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Tag: Akpoborie

  • W’Cup 2026 Play-Offs: Akpoborie slams late squad announcement for Super Eagles

    W’Cup 2026 Play-Offs: Akpoborie slams late squad announcement for Super Eagles

    By David Oyekan

    Former Super Eagles forward Jonathan Akpoborie has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for its slow response in announcing the national team squad ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup play-off clash against Gabon, describing the delay as “typical of Nigeria” and warning that it could prove costly.

    Akpoborie expressed frustration at what he termed a recurring culture of late preparation in Nigerian football. According to the ex-international, the NFF’s failure to make an official squad announcement barely a week to the decisive fixture paints a worrying picture of disorganisation.

     “It is typical, typical of Nigeria. They always waste time,” Akpoborie lamented in an interview aired on Brila Fm. “By now, there should have been an official announcement. What is the NFF waiting for? This delay can be dangerous.”

    Read Also: NFF chieftains commend Salami on revival of Shooting Stars

    He further warned that the recurring trend of last-minute player call-ups and poor planning has hindered the country’s football development over the years.

    “Maybe two or three days before the game, you’ll see everyone scrambling to bring in players,” he added. “This attitude has affected us and kept us where we are today. Delay is dangerous — that’s the most important thing.”

    Akpoborie’s concerns come as Nigeria prepares to face Gabon in a must-win play-off fixture that could determine their qualification route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Akpoborie, a member of Nigeria’s 1985 U-16 World Cup-winning squad, enjoyed a successful career in Germany with clubs like Stuttgart and Wolfsburg. At the senior level, he scored four goals for the Super Eagles and featured in the 1992 and 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, winning bronze and silver respectively. Now retired, the former forward remains a vocal advocate for better organisation and professionalism within Nigerian football.

  • Olympic Team form worries Akpoborie

    Olympic Team form worries Akpoborie

    Former Nigeria International, Jonathan Akpoborie, believes Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, still has a lot of work to do on the team after the U-23s  suffered a 0-1 defeat to Mexico in Olympic Games tune up game on Saturday night.

    The loss followed the dismal performance of the African Champions at the Suwon four nation invitational Tourney in June.

    Akpoborie told footballlive.ng the team may not recover from such defeats before the Olympics proper.

  • Akpoborie writes for you!

    Akpoborie writes for you!

    StarTimes Brand Ambassador & Sports Technical Analyst Jonathan Akpoborie sees heartache for AC Milan in Italy and Schalke 04 in Germany in his preview of this weekend’s big matches in the Bundesliga and Serie A…

    TOUGH TIMES AWAIT LEADERS!

    GERMANY’S this weekend is the Gelsenkirchen derby between Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund. This is by far the biggest derby in German football as the fans have fanatical mutual dislike for each other. It’s so bad that no true Schalke fan will rent a house painted in yellow. Same for Dortmund fans who will not accept anything blue. Each club keep fighting for the right to be named the supreme club of the Ruhr region. But record shows that Dortmund are the biggest name in that region.

    It’s always a big fight to win this derby. But on current form, I think Dortmund could win this though I have a sneak feeling that this may end in a draw, never mind that Schalke lost unexpectedly to Ingolstadt by 3-0 last weekend while Dortmund won a difficult match 3-2.

    But this is a derby where form counts for absolutely nothing. The fact that Dortmund played a difficult Europa league match against Liverpool last Thursday will also be a slight issue which could be of some advantage to Schalke.

    Dortmund played the same system with Liverpool and it would have been unfair for any of the two teams to lose. But it’s going to be different against Schalke for sure.

    I also see a very difficult match for Bayern against Stuttgart. But I think their experience and quality will see them through. Even in my time at Stuttgart we always lost to Bayern. So I think they will win again.Same for Borussia Monchengladbach who I reckon will beat Ingolstadt even if it’s another difficult match.

    JUVE TO RIDE ON, NAPOLI TO BOUNCE BACK!

    THE biggest match in Italy this weekend is the battle between AC Milan and leaders Juventus in San Siro. Milan have been very disappointing this season despite recruiting some of the best players last summer. They lost 2-1 to Atalanta, a match they were expected to win. So against a Juve side who are built to win titles, I can only see one result, a win for the Old Lady.

    Inter also lost surprisingly 2-1 at home to Torino. But they couldn’t have wished for a better opponent to play against this weekend than second bottom Frosinone who also lost 4-0 to modest Genoa last weekend. Inter surely need to appease their fans and I think they will do that by beating their struggling visitors this weekend.

