The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • BATTLE AGAINST THE PHARAOHS: Siasia opts for Euro Eagles

    BATTLE AGAINST THE PHARAOHS: Siasia opts for Euro Eagles

    • Shuts door against home-based flops

    Nigeria coach, Samson Siasia has hinted he could consider lining up a team made up of only pros from overseas after he said he was disappointed his home-based team failed to beat a second-tier league side, Katsina United on Thursday.

    Siasia is supervising a training camp of players from the domestic league with the hope of picking some of them to join a 21-man squad of foreign pros called up for the AFCON double header against Egypt later this month.

    However, the outspoken coach said he was again far from impressed with the performance of the home-based team as well as the goalless draw with Katsina United.

    He had previously expressed his displeasure with the performance of the team after they lost 2-0 to the country’s Olympic team on Wednesday.

    “I am not really happy that they couldn’t create enough chances to beat a team like Katsina United. It is rather unfortunate,” said Siasia after the scoreless draw with Katsina United.

    “By now I am supposed to have seen some wonderful displays from my boys. What worries me is their nonchalant attitude in front of goal. They find it difficult to create scoring chances and even the few ones created were fluffed.

    “We can’t be missing goals like this in a crucial match against Egypt. I will have no option than to rely on the foreign-based players, if the home boys fail to live up to the billings.”

  • Gabon 2017 qualifier: Nigeria vs Egypt – Eagles can handle Salah – Onazi

    Gabon 2017 qualifier: Nigeria vs Egypt – Eagles can handle Salah – Onazi

    •Says midfield partnership with Mikel is solid enough

    Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi is confident that the Super Eagles can handle Egyptian star man, Mohammed Salah and his Pharaohs teammates when both sides clash in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier later this month.

    Salah has been in a very rich vein of form since his return from injury and at the weekend inspired Roma to a comprehensive 4-1 win over Fiorentina with a brilliant brace to hand new manager, Luciano Spalletti a seven game unbeaten run.

    Salah will lead the Egyptians to Nigeria for the first leg of the double-header clash in Kaduna on March 25 before hosting the Samson Siasia led side in Alexandria on the 29th. Onazi understands the challenge that confronts the Eagles and he is ready to help put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    ‘We know Mohammed Salah very well and can handle him,’ the 23-year-old revealed to SportingLife. ‘The Egyptians have other good players like Bassem Morsi who scored a hat-trick against Chad and the Arsenal guy, Mohamed El Nenny but we’ll be ready for them.

    ‘Personally, I’m 100% fit and have been training very well and can’t wait to put on the colours of Nigeria.’

    Onazi, who was included in the 43-man squad to play Egypt by interim manager Samson Siasia alongside Chelsea vice-captain Mikel Obi, is delighted with his midfield partnership with the former Lyn Oslo star.

    ‘Mikel is a natural leader and I enjoy playing alongside him – hopefully together we can keep the midfield solid and make it difficult for the Egyptians to score,’ he added.

    Nigeria trail Egypt by two points in Group G after beating Chad 2-0 and drawing goalless against Tanzania.

  • Enyeama’s exit: Genesis of Eagles crisis -Rufai

    • Cites law of equity 

    Former International and ex-Super Eagles goalie, Peter Rufai has identified the exit of Vincent Enyeama as one of the problems bedeviling the national team. He said though every player in a team is relevant and contributes to whatever result is ultimately achieved , some players go beyond playing but have  leadership qualities that act as stabilizing factors to keep the team on course,  especially at difficult moments.

    The former Enyimba safe hand, according to Rufai, should not have been allowed to exit unceremoniously considering his contribution to the national team over the years and the need to encourage up and coming ones to see a committed example worth following.

    “Eagles current problems started with the exit of Vincent Enyeama. He has sacrificed for the nation and his exit should not have taken place the way it did. We heard about losing his mother and other personal issues at that time and I believe the issue should have been handled differently,” he said

    Rufai, who was a guest of The Nation/Sportinglife crew within the week, did not stop there but went spiritual when he said that there is always a repercussion when players who commit their heart to serving the nation are improperly treated.

    “There is always a force that is there for everyone who has been noble but has been inappropriately treated,” he said, adding that he does not see anything wrong with the return of the Lille of France first choice goalkeeper to the national team.

    Although Enyeama, who won his 100th cap for the national team on March 26 in a lone goal loss to Uganda has for the umpteenth time said he won’t change his mind following  his October 8 retirement last year, opinions have continued to pop up whether or not it was the right time and right moment to quit

    Interestingly, the former Ibom Stars and Hapoel Tel Aviv ace only few days ago made another history making his 100th appearance for his French side Lille, and bagging FIFA hard work award for the feat.

