The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • CAF appoints Algerian referees for Eagles, Tanzania

    CAF appoints Algerian referees for Eagles, Tanzania

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Algerian Mehdi Abid Charef as referee for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.

    Fellow Algerians Abdelhak Etchiali (first assistant), Ahmed Tamen (second assistant) and Mustapha Ghorbal (reserve referee) will accompany Charef to the encounter billed for the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, 3rd September.

    The match commissioner is Mr. Inyangi Bokinda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Also on the same weekend, top Nigerian official Paul Bassey will serve as match commissioner for the Cup of Nations qualifier between the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and the Lone Star of Liberia, scheduled for Monastir, Tunisia.

    Bassey, a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, will work with South African referees Daniel Bennett (centre), Zakhele Thusi Siwela (first assistant), Mothibidi Stevens Khumalo (second assistant) and Tinyinko Victon Hlungwani (reserve referee). Essam Abbas Siam from Egypt will be referee assessor for the Group A match.

    CAF also appointed Nigerian referees to take charge of the Group K encounter between Niger Republic and Burundi, billed for Niamey. Ferdinand Aniete Udoh will be referee, with Abel Baba (first assistant), Samuel Pwadutakam (second assistant) and Benjamin Odey (reserve referee) joining him. They will work with Germain Didier Simplice Nguiamba from the Central African Republic, who is match commissioner

  • RUSSIA 2018 WORLD CUP: Eagles, Algeria to tango in Port Harcourt

    The November 2016 World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and their Algerian counterparts will hold inside the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, according to decent sources at the Glasshouse on Friday night.

    Nationsport was exclusively informed that Super Eagles players are rooting for the game to be played at the Garden City on grounds that the town has been a lucky ground for them, especially during  the World Cup and Africa Nations Cup qualification series.

    Indeed, the players argued that the fans in Port Harcourt and the surrounding states always cheer them ceaselssly whenever they are playing in the Garden City, stressing that they need such intimdating settings and vociferous support to beat the Algerians.

    Interestingly, the chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have decided to test run the place by playing the last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Tanzania inside the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium later in September.

  • Mind Builders graduates ‘eagles’

    Officiating cleric at the 15th valedictory and graduation of Mind Builders Primary School, Alausa, Rev Bode Daramola, has charged graduands to be eagles as they journey to their next phase of life.

    Giving the exhortation at the thanksgiving service and reception held at the Alausa arm of the school, Daramola told the combined pupils drawn from Omole Phase 2 as well as the host school  to emulate the characteristics of the eagle.

    Rev Daramola said: “Wait on the Lord to achieve great heights. Have accurate vision, like the eagle, which flies directly towards the sun. Eat what is right. The eagle will never stoop so low as to eat dead meat. So reduce your consumption of junk food. Don’t dwell on your past success, rather, aim to achieve greater ones and never forget who you are. You are an eagle, not a chicken.”

    Stressing the eagles’ theme, the valedictory addresser, Mrs Omokorede Fasoro, reminded the pupils that their needs to live a successful life were inbuilt.

    “Every requirement for living a successful life is already inside you, as wired by God. You are not too young to achieve great things. Identify who you are so that you will not abuse your great position in life. Don’t sell yourself short and know that nothing is impossible,” she added.

    Addressing her pupils, School Director, Mrs Bola Falore, corroborated Daramola.

    “Be like an eagle,” Falore admonished, “do not settle for mediocrity; follow your passion, be focused, put in all the commitment and dedication required and you will fulfil purpose.”

    Meanwhile, the new ‘eagles’ received awards for exceptional performance both in character and in learning in the gold and white lit hall, as they cut their three tier cake.

    Outgoing Head girl, Adetuke Fatiku said: “I feel excited that I am developing to a new level. I won’t forget this school for life. The foundation here is solid, the teachers are nice, hard working and well-disciplined.”

  • SUPER EAGLES JOB: NFF settles for Serbian coach

    SUPER EAGLES JOB: NFF settles for Serbian coach

    • Green hits Serbia this week
    • Glasshouse chiefs deny Le Guen, reject Ince
    • How Frenchman Tigana lost Eagles deal to Oliseh

    SportingLife can confirm authoritatively today that the next Super Eagles Technical Adviser will be a Serb coach with a rich resume known to the football world, if the words from the Glasshouse in Abuja on Sunday are anything to take seriously.

