The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AFCON

  • AFCON: Enyeama, Lawal assure on Eagles’ victory

    AFCON: Enyeama, Lawal assure on Eagles’ victory

    Super Eagles stars Vincent Enyeama and Raheem Lawal have restated that the team will defeat Sudan in Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Khartoum.

    The Sudan and Nigeria tie will kick off at 8pm Sudanese time, which is 6pm Nigerian time, africanFootball.com reports.

    Enyeama, who missed last month’s qualifiers, said the team will cope with the local conditions in Sudan.

    “We are professionals and we should be able to cope with any situation we see in Sudan,” said the Lille shot stopper.

    “We know it would be very hot, but there is nothing we can do about it. We know what is ahead of us and what is expected of us, so we would go there and do our best.”

    Similarly, Turkey-based Lawal has boasted that Sudan cannot stop Nigeria in this crucial AFCON qualifier.

    Lawal, who is making a return to the Eagles, noted: “If South Africa and Congo could beat Sudan, then Nigeria would also beat Sudan.

    “I am very confident that we would pocket six points from these two games. Sudan cannot stop us.”

    The reverse fixture is billed for Wednesday in Abuja with the final rounds of matches fixed for next month.

  • AFCON: Eagles get ‘warm reception’ in Sudan

    AFCON: Eagles get ‘warm reception’ in Sudan

    Super Eagles will not lack support when the team confronts Sudan in Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier after the players were warmly welcomed to Khartoum by hundreds of fans.

    Hundreds of Nigerians residing in Sudan trooped to the airport to welcome the players early Friday and others were at the Grand Holiday Villa in Khartoum to also receive them, africanFootball.com reports.

    The Nigeria delegation is led by the Nigeria Football Federation’s Vice-president, Seyi Akinwumi.

    Eagles will tackle Sudan in a must-win game on Saturday in Khartoum.

    Kick-off time is 5.30 pm Nigerian time.

  • AFCON: Salami wants total support for Eagles

    AFCON: Salami wants total support for Eagles

    Warri Wolves striker, Gbolahan Salami, has called on Nigerians to support the Super Eagles as the team seeks to beat Sudan in Khartoum in Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

    Salami, who scored Nigeria’s goal in the ill-fated 2-3 loss to the Red Devils of Congo in Calabar wants the fans to support the team in every way possible.

    “I’m imploring all Nigerians and our fans to support us with prayers and also believe in us so that we can go out there and win,” he told supersport.com.

    “We are going there to win definitely and I am sure that we’ll be in Morocco by January.

    “We need everyone’s support and prayers,” he added..

    Salami has scored 15 goals for Warri Wolves this season in the Glo Premier League.

  • 2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles claim a point in Cape Town

    2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles claim a point in Cape Town

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria claimed their first point in qualifying after drawing 0-0 with South Africa in their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at Cape Town Stadium.

    Chances were hard to come by in the opening 45 minutes, as South Africa and Nigeria went into the halftime break with the scores tied at 0-0.

    South Africa were seeing a lot of the ball early on, and were asking most of the questions in the first half, with Sibusiso Vilakazi proving to be a bit of trouble for the Nigeria defence.

    The home side nearly went ahead in the eighth minute as Manla Masango broke down the right flank and his cross ended at up at the feet of Oupa Manyisa, but his effort was blocked by Efe Ambrose.

    It took a while for Stephen Keshi’s men to get into the game and they produced their first meaningful effort on target, with Nosa Igiebor blasting just over the bar from the edge of the area.

    Keshi was hoping to see more from Russia-based duo, Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike, with the latter virtually non-existent in the first half.

    Tokelo Rantie came close to giving Bafana the lead in the 60th minute, the striker latched onto a through ball from Andile Jali, before firing one into the side-netting.

    The Super Eagles nearly took the lead in the 80th minute, as substitute Osaguona’s header was cleared off the line by Erick Mathoho.

    Minutes later and South Africa almost went ahead, as Rantie was left one on one with Austin Ejide, but the Super Eagles goalkeeper did well to deny the striker.

    Keshi’s men pushed on for the winner in the closing stages but they could not break the deadlock and had to settle for a point.

  • AFCON: Sudan moves Nigeria match to artificial pitch

    AFCON: Sudan moves Nigeria match to artificial pitch

    Sudan has moved Saturday’s African Nations’ Cup qualifier against African champions Nigeria to the Municipal Stadium in Khartoum which has an artificial pitch, officials have disclosed.

    “We have just been informed that the match will now be played on an artificial pitch and not natural one. That is why we are now training at the FIFA Goal Project,” africaFootball.com quoted Eagles’ co-ordinator, Emma Attah, as saying on Tuesday.

    “It’s a late change, but we have to rise up to the challenge. We will play even on a concrete floor to win this match.”

    Attah also confirmed that 17 players trained in Abuja Tuesday morning.

    They include Chelsea star Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama, Kenneth Omeruo, Emmanuel Emenike and Elderson Echeijile.

    Meanwhile, coach Stephen Keshi has asked that the team fly out to Sudan on a chartered flight to avoid fatigue.

