Stoke of England midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo remains upbeat that the Super Eagles will defeat Libya to take over Group E after both teams clash on Saturday (today) in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
“We know the importance of the match. We know it is a must-win for us, if we want to be in Cameroon
next year,” the Stoke City midfielder offered.
“We are working hard to achieve our target, the players, coaches. Yes, it’s not going to come easy.
Libya are strong, so we are not expecting them to be here for sight-seeing.
“They too, want to go to the Nations Cup but we are determined to win”.
Kick-off time is 4pm in Uyo.
Tag: Libya
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Eagles will overthrow Libya In Group E today – Etebo boasts
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AFCON qualifiers: Ahmed Musa warns Super Eagles players ahead of Libya clash
Super Eagles striker, Ahmed Musa has warned Gernot Rohr’s men that their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying game against Libya on Saturday would be difficult.
The former Leicester City star believes the North Africans are a very complete team and the Eagles must be careful when both teams clash at the the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
Musa, who scored Nigeria’s first goal in their 3-0 win against Seychelles at the last AFCON qualifying match, hopes the three times African champions will get all three points against the visitors this weekend.
“I’m ready to play on Saturday,” The Al Naser of Saudi striker told Footballlive
“I would like to repeat what happened in the game against Seychelles, and if I can score that would be good, but what matters is that we win the match at home to Libya. It’s a special game.”
Musa added: “In these types of games you have to give everything. They are heated encounters in which winning is complicated and there is no need to motivate anyone.
“Libya have a very complete team, you must be careful of anyone. They are a difficult opponent.”
The kick-off time for the match is 4pm. -
Full House in Uyo as Eagles intensify preparation for Libya
All the players invited for Nigeria’s back-to-back 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with Libya have arrived in Uyo.
The China-based Odion Ighalo was the last player to arrive on Wednesday as Gernot Rohr’s men intensified preparation for the qualifiers.
Training, it was learned, started at 10am on Wednesday, with a session tagged ‘body enhancement’.
Thereafter, the team headed out at 4pm for technical build-up before the evening training session, which took place at the practice area of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
It was gathered that the venue for the session had initially been scheduled for the main pitch of the Stadium.
“We regret whatever inconveniences this change may have caused the media and our fans who had planned to watch the open session at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium,” the team’s management said in a statement.
“Our evening training (on) Wednesday, October 10, 2018, holds at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo from 4 pm. It will be an open session.”
The three-time African champions will first take on the Libyans on Saturday, 13 October, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, before confronting them in the reverse fixture in Tunisia.
Nigeria cannot afford to drop more points in the qualifiers, having lost 2-0 at home to South Africa in their group opener in 2017. -
Nigeria v Libya: Akwa Ibom announces 50 per cent tickets price slash
Super Eagles’ fans interested in watching Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo have been served a good hand by the Akwa Ibom State government, which has slashed the gate fees by 50 per cent.
According to the government, fans will now pay as low as N500 to watch the game from the popular stands, which was initially N1, 000.
Those wishing to see the game from the VIP stands will pay N1, 000 as against the initial N2, 000 price tag.
The tickets will be available for sale later in the week.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Sports, Elder Paul Bassey told journalists in Uyo that the state’s gesture is aimed at encouraging many fans to come to the Nest of Champions and cheer the Super Eagles to victory.
“Football fans around the world usually pay huge amounts of money as gate fees to watch international games of this standard, but here in Akwa Ibom, Governor Udom Emmanuel has graciously subsidized the ticket price to N500 for popular stands tickets and N1, 000 for VIP tickets.
“Governor Emmanuel is a passionate sports lover and he has demonstrated it in the huge investments he has made in sports development in the state.
His gesture of subsidizing the prices of tickets for the match is to ensure more fans turn up to watch the game live while supporting the senior national team to victory on Saturday,” he said.
Meanwhile, 19 more players arrived in Uyo yesterday afternoon to bring to 22 the number of stars in the Super Eagles’ camp.
On Monday only three players, including William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Isaac Success were at the team’s Ibom Meridien Hotels and Golf Resort camp.
But yesterday, stand–in skipper Ahmed Musa led another set of players in as the Super Eagles began preparation for Saturday’s match.
The new arrivals include goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi, Leon Balogun, Olaoluwa Aina, Jamilu Collins, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem and Kenneth Omeruo.
