The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flying Eagles

  • Flying Eagles defeat Olympics team 4-3

    Flying Eagles defeat Olympics team 4-3

    THE Flying Eagles defeated Samson Siasia’s boys in a high scoring friendly played on Saturday in Abuja

    Nigeria’s U23 national team suffered a 4-3 defeat against their U20 counterparts in Saturday’s friendly match played at the National Stadium, Abuja.

    Orji Okonkwo’s brace plus Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Oshimen strikes helped Emmanuel Amuneke’s lads overcome the Olympics team despite strikes from Godwin Saviour, Etebo Oghenekaro and Shehu Abdullahi.

    Orji Okonkwo handed the Flying Eagles side the lead in the 10th minutes before Saviour leveled up in the 27th minute.

    Okonkwo recovered the lead for the U20 side nine minutes later and Chukwueze made it 3-1 five minutes to half time break.

    In the second half, Oghenekaro reduced the scoreline to 3-2 in the 56th minute, but Oshimen restored Flying Eagles two goals lead for 4-2 in the 72nd minute with Abdullahi getting the third goal for his team.

    The Nigeria U23 team had lost 2-1 to the same team in a friendly played in April.

    The Dream Team Vi are expected to depart  for Atlanta, USA to continue preparations for the men’s football tournament of this year’s Olympics on July 2, while the Flying Eagles step up preparations for their Afcon U20 qualifier against Sudan.

  • 2017 AYC: Glo salutes Flying Eagles over win

    2017 AYC: Glo salutes Flying Eagles over win

    Nigeria’s biggest corporate supporter of football, Globacom, has congratulated the Flying Eagles on their  victory over Burundi and subsequent qualification for the  next round of the 2017 African Youth Championship qualifiers.

    The Flying Eagles defeated hard –fighting Burundi U-20 team  2 – 1 in the second leg encounter played at U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Saturday. The team, which won the first leg played in Burundi a fortnight ago by a lone goal, thus qualified for the next round on 3 – 1 goals  aggregate.

    In a statement released on Sunday in Lagos, Globacom praised the team on the victory, and urged them to work assiduously towards qualifying for the tournament.

    Globacom advised: “The Flying Eagles should leave no stone unturned as they work toward qualifying for the 2017 African Youth Championship.  We urge the technical crew to ensure that the team emerges victorious in the next round, and thus consolidate the team’s position as the number one U-20 team in Africa.”

    The next African U-20 Youth Championship comes up in Zambia in 2017.The Flying Eagles are the defending champions’ and have won the trophy seven times.

    Globacom is the major partner of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and official sponsor of Nigerian national teams

  • U-20 AFCON qualifier: No bonus again for Flying Eagles

    U-20 AFCON qualifier: No bonus again for Flying Eagles

    Players and officials of Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team left Calabar for Abuja on Sunday without being paid their bonuses for a win over Burundi, AfricanFootball.com can confirm.

    The ‘Flying Eagles’ defeated the ‘Young Swallows’ of Burundi 2-1 on Saturday and 3-1 on aggregate to progress to the last qualifying round of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

    But just as it was in the first leg when they won 1-0 in Bujumbura, the players and officials didn’t receive their bonuses from the cash-strapped Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The NFF have struggled to offset the bonuses of national teams in recent times, with the issue also affecting the Super Eagles.

    “We haven’t received our bonuses yet, even from the first leg,” a source within the team informed.

  • Flying Eagles arrive Burundi with high expectations

    Flying Eagles arrive Burundi with high expectations

    The Nigeria U-20 male national team arrived Burundi on Thursday ahead of the first leg, second round CAF U-20 Nations Cup qualifying clash with the hosts today.

    The 31-man Nigerian delegation made up of 18 players and 11 officials landed at the Bujumbura International Airport at about 1pm West African time (2pm local time) after they departed Nigeria on Tuesday at 1pm via Ethiopia Airlines and a stop over in Addis Ababa.

    Among the Nigerian delegation are NFF executive committee member Babagana Kali as leader of the administrative crew, NFF assistant technical director Siji Lagunju with coach Emmanuel Amuneke leading the coaching crew.

    Upon their arrival, the Flying Eagles were excitefully welcomed by officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Burundi led by the deputy secretary Chrisantus Micheal and consul officer Chukwueze Dennis. Also present to receive the team were officials of the Burundian Football Association.

