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Tag: Russia 2018

  • Russia 2018 is best watched World Cup – FIFA

    Russia 2018 is best watched World Cup – FIFA

    A record audience of more than 3.5 billion people watched this year’s World Cup in Russia, with the final between France and Croatia attracting 1.12 billion viewers, world soccer’s governing body said on Friday.

    FIFA said 3.572 billion viewers – more than half of the global population aged four and over – watched some part of the official coverage, which was broadcast live in every territory worldwide from June 14 to July 15.

    The global in-home TV audience watching at least one minute of the coverage accounted for almost 3.3 billion viewers, a 2.2 per cent increase on the 2014 edition hosted in Brazil, according to FIFA’s audit of audience data published on Friday.

    A further 309.7 million caught the action on digital platforms, public viewing areas or in bars and restaurants.

    France’s 4-2 victory in the final, which gave them their second World Cup title following their triumph in 1998, was the most watched game of the competition.

    It was followed by England’s semi-final defeat to Croatia and the other last-four clash between France and Belgium.

    “These figures really do support the claim that Russia 2018 was the best World Cup ever,” said FIFA’s chief commercial officer, Philippe Le Floc’h.

    “The fact that half the world’s population watched the FIFA World Cup reflects not just the high quality of our award-winning live coverage, but also that fans everywhere are insatiable for world-class football.”

    The World Cup coverage reached around 1.6 billion individuals in Asia, with 655.7 million viewers (18.4 per cent of the global total) in China, who failed to qualify for the tournament.

    The 2022 edition of World Cup will be held in Qatar.

  • Russia 2018: I exaggerate my reactions sometimes, Neymar admits

    Ridiculed for faking and diving during a disappointing 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia, Brazilian forward Neymar has admitted to “exaggerated” reactions saying he is still learning to deal with frustration.

    In a 90-second video made for his sponsors Gillette and published on social media accounts and Brazilian television, Neymar sought to win back fans who criticised his behaviour.

    “Studs on my calf, knee in my back, stamp on my foot,” he said.

    “You may think I exaggerate and, sometimes, I really do exaggerate. But the fact is that I suffer on the field.

    “There’s still a child inside me. Sometimes he enchants the world and sometimes he irritates the world.”

    The Paris St Germain (PSG) striker had hoped the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup would elevate him to a similar status enjoyed by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    The two players have shared the FIFA World Player of the Year award over the last decade.

    Instead, Neymar bowed out at the quarter-finals stage when Brazil lost to Belgium, as fans focused less on his football and more on the dives, rolls and tears he produced.

    The 26-year-old former Santos and FC Barcelona player told fans in his homeland he was working to become a better person and deal with the disappointments football threw at him.

    Neymar suffered a serious foot injury in February and returned to action just days before the start of the World Cup,

    “When I seem rude, it’s not because I am a spoilt child, it’s because I haven’t learnt to deal with frustration,” he said in a voiceover to the black-and-white video.

    “It’s taken me time to accept your criticism, it’s taken me time to look into the mirror and transform myself into a new man.

    “But I am here, with a new face and an open heart. I fell down but only those that fell down can get up.

    “You can keep throwing stones or throw those stones away and help me stand. When I stand on my own two feet, all of Brazil stands with me.”

  • Russia 2018: MRA sues government over failure to disclose those who traveled for tournament

    Russia 2018: MRA sues government over failure to disclose those who traveled for tournament

    Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has sued the Federal Government over its failure to disclose the lists of Nigerian footballers and coaches, supporters, government officials and their aides who travelled to Russia last month for the 2018 World Cup and whose travel expenses were covered through public funds as well as the total cost to the Government for Nigeria’s participation in the World Cup.

    In three separate suits filed by Mr. Godwin Chigbu of the law firm of A & E Law Partnership, against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports; and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with the Attorney-General of the Federation joined as a respondent in each suit, MRA is seeking to compel the Federal Government to furnish it with the information it requested from each of the institutions by its letter dated June 8, 2018.

