The Nation Newspaper

Tag: salisu yusuf

  • ‘Joel Obi is fit to play for Eagles, team assistant coach’

    Salisu Yusuf, the Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, on Monday declared that Torino midfielder Joel Obi was fit to play for the senior national football team.

    Yusuf told the News men he was making his declaration on the basis of the fact that the Italy-based striker has had impressive appearances for his club.

    He described Obi as a utility player whose experience was highly needed in the Super Eagles.

    “Joel Obi is a very good player right from the beginning, and he was outstanding the few times he played for Super Eagles.

    “He did very well, both in Inter Milan then and Nigeria, before injury knocked him out and today he is active in Torino,” the coach said.

    Read Also: Joel Obi fit for Tanzania clash

    Speaking on the team’s upcoming friendlies, Yusuf said the Super Eagles would stun Poland and the others they would encounter in the friendlies.

    He said the players were in high spirits with the inclusion of new players like Joel Obi and Ikechukwu Gabriel.

    “We shall take every match serious, and as they come, because our image and name are involved,’’ the coach said.

    The news men reports that Joel Obi played for the Super Eagles the last time in 2014, just before he got injured.

    NAN

  • Morocco/Nigeria: Who wins CHAN 2018?

    Morocco/Nigeria: Who wins CHAN 2018?

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    With the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) winding down in Morocco, the trophy is up for grasp for either the home-based team of the Atlas Lions of Morocco or the Super Eagles of Nigeria, at the Complexe Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca on Sunday.

    A further reward for the winner is a whopping 1.25 million dollars as against the previous 750,000 dollars in the 2016 edition.

    Both sides made it to final for the first time, after conquering Libya and Sudan respectively. Morocco won 3-1 against fellow North African rivals, with Ayoub El Kaabi scoring a brace. Nigeria beat Sudan 1-0 with Gabriel Okechukwu getting the solitary goal in the first  half of the match.

    The Atlas Lions will be counting on their invincible stance and home advantage which has helped them so far in the competition to help them win their first-ever trophy against Nigeria. They had won their group after two wins and a draw and have reached the final without defeat after quarter-finals and semi-finals win over Namibia and Libya respectively. They have twelve goals in their bag so far, and have conceded only two with Ayoub El Kaabi netting eight of those goals.

    Nigeria on the other hand started the competition with a goalless draw against Rwanda, before struggling to beat Libya 1-0 in the second group match.  A commendable effort from the Super Eagles saw them beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to advance to the quarter-finals, against Angola. It turned out a stubborn match, with Anthony Okpotu scoring a late goal for Nigeria, dragging the match into extra time. Gabriel Okechukwu scored the winner in the 109th minute, from a fantastic effort.

    Read Also: CHAN – Dalung congratulates Super Eagles

    Nigeria Coach, Salisu Yusuf will go into the final, ruing the miss of some of his first team players. Emeka Atuloma, Sunday Faleye and Emeka Ogbuh and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, are out of the clash against Morocco due to injury. Midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi also got a red-card in the semi-finals. He will therefore have to rely on acrobatic Oladele Ajiboye in goal, Ekundayo Ojo, an emerging midfield power house and Gabriel Okechukwu, the Akwa United forward, who has risen to occasion so far in the competition, to win the CHAN trophy. Morocco on the other hand still have Ayoub El Kaabi and Walid El Karti to bank on in the final against the Super Eagles.

    Speaking on Nigeria’s chances, Coach Salisu Yusuf affirmed that if the Super Eagles will “do the right things”, Morocco will be beatable.

    “For the game against Morocco, every team is beatable. If we do the right things, why not! We can beat Morocco.”

    Each player of the home-based Eagles is expected to earn about 20,000 dollars as the bonus and allowances should they win the 2018 CHAN in Morocco.

    It remains to be seen who will be crowned the new kings of African local national teams.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Eagles will be in the final, says Salisu Yusuf

    Eagles will be in the final, says Salisu Yusuf

    Super Eagles head coach Salisu Yusuf has reiterated his team’s desire to play in the final of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco.

    To achieve this feat, Nigeria need to surpass Sudan’s hurdle in the semi-final clash today at the Grand Stade de Marrakech by 8:30 pm (Nigerian time).

    In a chat with SportingLife, Salisu said his boys are ready and they will approach the game with full of determination.