    Same thing applies to Napoli who play a must-win match against Hellas Verona after their surprise 3-1 loss to Udinese last weekend. They are now six points adrift of Juve and cannot afford to concede any more ground. They surely will hope AC Milan hold Juve at the San Siro while they beat Verona to at least close the gap a bit.

    I wouldn’t know whether they were overconfident against Udinese. But whatever they did surely didn’t work for them, which is why they will be very desperate to win this weekend. And I think they will.

    The last big game I’d like to talk about in Italy is AS Roma at home to Bologna. Roma are buoyed by their impressive 4-1 thrashing of Lazio last weekend and will go into this match full of confidence. I correctly predicted they were going to beat Lazio last week though I never saw the wide margin coming.

    For them, every game from now till the end of the season is a final. And against a Bologna who are comfortably placed on the log, I think Roma will claim the three points. I’ve been particularly impressed by their young players like Muhammed Sallah who has just slot perfectly in for Ivorien Gervinho who left the club last season. Meanwhile even on-loan striker Edin Dzeko is beginning to find his feet.

    These are my thoughts on this weekend’s big matches. May the best sides win.

    NB: You can chat LIVE with Akpoborie on the review of these matches between 2pm and 3pm on Monday at www.facebook.com/StarTimesSports or tweet him @akpoborie.

  • Eagles lost to poor links -Akpoborie

    Eagles lost to poor links -Akpoborie

    Former international, Jonathan Akpoborie, has blamed Super Eagles unimpressive performance against South Africa yesterday to faulty link between the midfield and the attack on one hand, and poor finishing in front of goal on the other.

    The Eagles according to him should have taken the upper hand especially in the first half when they created chances that were unfortunately thrown away.

    “You could see that the strikers were getting the ball and even when they did, they could not properly convert,” he said

    Eagles came close to running away with early lead especially when Ahmed Musa got begging chances which he unfortunately failed to convert.

    South African goalkeeper, Daren Keet put up an excellent performance and stood like the rock of Gibraltar against Super Eagles in the tie which many predicted Eagles would win to ensure qualification for Equatorial Guinea 2015.  Amidst disappointment over Eagles failure to qualify for the continental diadem where they would have defended the trophy they won in 2013 in South Africa, some soccer fans remained grateful to Hull City ace, Sone Aluko, who scored the two goals that ensured the game ended in a draw and not a defeat.

  • AFCON: Eagles must defeat South Africa – Akpoborie

    AFCON: Eagles must defeat South Africa – Akpoborie

    Former Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborie, has pointed out reasons why the Super Eagles bowed to Congo on Saturday.

    Claude LeRoy’s men came from a goal down to snatch a valuable 3-2 away victory against the African champions in Calabar, a result that hangs Stephen Keshi’s men chances of qualifying for Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations in the balance.

    According to the former VFB Stuttgart star, the visitors were more composed as the Nigerians did not get their acts right while commending LeRoy for a job well done.

    “We saw an organised Congolese team not in a hurry and when they got the equaliser, it was like there was going to be trouble and truly there was indeed trouble for the Super Eagles,” Goal quoted Akpoborie as saying on Super sport.

    “From the build up to the back, they (Eagles) were only playing square balls and there was no enough of movement in the midfield for us to give the penetrative passes.

    “We could use Nwofor’s strength because he only had one shot at goal which was not enough for a team like Nigeria.

    “You have to give credit to Claude LeRoy because he has brought up these boys very well and for them coming to Nigeria without any fear is a big plus.

    “The playing, the positioning, the movement and everything, that was the mark of the coach,” he continued.

    Akpoborie also slammed the players for their needless cautions as he hopes they work on their manner in subsequent games.

    “Those things came with emotion. In most cases, the players were running to the referee asking him to give cards and so on, all of those things are not to be done.

    “Most of the cards we got were unnecessary. We need to change this attitude because in more important games, it would cost us.

    He concluded by saying that the Eagles must ensure victory in the next game against South Africa else Nigeria bows out of the 2015 AFCON.

  • Scotland friendly fallout Only Nwofor shone for Eagles-Akpoborie

    Scotland friendly fallout Only Nwofor shone for Eagles-Akpoborie

    Former Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie has told AfricanFootball.com only super sub Uche Nwofor impressed for the Eagles in a World Cup warm-up against Scotland.