    MRA had requested details of those scheduled to travel to Russia under the different categories, including all government officials who are part of the Federal Government’s delegation, their designations and institutional affiliations as well as the estimated duration of each person’s stay in Russia, including the expected date of departure from Nigeria, or other point of departure, and the expected date of return to Nigeria, or to some other location, as well as the total cost of each person’s travel to Russia to the Federal Government for all aspects of the trip for which the Federal Government would be responsible

    It also asked the Government to provide it with details of their travel expenses, including flights, accommodation, visa costs, living expenses and other allowances, which will be covered by the Federal Government or through public funds, either in part or in full.

    MRA also asked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Youths and Sports and the NFF President to indicate in their responses whether budgetary allocation for Nigeria’s participation in the 2018 World Cup, including the total cost to the Government, has been provided for and approved in the 2018 Appropriation Act of the Federal Government and to specify the head of expenditure to which the costs were being charged.

    In its requests to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the NFF, MRA asked them to also provide it with details of the sources of funds and the amount received from each source relating to Nigeria’s participation in the 2018 World Cup as well as the total amount received for this purpose.

    The organization also requested details of other in-kind sponsorships and partnerships received by the institutions or entered into to participate in the 2018 World Cup, including the coverage of each partnership or sponsorship.

    In the suits instituted against each of the institutions by a Motion Exparte, MRA is asking the Court to grant it leave to apply for judicial review by way of an order of mandamus to compel each of the institutions to furnish it with the information requested from them by MRA through its letters dated June 8, 2018.

    MRA is also claiming against each of the institutions the sum of N1 million as exemplary and aggravated damages for the unlawful violation of its right of access to information established and guaranteed by Sections 1(1) and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 as well as for the wrongful denial of access to information under Section 7(4) of the Act.

    In a statement in support of the motion setting out the grounds of MRA’s claim against the institutions, MRA’s lawyer, Mr. Chigbu, contended that although MRA is entitled to receive the requested information from each of the institutions within seven days of receipt of the application, they “wilfully refused” to reply the letter of request.

    He noted that the information requested by MRA are not privileged or exempted from disclosure by the FOI Act and that the institutions had no right, power or privilege to deny MRA the information requested in the letters.

    Mr. Chigbu argued that the information requested by MRA bother on “issues of public concern, social justice, good governance and accountability.”

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suits.

  • Russia 2018: Nursing mother, 154 other stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

    Russia 2018: Nursing mother, 154 other stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

    A nursing mother and 154 out of 230 Nigerian football fans stranded in Russia after the 2018 FIFA World Cup arrived the country on Friday night.

    The stranded football fans came through Ethiopian Airline flight number ET-ALP that arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja at about 9.12 p.m on July 20.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who was at the airport to monitor their arrival, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to ensure their safe return.

    He said the president had directed that Nigerians, who were stranded in Russia after the 2018 World Cup tournament, should be evacuated immediately.

    According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been monitoring the process of the evacuation, which is under the coordination of the Mission of Nigeria in Moscow.

    He said 155 stranded Nigerians had been cleared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Abuja.

    “The aircraft departed Domodedovo Airport in Moscow with the stranded Nigerians in the afternoon and arrived in Abuja this evening.

    Onyeama said he had been working very closely with the Minister of State for Aviation following President Buhari’s directive on the exercise.

    He recalled that some Nigerian football fans who were stranded had besieged the Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow on July 12.

    “They were among the fans who travelled to the Russian Federation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Tournament and were stranded after the events due to lack of funds for their upkeep,” he said.

    The minister explained that there was also an allegation that some airline travel agents cancelled return tickets of their customers without informing them.

    Onyeama commended the good gesture of Mr President, saying those stranded were never part of government delegates to Russia.

