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Players With no Positive Mindset Ruined Nigeria’s 2002 World Cup Outing, Onigbinde says
Former Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Adegboye Onigbinde says Nigeria could have performed better at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan if some players had behaved positively.
Onigbinde said this on Friday in Awka the Super Eagles would have moved beyond the first round if he had not featured in the team certain players.
“We would have done better if I had not featured in the team some players who had no positive mindset,” he said.
Onigbinde explained that Nigeria would not have lost their first two matches if he had started the games with the relatively-unknown Vincent Onyeama then.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles lost to Argentina (0-1) and Sweden (1-2) in the opening and second games respectively, thus preparing the ground for a first round exit.
This was in spite of a 0-0 draw in their final match of the first round.
“My major undoing was my magnanimity of accepting into my team some members of the Super Eagles team which was disbanded after the 2002 African Nations Cup (AFCON) final in Mali earlier in the year,” the former FIFA and CAF Technical Instructor said.
Onigbinde who was in Awka as a resource person for Berackiah Football Coaching Clinic blamed the losses in those two matches on sabotage and warned coaches against sentiment when on national or club assignments.
“In January and February of 2002, we were at the African Cup of Nations in Mali, where the team collapsed. It was disbanded and I was hurriedly called in to come and handle the team to the World Cup.
“By FIFA’s schedule, a coach has one year to prepare a team for the World Cup. But in my case I had three months.
“I was brought in in March and the competition (the World Cup) was in June. Within that period of three months we played seven friendly matches, won five and drew two.
“However, I was warned that none of the members of the disbanded team should be called to camp and any one who came was there to engage in sabotage.
“But when the team started coming up, the old members started making appeals and promises to come and perform, and my regret in that exercise was the mistake of taking them back,” Onigbinde said.
He pointed out that the performance of some members of the team was lamentable.
“During the match against Argentina, a key defender in my team opened his mouth and watched as Gabriel Batistuta headed the ball into the net. It was the same defender that gave Sweden their goal.
“This was why in the game match against England, I brought in Vincent Enyeama, Femi Opabunmi and a few others and we got a goalless draw.
“So, if I had used that team against Argentina we probably would have got a draw and I am sure we would have reached the finals of that competition. But all that is history now,” the coach said.
He however noted that Nigeria is among the most blessed countries in the world with human resources in football, calling for regular training and respect for indigenous coaches.(NAN)
Nigeria have been drawn in Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they will face Madagascar, co-hosts Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau for a place at the tournament.
The draw was conducted at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo on Tuesday, with former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong serving as one of the draw assistants.
A total of 48 teams will participate in the qualifiers, with the draw producing 12 groups and 24 teams qualifying for the finals.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will host the tournament from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Nigeria were drawn from Pot 1 and handed a relatively favourable path to the tournament.
However, due to the presence of Tanzania — who have qualified automatically as co-hosts — in the group, only the top team will qualify for the finals.
The same applies to other groups containing any of the co-hosts, while the top two teams from the remaining groups will qualify.
Among the notable groups, 2023 champions Côte d’Ivoire were drawn alongside Ghana, The Gambia and Somalia in Group C.
Winners of the 2025 edition, Senegal, will face Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia in Group J, while 2025 AFCON hosts Morocco will face Gabon, Niger and Lesotho.
The qualifying campaign will be played across three international windows. The opening two matchdays are scheduled for the FIFA window from September 21 to October 6, 2026, before Matchdays Three and Four take place from November 9 to 17, 2026.
The final two rounds of matches will be played from March 22 to 30, 2027, when the line-up for the tournament is expected to be completed.
Arsenal’s 22-year wait for the Premier League title is over after rivals Manchester City drew at Bournemouth, in what is expected to be Pep Guardiola’s penultimate game in charge.
Tuesday’s result on the south coast leaves Mikel Arteta’s men four points clear of City before the final round of games take place on Sunday, with the Gunners set to lift the trophy at Crystal Palace.
Build-up to this game had been overshadowed by dramatic reports that Guardiola is set to step down as City manager at the end of this season.
He told television broadcasters before the game that speculation over his future had “absolutely zero” impact on preparations, but his side were outplayed and outfought by the brilliant Cherries, who extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches.
Buoyed on by a raucous following at the compact venue, teenager striking sensation Junior Kroupi curled in a sublime finish six minutes before half-time.
Home goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic making a vital save to deny Nico O’Reilly early in the second half and although Erling Haaland scored a late equaliser, the hosts held on.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola announced he will leave at the end of this season – and this result ensures the Spaniard has helped achieve the magnificent feat of securing European football for next term.
If Guardiola’s 10-year trophy-filled tenure is drawing to a close, he will have to make do with the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as a final flourish.
City’s chase for the title came to a halt in Bournemouth and the 55-year-old will leave the job having won six Premier League titles while in charge, but having had two consecutive seasons without finishing top for the first time in his career.
This was a must-win game for City if they wanted to extend the race for five more days, but the home game against Aston Villa on Sunday is now anticipated to be Guardiola’s farewell.
City had beaten their opponents in 16 of their 17 Premier League meetings but have now failed to win back-to-back games at this stadium, with this setback proving decisive as they ended with a whimper.
The visitors played like a side that were distracted by other matters and despite a rally in injury-time when Rodri struck the post and Haaland pulled a goal back in the 95th minute, a draw was not enough.
The returning Antoine Semenyo thought he had scored against his former club but his effort was ruled out for offside, while the league’s top scorer Haaland saw a thumping shot from the angle blocked by Evanilson.
Guardiola and his side must gather themselves for one final game which is bound to be an emotional affair, as Italian Enzo Maresca waits in the wings to take over.
Will the Champions League anthem ring in the ears of Bournemouth’s players and fans next season?
Haaland’s late leveller leaves the Cherries three points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool, but a sixth-place finish would be good enough too if Aston Villa won the Europa League on Wednesday AND ended the season in fifth position.
Whatever happens, Iraola will leave the club with at least the Europa League to play in next season, showcasing the sterling work he has produced during his tenure.
“One more year, one more year Iraola” was the chant from the home supporters, but the club have already agreed a replacement in German Marco Rose, who has a monumental task to live up to his predecessor’s achievements.
Evanilson gave City a warning side when he somehow scooped over from inside six yard box from Marcus Tavernier’s superb low cross but the flag did go up for offside.
A poked effort following a flowing team move was pushed away by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Kroupi curled in a stunning finish for his 13th goal of the season.
It could have been a more comfortable scoreline when Alex Scott ran through late on, and although the Englishman struck the post, and Haaland denied them victory, the home fans were still celebrating at the final whistle.
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Nigeria’s Flamingos will leave for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday ahead of the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Guinea.
A total of 36 players are currently in the team’s camp, though the squad is expected to be trimmed before departing for Abidjan.
The Flamingos arrived in Ikenne last week Sunday for the final phase of their preparations.
Akeem Busari’s side thrashed Lakeside Queens FA 5-0 in their first friendly in Ikenne last Thursday.
Guinea will host the first leg of the second qualifying round tie at their makeshift home ground in Abidjan on Saturday.
The reverse fixture is slated for the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne on Saturday, 30 May.
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