Tag: Nigeria

Former Nigeria coach ” Iran may be Nigeria’s toughest challenge”

Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has said that the Iranian national team, may be Nigeria’s toughest challenge in the group stages of the 2014 FIFA world cup championship in Brazil.

The Keshi-led team will play Iran in their first game of their campaign at the mundial in the summer.

Siasia expressed the need for the technical crew of the Nigerian national team to get a compilation of the videos of the world cup debutants so as to help with tactical strategies when they eventually clash.

“Now is the time for the compilation of videos and data that can truly reveal the Iranians” Siasia said in an interview with 365footballnews.com.

“I am not afraid of Argentina. We really don’t know much about Iran and if you are going to fight an enemy, then you should know the kind of enemy you want to fight. You have to know their strength and weaknesses but what we know about Iran is zero”.

“As far as I am concerned, that will be the most difficult game we are going to play because we don’t know them much”

Nigeria is in Group F together with Iran, Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina and Stephen Keshi is expected to navigate the team through to the knock-out stages.

Only 4,350 tickets sold to Iranians for 3 World Cup matches!

Marketing committee of the Football Federation announced that only 4,350 tickets has been sold for Iran matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup so far.

The figures are from the official source of online ticket purchase system by FIFA and for the 3 matches against Nigeria, Bosnia and Argentina. Mohammad Derakhshan , the committee spokesman said that of the total of 4,350 tickets 1,400 was sold for the first match against Nigeria, 1,700 for Argentina and 1,250 for the last match versus Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Derkhshan noted that these figures are for the matches where the ticket buyer has registered as being an Iranian nationality or purchased from electronic addresses in Iran. “There has to be lots of dual-nationality Iranians that have purchased tickets who registered their names and tickets according to their current country such as Canada and USA”

FIFA has previously announced that the Iran vs Bosnia-Herzegovina was the least sold tickets in the entire World Cup matches program.

 

Why Team Melli stands a good chance against Nigeria?

The Nigerians have a great belief in their football team nicknamed “The Super Eagles” and are pretty confident of qualification to the next round to the extent of arrogance. Majority of the Nigerian experts and analyst dismiss Iran as a serious opponent, focusing instead on Bosnia and Argentina. The World Press seems to be following that inclination. With many of their players making their living in European leagues, Nigeria seems to be favored against the lessor known Iranians who have a handful of players. All The Iranian players in European league play in very modest teams, with every single one of them struggling against relegation. Even with such teams, Only Davari and Dejagah feature regularly in their teams while the other two are peripheral players.

So , it is no wonder that Nigeria is considered to be the favorite to beat Iran.

Here is one analysis to support the belief that Nigeria is one of the top 10 Dark Horses teams that might surprise the world:

This may be a slightly odd selection, especially since Nigeria will have to withstand Argentina and Bosnia/Herzegovina to have a chance at even making the Round of 16. However, the defending Africa Cup of Nations champions have a decent array of weapons at their disposal, with John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses expected to lead their midfield and Emmanuel Emenike as arguably their top striker, as well as Vincent Enyeama having put up solid goalkeeping performances for Lille this past year. Especially since their draw could have been a lot worse – just ask Ghana – don’t be too surprised if the Super Eagles put up more of a fight in Brazil than you’d expect.

However , Team Melli is much stronger than what the Nigerians think. The African Champions self-belief perhaps even over confidence, might nicely work for Querioz’s men. None of the star players mentioned in the above brief is a regular starter for their teams. Obi Mikel has only a handful of matches with Chelsea , so has Moses who seems to be a permanent sub at Liverpool. Emmanuel Emenike whose nickname is the Beast , has hardly set the Turkish League alight , although he did suffer some injury , yet his 3 goals in the season 2013-14 for Fenerbache, is hardly a record that can be frightening for his opponents.

