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Tag: eagles

  • Eagles Coordinator set for NYSC Cup win

    Eagles Coordinator set for NYSC Cup win

    Super Eagles team coordinator, Emmanuel Danladi Attah, has been grinning from ear to ear since news got to him that his team – the National Youth Service Commission (NYSC) team will play in the final of this year’s Public Service Games holding in Makurdi, Benue State. Attah is the Chairman of the seven man Management team of the NYSC side.

    Attah, gleefully announced on Thursday night that his team after a hard fought 2-0 win over National Commission of Statistics team will be facing the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, in the final of the football event of the tourney. Though, the Civil Defence team was still enmeshed in a protest over the team they conquered in the semi-final as at the time of going to press.

    The Eagles coordinator attributed the smooth run of the team to the support the team received from the Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen MT Okorie-Affia. “Our DG has been more than supportive of our course and the players have vowed to win the trophy for him for all the support, so I will urge our opponents to surrender before the final”, he said smiling.

    Attah added that he was also bringing the panache with which the Super Eagles have dominated African football of recent to bear on the NYSC team. “As a former Flying Eagles goalkeeper, nothing will stop us from advancing the course of not only the NYSC team I work for but also the entire football fraternity in Nigeria”.

  • Onazi, Ogu tip CHAN Eagles for trophy

    Onazi, Ogu tip CHAN Eagles for trophy

    • Keshi cagey about final list

    As preparations for the 2014 African Nations Championship, CHAN reaches the crucial bend, some members of the national team based abroad have been sending positives across to encourage the team ahead of the tourney which starts January 11, in South Africa.

    The latest to speak on the team’s chances are Lazio of Italy playmaker, Ogenyi Onazi and Academica Du Combra of Portugal combative midfielder, John Ogu. Eagles’ Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes the two players as saying that with the quality they have seen of the players each time they were in camp together, there is no team in Africa that will be good enough for the CHAN trophy in South Africa than the Super Eagles.

    Hear Onazi: “We are the African champions and we are sure that by the close of the competition, our brothers at home will not let us down because they will win the CHAN trophy to sustain what we have jointly achieved. Luckily for us we have the same coach for us and our brothers at home, I see no obstacle ahead”.

    On his part, Ogu praised the impact, Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has had in his career and said he believes that the same was being extended to players in the CHAN Eagles. “Just help me tell my teammates that I’m here rooting for them and very sure that by the end of the day they will be celebrating with the Cup back home in Nigeria. Greet Coach for me too..oooo”.

  • Eagles sweat on injured Gambo Mohammed

    Eagles sweat on injured Gambo Mohammed

    CHAN-bound Super Eagles are still battling for Kano Pillars striker Gambo Mohammed to be fit in time for the continental tournament in South Africa.

    The Pillars striker, MTNFootball.com has gathered is still nursing a hamstring injury.

    The injury kept him out of the recent Charity Cup clash against Enyimba in Warri and he also did not feature in this week’s Eagles friendly against Niger Tornadoes in Abuja.

    Mohammed again did not train with the rest of the squad on Friday as he was put through his paces by the team’s physiotherapist.

    Mohammed is one of the established players in the home-based Eagles squad and even featured at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    Meanwhile, Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Dele Alampasu could miss out on the CHAN as he is expected to attend the FIFA Awards in Switzerland next month after he and Kelechi Iheanacho received a special invitation to the prestigious event.

    Alampasu missed Friday morning’s training so as to be at the embassy for his visa interview.

  • INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Argentina to play Slovenia for Eagles

    INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Argentina to play Slovenia for Eagles

    Argentina FA has lined up an international friendly match against Slovenia before meeting the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    The match, which will take place in Argentina on June 1, is expected to be Argentina’s last match before the World Cup.

    The Albiceleste qualified for the mundial from the Conmebol standings and were drawn in Group F alongside Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina for next year’s showpiece.

    Alejandro Sabella’s men sit third in the FIFA World Rankings and Nigeria end the year 37 in the ranking.

    Meanwhile, Diego Maradona has claimed that Argentina will triumph at next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

    Maradona, who inspired his nation to glory in the 1986 edition of the competition, believes that history will repeat itself this time around but warns of the threat posed by the Netherlands and la Roja.

    Speaking to Sport, the Albiceleste legend said: “There will be a repeat of 1986 in Brazil. Argentina will be world champions. Germany and Netherlands are also very good [and] both Spain and Italy cannot be ignored.”

