Tag: eagles

Nigeria and Ghana are fierce West African brothers when it comes to football. As both nations begin life after the 2023 AFCON in a friendly game today in Morocco former footballers have given the Super Eagles tips on how to approach the intense rivalry between both nations writes TUNDE LIADI. 

The Super Eagles will begin life after the reins of Portuguese gaffer, Jose Peseiro with a friendly encounter with the Black Stars of Ghana in Marrakech, Morocco today.

Finidi George, who is the senior national team’s chief coach and next in command after the departed Peseiro, has been picked as head coach for today’s friendly tie and the one to follow on Tuesday next week against Mali also in Morocco. 

George  who is the incumbent coach of Enyimba FC, could put himself in front of the queue of coaches that have applied for the exalted job  if he is able to grind  good results in both games while also ensuring that the Eagles play with flair as the senior national team is noted for in the past.

He will endear himself more to Nigerians if he is able to stop the Black Stars of Ghana today by getting a win since  the  two West African nations seem to like to edge each  other in all sporting competitions.

For instance, Ghana’s  Men’s 4X100m athletes celebrated to high heavens when they finished ahead of favourites, Team Nigeria in the final of the relay event of the then All Africa Games hosted by Nigeria in 2003. No wonder Team Nigeria anchor-man for the 4X100m relay at the ongoing 2023 African Games,

Usheoritshe Itsekiri, ran as if his entire tire depended on it to exert the revenge on Ghana on their home soil. Both names have maintained the same level of competition in almost the tournaments they have always met.

No wonder 3^rd  February 2002 would always remain unforgettable for  former national team goalkeeper,  Ike Shorunmu  because of what befell him in Bamako, Mali during the AFCON quarter final tie against Black Stars of Ghana.

 It was a day he would never pray to happen after losing consciousness following a collision with a Ghanaian player during the encounter. Nigeria later won the game with a 80th minute goal by Garba Lawal.

“The rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana has been ongoing for so long. This is a match Nigeria has to win because if we don’t, Ghana would have bragging rights over us,” Shorunmu told NationSport ahead of the ill-fated  Super Eagles campaign  for the Qatar 2022 World Cup .”The atmosphere playing with Ghana is always tensed because I can remember when we played them in the quarterfinals of the 2002 AFCON in Mali, I was in goal.

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“ Before the game we had to tell ourselves that we had to be focused and tighten ourselves and not let the Ghanaians have a feel of the ball. Thank God we tried our best and at the end of the day we were victorious.

“The most memorable moment I have played against the Black Stars would be the same quarterfinals of the AFCON in Mali in 2002 because that was the game I was unconscious and I was rushed out of the game to the hospital. I didn’t even know we had won the match until I gained consciousness in the hospital,” Shorunmu said.

Former Green Eagles winger, Felix Owolabi, equally described the previous games with the Black Stars as something akin to  political war  in a file interview, adding that the Ghanaians would devise all underhand means to win just like they did when they hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1978 where they were paired in Group A along with Nigeria.

“As far back as 1960, the rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria had existed. It had been more political than the sportsmanship values we craved to get out of those games. It is like war so to say each time Nigeria is playing Ghana,” Owolabi, who was capped 35 times by Nigeria revealed.

“I can remember vividly in 1978 when Ghana hosted the 11^th  African Cup of Nations. We were in the same Group A with Ghana. Our encounter in that match was an eye saw. Segun Odegbami had scored an early minute goal with a powerful header.

“Ghana did all the maneuvers to ensure they equalized. Several times without number the floodlights were switched off and on because the game was played at night. It was a period when the government in power was going for another election and used the platform of the Black Stars of Ghana to campaign for victory.

“Poor officiating in that match gave Ghana a dying-minute equalizer. The Ghanaian government ensured that the Eagles were frustrated out of the competition that year even when we were the favourite team to win the tournament. We could only come back home as the third best.

