The Nation Newspaper

Tag: friendlies

  • Kano Pillars to face Shekarau Babes, Gombe United in friendlies

    Kano Pillars to face Shekarau Babes, Gombe United in friendlies

    • Count on Kano fans for victory in league opener

    Kano Pillars are hoping to play friendly matches with Shekarau Babes and Gombe United during their camping in Kaduna with a view to toughen them ahead of their NPFL 2016/17 Match Day One fixture with FC Ifeanyiubah on January 15.

    Pillars left for Kaduna last week and they are not expected to return until three days before their confrontation with the Anambra Warriors and the Chairman of the club, Tukur Babangida  told SportingLife that they are arranging friendly matches for the players and the technical crew to gauge the level of preparations for the coming season.

    Babangida revealed that Pillars are striving to open the new season with a bang and that with the support of their  fans, they are convinced that FC Ifeanyiubah and other teams won’t serve as a hindrance to their target of bouncing back.

  • Eagles get two friendlies in June

    Eagles get two friendlies in June

    • Games hold in London

    As part of its rebuilding efforts ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has picked London to host two grade A friendly matches in June being arranged for the Super Eagles.

    NFF president, Amaju Pinnick disclosed recently that the federation would utilise the two FIFA windows in June to bring the Super Eagles players together ahead of the qualifying matches for the World Cup.

    Thre  NFF has opened discussions with its London-based agent, who is expected to confirm the two top European countries for the friendly matches in the coming weeks. It was gathered that Pinnick is regularly in contact with the agent who has given him hopes of securing two top grade A countries for the friendly matches.

    An NFF source told our correspondent that the agent is expected to conclude discussions with the countries in two weeks time, adding that the federation will make public the countries as soon as the deal was concluded.

    “One obvious thing is that the two friendly matches are slated for London in June. We have opened discussions with some top European countries for the two FIFA window dates and I am convinced that they are responding positively.

    “The choice of London for the friendly matches is because it is centrally located and the federation will not find it difficult to assemble the players. Our plan is to begin early with our preparations for the World Cup qualifiers because there is no more excuse to give to Nigerians.

    “We will take off with full arrangements immediately after the consultative meeting with the minister of Youth and Sports on Tuesday. I believe that the AFCON loss has opened our eyes to appreciate the quality of players that can make it happen for the Super Eagles. We are ready to keep them busy with whoever is going to manage the team now for the purpose of the World Cup ticket,” the NFF official assured.

  • Five questions for Eagles to answer in friendlies

    Five questions for Eagles to answer in friendlies

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on DR Congo and Cameroon in two friendlies this week and AfricanFootball.com highlights the five key posers the team will have to answer in Belgium.

    What will be Mikel Obi’s role?

    Under new coach Sunday Oliseh, it will be interesting to see what role the Chelsea midfielder will now play both on and off the pitch.

    First, Mikel is a holding midfielder at his EPL club but under coach Stephen Keshi he was handed mainly a free role in the midfield.

    Oliseh will now decide whether Mikel is best in this position or deployed to play as a defensive midfielder as how now become his trade in England.

    Mikel is one of the most experienced players now in the team after he made his full international debut in 2006. He was assistant captain when Vincent Enyeama was team skipper.

    Oliseh has now named a younger Ahmed Musa as his captain and it is yet to be known where this leaves Mikel in the team hierarchy.

    Where are the new tactics and approach?

    When Oliseh took over the team, he promised a team who will play a high tempo passing game, attacking in numbers and defending also in numbers.

    There was very evidence of that in his first two games against Tanzania and Niger.

    With less pressure playing these friendlies, it is expected those picked will now fully express the new philosophy of the new boss.

    Who is the midfield boss?

    The Eagles midfield was a major concern after the matches in September as the team continue to shop for a player who will take charge of the engine room.

    Lazio ace Ogenyi Onazi has returned from suspension and it will be interesting to see if he is the man for this job – connecting the various departments of the team with great efficiency.

    Any more new discoveries?

    Last month’s matches against Tanzania unearthed goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, Sylvester Igbonu and Usman Mohammed.

    Among the uncapped players for these friendlies are youngsters Wilfred Ndidi and Dele Alampasu.

    The omission of Watford striker Odion Ighalo from the squad last month was greeted with a huge public outcry. He now has to prove he is the man to score goals for the new Eagles.

    Who gets the goals – Ahmed Musa, Emenike or Ighalo?

    Oliseh’s team have scored two goals in as many matches and all were against Niger in a friendly in Port Harcourt – New skipper Ahmed Musa scored from the penalty spot and Moses Simon doubled the advantage.

    Will Ahmed Musa now be the man the team will rely on goals after what he has been doing for several seasons now with CSKA?

    Oliseh is a big admirer of UAE-based striker Emmanuel Emenike, but the last time he scored for Nigeria was in October, 2013, in Ethiopia – two years and counting…

    Ighalo has proved he can score at the highest level after notching five goals thus far in the EPL. But can he re-enact club form for country consistently?

