C M Y K 38 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 Rohr survives! •Minister gives NFF marching orders •NFF promises to beef up technical crew By John Egbokhan The gale of sack hanging over the head of Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, was yesterday, temporarily lifted after a meeting between the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), ended with President of the NFF promising to shore up the technical crew for optimum performance. The NFF officials were also given “marching orders” to hold Rohr to the higher standards contained in his contract. At the showdown meeting h<strong>el</strong>d in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Sports Minister who in the wake of Eagles double-header AFCON qualification games against Sierra Leone, which ended in draws, had called on the NFF to sack Rohr, told the NFF top-shots not to wait for Rohr to fail before taking “necessary steps”. According to a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, John Akanji, titled, ‘’National football team: Hold Rohr to higher standards-Ministry,, Dare appeared to tone down on his earlier sack threat, when he said that Nigerians deserve better performance henceforth from the Franco-German trainer. ‘“The NFF must tightly hold the Technical Adviser to the KPIs(Key performance Indicators) in his contract. Thus, we cannot wait for those conditions to come to life before we tighten the screws or demand higher or better performance, <strong>el</strong>se Football lovers in Nigeria will be the greatest losers. In this area, NFF must take the necessary steps and actions beyond Rohr to protect our football fortunes. “The right of Nigerians to ask of Government and indeed NFF explanations for dismal performances and football administration cannot be simply characterised as interference. “NFF should be more concerned about the failure of technical depth and absence of a defense mechanism which were glaring during the encounter with Sierra Leone rather than the rush to defend the contract of the Technical Adviser. “Starting now, Nigeria must demand higher or better performance from the technical adviser. We can’t wait until he fails to qualify our team for AFCON and the World Cup before we start to ask the tough questions. In this respect, I charge the NFF leadership to immediat<strong>el</strong>y take the necessary steps to protect our football fortunes’’, added Dare. •Rohr The Sports Minister also raised eyebrows over the absence of home-based players in the team that faced Sierra Leone over two legs. Responding NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, while giving a background to what occurred, assured the Minister that “NFF will not shirk in its responsibilities”. He noted that “ few changes and adjustments as discussed and suggested by the ministry will be put into motion”. Rohr to get psychologist, nutritionist for Eagles •To accommodate home-based players T he much anticipated meeting between the Minister of Youth and Sports Dev<strong>el</strong>opment Mr Sunday Dare and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation in Abuja yesterday which centred around the national football team, the Super Eagles came up with some key decisions that if implemented, could turn the fortunes of the team around. Addressing the meeting in his office yesterday, the minister declared, “I charge the NFF leadership to immediat<strong>el</strong>y take necessary steps to protect our football fortunes working with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Dev<strong>el</strong>opment.” The minister instructed that home-based players must be brought into the team for all matches involving the team, henceforth. “We must raise the necessary interrogatories about the general administration around the team, the absence of local content or home based players in the team, •Chukwueze the domestic league dev<strong>el</strong>opment and growth, issues of ethics, nutrition, psychology, content and so on. ‘’NFF should be more concerned about the failure of technical depth and absence of a defense mechanism which were glaring during the encounter with Sierra Leone rather than the rush to defend the contract of the Technical Adviser.’’ The NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, w h i l e providing a background to what happened, assured the Minister that NFF will not shirk in its responsibilities. He said a few changes and adjustments as discussed and suggested by the Ministry will be put into motion. Some of these changes and adjustments include a Super Eagles’ administrative structure that will include a physical trainer, nutritionist, a psychologist and two match readers or more, injection of three to four home-based players into the Super Eagles picked from the professional league. Real Madrid are the front runners to sign Super Eagles and Villarreal attacking midfi<strong>el</strong>der, Samu<strong>el</strong> Chukwueze. According to reports by La Razon Madrid are eyeing a double swoop for Villarreal pair Chukwueze and Pau Torres and are willing to offer € 65m (£57.9m) plus a player in exchange. Manchester United, Liverpool and Ch<strong>el</strong>sea are among the clubs interested in signing Villarreal winger Samu<strong>el</strong> Chukwueze. The 21-year-old has established hims<strong>el</strong>f as a regular member of the Villarreal first team in recent seasons, he owners of Manchester TCity are prepared to put together a 10-year contract for Barc<strong>el</strong>ona forward Lion<strong>el</strong> Messi. With his existing deal at Camp Nou due to expire in the summer, the 33- year-old will be able to hold formal discussions with interested clubs in January. Having failed to sign the legendary Argentine earlier this year, City remain a potential destination for •Messi the attacker as he contemplates his next move. Officials have put together a 10- year plan, one which would see Messi represent Real Madrid, Liverpool, Ch<strong>el</strong>sea, Man Utd fight for Chukwueze signature Man City draw up 10- year plan for Messi making 37 La Liga appearances in 2019-20 and featuring in all but one of their matches so far this term. Manchester United are thought to view the Nigeria international as a possible alternative to Jadon Sancho, while Ch<strong>el</strong>sea, Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and Leicester