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Tag: eagles

  • Dikko leads Eagles to Burkina Faso

    Dikko leads Eagles to Burkina Faso

    Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) Shehu Dikko will lead Nigeria’s delegation to this weekend’s 2016 CHAN qualifier in Burkina Faso.

    Nigeria won the first leg in Port Harcourt 2-0 a week ago with the overall winners advancing to the CHAN final tournament in Rwanda in January.

    A chartered ARIK Air aircraft will fly out of the Port Harcourt International Airport at about 5.30pm Nigeria time, and will land in the Burkinabe capital after about two-and-half hours.

    NFF 2nd Vice President. Shehu Dikko will lead a delegation that also includes chairman of NFF technical committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu; deputy general secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme; deputy director of competitions, Ayobola Oyeyode and assistant director of communications, Ademola Olajire.

    There will also be 22 players, 13 technical and backroom staff, a number of stakeholders, some NFF staff, a couple of media representatives and members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

    The Super Eagles will have the official training at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou on this evening, with the match to start at 4.00pm (5pm Nigeria time) on Sunday at the same venue.

     

  • Retirement from Eagles:I quit to avoid insults – Emenike

    Retirement from Eagles:I quit to avoid insults – Emenike

    Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has revealed that he called off his Super Eagles career after five years to avoid insults.

    Emenike, who played under Samson Siasia, Stephen Keshi and now Sunday Oliseh with 36 caps and 10 goals said it was time for him to quit the team and concentrate on his club career.

    The former Fernebache striker said much of his decision to quit international football was centered on the news emanating from the internet that he could face sack from the national team coach after failing to deliver in four matches under Oliseh.

    However, Emenike had wanted to quit the team before the appointment of Oliseh and he confided in the coach about his intention to quit the team, but Oliseh was able to convince him to stay.

    Emenike feels that he does not want to be insulted the way his team mates are being insulted to quit the national team and his decision is perfect at the moment.

    “For everybody that thinks I am the problem of Super Eagles, I am using this opportunity to give you a breaking and interesting news that I am no longer a Super Eagles player. It has always being my pleasure to play and win for the team. I am always proud of my successful years in the team and I am pleased to call it off at this point in order to avoid insults,” said Emenike.

    “I have always made it clear that the Super Eagles is not anybody’s family house, its a service camp and nobody is above the team as along as the national anthem is concerned but I am always get pissed off when some decisions are being hypocrised. Today, I am bold enough to say it that I am not interested again. I think the coach should have been bold enough to handle the situation in this way. I won’t wait to be insulted.

    “I am grateful to God for giving me the chance to be part of Nigeria’s history when football is concerned. I am very humbled for the glorious days,” Emenike said

  • LMC congratulates CHAN Eagles, urge them to reach Finals

    LMC congratulates CHAN Eagles, urge them to reach Finals

    The League Management Company (LMC) is celebrating Nigeria’s Super Eagles creditable performance and win against Burkina Faso in the African Nation’s Championship (CHAN) as a reflection of the steady improvement and growing competitiveness of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and commended the players for the victory.

    Chairman of LMC, Shehu Dikko, who was at the Adokie Amesimaka Stadium with some other Directors of the LMC to cheer the players, spoke to them after the match urging them to double their contributions to ensure the final qualification is achieved.

    Dikko had led LMC Directors and NPFL Club Chairmen including Okey Ibe of Heartland, Akin Akinbola of Sunshine Stars, Dr. Ayo Ayodele and Okey Kpalukwu of Sharks on a morale boosting visit immediately after the game and urged them to “work even harder for the return leg as the job is not done yet until we secure the ticket to play in the finals in Rwanda”.

    Dikko described the performance as “a positive statement for our domestic league which didn’t go unnoticed by the global football community. More performances like this will be to your personal career benefit and greater attraction of positive attention to the NPFL across the globe”.

    Dikko, who also is the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said the performance of the players and the outcome of the game is in tandem with the Federation’s objectives of using CHAN as a developmental platform for discovery of players that can be drafted to challenge for shirts in the mainstream Super Eagles.

    Yaro Bature of Nasarawa United fired Nigeria into a first half lead while Enyimba’s Ezekiel Bassey’s wing run into the Burkinabes’ box committed them to a penalty tackle that was coolly converted by Gbolahan Salami of Warri Wolves. The LMC Boss said, “the match was won comfortably to ensure that our qualification chances are now in our hands and it is obvious that we posted such credible performances from several players that suggests they can easily make the grade for the Super Eagles”.

    The return leg comes up this Saturday in Ougadougou.

  • Drissa reveals: Eagles are not special

    Drissa reveals: Eagles are not special

    Head coach of Burkina Faso’s national team, Traore Drissa insists “there is nothing special” about the Nigeria side that beat his charges 2-0 in a 2016 Africa Nation’s Championship (CHAN) qualifier in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

    Goals either side of the break by Bature Yaro and Gbolahan Salami gave the Super Eagles a two-goal victory at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt ahead of the return fixture in Burkina Faso.