    He took to his Instagram handle to share the news of the FIFA award to his fans. “This is how goodness and mercy will follow you all this month of March. First day of the month, FIFA got me a trophy for hardwork, dedication, success,” he wrote under a photograph of himself with a plaque. “Thank you @FIFA. I want to wish everyone reading this message a wonderful month of March. God did it for me. God will do it for us,” he prayed

     

  • Emenike rejects Eagles return

    Emenike rejects Eagles return

    •Says I didn’t quit because of Oliseh

    West Ham FC of England’s darting striker, Emmanuel Emenike has ruled out the possibility of returning to the Super Eagles, following the exit of the team’s former chief coach, Sunday Oliseh.

    Emenike revealed to Sportinglife on Sunday night that he did not quit the Eagles because of any form of rift with the team’s former coach stressing: “I’m done with the Super Eagles, and I am making it clear again that I am not going back.”

    According to Emenike: “It’s my decision and I am not going to reverse it, I am sorry if I have offended anybody regarding this but no Eagles return for me.

    “Like I said, I didn’t quit because of anybody, it was a personal decision. Oliseh didn’t force me out of  the Super Eagles as it was reported, I dont need anybody to speak with me before I take a decision.  It was my decision and I won’t reverse it.

    “I don’t have grudges with anybody but I want to focus on my career and play better for my team. Right now, I’m happy because I am playing my game and everything is working perfect. I can always wish Super Eagles well because I have been a fan for a long time.

  • NFF snub Kanu, Okocha as Eagles coaches

    NFF snub Kanu, Okocha as Eagles coaches

    Former Nigeria international skippers, Nwankwo Kanu and Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha were among the names brought before the NFF technical committee for consideration as part of the Super Eagles coaching crew in the wake of Sunday Oliseh’s shock resignation.

    However, they were not considered because they do not have any coaching badges.

    Okocha, for one, pushed hard to be named assistant Eagles coach when Sunday Oliseh was named in July 2015. But again, the one-time mercurial playmaker of PSG was overlooked.

    Interestingly, ‘Jay Jay’ has often maintained he does not wish to be a coach until his recent u-turn.

  • Paul Bassey: Eagles won’t have beaten Egypt with Oliseh

    Paul Bassey: Eagles won’t have beaten Egypt with Oliseh

    CAF Technical Committee member, Paul Bassey has revealed that ex-Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh took the right decision to resign because the process that led to his emergence was faulty and that the team won’t have been able to beat the Pharaohs of Egypt with him in charge during the 2017 AFCON qualifier in Kaduna next month.

    Bassey told SportingLife that Oliseh’s appointment didn’t go through due process in the appointment of coaches for the national team as big as Nigeria and that it was bound to fail.

    He said even though Oliseh was a good pundit but that it wasn’t sufficient for him to be handpicked the way it was done to come and manage the Eagles without adequate experience in coaching and that it was a welcome relief that he had to go, to save the country from another AFCON tournament shut out had he stayed.

    “I don’t have any reaction. It was a faulty appointment right from the start. Some of us may be good journalists but not experts in football. Oliseh is a very intelligent young man ;he knew when to take a dive because there was no how, with due respect though, that we could have beaten Egypt with Oliseh in charge,” Bassey told SportingLife.

  • BATTLE OF THE PHARAOHS: No friendlies for Eagles

    BATTLE OF THE PHARAOHS: No friendlies for Eagles

    • Absence of FIFA window scuttles bids
    • Coach, NFF rely on players’ European club forms

    Those angling to watch Nigeria’s senior soccer team, the Super Eagles play an international friendly game before the March 23 cracker against the Pharaohs of Egypt inside the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, had better look for other events to attend.

    Sportinglife scooped that the absence of FIFA-free windows before the March 23 kill-and-go tie scuttled all attempts by the agents of the NFF to secure international friendly games for the team.

    Most of the countries ready to play against the Eagles insisted on playing against Nigeria’s A-rated players since they want to recoup on their investments on the game.

    Besides, it would be foolhardy for the coaches to prosecute any match without the core players expected to prosecute the Egypt top-of-the-table clash.

    Consquently, the coaches and the federation’s chiefs are banking on the invited players’ forms with the European teams to help the Eagles soar over the Pharaohs with words rife that the coach has prevailed on those he has contacted for the game to report early to the team’s camp in Abuja.

