The Nation Newspaper

Tag: INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

  • International friendly: Tite names 23-man Squad for Eagles, Lions

     

    All is now set for the all-important international friendly between Nigeria and Brazil as Coach of the South American side Tite Friday named a 23-man Squad.

    The Seleção will first to confront  Taranga Lions of Senegal and afterwards  Super Eagles of Nigeria in Singapore.

    Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr whose lawyers are reportedly negotiating with Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid wages and Salaries is yet to name his squad for the encounter.

    Nigeria lost 3-0 a high profile friendly played by both country in 2003 in Abuja and will be hoping to put up a better show in the October 10 re-match.

    Brasileiro top scorer, Gabriel Barbosa, is part of Tite’s squad alongside teammate Rodrigo Caio.

    Grêmio midfielder Matheus Henrique, and Atletico Madrid left back Renan Lodi, get their first call ups.

    Here is the full 23-man list of the Seleção

    Eagles for Brazil friendly in Singapore i

    Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras), Santos (Athletico-PR)

    Defenders: Daniel Alves (São Paulo), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Renan Lodi (Atlético Madrid), Thiago Silva

    (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Rodrigo Caio (Flamengo)

    Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Arthur (Barcelona), Fabinho (Liverpool), Matheus Henrique (Grêmio), Philippe Coutinho

    (Bayern Munich), Lucas Paquetá (AC Milan)

    Forwards: Everton (Grêmio), Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo), Richarlison (Everton), Neymar (PSG), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).

    The Eagles only recently played a friendly match against Ukraine, the first time both countries will be meeting at the senior level.

    The match ended 2-2 with debutant Joseph Aribo announcing himself after effectively connecting an Alex Iwobi  cross to shoot Eagles into the lead.

    Many however say momentary loss of concentration forced the team to settle for a draw.

  • Embattled Neymar to face Super Eagles in Singapore friendly

     

    Want away PSG Star and Brazil international Neymar is among top Seleção players expected to battle Super Eagles of Nigeria in an international friendly October 13 in Singapore.

    The Brazilian Football Confederation has confirmed the tie which will be second major meeting between the two continental power houses.

    Super Eagles eyeing another friendly

    The first was at the opening of the Abuja Stadium in 2003 which saw the South Americans and 5-time world cup winners run away with 3-0 victory in front of a capacity crowd.  Goals from Gil, Luís Fabiano and Adriano separated the Brazilians from their Nigerian counter parts.

    Despite the loss however Nigeria’s midfield maestro Austin jay Jay Okocha thrilled some home fans with his usual impressive moves just like Ronaldinho was the toast of many fans.

    Neymar has in recent time been at logger heads with the French ligue 1 side following his desire to return to former club Barcelona.

    But the 27 year old who some say performed below par at the last world cup in Russia remains a key player in the national team.

    Other top players expected to feature prominently in Coach Tite’s squad include Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho. The Eagles are however not the only ones to battle the Brazilians in Singapore as the Brazilian

    The Seleção of Brazil

    Football Federation has reportedly concluded arrangement to play 2019 Nations cup finalists Teranga Lions of Senegal three days earlier at the same venue.

    Coordinator of the Brazilian National team Juninho Paulista said they chose to play Nigeria and Senegal and of the best teams in Africa and in line with the decision of the technical commission to settle for the top 50 on FIFA ranking

    ”It was a wish of the Technical Commission, so we went after these opponents”.

    The choice of Nigeria meets the proposal, established between the CBF summit and the Brazilian National Technical Commission, to play against top 50 opponents in the FIFA ranking,” he submitted

  • Ekong, Etebo lead Eagles to Dnipro

    Italy –based defender William Ekong and England –based midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo are expected to lead Super Eagles to Dnipro, Ukraine today, ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly match with the host country’s senior team.

    It is the first outing for the three –time African champions since they finished third at the first – ever 24-team Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Egypt, this year.

    Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa; defenders Olaoluwa Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Ekong, Leon Balogun and Jamilu Collins, as well as midfielders Alex Iwobi and Etebo and forwards Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu and Samuel Kalu were in Egypt.

    But there would be excitement about a rash of new faces alongside a couple of returnees. Defenders Bryan Idowu and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho are back after being overlooked for the Africa Cup.

     

    Read Also: Intl friendly: Super Eagles to depart for Kyiv September 6

    Germany-based goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Joseph Aribo of Scottish club Glasgow Rangers and forwards Joshua Maja (France) and Emmanuel Dennis (Belgium) are hitting the camp for the first time.

    Saudi Arabia-based Captain Ahmed Musa pulled out of the trip on Thursday night as a result of injury that has failed to heal as quickly as he expected, adding to the earlier forced withdrawals of defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Tyronne Ebuehi, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Henry Onyekuru.

    The Dnipro Arena is a 31,000 –capacity facility that was opened on September 2008.

    Ukraine is rated number 25 on the FIFA ranking while Nigeria is 33rd.

  • Ebola: Anxiety as Congo team arrive Nigeria Friday

    NationSport can report that there has been uneasy calm among Nigerians as over 30 Congolese football officials and players would be storming Nigeria on Friday (tomorrow) for the planned May 28 friendly with the Super Eagles in Port Harcourt.