    Following the brief reception at the airport, the team was transferred to five star Sun-Safari Club Hotel, where they will be accommodated ahead of the game.

    However, defender Tobechukwu Ibe was replaced by Opeh Samuel after he failed a late fitness test following team doctors’ assessment.

    The Flying Eagles had a light training session at 5pm on Thursday and also trained again at 3pm on Friday.

  • AYC: Osimhen, Nwakali in Nigeria squad to Burundi

    AYC: Osimhen, Nwakali in Nigeria squad to Burundi

    Ex- Golden Eaglets striker, Victor Osimhen has been included in the Flying Eagles squad for Saturday’s African Youth Cup (AYC) qualifier in Burundi.

    Osimhen, who is currently with German club Wolfsburg, injured his shoulder during a test game against the Nigeria Olympic team last week, africanFootball.com reports.

    Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze are among the 15 players picked from the Golden Eaglets team that won last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile for the party to Burundi.

    Team Secretary, Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim, said the Nigeria delegation will fly out of Abuja aboard an Ethiopian Airline plane on Wednesday.

    Nigeria and Burundi will clash in a second round, first leg AYC qualifying tie at the Prince Louis Stadium, Bujumbura, on Saturday.

     

    The squad:

     

    Kelechi Nwakali, Akpan Udoh, Chukwudi Agor, Ejike Ikwu, Anas Mohammed, Chinedu Madueke, Tobechukwu Ibe, Gavi Thompson, Samuel Chukwueze, Kehinde Ayinde, Orji Okonkwo, Victor Osimhen, Halilu Zakari, Udochukwu Anumudu, Kingsley Michael, Douglas Uzama, Chiaha Chisom, John Lazarus.

     

  • We were poor against Flying Eagles, admits Siasia

    We were poor against Flying Eagles, admits Siasia

    Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has admitted his team were “poor” against the Flying Eagles in a test game in Abuja on Thursday.

    The Olympic team, who paraded the likes of goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Daniel Etor and Stanley Dimgba, lost 2-1 to the U-20s.

    “This is what I have been saying – that I don’t have a team because most of the players are being held back by their league clubs,” said Siasia.

    “I had only about three regular players in this game and overall we were poor.

    “We need to do more before our trip to Korea for the invitational tournament.

    The U-23 African champions are preparing for the Rio Olympics in August.

    They are drawn with Japan, Sweden and  Colombia.

  • NFF sacks Babangida, names Amuneke as Flying Eagles coach

    NFF sacks Babangida, names Amuneke as Flying Eagles coach

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has sacked Tijani Babangida, Personal Assistant to Sunday Oliseh, the Super Eagles Head Coach.

    This is stated in a communiqué  at the end of the  meeting of the NFF Executive Committee issued in Abuja on Wednesday by Ademola Olajire, the NFF Assistant Director of Communications.

    It said the disengagement of Babangida followed recommendation of the NFF Technical and Development Committee which was unanimously approved.

    The board, therefore, mandated the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, to follow the due process in effecting the disengagement.

    Similarly, the NFF executive committee endorsed the recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee for the appointment of erstwhile Golden Eaglets’ Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, as Head Coach of the Flying Eagles.

    The communiqué said Kabiru Baleria and Emeka Amadi had been appointed as Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Trainer respectively.

    NFF also approved the recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee that the backroom staff of the various National Teams be reconstituted immediately, with the exception of the Super Eagles.

    “With its determination to find a holistic solution to the dwindling fortunes of the Senior Women National Team, Falcons, committee approved the recommendation of the Technical Committee for the appointment of expatriate coach.

    “The expatriate coach will be assisted by former Super Falcons’ Captains, Florence Omagbemi, Perpetua Nkwocha and Ann Chiejine, with Bala Mohammed as Goalkeeper Trainer.

    “Omagbemi will head the crew in acting capacity in the meantime.

    “The Executive Committee also approved a recommendation by the Technical Committee for processes to be put in place for the training, grading and certification of all categories of football coaches in Nigeria.

    “The programme, which would be run in conjunction with a consultant to be approved by the Executive Committee, will commence once approval is secured from the Confederation of African Football’’, it said.

    It further stated that henceforth, Super Eagles Coach Sunday Oliseh must report to the NFF General Secretary and the Technical and Development Committee.

    The communiqué also said that Oliseh should be ready to defend his entire programme before the committee including invitation of players and training programmes at all times.

