ACTUALITE |
04.06.2003
Nigeria win LG Cup
Nigeria´s Super Eagles beat Cameroon 3-0 on Sunday to win the annual LG Cup tournament.
Goals from team captain Joseph Yobo and forwards Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Garba "Yaro-Yaro" Ahmed secured the Eagles the trophy and a $50,000 prize.
Aiyegbeni was also named the tournament´s Most Valuable Player.
Cameroon, with Patrick Suffo and Guy Ipoua as their only overseas-based players, battled the Eagles to a standstill in the match, played in pouring rain in Lagos.
Despite losing, the Indomitable Lions still smiled away with $30,000 for finishing second.
Ghana´s Black Stars, captained by veteran goalie Edward Ansah, finished third, despite refusing to play their third-place match.
They complained that the water-logged pitch was unsuitable for a game.
But the organisers awarded Ghana the third position after original winners Iran turned down the position and prize money of $20,000.
In the tournament´s opening games, played at the newly opened Abuja National Stadium, the Eagles whipped Ghana 3-1, while Cameroon beat defending champions Iran 2-1.
The tournament proved a success for Eagles´ coach Christian Chukwu, who used new players in the absence of Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.
English Nationwide Third Division Macclesfield Town defender Abbey George, Christian Obodo of Italy´s Perugia and goalie Greg Etafia with South Africa´s Moroka Swallows won their first caps.
"This tournament is a good preparation for our forthcoming matches against Malawi, Brazil and Angola this month," a delighted Chukwu told reporters afterwards.
Nigeria host Malawi in a 2004 African Nations Cup qualifier on Saturday.
The Super Eagles lead their three-team Nations Cup group and are favoured to clinch the group´s sole ticket for next year´s finals in Tunisia.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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