The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bafana Bafana

  • Bring on Nigeria -Hlatshwayo

    Bring on Nigeria -Hlatshwayo

    Bafana Bafana defender Thulani Hlatshwayo says he can’t wait for the mouthwatering clash between South Africa and Nigeria.

    The two nations meet in an international friendly match on Sunday, 29 March 2015 at the Mbombela Stadium.

    The BidVest Wits strongman was absent when Bafana Bafana travelled to Uyo Akwa Ibom Stadium in Nigeria for the second leg of the 2015 Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier where it ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

    “First of all I am very happy that I have been given a chance again to represent my country, it’s always an honour. The Nigeria clash is going to be very interesting. You must remember we were the ones who denied them a chance to defend their AFCON title so they will be coming here with guns blazing and wanting to prove a point. But the good thing is that lately we enjoy playing against them, they are very arrogant and that is only because they are confident,” said Hlatshwayo, played in the first leg with ended 0-0 in Cape Town.

    The BidVest Wits captain says he was saddened by missing the trip to Nigeria.

    “As a footballer, you want to play every game of the national team, as long as you get a call-up. So having to miss the match in Uyo due to suspension was not a lovely thing, especially considering the fact that in the first leg I believe I played very well and denied a chance to score. But it is going to be a very difficult match. It would be great to win, and not just win but also dominate them. This is a new era and we want to also make our mark.”

  • Amokachi drops Udoh for Bafana Bafana friendly

    Amokachi drops Udoh for Bafana Bafana friendly

    The overall top goal scorer of the Nigeria Professional Football League and Enyimba FC Striker, Mfon Udoh was one of four players dropped by interim coach of Nigeria,Daniel Amokachi  ahead of Sunday’s International friendly in Mbombela.

    The Federation had earlier said that only 23 players will execute the second of two friendlies it lined up for the March International window.

    Nigeria lost 1-0 to Uganda in the first friendly played inside the Nest of Champions on Wednesday. Farouk Miya’s deflected shot beat Vincent Enyeama on the veterans 100th international cap.

    Mfon’s exclusion would not come as a surprise, the striker who netted 23 league goals last season to help Enyimba finish as runners up of the NPFL saw bearly two minutes of game time in Uyo as he was considered fifth choice in the Eagles attack line which also boasts of English Championship club Watford forward, Odion Ighalo and 1. FC Koln’s Anthony Ujah.

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) tweeted the list of players selected for the South Africa clash.

    It will be the  third meeting in five months; both games were AFCON qualifiers and Shakes Masahaba’s team impressed against the 2013 AFCON winners.

  • Furman: Mashaba is excellent for us

    Furman: Mashaba is excellent for us

    Bafana Bafana captain, Dean Furman says he’s delighted to have maintained their unbeaten run in the 2015 CAF AFCON Qualifiers.

    The skipper was reacting after they denied Stephen Keshi’s Nigeria a win to book their ticket to Equatorial Guinea.

    Bafana played to a 2-2 draw in Nigeria and the result means the Super Eagles will miss out on the opportunity to participate in next year’s showpiece.

    “I think it shows how far we’ve come, very far,  but I’m disappointed because we didn’t win the match,” said Furman.

    “We know Nigeria have great players, they’re African Champions and it shows how far we’ve come as a team.

    “I’m disappointed to come out of the pitch not winning but we’re looking forward to AFCON – we’ve got a lot of work to do.

    “We’ve got good players fighting for positions and we’re looking good.”

    Speaking about the failure to qualify for previous tournaments, the skipper says coach Shakes Mashaba has done wonders with the team.

    “He’s been excellent for us, he’s instilled pride and the guys are willing to put their head on the line for their country,” added the man known as Mlungu.

    “We’re fighting hard, we want to win and score every goal and that all goes down to having a great coach.

    “Between now and the tournament, we’ve got a lot of work to do, we’ll have to come together and iron our mistakes, hopefully we’ll have a strong team going o the tournament.”

    Bafana have won three and drew three matches during their road to Equatorial Guinea, their next match is against Ivory Coast for the Nelson Mandela International friendly at Mbombela Stadium on November 30.

  • Eagles’ victory in Congo:A good step – Akpoborie

    Eagles’ victory in Congo:A good step – Akpoborie

    • Tips Nigeria to beat South Africa

    Former Super Eagles’ striker, Jonathan Akpoborie has tasked  the nation’s senior national team to complete the job they started in Congo with another win over the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the final tie of the AFCON qualifier in Uyo tomorrow.

    Akpoborie, who hailed the 2-0 away win of the Eagles in Congo, said it had put the  quest for qualification for Equatorial Guinea 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) back on track.

    Before Saturday’s win in Pointe Noire, Nigeria, who are the defending champions of the AFCON, were in danger of an exit from the tournament after picking only four points from four matches.

    The Eagles’ chances were worsened by their 2-3 loss to the Red Devils of Congo in Calabar in the first leg which meant they needed a 2-0 win to leapfrog the central Africans into second place.

    Akpoborie urged the Eagles to do all they can to pick the AFCON ticket  and then prepare very for the defence of the title won in South Africa last year.

