The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dream Team VI

  • Dream Team off to Senegal Wednesday

    Dream Team off to Senegal Wednesday

    Nigeria’s Olympic Team will depart the Gambia training camp on Wednesday ahead of its first game at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations against Mali.

    The team had been training in the West African country since last week and had played two tune – up games against Real de Banjul and the Gambian U- 20 national team, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    A 33 – man delegation will depart the Banjul International Airport at about 2300 hours aboard Arik Airline for the 104 – mile journey to Dakar.

    The arrival of skipper Azubuike Okechukwu and Taiwo Awoniyi on Tuesday means all the players named in the final 21-man squad are now in camp.

  • Dream Team escapes plane crash in Accra

    Dream Team escapes plane crash in Accra

    Nigeria U-23 team escaped plane crash while travelling to Gambia on Sunday morning as part of preparations for the African U-23 Championship billed for Senegal.

    The Dream Team VI opted for the West African country after the initial trip to Morocco was cancelled due to visa issues, Goal reports.

    A senior official of the team said the pilot of the Arik Aircraft made an emergency landing in Accra, Ghana, due to technical problems.

    “Thank God for his goodness and his mercies that we escaped a plane crash on our way to Gambia. The pilot had to make an emergency landing in Accra and we are still in Accra,” the official told Goal.

    “We are still stranded here and we are yet to get any news from Arik officials.”

    The team is likely to depart Accra on Sunday evening after the Nigeria Football Federation come up with new travel plans.

  • Eaglets’ quartet invited to Dream Team

    Eaglets’ quartet invited to Dream Team

    Four members of the World Cup winning Golden Eaglets squad – Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali, John Lazarus and Udochukwu Anumudu have been called up by Samson Siasia to join the Nigeria U-23 team ahead of preparations for the 2015 African U-23 championship billed for Senegal.

    The quartet played key roles in the Golden Eaglet’s victory at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, Goal reports.

    Having secured the consent of the Nigeria Football Federation, Siasia said their invitation is a reward for hard work and a proof that they can progress to the senior cadre.

    “I have been monitoring the progress of these boys while the team was being built by my brother, Emmanuel Amuneke,” Siasia told Goal.

    “Don’t forget we were in the same hotel and used the same pitch to train and I have been impressed with what I saw them do in Chile, so I think what I just did was rewarding them for a job well done.

    “Their invitation is only to tell other players that they too can progress to the senior cadre if they are level headed and keep working on their game.

    “For me age is not a factor, if they can give me what I want, then they will be part of my team to Senegal. But they must justify their invitation for no player in my team has automatic shirt,” he concluded.

    The players will join the team in Gambia after staying with their families for a week.

  • Dream Team VI departs for Morocco today

    Dream Team VI departs for Morocco today

    Dream Team VI will leave for Morocco either today or tomorrow for the final part of their preparation for the CAF U-23 Championship slated for Senegal between November 28 and December 12.

    The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF),  Mohammed Sanusi who revealed this to SportingLife said everything has been sorted out and that the U-23 team will depart for Morocco unfailingly by weekend.

    The Samson Siasia tutored U-23 team will be leaving for Morocco with 26 players from where five players will be dropped to make way for the 21 players that will represent Nigeria  during the Championship.

    Nigeria failed to make it to the last London 2012 Olympics after the team led by Austin Eguavoen couldn’t qualify for the first round in Group A which had Algeria, Morocco and Senegal.

  • Dream Team VI Media Officer collapses, revived

    Dream Team VI Media Officer collapses, revived

    There was a scare in the camp of the Dream Team VI yesterday morning as the team’s Media Officer,  Timi Ebikagboro collapsed during the  training session but was revived by the team’s doctor, Sam Ogbondeminu.

    SportingLife gathered yesterday in Abuja  that the veteran journalist suddenly collapsed a few minutes to the end of the morning training exercise .