Nigeria has some hard working midfield players and a good defense line, but they are not formidable as seen in the African Cup and the qualification rounds. The teams plays physical football and at times rough and reckless. They have weaknesses that Queiroz can work upon. One of which is if Nigeria falls behind, their players tend to panic. They have also shown traces of indiscipline tactically and on individual basis.

The squad itself is not at its ideal conditions with Head Coach Stephen Keshi, and his employer, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) having differences. Believes that Keshe needs the support of assistance coach with experience, while Keshi sees that as a threat to his authority. Such quarrels has already trickled into the camp. Some of Nigeria’s recent shortcomings were apparent during the match vs. Ghana in the CHAN semi-final match. Although the Ghanaian team was reduced to ten men, the Super Eagles could not find an answer to their power game and eventually lost to them. It was also alleged that during the CHAN match with Zimbabwe for the third place, the Super Eagles could again not find a way to convincingly overwhelm the team despite the fact that one of their players got a red card in the 17th minute of the game.

The strength of Iran against Nigeria will be in the tight defense that will not allow the Nigerians to breathe, a similar tactics that Carlos Queiroz deployed against a much organized South Korean team at home and away during the World Cup qualifiers. Iran has also several individual talented players who can produce some magic and surprise the Nigerians.

There are quite a few good lessons that Iran has learned from the defeat against Nigeria in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, mainly is the ability of the Nigerians to run tirelessly.

In brief, both teams have equal chances of winning. The so-called expertise who claim Nigeria as being superior to Iran, based such judgment on superficial information of Iranian football , and that is expected because of Iran’s low profile in European football scene.

Reality is something else. Iran has the strength in depth to defeat Nigeria. The onus is on Queiroz to use his expertise and motivational power to make his players believe in their ability and their capacity to surprise their opponents.

Fans take to streets, social media to protest for Carlos Tevez

It is hard to believe that Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella would exclude fan favorite Carlos Tevez, the leading scorer in Italy’s Serie A, from the World Cup team. But it looks like that is what he is going to do, and fans are so angry they are going to social media and the streets.

On Friday, they held a protest march in Buenos Aires, demanding that their beloved “Carlitos” get a spot on the squad.

Tevez is the leading scorer for first-place Juventus this season with 18 goals, and is tied for the league lead. He previously played at Manchester United and Manchester City, and has always been popular with fans because of his humble beginnings and his tough style of play. He is actually favoured by many fans over Lionel Messi, who is seen as a golden boy who left for Spain at a young age.

But Tevez fell out of favor with Sabella, and has not played for the national team since the 2011 Copa America.

“I’ve got confidence in the strikers that I have. They are all stars at the highest level,” Sabella said after Argentina’s 0-0 tie in a friendly on March 5 against Romania.

It is hard to argue that the Argentina roster is already loaded with Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. But Tevez is a world-class player who deserves a shot to make his nation’s World Cup team.

Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta is disappointed Tevez is being left out.

“Clearly Tevez is a man and therefore aspires to wear the jersey of his country, especially at a World Cup,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.

“He deserves it for his talents, but the coach makes his decisions. I think it is down to non-football situations we don’t know. As a professional, Tevez accepts this decision with disappointment, but understanding, realizing he can gain satisfaction elsewhere in his career.”

Argentina will be facing Iran , Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group F of the World Cup 2014.

Under Portuguese direction and modest ideals

Translated form the original article in Portuguese

POSTED ON 14/04/14 – 3:00 a.m.

VICTOR MARTINS
www.otempo.com.br

Asian team is led by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz; in 2010 he coached Portugal

After three tries and three falls in the first phase of the competition, Iran hopes to do differently in 2014. To compete in the World Cup in Brazil, the Asian team includes coach who speaks Portuguese. Carlos Queiroz is born in Portugal and experiencing his second World Cup, although already he qualified three teams for the tournament.

After qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan as the head coach of South Africa , he was fired just before the tournament because of a dispute. With Portugal in 2010, Queiroz was eliminated in the quarter-finals to the eventual winners Spain. Now, the coach knows that the mission with Iran will not be easy.

