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Tag: AFCON qualifiers

  • Uche recalled for AFCON qualifiers

    Uche recalled for AFCON qualifiers

    Restated Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has recalled Villareal striker, Ikechukwu Uche, to the squad ahead of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa, Goal reports.

    The coach, however, retained the team that prosecuted the October qualifiers against Sudan.

    Full Squad:

    Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria).

    Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria).

    Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); Raheem Lawal (Eskisehirspor FC, Turkey); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); Tony Edjomari (Nasarawa United, Nigeria).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Osaguona Ighodaro (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Villareal FC, Spain); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F, China); Sunday Emmanuel (SV Scholz Grodig, Austria); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine): Emem Eduok (Dolphins FC, Nigeria).

  • ‘Eagles targeting 12 maximum points in AFCON qualifiers’

    ‘Eagles targeting 12 maximum points in AFCON qualifiers’

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has said the team is targeting a maximum 12 points in the remaining four qualifiers to secure a berth in next year’s African Nations Cup in Morocco.

    The African champions, who failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON, currently lies third in Group A with a point after losing 2-3 at home to Congo and held hosts South Africa to a goalless draw last month, africanFootball.com reports.

    Congo leads the standings with six points, while South Africa follows with four points.

    The Super Eagles tackle Sudan on Saturday in continuation of the qualifying tournament before hosting the same team in a reverse clash next Wednesday.

    Nigeria’s other qualifiers are away to Congo in Pointe-Noire and a final group game against South Africa all in November.

    “We are aware of the task ahead and so we have resolved to work hard to pick the available 12 points in our remaining qualifiers,” Omeruo, who was among the 17 players that trained in Abuja Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash in Sudan, told africanFootball.com.

    “You can see the boys’ response in the first day of training. It speaks loud of our intention ahead of the games. All we ask of Nigerians is their support and confidence in the team.

    “We know there are no minnows anymore in African football.”

  • AFCON: Eagles list out next week

    AFCON: Eagles list out next week

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , has disclosed that the list of invited players for the African Nations Cup qualifiers against Sudan next month will be released next week.

    Keshi, who is still without a contract, told africanFootball.com: “It’s still too early to come out with a list, but I am working on it, it should be out by next week.”

    However, the coach will not say whether he would make changes to the squad that lost to Congo in Calabar and drew with South Africa in Cape Town.

    “Changes? I am not sure, but we will see how it goes. I think what is most important now is to get our qualifier back on track and we are working towards that,” he said.

    Keshi noted that his contract talks have stalled because of the protracted leadership tussle in Nigerian football.

    “There are no talks now because there is no board in place at the federation, but hopefully we would get over this because we should be taking advantage of the gains from the AFCON and World Cup,” he said.

    Nigeria plays Sudan next month continuation of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

  • Ebola: Mikel arrives Eagles’ camp, armed with gloves

    Ebola: Mikel arrives Eagles’ camp, armed with gloves

    Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, arrived the team training camp in Calabar armed with several hand gloves.

    He arrived the Eagles camp as scheduled and told Stephen Keshi he has at least four hand gloves as part of his own personal fight against Ebola, africanFootball.com reports.

    “Coach I have up to four hand gloves and if you don’t mind, I can hand one pair to you,” Mikel told Keshi with the rest of the squad reeling with laughter.

    Nigeria has recorded five deaths since the Ebola outbreak last month.

    However, the spirit in camp is very buoyant with the arrival of the superstars and Keshi said he expects the best from the players against Congo on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, 17 players have reported to camp with more players expected before the evening training after only nine players trained in the morning.

    Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Sone Aluko, and stand-in captain Austin Ejide have all arrived the team camp.

  • Obasi, Igiebor, Joel Obi recalled for AFCON qualifiers

    Obasi, Igiebor, Joel Obi recalled for AFCON qualifiers

    The trio of Chinedu Obasi, Joel Obi and Nosa Igiebor have been recalled by Nigeria for next month’s 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa, africanFootball.com reports.

    Igiebor and Obi missed the final cut for the World Cup in Brazil, while Obasi was not even considered for the tournament.

    The list released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday also included World Cup stars such as  Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Ogenyi Onazi, Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike.

    France –based Elderson Echiejile, who missed the tournament as a result of injury, has also been selected.

    Home –based quartet  of Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kunle Odunlami and Gbolahan Salami, who were part of Nigeria’s third place finish at the African Nations Championship in Cape Town earlier in the year, also have opportunity to shine with the Eagles.

    They were joined by Enugu Rangers marksman, Christian Osagona, who has scored four goals in the domestic League.

    THE FULL SQUAD:

     

    Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria)

    Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)

    Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Joel Obi (Inter Milan, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Chinedu Obasi (Schalke 04, Germany); Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen FC, Netherlands); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AS Varese 1910, Italy); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Christian Osagona (Enugu Rangers

  • Eagles ready for 2015 AFCON qualifiers – NFF

    Eagles ready for 2015 AFCON qualifiers – NFF

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, believes that there is nothing to worry about as the Super Eagles will be very much ready for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nation qualifiers which begin in September.

    Nigeria has been drawn in Group A alongside South Africa and Sudan, as well as the winner of the two preliminary rounds among Namibia/Congo Brazzaville and Libya/Rwanda, and Maigari who was at the draws ceremony in Egypt on Sunday believes nothing can hinder Nigeria from progressing from the group.

    “We are in Group A and we will come out with an ‘A’ grade,” an optimistic Maigari told KickOffNigeria.com.

    The qualifiers commence in the first week of September, and all six matches will be played over two-and-half months between September and November.

    This is as a result of the decision by the Confederation of African Football to move the tournament to odd years, and the African Nations Championship to even years.

    Maigari, however, informed that the Federation’s primary focus at the moment is geared towards ensuring Nigeria excels at the World Cup this summer.

    “We are presently focused on making a major impact at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil in the summer,” Maigari, also a member of CAF’s Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, said.

    “But I tell you, by the time the qualifying series for Morocco 2015 starts, the Super Eagles will be super ready.”