The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flying Eagles

  • Flying Eagles’ Provisional W/C List: Iheanacho, Success picked

    Flying Eagles’ Provisional W/C List: Iheanacho, Success picked

    The duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Isaac Success will headline Nigeria’s 35-man provisional list for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, it has been revealed.

    The much sought after list has already been submitted to world football-governing body, FIFA, ahead of the April 1 deadline, but was kept from the public at the request of the coach, Manu Garba. But the provisional list will be made public today, sl10.ng has been told.

    The names of the whole players on the list remain unclear as they have been closely guarded by the team’s technical crew.

    But sl10.ng understands that the list will be dominated by players that have worked with Manu from his time at the last U-17s through the players in the current U-20 team, as there may only be a few players on the list that have never been with the current team.

    The reason that has been given for not including too many ‘unknown’ players is that the coaches want to focus more on the players they know and those that understand their philosophy.

    As expected, Isaac Success and Kelechi Iheanacho, who both missed the last Africa Youth Championship in Senegal, will headline the list.

    The Flying Eagles are in group E of the U-20 World Cup, alongside Brazil, Hungary, and North Korea.

  • Simon could miss Flying Eagles’ camp

    Simon could miss Flying Eagles’ camp

    SL10.ng understands that Gent striker Moses Simon has been named in the Flying Eagles’ provisional Fifa Under 20 World Cup squad list called up to attend a training camp ahead of the tournament in Oceania.

    Due to commitments with his Belgian club, there had been fears that the teenager, who is dubbed as the Nigerian Ronaldo, would not be available for the tournament which starts on May 30.

    If the Fifa rules are followed, the likes of Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali and Moses Simon must be released for the competition latest May 16th.

    Unlike Simon, the other three players will have no problem meeting up with the Nigeria Under 20s on or before the deadline.

    The Golden Boot Soccer Academy product has very important matches to play for Gent in the month of May, most especially against Anderlecht six days before the start of the tourney.

    Moses Simon has pleaded not to be left off the Flying Eagles roster, and it is understood that talks have taken place between the player and Gent to find a way around the problem.

    The 19-year- old has been in outstanding form since he joined Gent from AS Trencin in the January transfer window, scoring 6 goals in 9 matches in the top division.

  • Mark praises Flying Eagles over victory

    Mark praises Flying Eagles over victory

    Senate President, David Mark, Monday lauded the Flying Eagles of Nigeria over their victory at the 2015 African Youth Championships in Senegal on Sunday.

    The Nigerian under 20 national team defeated host Senegal by a lone goal at the 45,000 capacity Leoppold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar on Sunday to win the trophy for the 7th time.

    An elated Mark, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja said the Nigerian lads’ superlative performance at the tournament had further “stamped our authority as a leading soccer nation in Africa.”

    He specifically praised the Garba Manu-led boys for rising up to the occasion when it mattered.

    “This victory coming at this critical moment of the 2015 general elections is a reassurance that the forthcoming elections would be successful,” Mark said. “The team spirit displayed by our boys at the championship is an attribute all Nigerians must emulate.

    “Together, we can address our challenges if we resolve to work as one people with a common purpose.”

    The Senate President noted that the victorious Flying Eagles deserves “our commendation and reward. They are our heroes. They have rekindled our hope and pride.”

    He reminded the Federal Government of the need to do the needful to reward the Flying Eagles to serve as an elixir for future laurels for the nation.

  • AYC: Flying Eagles’ victory delights Garba

    AYC: Flying Eagles’ victory delights Garba

    Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, said his team made up of only two players from the Nigeria Premier League is the future of Nigerian football, after Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Senegal secured the country’s seven Africa Youth Championship triumph.

    Garba, who expressed his joy at winning the championship twice, once as a player in 1983 and now as a coach, described Bernard Bulbwa audacious volley as the goal of the tournament.

    “I feel elated and great, I was part of the team that won the same competition in 1983, as a player and I am now happy to win it as a coach,” sl10.ng quoted the former Golden Eaglets coach as saying after the match.