    “We were rounding off with the usual prayers when our media officer suddenly collapsed. But we are happy that he was revived and later played with the players and officials”, an eye witness told SportingLife.

    The team doctor, Sam Ogbondeminu also allayed fears as regards Ebikagboro’s health.

    “He has been stabilised but needs to rest for some days while we analyse the cause of the situation”,  Ogbondeminu who did not want to talk much, told SportingLife.

    SportingLife called Ebikagboro to ask after his health.

    Ebikagboro said:”Thank you my brother I am very fine now. Thanks for your concern. I thank God for keeping me alive.”

  • Iheanacho, Simon, Awoniyi invited for CAF U-23 championship

    Iheanacho, Simon, Awoniyi invited for CAF U-23 championship

    Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Taiwo Awoniyi have been included in the list of 51 players invited by coach Samson Siasia for next month’s CAF U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

    The tournament is the final qualifying round for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

    The top three teams will qualify for the Olympic Games.

    The list included 35 players from the domestic scene and 16 players based abroad.

    Manchester city’s Iheanacho, Gent’s Simon and FSV Frankfurt’s Awoniyi will be joined by Isaac Success of Granada, Junior Ajayi of CS Sfaxien and team captain Azubuike Okechukwu of Yeni Malatyaspor among many others, Goal reports.

    From the home-based group, Chima Akas of Sharks, Kingsley Sokari of Enyimba, Oghenekaro Etebo of Warri Wolves and Zaradeen Bello of Kano Pillars made the list..

    The home-based players are expected to resume camp immediately, while the foreign-based players will join the team before the tournament.

    Nigeria plays in group B alongside Egypt, Algeria and Mali, while hosts Senegal, South Africa, Zambia and Tunisia are in group A.

    The tournament starts in November 28 and runs till December 12.

    Foreign based players:

    Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Taiwo Awoniyi (FSV Frankfurt, Germany), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England),  Moses Simon (KAA Gent Belgium), Wilfred Ndidi (Genk, Belgium), Isaac Success (Granada, Spain), Dele Alampasu (Estoril, Portugal), Shehu Abdullahi (Uniao Da Madeira, Portugal), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovenia), Vin Solomon Otabor (Birmingham, England),  Uche Ikpeazu (Port Vale FC, England), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense, Portugal),  Aminu Umar (Osmanlispor, Turkey), Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjylland, Denmark).

     

    Home based players:

    Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers Int Enugu), Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland F. C), Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys), Sincere Seth Rhapsody, Erhun Obanor (Abia Warriors), Chima Akas (Sharks F C), Daniel Etor (Enyimba FC), Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves FC), Godwin Aguda (Rangers FC),Usman Mohammed (Taraba FC), Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors FC),  Chukwuebuka Iroha (Diamond FC),  Austine Oladapo (FC Ifeanyi Ubah),  Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC), Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves FC), Semiu Liadi (Warri Wolves FC),  Godspower Effiong (Kano Pillars FC),  Ifeanyi Mathew (El Kanemi FC), Bright Onyeadikachi (FC Ifeanyi Ubah), Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars FC), Mustapha Abdullahi( Sport Light FC), Muritala Adamu (Kano Pillars FC), Zaradeen Bello (Kano Pillars FC), Dayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars FC), Seun Olulayo (Sunshine Stars FC), Tiongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa United), Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves FC),  Kingsley Eduwo (Sunshine Stars FC),  Stephens Eze (Sunshine Stars FC),  Anaezemba Nzube (Enyimba FC),  Charles Chukwudi (Plateau United), Daniel Enmanson (Akwa United ),  Ibrahim Alhassan (Heart FC Kano),  Adebayo Ajadi (36 Lions).

     

     

  • IWOBI TO SIASIA: I’ll play for Dream Team VI

    IWOBI TO SIASIA: I’ll play for Dream Team VI

    Super Eagles and Arsenal Football Club of England striker Alex Iwobi has declared huge interest in playing for the Samson Siasia tutored Dream Team VI.