“In 1980, two years later Nigeria too hosted the 12^th  edition, and Ghana who were in Group B with the centre in Ibadan were booed by the fans throughout which caused them an early exit from the competition despite being the defending champions. It was a retaliation for what they did to Nigeria two years earlier.”

Also speaking  about  the intense rivalry between both nations, former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Garba Lawal stated that Ghanaians  belief that they are better than Nigerians  hence them strive to go out of their ways to ensure they emerge victorious.

The former  midfielder opined that Ghana’s determination to dominate the fixtures between the two nations also toughened him and his teammates to be extra motivated during his heyday with the national team.

“The rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana has been very tough. Back in my days in the senior national team, it was always an important game to play but at the same time, they felt they were better than Nigeria. They go the extra mile to see to it that they win,” Lawal, who played at four editions of AFCON and two FIFA World Cup competitions, stressed.

“I always have extra motivation against Ghana because they always feel they are better. We know we are on a better side. We have demonstrated in the past two decades that we are better than them. The atmosphere is always nice but sometimes aggressive. Both teams want to win.”

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba said that the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana has always been fierce as Ghanaians would prefer to lose to other nations than to Nigeria and he believes that the latest game between both West African nations would take a similar pattern even though it is just a test game.

“The funny thing is that Ghana can lose a match to other African countries but with Nigeria, they can go any length. I can’t say this is the reason for that but it has always been like that because we met it that way,” Aiyenugba said.

“I was in the team when we beat Ghana at the 2006 AFCON in Egypt and when Ghana hosted the AFCON in 2008. We lost 2-1. So, it is always a different atmosphere when playing Ghana. Previous games against them have always been tough. They are always very cautious against us and the results have always been very close too.”

The former Bnei Yehuda goaltender picked the Eagles’ 2-1 defeat to Ghana in the quarter-final of the 2008 AFCON as his most memorable game against the Black Stars. He noted that the Eagles had everything going for them to win the game including playing with one man advantage but the team was bundled out by the determined Black Stars side. 

Aiyenugba rued the inability of the Eagles to explore the advantages they had in the game to salvage a win that could have seen them lift the title under coach Berti Vogts.

“The memorable moment I had against them was in 2008 when we lost to them in Accra during the quarter-final of the AFCON. We had the chance to beat them before their fans because they played with a man down in the first half and still beat us. It was painful that we lost the game because we could have won that AFCON if we had made it to the final,” the Kwara United goalkeeper added.

Also, former Super Eagles star Sani Kaita recalled his experience against the Black Stars. “Ghanaian team is a good side, they always have good players. We all knew how difficult it was to beat them. 

“AFCON 2010 we lost against them, which was a painful defeat at the semi-final. 

For the fixture today in Marrakech, Kaita advised the Eagles, “Playing against Ghana isn’t an easy task, the players need to be 100 percent ready for the challenge, however, we got top quality players in the team, I believe they’ll deliver.”

Lawal further described the rivalry between both nations as massive.

He said the atmosphere while playing against Ghana was different in the past while the game’s intensity and the behaviour of the fans would make everyone stay glued to their seats throughout the encounter.

“Nigeria Ghana always top when it comes to football, the rivalry between the two countries is massive,” Lawal added. “The atmosphere against Ghana, the rivalry, the intensity of the match, the fans’ atmosphere is awesome.”

The 47-year-old who scored in the last three editions of the AFCON he attended picked his half-volley strike outside the 18 yards box in the quarter-final of the 2002 AFCON as his most memorable moment in the games he played against Ghana.

“My memorable moment against Ghana is the goal I scored against them at Mali 2002. It was a half-volley outside the 18 yards box and it was a fantastic goal,” said Lawal.

The Super Eagles head coach job must be one of the most sought after at least in Africa after as many as 40 foreign coaches applied for it before Tuesday’s deadline, SCORENigeria has exclusively gathered.