“Iran will not be going  sightseeing, we will play our games with great competence, class and passion.” Carlos Queiroz

 

Many would have  complained of having Argentina in the same group, except for the Portuguese coach, who celebrated the fact that his players will face major players. Winning against Bosnia-Hezergóvina and Nigeria is possible and therefore Iran will engage.

“For us it is fantastic, wonderful. We came to play with the best in the world and we are together with Argentina, we could  not ask for more? We will fight to qualify for the second round. Will it be easy? Not very difficult, but it is in our hands to work to play competently and worthy matches, “said Queiroz.

Iran team has the will & the commitment, although Iran will have a hard time overcoming the other two group opponents. Especially for not having so many players playing in international football, as has Bosnia and Nigeria.

In 1998 the only victory of Iran in the World Cup occurred against the United States, a great political enemy, what the history wants now,  is to get a chance to rank with the quarter-final in the last round. Facing Bosnia, June 25, in Salvador, and chance of ranking is everything you’d expect the Iranian people to dream of.

Group ‘F’ analysis by FIFA

fifa.com

Group F will feature one match that has become something of a classic fixture of and five that have never been played on the big stage before, part of the reason for which is because Bosnia-Herzegovina are making their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup™, while Iran have only ever faced their group rivals in friendlies.

As for Argentina and Nigeria, the other two combatants in the group, there is not much they do not know about each other. Their meeting next June will be the latest instalment in an exciting rivalry between the two sides, led by Lionel Messi and John Obi Mikel, who have faced off three times in major competitions at different age levels: the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005, the gold medal match at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 and in the group phase at South Africa 2010. On all three occasions Argentina won.

The teams
There is not much that has not already been said about two-time world champions Argentina or for that matter about Messi, who will renew his bid to lift the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy. Alejandro Sabella’s men are the favourites to top a group in which reigning African champions Nigeria will be aiming to make the experience they have acquired on their four previous appearances count. Meanwhile, Bosnia will be out to replicate the entertaining brand of football that made them the fourth-highest scorers in the European qualifiers, and Iran, coached by Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz will hope to combine solid organisation with the technical attributes they have long been known for.

Players to watch
Lionel Messi, (ARG), Sergio Aguero (ARG), Gonzalo Higuain (ARG), John Obi Mikel (NGA), Victor Moses (NGA), Victor Obinna (NGA), Edin Dzeko (BIH), Vedad Ibisevic (BIH), Miralem Pjanic (BIH), Reza Ghoochannejhad (IRN), Javad Nekounam (IRN), Karim Ansari (IRN).

The crunch match
Bosnia-Nigeria: in a section that most people will expect Argentina to win, games such as this one will be crucial in deciding who goes through to the last 16. The European side will have the challenge of performing in circumstances that will be entirely new to them, while the Nigerians will be eyeing the chance to reach the knockout phase for the first time since France 1998.

A look back
Argentina 2-1 Nigeria, 25 June 1994, Boston
This game, which will forever be remembered as Diego Armando Maradona’s last match for his country, pitted an Argentina side packed with stars such as El Diez, Claudio Caniggia, Fernando Redondo and Gabriel Batistuta against a Nigeria team very much on the up and up and featuring the likes of Rashidi Yekini, Finidi George and Emmanuel Amunike. The Africans took a surprise early lead through Samson Siasia, only for the wily Caniggia to turn the game around with a typically predatory double. The blond-haired striker’s cry of “Diego, Diego”, imploring Maradona to play the pass that would lead to his second goal, is an iconic moment for Argentina fans.

Did you know?
Bosnia-Herzegovina, who played their first official match as an independent national team in November 1995, came close to making their World Cup debut at South Africa 2010 but lost out in the play-offs to Portugal. Twenty-four of their 26 most regularly selected players ply their trade outside the country.

