The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2017 AFCON Qualifier

  • Eagles defeat stuns stakeholders day after

    Eagles defeat stuns stakeholders day after

    Some football enthusiasts are still shell-shocked to find words to describe the Super Eagles defeat by Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the campaign to qualify for the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

    Según Odegbami, a former Green Eagles player told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that he was yet to find words to explain what went wrong.

    “Honestly I’d be lying if I said anything much concerning this match. I can’t comprehend what really happened.

    “It’s so sad that we lost on our own turf. Nothing could salvage it,’’ he said.

    Nduka Ugbade, Captain of the U-16 squad that won the 1985 FIFA Championship also told NAN that he was still in shock.

    “I don’t know what to say. It’s very sensitive. As passionate as I’m  about football, I can’t tell you exactly how I feel. I am still in a state of shock.

    “I know so many football fans will take a long while to get over this loss and I’m certainly not an exception,’’ he added.

    Bright Omokaro, a former Super Eagles defender told NAN that the players’ fitness level was low.

    “If you watch the match, you will understand that the players were not fit at all, apart from inexperience and all. It was sad to watch.

    “Even the technical crew, it wasn’t like they knew what they were doing. After the first half, I was expecting some drastic change,  but the match went on without much difference. It’s sad,’’ he said.

    Super Eagles lost 0-2 in its bid to qualify for the 2019 Nations Cup.

    The Nigerian team last qualified for Africa’s most prestigious tournament in 2013, which they won.

  • No excuse for losing to Bafana Bafana – Kwara DOS

    No excuse for losing to Bafana Bafana – Kwara DOS

    The Kwara Director of Sports, says the Super Eagles had no reason losing to Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

    The Super Eagles lost 0-2 to Bafana Bafana in the match played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.

    It was a win which gave the South Africans their first win over Nigeria in any competitive match at senior level, through second half goals from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau help.

    Reacting to the result, Kazeem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was no excuse for the team to have lost, saying it was a bad Saturday for the country.
    Kazeem however said the Super Eagles were even lucky to have conceded two goals only as the visitors were ready to disgrace Nigeria more.

    “I am so disappointed. I can’t believe what happened today.

    “There was no midfield, the defence was flat and goalkeeping was zero. If not for the God of football, the South Africans could have scored more goals.

    “I don’t know what excuse the team will give Nigerians, because they have no excuse to have failed.

    “We played against South Africa and this is what we get, what will happen when we play countries like Algeria?

    “The expectations were high and this is what we get at the end. It is a pity, a very bad Saturday for us,” he said.

    NAN reports that the result means the Eagles are placed third in Group E, ahead of Seychelles who lost 1-5 to Libya in the group’s other fixture.

    Libya sit comfortably in the group’s top position ahead of South Africa.

  • AFCON: No kid treatment for Chad – Akpeyi

    AFCON: No kid treatment for Chad – Akpeyi

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, has said the Chadian national team will not get any kid treatment from the former African champions.

    Eagles will meet against Chad in one of the 2017 African Nations Cup qualifiers at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, on Saturday.

    Akpeyi told SuperSport that the Super Eagles has trained well for the crucial encounter.

    “We are looking forward to winning the three points at stake against Chad in Kaduna on Saturday.

    “We expect a good game as every win is important in the qualification campaign.

    “Not at all, Chad will never be treated as underdogs, football has gone beyond the level you treat your opponents as pushovers,” he told SuperSport.

    “We are well prepared for the Chadians as the three points in the clash cannot be negotiated.

    “We do not have adequate information about their strengths but it’s quite possible they have full dossier and knowledge of us.

    “We learned Chad is coming with 100 per cent foreign-based players and not even one domestic player is in their midst.”

     

     

  • 2017 AFCON Qualifier Foreign pros get June 3 deadline

    2017 AFCON Qualifier Foreign pros get June 3 deadline

    Super Eagles’ Coach Stephen Keshi has set a June 3 deadline for all invited players to report to camp, ahead of next month’s 2017 AFCON qualifier against Chad.

    Fifteen foreign based players have been called up along with 27 other domestic league invitees for the June 13 clash scheduled to hold in Kaduna.

    Captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama,who only recently won his 100th cap is expected to lead a contingent of established internationals like Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona, alongside some new comers to camp in time to beat Coach Stephen Keshi’s deadline.

    “I want all the foreign based players in camp on or before midnight on Wednesday,June 3,” Keshi told thenff.com.

    “Apart from Aaron Samuel who is still involved with his club and has been granted special permission to report to camp after that deadline,I expect to have everybody in by June 3.”

    “They are to report to the Bolton White Hotels and Apartments where their home based colleagues have been camped since May 21, “Keshi added.