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Nigeria vs S/Africa: Battle for bragging rights by 2 old foes

Nigeria vs S/Africa: Battle for bragging rights by 2 old foes
By Victor Okoye
Preview
Abuja, July 9, 2019 (NAN) The Super Eagles’ opponent in the quarter-final of the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt are not an unfamiliar foe as pride and glory awaits the winner of this mouth-watering duel.
Bafana Bafana of South Africa’s reward for expertly out-playing and stunning the heavily favoured seven-time champions and hosts Egypt is a date with old foes Nigeria at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday.
The rivalry between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Bafana Bafana of South Africa can be ranked side by side along that of Ghana and Cameroon.
Nigeria and South Africa are making a return to AFCON since 2013 in South Africa where they were crowned champions having failed to qualify for the last two editions.
The Super Eagles have gradually picked form having started their campaign in the group stage on a rather sluggish note, managing to beat AFCON first-timers, Burundi and Guinea, by a lone goal each before slumping to a disappointing 0-2 defeat to Madagascar to finish as runners up in Group B.
They however look hungry and proved their character by beating defending champions Cameroon 3-2 in the last 16 on Sunday in Alexandria.
China-based striker Odion Ighalo stood particularly tall with his brace, silencing the few doubts that had crept in over his ability to lead the line.
With Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi also breaking his AFCON duck, it seems Coach Gernot Rohr might be getting his team into tune at just the right time.
Bafana Bafana on the other hand had shown that they are indeed true contenders when they took on hosts Egypt in the last 16 on Saturday.
Against all odds, the South Africans came out tops with a lone goal victory to qualify for the quarterfinals, having themselves struggled to make it out of the group stage as one of the best third place finishers with three points in Group D.
Fortunately for Bafana, the tide of history had ‘somewhat’ turned in their favour in recent times.
Having previously only beaten the Nigerians once, in 2004, Stuart Baxter’s men put in an admirable display in Uyo two years ago to emerge 2-0 victors.
That qualifier, and the 1-1 return in which the Super Eagles dominated but were denied two apparent goals in Johannesburg, saw both teams qualify for this year’s competition with a match to spare for the Eagles.
Both teams have met thirteen (13) times, with Nigeria running out winners on six occasions, South Africa winning twice and both sides settling for a draw five times.
While Nigeria has not failed to make it to the semi-final of six out of eight last editions it participated in (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013), South Africa has only made it to the semi-final twice (1996 and 1998).
Both sides have been talking tough ahead of the all-important clash with Coach Gernot Rohr quoted as saying that his charges are very much looking forward to Wednesday night’s clash, which brings together once more two teams who were involved in the same group in the qualifying campaign.
Rohr is not one to forget sharp pains inflicted by lower-ranked teams, and the fury of what happened in Uyo on June 10, 2017, – his first loss as Eagles’ manager in a competitive match – could be deduced in the way he spoke on arrival in Cairo, though he insisted that Nigeria is not thinking of revenge but simply a place in the semi finals.
“We are here to win. It is not going to be an easy match, but surely if you have to win the Africa Cup, you will not expect to be faced with easy matches at this stage.
“We know ourselves from the qualifying campaign and it will be no holds-barred on Wednesday. It is not a matter of revenge; it is about reaching the semi finals,” Rohr was quoted as saying.
Nigeria’s army includes three members of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in 2013, namely defender Kenneth Omeruo; midfielder and skipper Mikel John Obi, and forward and deputy skipper Ahmed Musa.
There is also forward Ighalo, who topped the scorers’ chart in the AFCON 2019 qualifying race with seven goals, and is joint top scorer in the ongoing finals with three goals, alongside Senegalese Sadio Mane.
Indeed, Ighalo’s man-of-the-match performance was the tonic the Eagles needed to overcome the Cup holders on Saturday.
There is also goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who turns out for South African Premier Soccer League side Kaizer Chiefs.
He has not had many opportunities with the senior team but is number one at the ongoing finals.
On the other hand for Bafana Bafana, it remains to be seen if Coach Baxter will make any changes to the team that was so excellent against Egypt.
Given that he refused to make a substitution before the 90th minute last time out, lest he upset the formula he had stumbled upon, the likely answer is no.
Thembinkhosi Lorch at the very least will surely keep his place on the left in attack, especially after the South Africa’s player of the year slotted neatly into Egypt’s bottom corner.
It’s unlikely the Scot will risk their ire once more. Not to mention the attack, which is complemented with the effervescent threat of Percy Tau on the other side, now looks genuinely threatening.
The truth is everyone was surprised by Bafana’s relentless outing. Their success in starving Salah et al of meaningful possession was driven by a determination that had been seen too rarely of late.
The question now is can Baxter find a way to replicate it again by grounding the Super Eagles?
Only time will tell as the African continent eagerly awaits the outcome of this great rivalry between two old foes from 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Cairo International Stadium. (NAN)
VO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