    To underscore the seriousness that the NFF chiefs attach to the matter, SportingLife can reveal that the body’s technical committee chairman,  Chris Green will depart the country this week to discuss with the three Serbian coaches on the list and invite them for an intreview session to be conducted by one of Nigeria’s respected coaches, whose pedigree in the industry has been appreciated in FIFA and CAF.

    Indeed, a top member of the federation poured cold water on the stories making the rounds in the international media platforms that Frenchman Paul Le Guen has been paid $50,000 to become the new Super Eagles manager.

    A decent source at the Glasshouse revealed that the body doesn’t have that kind of cash to pay any foreign manager at the moment, insisting that the interim coach, Salisu Yusuf would be allowed to handle the team while Flying Egales chief coach, Emmanuel Amuneke would work as his assistant. Alloy Agu will keep his position as the team’s goalkeeper trainer.

    Sportinglife gathered that Frenchman, Jean Tigana would have been given the Super Eagles job, having satisfied the requirements listed by the NFF. But the intervention of two key members of the board’s executive board suggested that the federation should pick Sunday Oliseh for the job. Oliseh got the job but resigned due to personal reasons.

    Jean Amadou Tigana (born 23 June 1955 in Bamako, French Sudan, now Mali) is a former French international footballer, having played in midfield and managed professional football extensively throughout France, including 52 appearances and one goal for the France national football team during the 80s.

    He most recently coached Chinese Super League outfit, Shanghai Shenhua. In his prime, he was a tireless central midfielder, renowned as one of the best midfielders in the world during the 80s.

  • Keshi was Eagles’ Pillar -Bonfrere

    Keshi was Eagles’ Pillar -Bonfrere

    • Dutchman says Amodu was always dependable

    Stephen Keshi was the back bone of the Super Eagles in the 90s and Amodu Shuaibu was always on hand to help out.

    This is how former Super Eagles coach, Bonfrere Jo remembered the two who passed on recently as Nigeria football continues to mourn.

    Bonfrere urged the NFF to give the departed legends befitting burials – Shuaibu was laid to rest on Saturday according to Islamic rites – because they deserved and have earned it.

  • Eagles will miss Yobo’s charisma, says Dalung

    Eagles will miss Yobo’s charisma, says Dalung

    Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has pointed out the need to have players with Joseph Yobo’s leadership qualities and charisma in the senior national football team.

    Speaking when a delegation of the Joseph Yobo Centenary Committee paid him a visit yesterday in his office in Abuja, Dalung tasked the former Super Eagles captain to use his wealth of experience in the game to groom players who will step into his shoes.

    “There is need for us to have people who will succeed us. We have to produce people who will replicate what we did. Your (Yobo) charisma and leadership in the national team was outstanding and you have to think along the line of having a system that produces players who replicate that in the national team. No doubt, the national team will miss you,” noted the minister while recalling the positive role played by Yobo in the senior national team.

    Dalung has fond memories of Yobo at Mali 2002.

    “I was a member of the Federal Government delegation to the Nations Cup in 2002 in Mali. You were so young then. I appreciate your commitment to the national team. There was this match (against Senegal) that we lost and we would have conceded more goals if not for your doggedness in defence. In fact, at a time you rushed forward to help the attack when the attackers were not biting enough.

    “The good thing is that you are being celebrated while you are alive. At least, you will know that all your labour was not n vain for Nigeria,” he added.

    Earlier in his speech, Yobo expressed his joy at playing for Nigeria.

    “It is now that I look back and ask myself  ‘did I do this much’ After 101 games, three World Cups, six AFCONs, it is now that I feel what a blessed man I am,”, the former Everton defender said.

  • ‘I don’t deserve Eagles recall’

    ‘I don’t deserve Eagles recall’

    Werder Bremen striker Anthony Ujah has admitted he does not know whether he has done enough to earn a recall to Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

    The 25-year-old Ujah scored 14 goals in a season that saw Bremen escape relegation on the final day, and while he said he keeps working hard, he also admitted he is not sure if that was enough to get him back to the Eagles.