    In a statement made available, Nollywood actor, Joseph Okechukwu, has urged the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung; Amaju Pinnick, and the Nigeria Football Federation,(NFF) to cancel the friendly match to prevent the nation from coming under the same Ebola attack experienced in 2014, which cut short the lives of innocent Nigerians.

    He recalled that, “On the night of Sunday July 20, 2014, Patrick Sawyer was wheeled into the Emergency Room at First Consultants Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos, with complaints of fever and body weakness. The male doctor on call admitted him as a case of malaria and took a full history. Knowing that Mr. Sawyer had recently arrived from Liberia, the doctor asked if he had been in contact with an Ebola patient in the last couple of weeks, and Mr. Sawyer denied any such contact. He also denied attending any funeral ceremony recently.”

    Super Eagles

    “We all know how that story ended. Patrick Sawyer died; people who had contacts with him at the hospital when they didn’t know he had Ebola equally contracted the disease, about twenty of them. Eight later died.”

     He continued; “How can we forget the amazing Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh. She was the doctor who oversaw the treatment of Patrick Sawyer and vehemently refused to let him travel to Calabar, even when his employers insisted he should be allowed to travel.

    “This precious angel saved thousands, if not millions of lives in that part of the country and beyond. Dr. Stella Adadevoh eventually paid the ultimate price. She laid down her life for the rest of us and I hope we don’t repeat the mistakes of 2014 in 2018.”

    Mr. Oyewole Adewunmi- a Lagos based Social Commentator who also prayed that the football match be cancelled before the Congolese team players enter Nigeria said,

    “Infact, that match will not add anything significant to Nigeria’s economy and even if it does, it cannot by any stretch of the imagination be equated to the value of one precious soul of Nigerians.

    “Please cancel the match. We are not prepared for Ebola now. We won’t be in the nearest future and we will never be. You prepare for what you’re willing to host and we won’t host Ebola or anyone of its relatives, never again!”

    Meanwhile, a call to the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole by our reporter on Thursday for enquiry on how prepared is Nigeria to screen the visiting footballers for Ebola virus was not answered and he did not also reply the text message the reporter sent.

    However, the Minister of Sport had on Monday said the match would not be cancelled speaking in confidence that the Congolese squad will be screened before they travel to Nigeria and they will also be screened at their point of entry by the Ministry of Health under the supervision of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

  • International friendly: Eagles to play two unknown foes in March

    International friendly: Eagles to play two unknown foes in March

    The Super Eagles are to play two friendly matches against yet to be named opponents in March to help the team shape up for crucial international matches in 2017.
    This disclosure was included in the communique issued at the end of a meeting of the Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which was held at the NFF secretariat in Abuja yesterday.
    “It was unanimously agreed that there was the need for intensive preparation of the Super Eagles for the remaining matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying race, as well as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series starting in June. As part of the preparation, the Super Eagles will play two friendly matches against quality opposition in March 2017,” the communique stated.
    For the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Nigeria is drawn in Group E alongside South Africa, Libya and Seychelles and later on August 28, the Eagles will battle the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Uyo and the reverse fixture coming up on September 2 in Limbe.a

  • Super Eagles arrive in Luxembourg for Tuesday friendly

    Super Eagles arrive in Luxembourg for Tuesday friendly

    The Super Eagles on Sunday arrived in Luxembourg City ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly against the country’s senior national male football team.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian delegation arrived from Rouen in France, where they beat Mali 1-0 on Friday in another friendly match.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Sunday in Abuja said the Eagles arrived at noon on Sunday.

    “They are now at the Alvisse Parc Hotel, an impressive facility located on Route d’Echternach in Luxembourg City.’’

    It said there was a great spirit in camp as players and officials looked forward to a win against Luxembourg.

    The statement disclosed that the team later trained at the Stade Josy Barthel, venue of Tuesday’s clash with Luxembourg.

  • INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY Eagles face Brazil in Uyo on March 29

    INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY Eagles face Brazil in Uyo on March 29

    An international friendly has been lined up by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the Super Eagles against the Samba Boys of Brazil billed to hold at the ultra -modern Uyo International Stadium on March 29, 2015.

    Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Obot Akpabio, disclosed this while delivering a speech at the opening of the 30,000 capacity stadium described as the nest of champions.

    In his bubbling and effervescent manner, Akpabio declared that he had the mandate of the NFF to inform the spectators of the prestigious match which is expected to draw football personalities from across the world to the South-South state.

    “I have been directed by the NFF to tell you that Brazil will field the full complement of its stars for the match, including Barcelona star, Neymar,” said the governor.

    Next year’s encounter, which will be played during the FIFA window, will be the second friendly between both countries to be played in Nigeria.

    Both teams squared up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Abuja in a friendly which was to open the facility. Nigeria lost the game 0-3 with Ronaldinho scoring.

    Again in 2012, the Eagles were due to play the former world champions in Nigeria during a FIFA window in September but the match was cancelled by the Brazilians due to the bombings in some northern states.