The Nation Newspaper

Tag: QUALIFIER

  • U-20 AFCON qualifier: No bonus again for Flying Eagles

    U-20 AFCON qualifier: No bonus again for Flying Eagles

    Players and officials of Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team left Calabar for Abuja on Sunday without being paid their bonuses for a win over Burundi, AfricanFootball.com can confirm.

    The ‘Flying Eagles’ defeated the ‘Young Swallows’ of Burundi 2-1 on Saturday and 3-1 on aggregate to progress to the last qualifying round of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

    But just as it was in the first leg when they won 1-0 in Bujumbura, the players and officials didn’t receive their bonuses from the cash-strapped Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The NFF have struggled to offset the bonuses of national teams in recent times, with the issue also affecting the Super Eagles.

    “We haven’t received our bonuses yet, even from the first leg,” a source within the team informed.

  • 2017 AFCON qualifier: Etebo wants piece of pie against Egypt

    2017 AFCON qualifier: Etebo wants piece of pie against Egypt

    Oghenekaro Etebo was the break out star at the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, finishing as the top scorer and subsequently picked the CAF award as the Most Promising talent last year but earning a first team place in the Super Eagles is a luxury he doesn’t think he’d be handed on a platter.

    The former Warri Wolves midfielder powered Nigeria to a first AFCON U-23 title but may not be on hand to help them against Brazil in the March 24 International friendly because of an AFCON qualifier against Egypt.

    Etebo, 20, told footballlive.ng that he intends to work hard and make a case for himself in the Super Eagles team for the double header against Egypt.

    Meanwhile, Super Eagles interim coach, Samson Siasia will only keep six NPFL-based players for the AFCON qualifier against Egypt.

    Three defenders, two midfielders and a goalie were retained by the selectors, sources in the camp confirmed.

    The list of six players was headlined by CAF 2015 Most Promising Talent, Oghenekaro Etebo (MF unattached), and Super Eagles B first choice goalie, Ikechukwu Ezenwa (GK Sunshine Stars).

    Ifeanyi Matthew (MF, Kano Pillars), Chibuzor Okonkwo (DF, FC IfeanyiUbah), Orji Kalu (DF, Enugu Rangers), Matthew Etim (DF, Enugu Rangers) make up the list.

  • 2016 OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS: Nigeria slim win over Congo leaves qualifier wide open

    2016 OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS: Nigeria slim win over Congo leaves qualifier wide open

    Nigeria beat Congo 2-1 to leave this CAF U23 Championship qualifier wide open with the second leg in Pointe-Noire in a fortnight.

    After a scoreless first half completely dominated by home team Nigeria, Junior Ajayi finally opened scoring in the 48th minute after Congo goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi failed to hold on to an acute-angled shot by Godwin Saviour.

    Shooting Stars striker Ajayi completed his brace in the 54th minute, when he headed home a low cross from the left by Etor Daniel.

    But just when Dream Team VI were cruising to a comfortable home win, Congo pulled a goal back through Moise Nkonkou in the 66th minute.

    A penalty appeal by Nigeria in the 59th minute was overlooked by the Kenyan referee, but television replays later showed it should have been given as Etebo Oghenekaro’s shot was handled by a Congo defender inside the box.

    Nigeria made three changes thereafter with Musa Yahaya, Taiwo Awoniyi and Umar Aminu coming in as they went in search of more goals.

    Awoniyi failed to connect a low drive across the Congo goal in the 75th minute.

    Oghenekaro was then denied in stoppage time by the Congo goalkeeper.

    Congo were the happier of the two teams going into the dressing room after scores stood at 0-0 at a packed Adokie Amiesimeika Stadium in Port Harcourt.

    Samson Siasia’s Dream Team VI attacked all of the first 45 minutes and visiting Congo were happy to sit back and defend with their lives.

    Nigeria enjoyed 67 percent of the possession and forced 11 corners, but they still could not manage to translate the final ball into goal.

    Saviour shot at goal after just six minutes, but it screamed across the Congo goal.

    In the 12th minute, Junior Ajayi could have put the home team in front but he scooped away from target from inside the box after he was superbly set up by Oghenekaro.

    Skipper Azubuike Okechukwu’s shot from the top of the box after 22 minutes was also off target.

    In the 31st minute, Segun Oduduwa shot from a free kick was put out for a corner by the Congo goalkeeper Mafoumbi.

    Three minutes later, Saviour goal-bound shot was headed off the goal line as Congo continued to hang on.

    And in stoppage time, Saviour again forced a double save from the Congo shot stopper.

