The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • Brazil 2014 fifa wolrd cup: NFF reassures on Eagles, Mexico clash

    Brazil 2014 fifa wolrd cup: NFF reassures on Eagles, Mexico clash

    Ahead of summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Mike Okeke Umeh has revealed that the football house is working hard to have Nigeria tackle Mexico’s El tri next month.

    Umeh further disclosed that plans are equally underway to ensure that Nigeria play as many friendly matches as possible before the commencement of the mundial.

    “There are lots of friendly matches lined up and I can tell you that because we have surpassed that stage of having fire brigade preparation in any tournament, the world cup won’t be an exception.

    “In March, we are going to play against Mexico in the United States,” he confirmed.

    Umeh stated that the Federation has tailored its Calendar of event after the FIFA calendar just as the international friendly matches will hinge on FIFA free days.

    “We’re been guided by the window of the FIFA schedule; when we have a free window from FIFA then we can play good friendlies so that we can get the professionals ready for the world cup,” Umeh told Lagos-based Brila FM.

     

  • Fans laud Eagles for clinching bronze

    Fans laud Eagles for clinching bronze

    Football fans on Saturday commended the Super Eagles for their 1-0 victory over their Zimbabwean counterparts in the third place match of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the Eagles did well to clinch the bronze trophy after 1-4 semi-final loss to Ghana on Wednesday.

    NAN reports that Chinonso Obiozor’s 82nd minute goal was the decider for the two sides and gave the Nigerian side the victory.

    Victor Orji, the President of the Federation of Public Service Games Association (FEPSGA), said the team’s performance showed the normal Eagles’ fighting spirit.

    “Although the game saw only a goal, the players’ performance today showed the normal Super Eagles’ spirit. It was a compact game and they deserved the victory because it shows that we are growing. It is not all about winning by a wide margin’’, Orji said.

    “Although our league is not rated as one of the best, the boys proved that a Nigerian team can up its game anywhere. They were coordinated and disciplined throughout the tournament’’, Orji said.

    Erasmus Onuh, a former coach of ABS Football Club of Ilorin, said the players displayed resilience in spite of the fact that they did not qualify for the final.

    “Although everyone was out for them to reach the final which they didn’t, the team did not allow the last defeat to Ghana to weigh them down with what they played today. That shows how good the team and the technical crew are and they have done well to give us at least a bronze in their first appearance at CHAN’’, Onuh said.

  • Croatia keeps Eagles waiting

    Croatia keeps Eagles waiting

    • NFF yet to get confirmation
    • Maigari hopeful, vows to support Keshi

    Sportinglife can reveal today that the proposed international game between Croatia and Nigeria has not been confirmed, with eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) worried over the delay.

    Words were rife on Sunday night that the agents handling the deal have not agreed on terms such as match venue and date of the international friendly, how much should be paid to the two countries as appearances fees and the sharing ratio for gate takings.

    In a telephone conversation with the NFF Presdient Aminu Maigari on Sunday night, he stated that he was anxious to see the game through between Nigeria and Croatia, pointing out that it would go a long way to guide the Super Eagles’ coaches on how to tackle Bosnia/Herzegovina, who are from from Eastern Europe, the same region with Croatia.

    “You will agree that we are playing against one Eastern European country, one South American country as well as the Iranians, who are from Asia. So, we need to play one or two of the top rated countries from those parts of the world so that our coaches can understand their characteristics.

    “You have also seen how these two teams in our World Cup group, Bosnia and Argentina, are joustling to to play Ghana and Cameroon, knowing that they would learn a lot about how to to handle teams that play robust and pacey football like the Super Eagles.”

    Maigari confirmed the game between Nigeria and Mexico fixed for the United States of America (USA), adding that he was still hopeful that the agents would agree on the modalities for the Croatia game before the Eagles open their World Cup campaign against Iran in Brazil on June 13.

  • Mexico friendly: Eagles regroup in three weeks

    Mexico friendly: Eagles regroup in three weeks

    Stephen Keshi, the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, says the national team comprising both foreign and home-based players will regroup for Nigeria’s international friendly against Mexico in three weeks’time.

    The Big Boss, who made this disclosure on Saturday, also took time to praise the CHAN Eagles for being able to interpret his instructions on the field of play.

    Keshi made the remark during the post-match news conference in Cape Town Stadium after the Super Eagles’ 1-0 win over the Warriors of Zimbabwe to place third in the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    “I am so happy with the boys over these three weeks. I will call it so, they have grown in stature, and they are beginning to understand what I want and the mentality to express the game the way I want.

