Yobo approaches 100 as Nigeria faces Argentina tomorrow

Super Eagles’ skipper, Joseph Yobo is at the threshold of becoming Nigeria’s first player to get into the prestigious FIFA exclusive 100 international appearances.

With strong indications that Yobo will be featured in tomorrow’s game with Argentina, he will be making his 99th appearance in proper grade A match. One more match, possibly in the Round of 16, Yobo will clock 100.

Already, along with Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama who is also approaching 100 caps, Yobo is playing in his third World Cup.

Yobo made his debut with the Super Eagles on March 24, 2001 in a 2002 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Zambia in Chingola.

Nigeria pulled a 1-1 draw to ease to Mali 2002. Until the moment he sustained injury in a Nigeria versus Benin match at the 2010 Africa Nations Cup in Angola, he held the record of playing every minute of Nigeria’s Africa Nations Cup matches from Mali 2002 through Tunisia 2004, Egypt 2006 and Ghana 2008.

It was only at the second match of the 2010 Africa Nations Cup that he was first substituted after a straight 23 Africa Nations Cup matches including two that stretched into extra time.

It was in the 24th match he was first substituted.

Though seen as a rookie who was having his third cap in the Super Eagles, Yobo was handed the task of marking the renowned George Weah, who had been the World Footballer of the Year 1996 as well as that of Africa and Europe.

Yobo did a yeoman’s job. A player who graduated as a Flying Eagles’ attacker to play a defensive role in the senior side, he was wonderful playing from the right hand side.

Yobo scored his first goal for Nigeria in the 2003 LG Cup final against Cameroon in Lagos. He also scored the only goal in the 2006 World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Abuja.

His goals were also crucial in Nigeria’s march to South Africa 2010 World Cup. Yobo scored the lone goal in the away duels with Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea.

US scores milestone goal

The Brazil 2014 hits the half way mark Sunday night in the thrilling encounter of USA and Portugal, which also put another football global giant, Portugal on the verge of elimination.

That was the 32nd of the projected 64 matches of the World Cup. By now, it was already adieu to giants and former champions, England, as well as the defending champions, Spain.

It is bye bye to form books and predictability.  By the last day matches of the groups which began yesterday, more big teams might be eliminated as the small boys are becoming the emerging powers.

USA, hitherto known for other sports like baseball and basketball, is already making impact in what the Americans choose to call soccer.

But for the last minute strike of header from Varela, which deadlock scoreline at 2-2, the Ronado-inspired Portugal would have been heading home. The goal only put their aspirations on life support machine.

Before then, the Jurgen Klinsmann’s tutored Americans had hit a World Cup milestone goal. The 64th minute strike by Jermaine Jones, which put scorelines at 1-1 was the 92nd of Brazil 2014, but the 2,300th goal in World Cup history.

Before then,the last milestone goal, the 2,200th was scored by the Dutch forward, Arjen Robben during his team’s semi final defeat of Uruguay at South Africa 2010.

Uzoenyi excited with first World Cup game

Home-based Ejike Uzoenyi has spoken of his excitement at making his first World Cup appearance for Nigeria in the 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday.
Uzoenyi came on as a second half substitute for Michael Babatunde in the 75th minute of the game, as Nigeria ended a 16 year wait for a win in the competition.
After the game, the Enugu Rangers winger who will team up with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa after the World Cup described the experience as the fulfilment of a dream.
“It was like a dream but I thank God, the NFF and the coaches for making me realize the dream of playing at the world’s biggest stage in football. I am a fulfilled man,” Uzoenyi said after the game.

FIFA slams 3-match ban on Cameroon’s  Song 

 Cameroon midfielder, Alexandre Song sat out during the Indomitable Lions’ final group game at the 2014 FIFA World Cup against hosts Brazil on Monday.  Song had been handed a three-match ban, following his sending off against Croatia last Wednesday. The Barcelona midfielder was shown a straight red card in the 4-0 loss to Croatia in a Group A encounter in Manaus. ‘
The former Arsenal man struck Croatia forward, Mario Mandzukic on the back with his elbow in an off the ball scuffle and was rightfully sent off for an early shower.
FIFA had now issued the 26-year-old with a three-match-ban, as well as a £13,000 fine.
Song will now miss the Indomitable Lions next three internatinal games, including the match against Brazil, which will be the West Africans final game at the 2014 World Cup, following defeats to Mexico and Croatia.
A FIFA statement read: “FIFA can provide the following disciplinary update in relation to the expulsion of Alex Song of Cameroon in their match against Croatia on 18 June.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided today to suspend Song for three matches and impose a fine of CHF 20,000 for breaching art. 48 par. 1 d) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC).
“The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming World Cup fixture between Cameroon and Brazil on 23 June 2014, with the remaining two to be served at the next official matches of the Cameroon national team in accordance with art. 38 par. 2 lit. a) of the FDC.’

Beat Greece, get double bonuses –CIV president 

Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara has told his country’s footballers he will double their World Cup win bonuses if they beat Greece.

The Elephants can guarantee their place in the knock-out stages with a victory over the 2004 European champions in Fortaleza today.

Currently they are due 16 million CFA francs ($24, 400; 17 900 euros) per player for a victory but that will double to 32 million CFA francs in case of success against Greece, an official source said.

The source added that the initiative was aimed at “giving the Elephants extra motivation” to reach the knock-out rounds for the first time in their history.

They are currently second in Group C on three points after a 2-1 victory over Japan was followed by a defeat to Colombia by the same score.

A draw would definitely be enough for them to progress as long as Japan don’t beat Colombia in their final game. A defeat would see Ivory Coast eliminated.

While such a sum may not make much difference to the likes of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure or Galatasaray’s Didier Drogba, both of whom earn considerably more than that every week at their clubs, it would certainly be welcomed by reserve goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohouo, the only member of Ivory Coast’s squad still plying his trade in his homeland