The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flying Eagles

  • Presidential reception for Eaglets, Flying Eagles

    President Goodluck Jonathan will on Tuesday host the country’s U-17 and U-20 teams, officials disclosed.

    The Golden Eaglets were beaten finalists at the African U-17 Championship in Morocco, while the Flying Eagles placed third at the African Youth Championship in Algeria. The Golden Eaglets lost on penalties to Cote d’Ivoire after final scores stood at 1-1 in the championship final in Marrakech.

    The U-20s defeated Mali 2-1 in a third-place match to avenge a 1-0 loss to the West African rivals. Both teams have qualified for their respective World Cups and Nigeria can boast of a special record of having medalled in Africa at full international, U-20 and U-17 levels in one calendar year.

    Top government and sports ministry officials have been locked in talks over the presidential reception.

    A top official informed MTNFootball.com: “The President will receive the teams on Tuesday at Aso Rock. All arrangements in this regard have been finalised.”

    However, the Flying Eagles are to be honoured in absentia as they are currently in Germany on a training tour ahead of the U-20 World Cup in Turkey next month.

    Interestingly, they won the 2011 African Youth Championship in South Africa but were not honoured.

    President Jonathan rewarded the Super Eagles with national honours, cash and plots of land when they won a third Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February.

  • Nigeria meets Brazil, Portugal in invitational tourney

    Nigeria meets Brazil, Portugal in invitational tourney

    The Flying Eagles has been drawn against Brazil and 2013 World Cup rivals Portugal in this year’s Toulon tournament, which kicks off May 28.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the Nigerians will play in Group B of the 10-team tournament and kick off their campaign on May 29 against defending champions Mexico.

    Nigeria lost 4-1 to Mexico in another invitational tournament in Panama preparatory to the 2011 World Cup in Colombia, where the Flying Eagles reached the quarterfinals.

    The team will battle world champions Brazil, who incidentally failed to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup starting next month in Turkey.

    Flying Eagles final group game is against Portugal on June 6.

    Interestingly, the former African champions will open their 2013 World Cup quest on June 21 in Kayseri against the Portuguese.

    In 2011, Nigeria held Portugal to a goalless draw in Lisbon, before losing 2-0 to the same team in a pre-World Cup tournament in Panama.

    The Portuguese will go on to reach the World Cup final, where they lost to Brazil.

    The Flying Eagles will also face Belgium on June 2.

    Group A has United States, Colombia, Congo DR, France and South Korea.

    The winners of both groups will slug it out in the final on June 8 while the runners-up will battle for the third-place medal.

     

  • U-20 World Cup: Flying Eagles open with Portugal

    U-20 World Cup: Flying Eagles open with Portugal

    The Flying Eagles will face Portugal in their first game at the U20 World Cup that will hold in Turkey between the 21st of June and 13th July 2013.

    The Nigeria U20 team will play the Portuguese on Friday, June 21st before going on to face Cuba on June 24th, and South Korea on June 27th.

    The games against Portugal and Cuba will be played in the city of Kayseri, at the magnificent Kadir Has stadium. It is the home ground of Turkish Super Lid side, Kayserispor.

    The Last group game, against South Korea, will be played in Istanbul.

     

  • AYC fallout: Tunde Disu scores Flying Eagles low

    AYC fallout: Tunde Disu scores Flying Eagles low

     

    Former Nigeria’s U-20 team coach, Tunde Disu, has said the present crop of Flying Eagles will not make positive impact at the upcoming global championship in Turkey.

    The fallen African champions climbed down from their exalted number one position to grab bronze courtesy of a 2-1 defeat of the Junior Eagles of Mali in the losers’ game of the 2013 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria, Supersport.com reports.

    Striker Aminu Umar’s double helped his side avenge the opening group game 0-1 defeat to the Malians. Keita Tiekoro scored his side’s consolation goal on Friday at the Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran.

    Without mincing words, the former Flying Eagles’ coach said the side need total overhauling to avoid a repeat poor performance as witnessed at the African tourney in Algeria.

    “This team won’t do well at the World Cup if we’re to assess them with the standard exhibited at the Africa Youth Championship. It’s a far cry of a standard expected from the title holders.