  • World Cup qualifier: Falconets call up 36 for Liberia

    World Cup qualifier: Falconets call up 36 for Liberia

    Ahead of next month’s 2016 FIFA U- 20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Liberia, Falconets’ coach Peter Dedevbo has invited 36 players to attend a training camp.

    As previously revealed, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Chichi Sandra and Aminat Yakubu have been named to the provisional roster.

    Joining the trio are Ugochi Emenayo, Esther Elijah, Tessy Biawho, Uchenna Kalu, Mary Ologbosere, Joy Bokiri and Rashidat Ajibade, who all starred for The Flamingoes at the FIFA Under-17s last year.

    The invited girls are to report to the team’s Serob Legacy Hotel, Abuja camp on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2015 with their training kit, medical certificate of fitness and international passport.

  • 2017 AFCON qualifier: Tanzania sack coach ahead of Eagles’ clash

    2017 AFCON qualifier: Tanzania sack coach ahead of Eagles’ clash

    The Tanzanian Football Federation have confirmed they have dismissed the Dutchman after becoming frustrated by his poor results

    Coach Martin Ignatius has been fired as head coach of the Tanzanian national team.

    The Taifa Stars has lost their last two international games under the Dutchman’s stewardship, with their 3-0 home defeat to Uganda in a CHAN 2016 qualifier their latest.

    Last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat away at Egypt in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier proved to be the straw that broke the Camel’s hunch, after they had lost all their games at the Cosafa Cup – with the 61-year-old now officially relieved of his duties with his back room staff.

    Tanzanian Football Federation president Jamal Malinzi released a statement that the coach popularly known as ‘Mart Nooij’ ceases to be the handler of the Taifa with immediate effect.

    “TFF announces the termination of employment of current coach Mart Nooij together with his entire technical bench with immediate effect following the spate of poor results involving the national team Taifa Stars” the statement read.

    Nigeria travel to the east African nation for their next game of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

  • 2015 NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER: NFF moves Nigeria/South Africa tie to Uyo

    2015 NATIONS CUP QUALIFIER: NFF moves Nigeria/South Africa tie to Uyo

    • To host Super Cup, AGM 

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has accepted the request of the Akwa Ibom State government to host the November 19 African Nations Cup (AFCON) return leg qualifier between the Super Eagles and their South Africa counterpart at the Uyo Stadium in Uyo.

    A meeting to relocate the last group qualifier from Abuja was sealed on Thursday between NFF president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick and governor, Godswill Akpabio.

    “The governor expressed his keeness to host the match at the Uyo Stadium which is one of the best in the country and we have accepted,” said Pinnick.

    Pinnick further added that logistics regarding the encounter would be discussed by the board at its next meeting.

    In recent times Nigeria has been playing its matches in neighbouring state, Cross River. The 30,000 seating capacity Uyo Stadium which has been likened to the popular FNB Stadium in South Africa, will be commissioned on November 6 by President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR). Also in November, the state will play host to the Super Cup finals between the Glo league winner and the FA Cup champion as well as host the NFF Annual General Meeting..

  • U-17 QUALIFIER: Osinachi vows to fire Eaglets to glory

    U-17 QUALIFIER: Osinachi vows to fire Eaglets to glory

    • As CAF rules out Eaglets duo, Gabonese No. 11

    He has scored a fair share of Golden Eaglets’ 81 goals in 29 matches but Ebere Christian Osinachi has sensationally vowed to bang in the goals for the Nigeria’s Under-17 team against their Gabonese counterparts tomorrow at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    On his good day, ‘Osy’ is a clever striker that is capable of wreaking havoc when least expected just as he did against Egypt’s U-17 team when he grabbed a brace in a 3-1 in Kaduna in May. Altogether,the lad has scored seven goals in all matches for the Golden Eaglets and he is not far away from top striker,Victor Osihmen who has 10 but would not be available against Gabon tomorrow after seeing red in

    “By the grace of God,I’m capable of scoring goals if I’m lucky to be fielded by the coaches against Gabon on Saturday,” said the player whose name in his Igbo dialect means ‘from God.”I know God can do it for me and I’m relying on him to help me.”

    Picked from ASJ Academy in Owerri, Osy who supports the red half of Manchester and a big fan of former Manchester United’s striker, Cristiano Ronaldo said he was confident of the chances of the Golden Eaglets.

    “My objective is not only to score but to help my teammates because I know that players like Samuel (Chukwueze) and Kehinde(Ayinde) too can score goals and so,we are going to help ourselves to beat Gabon,”noted the player who wears Golden Eaglets’ No.17 jersey.

    ” I’m confident that we can beat Gabon if we put into practice all what the coaches have been telling us since we started preparations for the second leg,”

    Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the ineligibility of Golden Eaglets’ duo of Victor Osimhen, Ernest Agenor and Gabonese Ngouba Hoily for the African Championship second leg-final round match.

