Does anyone out there know the TV schedules for the World Cup soccer
tournament to share with the group; or know where one can access it.
Cheers to the African teams!!!!!!!!
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> Nigeria Super Eagles carry Africa's hopes
> Soccer-World Cup
> Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited
> 08:38 p.m Jun 04, 1998 Eastern
>
> By Mark Gleeson
>
> PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - If an African nation is going to break the
> continent's duck and win the World Cup, Nigeria are the country most
> likely to do it.
>
> Should they carry off the trophy in France, the Super Eagles will fulfil
> the prophecy of 1950s England manager Walter Winterbottom, later
> repeated by Pele, that an African nation would win a World Cup before
> the end of the 20th century.
>
> Of the five African countries in France, Nigeria, the current Olympic
> champions, are the only one with the depth of talent to battle against
> the likes of Brazil, Germany, Italy and France.
>
> Most of their players are displaying their considerable skills in the
> leading leagues of Europe. Their squad for France is likely to include
> four players who have won the African Footballer of the Year award and
> several others who have claimed European titles and championship honours
> in the leagues of Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Turkey.
>
> Coach Bora Milutinovic, the globe-trotting Serb who has been in charge
> since last December, had an embarrassment of riches from which to
> formulate the final list of 22 players for their World Cup campaign.
>
> The squad includes current African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba
> and former winners Nwankwo Kanu and Rashidi Yekini as well as known
> figures on the European circuit such as Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George,
> Taribo West, Daniel Amokachi and Jay-Jay Okocha.
>
> Qualifying was a straightforward enough task, with the goals of former
> Everton striker Amokachi, now with Besiktas in Turkey, instrumental.
>
> Burkina Faso, Kenya and Guinea were brushed aside easily enough, and
> Nigeria were the first team to qualify for France after beating Kenya
> 3-0 in June last year.
>
> Not that that was enough for the country's notorious sporting officials,
> who promptly fired French coach Philippe Troussier for apparently
> defying orders from above.
>
> Nigeria's 22 includes the majority of players who won gold medals at
> under-23 level at the Atlanta Olympics almost two years ago and several
> from the 1994 World Cup.
>
> The Olympic triumph featured wins over Argentina and Brazil and
> reinforced the self-belief of the giant west African nation, whose
> soccer players seem to revel in adversity and administrative
> incompetence.
>
> Of all the teams who will play in the World Cup finals in France,
> Nigeria have played the least number of international matches since
> 1996, a miserly total of 15 games.
>
> Much of it has to do with the disorganisation and squabbling between
> football association officials and the country's powerful sports
> ministry and sports commission, as well as the banning of Nigeria from
> the last two African Nations' Cups.
>
> A political squabble between Nigerian president Sani Abacha and his
> South African counterpart Nelson Mandela saw the Super Eagles withdrawn
> on the eve of the 1996 Nations Cup finals in South Africa and drew a
> two-year ban from the Confederation of African Football.
>
> The lack of match practice was evident in Nigeria's 1-0 defeat by
> Germany in Cologne in April when the team looked disorganised and weak
> in defence.
>
> Their 3-0 defeat by Yugoslavia on May 29 in Belgrade was even more
> worrying.
>
> But coach Milutinovic is still confident that Nigeria can make an impact
> in France.
>
> ``I'm still optimistic about the World Cup. We have very good
> individuals, now we have to make a strong team,'' he said.
>
> ``We still have to work hard and we don't have much time,'' he added.
>
> His optimism is valid given the way the Nigerians overcame a lack of
> match practice before the Atlanta Games and the last World Cup to put up
> a strong showing.
>
> At the 1994 finals, a stunning display of attacking soccer saw them
> thrash eventual semifinalists Bulgaria 3-0 in their opening match.
>
> A 2-0 win over Greece meant Nigeria qualified for the second round where
> they gave Italy a tremendous fright before going down to Roberto
> Baggio's last-minute equaliser and extra-time winner.
>
> This time, despite the fact they are in a tough group D comprising
> Paraguay, Spain and the Bulgarians in France, a place in the second
> round will be their minimum aim.
>
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