    Speaking to SportingLife at Aba, he said: “Well, it is not all about Stephen Keshi because everybody keeps mentioning his name. Keshi will not be the last coach of the Super Eagles. He will leave and somebody else will come but we want to qualify.

    “The whole nation wants to qualify. What they (Super Eagles) did in Congo is a very big step and we are hoping that they will do the same against South Africa on Wednesday.

    “We will qualify properly for the Nations Cup and hopefully we will go on and do well.”

     

  • Egwuekwe dismisses Congo threat

    Egwuekwe dismisses Congo threat

    Super Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe has said his side are positive to kick-off on a winning note their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title defence against the Red Devils of Congo.

    The Eagles will start the group’s qualification race on Saturday when they host the Central African side at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    Egwuekwe said though the Congolese opponents are certain to be tough nuts the Eagles are determined to prove that they are ably deserving African champions.

    “The Congolese won’t come cheap but we’re the reigning African champions and we’re poised to prove to the opponents why we’re Africa’s best team at the moment.

    “We’ll certainly record a resounding victory against them on Saturday to once again make a bold statement of our intention to not only qualify for the Afcon final in Morocco but go ahead to successfully defend the title we won in South Africa.

    “Our group’s opponents will take the message seriously when we start the campaign brilliantly against the Congo opposition,” said the Warri Wolves man to supersport.com.

    Egwuekwe said the rumblings at the NFF Glass House is the least worry on the minds of his teammates.

    “For me what’s uppermost on my mind, and same goes for my teammates, is to represent Nigeria very well in all our Afcon qualifying matches and not the problems at the NFF house.

    “We’re not administrators nor politicians but core professionals we simply focus on the activities on the field of play.

    “So we won’t be distracted we’re focused on getting good results in the crucial matches against Congo and South Africa,” said Egwuekwe.

    The lanky defender was among the early arrivals at the Eagles’ camp yesterday for the commencement of final preparations for the qualifiers against the Congolese opponents this weekend in Calabar and the September 10 clash against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Cape Town.

  • Mashaba is new South Africa coach

    Mashaba is new South Africa coach

    The South African Football Association (SAFA) has appointed Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba as the new Bafana Bafana coach.

    The 63-year old takes over from Gordon Igesund whose contract had expired, supersport.com reports.

    Mashaba’s appointment brings to an end weeks of speculation and debate on who will take over the senior national team’s job.

    Announcing Mashaba’s appointment at a packed media conference on Saturday, SAFA President, Dr. Danny Jordaan, said the entire National Executive Committee of the body was confident of a new era under Mashaba’s reign.

    “He has a proven record, is a hard worker and he fulfilled all requirements we were looking for to drive our senior national team back to where we all believe it belong – at the top,” said Dr. Jordaan.

    In accepting his appointment, an elated Mashaba said he was relishing the challenge and the expectations of the entire nation.

    “First of all, I would like to thank the SAFA NEC for the confidence that they have demonstrated in me. This is a massive but exciting test. I am elated and ready for the challenge,” said Mashaba from Mali where he is with the country’s U- 20 team.

    “I will do all my best to bring back the winning mentality within Bafana Bafana. With the support of all South Africans, the goal of taking Bafana Bafana back to the top is very achievable,” he stated.

    He coached Bafana Bafana from 2002-2004 and this will be his second stint with the national team.

    His first assignment will be the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier for Morocco 2015 against Sudan on the weekend of 5/7 September in Khartoum.

     

  • South Africa wants Keshi after World Cup

    South Africa wants Keshi after World Cup

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, could be the next manager of Bafana Bafana, with the South African Football Association keen to hire a tactician to improve the dwindling fortunes of its national team, Goal reports.

    Disappointed by the early exit of Bafana at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), SAFA is keen to find a replacement for present coach Gordon Igesund and the body is looking for a credible and experienced trainer who can turn things around from the grassroots like what Keshi has done with players from the Nigerian league.

    “We are not happy at all with the performance of our team in a competition that we are hosting. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t even qualify from the group stage,” a close source to SAFA told Goal during the CHAN competition.

    “Yes Igesund is a good coach and has tried his best since he was appointed but I think it’s time we bring in somebody from outside to handle our national team like it is done in other countries.”

    While there have been rumours about the potential return to South Africa of former coach Carlos Quieroz who is presently in charge of Iran, the Nigerian is also one of the top names being listed for consideration.

    “I think there are some coaches SAFA has in mind to contact but honestly speaking it will be nice if Stephen Keshi can handle our team,” the source continued.

    “I believe he will achieve with the team, his track records have proved this. You know he qualified Togo to the World Cup although some problems he had with the Football Association there cost him leading the team to the World Cup. Now he has done it again with the Nigerian team.

    “So we believe Keshi can do a good job with this team if he agrees. We know he cannot leave his job now but we are targeting talking to him after the World Cup in Brazil,” the source said.

    Keshi’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation which runs until November 2015 has been slated for extension, but the trainer could be tempted by a quest for new horizons and greener pastures after being owed salaries for more than six months in 2013.

