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Tag: Siasia

  • Siasia: Wedding anniversary was 27th, not 30th

    Siasia: Wedding anniversary was 27th, not 30th

    Head Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has come out to set the records straight on his marriage that has been an issue in the social space in the past few days.

    According to Coach Siasia, he actually celebrated his 27th marriage anniversary and not 30th as has been reported in the media. He said he got married at age 20 in 1988.

    Noting that the marriage anniversary party was not organised by him or his family but by his friends and back-room staff of the U-23 National Team, Siasia said he notified the organisers  of the error when he saw the cake.

    While thanking Nigerians for all their support during his playing days and now as a coach, Coach Siasia said he would never do anything to tarnish the image of the country in any way.

  • Siasia invites Iheanacho, Yahaya to Dream Team

    Siasia invites Iheanacho, Yahaya to Dream Team

    Sani Faisal, Lukmon Gilmore, Emmanuel Ammana, Tonbara Tiongoli, Freedom Omofonma, Uche Okeke and Gabriel Sunday were axed after Nigeria’s Under-23 national team forced Wikki Tourists to a 3 – 3 draw at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi on Saturday.

    Eight Flying Eagles stars will now beef up the squad, with Musa Mohammed, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kingsley Sokari, Saviour Godwin and Dele Alampasu expected to report to camp today.  The foreign – based contingent, Musa Yahaya, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon have been told to join the team two weeks before a first leg All Africa Games Qualifier against Congo.

    Siasia has also invited Sharks FC defender Chima Akas and Warri Wolves defender Semiu Laidi for the Under-23s’ get – together in Abuja.

  • Flying Eagles impress Siasia

    Flying Eagles impress Siasia

    Dream Team VI Coach, Samson Siasia has confirmed that he will elevate most of the U-20 players to the U-23 sqaud, after the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

    Siasia, a former Flying Eagles coach, said he will keep a keen eye on the team and adds that he will be following their progress in New Zealand.

    “They are in my plans of course. I will watch their games at the U-20 World Cup and the best of them will join us when they’re done. It’s natural for them to progress from the U-20 to the U-23. Remember I did it too when I was the U-20 coach and later the U-23 coach,” he told sl10.ng in an interview.

    “It’s a Nigerian team and not a Siasia team. If we think anybody is good enough, we will bring them in but the U-20 boys are definitely in my plans.”

    Speaking further, the former Super Eagles coach also admits that he has been impressed by the team.

    “Of course I am. Who doesn’t like good things? We brought Taiwo (Awoniyi) in before our last game against Zambia, he came in and scored two goals for us so I have to be impressed,” he concluded.

  • Siasia: I knew we would leave Lusaka as heroes

    Siasia: I knew we would leave Lusaka as heroes

    The chief coach of the national U-23 men’s football team, Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia has said he knew his wards will leave Lusaka as heroes not villains as they play better away from home.

    Speaking after the game, an over whelmed Siasia said even though he felt bad that Nigerians had ruled out his team even before the return leg, he knew with the caliber of players in the team and what he had put them through victory was certain.

    While disclosing that the secret behind the team’s success was that aside the fact his boys played to instructions , he knew that the Zambians would come attacking his team to get a goal and he instructed his boys to be patient, knowing Awoniyi has pace, they would catch them on the counter when the opportunity arises, which they did.

    He disclosed that the qualification for the AAG football event is of great significance to him as he has never qualified for the games.

    Siasia described the Zambians as a good team, but that they were just better on the day.

    On the way forward,  Siasia said for now all he wants to do is enjoy the victory and hopes that the NFF would organise more friendly games for the team to put them in shape for the AAG and the Olympic Games qualifiers.

  • Siasia maps out strategy to beat Zambia

    Siasia maps out strategy to beat Zambia

    •Wants to control midfield
    •Hails Awoniyi, Mohammed’s qualities

    Dream Team VI handler, Samson Siasia has vowed to control the midfield and the entire play away to Zambia in a strategy he believes will give victory to his team and a qualifying ticket for the All Africa Games (AAG).

    Dream Team VI has a date on April 12 with Zambia in Lusaka and Nigeria’s U- 23 national team’s chief coach is leaving no stone unturned to ensure his team beat Zambia to pick the AAG ticket.

    “We need to work hard to control the midfield in the match against Zambia in Lusaka. If we are able to do this then we will surely win over there and thereby qualify for the All Africa Games.

