The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Manu Garba

  • Breaking: Golden Eaglets qualify for World Cup

    Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets have qualified for the World Cup holding later in the year in Brazil.

    The Manu Garba-tutored boys defeated Angola 1-0 in Tanzania at the ongoing Africa qualifiers.

    The only goal was scored in the first half through a penalty.

    The Golden Eaglets dominated the game but lost many goal-scoring opportunities in both halves.

    When their Angolan counterparts were reduced to 10 men following a red card to the captain, the Golden Eaglets couldn’t capitalize on the advantage.

    Read Also: Golden Eaglets off to Tanzania

    They went on to lose more open chances to increase the tally.

    At the end, it didn’t hurt as they held on to the slim lead.

    Nigeria qualified having defeated host Tanzania 5-4 in the opening game of the tournament.

  • ‘Eaglets ‘ll be ready for Turkey contest’

    Nigeria’s cadet national team, Golden Eaglets coach, Manu Garba has declared that his squad will be ready to take on all comers next month at an invitational competition in Turkey.

    Footballlive.ng gathered that Garba’s side will travel for the build-up competition in Turkey early next month, as they commence preparations for the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania.

    Garba, who won UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup with the like of Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo

    Awoniyi, Sunday Dele Alampasu and Isaac Success in his squad, but failed to qualify for the 2017 edition won by England, said his latest squad be ready before Tanzania 2019 begins on April 14.

    Nigeria are in Group A, alongside Tanzania, Angola and Uganda, ahead of which the Eaglets, who won the world title in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015, will be in Turkey next month for a build-up competition.

    The record extending five time Cadet World Cup winners reached for the U-17 AFCON by emerging winners of the West African Foot

    ball Union (WAFU) Zone B qualifiers in Benin Republic, and Garba expects his side to go all the way to glory in Tanzania and reach the World Cup in Peru.

    Although he admitted that his players are yet to reach optimum fitness levels, after recently returning to camp in Abuja, Garba says they will be ready physically, tactically and technically to shine in Turkey.

    Garba disclosed: “We are just into a week in training and I can say we are more than fifty percent set in aspect of techniques and tactical ability.

    ”As for physical fitness, we are still a bit behind. That not withstanding, we are trying to meet up with everything.

    “We want to make sure we get to at least eighty percent level of fitness so that we can give our best in the preparatory tournament in Turkey.

    ”The ultimate is to go to Tanzania, qualify for the World Cup as African champions, Nigeria being the best at U17 level.

    ”These are our aspirations. I happen to be one of the coaches that have two World Cup medals.

  • Manu not under pressure

    Head coach of Nigeria National U-17 team, Manu Garba has revealed that his team is more than fifty per cent ready for the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

    Nigeria will play host Tanzania in the opening game of the U-17 AFCON on April 14.

    The Golden Eaglets who are five-time world champions are also billed to participate in a pre-tournament competition in Turkey next month.

    When asked if he was under pressure, having failed to qualify the team for the last AFCON and World Cup, the 2013 U-17 World Cup-winning coach says he is not new in the terrain and boasted that he hopes to qualify for the 2019 World Cup as African champions.

    ”All my life I don’t even know the word pressure because I am a firm believer of destiny. Nigeria being the best at U-17 level, I happen to be one of the coaches that have two World Cup medals,” said Manu Garba.

    ”I had never been under pressure because we believe in what we are doing to make sure we prepare our team very well for this competition.”

    ”The ultimate is to go to Tanzania first, qualify for the World Cup but most importantly, qualify as African champions.

    ”These are our aspirations, we just have one and half months to prepare but God willing, we would raise a team to make Nigeria proud by qualifying for the World Cup as African champions.”

    Nigeria, who also trade tackles with Angola and Uganda in Group A, will automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup if they finish among the top four teams of the eight-team tournament.

  • We are battle ready for Niger clash – Manu Garba

    Coach of Nigeria’s Under 17 side Manu Garba, has predicted a better outing for his team when they take on Niger Republic Wednesday.

    Garba was speaking Tuesday ahead of semi final clash which the Eaglets hoping to win to progress especially after missing the last edition.

    “My team has improved after the loss to Burkina Faso, they are ready for tomorrow’s game” he said

    The team qualified for the semifinal top of their group after a 5-1 thrashing of Cote d’ Ivoire in the second game.

    The second semi final tie will see Ghana tackle Cote d’ Ivoire

    The winners of the WAFU Zone B will represent the zone at the 2019 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to hold in Tanzania.