    Read Here: Dayo Ojo cherishes Eagles’ victory over award

    “It has been a long journey, from qualifiers to semi-finals. We are in the semifinal and we are focused to face Sudan. We want to do a good job and be in the final. The feeling in the camp is very great. The mission of any team in the competition is to be the best and to be the best, you have to be ready to beat the best team,” Salisu said to SportingLife.

    He added: “We will respect the Sudan team because they are a good side. In their game against Morocco. Everybody thought they would be beaten easily but they held Morocco to a goalless draw. We won’t take anything for granted knowing full well that whoever wins on Wednesday will be in the final which is our target.”

  • Yusuf: Super Eagles’ll go far in CHAN

    Yusuf: Super Eagles’ll go far in CHAN

    Away on international duties at the African Nations Championship otherwise known as CHAN in Morocco, Super Eagles’ coach, Salisu Yusuf would apparently missed his domestic chores on the home front.

    Days before flying out  for  the tournament, Yusuf  said he was very much involved with everyday tasks in the recess  of his home once out of the pitch, insisting  he’s a thoroughbred Hausa man.

    “I have been coaching since 2002;It’s part of my life,” stated Yusuf who clocked 56 on January 10.

    Yusuf reportedly  featured for Ranch Bees and El Kanemi Warriors as a box-to-box midfielder in his playing days, while as a coach he has since handled Enyimba, Kano Pillars, El Kanemi, Lobi Stars and FC Taraba. He has a CAF A license, has since won the NPFL championship with Kano Pillars in 2008, the FA Cup with Lobi Stars and Enyimba in 2003 and 2013 respectively. He qualified Nigeria to CHAN 2018 and guided Nigeria to the final of the 2017 WAFU Cup in Ghana and also assisted Gernot Rohr to qualify Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

    “My family don’t really see anything wrong in my coaching profession and they understand  the nature of the job and that I could be away for a very long time,” he affirmed. “But whenever I’m  at home, I  assist the domestic duties;  I’m a typical Hausa  man at home.  I’m an indoor type of  person and whenever I’m at home , I help with the domestic duties and ensure that everything is in order too.”

    Under Yusuf’s watch, the Super Eagles edged Benin Republic  2-1 to  reach the finals where they are drawn in Group C along with 2014 champions Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria would open her account at this tournament tomorrow against Rwanda at the Stade Ibn Batouta; tackle Libya at the same venue on Friday (January 19) and completed her schedule against Equatorial Guinea in Agadir on January 23rd.

    “As a unit we are ready for CHAN; if you look at the way the team has evolved from the CHAN qualifiers to the WAFU Nations Cup, you will agree with me that it is work in progress,” assured Yusuf on the crest of winning the NPFL Invitational tournament. “The team has done well because we tried to bring in new players and you can see the results; we won the NPFL Invitational and will continue to improve.”

    Nigeria is yet to win this particular championship and Morocco 2018 is the country’s fifth appearance at the CHAN after failure to qualify for the first two editions held in Cote d’Ivoire 2009 and Sudan 2011. Late  coach Stephen Keshi led  the team to the Bronze medal in 2014 while the class of 2015 under coach Sunday Oliseh failed to even progress  beyond the group phase.

    “ Yes, it’s true that  Nigeria is yet to win the CHAN; our major target  in Morocco is to  first qualify  from the group but I’m confident  we would go far in the tournament,” noted Yusuf who described himself as a positive person.

    He offered: “I’m a simple fellow, easy going man, a loving father and hardworking person.

    “Though I don’t have everything in life, I believe God perfects the path of man and makes it interesting. I love the positivity of life.

    “As a coach you always want to win but in football you win some and lose some but my message to Nigerians ahead of CHAN 2018 is to pray for us because we need their support to excel in Morocco,” he added.

  • Super Eagles Coach says Argentina beatable

    Super Eagles Coach says Argentina beatable

    Yusuf made the assertion in an interview in Abuja ahead of the Nov. 14 friendly match against the former world champions in Russia.

    The coach said that the Super Eagles were capable of reversing the series of defeats suffered at the hands of the South Americans by beating them in Russia this time around.

    Argentina’s track records would not be an advantage because the two teams would play the match based on their current form.

    “My players are equal to the task any time anywhere and we are not afraid of big names because big names no longer play football, but talent and determination are key to winning matches,’’ the coach said.

    He assured Nigerians of an impressive outing against Argentina in the warm-up match aimed at boosting the morale of not only the players but their fans for World Cup.

    The prestige friendly match will be one in the series lined up to familiarise Nigerian players with the playing style of their likely opponents at the World Cup.