    Iwobi who was wooed by Siasia to play for the Dream Team VI during the qualifying series for 2015 All Africa Games but couldn’t play home and away to Zambia as a result none clearance of his eligibility status by world football governing body FIFA has now been officially cleared after being capped twice for the Super Eagles against DR Congo and Cameroon having being invited by Eagles’ Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh.

    Speaking with SportingLife from his base in London yesterday, Iwobi who showered praises on Eagles gaffer Sunday Oliseh for extending invitations to him also expressed readiness to help the Dream Team VI in the team’s bid to qualify for the 2016 Olympics but Nigeria must pick a ticket first in an Africa U-23 Championship slated for Senegal next month.

    “I was very happy that I eventually got my chance to play for my fatherland Nigeria and not only that I got two caps to that effect so I thank the Coach Sunday Oliseh and everybody that supported me. I am very happy to play for my fatherland.

    “Since I have a very good relationship with the Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Sunday Oliseh and Coach Samson Siasia I am ready to help my country at any level they want me to. I’m just very proud to play for my country, the level does not really matter to me. If Coach Samson Siasia extends invitation to me I will surely honour the invitation and come down to join the rest of the players to play,” Iwobi told SportingLife.

  • Dream Team wins AAG bronze medal

    Dream Team wins AAG bronze medal

    Nigeria’s Dream Team VI on Thursday defeated hosts Congo 5-3 on penalties to win the bronze medal at the 2015 All Africa Games.

    The game ended 0-0 at the end of regulation time, africanFootball.com reports.

    Goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel was the hero when he saved Sagesse Babele’s penalty kick, while Etor Daniel, Sodiq Atanda, Kingsley Sokari, Erhun Obanor and Christian Pyagbara all scored from the penalty spot for Nigeria.

    Mustapha Abdullahi had a chance to put Nigeria ahead in the 32nd minute when he had a one-on-one with the Congolese goalkeeper, but passed the ball to Junior Ajayi, whose effort was wide off target.

     

  • Siasia to overhaul Dream Team for CAF championship

    Siasia to overhaul Dream Team for CAF championship

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, will overhaul his team ahead of the African U-23 Cup of Nations, which will serve as qualifier for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Siasia said he is happy that the worst has happened at the All-Africa Games and will correct his mistakes.

    “We will make corrections after the All-Africa Games. I plan to travel to talk to some players I have already penciled down, then hopefully, the team should be assembling in first week of October to prepare for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations,” he told africanFootball.com.

    “Certainly, some of the players I brought to Congo Brazzaville will have to give way.”

    He added: “I never imagined losing to Burkina Faso, but then my midfielders played so well, my defenders and attackers let me down, can you imagine my attackers not being able to convert about eight chances that came their way?

    “To make matters worse, the defenders were asleep on a day they should have been up and doing. Who told the central defenders to keep offside trap the way they did?

    “I am totally disappointed, we can’t play like this in Senegal and expect to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. No way!

    “We were so bad that anytime the ball beat the defenders, even my goalkeeper could not stop any of the shots fired at him.

    “Football is a team work where errors are bound to occur, but it’s the ability of fellow team mates to cover for one another that makes a team great, that I didn’t see on Tuesday.”

     

     

  • U-23 championship: Nigeria to meet Egypt, Algeria, Mali

    U-23 championship: Nigeria to meet Egypt, Algeria, Mali

    Nigeria was on Monday paired with Egypt, Algeria and Mali in Group B of the CAF U-23 championship taking place in Senegal, November.

    The tournament will produce the continent’s representatives for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Goal reports.

    Hosts Senegal is placed in Group A alongside South Africa, Zambia and Tunisia.

    The opening game will take place between Senegal and South Africa, while Nigeria will play its first game against Mali on November 29 at the 5,000-seater Caroline Faye Stadium, Mbour.

     

    The pairings:

    Group A – Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Tunisia

    Group B- Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Mali