    According to him, the Nigerian Mission had been supportive by making arrangements for the feeding and accommodation of the stranded Nigerians in hostels around Moscow.

    One of the returnees, Bamidele Fatai, was full of praises for President Buhari for making their journey possible.

    He also thanked the Nigerian Mission in Moscow for giving them necessary support.

    Another returnee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was swindled by an agent who cancelled his return ticket.

    He said he was in Moscow to support the Nigerian Football Team and to catch fun only to discover that his ticket had been cancelled when he was ready to return home.

  • 7.7m football fans visited Fan Fest during Russia 2018 – FIFA

    The Russian edition of the FIFA Fan Fest welcomed 7.7 million visitors, world football governing body FIFA said on Thursday.

    In a statement by its Media Office, FIFA said this was about 50 per cent more than the 5.2 million fans who were at the 2014 edition in Brazil.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FIFA Fan Fest took Russia by storm, with many fans at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia having many exciting times.

    “Every match day tens of thousands of Russian and international football fans opted for the FIFA Fan Fest locations as their venues of choice.

    “They watched a total of 917 hours of live football and enjoyed an exciting music and cultural entertainment programme featuring 646 bands playing 323 hours of live music, all free of charge.

    “The close collaboration between FIFA, the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the Host Cities and our Commercial Affiliates made this project possible,” FIFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Philippe Le Floc’h, disclosed in the statement.

    “The FIFA Fan Fests offered a free, safe and highly entertaining space to the 7.7 million local and international fans that came to watch matches in those spectacular locations.”

    “The work has already started to make the FIFA Fan Fest experience even more entertaining in the future and we are looking forward to welcoming fans at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,” he added.

    NAN reports that, according to statistics provided by FIFA, the highest day’s attendance was on June 25, when Uruguay faced host country Russia and 499,000 fans attended 11 venues.

    The host city of Moscow achieved the best attendance with a staggering number of 1,887,200 visitors.

    For the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, top venue Rio de Janeiro had 937,330 visitors in total.

    The FIFA Fan Fest has been part of the Official Programme of the FIFA World Cup since the 2006 edition in Germany.

    It featured again at the 2010 and 2014 editions in South Africa and Brazil respectively.

    NAN

  • Russia 2018: Meunier, Hazard score as Belgium settles for bronze

    Russia 2018: Meunier, Hazard score as Belgium settles for bronze

    The ‘Golden Generation’ of Belgium were unable to win the World Cup but they have registered their best ever finish ever at the Mundial, finishing third ahead of England on Saturday.

    England were condemned to a fourth-placed finish courtesy of a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in the third-place playoff this afternoon.

    The Red Devils took the lead through Thomas Meunier after only four minutes and then wrapped up the victory eight minutes from time when Eden Hazard doubled their advantage, sealing the Red Devils’ best-ever finish at a World Cup.

    England produced an improved performance in the second half as they looked to salvage their best finish since 1966, but they ultimately fell short to end a memorable campaign in fourth place.

    While England are heading home empty-handed as it were, they should have something to cheer as Harry Kane is in pole position to win the prestigious Golden Boot Award.

    The England skipper is on six goals and France’ Kylian Mbappe is the closest threat but he requires scoring a hat trick in Sunday’s final match against Croatia a feat many see as a tall order.

  • 2018 World Cup: Facts you need to know about the quarter-finalists

    2018 World Cup: Facts you need to know about the quarter-finalists

    With the 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter finals getting set to kick-off on Friday, here are some facts about the teams who qualified for last 8 in Russia.

    FRENCH CONFIDENCE

    France have not been beaten by South American opponents at the World Cup since losing to host Argentina in 1978. They have won 5 and drawn 4 since then.

    URUGUAYAN EXPERIENCE

    The quarter-final against France will be Oscar Tabarez’s 20th World Cup match as Uruguay coach. That puts him level with Bora Milutinovic and Mario Zagallo in 4th place for matches coached at the World Cup.