    His immediate task is to impress with the Super Eagles at the World Cup in Brazil.

     

  • Glo celebrates Eagles’ quarter-final ticket

    Glo celebrates Eagles’ quarter-final ticket

    Telecommunications giant, Globacom, has congratulated the home based national team; Super Eagles campaigning in the on-going African Nations Championship in South Africa on its qualification for the quarter finals, describing it is a good omen for Nigerian football.

    The Eagles defeated hard fighting Bafana Bafana of South Africa by three goals to one, to emerge runners up in Group A behind Mali who also defeated Mozambique.

    A statement by Globacom in Lagos on Monday described the Eagles as true conquerors, urging them to go for the trophy.

    The Eagles opened scoring in the 22 second minute through Ejike Uzoenyi before Ifeanyi Ede added the second goal through a penalty. Ejike scored the third goal in the 64th minute before the South Africans pulled one back through Bernard Parker’s penalty in the 74th minute.

    It was a remarkable comeback for the Nigerians who lost the first match to Mali by 1 goal to two and struggled against the Mambas of Mozambique in an encounter that ended 4-2 in Nigeria’s favour.

    “We reckon with the great fighting spirit the team has, so far demonstrated and we believe the spirit will help the team to achieve the ultimate goal of lifting the trophy,” the statement said.

    “A team that has scored 8 goals in three matches deserves commendation and we urge them not to rest on their oars until the trophy is lifted.” Glo stated, adding that the improving performance of the Nigerian side in the championship is a positive narrative for the Nigerian Premier League sponsored by Glo.

    Globacom also commended the Eagles’ coaching crew led by Stephen Keshi for their tenacity while asking Nigerians to sustain their support and prayers for the team.

    Globacom is the major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and official sponsor of the Nigerian national teams.

  • Keshi: Eagles still work in progress

    Keshi: Eagles still work in progress

    •Igesund concedes supremacy

    •Team resumes training

    Despite Super Eagles outstanding display against Bafana Bafana in their final group game on Sunday night, Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, says the team is still work in progress but expressed happiness that the players are finally playing to his instructions.

    “The magic was that we simply asked the boys to go out there and play their game without pressure, enjoy your game and be yourself and I think they got that right perfectly against a very difficult opponent”. He also has harsh words for critics of some of his players, declaring that no one is perfect but we have to work on our imperfections to reach our goals. He was referring to the criticisms of first choice goalkeeper and captain, Chigozie Agbim.

    On his part, South African Coach, Gordon Igesund, praised the Super Eagles and attributed the success of the team to thier strenth. “We have no excuses to give here, we simply lost to a better team and we don’t deserve to win today. I must congratulate Stephen Keshi and his team”, he declared on Sunday night.

    He also said he expects the South African Football Association (SAFA), to allow him continue in his post because the team has really grown under him. Reeling out statistics, Igesund says under him the team has played 28 matches and scored 40 goals against some of the best national teams in the world including a defeat of reigning world champions Spain. “I am happy with these results and I hope I am allowed to continue to do my job with SAFA”, he said.

    The Super Eagles will meanwhile take no break as they continue preparations for their quarter final game on Saturday in Cape Town. The team will train at 5pm local time, which is 4pm Nigerian time for now until a fresh training schedule is out.

     

  • CHAN: Nigeria defeats South Africa 3-1

    CHAN: Nigeria defeats South Africa 3-1

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles  again proved to be the jinx team for South Africa as they beat Bafana 3-1 to eliminate the CHAN hosts from the competition.
    The Eagles finished second in Group A with six points from three matches, behind winners Mali, who recorded seven points.
    Ejike Uzoenyi opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 22nd minute, when he connected Ifeanyi Ede’s well laid pass from the left.
    Ede made it 2-0 for Nigeria with a 32nd minute penalty after Gbolahan Salami was brought down by South Africa goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.
    Nigeria goalkeeper Agbim denied South Africa a goal in the 61st minute, before Ejike Uzoenyi completed his brace in the 64th minute to give Nigeria 3-0 lead.
    Bernard Parker scored South Africa’s consolation goal from the penalty spot in the 81st minutes after Ugonna Uzochukwu was adjudged to have brought down Matshego inside the 18-yard box.
    Solomon Kwambe was red carded in the 74th for a second bookable offence, two minutes later South African’s Vuyo Mere was sent off as well for a foul on Gbolahan Salami.
    South Africa started the game like house on fire getting the first shot at goal on target in the 5th minute, but Chigozie Agbim was on hand to make a save.
    Agbim was on hand to make another save in the 9th minute. Enyimba striker Ifeanyi Ede failed to connect Azubuike Egwekwe’s cross in the 11th minute, his header in the 19th minute was well saved by South Africa keeper.
    A minute later, Agbim make another save in the 20th minute to deny the Bafana Bafana.
    Uzoenyi was denied a hat-trick when he hit the woodwork with a well taken half volley in the 70th minute.
    Agbim was on hand again to stop Mashengo from a point black shot in the 88th minute.
    In the 89th minute, Rabiu Ali came into rescue to clear ball from danger zone after Agbim completely missed the ball.