    Answering the question on how to stop the Zambians in Lusaka knowing fully well that the team may change tactics from defending that they did in the first leg to coming out to attack in the return leg at home to the Nigerian team, Siasia said he already has answers to this.

    “My game is always attacking. I want to go to Lusaka to attack and defend as well too. Having looked again at the first leg game we played here in Abuja, even the Zambian Coach knew that we created enough chances to score goals. He (Zambian Coach) has been very careful to tell his players not to come out and this is where we have to capitalise to score goals.

    “We are targeting any player that comes in now that can perform better than the ones we already have here that are not doing that well. We are looking at the striking position, the midfield and the defense whichever one that is not playing well. That is what we are trying to do.

    “In the first match we played against Zambia here in Abuja, I think we didn’t do that well from the right and left midfield. The qualities were not there and we didn’t see enough one on one attacking on the right and left side. We want to try and improve in those areas. The more crosses we have the more chances we will get in scoring goals. We want to work more on the midfield.

     

  • Siasia drafts 4 foreign pros to Dream Team VI

    Siasia drafts 4 foreign pros to Dream Team VI

    Nigeria’s U-23 national team popularly called Dream Team VI has invited four foreign based players to join the other three players also invited from the Africa Youth Championship Champion; the Flying Eagles to boost his team ahead must win return leg, final round qualifier of the 2015 All Africa Games slated for Congo Brazaville.

    Sporting-Life exclusively gathered from the Dream Team VI’s Chief Coach Samson Siasia yesterday in Abuja that he had already sent invitations to the players’ clubs through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the players invited are: Club de Africaine of Tunisia’s attacking midfielder, Patrick Nwankwo , Paul Nwachi from Denmark, Atanda Ololade Sodiq from Apolonia Fier FC of Albenia’s central defender Atanda Ololade Sodiq and Osmanlispor of Turkey’s midfielder Aminu Umar.

    The four players are expected to hit Serob Hotel Abuja camp of the team latest next week Monday after helping out in their club’s weekend matches while the three Flying Eagles invitees: striker Taiwo Awoniyi, right back Musa Mohammed and left back Mustapha Abdullahi will join the team today.

    “Yes it is true I have discussed with the Nigeria Football Federation to send invitations to the following players Patrick Nwankwo, Paul Nwachi, Atanda Sodiq and Aminu Umar to join the team for our return leg match against Zambia in Lusaka.

    “Also three of the invited four Flying Eagles players namely Musa Mohammed, Taiwo Awoniyi and Mustapha Abdullahi will join the team tomorrow morning (this morning) for preparations for Zambia’s match too”, Siasia told Sporting-Life shortly after the team’s workout at the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

    Sporting-Life can also report that goalkeeper Dele Alampasu of the Flying Eagles who was also invited could not make it as a result of injury.

    Coach Siasia was initially unhappy that the Flying Eagles trio failed to join the team as scheduled since Sunday but had to pardon them and gave them up till today to join the team.

    “We don’t have the luxury of time on our hands and there is need for these guys (players) to have more training time together to blend and gel together. But they have told me that it was the elections that prevented them from coming to camp on time. So I am expecting them to join the team tomorrow (today)”, Siasia disclosed.

  • Siasia to invite Awoniyi, Muhammed to Dream Team VI

    Siasia to invite Awoniyi, Muhammed to Dream Team VI

    NationSport can exclusively reveal that two top Flying Eagles’ stars: team Captain Musa Muhammed and top striker Taiwo Awoniyi have been invited to join the Samson Siasia-tutored Dream Team VI in readiness for the return leg final round All Africa Games qualifying battle against host Zambia in Lusaka come April 11, 2015.

    The Dream Team Chief Coach was visibly angry that his attack trio of Junior Ajayi, Oghenekaro Otebo and Tiabara Tiogolo could not convert close to 16 begging chances that team created against the visiting Zambia U- 23 national team last Sunday at the Abuja National Stadium which ended in a barren draw.

    Siasia had told NationSport that in as much as he was disappointed in his players’ performance on the day for not converting begging chances that came their way, that he would still bank on them for the return leg to turn the table in favour of Nigeria.

    “Are you saying that because they didn’t score and win here in Abuja then they won’t win in Zambia? No that is the game of football. I know the quality of this team and the players and I know they play so well away from home without tension of distractions. They will get the needed result come April 11, I can assure you”, he told NationSport few days after the match against Zambia.

    But on Thursday, Siasia could not deny or confirm his interest in the Flying Eagles players for the return leg match against Zambia. “I am still watching the players over here. I will talk to Coach Manu Garba when I need any of his players”, Siasia disclosed.