    Drissa however insists the Nigerians won as a result of mistakes made by his players rather than the brilliance of their hosts.

    “We made the match too easy for Nigeria. They beat us because we helped them (do so) and not necessarily because they were spectacular.

    “A clear case was the first goal we conceded. They had just two forwards and we had three defenders in the situation yet they succeeded in scoring.

    “We suffered a lapse in concentration which gave Nigeria the penalty for the second goal.

    “Tactically, we had a sound plan but we lost based on the two mistakes we made,” Drissa said at the post-match press conference.

    The trainer then warned the Nigerians not to be lulled into a false sense of security as his side will be looking to overturn the first leg result inside the first 30 minutes of the return fixture.

    “This is just the first leg. In the second leg, we will correct the mistakes we made and will fully exploit home advantage to do our people proud.

    “I am sure we will overturn the 2-0 first leg (deficit) after 30 minutes at our place because it is not a fantastic result for Nigeria,” he said.

    The second leg of the fixture will be played on the weekend of October 23-25.

  • CHAN Eagles off to Burkina Faso Thursday

    CHAN Eagles off to Burkina Faso Thursday

    Nigeria’s home-based team will depart for Burkina Faso on Thursday for a return leg 2016 CHAN qualifier.

    Nigeria defeated Les Etalons 2-0 on Saturday in Port Harcourt and the overall winners of this fixture will qualify for next year’s CHAN in Rwanda.

    A squad of 18 players from the 23 in the training camp will be named for the trip to Ouagadougou.

    It has been gathered coach Sunday Oliseh will stick with the team who were involved in the first leg in Port Harcourt.

    Goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Femi Thomas, defenders Austin Oboroakpo, Chima Akas, Orji Kalu, Jamiu Alimi as well as midfielders Bature Yaro, Ifeanyi Matthew, Usman Mohammed and Paul Onobi will make the trip.

    Strikers Gbolahan Salami, Chisom Chikatara, Ezekiel Bassey and Osas Okoro have also been penciled down for the trip.

  • Glo hails Eagles, Eaglets

    Glo hails Eagles, Eaglets

    Next Generation Network, Globacom, has congratulated the Super Eagles Team B for defeating Stallions of Burkina Faso in the first leg of 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final round qualifier.

    The Eagles, who defeated  the Stallions by two goals to nil in Port Harcourt on Saturday, will  face the  Burkinabes in the return leg in Ouagadougou next Sunday and the aggregate winner will qualify for the CHAN tournament in Rwanda in January next year.

    Globacom also congratulated the Golden Eaglets for defeating USA 2-0 in their Group A opening game at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

    Nigeria went ahead in the 50th minute through Chukwudi Agor while Victor Osimhen increased the tally in the  61st minute.

    The Eaglets top the group after host Chile and Croatia played 1-1 and will face Croatia on Tuesday.

    “We are delighted by the weekend of victories. The Super Eagles and Golden Eaglets really made Nigeria proud, “Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.

    “We urge the teams not to rest on their oars as they progress in both competitions.”

    “We especially urge the Eagles to re-enact the Port Harcourt victory when they visit Ouagadougou or at least secure a draw in order to seal the CHAN ticket. We also believe that the Eaglets will also consolidate on their win over USA when they face Croatia,” the statement further said.

    Globacom commended the Nigeria Football Federation for motivating both teams to victory while enjoining Nigerians to support them with prayers.

  • 2018 World Cup qualifier Eagles to battle Swaziland

    2018 World Cup qualifier Eagles to battle Swaziland

    Swaziland has finally emerged as the opponents of the Super Eagles of Nigeria in next month’s second round of the 2018 World Cup qualifier.

    The World’s football governing body, FIFA, had exempted 27 top ranked African countries including the Eagles from the first round of the qualifiers and after beating Djibouti 8-1 on aggregate yesterday, Swaziland cruised to the second round where they would face the Eagles.

    Sandile Hlatjwako scored twice to help Swaziland beat Djibouti 2-1 in the second leg to wrap up an 8-1 win on aggregate.

    Having secured a comprehensive victory over two legs, Swaziland could fancy their chances against Nigeria, with the winners progressing to the final group stage in the bid to reach Russia in 2018.

    After romping to a 6-0 victory in the away first leg, only an unbelievable turnaround would have denied the home side a place in the next round and they made no mistake in Lobamba.

  • Eagles will overrun Burkinabes

    Eagles will overrun Burkinabes

    Ahead of today’s African Nations Championship qualifier against Burkina Faso, the Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf has told SportingLife that the home based Eagles won’t disappoint against the Stallions having got adequate information about their foes and their style of play. He spoke with TUNDE LIADI at the team’s Hotel Presidential camp in Port Harcourt. EXCERPTS:

    SPORTINGLIFE: What is your expectation ahead of today’s CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso?