    The essence of asking the invited players to report in camp early is to allow the coaches enough time to train  for the crucial game which has the second leg tie holding in Cairo, four days after, precisely on March 27.

  • Oliseh blasts: I was begged to accept Eagles’ job

    Oliseh blasts: I was begged to accept Eagles’ job

    Sunday Oliseh has for the umpteen time declared he never lobbied for the Super Eagles job but has continued to face criticism from individuals with vested interest.

    The 41-year-old Coach, who also captained the national team stressed he remains patriotic.

    “I didn’t beg for this job, I didn’t even want this job. I refused it twice and it took the intervention of a highly respected friend of mine; who was in government, for me to concede and take this job.”

    “I took it not to serve special interests, I took it to serve Nigerians, and if there’s one thing I know that my people know; forget the critics, is that I am patriotic.”

    Speaking on his performance as Eagles gaffer,the 41-year-old insists the current Eagles coaching crew have done well, keeping the team in contention for the 2017 Afcon and 2018 World Cup.

    “A contract is made out, We signed a contract; myself and the NFF. If you’re not happy about it, we’ll come and we’ll shake hands.

    “But I’ll like to remind you that this is the 14th game I have been in charge of the Super Eagles and we’ve lost only two; and only one official game.

    “We’re still on track to qualify for the Nations Cup, we have qualified into the group stage for the World Cup, so where is this failure that some of our critics are trying to sell to Nigerians.”

    “Unless you mean that for Coach Sunday Oliseh and his crew to be successful they must win every match, Jesus Christ! even the world Champions Germany are not doing that – talk less of us that is a brand new team that we’ve just started building just for some months now.”

  • Guinea vs Nigeria Eagles in must-win duel

    Guinea vs Nigeria Eagles in must-win duel

    Nigeria will face Guinea in their final group phase game of the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda on today.

    Luis Fernandez’s men will be counting on their comeback heroics in the opening two games against group C leaders, Super Eagles in Gisenyi to secure a quarter final berth.

    Nigeria defeated Niger Republic 4-1 and were held to a 1-1 draw  by Tunisia to rake up four points, while Fernandez had watched his men force a draw against Tunisia and Niger to nick two points.

    Both sides occupying the top two places respectively know a win will see them book a place in the last eight at the expense of rivals, Tunisia and Niger.

    For the Eagles to progress, they will defensively be wary of Guinea top striker, Alseny Camara Agogo with concerns surrounding their backline after failing to stop Tunisia’s Ahmed Akaichi.

    The Super Eagles must reinvigorate their high scoring form against Niger and leverage on the defensive lapses of the Guineans who had conceded four in two games.

    After narrowly denying Senegal a place at Chan 2016 last October to qualify as debutant, Guinea will be posing a big threat with their goal scoring brilliance and strong comeback spirit.

    The Guineans have hungrily notched four goals in two opening games to relentlessly force a stalemate in both.

    It’s another big test for coach Sunday Oliseh as he seeks a crucial victory in spite of confidence doubts on his defence and hopes his attacking duo of Chisom Chikatara and Tunde Adeniji find their rhythm.

  • Uganda based Nigerians storm Rabavu for Eagles

    No fewer than a thousand Nigerians are expected to storm Rwandan city of Rabavu Tuesday ahead of Eagles battle of surpremancy with Guinea.

    Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to Rwanda Ferdinand Nwoye who disclosed this, said arrangement has already been concluded for bus to ferry the Nigerians to Rabavu and back. He added that he had to head for Ugandan to bring the Nigerians because there are a sizeable number of Nigerians in Kampala (over 2000) as opposed to Rwanda where record of registered Nigerians indicate that they are about 150 made up of those working for the United Nations, Pastors and their families and some technical aid workers working in some remote areas.

    “We had to go to Uganda because thats where we have more Nigerians who do their businesses there. we have provided bus for them to take them to Rabavu on tuesday, the bus leaves at 10am and we are sure Eagles will enjoy massive support in Rabavu,” he enthused.

    Ambassador Nwoye who tipped the Eagles to qualify for the knockout stage, expressed hope that Eagles can play thier game and contain the Guineans especially in the first 15 minutes of the match.

    “If we are able to contain the Guineans in the first 15 minutes settle down and play our game we are sure to have positive result” he said

    He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the new venue is too cold and could affect the players. Rabavu is not colder than Kigali and I don’t think the weather will affect the team, some people play in Russian and other places, they are professionals,” he added

    Eagles who left Kigali for Rabavu on Sunday, are expected to train morning and later in the day with pre-match briefing billed for 11am.