    “The difference is the goal of the tournament which was scored by number 7 Bernard Bulbwa, this team is the future of Nigeria football we have only two players from the Nigeria Premier League, the rest are from academies, which is a good sign for the development of Nigeria Football,” he added.

  • It’s the trophy or nothing-Ugbade

    It’s the trophy or nothing-Ugbade

    Flying Eagles assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade has restated their resolve to win the 2015 Africa Youth Championship, ahead of the final match against hosts, Senegal.

    The Flying Eagles defeated the Black Satellites of Ghana 2-0 in the semifinal, while the Junior Lions of Senegal beat Mali 2-1 to make the final of the competition.

    Both countries opened the competition, with the Nigerians running away 3-1 winners and Ugbade believes they can reenact the feat achieved in the opening game.

    “We have come a long way as a team and in this competition and we have made good progress.The target at this point is just one thing; to win the tournament.

    “We knew it would be a tough competition and so it has proven so far but that notwithstanding, we have come a long way not to win this competition,

    “The Senegalese know these, as well as the other teams that have participated in this competition and that is the target we have set for ourselves,” he said.

    The Flying Eagles made a ninth Africa Youth Championship final qualification when they beat the Ghanaians, and will win the competition for a record seventh time should they beat hosts Senegal in today’s final.

  • FIfa U-20 World Cup Qualification: Glo congratulates Flying Eagles

    FIfa U-20 World Cup Qualification: Glo congratulates Flying Eagles

    • Team spies on Ghana, Mali

    Telecommunications company and leading sponsor of Football in Nigeria, Globacom has congratulated the National Under-20 team,  the Flying Eagles for qualifying for  the semi finals of 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal.

    The team defeated Congo Brazzaville by 4-1 in their second Group A match and has successfully booked a place in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Finals holding in New Zealand in June.

    The Flying Eagles will meet Cote d’ Ivoire in the last group match on Saturday.

    A statement from Globacom in Lagos on Thursday said the Flying Eagles have all it takes to overcome the challenge of their opponents, adding that the team should concentrate and keep working towards winning the Trophy.

    “Nigeria has the ability to retain the trophy and we believe the players are equal to the task,” the statement added.

    Globacom commended the fighting spirit of the young Nigerians who, despite losing a player to red card in the first half still when ahead and defeated the Congolese by 4-1.

    The company is quite optimistic that the Flying Eagles will continue to excel, especially because the team has the benefit of  many of the players playing together since their Golden Eaglets days.

    “The Flying Eagles presently top group A with six points, followed by Cote d’ Ivoire with 2 points, while Congo Brazzaville and host Senegal have 1 point each .

    The top four teams in the championship will represent Africa in New Zealand in June.

    Globacom is the major partner of Nigeria Football Federation and official sponsor of Nigerian National teams.

    However, after booking their place in the semifinal of the AYC, the Flying Eagles have swung into action ahead of next week’s clash for a place in the championship game as team officials are in Mbour today to watch second round of matches in Group B.

    Assistant coach Nduka Ugbade and Rafiu Yusuf from the NFF technical department are at the Caroline Faye Stadium in Mbour to watch South Africa battle Mali and Ghana take on Zambia.

    Ghana Black Satellites, who the Flying Eagles beat and drew with in recent series of warm-up matches, lead Group B after they defeated South Africa 2-0 and Mali pipped Zambia 1-0.

    Nigeria, already on six points after two rounds of matches, will finish top of Group A no matter the results of final group games on Saturday and so they will battle the runners-up in Group B for a place in the AYC final.

  • Flying Eagles book World Cup ticket

    Flying Eagles book World Cup ticket

    Nigeria have qualified for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand next summer, after a 4-1 win against Congo in a group A encounter of the African Youth Championship in Dakar, Senegal on Wednesday. The victory was Nigeria’s second of the tournament.

