http://mathematical7.com To instigate, contribute to and promote the development of youths in Nigeria using the power of Sports Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:15:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://mathematical7.com/afcon-2012-the-real-battles-begin/ http://mathematical7.com/afcon-2012-the-real-battles-begin/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:15:02 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1395 The African Cup of Nations, AFCON 2012, are just about to enter second gear. The championship that started rather tamely and tentatively has steadily built up to an exciting mid-competition tempo last Tuesday night when the last 2 teams to pass through the crucible of fire emerged to make up the last 8 teams still [...]]]> http://mathematical7.com/afcon-2012-the-real-battles-begin/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/afcon-2012-so-far-a-poor-advertisement/ http://mathematical7.com/afcon-2012-so-far-a-poor-advertisement/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:07 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1393 Let me admit straightaway that my opinion is heavily laced with bias. I may actually be either over critical or my expectations were too high. Which ever my conclusion is the same - AFCON 2012, so far, has been kind of disappointing. The championship has not lived up to my expectations in many ways. The standard and quality of play have been relatively low. The high profile players (the superstars in several European clubs) have been rather subdued and unimpressive. The terraces in most matches have been full of empty seats. The audiences at matches outside of the host teams have not been as boisterous, loud, colourful and exuberant as we have seen in recent previous editions, where the atmosphere around the grounds gave the African football festival a unique flavour. As a very active participant in the African championship since 1976 I should know what I am talking about.]]> http://mathematical7.com/afcon-2012-so-far-a-poor-advertisement/feed/ 2 http://mathematical7.com/ghana-vs-cote-divoire-the-dream-final/ http://mathematical7.com/ghana-vs-cote-divoire-the-dream-final/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:21:34 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1391 I am living in the future. It is already February 12, the day of the final match of AFCON 2012. I am one of 40,000 football-crazy spectators from all over the African continent waiting excitedly and patiently for the start of the end of the 31st edition of the African Cup of Nations. The final [...]]]> http://mathematical7.com/ghana-vs-cote-divoire-the-dream-final/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/english-premier-league-vs-nigeria-premier-league-keshi-to-the-rescue/ http://mathematical7.com/english-premier-league-vs-nigeria-premier-league-keshi-to-the-rescue/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:33:40 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1373 Supersport is doing a great deal to promote and support African football, particularly through its expanding television coverage of domestic football leagues across the continent. It goes without saying that television is the most powerful tool to promote the business of sport. Football without television is like tea without sugar.]]> http://mathematical7.com/english-premier-league-vs-nigeria-premier-league-keshi-to-the-rescue/feed/ 1 http://mathematical7.com/2012-a-year-of-sports-revival/ http://mathematical7.com/2012-a-year-of-sports-revival/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:43:15 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1371 Everything points in the direction of failure. As we open a new chapter in the football in Nigeria this week ominous clouds hide the treasure that lies beneath it. The outgoing year has been the worst in Nigeria's football history. I do not think that any Nigerian would think that things could get any worse. That being so,]]> http://mathematical7.com/2012-a-year-of-sports-revival/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/the-fall-of-the-giants-south-africa-egypt-cameroon-and-nigeria/ http://mathematical7.com/the-fall-of-the-giants-south-africa-egypt-cameroon-and-nigeria/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:41:29 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1358 Without question, the most significant development in African football in 2011 is the fall of the four giants. That South Africa, Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria will be absent from the Africa Cup of Nations coming up in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in about four weeks time marks a milestone in the history of the championship.]]> http://mathematical7.com/the-fall-of-the-giants-south-africa-egypt-cameroon-and-nigeria/feed/ 0 http://mathematical7.com/2011-nigerias-year-of-football-drought/ http://mathematical7.com/2011-nigerias-year-of-football-drought/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:10:58 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1343 Merry Christmas!!! I wish all readers a very Merry Christmas. I am touching on several issues that could generate some debate and provoke intellectual discourse as we prepare to go into a New Year. As we draw to the end of the year, I want to save Nigerians the agony of reliving a year they [...]]]> http://mathematical7.com/2011-nigerias-year-of-football-drought/feed/ 2 http://mathematical7.com/congratulations-nff-but/ http://mathematical7.com/congratulations-nff-but/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:08:28 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1341 I read a report in one of the daily newspapers that a high court in Abuja has delivered judgement in favour of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in a suit brought before the court. I do not know the intricacies of the matter so I am unable to make any informed comment. But if the report of the newspaper is correct, as a law abiding citizen of this country,]]> http://mathematical7.com/congratulations-nff-but/feed/ 1 http://mathematical7.com/a-tribute-to-an-african-athletics-legend-sunday-bada/ http://mathematical7.com/a-tribute-to-an-african-athletics-legend-sunday-bada/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:05:56 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1335 I am still in deep shock. Four days ago I was in Abuja when a journalist called and informed me about the death of Sunday Bada. I was numbed in pain and shock. My work for that day terminated immediately, followed by an explosion of questions. How? Where? When? What?]]> http://mathematical7.com/a-tribute-to-an-african-athletics-legend-sunday-bada/feed/ 7 http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-el-kanemi-warriors-football-club-of-borno/ http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-el-kanemi-warriors-football-club-of-borno/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:41:12 +0000 Segun Odegbami http://mathematical7.com/?p=1331 "Let me welcome you and thank you very much for visiting our State. I must say that you are very daring'. Those were the words of Kashim Shettima, ex-banker, ex-commissioner, and now Governor of Borno State to a 4-man delegation of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) that visited him last week in the State's capital city that has been under siege in recent times.]]> http://mathematical7.com/the-return-of-el-kanemi-warriors-football-club-of-borno/feed/ 0