    The Flying Eagles’ Chief Coach, Manu Garba also confided in NationSport, “Yes Coach Samson Siasia has contacted me. So we are talking about the possibility of some players in the Flying Eagles joining the team for the return leg match against Zambia”, Garba disclosed.

    But NationSport gathered from very close source to the team that “because of complacency from some players who believe they have automatic shirts in the team, the Chief Coach is thinking of drafting two or three players from the Flying Eagles set to the team. Players like Taiwo Awoniyi and Musa Mohammed are seriously under considerations. But nothing has been concluded for now until Tuesday next week”, the source told NationSport yesterday.

  • Siasia ready for Zambia

    Siasia ready for Zambia

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia has declared that he and his team are ready for the battle against their Zambian counterparts in the first leg, second round game of the All Africa Games qualifier in Abuja.

    Speaking at the team’s training session on Wednesday after all the players expected for the game arrived camp, Siasia commended the foreign duo of defender Atanda Sodiq of KF Apolonia Fier of Albania and winger Lucky Omeruo of Birkirkara FC, Malta for beating his Wednesday deadline for all foreign-based players invited for the game.

    “Baring last minute injuries, I  say that my wards are ready to do Nigerians proud come Sunday as we battle to pick the first of our two targets, I know it will not be easy, but we intend to win well here so as to make the return leg a mere formality,” he told thenff.com.

    “From what I have seen of both Sodiq and Lucky, both are in good shape, but as is my practice they must fight for their jersey as there are no automatic jerseys for anybody in my team, putting in mind that my team is still a work in progress,” he added.

    Nigeria will secure passage to the All Africa Games if they edge the Zambians over two legs.

  • Olympic Team ready for Gabon – Siasia

    Olympic Team ready for Gabon – Siasia

    Nigeria’s U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, said his boys are in fine fettle ahead of Saturday’s 2015 All Africa Games qualifier against Gabon in Abuja.

    The Dream Team VI, as the Nigeria team is fondly called, defeated the Gabonese 4-1 in Libreville and is now expected to advance to the next round of the competition, supersport.com reports.

    Reports had however surfaced last week that the players had expressed anger following the refusal of the Nigeria Football Federation to pay them the “agreed $1,000 winning bonus” following the success in Gabon.

    Siasia said he prefers not to discuss issues about money, insisting that his charges are only concerned about playing football matches.

    “The NFF officials did not say they will not pay the boys. Nobody complained about being paid $1,000. 00 too,” Siasia told supersport.com.

    He added that winning the second leg fixture against Gabon remains the major objective for his team.

    “We don’t want to talk about money because that will distract the players. The boys are not complaining about money and that is the most important things.

    “These boys are very young boys that are looking to having a bright future. We are giving them the right platform and trust me, they will all tell you it’s not about money,” he said.

  • I didn’t request for Okpala – Siasia • Vows to work on Dream Team VI defense

    I didn’t request for Okpala – Siasia • Vows to work on Dream Team VI defense

    The Chief Coach of Nigeria’s  Dream Team VI, Samson  Siasia has said that he has not requested for the services of former Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach Sylvanus Okpala to come and join his technical crew.

    He said that Coach Okpala is a respected coach in the country but the truth about the matter is that there is no need to request for assistant when he already had coaches helping out in the team.

    “No, not at all, I have never said anything like that. We have the people who can fix any problem we might notice in this team which is the technical crew of this team. We have Fatai Amoo, Aloy Agu and Monday Odigie in this team that are capable to fix any problem we notice in this team. They are wonderful people so I am not looking for anybody else. So I don’t know where the report came from,” Siasia said.

    He, however, disclosed that the defense line of the team needs to be worked on to make the team more solid.

    “We have noticed that we need to work on the team’s defense which I am not totally happy with for now. But we are not going to look outside the shores of Nigeria to get the players needed to fix this because we have quality players among the pool of players we have here in Abuja that can help us fix it.

    “The last game we played against Gabon we won 4-1, we scored four goals while they scored one. So I think they didn’t play that bad. I just don’t want to tell them that they are doing well now because there is room for improvement. I want them to be more focused and work more to make it defense solid.

    “If we bring fresh players from outside to beef up the defense line it will be difficult to start adjusting the back line. It is some few days to our next game (against Gabon). So we will keep with the ones we have now, watch our videos and make those corrections to make sure they will be good enough to defend well on that day,” Siasia disclosed.