    The likes of 2017 Most Valuable Player, Olakunle Olusegun who recorded a brace despite loss to Burkina Faso will be hoping to up their game against Niger in the all important semi final clash.

    Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade, had eelier hinted that the technical crew will retain the squad demolished Cote d Ivoire even as he described absence of injury worries in the team as a good omen ahead of the clash.

    “When you are in a competition like this and you have no injury worries, it serves as a major boost,” he enthused.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Garba assures of Golden Eaglets’ victory over Cote d’ Voire

    Manu Garba, coach of the Golden Eaglets on Tuesday assured that his team would beat Cote d’ Voire in the WAFU Zone B qualifiers on Thursday, Sept 6.
    Garba told the News men in a telephone interview that the victory in the second group match was important to keep the hope of qualifying for the U-17 AFCON in Tanzania alive.
    “God’s willing, we shall beat Cote d’ Voire to keep hope alive,” Garba said.
    He said that the team must win the remaining two games having lost the first match to Burkina Faso.
    The Golden Eaglets made an unimpressive start losing 3-2 to Burkina Faso at the Stade Municipal in Niger on Monday.

    Read Also: Manu Garba tips Eaglets for glory

    Within a space of six minutes after kickoff, Abdoul Komi and Jean Fiacre Kouame handed Burkina Faso a two-goal lead as Manu Garba’s boys were made to pay for their poor defending.
    But the Eaglets equalised before half-time break, thanks to Olakunle Olusegun’s brace. Mubarak Compaore scored the winning goal four minutes from full time.
    Nigeria must win their last two games against Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic to stand a chance of qualifying for the semi-final.

  • Gombe United ready for league kick off

    Gombe United ready for league kick off

    The management of Gombe United has expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparation and believes that they are set for the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) kicks off.

    The club’s Assistant General Manager (Media and Publicity), Tanimu Umar while speaking on the team’s readiness for the forthcoming season  said the management has been preparing assiduously to bolster the club towards the very competitive NPFL.

    Umar said the Savannah Scorpions employed the services of first class technical adviser, Manu Garba and recruited experienced players that can help the team achieve its set objective for the season.

    “Right from the end of last season, we have not rested on our oars, we have been preparing to bolster the club towards the very competitive NPFL. We understood that we have to roll our sleeves and work assiduously if we can compete alongside well armed teams in the NPFL,” Umar stated.

    Speaking further, he said:  “We set the ball rolling by recruiting an internationally-acclaimed tactician as Technical Adviser, Coach Manu Garba (OON). Garba gained reputation by winning the FIFA U-17 Championships for Nigeria while in charge of the Golden Eaglets. We believe he can inspire our boys with a view to gaining glory in the coming season. The presence of Manu Garba invariably lured competent players to join the team. Today we have been able to complete the signing of 12 new players; these players were carefully selected to compliment the squad and to strengthen the team. We can boldly assure our teeming fans that we are good to go.

    “The upcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 4 to be hosted in Gombe State will definitely be a litmus test before the commencement of the league. For that, we are urging our fans to come out en masse to cheer the team to victory. We need the support of all football stakeholders in the state; all hands should be on deck to ensure Gombe United make a huge statement of intent in the league. We thank the state government under the leadership of Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON (Talban Gombe) for the ceaseless support to the team. We pray that the government shall continue to stand by us, continue to have confidence in us and embolden the team towards achieving laurels,” he added.

  • England spanks Nigeria 8-1 in Suwon Continental Cup

    England spanks Nigeria 8-1 in Suwon Continental Cup

    Anglo-Nigerian Dominic Solanke was among the goalscorers as England U20 spanked Nigeria U17 team 8-1 in the Suwon Continental Cup.

    Manu Garba’s team was broken in the 19th minute when Young Lions’ captain Taylor Moore opened the floodgate. Barely a minute later Barnsley striker Adam Armstrong netted the first of his treble and Chelsea forward Solanke scored to make it 3-0.

    The first half scoring was capped off by an Armstrong second.

    In the second period, the on-loan Newcastle striker got his hat-trick with Patrick Roberts recording a brace and a Callum Connolly lone strike a minute after the restart.

    Golden Eaglets, playing six Nigerians (Fikayo Tomori, Ovie Ejaria, Josh Onomah, Ademola Lookman and Solanke) in Paul William’s squad managed to get a solitary goal after they had let in six goals.

