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Tag: eagles

  • Eagles face adidas XI Monday

    Eagles face adidas XI Monday

    The Super Eagles will face an adidas XI in a test game in Germany before they fly out to the US for a friendly against Mexico.

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) marketing director, Idris Adama, also told MTNFootball.com Eagles kits sponsors adidas have delivered 2013 adidas boots and the FIFA Confederations Cup officials match balls to the team.

    “Adidas has confirmed to us that the Eagles are the first team in the world to get delivery of the new balls which has been designed for the Confederations Cup in Brazil. The team would equally be the first to test the 2013 adidas ball when they take on Adidas eleven on May 27 at the Adidas facility in Germany,” announced Adama.”

    Meanwhile, the number of players in the Super Eagles training camp in Germany has swelled to 17 following the arrival of more players to the Novina Hotel camp late on Wednesday.

    The latest set of arrivals includes Germany-based striker Joseph Akpala and Ukraine-based forward Babatunde Michael. Also in is Portugal-based midfielder John Ogu.

    Defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile as well as Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi arrived yesterday morning.

  • Sand Eagles ready for African challenge

    Sand Eagles ready for African challenge

    NIGERIA BEACH soccer national team, the Supersand Eagles have arrived Morocco, ahead of the African qualifiers for the Beach Soccer World Cup to held in Tahiti in September.

    The 12-man squad arrived Morocco at about noon on Sunday and immediately checked into their hotel as they seek to start preparations to earn one of the two ticket available for Africa for the Beach Soccer World Cup.

    Abu Azeez, who was the top scorer at last year’s Copa Lagos Beach tourney, told supersport.com from the team’s hotel in Morocco that they team are raring to go.

    “We arrived safely and we’re really set for the stiff challenges ahead,” he said.

    “The team knows what is at stake and we are going to make sure we do our best to make the nation proud, by not only qualifying but also doing well at the world championship in Tahiti,” Azeez added.

    Nigeria are a powerhouse in beach soccer on the continent, and have represented Africa at the world stage on numerous occasions.

    The team are packed with beach soccer stars that include team captain and Dolphins FC midfielder, Isiaka Olawale, Ogbonnaya Okemmiri and top scorer Victor Tale.

    Senegal are the reigning African beach soccer champions, after seeing off Nigeria in the final of the 2011 edition held in Morocco.

  • Eagles duo weigh up Confed prospect

    Eagles duo weigh up Confed prospect

    •Promise total concentration in Brazil

    NIGERIA defenders, Efe Ambrose and Godfrey Oboabona, have said they are bracing up for this year’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    Both players played huge roles in ensuring that Nigeria’s Super Eagles emerged champions at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Ambrose and Oboabona have been named in Nigeria’s 25-man roster for the busy June schedule that includes the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualification and the FIFA Confederations Cup. Ambrose, 24, is confident that the African champions will put up a good show in Brazil this June.

    “Nigeria is one of the best teams and we want to go there and try to win the tournament. We want to call on our fans to give us their backing and ours is to execute the games as they come,” said Celtic defender, Ambrose.

    Sunshine Stars centre-back, Oboabona, said the squad are ready to take every game at the FIFA Confederations Cup one at a time.

    “For me I’m thankful to God for this opportunity and at the same time, I’m grateful to the coach (Stephen Keshi) for believing in myself and other players based in the domestic league.

    “At the Confederations Cup we will give our best. But we will want to only take each game as they come,” said the 22-year-old defender.

    Nigeria will kick-start their busy schedule for June with an international friendly against Mexico in Houston, USA on May 31.

    The African champions will then head to Kenya and Namibia between June 5 and 12 for crucial FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifiers before jetting out to Brazil for the Confederations Cup.

    Nigeria’s games at Brazil 2013:

    June 17: v Tahiti (Belo Horizonte)

    June 20: v Uruguay (Salvador, Bahia)

    June 23: v Spain (Fortaleza)

  • Mikel, other Eagles stars bag award

    Mikel, other Eagles stars bag award

    SportingLife too

    AFCON 2013 Super Eagles stars of John Mikel Obi, Emmenuel Emenike, Austin Ejide, Obiora Nwankwo, Azubike Egwuekwe and assistant coach of the team, Sylvanus Okpala ‘Quicksilver’ were at the weekend honoured for their briliant showing at the Nations Cup in South Africa.