    “I have not had a lot of success with the national team,” he told Africa International.

    “But I have been working hard at my clubs and my hard work has paid off for my clubs but if that is good enough for the national team, I don’t know.”

    Ujah’s last stint with the Super Eagles was the goalless draw with Tanzania in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    He has been part of the team since 2013, but has not been a regular fixture since his debut, despite having a decent goalscoring record in Europe.

  • Eagles face Mali in Rouen

    Eagles face Mali in Rouen

    Officials have informed AfricanFootball.com that Nigeria will take on Mali in a friendly on May 27 in Rouen, which is about 135 kilometres from Paris and near to Saint Etienne, with kick-off time fixed at 7pm.

    All the invited players for this match have until Wednesday, May 25, to report at the Novotel Hotel in Rouen with the first training session fixed for that day’s evening.

    The squad are due to depart for another friendly in Luxembourg on May 30.

    Both games are aimed to prepare the three-time African champions for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, which begin in October.

    Interim Super Eagles coach, Salisu Yusuf has called up 26 players all based overseas with the exception of Sunshine Stars goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa for these matches.

    The officials and some of the players will fly out to France on the night of Tuesday, May 24, from Abuja.

  • Nigeria woo Sheyi Ojo for Eagles

    Nigeria woo Sheyi Ojo for Eagles

    A top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hinted

    NationSport that the Football House has set its sight on getting the trio of Dominic Solanke (Chelsea), Sheyi Ojo (Liverpool) and Ademola Lookman (Charlton Athletic) play for the Super Eagles.

    The three players are all 18 years old and all but Lookman have represented England at under age levels and a source in the NFF told NationSport that some persons in the Glasshouse depending on the availability of funds will soon be embarking on tour of some England and Holland to woo eligible Nigerians to represent their place of origin.

    The source specifically disclosed that after the success story of Alex Iwobi who now plays for the Eagles after the intervention of the NFF, the mentioned trio alongside Chuba Akpom(Arsenal) and a 12-year-old Lateef Omidiji Jr (FC Dordrecht U-14) who is said could spark a bidding war between Nigeria and the USA are all closely being monitored.

    NationSport gathered that the NFF scouts will strive to make these players commit their allegiance to Nigeria and not follow the trend some of their compatriots took in the past only to be used and dumped by their preferred foreign countries.

    Ojo is now an established Liverpool winger and Solanke is also being closely monitored by Chelsea in Vitesse Arnhem (Holland) where is presently on loan after he emerged as Chelsea Youth Player of the Year in 2015 while Lookman is also trying his best as a striker with Charlton Athletic and he is rumoured to be on the radar of Arsenal FC.

  • AFCON 2017 FALLOUT: Onazi roots for new Eagles coach

    AFCON 2017 FALLOUT: Onazi roots for new Eagles coach

    • Mum over retaining Siasia
    • Ready to play for Nigeria anytime

    Lazio FC of Italy’s midfielder, Oguenyi Onazi has stated categorically that Nigeria’s senior football team, the Super Eagles needs a new coach with the right technical savvy to mould the immensely talented players available into an invincible squad for the country.

    Onazi drew a parrallel between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the current Barclays English Premier League leaders, Leicester FC of England when he revealed that the English side had ordinary players who last season barely escaped relegation stressing that: “Look at what the presence of a competent coach Claudio Raneri has done with those players at Leicester under one year.

    “Compare what Raneri has done with the average players he has moulded into good players with the Super Eagles that is filled with immensely talented players but who cannot qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. Well, it is not my duty to say this but I feel deeply pained that Nigeria won’t be at the Africa Cup of Nations given the calibre of players available to the country.”

    Asked repeatedly on a Silverbird/The Nation’s television show’s exclsuive interview on Friday if he still wanted Samson Siasia to remain as the chief coach of the team, Onazi was evasive and did not say yes to the question, insisting that it wasn’t his duty to determine that pointing out that: “I’m ready to give my 120 per cent for Nigeria anytime I’m invited to play for the country, irrespective of who the coach is.”