  • AFCON: Osunwa warns Eagles on Sudan

    AFCON: Osunwa warns Eagles on Sudan

    Ismaily of Egypt striker, Kelechi Osunwa, has warned the Super Eagles not to take Sudan for granted when both teams clash in the decisive 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers this month.

    Sudan hosts the African champions on October 11, with the reverse fixture taking place four days later in Abuja.

    It is a must-win for Nigeria after Super Eagles managed only a point from the first two matches against Congo and South Africa last month, africanFootball.com reports.

    Osunwa played in Sudan for the country’s top two clubs Al Hilal and Al Merriekh for eight years and has cautioned that Sudan parade players mainly from the local league and will prove formidable because the players take part in international football with their clubs every year.

    “Nigeria can beat Sudan because their national team comprises of local players, but they are used to African football because most of the players feature in CAF competitions yearly. That is the reason they will be tough and dangerous, and so the Eagles cannot afford to underrate the East Africans,” he told africanFootball.com.

    Incidentally, Osunwa was named in Sudan preliminary squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations staged in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

    The former Dolphins of Port Harcourt star also told africanFootball.com he has settled down at his new Egyptian club.

    “Ismaily is fine and I am trying to cope at my new team,” he said.

     

  • Keshi wants to hold the nation to ransom-Lawal

    Keshi wants to hold the nation to ransom-Lawal

    With reactions still trailing the list of invited players for the Super Eagles ahead of next month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan, former Nigeria international Garba Lawal has once again blasted Out-of  Contract Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi for his selection policy, describing it as ‘experimental’.

    The former Super Eagles midfielder has been a stern critic of Keshi and has never hidden his concerns over Keshi’s system and type of players invited to the team.

    Lawal last Thursday said  Keshi ‘needs to change’, referring to the 52-year-old’s style of inviting players to the national team. And following the announcement of the 24-invited players for the Sudan games, Lawal has gone on to say the list only shows Keshi has only been experimenting.

    “I don’t know what the Coach thinks, but the way I see it, we keep experimenting. I don’t know when we will stop experimenting with players because I believe that if your team isn’t working, you change your style but it seems like he wants to hold the country to ransom,” he told sl10.ng

    “The selection process shouldn’t be restricted to a group of players, but should be made open. Nigeria is not just some individuals, but for everybody,  I just don’t understand,” he said with a disappointed tone.

  • 2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    Ex-international, Friday Ekpo has described the Eagles one point from their two AFCON 2015 qualifiers as unacceptable after they lost to Congo in Calabar (2-3) and drew with South Africa (0-0) in Cape Town.

    Ekpo merely suggested figuratively that the players spill blood in their next match against Sudan if it will secure all three points for the team.

    “One point is not good for us; we have lost about five points already but right now, we need to work hard and even spill our blood if need be to get the three points at stake.”

    Nigeria will be away to play Sudan on October 10 while Congo will receive visitors, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

     

  • Oshaniwa: Eagles will qualify for 2015 AFCON

    Oshaniwa: Eagles will qualify for 2015 AFCON

    • Urges Nigerians not to panic

    Super Eagles’ defender Juwon Oshaniwa has urged Nigerians not to fret over the country’s qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)  slated for Morocco.

    Nigeria’s senior national team only picked a point out of possible six including a 2-3 home to the Red Devils of Congo on September 6 at Calabar.

    But Oshaniwa in an exclusive interview with SportingLife from his base in Israel asserted that the Eagles would take the remaining matches of the AFCON qualifiers seriously starting with the away tie against Sudan next month.

    He asked Nigerians not to panic but to pray for the success of the team in the remaining four matches adding that maximum points in those matches would ensure the AFCON defending champions are in Morocco next January to put themselves in the right stead to have a go at the trophy again.

    “We know what it is at stake and we have resolved to win the remaining matches not minding what it will take out of us. We don’t want Nigerians to panic because we would ensure that the Eagles’ qualify for the Nations Cup. We need Nigerians’ prayers,” Oshaniwa who plies his trade with Ashdod SC told SportingLife.

  • Enyeama confident Eagles will qualify for AFCON

    Enyeama confident Eagles will qualify for AFCON

    Super Eagles’ first choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has expressed confidence Nigeria will qualify for the Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite a slow start to the qualifying campaign, which has seen them get only a solitary point from a possible six.

    Enyeama, who missed both games against Congo and South Africa due to ‘family reasons’, says he’s a firm believer in possibilities, and as a result, believes qualification is not out of Nigeria’s reach.

    “I have always believed in possibilities and I have absolute confidence that we can always achieve the best no matter what.

    “There are still four games to play and I’m very confident we will make it to Morocco 2015, we just have to keep the focus,” he said.

    Nigeria are third in Group A, with Congo topping with a maximum points haul of six, South Africa are second with four points, while Sudan are bottom with no points from the two games played so far.

    The Super Eagles will play back to back against Sudan, first in Omdurman and then possibly in Abuja, knowing that they must secure maximum points from those games if they are to stand a clear chance of qualifying for the tournament.