    In a correspondent signed by  Yasmine El Ehwany, Manager of CAF’s U-17 &U-20 Competitions, both countries were duly informed that Agenor Sughnen Ernest (Nigeria; 4);  Osihmen Victor James (Nigeria; 8) and Ngouba Hoily (Gabon; 11) have been suspended in Match 50: Nigeria vs. Gabon

    Subsequently, both the NFF and FEGAFOOT were ‘kindly requested to take the necessary measures in this regard.’

  • Ahead OF CAF U-17 Championship qualifier: Amuneke drops five players from Eaglets squad

    Ahead OF CAF U-17 Championship qualifier: Amuneke drops five players from Eaglets squad

    Five players have been dropped by Nigeria U-17 coach Emmanuel Amuneke as they step up their preparation for an African Championship qualifier against Gabon in September.

    The players are Ebije Yahaya, Prince Omosowhofa, Chinedu Madueke,  Kingsley Ohiri and Kabiru Muhammed-incidentally all midfielders-and have since left the team’s camp in Calabar.

    The five, who were given the marching order, according to the coaching crew, have significantly dropped in form and have contributed little to the fortune of the team in recent times.

    The Golden Eaglets dispatched Congo Democratic Republic on a 5-0 aggregate early this month, but coach  Amuneke said there was no room for complacency.

    “The party is over and it is about time we forget about what we had done recently,” Amuneke told the players.

    “But it is unfortunate that some have not really measured up to the standard we expected.

    “We must now focus our attention squarely on Gabon because it would be their desire to qualify for the Under-17 Championship in Niger.

    “We have reasonably pruned down the list based on the need of the team according to their performance in comparison to others “explained Emeka Amadi, goalkeepers’ trainer, adding that the coaching crew has a pool of players  to be called upon when the need arises.

    “The good thing is that we are in a process of raising a team that can defend the World Cup won in 2013 and we would continue to shuffle the team from time to time since we have about 45 players registered with Confederation of African Football (CAF).”

  • 2015 AYC qualifier: Iheanacho, Success to miss Lesotho tie

    2015 AYC qualifier: Iheanacho, Success to miss Lesotho tie

    Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho and Spain-based striker Isaac Success will miss Nigeria’s 2015 AYC qualifier against Lesotho.

    Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba further disclosed that Chidera Eze from FC Porto, Musa Yahaya of Tottenham Hotspurs as well as Dele Alampasu, who is training with Genk in Belgium, will equally not be available for the August 16 match in Kaduna.

    “Kelechi (Iheanacho) was to have been released by Manchester City at least a week before the match, but the club’s recruitment officer has called us back to say they have plans for him and so he will no longer be available,” Manu told AfricanFootball.com.

    “Isaac Success will also not be released by Granada as he has begun playing for the first team.

    “Tottenham Hotspur have said they will only release Musa Yahaya for the return leg match.

    “But we can cope because we have an abundance of talent.

    “For example, take the case of Wasiu Jimoh, who just scored four goals in a test game (against Amakson on Thursday). He has been on the fringes of the first team and took his chance with four well-taken goals.

    “And so we have the players to get the result we need in the game against Lesotho.”

  • AFCON QUALIFIER: Nigeria must prepare well

    AFCON QUALIFIER: Nigeria must prepare well

    Former Nigeria goalkeeper Joseph Dosu has warned that the Super Eagles should be given the best of preparation if they hope to scale above their opponents in Group A of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying round which starts next month.

    Nigeria will face Rwanda, South Africa and Sudan in the battle to secure a ticket for the 2015 Afcon billed for Morocco.

    The 1996 Olympic gold medalist insists the group is a tough one but is optimistic that the Super Eagles will make it to Morocco if the NFF put their house in order and settle the coaching contract of Stephen Keshi early enough.

    “A lot of countries have been playing games against each other while we are still not settled but I believe Nigerians should have told Keshi to continue, and then the coaching crew can now decide on which players to invite,” Dosu told Goal.

    “For sure, we shouldn’t be afraid but the important thing is for our federation to put their house in order and decide on the choice of coach they want to continue with the national team,” he added.

    The draw is seen as a rekindling of rivalries between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana, the South Africans are hoping to earn their first victory in a competitive match against the reigning African champions.

    “There is no pushover in football anymore; all now depends on how your preparation is. If we have good preparations, I think we can beat them home and away.

    “We have done that against the South Africans and we should be able to overrun the Rwandans in both legs but for me, preparation is important.  Determination and confidence will come into play despite having the right players, he concluded.