Segun Oluwaniyi

Suicide bombers die in failed plot at Ethiopia soccer match ------------------- (Reuters) - Two Somali suicide bombers who had planned to kill soccer fans during Ethiopia's World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria on Sunday blew themselves up accidentally before carrying out the attack, the Ethiopian government said on Monday. The explosion on Sunday happened in the upscale Bole district of the capital, about 5 km (3 miles) from Addis Ababa Stadium where thousands of fans were gathering for the match. "They were Somali nationals and plotted to carry out a suicide attack disguised as fans on either the stadium or areas where large crowds gathered to watch the game," government spokesman Shimeles Kemal said. Explosives, arms, hand grenades and football shirts were found at the scene of the blast, at a residential address an hour before kick-off, Shimeles said. Three suspects were detained. The Bole district has a small Somali refugee community. "Heavy police presence must have caused their nervousness and state of agitation which led to the detonation that caused their own death," Shimeles said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Somalia's al Shabaab Islamist rebels have vowed to exact revenge on Ethiopia for sending troops to Somalia to fight the al Qaeda-linked militants, alongside African Union forces from Uganda, Burundi and Kenya. Ethiopia says it has thwarted attacks over the past two years which it has blamed on domestic rebel groups as well as the Somali insurgents. However, it has so far been spared the sorts of attacks carried out in nearby countries - such as the siege at the Nairobi mall last month and an attack on football fans in Uganda in 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/14/us-ethiopia-bomb-idUSBRE99D0O820131014 --------------- Also: Igiebor injured as Eagles bus stoned Nosa Igiebor suffered a cut on his right palm as the Nigeria team bus was attacked Posted: 14 October 2013 Time: 01:37 pm Print this article Midfielder Nosa Igiebor suffered a cut on his right palm as the Nigeria team bus was attacked by irate Ethiopia fans after Sunday's 2-1 win by Nigeria. The Nigeria bus was delayed from leaving the stadium, and when they eventually did, the waiting fans hurled missiles at the bus, shattering the rear window. The Betis midfielder was hit on the hand by a big stone, giving him a big slash with serious bleeding which needed immediate attention of team doctor Ibrahim Gyaran. NFF General Secretary Musa Amadu explained that the incident forced the players to miss the dinner organized in their honour by the Nigerian embassy in Ethiopia. "Their bus was stoned, and a player was injured," Amadu told the gathering. "As a result, the players do not feel safe enough to come out from their hotel." NFF Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, said the matter has been reported to the FIFA Security team at the match venue and he hopes action will be taken. The matter was also reported to the Ethiopian Police by Eagles Chief security Officer, ACP Baba Abubakar. Article by: Colin Udoh

My little cousin is 5 foot 8 and about 100 kg at nine. Useless fat man unfortunately. Maybe humans are evolving, because he wouldn't standout in a rich country at that size. People are massive where nourishment is overly abundant.

Always complaints, never solutions. Outside of maybe Concacaf, the qualification is about as condensed as we can get and matches need to actually occur. Lukaku looks young and still does tbh. Benteke is identical to my cousin, btw, it's somewhat scary How does Kompany look younger now than in 2002?

We need to come out with intensity and energy from the first minute of this match. The two times this season we have come against sides that are "of a higher level" (Everton really shouldn't be, but are at the moment) the match has been over after half an hour and we have conceded multiple chances and inevitably a goal within the first five minutes. We suffer from premature capitulation. Especially at home, we need to set the pattern of the match in the first twenty minutes be more combative throughout the team.

Yes to finalise all of the teams for the World's biggest event. People act like these are some random friendlies instead of decisive playoffs across every federation.

People's weaknesses tend to be exacerbated when they come here anyway. He'd probably do better to go somewhere else.

You will have better luck trying to extract milk from a bull than finding meaning in anything Pardew says. He is a liar and a figurehead.

They won the u17 when it was held in Nigeria, I'm sure. I remember them ousting our team of " 'young' superstars that mysteriously never made it in Europe or progressed to the national team" anyway.

Two away goals and a victory to take back home! Keshi is living a blessed life. We were an embarrassment until they scored. Simple give aways, massive gaps between the defenders. Even the usual standouts were awful. Mikel overrun, Moses useless, Ambrose/Uwa quiet, Africa's best goalkeeper with a ridiculous error. Thank God for Emenike (little Amokachi) and Oboabona. There is much work to be done, but I cannot see us losing in Calabar or Abuja against those boys. Very happy that they have emerged from the awful pitch and high altitude of that God-forsaken country with what was needed.

"jollof rice and pea" :lol:

Someone who was either a blind deaf or a virulent liar must have told this man he was funny years ago and he has managed to take this and start a career. How can someone with no charisma or playing history and only a rudimentary knowledge of the game be so prominent in the presentation of it?

Very stupid of CIV to allow goal late. They could have had four or five, yet now a simple 2-0 in Dakar will send Senegal to the World Cup. It shouldn't matter anyway, though. They've beat the hell out of Senegal three times this year now. Tiote managed to get himself banned for the second leg btw. Things never change. edit: The second leg is actually in Morocco. I forgot they tried to burn their stadium to the ground last year. Burkinabe vs. Algeria was a crazy game as well. The return leg in Algeria will have a crazy atmosphere. I hope Stallions can survive it.

