The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flying Eagles

  • Omeruo out of AYC

    Omeruo out of AYC

    Flying Eagles officials have left out Kenneth Omeruo from a 30-man provisional squad for the 2013 African Youth Championship.

    The biennial championship, which kicks off in Algeria from March 16, will produce four African representatives for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey later this year, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Omeruo featured for the Flying Eagles in the AYC qualifier in October against South Africa, but he has since made the big jump to the full international side where he shone as the Super Eagles emerged African champions in South Africa last weekend.

    The John Obuh- led technical crew picked four overseas-based players in the provisional squad for the tournament,.

    The final 21-man list will be submitted to the Confederation of African Football not later than March 6.

    The foreign-based players are Mikel Agu (FC Porto), Saliu Sodiq (FC Metz, France), Bright Osagie (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria) and Edafe Egbedi (AGF Aarhus, Denmark).

    26 other players are drawn from the Nigeria domestic league.

    The squad will depart Abuja on Monday afternoon for two warm-up matches in Cairo against their Egyptian counterparts and later fly out to Tunisia for a three-week training camp ahead of the tournament.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has tasked the team to retain the trophy the country won in South Africa two years ago and qualify for the U20 World Cup in Turkey.

    NFF technical director, Emmanuel Ikpeme, addressed the players before their departure to Cairo.

    “We expect you to successfully defend your title and qualify for the World Cup,” Ikpeme urged the Flying Eagles.

    “You should fight to make a name for yourselves in Algeria and we will support you fully.”

     

    The squad:

     

    Goalkeepers: Emmanuel Daniel, Jonah Usman, Samuel Okani

    Defenders: Chizoba Amaefule, Shehu Abdullahi, Ikechukwu Okorie, Kingsley Madu, Hassan Abubakar, Ekoh Favour Oke, Aliyu Mohammed Goyi, Aigbe Oliha

    Midfielders: Chidi Osuchukwu, Abduljeleel Ajagun,Uche Agbo, Ibrahim Abubakar Aliyu, Nzube Anaezemba, Moses Orkuma, Ovbokha Agboyi, Oluwaseun Taro, Okechukwu Azubuike, Saliu Sodiq, Mikel Agu

    Strikers: Alhaji Gero, Umar Aminu, Christian Pyagbara, Harrison Egbune, Bright Ejike, Edafe Egbedi, Yahaya Adamu, Bright Osagie.

  • Flying Eagles held by Benin

    Flying Eagles held by Benin

    NIGERIA U20s were on Saturday in Abuja held to a 0-0 draw by their Benin counterparts in a warm-up game preparatory to the AYC in Algeria.

    The Flying Eagles played a man short after 63 minutes when defender Ikechukwu Okorie was sent off for dangerous tackle.

    “We will do well at the AYC. We are just preparing for the tournament,” assured Nigeria skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun after the game played at the FIFA Goal project in Abuja.

    The host team, who played out a 1-1 draw when both teams first clashed in September, started out brightly and created some openings.

    Left back Kingley Madu let fly a low pile driver after six minutes and after 27 minutes Umar Aminu’s header from inside the box was saved by the impressive goalkeeper Ariston Hessou.

    Madu made another attempt at goal on 34 minutes, before skipper Ajagun missed just before the interval.

    Benin’s best chance was three minutes after the break when Nigeria-born striker Ezekiel Okotou forced Flying Eagles goalkeeper Jonah Usman to scramble his goal-bound shot for a corner.

    Benin, who paraded as many as six Nigeria-born players, took control the game soon after Okorie was sent off just after Ajagun missed the biggest chance of the game when from inside the box he fired wide in front of an open net a minute earlier.

    Despite their numerical disadvantage, Nigeria created the better chances especially in the dying moments of the match.

  • F/Eagles get favourable AYC draw

    F/Eagles get favourable AYC draw

    …  Eaglets to meet Ghana in U-17 

    The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday got a favourable draw for the 2013 African Youth Championship slated for Algeria, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Flying Eagles, the defending champions, will play in group B alongside Mali, debutants Gabon and DR Congo.

    Group A comprises the hosts Algeria, Ghana, Egypt and Benin Republic.

    The U-20 tournament will be played between March 16 and 30 2013 with the semi-finalists qualifying to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in June.

    For the U-17 African championship, which will be hosted by Morocco in April, three-time world champions Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will meet arch rivals Black Starlets of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo.

    The other group has hosts Morocco, debutants Botswana, Gabon and Tunisia.

    Like the AYC, the semi-finalists of this competition will also fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates.

     

  • FLYING EAGLES THRASH KWARA ACADEMY 4-0

    FLYING EAGLES THRASH KWARA ACADEMY 4-0

    NIGERIA’S Flying Eagles trounced Kwara Football Academy 4-0 to round up their build-up for a 2013 African Youth Championship qualifier against South Africa next week.

    Rangers striker Alhaji Gero scored a brace after he lost a penalty in a goalless first half.

    The other scorers were Bright Ejike and Chidi Osuchukwu.

    The Flying Eagles drew 1-1 with Amajita of South Africa in the first leg final qualifier for the 2013 African Youth Championship to be hosted by Algeria.

    The return leg match will be played on Sunday, October 7 at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.

  • Flying Eagles prepare to shadow Amajita’s Dolly

    Flying Eagles prepare to shadow Amajita’s Dolly

    Nigeria youth international, Chidi Osuchukwu is convinced the Flying Eagles are on course to qualify for the Africa Youth Championships.