    Nigeria had no problems dispatching their opponets despite having goalkeeper, Enaholo getting a red card in the first half. He was replaced by Olorunleke Ojo.

    Nigeria scored from the penalty spot through captain Musa Mohammed after Taiwo Awoniyi was brought down.

    Nigeria coach Manu Garba deployed a 4-3-3 formation.

    It was a sweet revenge for the Nigeria side who were beaten by the Congolese in 2007.

    Congo’s goal was scored by Ganvoula Mboussy in the second half with just eight minutes of play. But three minutes to the end of the match Awoniyi got Nigeria’s fourth. Nigeria’s last group match is on Saturday against Cote D’Ivoire.

  • Manu pleased with Flying Eagles

    Manu pleased with Flying Eagles

    Head coach of Nigeria’s U-20 football team,  Manu Garba has expressed satisfaction with  his charges’ 3-1 win over Senegal in the opening game of this year’s Africa U-20 championship in Senegal.

    Goals from Ifeanyi Matthew and Taiwo Awoniyi who bagged a brace, saw the Nigerian side cruise to a straightforward 3-1 victory over the Senegalese at Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar.

    The Flying Eagles seemed to run out of steam in the second half following a blistering start to the game but Manu stressed that winning their first game was more important than the actual performance.

    “It is our first three points of a very important competition,” Manu said.

    He went on to state that the side had taken a giant step towards qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    “The result of any opening game is very crucial in a tournament like this and we are grateful to God we won.

    “We have now taken a foot towards qualifying for the World Cup.

    “We did not know a lot about Senegal before the match, but the boys did a good job.

    “But we have also put this game behind us and our focus is on our next game on Wednesday (against Congo),” he said.

    Nigeria will face Congo on Wednesday at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar in their second preliminary game.

    They will then round off their Group A campaign on March 14 against the Ivory Coast at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’Bour.

  • Congo coach talks tough ahead Flying Eagles clash

    Congo coach talks tough ahead Flying Eagles clash

    Congo coach Paolo Berrettini has said his team does not fear Nigeria and will fight to win Wednesday’s decisive AYC Group A match against the six-time champions.

    On Sunday, Congo forced Cote d’Ivoire to a 1-1 draw in the second Group A match at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar.

    Their goal was netted by Raja Casablanca of Morocco ace Silvere Ganvoula Mboussy in the 75th minute after they fell behind after 37 minutes.

    “I will focus on my team against the big team from Nigeria. We must play to win and qualify for the semifinals,” said Berrettini.

    “Against Cote d’Ivoire, we did not have a good first half as we did not play as well as our opponents. But in the second half we came back into the game.”

    Congo, who eliminated defending champions Egypt in the qualifiers, boast of five full internationals led by striker Georges Bidimbou who were at the recent AFCON in Equatorial Guinea

  • AYC: Manu Garba rejects Iheanacho’s plea

    AYC: Manu Garba rejects Iheanacho’s plea

    Assistant coach of the Flying Eagles, Nduka Ugbade, has sensationally revealed that Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, pleaded with head coach, Manu Garba, to be included in Nigeria’s final squad for the 2015 African Youth championship in Senegal.

    Iheanacho was initially ruled out of the competition after picking up an injury which was ratified by his English Premier League club.

    The former Golden Eaglets star recovered from the injury before suffering yet another setback but not before asking the coaching staff of the Flying Eagles if he could be drafted into the squad as a late inclusion.

    “Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and some of the other players who are not here (in Senegal) actually pleaded with coach Manu if they could be included but he said no because they did not work with us in the final phase of our preparations.

    “That is the hunger and desire they all displayed but the coach (Manu) has told them that if we qualify for the U-20 World Cup, they will all be invited to fight for shirts,” Ugbade told supersport.com.

    Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles held its first training session in Senegal ahead of the competition’s opening game against the hosts, Senegal.

    The team trained on Thursday evening at the Stade Iba Mar Diop, Dakar.

    The training session lasted 90 minutes and all the 21 players trained fully.