Nigeria Striker IK Uche Predicted Uneasy Match Against South Africa

Ikechukwu Uche

Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche has predicted a tough match against South Africa as the Super Eagles plot to secure Group A's second qualification ticket for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Bafana Bafana lead the group with 11 points while Nigeria displaced Congo to move to second position with seven points each but with a better head-to-head and can snatch the second qualification ticket if they beat the visitors at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo today.

Uche scored from the penalty spot against Congo in his first game with the Eagles after almost two years as they won 2-0 in Pointe-Noire.

“The game against the Red Devils was a very difficult match for us because it was a match everybody expected us to win,” Uche said.

“This huge expectation from Nigerians propelled us to beat the Congolese despite the huge hostility from them. This we will also take to the match against South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday.

“Now we have to concentrate on beating Bafana Bafana. We won’t be deceived by the South Africans because we know that they are coming with their full squad.

“So we just need to mind our business and do our job well and win the game because that is what over 170 million Nigerians want right now.”

The Villarreal striker is aware of the enormity of the task ahead, even though the South Africans have never won a competitive game against Nigeria.

“We expect a tough game playing at home to South Africa [tomorrow] and I can tell you that it is not going to be easy. But hopefully we will come out victorious like we did against a very hostile Congo Brazzaville team,” he said.

Uche also acknowledged the fans, journalists and everyone who supported his return to the national team.

“I am very happy to be back and I dedicate my goal to all my fans in Nigeria that have supported me to this stage. I sincerely thank all Nigerians for my return to the Eagles and I will work hard on and off the field of play to repay them if possible with goals and most importantly to be a team player and make meaningful contributions to the team,” he assured.

The match is scheduled at 6:00pm, Nigeria time.

-goal.com

Nigeria Speaker Dumps Presidential Ambition

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Tuesday announced the jettisoning of his earlier stated political ambition to contest for the presidency of the country, citing personal reasons of ‘sacrifice’ and his decision to avoid seeking any political office.

This was contained in a speech by the Speaker titled: “My Political Future, By Tambuwal”, circulated to journalists by his spokesperson, Imam Imam.

According to him, he reached the decision to distance himself from politics after concluding wider consultations with elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and taking into consideration the vastness of the country’s political space.

“Having consulted widely, taking into consideration the concerns of some elders of the party, I have decided to suspend my participation in the presidential contest for now. I have done so as a sacrifice for the cohesion and unity of the APC. I am suspending my participation in the presidential race for now because I do not have any inordinate ambition to occupy any office. Nigeria is a country too great to sacrifice on the altar of partisan politics and personal ambition. What any one becomes in life is exclusively in the hands of God. Only God gives power to whoever he pleases,” said Tambuwal.

Tracing the evolution of his recent political forages to Friday the 14th of November,2014 when a group of his colleagues of presented him an Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to participate in the presidential primaries of the APC , he handed down his verdict that: his “entry into the presidential race at this point may necessitate having to rework some equations on the political chessboard of the party.”

Instead of pursuing his ambition, he pledged to General Muhammadu Buhari, Alh Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Governor Rochas Okorocha and Mr Sam Ndah- Isaiah, all of who he described as “eminently qualified” to run for the position of president.

He said although he is “fully prepared, ready, willing, determined, available and armed with the requisite plans, programs and ability, to undertake the great mission of rescuing our dear country from the clutches of institutionalized corruption, gross incompetence, greed and divisiveness”; and many others, he will plough his energy into supporting the APC.

“I am convinced that with the progressive spirit and teamwork these objectives are attainable under an All Progressive Congress (APC) administration.

”I came into the APC to enhance and build, Therefore in the interest of our great party the APC and indeed in the overriding national interest I wish to appeal to all my associates, colleagues, supporters, admirers and friends nationwide to show some understanding. It has not been easy coming to this decision and I very well understand the frustration, disappointment and disbelief of many who have committed so much to the project including sacrificing not only their physical, financial and intellectual resources but indeed their personal ambitions in the 2015 electoral contest.



-This Day Live