World Cup 2018,Why we lost to Nigeria – Iceland Coach

Heimir Hallgrimsson, the coach of Iceland, on Friday in Volgograd blamed fate for his team’s 0-2 loss to Nigeria in Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“My players performed in line with instructions all the same, the fact that the result was not good does not mean they did not do well.

“I praise them because they played against a very good Nigerian side,’’ he said at the post-match conference at the Volgograd Arena.

The coach, who said he expected the Eagles to play the way they played against them, however agreed that his team’s tactics did not work the way they planned it.

“It is unfortunate that we lost to Nigeria in spite of the way we planned for the game.

“We did our best to prepare for them, especially the three-man defence line. We even prepared in case they played a four-man defensive formation,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after a goalless first first half, two goals by Ahmed Musa in the second stanza helped to keep the Super Eagles in contention.

Hallgrimsson however commended Nigeria’s coach Gernot Rohr for coming out with tactics which neutralised his team’s offensive, especially in the second half.

He equally did not fail to commend his players for putting in their best in the face of the situation.

“Even though we lost to Nigeria, all the same the players tried their best,” the coach said.

Hallgrimsson promised that his team would come all out against Croatia on June 26 in spite of Friday’s defeat, hopeful they would win to be in line for qualification.

“We know the Croatians. We have played against them four times and we know how to handle them,” he said.


WORLD CUP
Nigeria captain Mikel slams Croatia decision to rest star players
Tom Maston
in Volgograd
20:26 SHARE
Getty Images
The Super Eagles could find themselves relying on the Group D leaders - who plan to leave big names out against Iceland - to reach the knockout stages

Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has called on Croatia to be professional and not rest players against Iceland in a match that could yet decide the Super Eagles' World Cup fate.
Two goals from Ahmed Musa ensured Nigeria remain in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages as they saw off Iceland in Volgograd.
Gernot Rohr's side now know that a victory over Argentina in Saint Petersburg will be enough for them to reach the last 16 for the fourth time in their history.

And though a defeat to the Albiceleste would confirm their elimination, a draw would mean they require Croatia to do them a favour against Iceland.
Croatia have already booked their place in the latter stages of the competition, and as such manager Zlatko Dalic has vowed to leave out some of his star players in a bid to conserve their fitness.
Mikel, though, does not understand the reasoning behind Dalic's decision and feels it is unfair on the rest of the teams in the group.
"I don't think it's the best thing to do," he told Goal. "This is a massive tournament - you can't rest people and give others a chance of qualification.
"They should be professional and play their best team. This is such a big stage that you can't rest players just to help other teams to qualify."
Nigeria have faced Argentina four times in their previous five World Cup appearances, losing on all four occasions, but the form of the South American outfit has raised hopes that the Super Eagles can end that run.

Despite counting Lionel Messi among their number, Jorge Sampaoli's side have picked up just one point from their two games thus far, including an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Croatia on Thursday.
However, Mikel is aware that recording the victory his side require will be no easy task.
"I think they have played well. It's going to be a tough and difficult game for us."
Both Nigeria's clash with Argentina and Iceland's match with Croatia take place simultaneously at 7:00pm BST (2:00pm ET) on Tuesday June 26.

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World Cup 2018,Why we lost to Nigeria – Iceland Coach

Heimir Hallgrimsson, the coach of Iceland, on Friday in Volgograd blamed fate for his team’s 0-2 loss to Nigeria in Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“My players performed in line with instructions all the same, the fact that the result was not good does not mean they did not do well.

“I praise them because they played against a very good Nigerian side,’’ he said at the post-match conference at the Volgograd Arena.

The coach, who said he expected the Eagles to play the way they played against them, however agreed that his team’s tactics did not work the way they planned it.

“It is unfortunate that we lost to Nigeria in spite of the way we planned for the game.

“We did our best to prepare for them, especially the three-man defence line. We even prepared in case they played a four-man defensive formation,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after a goalless first first half, two goals by Ahmed Musa in the second stanza helped to keep the Super Eagles in contention.

Hallgrimsson however commended Nigeria’s coach Gernot Rohr for coming out with tactics which neutralised his team’s offensive, especially in the second half.

He equally did not fail to commend his players for putting in their best in the face of the situation.

“Even though we lost to Nigeria, all the same the players tried their best,” the coach said.

Hallgrimsson promised that his team would come all out against Croatia on June 26 in spite of Friday’s defeat, hopeful they would win to be in line for qualification.

“We know the Croatians. We have played against them four times and we know how to handle them,” he said.


WORLD CUP
Nigeria captain Mikel slams Croatia decision to rest star players
Tom Maston
in Volgograd
20:26 SHARE
Getty Images
The Super Eagles could find themselves relying on the Group D leaders - who plan to leave big names out against Iceland - to reach the knockout stages

Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has called on Croatia to be professional and not rest players against Iceland in a match that could yet decide the Super Eagles' World Cup fate.
Two goals from Ahmed Musa ensured Nigeria remain in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages as they saw off Iceland in Volgograd.
Gernot Rohr's side now know that a victory over Argentina in Saint Petersburg will be enough for them to reach the last 16 for the fourth time in their history.