    The awards packaged by Anambra State Football Association and NEROS Pharmaceuticals Limited in honour of Super Eagles players from the state. Okpala, on behalf of the Eagles stars, thanked the initiators of the awards on behalf of others and said such will spur them to higher heights.

    Media awards were also presented to some media houses for their distinguished role for the success of this year’s edition. The Best Radio station (on the championship coverage) went to Blaze FM Oraifite, Best TV station (on the championship coverage) went to Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), the Best News feature on Radio went to Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Ikenna Nwokedi of UNIZIK FM won the Best presenter for the period of the championship while Ifeanyi Eneh of Radio Nigeria Awka (Purity FM) won the most dedicated presenter. Also, Guardian Newspaper won the best National Newspaper for the coverage of 2013 NEROS Pharmaceuticals Anambra State FA Cup, SportingLife and SoccerStar came joint best in the cadre of Daily Sports Newspapers.

  • Eagles get US visas Friday

    Eagles get US visas Friday

    MEMBERS of the home-based Eagles, including the team’s coaches and officials that appeared yesterday at the American Embassy in Abuja will get their visas on Friday, May 3rd, 2013.

    The players and officials, backed by the Nigeria Football Federation, submitted their International Passports and other documents to the US Consulate yesterday, “…and the process was very smooth”, SportingLife learnt.

    “Just like the German Embassy did, the US Embassy officials were fantastic. They were very accommodating. They treated us like kings and promptly attended to us. By the look of things, they have promised us that our visas would be ready on Friday this week”, a source close to the team told SportingLife yesterday.

    The Eagles had to process their American visas in Nigeria so that the transition from the United States of America, where they will play an International friendly match with Mexico, and then back to Germany their camp site for the 2014 World Cup qualifying matches and the FIFA Confederation, would be smooth.

  • NFF: No Eagles revolt over slashed bonus

    NFF: No Eagles revolt over slashed bonus

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have said they do not expect a revolt by the African champions after their win bonus was slashed by half.

    Broke NFF have slashed the win bonus of the Eagles from $10,000 to $5,000 as part of their austerity measures, while some backroom staff were asked to go.

    “I don’t see the players revolting. Players do not fix their bonus anywhere in the world; it is the job of the Federation,” said NFF executive committee spokesman Emeka Inyama.

    “You would recall that we have been paying bonuses as at when due. It was because of the presidential committee (for the 2010 World Cup) that took the bonus to $10,000. The federation have always paid $5,000 after taking care of flight return tickets, daily allowances and accommodation. The $5,000 is ideal.”

    The poor finances of the NFF meant that they could only pay up the win bonus for beating Burkina Faso in the final of the 2013 AFCON in South Africa several weeks late.

    The Eagles will regroup on May 16 in Germany in time for a forthcoming hectic schedule which will see them face Mexico in a friendly on May 31 in the United States of America, play two 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Kenya and Namibia and also feature in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

  • CROWDED JUNE FIXTURES: Keshi contacts invited Eagles stars

    CROWDED JUNE FIXTURES: Keshi contacts invited Eagles stars

    Expected in Nigeria on April 30

    Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has confirmed to SportingLife that he has contacted all the 30 invited players for the jam-packed June match fixtures begining with the international friendly against Mexico on May 26.

    Keshi, spoke from Califonia on Tuesday, said though he is in the United States to see his family, he is also working to see that all the invited players are in the right frame of mind to prosecute the daunting tasks ahead. According to him, ‘All the players have promised their loyalty, and will strive to ensure that they play well to win all their matches especially the World Cup qualifiers.”

    He maintained that there is no problem whatsoever with chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stressing that: “The NFF are my employers, I owe them all allegiance. There is no cause for alarm. Whatever difference would be sorted out. We all want to build a formidable Super Eagles team.”

    He confirmed to SportingLife that he would arrive the country on 30th April to begin preparation with the home-based players.

  • AFCON 2013: Eagles beg Dangote, Uba to redeem pledges

    AFCON 2013: Eagles beg Dangote, Uba to redeem pledges

    Super Eagles players have sent passionate pleas to business mogul Aliko Dangote and oil magnate Ifeanyi Uba as well as others who have made pledges to the team for winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February to redeem their pledges.