    The Golden Eaglets will look to improve when the confront Iran on Thursday in their second match of the four-team invitational tourney, before facing South Korea to cap off the event.

  • Manu Garba is Gombe Utd’s technical adviser

    Manu Garba is Gombe Utd’s technical adviser

    The management of Gombe United has appointed Nigeria Golden Eaglets’ coach, Manu Garba, as Technical Adviser of the team ahead of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    Garba’s appointment according to the club’s head of media, Tanimu Umar, is based on his experience and international standing.
    While confirming the deal, Garba said his plan for the club is to finish among the top four next season.

    “God willing, I will be in charge of Gombe United this football season. Our objective is to finish among the top four if we get the support from the management and train the players in all areas of football fitness as well as getting good pre-season training. Every player and official must work in harmony for us to achieve our aims,” Garba said.

    Based on this appointment, the technical crew has been reshuffled.
    The former technical adviser who guided the team to promotion, Hassan Abubakar is now the club’s chief coach. Ali Garba was named Assistant Coach I, Haruna Abdullahi will be Assistant coach II, while Glory Aghomon will serve as goalkeepers’ coach.

    However, the Savanah Scorpions have released ten players.
    The dropped players, according to the club, are Chinedu Kawawa and Obinna Akuchie (Goalkeepers), Douglas Uzama (Left full back), Shehu Maijama’a Demeron Efevwie (Central defenders) and Sarki Adewale Kabiru (Midfielder)
    Others are Tasi’u Mohammed, Alaba Johnson, Nnanna Orji, Shuaibu Amadu (Strikers).

  • Iheanacho’s Golden Eaglets beg for Calabar houses

    Iheanacho’s Golden Eaglets beg for Calabar houses

    Three years after they conquered the world in the UAE , Golden Eaglets class of 2013 have yet begged the incumbent  Cross River State Executive Governor Prof. Ben Ayade  to redeem the pledge of houses made to officials and players of the national U-17 team.

    On Tuesday (November 8), it would be exactly three years after the Golden Eaglets massacre Mexico 3-0 in Abu Dhabi to lift the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time in the presence of Immediate past Governor of the state,Senator Liyel Imoke.

    An impressed Governor Imoke later hosted the team on November 15 2013 inside the state’s council chamber at the Governor’s office in Calabar where he magnanimously pledged houses for players and officials to be located within the state’s new housing estate scheme in Akpabuyo in Calabar.

    The amiable Governor said then it was necessary to break away from the norm in order to give a befitting future to players and officials hence the state’s was duty-bound in rewarding the team with properties instead of monetary largess.

    “We want to partner and invest in you because we believe this kind of investment (house property) would yield better dividends in the future even if you no longer want anything to do with football,” Imoke told the victorious team in the presence of top officials of Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and other state’s executives.

    ” It is three years now that we won the World Cup and the then Governor Imoke pledged all the 21 players and 10 officials houses as rewards but it is unfortunate that we are yet to be given these houses despite several appeals,” stated coach Manu Garba.

    In the team was new Super Eagles sensation Kelechi Iheanacho who was the tournament’s MVP as well Saviour Godwin and Denis Okon who are both indigenes of Cross River State.

    “It’s really painful that we don’t have our houses  even after three years and I wonder why they are yet to give us the houses promised by former  Governor Imoke ,” lamented who is now with Belgian club, Roeselare.

    ” We just have to keep begging our new Governor and pray they give us these houses because we did the state and Nigeria proud in 2013,” added Godwin.

  • Eaglets’ screening called off for Amodu

    Eaglets’ screening called off for Amodu

    GOLDEN Eaglets’ Head Coach Manu Garba (OON) on Saturday stopped the on-going screening of budding talents into the U-17 National Team after news filtered in that NFF’s Technical Director, Shaibu Amodu, had died.

    It was a visibly sober and sad moment as players and officials yet again mourned the death of another high-ranking football man following the death of Stephen Keshi on Wednesday.

    Garba said Amodu’s death was not only tragic but a personal loss to him because it was under the watch of the late Super Eagles coach that he captained and won the FA Cup with El-Kanemi Warriors in the 1990s.

    “This is a great loss to me,” Garba told thenff.com “I spoke with Amodu just two days ago and we discussed about our screening, and I feel so sad that he has gone few days after we lost Stephen Keshi.  Amodu was my coach at El-Kanemi Warriors when I captained El-Kanemi to win the FA Cup and we have remained ever so close ever since.