    SALISU YUSUF: When we play at home it is expected that we should win well but in the game of football now, there is no small team but we are confident that Nigerians will appreciate us better after the game

    What gives you the optimism that the Eagles are ready?

    Yes we are ready because we have been training together for 10 days and the players have also gone to play for their league teams which has put them in better match condition. I know there is no longer any small match but we are hoping and praying to have good day and be victorious.

    How much information do you have about your opponents?

    We have their idea. They just changed their coach and they played against the U-23 at the African Games and Niger Republic, they played different match tactics. They tried to cool the game up against Nigeria at the African Games but they played typical Nigerian style when they tackled Niger Republic. We have tried to create a balance based on those two matches and we shall see what they can do within the first 15 minutes today.

    We are very confident because the players are so committed and are so disciplined technically and tactically during the training sessions we have had too and I believe they will transform it into a match situation too.

    You cannot rule out injuries from the game because the players travelled last week to play for their clubs and they may come back with knocks that may rule them out of training for two or three days. We don’t have any serious injury that will rule any player out of the encounter.

    Burkina Faso played more top friendly matches than Nigeria. Do you think this will count against us today?

    Even though Burkina Faso played top friendly matches we cannot say that they had better preparation than we did. Our players featured for their clubs in the league and with the fact that our league has improved tremendously we can get the best out of them. Burkina Faso can decide to face as many countries as possible but we are concerned about what we ought to do to beat them on Saturday.

    Could you point out some of your most outstanding players since the training sessions started?

    Just like in a club when some players are also lovely to watch during training sessions and only to fizzle away during the actual matches we are looking at the players we have and how well they are responding to our instructions. For us in the technical crew, all the players have done extremely well in the practice sessions we have had and I believe anybody chosen to play will give a good representation.

    Will any player be dropped before today’s game with Burkina Faso?

    We are not going to release any player because of the shortness of the second leg encounter in Ouagadougou. We have barely seven days to prepare for the return leg and all hands must be on deck for that to be possible.

  • Eagles, Burkina Faso tie holds Saturday

    Eagles, Burkina Faso tie holds Saturday

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that the 2016 African Nations Championship final round, first leg qualifier between the Home –based Senior National Team, Super Eagles B, and the Etalons of Burkina Faso, will now take place on Saturday.

    Venue remains the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, with kick –off scheduled for 4pm.

    The Confederation of African Football has appointed Boubou Traore from Mali as referee for the encounter. Traore’s compatriots Bobo Yomboliba, Boubacar Kinta and Harouna Coulibaly will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and reserve referee respectively. Mr. Pedro De Morais Neto, from Angola, will be the match commissioner.

    Meanwhile,  24 players are battling for shirts in Port Harcourt under the watchful eyes of assistant coaches Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu.

    Warri Wolves’ ace forward Gbolahan Salami, with 14 goals so far in the Glo NPFL season, is injured and out of the race for places, but apart from fellow Wolves’ boy Paul Onobi who had a knock in training on Tuesday, all other players are fully fit to battle the Etalons.

    There are goalkeepers Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, David Obiazor and Okemute Odah, defenders Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo, Kalu Orji, Solomon Kwambe, Idris Aloma, Samson Gbadebo, Jamiu Alimi and Stephen Eze, midfielders Abdulrazak Aliyu, Ifeanyi Mathew, Paul Onobi, Usman Mohammed, Bature Yaro and Osas Okoro, and forwards Ezekiel Bassey, Chisom Chikatara, Tunde Adeniji, Prince Aggrey, Bright Onyedikachi and Dayo Ojo.

    Nigeria failed to qualify for the first two editions of the competition reserved for senior players plying their trade in their country’s domestic league, but won the bronze medal at the third edition held in South Africa early last year.

    The winner over two legs between Nigeria and Burkina Faso will be eligible for a place at the 4th African Nations Championship taking place in Rwanda early next year.

  • Ahead of Egypt double headers: Eagles may play Algeria or Morocco

    Ahead of Egypt double headers: Eagles may play Algeria or Morocco

    Nigeria are to open talks with Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria for a friendly ahead of their crunch two-legged AFCON qualifier against Egypt in March, NFF president Amaju Pinnick has told AfricanFootball.com.

    Nigeria take on Egypt in March in a double header, which could well determine the fate of the Super Eagles for Gabon 2017.

    Egypt lead the AFCON qualifying group with six points from two matches, two points more than second-placed Nigeria with the overall group winners guaranteed automatic qualification to the 2017 AFCON.

    Pinnick said the NFF are determined to ensure that the Eagles are in the right frame of mind technically and mentally against the record seven-time African champions.

    “I have asked them to begin to shop for a friendly game against Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria in the next available FIFA window,” he told AfricanFootball.com.

    “That tells you how important the next AFCON qualifiers are to us. We want to make sure that the Eagles are properly prepared and have an idea of how the North Africans play.

    “But in any case, coach Sunday Oliseh has already started studying the tapes of the Egyptians and he is preparing the game plans.”