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  • Restore our pride beating Sudan, Mark charges Eagles

    Restore our pride beating Sudan, Mark charges Eagles

    Senate President, David Mark, has charged  the Super Eagles to restore their integrity as the reigning champions in Africa by beating their Sudanese counterparts in  the qualifier match .

    Mark said the Super Eagles needed to step up their games and restore the confidence of Nigerians in their abilities to remain the African champions.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh said that Mark gave the charge when he received the new Pinnick Amaju’s led Executive of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Director General of the National Sports Commission ( NSC ) Gbenga Elegbeleye.

    It said that Mark insisted that only an emphatic win over Sudan would assuage the feelings of Nigerians after the Super Eagles woeful outing against Congo.

    Mark tasked the new NFF to rise to the challenge of improving Football administration in the country saying ” your predecessors did their best but you just have to improve on their records and bring our footfall to an enviable position in the world.”

    To achieve this, the Senate President urged the new NFF to develop a system of early preparation for competitions as well a process of grooming young players to maturity.

    According to Mark, ” We have all the potentials and talents. We need to tap and harness them.”

    It said that Mark bemoaned the incessant rancour among sports administrators and advised the new NFF to work as a team as well as to carry all stakeholders along in a manner that would give all a sense of belonging.

    It said that Mark harped on the need for transparency and accountability in the administration of football stressing that the rule of law must be sacrosanct.

    It quoted Amaju  to have assured the Senate President that he would run the NFF in a scientific manner that would bring pride and honour to all Nigerians henceforth .

    Amaju also told Mark the he would redefine the way football is administered in Nigeria in line with international best practices and ultimately bring positive result to the nation.

    Amaju stated:”My road map towards improving soccer administration is very clear. It is a road map that is result – oriented . It is a new dawn in sports administration. By the time we give our report card, Nigerians would be proud of what we have done”.

  • 2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles claim a point in Cape Town

    2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS: Eagles claim a point in Cape Town

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria claimed their first point in qualifying after drawing 0-0 with South Africa in their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at Cape Town Stadium.

    Chances were hard to come by in the opening 45 minutes, as South Africa and Nigeria went into the halftime break with the scores tied at 0-0.

    South Africa were seeing a lot of the ball early on, and were asking most of the questions in the first half, with Sibusiso Vilakazi proving to be a bit of trouble for the Nigeria defence.

    The home side nearly went ahead in the eighth minute as Manla Masango broke down the right flank and his cross ended at up at the feet of Oupa Manyisa, but his effort was blocked by Efe Ambrose.

    It took a while for Stephen Keshi’s men to get into the game and they produced their first meaningful effort on target, with Nosa Igiebor blasting just over the bar from the edge of the area.

    Keshi was hoping to see more from Russia-based duo, Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike, with the latter virtually non-existent in the first half.

    Tokelo Rantie came close to giving Bafana the lead in the 60th minute, the striker latched onto a through ball from Andile Jali, before firing one into the side-netting.

    The Super Eagles nearly took the lead in the 80th minute, as substitute Osaguona’s header was cleared off the line by Erick Mathoho.

    Minutes later and South Africa almost went ahead, as Rantie was left one on one with Austin Ejide, but the Super Eagles goalkeeper did well to deny the striker.

    Keshi’s men pushed on for the winner in the closing stages but they could not break the deadlock and had to settle for a point.

  • Samuel Aaron eyes starting role for Eagles

    Samuel Aaron eyes starting role for Eagles

    Super Eagles new invitee Samuel Aaron has expressed optimism that Coach Stephen Keshi would hand him a starting lineup jersey against Sudan tomorrow.

    According to him, “I would not be surprised if the coach hand me a starting jersey on that day, because I know very well that am capable, and the coaches knows that also”. Continuing, the Guangzhou R&F of China supporting striker said he is in a very top shape and would surely compliment the performance of the other players in the team to get the desired result with a win. “Our training has been very competitive and wonderful. All the players are in shape, and looking ahead to the task in Sudan. I am working very hard in training to ensure that I put myselt in a better position to pick a starting jersey in Sudan, and I promise not to disappoint if the opportunity comes”.

    He describe his call up to the Super Eagles as a dream come true, and great honour “it is a great honour for me to be in Super Eagles, because this is a great team. I happy with it, and moreover coming from the Chinese league to the Eagles is a great honour to me”. He confirmed not to know anything about the Sudanese team, but insisted that all they would play is football.