    “Executive Committee reviewed the outing of the Super Eagles at the recently-concluded 4th Championship of African Nations and the events that followed.
    “The committee rebuked Oliseh for his unwarranted statements unbecoming of a National Team Coach.

    “His outburst in both regular and social media was unnecessary, However, we acknowledge his apology but the executive committee will not tolerate similar infractions in future.

    “The committee approved a recommendation by the NFF Referees Committee for the introduction of Referee Assessor for matches of the Nigeria National League from 2016 season.

    “The executive committee constituted ad-hoc committees to study and compose governance structures for Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League, Nationwide League One, and report back to the committee within four weeks.’’

    It listed the committees as composed to include Nigeria National League to be chaired by Seyi Akinwunmi, while the Nigeria Women Football League would be chaired by Alhaji Babagana Kalli.

    Nationwide League One ad-hoc committee would have Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau as its Chairman.

  • Portuguese club target Flying Eagles stars

    Portuguese club target Flying Eagles stars

    AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal that ambitious Portuguese side CD Aves have tabled offers for Flying Eagles stars Akinjide Idowu and Zaharadeen Bello.

    Defensive midfielder Idowu and central defender Bello featured at the recent FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    A source informed AfricanFootball.com that Bello’s club Dabo Babes of Kano are studying the offer for him.

    “They have made an offer for Zaharadeen and Dabo are studying it to see if they will accept it,” said the source.

    It is understood both players could move to the Portuguese second division side on virtually a free loan deal and, should they subsequently move, their respective local clubs will then smile to the bank.

    Aves last featured in the Portuguese top league in the 2006/07 season, but were promptly relegated to the lower league where they have been ever since.

  • WYC: Garba ‘proud’ of Flying Eagles

    WYC: Garba ‘proud’ of Flying Eagles

    Flying Eagles Coach, Manu Garba, has lauded his players despite the team second round exit at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Germany defeated Nigeria 1-0 with Levin Öztunalı’s first half strike separating the two teams in Thursday morning clash, Goal reports.

    And despite the disappointment at his side’s failure, Garba said his wards can be proud of themselves for their efforts.

    “I believe that our players learnt a lot from this game and a big lesson in general from the tournament,” Goal quoted Garba as saying on fifa.com.

    “The level at U-20s is far higher than at U-17s and Germany is a very tough and highly tactical team. Our players lost concentration at the crucial moment and this gave the Germans a chance to score.

    “Our goalkeeper played a great game though and may have saved that ball if he had a clear view, but there is nothing we can do now.

    “All my players have been in great form and I am proud of them all. There have been so many unexpected results in this tournament, but one can never predict the winner.

    “I give my thanks to New Zealand for showing love for our team, the people here have made us feel at home,” he concluded.

    The FIFA U-20 World Cup title has eluded Nigeria who had made it to final on two occasions (Saudi Arabia 1989 and Netherlands 2005).

  • Germany eliminate Nigeria from WYC

    Germany eliminate Nigeria from WYC

    Germany produced a stunning display of attacking football to kick Nigeria out of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand with a 1-0 win in Christchurch.

    The Germans came into the game in great form winning all three of their preliminary games and scoring 16 goals while letting in just one prior to facing the Flying Eagles, supersport.com reports.

    The Nigerians were also in buoyant mood ahead of the clash following preliminary stage wins over Korea DPR and Hungary after a calamitous 2-4 defeat to Brazil in the opening game.

    It was however the Germans who started the stronger with crisp passing and fluid movement, unsurprisingly mustering the first goal scoring opportunity inside the opening 60 seconds but Julian Weigl shot wildly after he was put through by Julian Brandt.

    The Germans were fearfully dominant in the opening stages, employing a high pressing game that completely left the Nigerians out of their depth.

    The European champions almost opened the scoring in the ninth minute but Wilfred Ndidi was on hand to provide a goal line clearance.

    Nigeria had just one chance in the first half and it came via a set piece which Musa Mohammed played straight at Germany’s goalkeeper, Marvin Schwäbe.

    On 19 minutes, the Germans got their just reward with a stunning goal which was blasted home with frightening force by Levin Öztunali after Kingsley Sokari lost the ball in his half.

    Germany should have added the the second goal moments later but Hany Mukhtar was denied in spectacular fashion by Enaholo.

    The Nigeria goalkeeper was called to action shortly before half time and he came out with flying colours to deny Marc Stendera with a double save, the first, a world class effort.