The stat
36 – The number of years since Argentina and Iran met for the first and only time to date. That match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, took place in Madrid on 22 March 1977 and formed part of Real Madrid’s 75th anniversary celebrations. One year later La Albiceleste won their maiden World Cup title on home soil in a competition that marked the Asian side’s world finals debut.

 

 

The tweet

 

En un Mundial ningún partido es fácil pero con esfuerzo y trabajo siempre hay recompensa. Vamos Argentina!!!

 

In a World Cup match is no easy job but there is always effort and reward. Come on Argentina!
Sergio Aguero, Argentina

World Cup quiet achievers Iran and Nigeria keen to change perceptions.

By:Vitor Sobral

UPDATED  28 Mar 2014
 The football coaches from the national teams of Iran and Nigeria say the World Cup is an opportunity for their countries to change perceptions.

In late November 1997 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Australian football suffered one of its most disastrous moments.

The Socceroos appeared on their way to the World Cup in France as they lead Iran 2-0 in a World Cup playoff.

But two goals in quick succession knocked the Australians out and the ensuing Iranian celebration in front of a packed MCG has been forever etched in the Asian country’s football folklore.

It is this spirit that Iran will call on when they take to the field for their fourth World Cup appearance at Brazil 2014.

“I will look to face the group stage with only one thing in mind, we’re going to work hard, we are going to try and qualify the team for the second round,” said Iran coach Carlos Queiroz.

It won’t be easy however, with the Iranians drawn alongside Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria in Group F.

For a country that is often seen as an international pariah, the world football stage is also a chance to change perceptions.

“The most important thing is the legacy that Iran must take from this World Cup [to] put the shirt in a better place,” said Queiroz.

One of their opponents in Brazil, Nigeria, will be looking to be tournament’s entertainers.

The Super Eagles burst onto the scene in 1994, qualifying for the last 16 while playing some of the exciting football of USA 94.

The Nigerians will be hoping to emulate that side in Brazil.

“I love offensive football, because people that comes out to the stadium they come to enjoy their money and see good football,” said Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi.

While Nigeria and Iran may not be among the favourites at Brazil 2014, they do have the potential to be the entertainers of this World Cup.

Carlos Queiroz cool on World Cup but optimistic about Asian Cup.

Agence France-Presse

March 27, 2014 Updated: March 27, 2014 14:24:00

Globetrotting coach Carlos Queiroz says Asia’s No 1, Iran, have the passion and quality to win the Asian Cup in Australia next year.

The three-time continental winners were Wednesday drawn in Group C, the ‘Group of Gulf’, with all-Arab opposition from across the Gulf in United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, but Queiroz believes they can go all the way.

Queiroz, the former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United who went on to manage Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team, is preparing Iran for their fourth World Cup finals appearance in Brazil where they are grouped with Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nigeria.

He believes they will be better equipped to challenge for January’s Asian Cup after the experience of playing at the World Cup which begins in June.

“We try our best in Brazil. We have limited resources, we have some issues in our preparation but the federation is making a lot of effort to give the best to the players and the team,” Queiroz, from Portugal, said after Wednesday’s draw in Sydney.

“In the last three years despite all the difficulties Iran showed that the important thing in football is passion and if you have passion for the game that is always a good starting point.

“With the passion of the players and the fans we were able to qualify the team for the World Cup and I think using that extraordinary feeling of Iran they have a good chance to come to Australia and go back home with a medal . And who knows even the first position, I think it is possible.”

The 61-year-old, who will finish his two-and-a-half year contract as coach after the World Cup, believes Iran have improved during his time in charge.

“The team is playing much better football, more competitive and with the results. No doubt since I arrived there has been great progress in the team and the players,” he said.

“When I first arrived I remember if you were not able to put player A or B or C the entire nation was crying because it was all about a couple of names.

“After three years we play Kuwait with a second team and we can beat them.  So that means there is a great and fantastic potential in Iran, just a matter of putting things in the right place and the right programmes.”