There are also midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Kalu, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu and Oghenekaro Etebo, and forwards Isaac Success, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Only Russia–based wing back Bryan Idowu and China–based forward Odion Ighalo are being expected today.
The Mediterranean Knights top Group E with four points (from their defeat of Seychelles and draw with South Africa), while South Africa (winner over Nigeria before they drew with Libya) are second and Nigeria, who lost to South Africa and defeated Seychelles, lie third.
The Libyan Football Federation confirmed yesterday that a 54–man delegation comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff and LFF officials will fly into Ibom International Airport, Uyo aboard a chartered aircraft tomorrow.
Match officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the referee assessor from Mali and the security officer from South Africa, will also arrive in Nigeria tomorrow and then fly to Uyo on Friday morning.
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Mass grave containing 75 bodies found in Libya
A mass grave containing 75 bodies was found West of the Libyan coastal city of Sirte on Tuesday, a military source said on Wednesday.
A source with the Sirte security forces said that the forces were notified by a resident about the mass grave, which had been found in an agricultural area 15 km west of Sirte, 450 km East of the capital Tripoli.
“The force recovered the remains of 75 unidentified persons and the exhumation of the bodies was carried out in presence of a court representative,’’ the source said on condition of anonymity.
DNA samples had been taken for analysis.
If confirmed, this will be largest mass grave found in Sirte since the city was taken over by government forces in 2015.
Sirte had witnessed months of fighting between forces allied with the UN-backed government and the Islamic State (IS) terrorists, which ended in December 2015 with the government forces taking over the city.
In June 2016, a mass grave and secret prison were found in Libya’s Sirte amid an ongoing operation fighting Islamic State (IS) militants, sources told The New Arab.
Seven bodies were found buried in the grave that was discovered in a farm west of the city, while three prisoners were saved when security forces came across a secret prison in another town after liberating it from the militants.
The prisoners – said to be held captive for several months – were found in dire humanitarian conditions, the anonymous source told The New Arab.
Meanwhile, the battle to cleanse Sirte of IS militants has continued to progress with government forces closing in on the group’s stronghold.
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Libya coach quits ahead of AFCON qualifier in Uyo
Libya coach Adel Amrouche has resigned just days before his side face Nigeria in an African Nations Cup qualifier. The match is billed for Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
His departure has been confirmed by the Libyan Football Federation and on Wednesday by Belgian Amrouche, who told the media that he was frustrated by working conditions with the team.
The 50-year-old, who was born in Algeria, was only appointed in May and his first match in charge last month saw Libya force a 0-0 draw in South Africa.
They were forced to play all their home qualifiers at a neutral venue because of the tenuous security situation in the North African country.
Libya travel to face Nigeria on Friday and then play them again in the return in Sfax, Tunisia on Monday.
Libya have four points from their first two games in their bid to qualify for the 2019 finals in Cameroon, ahead of South Africa on goal difference with Nigeria one point behind.
The Seychelles are last in the group without any points.
Reuters/NAN
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Super Eagles must show tactical edge to defeat Libya – John Obuh
Nigeria must prove to be tactically better to claim good points against ‘tough’ Libya in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations back-to-back qualifier encounters, according to John Obuh.
The Super Eagles welcome the Mediterranean Knights to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday before travelling for the return leg two days later in Tunisia.
Heading into the doubleheader, the north Africans top Group E log with four points from two games, while Super Eagles sit in the third position with three points from same number of matches.
Though he acknowledges the quality in Adel Amrouche’s side, the tactician insists Gernot Rohr’s men have all it takes to subdue the table-toppers, not only in Uyo but over the two legs.
“I just want to believe that the players invited for the Libyan game understand the importance of the match,” Obuh told Goal.
“Libya are above us just like South Africa. Playing them first in Nigeria, only three points will make a huge difference before we go for the second leg – we should be in a comfortable position.
“It is going to be a little bit tougher but no matter the nature of the game, I expect us to win because some players that missed the first match will be around now and we will have a better match than we had against Seychelles or South Africa.
“Definitely, there will be some tactical intelligence in the Libyan side because they have a good coach. But I will want to believe that the quality and whatever he is going to give to the team depends on the quality of the players he will present.