    Should Sabella’s charges go all the way, it would mark the country’s third success at the World Cup, previously winning it as the host nation in 1978.

  • CHAN Eagles can make World Cup, says Keshi

    CHAN Eagles can make World Cup, says Keshi

    There is a lot of hope rising for the home based players that are currently in camp in preparation for the 3rd edition of the CHAN championship holding in South Africa early next year.

    According to the Head Coach of the team, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi all players in camp have equal opportunities to make to the 2014 World Cup holding in Brazil. The Big Boss said it is his team that the home based players in camp should excel to make the team to the World Cup “That is my prayer.

    It is my prayer that the players make maximum impact at the CHAN championship.

    We are not camping them for the CHAN alone, we are training them to be able to break into the main team. If we have five or six of them, that excel at the championship, there is nothing stopping them from making it to the World Cup.

    I think that is the main reason why the CHAN championship was established. I hope and pray that the players do well to merit a shirt in the World Cup team”.

  • Keshi rejects Japan

    Keshi rejects Japan

    • Says they wouldn’t benefit Eagles’ preparations
    • Sad he couldn’t secure friendly in Brazil

    Super Eagles’ chief coach, Stephen Keshi on Wednesday closed the door of a likely international friendly between Japan and Nigeria ahead of the matches of the Brazil 2014 World Cup tournament.

    Keshi stated that he would not in the short term accept a friendly game against Japan because the Japanese playing style and tactics are not akin to that of the three other countries in Group F comprising Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Argentina.

    “During the Brazil 2014 World Cup draw, someone introduced himself as the agent of the Japanese soccer federation seeking a friendly with Nigeria. I didn’t accept his proposal because their style and tactics does not conform with that of the teams in our group.

    “It will be difficult to get friendlies of my choice because most of the countries have pre World Cup plans sorted out before now.

    “However, if we don’t get the type of matches that I think suits us, then, we can consider the Japan friendly rather than remain idle.”

  • Eagles trounce Tornadoes

    Eagles trounce Tornadoes

    • Tackle Plateau United Saturday

    The Super Eagles continued their buildup to next month’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tourney in South Africa with a 2-0 trouncing of hard-fighting Niger Tornadoes of Minna on Wednesday evening.

    The match was played at the mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium and the team will next tackle Plateau United at the same venue on Saturday morning.

    The cagey encounter was watched by a sparse crowd that included NFF’s Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme as the Minna side gave the Eagles a run for their money. The side, now managed by former Flying Eagles and Dream Team Coach, Godwin Koko Uwa, was up to the task forcing the Eagles to their end of the pitch in the first ten minutes of the encounter.

    Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi started with a very strong squad with captain, Chigozie Agbim in goal, Azubuike Egwueke, Yinka Adedeji, Solomon Kwambe and Ogonna Osuchukwu holding sway in the defence. Christian Pyagbara and Rabiu Ali held sway in midfield while Gbolahan Salami, Barnabas Imenger and hard-working Abubakar Aliyu were the preferred strikers. Imenger got the Eagles on the score sheet 14 minutes into the encounter after Abubakar was brought down for a free kick. Ali flicked it in, and after Abubakar and Pyagbara’s shots were blocked, Imenger coolly slotted in for the opener.

    Thereafter, it was Eagles all the way with Imenger, Ali, Abubakar and Egwuekwe all coming close but the half ended 1-0. But not without incidence as Agbim, was made to pull off a fantastic save with a tip of his fingers in the 44th minute in the highly robust encounter.

    In the second half, the Eagles introduced Sunday Mba, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ejike Uzoenyi, newcomers Obannor Erhune and Ikeleji Bello, who acquitted themselves well, and Eaglets goalie, Sunday Alampasu who was a commanding presence in goal with his control of the defence line.

    But the crunchy play of Tornadoes and misses from Mba, Ejike and Rangers’ Christian Obiozor kept the scoreline where it was until the 82nd minute when Ejike was brought down in the vital area and dimunitive Ikechukwu ‘Small’ Azubuike stepped forward to dispatch the penalty.

    Tornadoes Coach, Uwa, said he was impressed with the Eagles’ display against his side despite the many changes made by the technical crew.

    ”They showed why they are the reigning African champions”, he said, while Keshi simply said he was impressed by the physical play of the opposition, as that will be the focal point of most teams that will take part at the CHAN tourney.

  • Eagles‘ll soar in CHAN — Galadima

    Eagles‘ll soar in CHAN — Galadima

    • Wants NFF’s close monitoring of Eaglets

    Former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) chairman, Ibrahim Galadima, says he foresee a successful outing for the Super Eagles at the forthcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    He also said he has been in touch with the leadership of the (Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on how best to groom the Golden Eaglets for the future.

