The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • BATTLE OF ADDIS ABABA: Igiebor wants ‘fighting’ Eagles

    BATTLE OF ADDIS ABABA: Igiebor wants ‘fighting’ Eagles

    Real Betis’ Nosa Igiebor has told Nigerians not to fret at the sight of the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia which the Super Eagles will face on October 13 in Addis Ababa in the first leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off.

    Igiebor is among the Eagles’ players pencilled for the epic clash and in a chat with SportingLife, the midfielder asserted that Nigerians would be all smiles at the end of the first leg encounter on matchday.

    Nigerians have been asking various questions bothering on how the Eagles would survive the Ethiopians’ heat since the Eastern African nation is noted for its high altitude.

    Since most of the players invited for the clash ply their trade in Europe which currently experiences cold weather, most football analysts are of the opinion that the Eagles would struggle just like previous outings based on the expected prevailing situation.

    But Igiebor assured that all would be well in Addis Ababa before the game would be finally settled when the Eagles host Ethiopia in Calabar on November 16.

    “We know that we are going to battle with the weather when we get to Addis Ababa but since we know what is at stake-the World Cup ticket we shall strive harder to ensure that we get our goal in Ethiopia.

    “The ultimate is the World Cup ticket and we shall do everything possible to ensure that our objective is achieved.

    “I have never played in any World Cup competition before and I only have just two matches standing between me and a place at next year’s World Cup. I won’t allow anything to stop my dream. Most of us started from Nigeria and so we won’t find it too difficult adjusting to the high altitude,” Igiebor stated.

    The Edo born player only last week scored his first goal of the season in Betis 1-0 home win over Villlarreal.

  • OPERATION CONQUER ETHIOPIA: Eagles get October 8 deadline

    OPERATION CONQUER ETHIOPIA: Eagles get October 8 deadline

    Nigeria expect all 23 invited players for a 2014 World Cup playoff in Ethiopia to report to training camp in Abuja latest October 8.

    “We expect all the players to be here latest by noon on Tuesday, October 8, to begin the preparations for the match,” disclosed Emmanuel Ikpeme, director of the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    “It’s very important that they arrive early because the coach needs all the time available to do the work ahead of the game. Give or take he would have four days to train with the players before we leave by noon on October 12.”

    Coach Stephen Keshi has called up 18 players based in Europe and five from the domestic league for the qualifier in Ethiopia on October 13.

    The squad are expected to be flown out of Abuja on a chartered flight to Addis Ababa on the eve of the match.

  • BATTLE OF ADDIS ABABA: Keshi clears Ameobi

    BATTLE OF ADDIS ABABA: Keshi clears Ameobi

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed that injured Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi will be fit for a 2014 World Cup playoffs in Ethiopia.

    Ethiopia host the Super Eagles on October 13 in a first leg playoff for a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

    Ameobi has been sidelined by a knock he picked up while on international duty last month, with his club saying he will be sidelined for several weeks thus raising fears he may miss the match in Addis Ababa.

    But Keshi has now told MTNFootball.com that the striker will be available for the qualifier.

    “Shola is fine. He will be ready for the game against Ethiopia. I spoke with him last week and he said he is good. In any case he is a very disciplined player who really wants to play for his country. So, my list remains intact, there would be no changes,” Keshi said.

    Ameobi has won four caps for Nigeria and scored a goal since he made his long-awaited international debut against Venezuela last year in the United States of America.

     

  • ETHIOPIA VS NIGERIA: Jonathan charters two planes for Eagles

    ETHIOPIA VS NIGERIA: Jonathan charters two planes for Eagles

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved two planes to take players and supporters to Addis Ababa for the final World Cup qualifiers against Wayla Antelopes of Ethiopia.

    Fcnaija learnt that Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi disclosed in South Africa that the President wants to give the team all the necessary support for the game which comes up October 13.

    One of the planes will carry the players, officials, NFF board members and other staff of the Nigeria Football Federation.

    The other plane will take supporters and other people who want to also go and cheer the team in Addis Ababa.

    The Super Eagles will start preparation this weekend in Abuja with the home-based players.

  • Six Eaglets pass MRI test

    Six Eaglets pass MRI test

    • Begin training in Dubai

    A final batch of six players passed the MRI scan before the Nigeria U-17 team jetted out of the country on a training tour ahead of the U-17 World Cup.

    MTNFootball.com gathered that the players were considered to be “on the borderline”, but they all came out with flying colours at the Abuja National Hospital to give the Golden Eaglets a massive boost ahead of the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    A squad of 25 players and 10 officials departed Nigeria for Dubai on Monday. The Golden Eaglets have since resumed training.

    Coach Manu Garba said there was no time to waste since the kick-off of the 15th edition of the global cadet competition is fast approaching, adding that it was important for the players to shake off jet lag occasioned by their travelling from Calabar to Lagos on Monday before embarking on another seven-hour nonstop flight from Lagos to Dubai.

    All the 25 players trained on Tuesday evening at the pitch of Higher Colleges of Technology located within the Dubai Academic City under a fine weather condition of 29°C with good visibility throughout the duration of about two hours training that started 4:30pm local time (1:30pm Nigerian time).

    “It is good we started today, this is important because we had our last training session on Saturday morning in Calabar; so it’s good we start conditioning ourselves to our new environment.”

    The Eaglets are expected to train henceforth twice daily with variations as the occasion demands before their departure to the city of Al-Ain which is about one hour and thirty minutes from Dubai by flight for their preliminary group matches against Mexico and Iraq on October 19 and 22.

