The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • Eagles resume training for Swaziland

    Eagles resume training for Swaziland

    The Super Eagles held a recovery session on Saturday evening in Port Harcourt after arriving the city from Swaziland, where they took on the Sihlangu Semnikati in a World cup qualifier.

    Under the guidance of coach Sunday Oliseh, the players jogged around the pitch in a bid to shake off the fatigue from Friday night’s encounter.

    At this stage, the major injury concern ahead of the fixture against the Southern Africans is the fitness of AS Trencin’s Rabiu Ibrahim, who had to make way for Kelechi Iheanacho 20 minutes after he came on for Sylvester Igboun in the second half on Friday.

    Since 1993, the Super Eagles have always qualified for the final round of qualifiers in the African zone, but were narrowly beaten to the ticket for the 2006 edition of the World Cup by Angola, who had a better head to head record.

  • Dosu backs Eagles despite flop

    Dosu backs Eagles despite flop

    •Idah sings lamentation song

    Former international Joseph Dosu has expressed optimism that embattled Super Eagles will survive the heat and excel in the W/C qualifiers despite disappointing display against lowly rated Swaziland Friday.

    The former Super Eagles goalie in what could pass for lone positive opinion amidst basket full of negative opinions shortly after the match noted that it is not late for the Nigerian side to find their rhythm. “I believe in this team and I think they will make amends,” he enthused.

    If there is one person who is however not itchy to embrace Dosu’s optimism it is highly disappointed former Eagles goalkeeper and South Africa based Pastor Peterside Idah.  Idah who apparently monitored the boring game from the first blast of the whistle to finish summed up his disappoint in a tweet after the match. “This is not the Eagles I used to know,” he submitted. He however did not stop there as he urged Nigerians to get used to the new Eagles and their tendency to disappoint when it matters most, as he added ” Get used to this new one, I did long time”.

    There were reports on local media in Swaziland of  jubilation among Soccer fans who gave the Sihlangu a pat on the back for holding the Eagles to a goalless draw even as President of National football Association of Swaziland Senator Adam Mthethwa has reportedly charged the Swazis to fight Eagles to the finish in the return leg billed for Port Harcourt on Tuesday. A cross section of soccer fans who spoke with SportingLife after the match on Friday said though they have learnt not to underrate any team when Eagles are involved, they nonetheless did not expect the Sunday Oliseh tutored side to struggle so much against a team that is currently 130th position on FIFA ranking as against Eagles who are 59th on the world log.  Some, however, say falling out of top 10 in Africa is an indication that the team can indeed lose to anybody insisting that the era when mere mention of Eagles sends jitters into the spines of contenders are over.

  • Eagles land in Swaziland

    Eagles land in Swaziland

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Swaziland ahead of today’s 2018 FIFA World Cup African Qualifying Round 2 clash with the Sihlangu Somnikati.

    The delegation led by NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, traveled aboard a chartered ARIK Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and landed at the Matsapha International Airport, Manzini at 4pm Swazi time (3pm Nigeria time), after six hours.

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick, still travel –weary following a 25 –hour shuttle from Chile where the Golden Eaglets retained the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Sunday, saw off the delegation that also included Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu.

    The delegation also included NFF Technical Committee member, Mutiu Adepoju, 24 players, Coach Sunday Oliseh, other technical and backroom staff, NFF Management officials Chris Andekin, Bola Oyeyode, Ademola Olajire and Tunde Aderibigbe, some football stakeholders, few media representatives and some members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

    At the Matsapha International Airport, the group was received by about three dozen excited Nigerians based in Swaziland, who cheered lustily and sang various songs as players and officials walked into awaiting buses. They were clad in T-Shirts specially made for the occasion.

    “We really appreciate this show of love from fellow Nigerians, who have left their businesses in various areas of Swaziland to come and welcome the National Team of Nigeria,” said leader of delegation, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi.

    Also at the airport were NFF Executive Committee member, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Assistant Director (Technical), Rafiu Yusuf, who had gone ahead of the delegation to make arrangements for the team’s comfortable stay. Chief Executive Officer of the National Football Association of Swaziland, Frederick Mngomezulu, was also at the airport.

    Today’s match will kick off at 7pm Swaziland time, which is 6pm in Nigeria.

  • Swaziland’s coach to players: Eagles can be dangerous

    Swaziland’s coach to players: Eagles can be dangerous

    Swaziland will play cautiously against Nigeria when the sides clash in the first leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Lobamba on Friday.

    Coach Harris Bulugna, who spoke exclusively with www.footballlive.ng, insists the Eagles will be accorded respect as a ‘super power’- footballing nation- on the continent when the sides file out in the qualifiers.