    “The World Cup is another kettle of fish compared with the African tourney. The World Cup is more professional where you meet teams that are tactically and technically sound, “ the 1985 U-20 World Cup bronze medal winning coach told Supersport.com.

     

  • AYC: Keshi, Eaglets charge F/Eagles

    AYC: Keshi, Eaglets charge F/Eagles

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi and the country’s U-17 team have backed the Flying Eagles to shine at the 2013 African Youth Championship in Algeria, MTNGFootball.com reports.

    Keshi told skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun Saturday he believes in the team, while the Golden Eaglets players said they are behind the Nigeria U-20s as the team files out against Mali in Oran on Sunday.

    Ajagun said: “Coach Keshi asked us to go and do Nigeria proud. He said we should play for our country with pride and confidence.

    “He also said he believes is us and he will be watching us on Sunday.”

    ‘Big Boss’ also spoke to coach Yakubu Maidaji, who was his teammate in the Flying Eagles in the late 70s, as well as goalkeeper trainer Aloy Agu, who played with the former Eagles skipper for the country in the 90s.

    Keshi has fully supported the country’s quest to successfully defend the AYC trophy the team won two years ago in South Africa.

    He has been closely monitoring the team since they moved into a training camp in Tunisia prior to the championship.

    From the Eaglets’ training camp at the Aspire Centre in Doha, coach Manu Garba expressed confidence the Flying Eagles will again stop Malian opposition.

    The Golden Eaglets as well as the Super Eagles have battered their Malian counterparts in recent fixtures and Manu believes the Flying Eagles can take a cue from these wins.

    He said, “We have absolute confidence in the ability of the Flying Eagles to defend their title,” said Garba, 2007 Under-17 World Cup winner.

    “This is going to be an interesting match because of recent results between the two countries.

    “The Super Eagles beat the Eagles of Mali 4-1 in the semi final of the African Cup of Nations and don’t forget that the Golden Eaglets stopped Mali from qualifying for the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco when we beat them on a 4-0 aggregate.”

     

  • 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) Flying Eagles begin title defence today in Oran

    2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) Flying Eagles begin title defence today in Oran

     Battle Mali at 5.25pm 

     

    Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will start the defence of their Under-20 African Championship title at the Stade Ahmed Zabana in Oran today.

    John Obuh’s men were champions in South Africa in 2011 and have now been drawn in Group B alongside Mali, DR Congo and Gabon.

    The Nigerians, six-time winners of the African Youth Championship (AYC), kick off their campaign against West African opponents, Mali.

    The last time both teams met in the AYC in Johannesburg, South Africa at the semi-final stage two years ago, the Nigerians triumphed 2-0.

    Five players from Nigeria’s championship-winning team of two years ago are in the present team to defend the title this time.

    The players are Mohammed Goyi Aliyu, Chidi Osuchukwu, Kayode Olarenwaju, Edafe Egbedi and Abduljeleel Ajagun, who is now captain of the team.

    Obuh has also included the talented trio of Christian Pyagbara (Sharks), Alhaji Gero (Enugu Rangers) and Ikechukwu Okorie (Enyimba) to the squad.

    But Nigeria will start the AYC with one injury concern. Enugu Rangers’ goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel is out for a few days and it is likely ABS shot-stopper, Jonah Usman could start between the sticks.

    The Malian Under-20 national team go into the AYC with a talented young squad mixed with local and overseas players.

    Mali head coach, Moussa Keita, will look to talented youngsters like Boubakary Diarra (FC Nantes), Aboubacar Ibrahima Toungara (Centre Salif Keita), Abdoulaye Keita (Bastia), Boubacar Diarra (TP Mazembe), Samba Diallo (Djoliba AC) and Tiekoro Keita (Guingamp) to upset the apple cart when they face Nigeria this Sunday.

    Nigeria will play all of their group matches in the Algerian city of Oran.

    The match between Nigeria and Mali will be live on SuperSport 9 and SuperSport Select from 6.25pm CAT (5.25pm Nigerian time) this Sunday.

  • F/Eagles ‘fired up’ for AYC glory

    F/Eagles ‘fired up’ for AYC glory

    The Flying Eagles’ players led by Abduljaleel Ajagun have promised to successfully defend the African Youth Championship the team won two years ago in South Africa.

    The Nigerian U-20 is drawn in Group B of the 2013 AYC in Algeria and begins the title defence on March 17 against Mali in Oran.