A top official said: “It’s unprecedented that as many as 40 foreign coaches have formally applied to lead the Super Eagles. This means that the job remains very attractive despite the many challenges that come with it.”

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Former Portuguese coach Antonio Conceicao, who guided hosts Cameroon to third place at the 2021 AFCON, is believed to be one of these foreign coaches.

His compatriot Jose Peseiro certainly used the Super Eagles post to improve his profile and now he can boast of several offers as a result.

The NFF technical committee met Thursday to shortlist candidates for the top position.

The committee will meet again after the international break, we further gathered, to take a clear position of the candidates to be recommended to the NFF executive committee for further consideration.

If all goes to plan, a new Super Eagles coach will be appointed next month to begin preparations for two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin in June.

Five prominent  players from what used to be known as Nigeria’s Golden Generation  of the 1990s  that won the 1994  Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON)  in Tunisia  en route to  a maiden  FIFA World Cup  appearance at USA’ 94 , are in the frame to lead the Super Eagles.

The quintet of Emmanuel Amuneke, Daniel Amokachi as well as Sunday Oliseh , Samson Siasia  and Finidi George are the notable  candidates  that  reportedly beat  yesterday’s  deadline for submission of application for the vacant  managerial position of the senior men’s national team of Nigeria.

Last week, the NFF announced that interested and qualified coaches should apply for head coach of the country’s team following  the expiration  of the contract of the Portuguese Jose Peseiro, who led the  Super Eagles to the final of the recent AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

Apart from the  USA ’94 motley crew , sources at the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) , hinted that  former Super Eagles caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf, American-Nigerian  coach Michael Nsien , ex-Super Eagles assistant coach under late Stephen Keshi , Sylvanus Okpala, as well as  ex-international goalkeeper, Ndubuisi Egbo and a former head coach of Indomitable Lions of Cameroon¸ António Conceicao da Silva Oliveira have duly turned in their applications for the plum job.

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In a related development,  former Nigeria  international , Edema Fuludu  believes  it’s about time an indigenous  coach is  handed the reins of the Super Eagles  yet again, adding  that  there’s  nothing   exceptional  that  an  expatriate  can offer  that a  qualified Nigerian  cannot achieve if given the necessary support.

“  If you don’t develop your own, there is no way they can compete with the outside world  and now we have a plethora of ex- internationals  who  are trained and enlightened  coaches   as such, they should  be giving the  chance  to handle the Super Eagles,” noted  Fuludu who incidentally was part of the 1994 AFCON-winning team. “We should hire a Nigerian  to coach our team ; after all  the recent AFCON was won  by an Ivorian coach  and   I think  we  have capable Nigerians who can handle the national team.”

It was an intense match at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé. Nigeria faced off against Cote d’Ivoire, with the Ivorians putting early pressure on the Super Eagles within the first 10 minutes.

Ola Aina narrowly avoided an own goal, managing to clear the ball for a corner, while a poor pass back from Zaidu to Nwabali resulted in another corner for Cote d’Ivoire. Tensions escalated when referee Dahane Beida cautioned Nigeria’s coach, Jose Peseiro, after he voiced his frustrations to the third official.

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Nigeria managed to break the deadlock when Troost-Ekong scored a header, giving them a 1-0 lead, marking his third goal of the tournament. Despite Nigeria holding onto this lead until halftime, Cote d’Ivoire continued to press, with Max Gradel’s shot being blocked, providing a crucial escape for Nigeria.

Peseiro’s substitution of Moses Simon for Samuel Chukwueze indicated a desire to solidify Nigeria’s lead, but Cote d’Ivoire seized the opportunity in the second half. Franck Kessie levelled the scoreline at 1-1 with a well-placed header past Nwabali, before Sebastien Haller capitalized on a precise cross from Simon Adingra to put Cote d’Ivoire ahead with a clinical finish into the top corner.

