The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • Eagles will beat Tanzania, Martins boasts

    Eagles will beat Tanzania, Martins boasts

    Seattle Sounders forward and former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins has predicted that Nigeria will triumph over Tanzania in the 2017 AFCON qualifier on September 5.

    Martins, who has scored 18 goals in 39 games for Nigeria hinted that the Sunday Oliseh led new Eagles will beat Tafia Stars at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

    “I think the coach has chosen a good squad and hopefully Nigeria will win in Tanzania,” obagoal said from his base in Seattle USA.

    “We shouldn’t underrate any team in Africa for now,  there are no minnows in world football anymore. I have seen the list, very experience team led by Emenike (Emmanuel) and Vincent Enyeama and I am sure they will beat their host to come out top in the group.”

    Nigeria and Egypt have three points each after first game in the AFCON qualifying series in Group G, though the Pharaohs have scored one more goal and are slightly ahead following their 3-0 defeat of Tanzania in Cairo.

  • Code of Conduct: Oliseh slams fines on erring Eagles

    •Players to decide how much

    Super Eagles’ players are now to decide the kind of penalties they will face if they breach the code of conduct which outlines the behavioural pattern expected of the team by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) during camping and major tournaments.

    An authoritative source told SportingLife that Sunday Oliseh, who will take charge of his first game as the Eagles’ gaffer on September 5 against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, has already keyed into the NFF’s idea of a code of conduct to instill discipline into the squad.

    However, in agreeing with the initiative,Oliseh it was understood wants to bring a new dimension to the dispensation of the penalties that players will face should they breach the rules.

    Our source said:”You know Oliseh is a true professional who also does not condone any form of indiscipline and that’s why he’s in support of the code of conduct introduced by the NFF.

    “But Oliseh wants to make the whole process more democratic by allowing the players themselves to fix the fines they would pay for any offence they commit while camping for matches and tournaments.

    “In doing this, Oliseh believes that the players won’t have any reason to complain since they were the ones who decided on the kind of fines in the first place”

    To this effect, SportingLife gathered that the former Eagles’ captain will hold a crucial meeting with the team when all the invited players must have arrived camp in Abuja to thrash out this issue.

    It would be recalled that after Nigeria’s 2017 AFCON qualifier against Chad on June 13, the NFF queried Eagles’ captain Vincent Enyeama over his remarks about the safety of Kaduna State hosting the game.

    Also Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, who earned a straight red card in the same match was issued a letter of reprimand and ordered to produce a written apology and fined the sum of $5,000.

    Though, the two players were later pardoned by the NFF, it is expected that such incidents in the future will be handled within the team if Oliseh’s initiative gets accepted by the players.

  • ‘Why Eagles dropped Gbolahan Salami’

    ‘Why Eagles dropped Gbolahan Salami’

    WARRI Wolves striker Gbolahan Salami’s passport palaver caused him to lose concentration and form and so he was dropped by the Super Eagles, AfricanFootball.com has learnt

    Salami was  a surprise exclusion from a list of players from the domestic league who will continue training with the Super Eagles in Abuja in the new week.

    A top official told AfricanFootball.com that the non-release of his international passport by the Norwegian embassy in Lagos was a big distraction for the striker and as a result his form suffered.

    “Salami’s mind was not in the training camp. He really wants to move to Norway and the non-release of his passport by the embassy really took his mind away from the training camp. This affected his form and it was why he was dropped,” revealed the official.

    “He will most likely get his passport and fly out to sign in Norway before the transfer window closes. Thereafter he will be better focused when he is invited again by the Eagles.”

    Salami scored when Nigeria beat visiting Chad 2-0 in an AFCON qualifier in June in Kaduna.

    AfricanFootball.com further gathered that Nasarawa United midfielder Bature Yaro, Sunshine Stars striker Tunde Adeniji and Ezekiel Bassey from Enyimba were seriously considered for the final squad to Tanzania.

    “Adeniji has been scoring goals in test matches, but already we have enough strikers from abroad and that was why he was not picked,” a source disclosed.

  • MOTHER TO OLISEH: Eagles job na fire, my son

    MOTHER TO OLISEH: Eagles job na fire, my son

    •If to say he easy, na everybody for dey do am
    •Gives son consent to take Nigeria job

    Nigeria’s senior team chief coach Sunday Oliseh shocked his audience last week Monday at the Onikan Stadium’s conference centre when he revealed what his mother told him before accepting to take the Super Eagles job.

    Disclosing this to newsmen at a jaw-jaw session, Oliseh said: “Let me share this with you. When I was to take the job, I told my dad and my mother. I will share what my mum told me with you.