    Galadima, who spoke from his base in Kano, said with the pedigree of the technical crew headed by Stephen Keshi and the quality of players invited for the tournament, he sees Nigeria doing very well at the championship.

    “Yes, there is the time factor problem but I know what Keshi and his team can do and know some of the best players in the local league have been invited to fight for shirts, hence my optimism.”

    On the recent departure from the Super Eagles’ camp of Eaglets’ Kelechi Iheanacho, Galadima opined that while the player has a future career to pursue, the NFF which also helped in his development must keep a close eye on him and other members of the team.

    “Europe is good for them (the ex-Eaglets) because they can help groom them well both in football and education, but I have told the NFF to keep an eye on all the players because they are future champions of the world.

    “I also told them so when they paid me a visit here in Kano and I’m saying it again, they must be closely monitored to avoid exploitation and them being misled by football profiteers”, he said.

    In doing so, Galadima said the NFF will not only be helping Nigeria but the players themselves.

    “We had cases in the past when some players made so much money but could not even manage it, let alone asking them to come and be part of Nigerian football and sports management. That is what we must guide against and education is key to this”, he said.

  • EAGLES RETURN: Keshi gives Yobo conditions

    EAGLES RETURN: Keshi gives Yobo conditions

    • Osaze, Haruna, others too

    Super Eagles Chief Coach Stephen Keshi has given his reasons for shutting out Eagles Captain Joseph Yobo from the team after Nigeria emerged African Champions in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in South Africa.

    The coach, although maintaining that Yobo still remained the Eagles’ captain, demanded more from his skipper before he can return to the first team.

    “Joseph is part of us. Joseph is still our captain. If we think he is ready we will call. He and I speak all the time. If we think he is ready we will bring him in.

    “But it is not about who you are, it’s what you can give us. It’s about what you can give Nigeria. I don’t do all this sentiment stuff.

    “We have European players that are about 39 years old that still play for their national teams, they are quality players, so, if I have the same I will play you.

    “If you give me what I want or what the team wants, I will play you. It’s not about age stuff, it’s about your commitment and quality that you are going to add to the team that is most important to me and the team.

    “The same things goes for Osaze Odemwingie, Lukman Haruna and others,” Keshi said.

  • CHAN 2014: Keshi worried about Eagles’ preparation

    CHAN 2014: Keshi worried about Eagles’ preparation

    Stephen Keshi, the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, on Friday expressed worry about the preparation of the home-based Eagles, ahead of the Championship of African Nations (CHAN).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2014 CHAN is scheduled to take place in South Africa between Jan. 11 and Feb. 1, next year.

    Keshi told newsmen after the Eagles first practise match since the opening of the camp that time was the biggest problem the team faced in preparation for the championship.

    “My worry is that we don’t have enough time to prepare these boys; there is a lot of talent in them but there is no time to nurture it. There are prospects in the players’ style of play but we still need to do a lot of work in terms of tactical and positional play,” he said.

    The `Big boss’, as Keshi is popularly called, said that the only way out would be for the team to engage itself in more practise matches, just like the one against Prisons F.C., which the Eagles won 4-1.

    The Super Eagles coach noted that the move of his key defender, Godfrey Obaobona, and few others to foreign clubs also added to the problem of preparing the team.

    According to Keshi, ‘’I am missing them but at the same time I am happy for them because if they do not leave, other players will not come in to take their places.”

    “The only problem is that we now have extra jobs to do because we have to go back to the basics and start from the scratch. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong in them going for greener pastures,’’ he added.

    On the 2014 World Cup draw, Keshi pointed out that the group was a difficult one as Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Iranian national football teams would be `tough nuts to crack’.

    “It is not an easy draw. Our group is very complicated because Bosnia- Herzegovina has a very good team. Iran is also good. Everybody is saying Argentina, but we have to be very careful about Bosnia- Herzegovina and Iran. We need good preparation and full concentration in all the games, to be able to excel in that group,” Keshi said.

    NAN reports that Keshi joined the Home-Eagles camp on Thursday, following his return from Brazil after the 2014 World Cup draws which paired Nigeria in Group F, with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia- Herzegovina.

    30 players are currently in the team’s camp which opened on Dec. 9. The team currently trains at the artificial turf of the FIFA Goal Project in package `B’ of the Abuja National Stadium.