“It is coach versus coach, and players versus players. No matter what tactical plan they are going to come out with. I want to believe that our quality team and coach should be able to withstand them. We must prove that we are tactically better. We must show the edge to win.” -
AFCON qualifiers: Mikel, Nwakali out of Super Eagles squad against Libya [Full list]
Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr has called up Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi and 21 others for this month’s crack 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights.
But Rohr left out captain John Mikel Obi, Joel Obi and the pair of Simeon Nwankwo and Kelechi Nwakali from the squad.
Mikel also was excluded from the Super Eagles last game away at Seychelles.
Rohr also recalled Arsenal FC of England forward Alex Iwobi and the Italy –based duo William Ekong and Ola Aina according to a media release from the Nigerian Football Federation.
Also recalled for the game are Moses Simon and Isaac Success.Libya lead Group E with four points after two games while Nigeria are third.
Nigeria host the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, 13thOctober with the return scheduled for the 18,000 –capacity Stade Taïeb Mhiri in the city of Sfax, Tunisia on Tuesday, 16thOctober.
All invited players are to report in the Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday, 8th October 2018.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)
Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England) -
100 secondary students trafficked to Libya from Edo state
No fewer than 100 students of Idogbo Secondary School, Benin, have been trafficked to Libya in the last four months.
This was disclosed in Benin yesterday during an advocacy programme by the Senior Special Assistant to Gov Godwin Obaseki on Human trafficking and illegal migration, Mr Solomon Okoduwa.
Okoduwa said this fact was disclosed to him by some teachers in the school, concerned about how the institution has become the harvesting ground for traffickers.
Okoduwa said government will not allow the evil to continue to thrive in the state.
Government will step up its campaign against trafficking, he said, and the state Task Force Against Human Trafficking will be on the trail of the human traffickers.
He warned the students to be wary of the antics of the traffickers who are bent on deceiving them into embarking on the dangerous journey.
“Henceforth, report anyone who tells you to travel to Europe. They are simply taking you through Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea and you may eventually end up in Libya.
“The number of students that have been trafficked from your school in this short period is overwhelming.
“The truth is that many of them might have been imprisoned there or facing one challenge or the other.
“Taking the route of Sahara Desert and other illegal routes is hellish.
“Many died of hunger, many were drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pastures.
“Worst still, the families of those people that died on their journey were made to pay for the travel expenses, when unknown to them their loved ones have gone to the great beyond.
“If anyone tells you to travel abroad through Libya, tell him or her capital ‘NO’. If you must travel for any reason, travel the right way.”
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I lost my child, mum, business to Libya – Nigerian Returnee
“It has not been easy at all. I had a flourishing hairdressing business before I went to Libya. But, I have lost everything. I also lost my mother and my 11-year-old son, while I was away. When they could not connect with me, my mother died of heart attack, while my son died because there was nobody to take care of him. But, I thank God I came back alive. I will start all over again; I believe I will make it in Nigeria. No more going out of the country,” Naomi, 30, narrated her ordeal of the journey to Europe through Libya.
Jubilant returnees at the reintegration training programme in Lagos. Photo source: themigrantproject.com. Naomi was participating in a reintegration training programme in Lagos sponsored by the European Union (EU) and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria. She and other participants shared their experiences about reintegrating to life in Nigeria after being deported.
Most Nigerians who embark on irregular migration to Europe imagine that their lives will be greatly improved once they reach their destinations. Unfortunately, the reality for most is vastly different. Many lose their lives during the journey. Those who do make it to their destination usually face all manners of difficulties and wish to return home, but end up feeling stranded and trapped in a foreign land. Others are summarily deported.
Like Naomi, many deported migrants had thriving businesses in Nigeria before they embarked on the journey, but left behind a solid livelihood for the promise of a better life that never materialized and often ending up penniless or in severe debt.
Once back in Nigeria, deported migrants often face additional frustrations and find it difficult to fit into communities they had chosen to leave in search of something better.
Thirty-two-year-old Ubo from Akwa Ibom State said life had become so unbearable since he returned to Nigeria that he had even contemplated suicide.
“I came back on May 11, 2017, and since then life has been very tough. I was at the verge of committing suicide. I wanted to end it once and for all because I didn’t know where to start again. I came back with nothing; I lost everything,” he said.
According to the IOM, over 8,000 Nigerians in Libya have voluntarily returned to home between January and May 2018 due to cases of inhuman treatments, human trafficking and slavery, rape and death.