  • AHEAD OF SUDAN V NIGERIA: Eagles arrive in Abuja camp today

    AHEAD OF SUDAN V NIGERIA: Eagles arrive in Abuja camp today

    • Egwuekwe is early bird

    Players of the Super Eagles are expected in Abuja today to begin Nigeria’s camping exercise for the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match away to Sudan this weekend.

    The team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya told NationSport that the players, whether plying their trades at home or abroad, should be in Abuja today.

    Some of the players were involved in their clubs’ league matches on Saturday and yesterday, nevertheless, Alaiya said all of them have been told they must be in camp latest tonight.

    “The camp officially opens today and we expect many of the players to hit Abuja latest tomorrow (today) night,” Alaiya said.

    “You know some of them were involved in their clubs’ matches on Saturday and today (Sunday) too. Players like Mikel Obi played in Chelsea’s 2-0 victory against Arsenal while Efe Ambrose of Celtic also played today.”

    He continued: “Training will start tomorrow evening because some of the players will be available to start training. But in the night we expect many of them to arrive.”

    Warri Wolves captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe is already in Abuja for the exercise.

    “Yes, I am already in Abuja on time for camping for the Sudan match,” the lanky central defender told NationSport. “You know that the matches against Sudan are vital for our qualification for the Nations Cup. So I don’t want to take chances at all likewise my colleagues who have all promised to be in Abuja unfailingly tomorrow.”

    His Wolves team mate, Gbolahan Salami has also promised to be among the early arrivals in Abuja today.

    NationSport scooped that caretaker coach of the team Stephen Keshi along with the team’s technical crew are in Abuja to receive the players.

  • SIASIA TO SUDANESE: It’s do or die for Eagles

    SIASIA TO SUDANESE: It’s do or die for Eagles

    Former Nigeria national team coach Samson Siasia believes the Super Eagles will fail to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if they don’t beat Sudan in their third qualifying game.

    Siasia, who managed the Super Eagles between 2010 and 2011, was sacked after failing to lead the side to the 2012 AFCON co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

    The former Nantes striker has now declared that the reigning African champions will fail to qualify for the 2015 edition of the competition in Morocco if they fail to beat Sudan in Khartoum on October 11.

    “If we lose to Sudan in our next game, we are out. There is no way we will qualify after that,” he told supersport.com.

    Nigeria will go toe to toe with Sudan in their next two internationals – home and away- and Sisaia reckons that dropped points in even one of the fixtures would harm Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2015 AFCON finals in Morocco.

    “(Nigeria national team head coach Stephen Keshi) just has to ensure he wins the next two matches against Sudan to keep us alive,” he said.

    Nigeria won the 2013 AFCON title in South Africa.

     

  • Enyeama: I don’t pick Eagles’ players

    Enyeama: I don’t pick Eagles’ players

    Super Eagles and Lille of France goalie, Vincent Enyeama has refrained from suggesting  the players to be invited for the AFCON 2015 double header qualifier next month.

    Enyeama, 32, missed the qualifiers against Congo (in Calabar) and South Africa (in Cape Town), both of which the Super Eagles could only manage one point from a possible six.

    “I wouldn’t want to delve into that issue as to who to invite and who not to invite. That is for the coach to  decide,” he told footballlive.ng.

    Enyeama posited also that he hopes the issue of contractual agreement between Stephen Keshi and the Nigerian federation is resolved quickly.

    “I hope the issue of who is going to be the coach of Nigeria is resolved as soon as possible so that we will know the way forward. The coach knows who to invite and officials of the NFF know who they are negotiating with.”

    Enyeama says he’s a firm believer in possibilities, and as a result, believes qualification is not out of Nigeria’s reach.

    “I have always believed in possibilities and I have absolute confidence that we can always achieve the best no matter what. There are still four games to play and I’m very confident we will make it to Morocco 2015, we just have to keep the focus,” he said.

    Nigeria are third in Group A, with Congo topping with a maximum points haul of six, South Africa are second with four points, while Sudan are bottom with no  points from the two games played so far.

  • 2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    Ex-international, Friday Ekpo has described the Eagles one point from their two AFCON 2015 qualifiers as unacceptable after they lost to Congo in Calabar (2-3) and drew with South Africa (0-0) in Cape Town.