While his eyes are on his main task at the World Cup, he is confident Iran can topple Asian powerhouses Japan and South Korea at the Asian Cup.  “Three years ago Iran was fourth or fifth in Asia and today is the number one country,” he said. “I don’t think it is a realistic position because Japan and South Korea are still in front of all the other countries in Asia in my opinion, but results are results.

“The number one Asian ranking should be used to raise the self-esteem of the players in order to create a better motivation to win the Asian competition. Japan and South Korea are very strong but with special work and not copying European or South American systems the Asian teams can close the gap (on the major nations).”

Nigerian Onazi: Eagles Can Go All The Way In Brazil

 

SS Lazio of Italy midfielder Ogenyi Onazi is confident the Super Eagles can go all the way in Brazil at the FIFA World Cup if the players have self belief.Onazi says the Super Eagles must also be totally focussed on the job at hand instead of concentrating on particular teams, warning that all the qualified teams have the chance to win the trophy.

”No matter how small, we have to accept the fact that all the countries who have qualified to play at the World Cup do have some a chance. Football is an interesting and dicey game. We have to go out with the belief that we can do it,” Onazi said in an interview with mtnfootball.

Onazi is however not worried about playing Argentina who have beaten the Super Eagles three times in three clashes and prefers not to think about how the team prepares for the tournament instead of the competition proper.

”We are going to take it one game at a time. For now, we have some preparatory matches to look forward to before the World Cup. When we get to Brazil, we will worry about Iran, Bosnia and Argentina in that order.”

On if he sees the Super Eagles ending their winless streak against Argentina,Onazi says Eagles must not pay too much attention to the game.

”Like I said, we won’t play Argentina until we are done with both Iran and Bosnia. We have to avoid concentrating on one team alone and forget others that we will even face before Argentina. No doubt, Argentina are a big team and they are favourites, but that’s where it ends.”

[divider]

Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama believes that their first two games against Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup would determine how far they would go.

Enyeama who will be making his third appearance at the FIFA World Cup for Nigeria,said that they will not underrate the two teams at the tournament.

Nigeria is in group F and would play their first game against Iran in Curitiba,before subsequent games against Bosnia-Herzegovina,then Argentina.

“Whether Iran, Bosnia and Argentina these are no easy games. All these nations we are facing,are also serious about getting results. But we will see how it goes with the Super Eagles, we will do all our best to progress from the group,” said Enyeama who has this season been the undisputed number one keeper for his clubside,Lille FC.

Enyeama equally noted that he would even want to play against France in the second round of the World Cup.

“I hope of course that we can pass the group stage. And who knows, meet France in the second round,” said Enyeama who was speaking before his side’s trip to AS Monaco

 

Friendly matches announced for Team Melli

Team Melli will be playing against Belarus and Montenegro during the European camp on may 2014.

As part of the preparation for the FIFA World Cup , Carlos Queiroz will be taking Team Melli squad to Europe , most probably a camp in Austria, which would last for two weeks. During this training camp , two friendly matches have been arranged with East European teams, Belarus and Montenegro.

After the completion of the European camp , Team Melli will continue the preparation program in Tehran where a another friendly match is scheduled on the 31st of May. The opponents will be an African country , either Angola or South Africa. Thus Team Melli would have played with teams that are tactically and physically close to two opponents in the Group F, Nigeria and Bosnia. Iran will still be looking for a Latin American team to play a friendly match against to gauge its capabilities with Argentina in mind. Such opponent team might be available when Team Melli sets camp in Brazil , early in June. At the moment, 8th of June 2014 is booked for a match against Montenegro in Brazil, however the opponent might change to a South American team pending negotiations.

 

Team Melli Training Camp matches.

18th May 2014 vs Belarus in Europe (Austria)

26th May 2014 vs Montenegro in Europe (Austria)

31st May 2014 vs Angola or South Africa @ Azadi

8th June 2014 vs Montenegro in Brazil