City have also been credited with an interest. Man United are considered the biggest rivals to Madrid for his signature, although Villarreal are thought to be holding out for his full €80m (£71.3m) r<strong>el</strong>ease clause to be triggered. Chukwueze has scored 13 goals and assisted 12 more in 90 appearances for the Y<strong>el</strong>low Submarine. New York City FC after a sp<strong>el</strong>l at the Etihad Stadium. Messi will also be offered the chance to take on some sort of ambassadorial role at one of City Football Group’s club in China, India, Japan or Australia. Despite his c u r r e n t unhappiness at Barc<strong>el</strong>ona, the player will lik<strong>el</strong>y be offered fresh terms over the coming months. •Ramos eal Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane R has been handed a huge boost ahead of his side’s Champions League showdown with Inter Milan in San Siro after Casemiro was cleared to make the trip. The Brazilian has been absent after testing positive for covid-19 but was given the all-clear to rejoin the squad in time for the pivotal clash against Antonio Conte’s Serie A side, who have their own personn<strong>el</strong> issues as a result •Casemiro of the virus. Karim Benzema will be a huge loss for Zidane though after the Frenchman failed to shake off a muscle issue he picked up in the defeat at Valencia. Zidane will be missing several other players in Milan including captain Sergio Ramos, who remains sid<strong>el</strong>ined with a hamstring injury he suffered during Spain’s historic 6-0 victory over Germany. Álvaro Odriozola, Fede Valverde, Luka Jovic and Éder Militão are also unavailable. Madrid are third in Group B and two points ahead of Milan after a pulsating 3-2 victory over Conte’s side at the Alfredo Di Stéfano before the international break. Shakhtar and Borussia Mönchengladbach occupy the knock-out spots and meet each other in Germany. ollowing the withdrawal Fof Togo as host country, the Flying Eagles will now begin their U20 AFCON qualifying campaign on December 6 at the Stade de Gaulles in Cotonou, Benin, against Cote d’Ivoire. The match will kick off 4pm local time. The U20 AFCON WAFU B zonal qualifiers were originally billed to begin on November 18 in Lome, Togo, but the tiny West African nation pulled out citing Coronavirus concerns. The Flying Eagles second Group B match in Benin will be against perennial rivals Ghana on December 9. •Lukaku R Madrid e a l beat Inter Milan without having to face their star man Rom<strong>el</strong>u Lukaku and Spanish media are talking up the B<strong>el</strong>gian striker as the difference-maker ahead of a crucial meeting in Milan tonight. Zinedine Zidane’s side got their first win in Group B by beating Inter 3-2 in the Spanish capital. Goals from Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Rodrygo secured victory in a tight affair. But Lukaku, Inter’s goal-machine, is set to be reinstated for matchday four in the Champions League and his head-to-head with Real forward Mariano was the key talking point. Mariano Diaz has been far less effective than Lukaku, netting just once this season. But with doubts over the fitness of Karim Benzema he may lead Real’s attack at the San Siro. Inter boss Antonio Conte had Ivan Perisic slot in for Lukaku in Casemiro back for Inter clash Flying Eagles begin U20 AFCON qualifiers against Cote d’Ivoire Acoaches thletes have and reacted with trepidation following suggestions the 2020 National Sports Festival will be postponed again due to a second wave of coronavirus infections. The Presidential Task Force on the Covid’19 Pandemic New hosts Benin are in Group A along with Togo, Niger and Burkina Faso. The U20 AFCON qualifiers will end on December 19. Benin will also stage the U17 AFCON qualifiers next year. Edo 2020 suffers another postponement was said to have informed the Edo State government of a l i k e l y postponement and a new date set for early next year between February and March 2021. Edo State d e p u t y governor, Philip Shaibu confirmed the dev<strong>el</strong>opment. “ Let’s forget about having the Festival this year , not because we are not ready to host but because of the logistic issue raised by the PTF. “If they are not going to give us the green light. It is definit<strong>el</strong>y not going to hold,” said Hon Shaibu. Champions League: Zidane worries over free-scoring Lukaku without Ramos Madrid but it didn’t bring about the same returns that the B<strong>el</strong>gian can provide. But a lot has happened since the sides played each other in Spain. An injury to captain Sergio Ramos on international duty has left Zidane exposed in defence, his fears only heightened by the return of Lukaku, who has seven goals in Serie A already this season. Real Madrid have lost seven of their last eight Champions League games without Ramos in the team. The heavy defeat by Ajax in the 2018-19 season stands out, as does last season’s reverse away to Manchester City and this season’s home loss to Shakhtar.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020—39
- Page 1 and 2: Nigeria's poverty capital status: S
- Page 3 and 4: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2
- Page 5 and 6: vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguar
- Page 7 and 8: C M Y K Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMB
- Page 9 and 10: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2
- Page 11 and 12: Vanguard, , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25,
- Page 13 and 14: C M Y K Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMB
- Page 15 and 16: Y K Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
- Page 17 and 18: C M Y K Nigeria's poverty capital s
- Page 19 and 20: Y K Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
- Page 21 and 22: C M Y K Gamblers and journeymen Pol
- Page 23 and 24: Y K Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
- Page 25 and 26: C M Y K Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMB
- Page 27 and 28: Catholic priest celebrates 50th bir
- Page 29 and 30: C M Y K Vanguard, , WEDNESDAY, NOVE
- Page 31 and 32: vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguar
- Page 33 and 34: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2
- Page 35 and 36: Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2
- Page 37: YOUR LUCK TODAY By Joshua Adeyemo P