The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eagles

  • Bafana Bafana shake off Eagles bug

    Bafana Bafana shake off Eagles bug

    •Beat Burkina Faso 2-0

    Bafana Bafana put aside the disappointing of 2-0 loss to Super Eagles August 14 in the Mandela challenge to defeat Burkina Faso by the same margin on Saturday at the FNB Stadium in Soweto as part of the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day.

    Goals from from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Luyolo Nomandela gave Bafana the victory to the delight of Coach Gordon Igesund who gave his lads a pat on the back not only for rising to the occasion but also putting aside the Nigerian defeat just 84 hours earlier.

    Incidentally the two scorers in Saturday’s encounter equally gave a good account of themselves in the battle against Nigeria despite the defeat at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

    A brace by Uche Nwofor, a second half substitute, was all the Stephen Keshi tutored Eagles needed to re-affirm their supremacy over the hosts and pick their second trophy in the former apartheid enclave just six months after the won the Nations Cup.

  • MANDELA CHALLENGE: Eagles defeat Bafana 2—0

    MANDELA CHALLENGE: Eagles defeat Bafana 2—0

    Uche Nwofor rose from the bench at half time, and scored twice in 18 minutes to give the Super Eagles of Nigeria a 2-0 win over a disappointing South Africa in the Mandela Challenge match played at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Wednesday.

    Nwofor had come on in place of Shola Ameobi, who was handed his second cap by Stephen Keshi.

    The Super Eagles had dominated the first half of the game, but did not create any clear cut chance that would have yielded a goal.

    Academical of Portugal midfielder, John Ogu, had posed the biggest threat for the South Africans, as his two shots from long range were the bright moments for the Super Eagles.

    The South Africans had their own chances too, as they caught the Eagles out twice, and got behind the defence, only to find Austin Ejide capable.

    Then came the second half.

    Nwofor scored with virtually his first touch of the ball, as he compensated for an earlier miss with an audacious back heel that sailed in for the first goal.

    Ahmed Musa should have created a third when he cut in from the left with minutes left on the game, but opted to shoot rather than feed a lurking Brown Ideye.

  • Eagles recall Gege Soriola

    Eagles recall Gege Soriola

    Free State Stars centre-back, Gege Soriola, is happy to earn another chance with Nigeria’s Super Eagles for this August game against South Africa.

    The former Heartland man was handed a call-up by Nigeria manager, Stephen Keshi, this week alongside another South African-based defender, James Okwuosa, who is in the books of Chippa United.

    Both men were called as replacements for Kenneth Omeruo and Emmanuel Emenike in Nigeria’s squad for the Nelson Mandela Challenge against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on August 14.

    Soriola told supersport.com that he is thankful that the Nigerian selectors have looked his way again.

    He added that the call-up presents him with another chance to prove he is capable of claiming place in the Nigerian national team.

    “I am thankful to God and the coaches for looking in my direction for such a big game (against South Africa). I’m very excited with the chance to play for the national team again after a while.

    “It’s good to know that I am still in the plans of the coach, who is a big brother and a father figure. He spoke to me just after the Confederations Cup and I was really pleased. But now I have to prove myself with this opportunity,” Soriola told supersport.com on Friday.

    Soriola last made an appearance for the African champions over a year ago in an international friendly against Peru in Lima.

  • Sign or quit, FG tells Eagles

    Sign or quit, FG tells Eagles

    A shocker awaits Super Eagles players when the Code of Conduct rule comes into force as they would be expected to either sign it or forget about playing for Nigeria in international soccer competitions.

    A committee set up to probe a recent bonus row in the Super Eagles has recommended that the win bonus for the team be pegged at $5,000-a-man.

    The committee, which is expected to present its findings to the country’s sports minister next week, also recommended a formal code of conduct to be signed by all players in the national team.

    “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is no longer in a position to pay $10,000 each for a win and that is why the committee has recommended we should revert to the status quo of $5,000 before the 2010 World Cup Presidential Task Force supplemented the bonus,” a top official informed only MTNFootball.com

    A code of conduct will also be introduced to the Eagles, which will clearly spell out what is expected of both players and the NFF.

    The code of conduct is in force in countries like England and Germany and even though several national team coaches including current handler Stephen Keshi have been averse to this rule book, the committee has recommended it be enforced in the Eagles.