Uruguay are seventh in the FIFA ranking and Netherlands are close behind them. I think they may be in danger of losing their top seed by losing tonight. Difference between a group of "death" with either Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, or Netherlands and an easier path to qualification depending on their African and European draws. The FIFA rankings continue to be senseless in any case. The need to be replaced somehow. Unfortunately, I have no suggestions.

It is a rubbish qualification system without doubt. However, it is more the symptom of a region that massively underachieved as a whole on the world stage. We have 54 countries, maybe fifteen to twenty of which are serious football nations with either significant amounts of talent or deep history, and only five spots. The last three qualification rounds starting with 2006 (Ghana, Egypt, and Cameroon in one group for one spot! equivalent to Germany, Italy, and Netherlands) have been unsatisfying and controversial because the real answer is that we need more spots. However, the consistent failure means we have done little to earn them and may actually deserve to lose one to SA or Asia. A big tournament for the continent this time. Can't be man, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Germany must surely be favourites. I mean what bookie is that?? Was in/around the last qualifiers I think. I mentioned it on here. Incredulous. EDIT: Belgium 5th favourites Was close, still are too: http://www.oddschecker.com/football/world-cup/outrights/world-cup/winner Every tournament since 1994 a relatively unfavoured European team (usually a big team lacking form or a young one lacking profile) has made the semifinals. Good bets would be the likes of France, Russia, Switzerland, Croatia, and Belgium. It also would not surprise me at all to see 2 or 3 African sides in the knockout rounds this time (hopefully one finally in the semis) or one of the smaller South American nations threatening to win it.

He can play both positions and would do so if he came here. Most teams have 6 or 7 defenders they are confident in. There is nothing revolutionary about this. Currently, the cover for our right back is our left back and a centreback who is constantly injured, the cover for our centrebacks is Mike Williamson, and the cover for our left back is completely unproven.

Micah Richards strikes me as a player that will have a very early and painful decline to his career.

Herve Renard just left Zambia to become the manager of Sochaux in Ligue 1. I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish in a top European league. The performances with Zambia were fantastic. With his teams it was striking how organised/physical they were and how quickly they hit others teams on the counter. His English is very good and we would do well to bring him to the Premiership in a year or two. Also the transition from this: http://www.themag.co.uk/assets/2012/02/AlanPardew11.jpg to this: http://mtn.ensight-cdn.com/content/rsz_herve_renard_is_africas_best_coach.jpg would be remarkable. Imagine, a manager who puts instills confidence in his sides, rather than taking all of it away.

Well, Naija will be big favourites over Ethiopia and I favour us to go through, nothing I saw in from them in ACN would have me shaking. Cote D'Ivoire is better than Senegal and Burkina Faso will prevail against Algeria. Neither Tunisia or Cameroon really have any business at this World Cup, imo, but from the two of them Tunisia should qualify. Ghana-Egypt is a very be very tight, imo, two very good sides. I think Egypt will win, but it might need penalties. Egypt definitely are the only nation in Africa to experience any recent hardship in the recent years.

West Brom and Aston Villa are renowned for their dominant, varried football that revolves around wingers putting crosses in now..? Who said they were renowned for it? They're certainly more varied than we are, no question. It is difficult to vary your attack many different ways when playing with a centre forward who contributes the actual sum of nothing to the play.

Colombia has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups and lost in the quarters of the most recent Copa America. Belgium hasn't participated in an international tournament for 11 years. This is stupidity. I am excited to see what Africa can accomplish in this tournament. Most of the bigger teams were in a bad way in 2010, but they've rehabilitated themselves with the notable exception of Cameroun. My invisible horse for this tournament is Burkina Faso. I think they will handle Algeria and they have quality in every unit of the team. The matches this weekend on the continent will be telling.

They beat Spain (in a friendly) playing like Chelsea did in the Champions League IIRC so there may be something to that. Better equipped to win a tournament like Greece did than most teams if you think about it. Best shot too. The groundwork to win a trophy any other way won't come about for a long, long time Was getting at more the 'golden generation'. England have little to no chance now whatever they try and do. I doubt any team will do a Greece again due to the fitness levels required especially in a WC / expanded Euros. Do you think the game has changed that much since 2004? The styles of play are somewhat different at the very top, but if anything teams are more even as almost every nation has imported European fitness, organisation, and defensive styles while talent continues to disperse. The WC is only one more match than the continental tournaments and while I doubt any outsiders will actually win, there is room for them to go very far.

People who complain about the international breaks.

http://www.overgroundonline.com/upload_images/images/skpSDbOI.jpg?

Les isn't even that dark in complexion. The same colour as Remy. People need to stop being so easily offended by everything, though. It is an inappropriate and insulting comment, but not racist. Calling someone a lazy nigger would be racism, this is stupidity.

I think Sunderland have looked a decent side every time I seen them play for more than five minutes (better than the last two seasons anyway), but they have also managed to throw everything away and lose every time I see them.