    The African champions forced Scotland to a 2-2 draw at a jammed Craven Cottage in London on Wednesday night with Nwofor coming off the bench to save Nigeria from defeat with his third international goal on the dot of full time.

    “The only person who performed well in that game as far as I am concerned was Uche Nwofor,” said Akpoborie, who is now a television pundit.

    The former Vfb Stuttgart striker said the game may come rather late but still serve the purpose for the coach to have a look at the team’s fringe players for a possible place on the final World Cup squad.

    “The game served the purpose for which it was organised. I think a lot of people might just be over reacting at this time,” he stated.

    “I feel that playing a game with fringe players towards the World Cup was an exercise that should have been done long before now.

    “By now, I expected the first team to be playing friendlies to strike an understanding and get full fitness because a lot of them did not get regular playing time at their clubs.

    “Anyway, the game was horrible. The game was not about result, it was about making decisions on who will be going on to the World Cup. Unfortunately, it was not very impressive from the Nigerian side.”

    The Eagles next warm-up match will be against Greece on June 3, a day after Keshi would have announced his final squad to Brazil 2014.

    The team are also due to take on United States of America before they fly out to Brazil.

  • Akpoborie, Erico happy with LMC’s progress

    If there is one person who believes that the Nduka Iraboh-led League Management Company (LMC) is on the verge of returning the Glo Nigeria Premier League to enviable heights, it is ex-Nigeria international Jonathan Akphoborie.

    The former VfB Stuttgart and VfL Worfsburg ace who quit active football 12 years ago captured his impression of the league apparently in comparison with other aspects of national life in a tweet on Friday.

    “At least one governing body is doing the right thing in Nigeria. Kudos LMC,” he said via @akpoborie

    Akpoborie’s support for the league body comes barely 24 hours after another former international Joe Erico canvassed support for the league noting that it is possible to return to the good old days when the league attracted a lot of patronage from soccer-loving Nigerians.

    The former Super Eagles and NEPA of Lagos goalie maintained that the responsibility for returning the Nigerian league to the good old days is that of everybody.

    “I am happy with the attempts being made by the LMC to reposition the league. It is something everybody should key into. I believe it is possible to get our league back to its enviable position,” he said.

  • Akpoborie wants better welfare

    Akpoborie wants better welfare

    Former Bundesliga star and Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborie, has charged stakeholders to ensure the welfare of players in the Glo Premier League is improved.

    Akpoborie was at several league venues across the country to see action in the just concluded season as a SuperSport Match Analyst.

    “There is no doubt that talents abound in the league. I moved around and can confirm the fact that we have the right players with potential in our clubs, who can get even better.

    “The importance of the players’ welfare cannot be over-emphasised. We must ensure the players are well paid for them to excel,” the former Julius Berger star told supersport.com.

  • Enyeama’s Howler: Don’t blame him, says Akpoborie

    Enyeama’s Howler: Don’t blame him, says Akpoborie

    Jonathan Akpoborie has come in defense of Super Ealges goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama after his howler gifted Ethiopia Walya Antelopes the first goal in 2014 World Cup play-off decided Sunday at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    The Lille of France goalie inexplicably failed to react until it was too late to a rather tame and mis hit cross from Behailu Assefa, catching the ball when it was clearly over the line, leading to one of the strangest goals you’re ever likely to see.

    Akpoborie on his Twitter handle ?@akpoborie said: “Anybody that blames Enyeama for that goal has no clue about football.”

  • Super Eagles should not underrate Malawi, says Akpoborie

    Super Eagles should not underrate Malawi, says Akpoborie

    Former Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie has advised the Super Eagles that will take on Malawi on Saturday not to think that the game will be easy.

    The Nigeria side would need at least a draw against the Flames to qualify for the play off stage of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

    Akpoborie noted that matches like these are difficult to play because everybody thinks the Super Eagles will win.

    “My simple advice for them is that they should not underrate the Flames of Malawi. Yes it is true that we need to play out a draw, but we should approach the game with the mindset that we must win,” Akpoborie told Goal.

    “We are far better than the Malawians.They cannot be compared to us. But that should make us handle them very well and finish off the game before they know what is happening.

    “Stephen Keshi has invited the best legs for this game and I know the players are confident of winning the match. But caution should be the word here.

    “We have the advantage in the game. Malawi will not sit back to defend. They will attack and that will give us the opportunity to create chances and score goals.

    “I believe we are going to win. But we must play well to win the match,” Akpoborie said.