    Ekpo merely suggested figuratively that the players spill blood in their next match against Sudan if it will secure all three points for the team.

    “One point is not good for us; we have lost about five points already but right now, we need to work hard and even spill our blood if need be to get the three points at stake.”

    Nigeria will be away to play Sudan on October 10 while Congo will receive visitors, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

     

  • Oshaniwa: Eagles will qualify for 2015 AFCON

    Oshaniwa: Eagles will qualify for 2015 AFCON

    • Urges Nigerians not to panic

    Super Eagles’ defender Juwon Oshaniwa has urged Nigerians not to fret over the country’s qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)  slated for Morocco.

    Nigeria’s senior national team only picked a point out of possible six including a 2-3 home to the Red Devils of Congo on September 6 at Calabar.

    But Oshaniwa in an exclusive interview with SportingLife from his base in Israel asserted that the Eagles would take the remaining matches of the AFCON qualifiers seriously starting with the away tie against Sudan next month.

    He asked Nigerians not to panic but to pray for the success of the team in the remaining four matches adding that maximum points in those matches would ensure the AFCON defending champions are in Morocco next January to put themselves in the right stead to have a go at the trophy again.

    “We know what it is at stake and we have resolved to win the remaining matches not minding what it will take out of us. We don’t want Nigerians to panic because we would ensure that the Eagles’ qualify for the Nations Cup. We need Nigerians’ prayers,” Oshaniwa who plies his trade with Ashdod SC told SportingLife.

  • Enyeama confident Eagles will qualify for AFCON

    Enyeama confident Eagles will qualify for AFCON

    Super Eagles’ first choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has expressed confidence Nigeria will qualify for the Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite a slow start to the qualifying campaign, which has seen them get only a solitary point from a possible six.

    Enyeama, who missed both games against Congo and South Africa due to ‘family reasons’, says he’s a firm believer in possibilities, and as a result, believes qualification is not out of Nigeria’s reach.

    “I have always believed in possibilities and I have absolute confidence that we can always achieve the best no matter what.

    “There are still four games to play and I’m very confident we will make it to Morocco 2015, we just have to keep the focus,” he said.

    Nigeria are third in Group A, with Congo topping with a maximum points haul of six, South Africa are second with four points, while Sudan are bottom with no points from the two games played so far.

    The Super Eagles will play back to back against Sudan, first in Omdurman and then possibly in Abuja, knowing that they must secure maximum points from those games if they are to stand a clear chance of qualifying for the tournament.

  • AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS: NSC orders Eagles back to Abuja

    AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS: NSC orders Eagles back to Abuja

    The National Sports Commission (NSC) has ordered the Super Eagles to play their remaining 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying home matches at the Abuja National Stadium henceforth, making Nigeria’s 2-3 loss to Congo Brazzaville at the U.J. Esuene Stadium the last match the team will play in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    NationSport scooped that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has also been directed by the NSC to inform the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that Abuja is the new venue for the Super Eagles’ remaining AFCON matches.

    The NFF has fallen on hard times and has been depending largely on the benevolence of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, to bankroll the camping exercise of the Super Eagles including the players’ and coaches’ feeding and accommodation each time the team has a home match.

    “We don’t have money to prosecute the Super Eagles’ games in Abuja because, aside the fact that we are broke, Abuja fans also don’t turn up for games that much. There are also security challenges to contend with,” a source told NationSport.

    Sources revealed that the NSC, irked by the negative publicity generated by complaints about the state of the pitch in Calabar, has directed the NFF to relocate all of the Super Eagles’ matches to the Abuja National Stadium that boasts of very good pitch.

    However, NationSport understands that leaders of the NFF are not comfortable with the order as they fear that the federation will not be able to bear the high cost of executing matches in Abuja.

    Furthermore, the Glass House is uncomfortable with the relative apathy of Abuja fans during Nigeria matches unlike the lively atmosphere in Calabar where the stadium is filled to capacity and the fans are vocal in their support of Nigerian teams.

    Notwithstanding the directive of the NSC, however, the Cross River State Government is continuing the process of getting the U.J. Esuene Stadium pitch in shape for matches, while the NFF is trying to convince the NSC to allow the Super Eagles to play Sudan in Calabar on September 9.