    The team’s last match against Sweden will be played in Dubai on October 25.

  • Saintfiet warns Eagles: Beware of Ethiopia’s attacking style

    Saintfiet warns Eagles: Beware of Ethiopia’s attacking style

    With the first leg,last round world cup qualifier against Ethiopia now less than two weeks away, former Wayla Antelopes’ coach, Tom Saintfiet has given a tactical analysis of what to expect from the Ethiopians.

    In a chat with Brila FM, Saintfiet highlighted the fast counter-attacking play of Ethiopia, which he says could be difficult for the Nigerian defenders to cope with.

    “They have some good counter-attack strikers like Saladin Said who find it easy to score goals and so the Nigerian defence must be careful because sometimes they are weak at the back and so if Ethiopia can take advantage of that, then they will score goals.”

    Saintfiet was named coach of the Wayla Antelopes in late May of 2011 and within 10 days of his appointment gathered a largely home based players to draw Nigeria 2-2 in a 2012 AFCON qualifiers. Saintfiet voluntarily resigned his position as head coach on 28 October 2011.

    Nigeria and Ethiopia will vie for a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil when the clash in Addis Ababa on October 13 for the first leg.

  • …Ex- footballers mourn former Eagles defender

    …Ex- footballers mourn former Eagles defender

    Erstwhile footballers under the aegis of Kano Ex-Footballers Association have expressed as a rude shock, the passing away of former Super Eagles defender, the late Aminu Abdul.

    In a statement signed by the public relations officer of the group, Chidi Obasi said “ It is with rude shock and to the total submission to God that we receive the sad news of the demise of Mallam Aminu Abdul and the death also of Charles Anijeku may their souls rest in peace”.

    “We call on governments at the State and Federal levels and well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of their families and the same time take a critical look at the plight confronting many ex footballers, whom have served this country meritoriously”.

    “We appeal that a scheme that will accommodate the welfare of ex-footballers should be established and we urge those responsible for running the game to propagate this idea and bring to fore the plight of those who served this country with all their strength and are today living like destitute,” Obasi stated.

    The former Super Eagles central defender, Aminu Abdul passed away, on September 25th, at his residence in Hotoro quarters in Kano, his remains was interred on September 26 in accordance to Islamic rites.

  • Eagles must be wary of Ethiopia — Coach Allen

    Eagles must be wary of Ethiopia — Coach Allen

    2014 WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF

    • Football not played on pages of newspapers
    • Task Keshi to keep plans to chest

    Former Shooting Stars coach, Festus Allen has warned Super Eagles players to be wary Walias Antelopes of Ethiopia and also stop talking football on the pages of newspapers. He said he should focus more on the upcoming 2014 World Cup play-off in Addis Ababa.

    Allen said: “It’s unprofessional of our players to talk football on the pages of newspapers when a crucial game is just less than 20 days away.

    “These players, I feel should be 100% focused on the game even though they know that they did defeated Ethiopians in the 2013 African Nations Cup group stage.

    “I followed the Walia Antelopes progress in the World Cup qualifiers and they are not a push over team but a team of pedigree.

    “Despite FIFA deducting points from them for fielding an ineligible player, they still went ahead to topple tough teams like South Africa, Botswana and Central African Republic to be leaders of the group.

    “This ordinarily should give our Super Eagles players some form of concern as they would be facing them again for the second time in high altitude Addis Ababa.”

    As for coach Stephen Keshi, I am one of his admirers, kudos to him as he has given coaches in Nigeria a new identity as not many sports administrator would risk their necks for us.

    “I urge him to continue with the good job and to please keep his keep his game plans to his chest at this crucial time.

    “He should be mindful of the fact that despite winning the AFCON 2013, Nigerians will not spear him if the Super Eagles fail to qualify for the World Cup in 2014.

    “Keshi must see the Addis Ababa as key as the win for the Super Eagles will put less pressure on him, players and indeed Nigerians, as the second leg would just be a run-off the meal once they get it right in the first leg.”

  • Aluko targets Super Eagles recall

    Aluko targets Super Eagles recall

    Hull City striker Sone Aluko is hoping that a good form for his club would help him get a dream recall to the Super Eagles squad.

    The former England youth international switched allegiances four years ago and made his Super Eagles debut in 2009.

    His last game under coach Stephen Keshi was in June 2012 as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Rwanda in a 2013 Africa cup of nations qualifier.

    “If things go my way this season I can still break into the team for Brazil definitely. If I maintain my form then I will have a good case for selection,” he told BBC Sport.

    The former U23 player has scored one goal for Hull this season in a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United.

  • Ike Uche tips Eagles

    Ike Uche tips Eagles

    Nigeria International Ikechukwu Uche believes that with hardwork they can secure they ticket to the World Cup.

    The Spanish based player highlighted his views as he was keen to point out the fact that they have quality team too.

    “We haven’t dropped a match yet in the qualifiers and shows how well we have been doing as a team.”

    “We can only continue like that if we work hard and strive to get results in the upcoming matches.”

    “However, I believe Nigeria has a chance of getting one of the tickets up for grabsto the World Cup.”

    “When you look at our team, you can see it has a blend of young players and that is an asset when it comes to delivery in tournaments for the country level.”

    Uche started his professional career in Spain and won this year’s African Cup of Nations with Nigeria as his side edged Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final despite being unfancied in the competition.