Tag: Omeruo

Super Eagles player Kenneth Omeruo has ventured into the nightlife business with the launch of his new lounge.

The Kasimpasa S.K. star recently played alongside the Super Eagles in their international friendly match against Mali.

Omeruo recently revealed that there is more to him asides football with the launch of his own lounge, aptly called “Ballers Lounge”.

The lounge, according to Soccernet.ng,  which is located in Madrid, Spain promises patrons an evening of relaxation and premium cocktails.

Fellow Super Eagles stars like Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi, Francis Uzoho, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho were at the launch party to support their teammate.

Read Also: Bank mergers likely as CBN directs N500b capital base

Omeruo joins a long list of footballers who are exploring the business world while still focusing on their football careers. He is definitely set to bring a fresh Nigerian vibe to the nightlife scene in Madrid.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian footballer also addressed the performance of the Super Eagles following their loss against Mali at the international friendlies in Morocco.

Omeruo cited that it was an opportunity to test the team and hopes for a better performance at the World Cup qualifiers.

Despite the results of the international friendlies, Omeruo commended the interim Super Eagles coach Finidi George, appreciating his skills and desire for the team to play “good football”.

After grieving over the unexpected 2- 1 loss to the AFCON semi-finalists, defender and on-field captain Kenneth Omeruo assured that the Super Eagles  are determined to give their all for maximum points when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume in June.

 “We went into the match against Mali determined to win, just as we did against Ghana. In the end, they took their chances and we failed to take ours. That’s football. You just have to take the chances that come your way.

  “June is only a few weeks away. We are focused on the matches against South Africa and Benin Republic. Many players in the group have not played at the World Cup before and they see this as the big opportunity to be there. We cannot afford to let ourselves and the nation down.”

Goals by El Bilal Toure and Kamouri Doumbia, one in each half, punched a hole in the Super Eagles’ confidence following Friday evening’s soul-lifting 2-1 defeat of arch-rivals Ghana at the same venue.

Read Also: Eagles will take Ghana tie seriously, says Omeruo

The Eagles failed to get a shot on goal on Tuesday night and certainly missed a poacher as they passed the ball around beautifully only to falter at the third half of the pitch.

Nigeria take on South Africa in Uyo and then confront Benin Republic away from home in the international window of 3-11 June, in the Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.  

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles contingent to the friendly matches against Ghana and Mali in the Moroccan city of Marrakech  has departed the ‘Red City’, with most of the players flying back to their bases in Europe.

Officials, including interim Head Coach Finidi George and other technical and administrative staff, were scheduled to depart Casablanca aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight to Lagos  last night.

Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo has asserted that they are taking today’s game with the Black Stars of Ghana more than friendly game because of the rivalry between both nations.

Omeruo who appreciated the opportunity to get to meet with his teammates again after their exploits at the 2023 African Cup of Nations said they are taking the game very seriously because it will provide the platform for them to prepare for the June’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

Read Also: AFCON 2023: Musa, Omeruo set to make history

“It has been great. It is good to see the boys again after the African Cup of Nations. We have been training very hard because it is usually not a friendly game against Ghana and we are set for the game,” Omeruo told NFF TV. “We are ready to come out and play. It’s been good working with our coach for now.”

The Kasimpasa defender thumbed up the work rate of new Eagles invitee, Benjamin Tanimu.

“Benjamin Tanimu is a good defender. He is been able to join the group. We will have his initiation tonight (yesterday) after dinner.”

2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner Kenneth Omeruo said the Super Eagles have little or no time for confabulation and will prefer to do the talking on the turf of the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny against Angola in the quarter-final of the 34th  edition in Abidjan on Friday.

The experienced defender came in to help stabilise the rear-guard in the closing stages of Saturday’s Round of 16 defeat of five-time champions Cameroon at the same venue, and is confident that the Palancas Negras (Sable Antelope) will bite the dust by the final blast of the referee’s whistle.

“We have absolutely no need to go into back-and-forth chatter with any team. The Super Eagles are in Cote d’Ivoire for serious business. We have not played Angola for a long time but I remember we played them in 2012 in a friendly and it ended in a draw. I have also read of how previous encounters between the two countries have been quite close.

Read Also: Omeruo, Osayi-Samuel rally Nigerians for Cameroon clash

“There is no possibility of Friday’s match ending in a draw; a winner must emerge. So much talk has been going on. Our collective resolve is to do the talking on the pitch. The Nigeria Spirit trumps all.”

A number of the Angolan playing personnel, including captain Fredy Kulembe, have been talking about stepping on the Eagles to achieve their aim of a place in the semi-finals of Africa’s most prestigious football competition. But Omeruo insists that talk is cheap.

“We drew our first match (against Equatorial Guinea) and many people concluded that we are not here to compete strongly for the trophy. They have since admitted that we may be up to something after we defeated Cote d’Ivoire, and then Cameroon. We must continue to work hard, believe in ourselves and put in a solid shift each day and time we get onto the field.”

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has said that the team won’t underestimate Guinea Bissau in today’s Africa Cup of Nations last group A game at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan.

Nigeria need at least a draw to seal their qualification to the round of 16 while a victory could earn them the group leaders.

The Djurtus are winless in two games having suffered defeats to Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea and Omeruo understands they might aim to spoil the party for the Super Eagles.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the game, Omeruo said they are very focused and ready for the game.

Read Also: Super Eagles Tracker: Dessers, Moffi score as Omeruo, Osayi Samuel shine in Europe

 “The boys know how important the game is and we are going to approach the game with seriousness,” Omeruo.

Omeruo was the part of the squad that won the AFCON title with the Super Eagles in 2013 in South Africa. He also played a key part in the squad that won the bronze medal in 2019.

At the age of 19, on 9 January 2013, the former Sunshine star of Akure defender made his senior national debut in a goalless draw against Cape Verde.

He was selected for Nigeria’s squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and played in all of the three group games as Nigeria finished third in their group.

Omeruo was named in Nigeria’s final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and started in all four games as Nigeria finished second in their group and were eliminated by France at the Round of 16.

The 30-year-old defender played for the Nigerian Under-20 team that reached the quarter-finals at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.