    The Dolphins playmaker told supersport.com that having avoided defeat away, they would be more decisive in the return leg in Ilorin.

    “I have no doubt that we will beat South Africa when we meet in Ilorin because the surprise element isn’t there anymore,” he said.

    “We didn’t know much about them before the first game and they posed problems initially, but we still finished the stronger side and ought to have won.

    “Their biggest threat was Dolly on the left wing sporting jersey number 7, but we are prepared and will take good care of him now.”

    Osuchukwu reckoned they were able to hold their own in Nelspruit because of their elaborate preparations and cautioned his teammates to avoid over-complacency as they still need to do the job on the pitch.

    “We did well in South Africa because we prepared well, playing a draw with Benin Republic in Cotonou,” he said.

    “We were the better side though, and we should have won had we converted a late penalty.

    “In as much as I am confident of victory against South Africa it would not come on a platter and I’m anticipating a tough game.

    “They are a good side, so we need to redouble our efforts in training and also on the day of the match.

    “We have blended well as a team and are a much better side than the one that eliminated Tanzania, so Nigerians can count on us.”

    Nigeria face South Africa in the return leg of their Africa Youth Championship final round, qualifying tie on October 7.

     

  • Globacom rallies support for Flying Eagles, Eaglets

    Globacom rallies support for Flying Eagles, Eaglets

    Nigeria’s national telecoms operator and official sponsor of Nigerian national teams, Globacom has called on the Flying Eagles and National Under-17 team – ‘The Golden Eaglets’ to approach their respective football engagements this weekend with a focus on total victory.

    Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets will this weekend mount a double assault for African Youth Championship and 2013 African U-17 qualifier tickets in Johannesburg and Calabar respectively.

    Globacom in a press statement called on both teams to make Nigeria proud by winning their matches to pave way for early qualification for both competitions.

    While the U-20 team takes on Amajita of South Africa on Saturday, the Golden Eaglets will on Sunday file out against Junior Menas of Niger in an all-important African Qualifier.

    Total victory, according to Globacom, is required as the battle for qualification gathers momentum.

    Globacom called on the two teams to make it a memorable weekend for soccer-loving Nigerians by defeating their opponents and advancing towards the next stage.

    Acknowledging that there are no more minnows in African football, Globacom noted that beating South Africa and Niger convincingly, should not be a very tough task for Nigeria given the fine collection of tested players the U-20 and the U-17 teams will be parading.

    As the foremost corporate supporter of football in Nigeria, Globacom said it is fully behind the National Teams in their quest to land the two qualification tickets.

    Glo is the major sponsor of the national teams.

  • Africa Youth Championship (AYC) QUALIFIER: Amajita coach: Flying Eagles must fall today

    Africa Youth Championship (AYC) QUALIFIER: Amajita coach: Flying Eagles must fall today

    South Africa’s Amajita coach Solly Luvhengo says he is confident ahead the AYC qualifier, but says it will be embarrassing to play in a home stadium ‘full of Nigerians’.

    The national Under-20s play Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in the first leg of the qualifier today at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. Kick-off is 7pm (6pm Nigerian time).

    Luvhengo says his charges are physically and psychologically ready to take on the current AYC Champions.

    Both teams completed their preparations yesterday with their final training sessions at the match venue.

    Luvhengo says Amajita are in high spirits, with all the players very much aware of the mammoth task ahead.

    “The mood is positive, the players want this win very much and I have no doubt they will give their all to get it,” he said.

    “Our job is to put them in the right frame of mind, and the rest is in their hands. It will be important for us to score and not concede.

    “We will be very attack-minded when we play this match, and have no intention of defending because we are looking for a win.”

    Luvhengo has also pleaded for support from the nation: “These are our future Bafana Bafana stars and they need all the support they can get to overcome their opponents.

    “I am making a plea to the fans to come in big numbers to support the youngsters because it would be very embarrassing to play at home in a stadium full of Nigerians.”

  • Flying Eagles get South Africa match tapes

    Flying Eagles get South Africa match tapes

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has secured recent match tapes of the Amajitas of South Africa for the Flying Eagles as the qualifier for the first leg of the second round of the African Youth Championship (AYC) gathers momentum, a top official has disclosed.

    The Flying Eagles will battle their South Africa U-20 counterparts first in Johannesburg on the weekend of September 21-23, and the Chairman of the NFF Technical Sub-Committee Department, Barrister Christopher Green has informed SportingLife that though the Amajitas are no strangers to the Flying Eagles, the NFF deemed it necessary to get their recent match tapes including their AYC qualifiers against Congo so as to keep Nigeria’s U-20 side abreast of their opponents before the encounter.

    The barrister said: “The Flying Eagles are preparing hard and, of course, you see them playing against clubs in the country as the date for the first leg draws nearer. If it is preparation, no one can fault the current board of the NFF.

    “We know a little of the team like you have said based on the experience we had during the invitational tourney, but we have also gotten some tapes of the matches they played recently including their matches against Congo during the qualifier.

    “We have the tapes and the coaches are currently studying it and we expect to have a decent outing in South Africa before completing the job here in Nigeria a fortnight later,” he emphasised.

    The Flying Eagles are the defending champions of the AYC after beating the Cubs of Cameroon 3-2 in the final in South Africa last year but the John Obuh-tutored lads must see off the Amajitas over the legs after losing 0-1 to the same side earlier.