Egypt's NUCA, SHMFF sign New Cairo land allocation for integrated urban project    CIB named Egypt's Bank of the Year 2025 as factoring portfolio hits EGP 4bn    Egypt declares Red Sea's Great Coral Reef a new marine protected area    Oil prices edge higher on Thursday    Gold prices fall on Thursday    Egypt, Volkswagen discuss multi-stage plan to localise car manufacturing    Egypt denies coordination with Israel over Rafah crossing    Egypt to swap capital gains for stamp duty to boost stock market investment    Egypt tackles waste sector funding gaps, local governance reforms    Egypt, Switzerland explore expanded health cooperation, joint pharmaceutical ventures    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Private Egyptian firm Tornex target drones and logistics UAVs at EDEX 2025    Egypt opens COP24 Mediterranean, urges faster transition to sustainable blue economy    Egypt's Abdelatty urges deployment of international stabilisation force in Gaza during Berlin talks    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Giza master plan targets major hotel expansion to match Grand Egyptian Museum launch    Australia returns 17 rare ancient Egyptian artefacts    China invites Egypt to join African duty-free export scheme    Egypt calls for stronger Africa-Europe partnership at Luanda summit    Egypt begins 2nd round of parliamentary elections with 34.6m eligible voters    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt scraps parliamentary election results in 19 districts over violations    Egypt extends Ramses II Tokyo Exhibition as it draws 350k visitors to date    Egypt signs host agreement for Barcelona Convention COP24 in December    Al-Sisi urges probe into election events, says vote could be cancelled if necessary    Filmmakers, experts to discuss teen mental health at Cairo festival panel    Cairo International Film Festival to premiere 'Malaga Alley,' honour Khaled El Nabawy    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches National Strategy for Rare Diseases at PHDC'25    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Omar Hisham Talaat: Media partnership with 'On Sports' key to promoting Egyptian golf tourism    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Unconvincing Nigeria stride on to Confederations Cup
Nigeria arrive in Brazil on Thursday to compete in Confederation Cup somewhat rattled after some far from convincing displays but still hopeful of causing a surprise
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 13 - 06 - 2013

Africa's representatives at the eight-team tournament, which pits continental champions against each other over the next two weeks, have shown patchy form since they surprisingly won the African Nations Cup in February with an inexperienced squad devoid of many of their major exports to the European leagues.
In four matches since their success in Johannesburg, Nigeria's Super Eagles have drawn three and won just once - a last gasp triumph against Kenya earlier this month in a World Cup qualifier.
On Wednesday night they needed another late goal, from a generously awarded free kick, to force a 1-1 draw against lowly Namibia and stay on course to qualify for next year's finals.
The draw, though, again raises questions over the Super Eagles chances at the Confederation Cup, where they start with a supposedly easy game against Tahiti in Belo Horizonte on Monday but then meet both Uruguay and Spain in their next group games.
But captain Vincent Enyeama said on Thursday, as the team left Windhoek for Rio de Janeiro, they had come up against a spirited opponent.
"You have to give credit to the way Namibia played and the saves (by) their goalkeeper but also look at the fact we had our chances earlier on to finish off the game. We've now got to put this result behind us," he told Reuters.
Coach Stephen Keshi was heavily criticised for ignoring the likes of Peter Odemwingie, Taye Taiwo and Obafemi Martins in his selections last year. But after success at the tournament in South Africa he has leeway to continue with a policy of picking younger players he feels are hungrier and more committed to the team.
But their enthusiasm is not matched by much experience, with only midfielder John Obi Mikel having any international profile. They were frequently exposed on Wednesday by the pace of the lowly-ranked Namibians and were fortunate to escape with a face-saving draw.
Former Nigeria coach Shaibu Amidu, watching the game in Windhoek, said the Super Eagles always found it hard against plucky opponents with nothing to lose.
"In Africa everyone wants to beat Nigeria," he said.
"But you will see at the Confederations Cup a Nigerian side that will lift itself almost in the same way. Our boys like a big stage to perform on."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/73890.aspx

Clic here to read the story from its source.