    Two prominent Europe-based Eagles and two top officials of the team told SportingLife in confidence that some of the pledges made by prominent persons in the society have not been redeemed.

    A Super Eagles defender disclosed, “We are happy that the Federal Government has made us happy and proud by promptly redeeming its pledges and even backed it up with national honours. We are very grateful and this will spur us on to put in our all to win the 2014 World Cup ticket. But we are pleading and using this medium to remind our amiable and respected fathers like Aliko Dangote, Ifeanyi Uba, Alhaji Ishiaku Rabiu, Cross River State and other prominent Nigerians to redeem the pledges they made”, he pleaded.

    A top official of the team who also spoke on condition of anonymity also told SportingLife, “We are just trying to remind prominent Nigerians that have made pledges to us to please honour their words. We know that they might have been delayed as a result of logistics or otherwise. But redeeming these pledges would go a long way in encouraging the players to do more since we are playing 2014 World Cup qualifiers and we also have the FIFA Confederation Cup to play on.

    The other top Eagles official also reeled out the pledges made by these prominent Nigerians. “Alhaji Aliko Dangote promised us N300 million, Chief Ifeanyi Uba made a pledge of $500,000, Alhaji Ishiaku Rabiu also made a pledge of $500,000 while the pledge of N25 million made by Cross River is yet to be redeemed”, the team’s top official revealed.

    He also showered praises on the Federal Government for setting the ball rolling by the FG’s largesse which was awards and cash prizes. “The Federal Government has really surprised us with its awards and cash gifts. We are also very grateful to the Chairman of Globacom, Chief (Mike) Adenuga for honouring the team in a big way. We can’t forget the support of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Chief Emeka Ofor, Cadbury PLC and also Akwa Ibom State for fulfilling their pledges”, the source thanked the above mentioned personalities, states and companies.

  • Maigari: Eagles will win in Kenya

    Maigari: Eagles will win in Kenya

    NFF president Maigari Nigeria FA boss Aminu Maigari has predicted the Super Eagles will get their 2014 World Cup quest back on track with a win in Kenya in June.

    African champions Nigeria had to force the Harambee Stars of Kenya to a 1-1 draw at home last month to leave their qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 on a shaky note.

    They still lead Group F on five points from three matches, but are now hard pressed by Malawi, who also have five points. However, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Maigari exclusively told MTNFootball.com he was confident the Eagles will fly high in Nairobi on June 5 on their way to qualifying for next year’s World Cup.

    “Yes, we were all disappointed we did not beat Kenya at home last month, but that’s part of the game. The players too were disappointed. Now we have to go and play better in Kenya and win,” Maigari said.

    Incidentally, Nigeria had to beat Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi in November 2009 to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

    Nigeria have two away games, while closest rivals Malawi have two home games with a final clash between the two teams in September in Nigeria. But Maigari insisted there is no cause for alarm as the Eagles will advance from this stage on the way to featuring at Brazil 2014.

    “I’m not bothered about whether a team is playing at home or away. The most important thing is to ensure that you are at your best always, whether at home or away. Nothing stops us from winning away from home. We will go to Kenya and win. God willing, we will be in Brazil for the World Cup,” he argued.

  • SUPER EAGLES JOB Maigari took a risk hiring me —Keshi

    SUPER EAGLES JOB Maigari took a risk hiring me —Keshi

    STEPHEN Keshi has admitted that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) boss, Aminu Maigari took a risk appointing him as Super Eagles coach.

    The AFCON 2013 winning coach revealed this when he was presented with a Range Rover and Toyota Camry promised him by Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr), GCON on Monday.

    “Maigari took a risk asking me to come back to Nigeria to take charge of the Super Eagles. He told me confidently that I should come and take charge of the team, that he had belief in me.

    “Nobody gave me an atom of confidence that any Nigerian or a ‘black man’ so to speak can coach the Eagles let alone guiding the team to win the Nations Cup in South Africa.

    “I also want to thank him and the NFF for their support too during the AFCON.”

    The Big Boss then fingered a section of the press for the sour relationship between the Glass House and him.

    “Before the Cup of Nations, during and after, my relationship with Maigari and the NFF has been very cordial.

    “The recent fuss is being caused by bad press, as the speculations almost tore us apart. But I would have thought that we should be partners in progress as regards the new status of the Super Eagles who are current African champions,” he said.