    “The players are expected to sign the code of conduct or else quit the team,” another official told MTNFootball.com

    In 1994, only a handful of players led by Mutiu Adepoju agreed to sign a code of conduct tabled by the NFF.

    In June, the African champions stayed put in Namibia and refused to board a flight to the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil until they were paid full bonuses for a win and a draw in Kenya and Namibia, respectively.

    MTNFootball.com gathered that thereafter the Presidency had to make available a shortfall of $7,500-a-player with sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi having to personally cart the cash to Brazil for the team.

  • Eagles arrive in Southern Sun Hotel Monday

    Eagles arrive in Southern Sun Hotel Monday

    Super Eagles players will start arriving in South Africa as from Monday for the Nelson Mandela Challenge. The players were given no deadline for resumption since the match is a friendly.

    Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Stephen Keshi told SportingLife yesterday that he expects the arrival of his players in Durban as from Monday so that they can have some training sessions before Wednesday’s match.

    “I always laugh when I hear the word ‘deadline’. The players are professionals who know what to do at any given time when it comes to the football business. So they know when to arrive in camp in South Africa and we will leave Sunday night to be there on time to receive them.

    “We also expect a good match and will give our best”, Keshi told SportingLife via telephone from his base in Benin yesterday.

    The Eagles, SportingLife learnt exclusively, would be camped by the host nation in Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel, Durban, South Africa.

    It was also learnt that tickets for the 62,760 capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium had almost been exhausted as at Friday. The reason being that South African soccer fans are not taking the match as an ordinary friendly but a war to beat the African Champions, a reason why the Bafana Coach called up virtually all their best players home and abroad for the encounter.

    The Nigeria contingent will depart Lagos for Johannesburg aboard South African Airways on Sunday night with the technical crew led by Stephen Keshi and four prominent home-based players which include goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, midfielder Sunday Mba and defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Azubuike Egwueke.

  • BATTLE OF CALABAR Peter Wadabwa sure of form against Eagles

    BATTLE OF CALABAR Peter Wadabwa sure of form against Eagles

     •Says Flames would shock Eagles

    Ahead of Super Eagles world cup qualifier against Flames of Malawi in Calabar, Malawian international Peter Wadabwa says his current killer form may turn out to be a joker in the September 6 tie which the visitors declared a must win.

    Wadabwa who recently signed for Professional soccer league (PSL) side Golden Arrows, fired a warning shot Saturday scoring a season opener against Ajax Cape Town. His strike however failed to hand the tie completely to Golden Arrows as Ajax fought had to draw level.

    Wadabwa who has made over 13 appearances for Malawi with two goals in the kitty, reasoned that his move to a higher club will further fire him to greater heights and ginger up and coming players to fly for the Flames.

    “It is a must for me to do well for myself but I’ll always try to do what the coach expects from me and put the team first. It’s important for me to be a good example for the young players in Malawi and to show what we are capable of.

    I was called up to the national team even when I played in the National First Division and now that I’m playing for a bigger team I believe I’ll be able to make a bigger contribution for my country as well,” he enthused

    Determined to rattle the Stephen Keshi tutored side, Malawi recently engaged Tom Saintfeit who had offered to coach the team for free.

    Nigeria leads Group F with five points but with better goal advantage with Malawi following on the same point.

  • CHAN 2014 Ubido hails Eagles qualification

    CHAN 2014 Ubido hails Eagles qualification

    •Ready to contribute own quota

    Congratulatory messages have continued to pour into the camp of home based Eagles following their qualification for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

    The latest of such standing ovations is coming from Heartland’s defensive midfielder, Julius Ubido. The hard fighting midfielder who is among players that have been pencilled down for consideration by Coach Stephen keshi before the championship begins, described Nigeria’s qualification as a major breakthrough. The continental show piece according to him will again provide an opportunity for Nigeria to re-affirm her position as the ultimate African soccer nation.

    He hailed players who made the qualification possible for rising to the occasion, despite the two zero loss to Ivory Coast in Abidjan in the return leg.

    “I congratulate the players for doing the nation proud. The qualification is good for the country and even the league players and I am optimistic we will again prove that Nigeria is a great football nation,” he enthused even as he re-echoed his readiness to contribute to his quota when called upon.