And though a defeat to the Albiceleste would confirm their elimination, a draw would mean they require Croatia to do them a favour against Iceland.
Croatia have already booked their place in the latter stages of the competition, and as such manager Zlatko Dalic has vowed to leave out some of his star players in a bid to conserve their fitness.
Mikel, though, does not understand the reasoning behind Dalic's decision and feels it is unfair on the rest of the teams in the group.
"I don't think it's the best thing to do," he told Goal. "This is a massive tournament - you can't rest people and give others a chance of qualification.
"They should be professional and play their best team. This is such a big stage that you can't rest players just to help other teams to qualify."
Nigeria have faced Argentina four times in their previous five World Cup appearances, losing on all four occasions, but the form of the South American outfit has raised hopes that the Super Eagles can end that run.

Despite counting Lionel Messi among their number, Jorge Sampaoli's side have picked up just one point from their two games thus far, including an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Croatia on Thursday.
However, Mikel is aware that recording the victory his side require will be no easy task.
"I think they have played well. It's going to be a tough and difficult game for us."
Both Nigeria's clash with Argentina and Iceland's match with Croatia take place simultaneously at 7:00pm BST (2:00pm ET) on Tuesday June 26.

AFRICAN ALL STARS
EDITORS' PICKS

World Cup: Guide, team profiles & star players
Goal-shy Sterling still vital for England
How the hell could slow Germany leave Sane at home?
Martinez & Belgium searching for balance
Musa magic gives Messi & Argentina hope
World Cup group stage tie-breakers & rules
How Vela went from Arsenal flop to El Tri star
Coutinho steps up for Brazil and out of Neymar's shadow
Next article:
What results do Argentina need to progress at the World Cup?
Next article:
What results do Argentina need to progress at the World Cup?
Next article:
What World Cup 2018 games are being played & on TV today?
Next article:
Mexico seeking balance of belief without overconfidence against Korea
Next article:
Sweden can ‘go very far’ in the World Cup, says former goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli
Next article:
Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique reveals brain tumour battle
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Man Utd held to West Ham bore draw
PREMIER LEAGUE 19:15
Indonesia proposing Pakansari and Patriot Stadiums for AFF Championship
AFF CHAMPIONSHIP 16:33
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WTF 13:14

Breaking: Buhari signs 2018 budget into law

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,  AT THE SIGNING INTO LAW, THE 2018 APPROPRIATION BILL, PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA,

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018

PROTOCOLS

I would like to thank the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as all the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, for passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill, after seven months.

2.      When I submitted the 2018 Budget proposals to the National Assembly on 7thNovember 2017, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick, so as to move Nigeria towards a predictable January-December financial year.  The importance of this predictability cannot be overemphasized. 

3.      While the Federal Government’s budget represents less than 10% of aggregate yearly expenditures in the economy, it has a very significant accelerator effect on the financial plans of other tiers of government, and even more importantly, the private sector, which mostly operates on a January-December financial year.  

4.      Notwithstanding the delay this year, I am determined to continue to work with the National Assembly towards improving the budgeting process and restoring our country to the January-December fiscal cycle.

5.      I note, with pleasure, that the National Assembly is working on the enactment of an Organic Budget Law, so as to improve the efficiency of the nation’s budgetary process.

6.      As I mentioned during the presentation of the 2018 Appropriation Bill, we intend to use the 2018 Budget to consolidate the achievements of previous budgets and deliver on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020.  

7.      It is in this regard that I am concerned about some of the changes that the National Assembly has made to the budget proposals that I presented.  The logic behind the Constitutional direction that budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that, it is the Executive that knows and defines its policies and projects.  

8.      Unfortunately, that has not been given much regard in what has been sent to me.  The National Assembly made cuts amounting to 347 billion Naira in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to 578 billion Naira.

9.      Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation.  Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualized, designed and costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.  

10.    Furthermore, many of these new projects introduced by the National Assembly have been added to the budgets of most MDAs with no consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.  

11.    As it is, some of these projects relate to matters that are the responsibility of the States and Local Governments, and for which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened.

12.    Such examples of projects from which cuts were made are as follows:

a.                The provisions for some nationally/regionally strategic infrastructure projects such as Counter-part funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project were cut by an aggregate of 11.5 billion Naira.

b.    Similarly, provisions for some ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail project, were cut by a total of 7.5 billion Naira.

c.     The provision for Rehabilitation and Additional Security Measures for the United Nations Building by the FCT, Abuja was cut by 3.9 billion Naira from 4 billion Naira to 100 millio

World Cup 2018: Former Super Eagles media officer, Udoh speaks on Uzoho's real age

Former Super Eagles media officer, Colin Udoh has blasted fans and pundits who have made jest of the age of first-choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho.

Uzoho is the youngest player at the 2018 World Cup. He is 19 years.

However, there have been arguments all over social media, as most people believe he is older.

In reaction, Udoh took to his Twitter page on Tuesday night, to post a picture of Uzoho from 2013, when he was 14 and represented Nigeria at under-17 level.

He also wrote: “To all you muppets going on about Francis Uzoho’s age, this is what he looked like in 2013 when he was a 14-year-old in the under 17 camp.

“Feel free to slap some sense into your own heads since looks is now a determinant for age.”
World Cup 2018: Former Super Eagles media officer, Udoh speaks on Uzoho eal age