03072019 - Buhari's Ruga policy, an explosive issue — SOYINKA

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019
They don’t pass ball to me
•Ighalo opens up on why he’s not t scoring goals
Super Eagles forward,
Odion Ighalo has
explained why he has not
been scoring goals for the
team at the ongoing Afcon in
Egypt.
According to Ighalo who
scored the lone goal in
Nigeria’s victory over
debutant Burundi blamed it
on lack of enough passes
from the midfield, stressing
that as a striker one cannot
do much if he doesn’t get
through passes.
“You can count how many
through passes I have got in
We ‘ll solve
our scoring
problem
– Rohr
the matches and if you don’t get
passes, there is not much you
can do as a striker,” he said.
On the round of 16 game
against either Ghana or Benin
Republic, Ighalo said they
have done enough work to
best any team in the
competition.
“We are taking every game
one at a time. We are not
promising anything. I like it
when we are written off. We
have been working hard
and everything will be
different from the
second round, “ he
said.
Gernot Rohr says the team will work on
their scoring problems ahead of their
next 2019 Africa Cup of Nations match.
The Super Eagles have scored two goals
in their three Group B matches.
Nigeria scored one apiece in their 1-0
wins over Burundi and Guinea, before
their stuttering attack failed to make any
impact in a surprise 2-0 loss to Madagascar.
That defeat saw Rohr’s team drop to second
place on the standings, giving them a much
tougher last 16 tie – potentially against arch •Rohr
rivals Ghana – in Alexandria on Saturday
evening.
“I know we have problems with scoring of goals,
especially against teams who are well organised defensively,”
said Rohr.
“Madagascar didn’t give us space to play, they defended
together and our wingers were not able to break through.
“The performance was better in the second half, but it
wasn’t enough. We gifted the first goal and they became
stronger, we have to work on our scoring problems and solve
the problems before our next game.”
Amuneke to stay on as
Tanzania coach
•Amuneke
•Ighalo
Tanzania Football Federation technical
director has revealed that the Taifa Stars
have no cause to dispense with the services
of coach Emmanuel Amuneke.
“Coach Amuneke has done a fantastic job.
It was not easy because he transformed our
football. After 39 years, he came in and
changed things and always, when you
change things, you change people’s
mentality.
“It takes time. We will take care of him
and keep him here to continue with the
good work,” he said.
Ninje said the tournament afforded
Tanzania the experience to learn football
at the highest level.
“ So, I hope if we qualify for the next
AFCON tournament, we will do better,”
he said.
“We have learnt that when you play at
international level like AFCON, you have
to be ruthless, when you get the
opportunity use it, and adopt a disciplined
approach when you don’t have the ball.
According to him, the team will be
evaluated and younger players will be
encouraged to continue in the building of
a new national team.
Super Eagles need a ‘Jay y Jay’
in Egypt —Adepoju
Former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has argued that
the team currently campaigning for the Africa Cup of Nations in
Egypt need creative players in the mode of Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha.
The Super Eagles have struggled to score goals as they found it
hard to break down opposing defenders and scoring chances are
hard to come by.
“We (Nigeria) do not have creative midfielders like Jay
Jay Okocha. In the present Eagles, John Mikel
Obi needs to play with fast younger players
who are mobile,” Adepoju said in reference
to Mikel stepping into the big shoes of
Okocha.
“The way they (Madagascar) played
us without a fightback annoyed most
Nigerians. It was not a good game
by the Eagles. Madagascar even
created lots of chances. It’s not
hard luck for Nigeria,
Madagascar were simply better,”
Adepoju who was in Nigeria’s 1994,
2000 and 2002 Afcon squads added.
He said the Eagles must have to fight
harder in the knock stage if they wish to
remain in the tournament.
“Now the Eagles have to put on the
Nigerian spirit and win their remaining
game(s) in the tournament,” he concluded.
Madagascan President Andry
Rajoelina has chartered a
special plane to take football fans to
Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations
after the country unexpectedly
qualified for the round of 16.
Excitement has been building in the
Indian Ocean island nation as the team
emerged top of group B after beating threetime
tournament winners Nigeria 2-0.
"Barea", who take their nickname from a breed of
local cattle, now play DR Congo on Sunday for a place
in the quarter-final.
"After hearing the demands of supporters, President
Andry Rajoelina and the Madagascan state have
decided to mobilise an Airbus 380, with 480 seats, to
transport supporters," Rinah Rakotomanga,
communications chief for the presidency, told AFP.
The flight will leave Antananarivo on Saturday and
return immediately after the game.
Madagascar President hires
plane to fly in more supporters
But the adventure will not be
for free -- tickets cost about
$600 (530 euros) including
the flight, a seat at the
match and meals.
Rajoelina had
announced that he would
attend the match,
sparking a campaign to
enable other fans to travel.
"Do not go alone to Egypt
President Andry Rajoelina,
there are supporters who are
ready to fill a plane and the empty
stadium," said former opposition MP Guy Rivo
Randrianarisoa on social media.
Madagascar will face a tough game at the
weekend -- they are ranked 108th in the world, with
DR Congo far above them in 49th spot.
El Mohammady: Aguirre gives me
freedom to go forward
Egypt’s
veteran
wingback Ahmed
Elmohamady has explained
that his scoring form at the
2019 Africa Cup of Nations
is down to the attacking
approach taken by
Pharaohs manager Javier
Aguirre.
The 31-year-old has
netted two goals at the
AFCON thus far, putting his
name on the score sheet in
the 2-0 wins over DR Congo
and Uganda.
Elmohamady has enjoyed
life under Aguirre, racking
up four goals and three
assists in eight games
under the Mexican
tactician.
“The manager always
gives us freedom to go
forward and show
ourselves, especially the
fullbacks,” Elmohamady
told King Fut.
“He likes the fullbacks to
push high on the pitch,
which gives us the freedom
to score and assist.
“I scored today and
scored in the last game as
well as, long may it
continue.”
The Egyptian star added that he is set to stay with newly
promoted Premier League team Aston Villa for the 2019/
20 season.
Egypt will be back in AFCON action on Saturday night
when they play their last 16 tie against a third-placed team
from Group C, D or E.
Hamstring injury knocks
out Black Stars’ Atsu
Christian Atsu has been ruled
out of the rest of the Africa
Cup of Nations with a
hamstring tear, officials said
on Tuesday.
He has returned to England
for treatment at his club
Newcastle United, hours
before Ghana were due to
complete their Group F
campaign against Guinea Bissau
in Suez.
Atsu went off just 15 minutes into
•Atsu
Ghana’s goalless draw against Cameroon in Ismailia on
Saturday and doctors have said he is unable to play the
rest of the tournament.
Guinea’s Naby Keita has gone back to Liverpool for
treatment on thigh and shin injuries sustained against
Nigeria as he made his first full comeback after the
adductor injury that left him side-lined for two months,
including the Champions League final.
Keita is expected back in Egypt for the knockout round.