Courtesy: This Day Live


Futsal Eagles Through to Final Round, as Gabon Backs Out

05 May 2012

The Futsal National Team has qualified for the final round of African qualifiers for this year’s 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup, following the withdrawal of Gabon from the second round fixture, which first leg would have come up in Lagos on Sunday.

Several letters written to the Gabonese Football Federation by the Nigeria Football Federation in the weeks leading to the first leg went un-replied, until late on Friday when there was a terse message that the team could not travel to Nigeria as a result of lack of funds.

Expectedly, Nigeria coach Oladunni Oyekale, who has been taking his boys through the paces in preparation for the match, was disappointed.

“We would have loved the shoot-out as my boys were rearing to go. All the same, we are happy that we are through to the final round and will have ample time to prepare for a tough fixture against either Tunisia or Egypt.”




Courtesy: PM News


FIFA Futsal World Cup: Nigeria walks over Gabon

May 6, 2012

Nigeria’s futsal football national team have qualified for the final round of the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup African qualifiers following Gabon’s withdrawal from their second round fixture.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the first leg tie of the second round fixture would have come up on Sunday, May 6 in Lagos.

Ademola Olajire, the Chief Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said the association had on Friday received a letter of withdrawal from the game from the Gabonese.

“Several letters written to the Gabonese Football Federation by the NFA in the weeks leading to the first leg went un-replied. But late on Friday there was a terse message that the team could not travel to Nigeria as a result of lack of funds,’’ it said.

The statement also said Nigeria’s coach Oladunni Oyekale, who had been training his players in preparation for the match, was disappointed.

Oyekale had on Thursday picked 12 players to meet Gabon.The Nigerian side are now through to the final round and will await a tough fixture against either Tunisia or Egypt.




Courtesy: Daily Times


Nigeria in final round of Futsal World Cup qualifiers

As cash-strapped Gabon team withdraws from the competition

May 6, 2012

by Olorunwa Lawal

Following Gabon’s withdrawal from their second round fixture, Nigeria’s FUTSAL national team has been given an easy ride to the final round of the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup African qualifiers.

The first leg of the second round fixture would have come up on Sunday, May 6 in Lagos but the Gabonese Football Federation pulled out because of financial constraints.

A statement by Ademola Olajire, the Chief Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said the association received a letter of withdrawal from the game from the Gabonese.

“Several letters written to the Gabonese Football Federation by the NFA in the weeks leading to the first leg went un-replied,” the statement read.

“But late on Friday there was a terse message that the team could not travel to Nigeria as a result of lack of funds.”

The Nigerian coach, Oladunni Oyekale, who had been training his players in preparation for the match, and had on Thursday picked 12 players to meet Gabon, was disappointed.

The Nigerian side will play against Tunisia or Egypt in the final round of the qualifiers.



Courtesy: Supersport

Gabon fails to arrive in Nigeria

by George Akpayen

06 May 2012

Nigeria's Futsal Eagles have reached the final round of the 2012 Fifa Futsal World Cup qualification without kicking a ball.

The opponents of the Futsal Eagles, Gabon withdrew from the qualification by failing to turn up for the first leg of the second billed for Lagos on Sunday.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it wrote "several letters" to its Gabonese counterpart to confirm their arrival for the game and got a response of withdrawal on Friday.

"Several letters written to the Gabonese Football Federation by the Nigeria Football Federation in the weeks leading to the first leg went unreplied until late on Friday when there was a terse message that the team could not travel to Nigeria as a result of lack of funds," a statement from the NFF read.

Nigeria Futsal team head coach, Oladunni Oyekale and his team were preparing to face their Gabonese opponents.

A disappointed Oyekale said: "We would have loved the shoot-out as my boys were rearing to go. All the same, we are happy that we are through to the final round and will have ample time to prepare for a tough fixture against either Tunisia or Egypt.”




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com