    MTNFootball.com reports that debutants Gabon and DR Congo are the other teams in the group.

    “We are ready for the battle,” assured skipper Ajagun.

    “We know what is at stake and we promise to do the country proud in Algeria.”

    The Nigeria Football Federation has doubled the team’s win bonus to $2,000 in the first round in an effort to further galvanise the team.

    “This means we will redouble our efforts in the game,” said defender Chizoba Amaefule.

    “This means we will die on the pitch to ensure we win,” added Aliyu Goyi.

    Striker Olanrewaju Kayode said they appreciate the NFF incentive but they are already fired up to defend the country’s colours in Algeria.

    “We appreciate the NFF for what they have done, but I can assure you that the main driving force for us is that we are committed to prove ourselves and so doing bring more honour to Nigeria after what the Super Eagles achieved in South Africa,” he said.

     

  • Flying Eagles tackle Esperance 11am today

    The Flying Eagles will now play their second warm-up game in Tunisia against Esperance today by 11am.

    The match was earlier fixed for Sunday afternoon.

    The Nigeria U20s are expected to play their main team for this match as the countdown for the 2013 AYC has begun.

    Esperance are most likely to line-up 18-year-old forward Emeka Emerum, who has just signed a four-year contract with the two-time African champions.

    Esperance U20 and Club Africain have also been lined up to test the readiness of the Flying Eagles for the AYC.

    The Nigeria youth team will begin their title defence on March 17 against Mali in Oran.

    Both teams clashed in the semi-finals of the 2011 AYC in South Africa with the Flying Eagles 2-0 winners.

    Nigeria’s other Group B games are on March 20 against Gabon and three days later against DR Congo.

    The semi-finalists will represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey in June.

  • Tunisia U-20 defeats Flying Eagles in AYC friendly

    Tunisia U-20 defeats Flying Eagles in AYC friendly

    Flying Eagles lost 2-0 to Tunisian U-20 in a warm-up match played on Thursday at the Esperance training ground complex, futaa.com reports.

    The Nigerians fell behind after 20 minutes through a glancing header inside the six-yard box, which goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel helped into his net.

    The hosts scored again six minutes later through another header inside the box off a free kick from the left.

    Coach John Obuh made three changes in the 37th minute, replacing Azubuike Okechukwu, Abubakar Aliyu and Nzube Anaezemba with Ovboka Agboyi, Chidi Osuchukwu and Moses Orkuma.

    These changes galvanised the Flying Eagles and just before the start of the second half, Alhaji Gero came on for Bright Osagie and Umar Aminu replaced Oluwaseun Taro.

    Gero sparked the Junior Eagles strike force. His header after 46 minutes went wide and five minutes later, his shot at goal missed target as the Flying Eagles took full charge of proceedings.

    The African champions continued to dictate the pace with Uche Agbo failing to make hay when clear on goal after 65 minutes, before Gero created yet another opening only for his chip to go wide.

    On 70 minutes, Metz midfielder Saliu Sodiq replaced Agbo.

     

  • Flying Eagles land in Tunisia

    Flying Eagles land in Tunisia

    NIGERIA U20s arrived Tunisia on Saturday for a 17-day training camp ahead of next month’s African Youth Championship in next-door Algeria.

    The squad of 38 players and officials touched down at 1.30pm local time, which is the same time as Nigeria, on board Egypt Air from Cairo, where they played two warm-up games against hosts and another AYC-bound team Egypt.

    They won the first game 3-1 on Wednesday, before they were held to a 0-0 draw by the home team in the second game on Friday.

    The flight from Cairo lasted about three and a half hours and the squad were warmly welcomed on arrival at the Aeroport Carthage Tunis by officials from the Nigerian embassy in Tunisia.

    The team have since booked into the expansive, five-star El Mouradi Hotel in Gammarth on the outskirts of the capital city of Tunis.

    The facility is well known to host top sports teams from across the world and it will be an ideal location for the Nigeria U20s to concentrate and fine tune their strategies for the defence of the AYC title they won in South Africa two years ago.

    Local temperature was put at a chilly 19 degrees centigrade by the time the Flying Eagles landed, but it further dropped due to a light drizzle, which some team members described as “showers of blessings”.