  • Sokari to join U-20 camp after Eagles’ friendlies

    Sokari to join U-20 camp after Eagles’ friendlies

    Super Eagles midfielder, Kingsley Sokari will team up with his colleagues in the Flying Eagles after the two international friendlies. Then he would be joining the senior national team next month in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    Sokari was one of the star performers of the Enyimba FC that won the Federation Cup for the second straight year and also placed second in the premier league last season

    The entertaining midfielder’s  impeccable performances have attracted the eagle eyes of the Eagles handlers who have called him up for the country’s games since the home based game against the Black Meteors of Ghana where he shone like a million stars.

    Sokari has another opportunity to add to his caps for the Eagles having been invited among 24 home lads that would be reporting to camp over the weekend in Abuja for the build up to the ties with Cote d’ Ivoire and Mali in the UAE next month.

    The Port Harcourt raised youngster has also received another call up to the Flying Eagles who are preparing for the African Youth Championship (AYC) slated for Senegal in March next year and the Enyimba player has expressed his willingness to represent his fatherland in the U-20 colours too.

    But in an exclusive chat with SportingLife, Sokari revealed that he would dash to Kaduna, the venue of the Flying Eagles’ training immediately he comes back from the trip with the Super Eagles. He expressed delight at his return to full match fitness after his battle with hamstring injuries recently adding that he is raring to go.

    Sokari added: “I am happy that I have been invited to the Flying Eagles too because it is an honour to be called upon by one’s country. But, I have intimated the coaches of the U-20 team of the Super Eagles’ assignment that is coming up in the United Arab Emirates next month. I will resume with the Flying Eagles immediately we return from the UAE.”

    The Super Eagles’ camp will open on Sunday in Abuja for the double header friendlies while the U-20 national team players are scheduled to hit camp in Kaduna a day earlier.

  • AUGUST 2014 FIFA window: NFF shops for Eagles’ friendlies

    • Technical body given one-week ultimatum
    • African opponents preferred

    The executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday, urging its technical body to immediately open discussion with agents for an international friendly scheduled for August 13.

    The NFF body challenged the technical committee to ensure that an inetrnational friendly is played by Nigeria, on August 13 2014, a day set aside by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) for its 209 affiliate federations to be involved in matches without hinderance from the clubs where their players ply their trade.

    According to the communique, “The committee mandated the NFF Management to proceed with discussions with a number of African countries with a view to the Super Eagles playing a friendly match on the FIFA window of Wednesday, 13th August, 2014, as part of preparations for 2015.

    “The committee expressed satisfaction with all arrangements so far made for the different National Teams, namely Falconets, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets ahead of important international matches and qualifying games, and also directed the Technical Sub-Committee to meet in a few days to harmonise all arrangements in this regard.

    “The committee expressed satisfaction with all arrangements so far made for the different National Teams, namely Falconets, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets ahead of important international matches and qualifying games, and also directed the Technical Sub-Committee to meet in a few days to harmonise all arrangements in this regard.”

  • Carroll ruled out of NZ friendlies

    Carroll ruled out of NZ friendlies

    West Ham striker Andy Carroll has been  ruled out of two pre-season friendlies in New Zealand due to ankle soreness.

    The England international, 25, developed a sore left ankle during training, according to a statement from the Premier League club.

    Carroll missed  West Ham’s clash against the Wellington Phoenix in Auckland yesterday and will equally miss the tie against  Sydney three days later.

    The former Newcastle and Liverpool striker was hampered by injuries in 2013-14, making 15 league appearances and scoring just twice.

    A West Ham statement read: “After assessment by the club’s medical experts, it was decided to let the England international rest for both remaining games and receive intensive treatment to ensure he is fit for the start of the season.

  • Chukwu wants friendlies for Eagles

    Chukwu wants friendlies for Eagles

    Former Nigerian manager, Christian Chukwu has suggested top grade friendlies for the Super Eagles ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

    The Super Eagles will host the East Africans in a 2014 World Cup qualifying game at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on March 23.

    Chukwu said after the Eagles emerged champions at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa the side have become the team to beat and cannot afford to enter into any contest ill-prepared.

    “It’s now Super Eagles must be adequately prepared for competitions. We’re African champions, others will want to make history by doing everything to beat us.

    “I think we should halt the celebration over the Afcon victory and return to work immediately. We don’t have to relax. I’ll suggest we play one or two top friendlies before the encounter against Kenya on March 23,” said the former Harambee Stars coach to supersport.com.

    The former Nigerian defender said if the Super Eagles do their home work very well the Harambee Stars will not pose a hard nut to crack.

    “We’re not playing the Kenyans for the first time, we’ve played them severally. Kenya like any other East African side are full of energy capable of playing 120 minutes because of their altitude. We must not underrate them. I’m aware they just recruited a new manager. I don’t expect him to perform magic between now and the time we play them.

    “I don’t see them troubling us not now that the Super Eagles are more than ever motivated and riding high after the AFCON win,” said the former Green Eagles’ captain.

    Chukwu will want to see new players to further strengthen and inject competition in the team.

    “Of course, there is need to bring in new players in the area that is still leaky. I think the move will further add to the competition already in place and make the team stronger,” he said.