    ”We are facing one of the super powers in African football and we cannot get carried away, or go all out and attack even though we’re playing at home; we still have to respect the Nigerian team because they are made of mostly professional players from overseas who we watch on television.

    ”We know what they are all capable of and how dangerous they can be, so we need to be very careful. But we promise a good, fair and good game.”

    Swaziland hosts Nigeria on Friday at the Somhlolo National Stadium.

  • Eagles’ll beat Swaziland – Shehu Abdullahi

    Eagles’ll beat Swaziland – Shehu Abdullahi

    Super Eagles midfielder Shehu Abdullahi is optimistic that Nigeria will beat Swaziland in the first leg of the 2018 FIFAWorld Cup qualifier on November 13.

    The CF Uniao de Madeira player feels it’s important to get all the three points so that the second leg in Port-Harcourt will be much more easier for the Eagles.

    Abdullahi, who moved to Portugal at the start of the current season from Kuwaiti side Al Qadsia, wants the Eagles to take the Swazi national side serious if Nigeria is to get anything from the game.

    “We have to play to our optimal best if we want to win the first leg because there are no more minnows in football,”he told supersport.com.

    “People might say it’s just Swaziland. They might look weak on paper but I can assure you it is nothing like that.

    “We have to be at our best, respect them as we should but put in our very best. I believe we have the team to get a result in Swaziland but we need to put in our best.

    “If we get a good result against them it will boost our confidence going into the second leg,”Abdullahi added.

    The former Kano Pillars player also reiterated his desire to serve the Super Eagles in whatever capacity the coaches dim fit insisting the team comes first and not any player’s choice of position.

    Abdullahi played in an unfamiliar role at right back when Nigeria played DR Congo and Cameroun in last month’s friendlies in Belgium.

    A shortage of players forced coach Sunday Oliseh to deploy Abdullahi, who is primarily a defensive midfielder into the right back slot and the player did well to earn plaudits.

    “It’s not about what I want or where I want to play,”Abdullahi explained.

    “I will play anywhere for the Super Eagles if I’m called upon. Getting a win or winning trophies is most important for me.

    “A lot of people know me as a defensive midfielder but I’ve played in different positions for the various club sides I’ve played for.

    “I’ve played in midfield, attack and defence before so it’s nothing new to me. All I want is victory, that’s what matters most.”he added.

    Nigeria will travel to Swaziland for the first leg, second round qualifier of the 2018 World Cup slated for November 13, with the second leg coming up four days later in Port-Harcourt.

  • Emenike: No regrets playing for Eagles

    Emenike: No regrets playing for Eagles

    …Apologises to Eagles fans

    Retired Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has apologised to Nigeria football lovers following his shocking retirement from the national team.

    Emenike quit the Eagles after four years and some fans as well as Nigeria football federation officials were not happy with his decision.

    The AFCON 2013 top scorer has pleaded with the unhappy fans that he will remain a faithful supporter of the team adding that his decision was to allow younger players to try their luck and give their best for the team.

    “I am aware that some fans are not happy with my decision, I felt bad either but I insisted that it was a right decision. I am really sorry to have shocked the fans, I wanted to do it long ago but I thought things could change,” said Emenike.

    “I owe the fans millions of apology in whatever ways I might have hurt them due to my decision to quit the team. Super Eagles is bigger than anybody and its all about coming and going.

    “As human beings, we are bound to hurt each other in different ways, my decision might not be right to many people but to the few who knows me will understand why I did it. Ever since my debut day, I played with my heart, I fought hard because I love the badge, I love the country and I love the fans and I don’t want my decision to be seen as disrespectful to the fans as it was claimed. I know what it means to represent my country and I can categorically say it that it’s a big pleasure for me to read the national anthem and be proud of the colours. So I am really apologising to the fans because they make the Super Eagles team to be interesting for players.”

    “I don’t have any regret playing for Nigeria even though I turned it down several times but I was emotional after scoring against Argentina,” he added.

  • Eagles, Sihlangu battle under floodlights

    Eagles, Sihlangu battle under floodlights

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria and Sihlangu Semnikati of Swaziland will clash under floodlights at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, in their 2018 FIFA World Cup African Round 2 first leg tie.

    The Swaziland Football Association has fixed the match to start at 7pm Swazi time (6pm Nigeria time) on November 13 at the 20,000 –capacity Somhlolo Stadium, which is an all –standing arena.

    Sihlangu Semnikati (which means ‘King’s Shield’) famously defeated Guinea’s Syli Nationale 2-1 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Casablanca last month, and then eliminated Djibouti 8-1 on aggregate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Africa Round One.