    BELGIAN HOPES

    This will be Belgium’s 5th match against Brazil. Their only World Cup meeting was in 2002, when Brazil won 2-0 with goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo.

    BRAZILIAN RUN

    Brazil are on a run of 3 consecutive wins and 310 minutes without conceding a goal at Russia 2018.

    BACK IN THE USSR

    The last time Russia were in the quarter-finals was as the Soviet Union in 1970. They were defeated by Uruguay.

    CROATIAN CHALLENGE

    For the 3rd time in their 5 World Cup appearances, Croatia will meet the host team. They have lost the previous 2 (to France in the 1998 semi-final and Brazil in the 2014 opening match).

    DRAWING SWEDISH STALEMATES

    The Swedes have played the English twice before in the FIFA World Cup, and both matches ended in draws (1-1 in 2002 and 2-2 in 2006). Interestingly Swede Sven Goran Eriksson was coaching England on both occasions.

    ENGLISH JINX BROKEN

    England beat Colombia on penalties in the Round of 16. It was their first successful World Cup shootout after 3 defeats (West Germany in 1990, Argentina in 1998 and Portugal in 2006).

  • 2018 World Cup: NAPTIP alerts public on plan to traffic Nigerian youths

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has alerted the general public on plans by human traffickers to use the upcoming World Cup to traffic Nigerian youths.

    The Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.

    Okah-Donli explained that part of the plot was to float unregistered football supporters club, unofficial government delegation, as well as unregistered youth bodies.

    She said that they planned to use these platforms to collect huge sums of money from some desperate youths, with the promise to ferry them out of Nigeria using the World Cup tournament as a ploy.

    According to the tip they received, the traffickers in collusion with their collaborators at the destination countries, have also arranged with their cohorts in Europe to facilitate the defection of the victims out of Moscow.

    “Already these traffickers have continued to mount pressure on some youths and their parents forcing them to part with huge sums of money in exchange for Russian visa.

    “One of such cases at hand is that of a girl from one of the states in the South-South part of the country (name withheld).

    “She reported that a Moscow-based trafficker has continued to pressure her through her parents in order to traffic her.

    “The trafficker has concluded plans to airlift her on or before June 5, 2018,” she explained.

    Okah-Donli said that the agency’s detectives were already on the trail of the said parents, while the sister operatives in Moscow were handling the traffickers.

    She warned parents to beware of persons coming to them to give out their children to be taken abroad within this period.

    She added that yielding to undue pressure and deceit would send such children to their early grave.

    “Russia is a country with high incidence of human trafficking and many Nigerian victims of human trafficking are held up there, and now seeking assistance to return home.

    “Stories from victims of human trafficking rescued by NAPTIP from Russia in the past are full of pains and agonies, with few of such victims permanently incapacitated for the rest of their lives,’’ she said.

    The director-general however assured that her agency was making effort to meet with the Minister of Sports and Russian Ambassador to Nigeria on the development.

    She called on leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure that only accredited delegates and officials made the Russian contingent.

    Okah-Donli said that NAPTIP would strategies and work to ensure a World Cup free of human trafficking was achieved.

    She said that whoever is caught in the act would not be spared no matter how highly placed he or she may be in the country.

    NAN

  • World Cup 2018: I’ll be in Russia, says injured Mo Salah

    Liverpool football club and Egypt super star, Mo Salah has said against all odds he will partake in the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    This is coming after outspoken Saudi sports administartor, Turki Al-Sheikh claimed that the shoulder problem picked up by the Egyptian super star in the Champions League final will dash his World Cup hopes.

    Mohamed Salah will be sidelined for two months by the shoulder injury he sustained during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid and miss Egypt’s World Cup campaign, according to Al-Sheikh.

    Salah was substituted after 30 minutes of Saturday’s showpiece encounter in Kiev, having grappled with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and landed heavily on the turf.