    “I called my father and mother that they are offering me this job, but my mother told me ‘Na fire my son’. But she told me something that I really loved, she said “If to say he easy, na everybody for dey do am” But if I want to succeed, I should work hard to do it well that was what she said.

    ” I don’t have the base to work on but I try to look at it that in the past one year, we have played 62 players and that is practically six teams. I don’t mean those who played regularly but those who were invited to camp. In the national

    teams we have over 11 to 12 games and for now I don’t have a base of six regular players that I can build the team around.

    To tell me now to start performing miracles by winning matches otherwise you resign if you don’t win this. I don’t think Guardiola or Morinho will do that? My job is cut out for me and it is a lot of work. I look at it as a difficult task but I cannot succeed if we are antagonising ourselves.”

  • Eagles released for NPFL games

    Eagles released for NPFL games

    Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Sunday Oliseh has temporarily closed the team’s camp in Abuja.

    The coach has been working with 23 domestically-based players in Abuja ahead of Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania on September 4.

    He has now sent the players on break to team up with their respective Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs ahead of match day 25 fixtures this weekend.

    Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye told supersport.com that the players are expected to return to camp on Monday, August 24.

    “The coach has released the boys from camp today and they are expected to play for their clubs this weekend before returning to camp on Monday,” he said on Friday.

    Meanwhile, the team played a test game against Abuja Football College on Thursday at the Abuja National Stadium winning 1-0.

    Gbolahan Salami scored the game’s only goal from the penalty spot.

  • NFF confirm: Eagles’ trip to Tanzania secured

    NFF confirm: Eagles’ trip to Tanzania secured

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has tidied up all arrangements surrounding Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match away to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, thenff.com can report.

    Already, the NFF has concluded agreement with a leading Nigeria airline to fly the team into Dar es Salaam and back to Nigeria, with departure to be from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the return set for the Port Harcourt International Airport.

    NFF officials confirmed on Wednesday that the chartered aircraft will convey the delegation into Dar es Salaam on the eve of the match, as Tanzania is a high altitude zone.

    The delegation will depart Dar es Salaam immediately after the match, and fly to Port Harcourt, where the Super Eagles have an international friendly against the Mena of Niger on September 8.

    Arrangements for the hotel where the Super Eagles will stay in Dar es Salaam have also been finalised, according to NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.

    Nigeria and Egypt have three points each from the Matchday 1 of the qualification series to be on top of Group G, though the Pharaohs have scored one more goal and are slightly ahead following their 3-0 defeat of Tanzania in Cairo.

    On the same weekend, the Pharaohs will travel to Ndjamena to confront the Les Sao of Chad.

  • Uzochukwu: I will prove I deserve Eagles call-up

    Uzochukwu: I will prove I deserve Eagles call-up

    Russia-based midfielder Izunna Uzochukwu has told AfricanFootball.com his first-ever Super Eagles call-up will not be his last because he will justify his invitation by coach Sunday Oliseh.

    The tigerish-tackling FC Amkar Perm midfielder, whose brother Ugonna features for South African club Chippa United, exclusively told AfricanFootball.com in this interview he has long waited for his chance with the Eagles. He also talked about his career and what he will bring to the new Eagles.

     

    AFRICANFOOTBALL.COM: Congratulations on your invitation to the Super Eagles.

    IZUNNA UZOCHUKWU: Thanks

    How did you feel when you received the invitation?

    I was so happy and excited when I got it because I have waited so long for the invitation and such an opportunity.

    Did you actually expect the invitation to come at this time?

    Not really, but was expecting it to happen. It was a surprise to me the invitation came now, but it’s here now, all thanks to God.

    How was it like playing in Denmark for Midtjylland?

    It was really good playing in Denmark because it’s the spring board that took me to  where I am today as a footballer.

    Did Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh call you to inform you of his intention to invite you to his team?

    Yes, he called me after my first two games here in Russia and he made me understand that he has been following my games since I was in Midtjylland.

    Surprisingly, he didn’t even mention anything to me about inviting me for the Tanzania game.

    What exactly did he tell you?

    Words of encouragement, how I could become a better player and he corrected my mistakes as well.

    The midfield has been one of the major problems in the Eagles, what do you hope to bring then to this department?

    There are a lot of good midfield players in the Eagles already, all I can do is to bring in my style and hopefully it will be the solution to the problem and add to the quality in the team.

    You now play in the Russian league, how does it compare to what is obtained in Denmark?