    “I am happy for that in spite of the fact that they wanted to play in the final and did not get there, but they still showed their mental strength against the Zimbabweans. The major goal for me in this tournament was to expose these players and see if I can draft a couple of them into my World Cup squad in five months’ time,’’ he said.

    On his immediate plans after the tournament in the build up to the World Cup, Keshi said that the main Eagles squad would regroup sometime in February for a friendly match.

    “In three weeks’ time we will have to regroup for a friendly match against Mexico, which will fall on a FIFA match day; apart from this arrangement any other development will be secondary.”

  • Disappointed Eagles happy with bronze

    Disappointed Eagles happy with bronze

    Nigeria have said they will cherish their third-place finish at the 2014 CHAN after they crashed out to rivals Ghana in the semis.

    Nigeria edged past Zimbabwe 1-0 in Saturday in Cape Town to finish third at the tournament.

    A cross section of the players told MTNFootball.com they were disappointed not to win the 2014 CHAN, but were consoled with finishing third.

    Ugonna Uzochukwu told MTNFootball.com: “This was my first competition as a national team player and I feel so happy winning the bronze medal. I am disappointed we couldn’t win the competition because that was my target, but God knows best.”

    Left back Francis Benjamin said he was happy he did not leave South Africa empty-handed.

    “It is a thing of joy for us to win the bronze, we give God all the glory. We aimed higher when we arrived here but we thank God for what he has done for us,” he reasoned.

    Warri Wolves forward Joshua Obaje said he was happy they have something to show for their efforts at the end of the day.

    “We just have to thank God for his mercy. It was great to end the tournament with a medal,” Obaje told MTNFootball.com.

  • Black Stars stop Eagles on penalties

    Black Stars stop Eagles on penalties

    Stephen Adams saved two penalties to send Ghana through to the final of the African Nations Championship following a goalless draw after extra time.

    Ghana’s Seidu Bansey was inches away from opening the scoring in just the second minute when his long-range effort drifted just wide of the target.

    Despite plenty of attacking intent from both sides in the first half, chances proved to be difficult to create in the opening 45 minutes.

    Abubakar Ibrahim came closest for Nigeria with a powerful strike from 35 yards but he was denied by the post.

    Ghana were dealt a blow in the second half when Kwabena Adusei was shown a red card for a second bookable offence in the 64th minute of the match.

    Despite being forced to play with 10 men for the remainder of the 90 minutes, Ghana managed to hold on to force extra time.

    Imenger Barnabas had a great opportunity to put Nigeria ahead early in the first extra period but the forward somehow managed to scoop his shot over the crossbar from six yards out.

    The same player missed another chance in the closing stages of extra time when Stephen Adams displayed impressive reactions to tip a header over the crossbar.

    Penalties were needed to split the two teams and Adams proved to be the hero for Ghana as he denied both Solomon Kwambe and Ugonna Uzochukwu help his side to a 4-1 win in the shootout and set up a final with Libya.

  • Keshi admits: CHAN Eagles not Nigeria’s best

    Keshi admits: CHAN Eagles not Nigeria’s best

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi claims that the Glo Nigeria Premier League has better players than the ones he has at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Nigeria overcame an opening day defeat against Mali to rout both Mozambique and a strong South Africa side. The Eagles then secured a hard-fought quarterfinal win against Morocco, after being 3-0 down in the first half, but Keshi says this is not even his best squad.

    “The ones that are here are just fortunate to be here because there are better players back home in Nigeria that could have been here but we had no time to get them into the system,” Keshi told KickOffNigeria.com.

    The coach however gave credit to the players in his squad, saying they had not disappointed him.

    “But I thank God with what I have here. These players are very disciplined, they work hard and I just want them to have fun, play without pressure and be happy so that they can get experience of playing at a high level in Africa.”

    “All we are here to do is enjoy ourselves, have fun and be happy. Pressure? Nothing like that.

  • Morocco’s captain salutes Eagles’ resilience

    Morocco’s captain salutes Eagles’ resilience

    Brahim El Bahri, skipper of Morroco’s Atlas Lions has described the Super Eagles team at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) as one of the best he has had to face in his career, even as he tipped the Nigerian side for victory.

    Bahri, who was speaking at the end of the hair-raising encounter between both sides, said the Nigerians simply refused to give up even when the Moroccans thought they had won the match.

    He further conceded that at the end of the day, the indomitable spirit of the Eagles won it for them.

    Bahri said the team had learnt quite a lot from their performance in South Africa and will now go back to the drawing board to prepare for the 2015 African Cup of Nations which Morocco will host.