    “It was a very tough night, but I’m a fighter,” Salah said, adding: “Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud”.

    In his post-match interviews, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp expressed fears Salah would miss Russia 2018, but the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) tweeted a statement claiming there was “optimism” the Premier League Golden Boot winner would be fit for their Group A opener against Uruguay on June 15 after speaking to Liverpool officials.

    Al-Sheikh holds a number of administrative roles, including chairman of the Saudi Arabia Sport Authority and president of the Sports Federation of Islamic Solidarity.

    Until the end of last week he was an honorary president of Egyptian club Al-Ahly and is understood to have close links to the federation in the North African country.

    Al-Sheikh used social media to give a message of support to Salah before the final but, in a Facebook post on Sunday, he claimed the 25-year-old’s World Cup dream was over – at odds with the EFA’s official line.

    “With great sadness, sadly our great Arab star Mohamed Salah was confirmed in his absence [of] two months to injury, which means that he will miss the World Cup,” he said. “We wish him a speedy recovery.

    “I think that Liverpool will not allow Salah to take the cortisone because it is dangerous for the player in the long term and will press hard to complete the treatment for two months, which unfortunately means that we will not see the star Mohamed Salah in the World Cup.”

    Saudi Arabia have also been drawn in Egypt’s World Cup group alongside hosts Russia and Al-Sheikh caused controversy in March when, after Salah scored in a friendly versus Portugal, he tweeted to suggest it would be beneficial for the Liverpool favourite to miss the round-robin match against the Gulf state.

    “When it comes to Twitter, I speak as fan and not as a minister,” he told Four Four Two Arabia when discussing the incident this month.

    “When I commented on the Saudi team, it was because of excitement. I may make mistakes and I might be right and I might be harsh in some of the terms I use.

    “But when it comes to Mohamed Salah, he’s a great Arab player and has allowed us to lift our heads high as Arabs. I am a fan.

    “But what I wish is he wouldn’t play against our team during that match [at the World Cup]. I want to miss him during this match, just this match.”

     

  • Russia 2018: Eagles not setting World Cup target – Iwobi

    Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi has said the Super Eagles will not set a set a target for themselves at the upcoming Russia 2018 World Cup but is hopeful the team can advance from Group D of the competition.

    Iwobi scored his first goal for the Eagles as Nigeria beat hosts Zambia 2-1 to open their Group B African qualifiers for Russia 2018 on a winning note.

    He would then hand the Eagles their sixth World Cup ticket when he scored the only goal against the Chipolopolo in Uyo to ensure the three-time African champions became the first African side to book a ticket to Russia with a game to spare.

    Iwobi scored twice as the Eagles earned a comprehensive 4-2 win over Argentina last October in Krasnodar but he admitted that they were in a difficult group that has the two-time world champions Croatia and Iceland.

    “No doubt, we are in a very tough group but we are going to work hard to qualify from the group. We have a great team, so we have no reason to fear because we’ve got what it takes to make it,” he added.

    “We are not setting targets but we are confident we can come out of the group. With our fans behind us, we can go far at the tournament. I don’t have personal targets as well, it’s my first World Cup and I can’t wait to play at the World Cup.”

    Asked if the Eagles, who have been beaten four times at the World Cup by the Argentines, can repeat the Krasnodar performance against the South Americans again in Russia, Iwobi added, “We are confident we can repeat that at the World Cup. We were unbeaten in the World Cup qualifiers and we are confident and have young talent, who want to prove themselves any time they are on the pitch.”

    The 22-year-old, who arrived the Eagles camp in Uyo on Monday aboard a Peace Airline accompanied by his father, Chuka, described the departure of Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, as “depressing.”

    The Frenchman was a key figure in Iwobi’s rise and has been a major source of motivation the Nigerian forward since handing him his Gunners debut in 2015.

    “The fact that he’s going is depressing; he gave me confidence to become who I am today,” Iwobi added.