Despite Nigeria’s efforts to equalize, they were unable to break through Cote d’Ivoire’s defense, ultimately conceding a 2-1 defeat. Cote d’Ivoire’s victory crowned them the winners of AFCON, while Nigeria will have to settle for second place.

This victory will mark the third AFCON trophy for  Cote d’Ivoire . Despite initially appearing to be in a difficult position, the host nation staged an impressive comeback, writing their place in the books of history.

• AFCON  2023  Final: Sports Minister solicits financial support for Super Eagles

Sports Minister of Sports Development , Senator John Enoh, has urged  private and Corporate Nigeria to massively support the Super Eagles financially as they go in the hunt for the fourth Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday in Cote ‘d’Ivoire.

The Eagles will square up against the hosts, Elephant of Cote ‘D’Ivoire at the Alassane Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe near Abidjan  on Sunday as Nigeria bid to conquer  the continent as did the illustrious team of 1980, 1994 and 2013.   

Sunday’s match  will be a repeat of the group stage tie between both sides  at Cote d’Ivoire 2023  which  the Super  Eagles  won  with a solitary 1-0 margin but the stake  according to the Senator Enoh would be much higher in the Final Match hence the clarion call for  financial pledges to boost the team’s morale.

 He  said the move became  imperative with the present economic challenge amidst other national priorities and the fact that the government alone cannot solely do it all.

“The curtain will fall on the African Cup of Nations football tournament on Sunday February 11, 2024 with our senior national team, the Super Eagles facing the Cote d’Ivoire national team in the finals,” Senator Enoh said in a  statement personally signed by him.

“The inspiring performance of the Super Eagles thus far has lifted the spirit of our country and united us the way no other aspect of our national aspiration can. The outstanding performance they have posted so far underscores the resilient and indomitable Nigerian Spirit which surmounts obstacles to achieve individual and collective objectives.

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“The feel good feeling the country is suffused with as a result of the heroics of the Super Eagles thus far needs to be sustained until the team lifts the coveted trophy for historic fourth time. The current administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated full support to the national team unprecedented in the contemporary history of sports administration in our country.

“In the face of paucity of funds amidst competing national priorities, it has become self-evident and abundantly clear that government alone cannot fund sports development in our country. It is based on the understanding of this reality that I am making this impassioned appeal to private individuals and corporate Nigeria to support our national team, the Super Eagles to win the African Cup of Nations trophy.

“I believe that in this critical moment in which the Super Eagles are on the cusp of victory, all Nigerians need to support and motivate them to go all the way to win the cup. My expectation is that public spirited individuals and corporate Nigeria should make a promise of financial support to the Super Eagles team in the likelihood of their winning the final match on Sunday.

“This will be announced to the team ahead of the Sunday match.

“Our country is on the threshold of history. I call on sports loving Nigerians in their private and corporate capacities to massively support the team. Together, “Let’s Do It Again” for the love of country.

“Pledges and commitments for the team should be made directly to the Super Eagles Team Manager, Mr. Enebi Achor who can be reached on +2348037860516,” he added.

Sebastien Haller scored the winner as 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Cote d’Ivoire  beat DR Congo to set up a final meeting with Nigeria.

The only goal of a cagey contest in Abidjan came in the 65th minute when Haller’s volley bounced down into the ground and up over Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

The Borussia Dortmund striker should have opened the scoring just before the break with an unmarked header, and Haller also missed a chance to double the lead when he sent a lob narrowly wide.

DR Congo did not look like getting a late equaliser, although Meschack Elia sent a volley wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza then fired well over in injury time.

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Cote d’Ivoire  had sacked Jean-Louis Gasset as boss before scraping through the group stage, and had needed late goals against both Senegal and Mali to progress to the last four.

But interim boss Emerse Fae now has a chance to guide the Elephants to a third continental title, adding to their triumphs in 1992 and 2015, when they face three-time winners Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday.

The Super Eagles had reached the final earlier on Wednesday after beating South Africa 4-2 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw in Bouake.