    “The lessons are great and we will see how far we can go to win the confidence of the people and regain our selves for AFCON 2015, which we will host in Morocco. We are sure we will go very far in the tournament,” he declared.

    The Moroccans, who were making their CHAN debut, had conceded only two goals in three matches before facing the Eagles on Saturday.

  • Confidence, belief, faith won for Eagles —Maigari

    Confidence, belief, faith won for Eagles —Maigari

    • Pres Jonathan expects trophy
    • Green hails team spirit
    • Keshi promises more

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Aminu Maigari, was at his oratorical best on Sunday afternoon when he addressed the Super Eagles at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa after their hard-won victory over the Atlas Lions of Morocco Saturday.

    Maigari, who spoke to the players at their Garden Court De Waal abode after lunch, described the team as the proverbial heart of the Nigerian nation and told them that he had the words of President Goodluck Jonathan, on due reward for the players even as he said order had been restored in Nigerian football.

    “The top news in Nigeria after your miraculous victory over Morocco, was the message of President Goodluck Jonathan urging you to go ahead and win the trophy, with a promise that he will do same if not much more for the team like he did for the AFCON 2013 Champions. The ball is now in your court to make the dreams of Mr President come true”, he said.

    Maigari further declared: “Confidence, belief and faith helped you to overcome the Moroccan opposition and that is the makeup of the average Nigerian; we expect more of such displays in your subsequent encounters because you have raised not only my hope and that of the NFF board but that of the over 160million Nigerians.”

    NFF Technical Committee boss, Chris Green, said he was delighted at the performance of the Nigerian team, even describing Coach Keshi as the best coach in the world at the moment. He alluded the victories of the team of recent to the peaceful atmosphere that has existed between the leadership of the NFF and the Eagles coaching crew.

    Green said: “Some people are gifted, others acquire talent but the head coach here is both gifted and blessed with acquisition. But I must tell him that we must not fail Mr. President in bringing home the trophy at the end of the championship.”

    Keshi in his remarks at the impromptu event said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of praises for him, but quickly added that his assistant coaches, Dan Amokachi, Houadonou Valere and Ike Shorunmu, as well as other staff of the team including medics, the psychologist, security, media, coordinator and Team Administrator have been the real forces of success for the team. “We are like children from the same mother,” Keshi said.

    He promised that the team will not let the nation down in the remaining two matches of the championship. “We will do our best to justify the confidence reposed in this team by Mr. President, the NFF and all Nigerians”, he declared.

  • Nwosu hails Eagles

    Nwosu hails Eagles

    Gateway United coach, Henry Nwosu has said Nigerian teams are good at setting positive records in football.

    The former Nigerian star’s remark is in direct reference to the stunning comeback by the Super Eagles who came from three goals down to win 4-3 against the Atlas Lions of Morocco in Saturday’s quarterfinals duel in Cape Town at the ongoing African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa.

    Goals in the second half and extra time from Enugu Rangers midfielder, Ugonna Uzochukwu, Rabiu Ali, Ejike Uzoenyi and substitute, Abubakar Ibrahim cancelled the North Africans’ three-goal lead in the first half.

    Nwosu said the Eagles re-enacted the famous Saudi ’89 ‘Damman Miracle’ against the North African opponents, the Atlas Lions.

    “I’m really excited that the Super Eagles have qualified for the semifinals of the CHAN as coming from three goals down to win 4-3 against the Moroccans is not a mean achievement.

    “Nigerians are used to setting good record in football, I think the Eagles have just recreated the famous Saudi ’89 ‘Damman Miracle’ in Cape Town, South Africa against Morocco.

    “I’m not surprised at the positive turn out of event, it clearly showed that God loves Nigerians, or how do you explain the miraculous comeback of the Eagles?” said the former Golden Eaglets’ coach to supersport.com.

    Nwosu, however, warned that the Super Eagles may not be twice lucky in the semifinals should they allow a repeat of the mistakes that saw them go down to the Moroccans.

    “The Eagles shouldn’t allow the complacency that saw them trail dangerously to Morocco in the quarterfinals to repeat itself in the semifinals, rather they should stamp their authority right from the blast of the whistle till the end.

    “We shouldn’t depend on mother luck to come back again; we may not get it. There are still problems in the defence as well as goalkeeping, I pray the coaches will tighten the loose ends before the next game,” Nwosu said.

    Nigeria will confront the quarterfinal winners in the encounter between Ghana and DR Congo in the semifinals on Wednesday, January 29.

    The Saudi ’89 ‘Damman Miracle’ referred to the dramatic comeback of Nigeria’s Under-20 men’s side, the Flying Eagles, from four goals down to beat their Russian foes on penalties.