    NAN

  • Nigeria to use reserve players against Algeria-Coach

    Nigeria to use reserve players against Algeria-Coach

    Salisu Yusuf, Assistant Coach of Super Eagles of Nigeria on Monday said that he would use more  reserve players for the 2018 world cup qualifier against Algeria on Nov.11.

    Yusuf made the disclosure in an interview  while speaking on the team’s preparation for the Algeria match.

    He said that the match would enable the coaching crew to not only try the reserves but also select players for the final in Russia.

    “Some of the players have not been opportune to play, so this match will offer them such opportunity

    “We know there is nothing to be scared of because we already have the world cup ticket but our interest now is to have a blended team,“Yusuf said.

    The coach pledged that the super Eagles would not lose any of their matches, adding that they were ready to win the game against Algeria.

    The super Eagles currently lead Group B with 13 points and will slug it out with the Algerian side on Nov. 11, in Algiers.

    FIFA has confirmed Gabonese Eric Castane as the centre referee while Aboubacar Doumbouya of Guinea and Burkina Faso’s Seydou Tiama will serve as his assistants.

    NAN

  • Yusuf says Super Eagles in victory mood

    Yusuf says Super Eagles in victory mood

    Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf, on Thursday said the players were in good mood and ready to conquer Zambia on Saturday in their World Cup qualifier.

    Yusuf said this in an interview that the Super Eagles were mentally and physically fit to overcome the Chipopolo of Zambia in Uyo.

    The coach said that he had absolute confidence in not just his players but their management because they were on top of the cracker between the two countries.

    “The Super Eagles are in very positive mood for the game against Zambia on Saturday,’’ Yusuf said.

    He appealed for the support of Nigerians, saying it was necessary for the team to be victorious in the match to be played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    The Super Eagles are ahead of other teams in Group B with 10 points and are followed by Zambia with seven points.

    Nigeria started the World Cup qualification campaign in what many soccer pundits predicted to be the group of death in a blistering form with a defeat 2-1 defeat of Zambia in Ndola to pick their first away win.

    Nigeria is on the brink of qualifying for the 2018 Mundial in Russia with an emphatic 4-0 win over the African champions, Cameroon in Uyo and the reverse fixture in Yaoundé which ended1-1.

    A home victory over Zambia – a side they beat away at the start of the group phase – will be enough to see Nigeria return to the finals after reaching the second round in Brazil in 2014.

    Other countries that could all book their spots at next year’s World Cup in the penultimate round of African qualifiers at the weekend are Egypt and Tunisia.

    That will leave the other two slots to be decided next month.

    NAN

  • WAFU Final: Dalung leads Pinnick, others to watch Eagles play Ghana

    WAFU Final: Dalung leads Pinnick, others to watch Eagles play Ghana

    Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung will lead a delegation of top officials to cheer on the Super Eagles when they clash with Ghana’s Black Stars in Sunday’s WAFU Cup of Nations final.

    A statement from the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ) on Saturday said Dalung would be accompanied by the NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

    “Also in the delegation to the Cape Coast Stadium is NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, who arrived in the Ghanaian capital on Friday.

    “Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr also flew into Accra on Saturday and will be in the stands.

    “Head Coach of Super Eagles B, Salisu Yusuf is Chief Coach of the A team where Rohr is technical adviser,’’ it said.

    The statement also noted that Dalung has been an ever-present guest in Super Eagles’ most crucial matches in the past year.

    “He undisputable brings a rich vein of fortune around the team with the Eagles now only one win away from a sixth appearance in the FIFA World Cup finals,’’ it said.

    The minister led the Nigerian delegation to the 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola at the start of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

    He was equally in Uyo for the 3-1 thrashing of Algeria.

    He was there in Uyo when the Eagles bashed African champions Cameroon 4-0 and also arrived in Yaounde in time to see the 1-1 draw three days later.

    To reach the championship match, the Super Eagles B, who qualified for the 5th African Nations Championship finals after a 2-1 aggregate win over Benin Republic in August, ejected Sierra Leone with a 2-0 win in the first knock-out phase.

    They also drew 0-0 with Mali and Guinea before seeing off hosts Ghana 2-0 in last group phase attrition.

    In the semi finals, CHAN qualifying victims Benin Republic were turned back 1-0, meaning Nigeria has yet to concede a goal in the sub-regional football fiesta.

