Flamingoes book World Cup ticket

Nigeria's Flamingoes on Saturday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta booked their place in the 2012 Fifa Under17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Nigeria's ticket came off a well-rounded victory from the nation's campaigners against their Zambian counterparts, Junior She-Polopolo whom they hit 5-0 in the final fixture of the global event.

The coach Peter Dedevbo tutored side completed the routing of the Southern Africans on 7-1 aggregate after first leg ended 2-1 in favour of the Nigerians in Lusaka.

The goal feast was served off by free scoring goal queen, Patience Okaeme followed by Halimatu Ayinde's second which closed the first term.

On resumption of play, the rush for goals continued in a virtually one-sided game.

Chidinma Edeji up the goals to three and later grabbed the fourth through a well taken penalty after an on rushing Zambian player handled the ball in the penalty box.

Mabel Effiom Michael scored the fifth goal to round off the goal harvest.

Coach of the Nigerians, Peter Dedevbo expressed delight at his players' performance while promising a greater outing at the World Cup.

"The scoreline is okay and that showed the better of both sides. We're going to the World Cup to do Nigeria and Africa proud," he told SuperSport.com.

However, his opposite, Beauty Mwamba while she praised her players for a good game, she complained that the Nigerian players are women.

"I am proud of my girls, they've done their part, I'm not disappointed. We presented young girls unlike the Nigerian players who are clearly women," she said.

Ghana joined Nigeria in the Azerbaijan's party remaining one country to complete the Africa's trio.

© SuperSport.com

Eagles snub 'pained' Joseph Akpala

Club Brugge striker Joseph Akpala has revealed he is “pained” that he has been overlooked by Nigeria despite scoring 21 goals this season.

Akpala has scored 14 goals in the Belgian league and he is also credited with seven in the UEFA Europa League.

However, the 25-year-old striker, who was first capped in 2008, has been overlooked most recently by the Super Eagles even though he has proved to be one of the country’s most prolific marksmen in Europe.

“Well, it is painful not getting called up for the Eagles when it is obvious that I am doing well,” said the striker who has scored two goals in seven appearances for Nigeria.

“But I can’t force it. I have not let that weigh me down and that was why I keep doing well. I am sure I will get the chance soonest.

“I have been overlooked in the past but still got the call and I thank God I did not disappoint anytime I am in Eagles. I am optimistic I will get my chance under coach Stephen Keshi soon.”

Akpala also told MTNFootball.com that he has received “a lot” of offers to leave Brugge, but he still has a season left on his contract with the top Belgian club and he will have to wait till the summer to decide on his future.

He equally spoke about his goals this season and his hopes in the Belgian championship playoffs after the regular season ended on Wednesday.

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Senegalese ref for Female Under 17 tie

Highly respected Senegalese Fifa women's referee Fadouma Dia will be at the centre during Saturday's 2012 U-17 Women's World Cup African final qualifying match between Nigeria and Zambia, at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

Dia will be supported by compatriots Die Alse Sylla (First Assistant), Adua Issue Cisse (Second Assistant) and Amina Fall (Fourth Official). The Match Commissioner is Hilda Addah from Ghana.

Nigeria's Flamingoes won the first leg 2-1 in Lusaka with second half goals by Patience Okaeme and Halimat Ayinde, to be in pole position for one of Africa's three tickets to this year's World Cup.

In other matches, Gambia will fly to Tunis to take on Tunisia while South Africa, who could only force the Ghanaian Princesses to a 0-0 in Johannesburg, are in for a tough duel in Accra.

Nigeria participated at the only two previous editions of the U-17 Women's World Cup (New Zealand 2008 and Trinidad and Tobago 2010).

Meanwhile, Zambia's 26-person delegation to the match in Abeokuta will fly into Nigeria at noon on Thursday. The delegation will be immediately driven to Abeokuta in a well-secured convoy.

 

Blackout for Flamingoes camp

Nigeria Under17 women's team, the Flamingoes have been barred from making use of their phones in camp.

The Flamingoes have a crucial date against their Zambian opposites, the Junior She-Polopolo in the final race for the Fifa Under17 Women's World Cup coming up later in the year in Azerbaijan.

The Nigerians will enter the final fixture with a 2-1 advantage grabbed off the Southern Africans in Lusaka a fortnight ago.

SuperSport.com learnt that the phones were taken away from the players on Wednesday, temporarily handed back to them during dinner but retrieved shortly after the dinner.

SuperSport.com gathered from an official of the team that the measure will continue until after the make or break encounter on Saturday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The official informed SuperSport.com that the coaches took the measure to ensure that the players are not distracted but concentrate on the task ahead.

"The coaches do not want any lapses, the match is crucial and everything is being done to ensure we win the game and qualify Nigeria for the World Cup.

"We're not gagging the players but want to ensure that the players pay undivided attention to the match.

"We won 2-1 in the first leg in Lusaka, Zambia will not be coming here for a jamboree, they want to be at the World Cup, we should not give them the chance," he said.

The winner of the clash will pick one of Africa's three slots for the global football fiesta.

The officials for the game are Senegalese Fifa referee, Fadouma Dia, Die Aise Syila, Adua Cisse and Amina Fall while match commissioner is Hilda Addah from Ghana.

© SuperSport.com

 

NFF has 'foreign expert' syndrome - Marawa

SuperSport television presenter, Robert Marawa has criticized the football authorities in Nigeria for not showing confidence in local coaches with regards to the Super Eagles.

Adegboyega Onigbinde remains the only local coach to have coached the Super Eagles at a Fifa World Cup and Marawa is quick to identify that as one of the reasons Nigeria fail to achieve their full potentials at the international stage.

“Super Eagles have been very quick to use local coaches to do all the dirty work of the qualifiers then once they have succeeded in that then they shove them aside for European coaches who will ransack the (NFF’s) coffers and run afterwards.

“Stability is needed and less politics (is required),” Marawa told SuperSport.com.

The award-winning television presenter also took some time to comment on the state of domestic football in Nigeria while attempting to draw parallels with the South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL).

“The South African PSL is very strong financially but has a long way to go on the field of play given that not much has been gained by any club since 1995 when Orlando Pirates won the Champions League. So it would basically be learning about structures and how to maximise on sponsorship money and TV rights,” he said.

Marawa was the latest guest on the live chat Q&A on SuperSport.com.

© SuperSport.com

Samuel Eto'o is the Africa Highest paid Footballer

TOP EARNERS

1) £27.5m
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2) £26.2m

David Beckham (LA Galaxy)

3) £24.3m
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

4) £19.4m
Samuel Eto’o (Anzhi)

5) £17.2m
Wayne Rooney (Man United)

6) £15.7m
Sergio Aguero (Man City)

7) £14.7m
Yaya Toure (Man City)

8) £13.9m
Fernando Torres (Chelsea)

9) £12.9m
Kaka (Real Madrid)

10) £11.9m
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)