    “Playing for the national team is an honour, it is an opportunity to serve and I am always ready to contribute my own quota,” he said

    Eagles have already been tipped to rattle opponents when the championship billed for January begins. After brushing aside top contenders including Cote d Ivoire who are ranked number one the continent to win the Nations Cup this year, Some soccer fans sayNigeria looks good to make it a double by claiming the title meant for home based players. Some who spoke with SportingLife on the chances of making it a double however said the team must resist the temptation to underrate opponents.

  • Bafana ready for Eagles, says Igesund

    Bafana ready for Eagles, says Igesund

    African champions Super Eagles will face the strongest side South Africa can produce come August 14.

    Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund gave this hint at the official launch of the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Friday.

    Winning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2013, according to Igesund, is an indication that the Super Eagles are not a side to be treated with kids’ gloves no matter the level of competition.

    South Africa are scheduled to play Nigeria and Burkina Faso in honour of former South African President, Nelson Mandela, and Igesund continued to repeat the statement “The opposition are the champions of Africa”, an indication that he is seeing the August 14 encounter beyond a mere friendly.

    According to the former Moroka Swallows sweat merchant the Super Eagles squad recently named by Stephen Keshi is formidable, thus it makes sense for the Bafana to raise a crack team for the showdown.

    Bafana Bafana are emerging from the COSAFA CUP where they finished third.

    “I thought there were quite a few players who did really well and there will be a few in the team for that game against Nigeria,” he said.

    Nigeria announced a strong squad for the clash earlier this week, among them AFCON top-scorer Emmanuel Emenike.

    “We’re honouring the great Nelson Mandela and (Nigeria coach) Stephen Keshi will be bringing a very formidable team, which shows how much respect the rest of the world has for the man,” Igesund said.

    “They’ve selected a really good team and it’s going to be a fantastic challenge for us,” he submitted.

  • NFF going ahead with bonus reduction

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has declared that it will go ahead with its decision to reduce the bonus of players in the national team.

    This disclosure was made by the general secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, who told The BBC that this decision was taken by the executive committee of the NFF after serious deliberations and financial considerations.

    “We’ve taken into account the peculiar situation [financial problems] of how things are with the federation,” Amadu said. “The $5 000 for a win and $2 500 for a draw is what we have settled for, agreed with the team and can actually afford.

    “We inherited the $10 000 amount and, with good intention, decided to continue paying the players that sum in order to motivate them. With the financial challenge, we opted for a cost-cutting measure to accommodate our demands and we got everyone on board.

    “It’s significant to know that, at $5 000, the Super Eagles remain among the best-paid national teams in Africa – a fact the players need to understand.”

    Although the panel set up by the sports minister to investigate the bonus row is yet to submit its report, NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire denied that the latest action of the football authorities could undermine the efforts of the panel.

    “We are trying not to undermine the laudable efforts of the panel investigating the bonus row,” Olajire said. “The way the federation is operating right now is based on the financial situation. “At the moment, there is no change on the bonus agreement. We are confident everyone will respect the NFF’s position on this matter.”

  • CHAN 2014 LOC intensify mobilisation for Eagles

    CHAN 2014 LOC intensify mobilisation for Eagles

    African champions, Super Eagles, are sure to again face huge fans when they begin their campaign for glory in the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

    Local Organising Committee for the championship gave the hint on Monday at a briefing to reveal the level of preparations for the championship billed for January 11 through to February 1.

    Chief Executive Officer of the LOC Mvuzo Mbebe said though the body has been lagging behind in mobilising fans ahead of the championship, efforts are being intensified to pull crowd just like was witnessed at 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) which Nigeria won with a relish. “From an infrastructure perspective we are ready, but from a marketing perspective, there is still a long way to go.

    “We are 50% there. For operational planning, we are 70% there. Now we need to get to the public, that is where we are lagging behind,” Mbebe revealed, adding that all hands are now on deck to fast track mobilisation for the championship.

    Nigeria qualified for the final for the first time after defeating Ivory Coast on 4-3 aggregate. The Stephen Keshi tutored side lost 0-2 in Abidjan but reaped the fruit of impressive 4-1 defeat of the Ivorians in the first leg in Kaduna.

    South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Fikile Mbalula had earlier said Chan would be another opportunity for South Africa to showcase its ability to host events, and counted the blessings of hosting continental championships.

    “Football has helped us forget about poverty. This is what Chan is about. South Africa is the number one destination of mega events in the world and many people get to know our country through these events”,” said Mbalula.

    CHAN 2014 will be held in three cities of Cape Town, Bloemfontein and group D in Polokwane