saw the whole game. "There are a lot of reasons why this happened so it is very important for me to have the solutions. I was surprised by the game we played." He concluded.

Ashley Cole in a 2am Stand-off with Anton Ferdinand

RACE row football rivals Ashley Cole and Anton Ferdinand came face-to-face in a 2am bust-up in a car park.

The pair were separated by pals following a tense stand-off outside a nightclub in Los Angeles.

Cole’s England team-mate Andy Carroll appeared to put a protective arm across him to keep the men apart.

A source said: “There was no row, no confrontation. They spoke but that was it. There might not be much love lost between them but there was no trouble.”

There has been a rift since Chelsea’s John Terry was accused of calling Ferdinand, 28, a “f***ing black ****” in a 2011 game.

He was cleared of race abuse in court after team-mate Cole, 32, backed his account. Ferdinand later snubbed a pre-match handshake with both of the players.

Ferdinand’s spokesman last night declined to comment. Cole’s spokesman did not respond to a request to comment.