    Sunday’s match will kick off at 6 p.m. Ghana time (7 p.m. Nigeria time), and victory for the Super Eagles will mean a seventh major trophy for the Pinnick-led administration.

    The administration’s first trophy was the Women Africa Cup of Nations title won by the Super Falcons in Namibia in Oct. 2014.

    It was followed by the Supers and Eagles’ triumph in the COPA Lagos International Invitational Tournament (December 2014) and the Flying Eagles’ Africa U-20 title in Senegal (March 2015).

    The latest being the Golden Eaglets’ FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile (November 2015), the U-23 team’s Africa U-23 title in Senegal (December 2015) and the Super Falcons’ Women Africa Cup of Nations title in Cameroon (December 2016).

  • WAFU: Nigeria beat Ghana 2-0, progress to semi-finals

    WAFU: Nigeria beat Ghana 2-0, progress to semi-finals

    Nigeria home-based Super Eagles on Monday defeated the Black Stars of Ghana 2-0 in their last group game to progress to the semi-finals of the West Africa Football Union ( WAFU ) Cup of Nations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles B team bounced back to winning ways after two successive draws against Mali and Guinea, beating bitter rivals and host Ghana at the Cape Coast Stadium.

    Super Eagles Chief coach Salisu Yusuf made six changes to the line-up.

    Ikechukwu Ezenwa returned in goal and led the team as captain, Kingsley Eduwo was rested for Tony Okpotu, while Stephen Eze, Rabiu Ali, Peter Eneji and Ubong Friday all started.

    Nigeria needed a win against the  already qualified Black Stars and the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL ) stars put up a brilliant performance.

    The first half ended goalless with the Super Eagles home-based team dominating the half.

    Ghana goalkeeper Addo Joseph was the star man in the first half has he denied Okpotu, Friday and Eneji on several occasions.

    However, the goals started pouring nine minutes into the second half for Nigeria. NPFL top scorer Okpotu finally broke Nigeria’s goal drought in the tournament with a brilliant finish in the 54th minute.

    Three minutes later, Plateau United’s Eneji doubled the lead after the Ghanaian defence switched off and were caught napping.

    Eneji was voted the Man of the Match at the blast of the referee’s full-time whistle.

    Victory for Nigeria meant Ghana and Nigeria advanced to the semi-final of the tournament from Group A.

    Ghana finished as group leaders with six points while Nigeria finished second with five points.

    Both teams will wait for the results from Group B on Tuesday to determine their semi final opponents.

    In the other game in Group A played simultaneously on Monday, Guinea and Mali cancelled out each other in a 1-1 draw at the Nduom Sports Complex to finish on two points each.

  • Fans hopeful Super Eagles will qualify for semi-finals

    Fans hopeful Super Eagles will qualify for semi-finals

    Some football enthusiasts in Nigeria on Sunday expressed optimism that the home-based Super Eagles would defeat hosts, Ghana, and qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing West Africa Football Union ( WAFU ) tournament in spite of their last goalless draw,

    Bethel Ugonna, a footballer with Golden FC of Port Harcourt told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that qualifying for the semi-finals was very possible.

    Ugonna urged the Salisu Yusuf coached boys to go all out as a team against the host country Ghana on Monday, and defeat them, while advising the team to improve on its attack.

    He said that the team had to galvanise its attack to be able to convert their chances to goals.

    “The attack makes mistakes, especially when it comes to scoring goals. It is time for them to sit up at least against Ghana in order to qualify for semi-finals,” Ugonna said.

    Also, Lambert Uba, a coach said that the CHAN Eagles would reach the semi-finals.

    Uba noted that the team’s determination and coordination were key to beating Ghana on Monday as he called for total crushing of Ghana.

    He said that this was time for the Eagles to show the stuff they were made of by humbling Ghana on their own pitch.

    Hassan Isa, a football fan and a businessman urged the Eagles to show that Nigeria’s recent disgrace of Cameroon, Africa’s champions was not a fluke by beating Ghana.

    Isa said that he had no fears about the Super Eagles whether home-based or not, especially with their recent performance in World Cup qualifiers.

    Nigeria on Thursday were held to a goalless draw by Mali in their first group match having eliminated Sierra Leone in the knock stage.

    Again the Super Eagles were taken back from clinching the semifinals ticket by the Syli Eagles of Guinea on Saturday.

    The Salisu Yusuf boys will on Monday slug it out with Ghana in an all-important match to decide the semi-finals ticket.