    There are big differences in both leagues. The calibre of players and the style of play are different. There are a lot of big-names players in the Russia league more than in Denmark. Also, the tempo is very high in Russia.

    What was your best moment at Midtjylland?

    I have a lot of good memories when I played in Denmark, but the best of them was when I won the Danish league with Midtjylland last season. It was the club’s first time of winning the league. I was really happy to be part of the players who made this history.

    Many players have been called up to Eagles in the past but that was the last for them, so could we say Izunna is in Eagles to stay?

    My desire is to stay and be consistent with the Eagles. I am going to give my best to justify my invitation and stay on in the team because I love my country whole heartedly.

    Who are your role models?

    Claude Makalele is a player I loved to watch a lot when he was still playing. He is my role model. I admired Sunday Oliseh and Michael Essien as well.

    Who has most influenced your career?

    My family is my backbone.

    What do you hope to achieve with your Russian club Amkar Perm?

    My dream with Amkar Perm is to achieve something great and then move on to a better league.

    Thank you for your time.

    It’s my pleasure.

  • Ezenwa bullish of his chances with Eagles

    Ezenwa bullish of his chances with Eagles

    Sunshine Stars shot stopper and former youth international Ikechukwu Ezenwa has told AfricanFootball.com he will make his latest invitation to the Super Eagles camp count.

    Twenty-three players from the domestic league will begin a training camp in Abuja today ahead of next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania.

    Ezenwa said  he was elated by his latest form that has seen him make the starting position for title-chasing Sunshine Stars a permanent one and hope to carry such form to the camp of the Eagles to convince the national team selectors pick him ahead of others.

    “I have been there before and by the grace of God, I hope that this invitation will count for me in the eye of the selectors,” he told AfricanFootball.com.

    “It is my desire to be the best between the sticks for the Super Eagles and I am on the form of my life to achieve this.”

  • England keep Eagles on standby for 2016

    England keep Eagles on standby for 2016

    Nigerians craving for grade A international friendly games for the Super Eagles will have to wait a little longer. But there is light at the end of the tunnel for those nursing this dream, sources at the Nigeria Football federation (NFF) revealed to Sportinglife.

    Decent sources at the Glasshouse informed Sportinglife on Sunday night that England Football Association chief is favourably disposed to having Nigeria’s senior side play their English counterparts. But the snag is that the Three Lions are engaged with top quality matches against Germany, Argentina etc until the middle of 2016.

    But feelers suggest that England could find  space for the Nigerian game from the last quarter of the year although this wish rests on if the England manager Roy Hodgson wants the Nigerian game to help his side gel.

    Meanwhile, Sportinglife can reveal exclusively  that Super Eagles chief coach Sunday Oliseh will test his boys’ strength against Niger on September 9, inside the main-bowl of the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

    Sportinglife scooped further that NFF chieftains are in the Garden City to discuss with the  Governor of Rivers State Barrister Nyesom Wike on the modalities to ensure that the visitors from Niger get the traditional Rivers hospitality when they arrive on September 8.

    The Nigerien delegation will be arriving from Burundi where they would engage the host in one of the AFCON 2017 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) qualifiers.

    It was gathered that NFF chiefs are excited about the Niger game with word rife that Oliseh wants to use his team B players for the Port Harcourt thriller.

    Oliseh confided in his employers that in building a new team, it was always wise to prosecute such games against Niger with fledging players on his list to see how they interprete the strategies taught them before the game. Indeed, NFF men granted the coach’s request.

  • Adeniji thanks Oliseh for Eagles call – up

    Adeniji thanks Oliseh for Eagles call – up

    • Aims to smash all-time record

    Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, leading marksman Tunde Adeniji has thanked new Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh for giving him the opportunity to prove himself in the senior national team.

    Oliseh on Friday named the former Rising Stars of Akure striker among a strong 23 home –based professionals for next month’s2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania.

    Adeniji,who is just 19, was discovered by scouts of the Ondo State Football Agency,ODSFA, while playing for Methodist High School in Okitipupa, Ondo state.

    And he has insisted that his target is not just to become the league’s highest goal scorer this season but also to break the NPFL all time goal record of 23 goal set last season by Enyimba’s Mfon Udoh.

    “My target is to break the record created by Mfon Udoh last season. He scored 23goals and with the help of my team mates, I know I can go pass that record this season,” Tunde Adeniji stated.

    The erstwhile Rising Stars of Akure forward, has scored 12 goals so far, one   Heartland’s Bright Ejike who is on 11 goals.

    His goals have helped Sunshine Stars reclaim the top position in the NPFL from Enyimba of Aba.