    Football’s world governing body, FIFA, has appointed Germain Koole of Benin Republic as referee for the big match, with his compatriots Bienvenu Dina, Sena Ulrich Houedin and Gustave Eugene Tohouegnon as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

    Mohamed Bahou from Morocco will serve as the referee assessor with Joseph Nkole from Zambia to serve as match commissioner.

    The Super Eagles, currently rated 52nd in the world, drew a bye in the Round One as the Sihlangu negotiated past Djibouti easily. The Sihlangu sit in 135th place in the FIFA ranking.

    While Nigeria has won three African titles and played at five previous World Cup finals, Swaziland has never qualified for any continental event, talk less the FIFA World Cup.

    The Super Eagles will resume camping for the match in Abuja on November 9.

  • 2018 World Cup Qualifier: Eagles, Swaziland tango in Garden City

    2018 World Cup Qualifier: Eagles, Swaziland tango in Garden City

    The Super Eagles will welcome the King’s Shield to the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium for the return leg of their 2018 World Cup qualifying second round match next month

    Goal can reveal that the second leg, second round 2018 World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Swaziland will take place in Port Harcourt on November 17, four days after the first leg in Lobamba.

    The Super Eagles would travel to southern Africa for the first leg on November 13 before aiming to seal passage into the third round with a win in the Rivers State capital.

    “The first leg will be played on  November 13 while the return leg will be played in Port Harcourt on November 17,” Dr Mohammed Sanusi, general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) told Goal.

    Players from Europe are expected to arrive camp by November 9.

    Earlier, the NFF announced via its website that the first leg game will take place under floodlight at the Somhlolo Stadium by 7pm. The 20,000-capacity arena is all standing.

    The return leg will be in Port Harcourt, the city that is fast becoming the new home of the Super Eagles after it played host to September’s international friendly with Niger and October’s African Nations Championship qualifying game against Burkina Faso.

    The NFF has not concluded plans about which city will host Egypt in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a game which had previously been slated for Kaduna.

    Dr Sanusi said that decision would be made after next month’s matches.

  • Eagles praised for CHAN qualification

    Eagles praised for CHAN qualification

    Nigeria’s home-based team have been congratulated for qualifying for next year’s CHAN at the expense of Burkina Faso.

    Nigeria held hosts Burkina Faso to a 0-0 draw on Sunday to advance to the final tournament in Rwanda on a 2-0 aggregate having won the first leg in Port Harcourt.

    Ailing Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh was among the first to congratulate the team from his sick bed in Europe.

    “Praise God!Super Eagles qualify for 2016 CHAN on 2-0 aggregate vs Burkina Faso,” the coach said on his Twitter handle.

    NFF second vice-president Shehu Dikko, who led the Nigerian delegation to Ouagadougou, saluted the resolute performance of the team in Burkina Faso.

    “It was a tough game, but I’m happy our boys withstood everything thrown at them to qualify. The NFF is proud of the team’s display and the discipline exhibited,” said Dikko, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria league.

    The Nigeria ambassador to Burkina Faso David Bala, who hosted the Eagles to a dinner on Saturday and to lunch on Sunday, said: “I am delighted. The boys made the country proud. This is a battle they have won so bravely.”

  • Eagles’ CHAN ticket thrills Eguma

    Eagles’ CHAN ticket thrills Eguma

    •Salutes players for qualification

    Dolphins of Port Harcourt head coach, Stanley Eguma has thumbed up the Super Eagles’ B team made up of domestic league players for eliminating the boastful Stallions of Burkina Faso last Sunday and picking the ticket to the African Nations Championship(CHAN) slated for Rwanda next year.

    The head coach of the Burkinabe side, Idrissa Toure had boasted before the second leg tie that the Eagles were not exceptional and that they won’t be defeated during the return leg tie in Ouagadougou despite losing the first leg 2-0 in Port Harcourt.

    Eguma told SportingLife that it was impressive of the Eagles that they went to Ouagadougou and still came back unbeaten despite the rant of Traore and that the team’s qualification for the CHAN has given domestic league players more place of pride to lay claim to the senior national team jerseys.

    The Dolphins coach also praised the technical crew of the Eagles led by Salisu Yusuf among others for getting the job done without the presence of the head coach, Sunday Oliseh who is down with ailment.

    “I want to thank the home-based Eagles for shutting the mouth of boastful Burkina Faso without any defeat over the two legs. They didn’t show us the respect at all assuming that they would win the second leg tie when it has not even started.

    “This victory and the ticket to CHAN should also be dedicated to league stars who should not be degraded to their counterparts abroad. They are working hard ans should be  respected,” Eguma told SportingLife.