North East states battle meningitis – NAN Survey

North East states battle meningitis – NAN Survey

NAN-H-3

Meningitis

Abuja, May 21, 2017 (NAN) States in North East Nigeria have adopted proactive measures against the outbreak and control of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM).

A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the region indicated that the states have made adequate logistic arrangements and set up rapid response teams to combat the disease.

The report also said that while some states have acquired the CSM vaccines, others made contingency arrangements with the Federal Government to fight the scourge.

In Bauchi, the Executive Chairman of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Malam Adamu Gamawa, told NAN that unused vaccines procured in 2016 were mopped up by the federal government and allocated to states most severely affected by the disease.

Gamawa said the remaining few doses left were used in vaccinating people considered to be at high risk of contracting the disease.

He refuted reports that the vaccines were being sold by operators of private health facilities in the state.

“We normally allocate these vaccines to private operators for easy access by the people and they account for them.

“Since we do not have single dose at our disposal now, there is no way they could have acquired the vaccines and sold to people.

“We have not received any complaint from the public that the vaccines were being sold to them,” he said.

However, the chairman said that efforts were being made by the agency to procure the vaccine.

He called on the people to report suspected cases of CSM to the nearest health facilities for prompt action.

From Adamawa, the State Government has confirmed receiving enough CSM vaccine from the federal government through the support of the World Health Organisation.

Dr Bapetel Pariya, Director Public Health, State Ministry of Health, who disclosed this to NAN in Yola, said that the vaccines were provided last month when the state recorded an outbreak of CSM.

“We received enough vaccines from the federal government, with the collaboration of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF,” Pariya said.

According to him, government has provided enough doses of CSM type `C’ to all the 21 health facilities in the state.

“So far, we have not received any complaint about non-availability of the vaccines and we are ready to deal with any case of sabotage,” he assured.

On its part, the Gombe State Government said it had concluded arrangements to procure the vaccine.

Dr Kennedy Ishaya, the state Commissioner for Health, told NAN that pending the procurement of the vaccines, government had already purchased drugs worth N4 million and distributed to government and private hospitals across the state.

He said that so far, there were no reported cases of meningitis in state.

In Borno, health workers in the state commended the State Government for providing enough vaccines in public hospitals towards preventing an outbreak of the disease.

A cross section of the workers told NAN in Maiduguri that the present administration took proactive steps to avert an epidemic in the state.

Mrs Zara Balami, a Nursing Superintendent at the Maryam Abacha Children Hospital in Ruwan Zafi, said that the provision of adequate vaccines by the government had helped curtailed the outbreak of the disease.

“Some years back, we used to record large number of cases of meningitis in this hospital, but I am happy to say that we have not recorded any case yet.

“In spite of this we have a stockpile of vaccines in the hospital in case of emergencies,” Balami said.

Mrs Mary Misheliza, a health worker at the Specialist Hospital Maiduguri, also confirmed that the state has a stockpile of vaccines.

“I think government has done so well in the area of preventing meningitis outbreak this year.

“Most importantly the idea of massive vaccination has actually helped in preventing an outbreak of the disease,” Mishelia said.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia, said that government had set aside 200,000 doses of vaccine for meningitis as a proactive measure against any outbreak.

Mshelia said that the state had earlier carried out a vaccination capable of protecting the vaccinated for a decade.

“Between 2012 and 2014 the whole state was covered with a special type of meningitis vaccine that lasts for 10 years.

“However, we have over 200,000 doses in our stores for outbreak response, should there be any case,” he said. (NAN)

Reporters/ASH/MST

Edited by Abdullahi Salihu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola