Tag: Super Eagles

  • We must retain present Eagles for Zambia clash – Green

    We must retain present Eagles for Zambia clash – Green

    The Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Green, has called for the retention of present crop of Super Eagles for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia.

    Nigeria defeated Taifa Stars of Tanzania in last Saturday’s inconsequential Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Green, who told supersport.com that he was satisfied with the Eagles’ performance, lamented the state of the pitch which impeded the team during the encounter.

    “It was a good game generally. I saw the resilience of our team as usual. These days it’s not easy keeping on the pressure and bagging the three points. The Tanzanians came with a game plan to see how they can check us and catch us on the counter, but our boys were on top of their game,” Green told supersport.com.

    “Unfortunately the playing turf did not really help matters because it was stunted and very heavy to play on. We would have put the game to bed in the first half but for the poor state of the field, which robbed us of a minimum of three goals coming from the likes of Victor Moses, (Kelechi) Iheanacho and the rest of them.

    “It took the brilliance of one Kelechi Iheanacho, who we can say has been one of the successes from the U-17 to the U-20 and now playing at the ‘A’ level. That’s the national team A (the Super Eagles).

    “Generally the team played very well despite the fact we played on a field that was stunted, undulating and heavy to play on. These are all technical matters, but I was satisfied with their play and I believe if Super Eagles continue that way, we would go a long way.”

  • Ndidi, Mohammed, Osimhen set for ‘official Eagles debut’

    Ndidi, Mohammed, Osimhen set for ‘official Eagles debut’

    Youngsters Wilfred Ndidi, Musa Mohammed and Victor Osimhen are set to make their official debut for the Super Eagles in Saturday’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania.

    Ndidi has played for Eagles in three international friendlies against DR Congo, Cameroon and Luxembourg.

    The Genk midfielder was outstanding in the Eagles test game against Akwa United on Wednesday and he is expected to play a part in Saturday’s encounter against the Tanzanians, africanFootball.com reports.

    Mohammed featured in May friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in Europe and he is expected to feature in the right back position for the three-time African champions on Saturday.

    Osimhen was a surprise call-up by new Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, for the AFCON qualifier after he won the Golden Boot at last year FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

    The Wolfsburg-bound striker has already earned accolades from his older and more experienced colleagues in the national team.

  • Ikeme joins Eagles’ camp Thursday

    Ikeme joins Eagles’ camp Thursday

    Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, will be the last Super Eagles player to hit the training camp in Uyo on Thursday.

    The Eagles spokesman, Toyin Ibitoye, told africanFootball.com that Ikeme will arrive Uyo on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania.

    Ikeme has been Nigeria’s No.1 goalkeeper since he made his debut in Tanzania last September.

    Gent forward Moses Simon and Kinsgley Madu, who on Tuesday completed his transfer from Slovak champions AS Trencin to Belgian club Zulte-Waregem, are expected on Wednesday.

    The Eagles will play a test match against Nigeria premier league side, Akwa United later on Wednesday.

    Coach Gernot Rohr wants to use the match to ascertain his players’ fitness.

     

  • I’m not aware NFF engaged foreign coach- Dalung

    I’m not aware NFF engaged foreign coach- Dalung

    *Faults NFF’s treatment to Siasia

    *Dalung: Nigeria still need Siasia

    The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday declared that he was not officially aware of the appointment of a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    ‎‎Despite Dalung’s preference for a local coach, the NFF had few weeks back selected a German, Gernot Rohr, to manage the Super Eagles.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the nation’s outing at the ‎just concluded Olympics in Rio, Brazil, Dalung said that he wished the new coach the best of luck even though NFF has not informed him of Rohr’s appointment.

    According to him, he begged the President to host the Nigerian contingent to the Olympics Games in Rio, Brazil, despite winning only one bronze medal in football and coming 78th on the medals table.

    He said that Coach ‎Samson Siasia that handled the football team that won the bronze medal at the Olympics, has not resigned as been speculated in the media even though his contract with the NFF had lapsed.

    The Minister also faulted the treatment by NFF to Siasia, which withdrew his official car in Abuja while struggling to secure a medal for the country in Rio.

    Nigeria, he said, still needed Siasia for football development, as he pushed for his engagement on personal capacity if the NFF would not re-engage him.

    He said that it would be sad to have someone like Siasia leave Nigeria to go and represent another country out of frustration, just like many athletes did at the Rio Olympics.

    Dalung also exonerated  Siasia and his team over the $390, 000 donation by a Japanese surgeon.

    After meeting the donor in Rio, the Minister said that he was convinced there were no strings attached to the donation like match-fixing.

    He however attributed the abysmal outing of the Nigerian Olympic contingent to late release of funds and inability to develop home-grown talents, noting that many athletes in the continent that performed relatively better were home-trained.

    He pointed out that it was time to revisit the basic architecture of sports in the country, stressing that “we need to go back to grassroots” and groom talents for future competitions.

    Replying his critics, he said, that he was not the problem of Nigerian sports as abysmal performance predates his appointment.

    According to him, the National Sports Commission (NSC) was necessary but was unfortunately scrapped by a government committee that recommended merger of ministries.‎

  • Rohr checks Eagles fitness with Akwa United game

    Rohr checks Eagles fitness with Akwa United game

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, will use a test game against Nigeria premier league club Akwa United to ascertain the fitness of his players and also gauge the technical demands of the match venue.

    A team official told africanFootball.com that Wednesday’s friendly against Akwa United is at the instance of the Eagles coach.

    “Rohr said he wishes to fully ascertain the match fitness of his call-ups as well as have a practical measurement of the size of the pitch of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium.”

    Rohr has called up 23 players comprising mostly foreign based players like Chelsea’s Mikel Obi and Victor Moses as well as Ahmed Musa and Ogenyi Onazi.

    Saturday’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania will be Rohr’s first match in charge of Nigeria.

  • Mikel targets 2018 World Cup qualification with Eagles

    Mikel targets 2018 World Cup qualification with Eagles

    Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has set his sights on qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Nigeria.

    Mikel, who led Nigeria’s U-23 team to win bronze medal at the just concluded Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, believes he can lead the Super Eagles to Russia in 2018.

    “Nigeria is a massive country and a footballing country as well, so where we are now in terms of football is not where we want to be,” Goal quoted Mikel as saying in an interview with Newsweek.

    “Let’s hope this [the bronze medal] can motivate the national team.

    “Now we have the World Cup qualifiers coming up, we have to be ready for that.

    “We have to make sure we prepare well and qualify for the World Cup.”

    Nigeria, who recently appointed German Gernot Rohr as technical adviser plays in Group B of World Cup qualifying with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

  • Amuneke hails Osimhen Eagles’ invitation

    Amuneke hails Osimhen Eagles’ invitation

    Nigeria U-20 coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has commended Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, for handing Victor Osimhen his first-ever call-up, saying the Wolfsburg-bound youngster is the future of Nigeria football.

    The 17-year-old Osimhen was record top scorer at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and has since featured for both Nigeria U-20 and U-23 teams.

    He was named in a 23-man squad for next month’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo.

    “It’s a good thing that the coach picked Victor. He is a growing talent who is blessed with abundant talent. He is the future,” africanFootball.com quoted the former Barcelona forward as saying on Osimhen’s invitation to the Super Eagles.

    “He will learn from other established strikers in the Super Eagles and that will quicken his growth.

    “In more developed footballing countries that is how you bring in your young players.”

    “Young players like Victor and Kelechi (Nwakali, who has signed for Arsenal) are the future Super Eagles and with time Nigeria will be proud of their immense talent.”

  • Rohr invites Olympics stars, Osimhen for Tanzania clash

    Rohr invites Olympics stars, Osimhen for Tanzania clash

    Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr, has invited six players from the Dream Team VI campaigning in the ongoing Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for next month’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania.

    The Franco-German coach overlooked the Olympics team leading scorer, Oghenekaro Etebo, for the match slated for September 3 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Germany- based Victor Osimhen, who is expected to sign a professional contract with Wolfsburg in January, was handed a surprise call up by Rohr, africanFootball.com reports.

    Members of the U-23 team listed for the AFCON qualifier are – Emmanuel Daniel, William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu, Mikel Obi and Imoh Ezekiel.

    Porto FC defender, Chidozie Awaziem, was also invited after missing May’s friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in Europe.

    The full squad:

    Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah).

    Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia).

    Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Imoh Ezekiel (Al-Arabi Sporting Club, Qatar), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany).

  • Rohr shortlists Troost-Ekong, Mohammed for World Cup qualifiers

    Rohr shortlists Troost-Ekong, Mohammed for World Cup qualifiers

    Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has penciled down the duo of William Troost-Ekong and Musa Mohammed for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers starting in October.

    A top official told africanFootball.com that Troost-Ekong and Musa Mohammed are among the defenders the newly appointed Eagles technical adviser will consider for the World Cup qualifiers.

    “He has mentioned the names of some of the players he is counting on for the qualifiers and some of them will be called up for the African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in Port Harcourt.”

    Norway-based Troost-Ekong is currently leading the defence line of Nigeria U-23 team at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The central defender, who was eligible to represent Holland by virtue of his Dutch mother, debuted for Nigeria in the AFCON qualifier against Chad last year.

    Mohammed, on the other hand, made his long-awaited Eagles’ debut against Mali in May.

    He also featured in Nigeria 3-1 win over Luxembourg that same month.

     

  • Gernot Rohr accepts Super Eagles coaching job

    Gernot Rohr accepts Super Eagles coaching job

    The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that German Gernot Rohr has signed a two-year deal to work as Super Eagles technical adviser.

    The 63-year-old ex-Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso coach will be assisted by Salisu Yusuf, who was appointed as chief coach last month, the BBC reports.

    The NFF’s technical committee recommended Rohr after the federation failed to reach an agreement with Frenchman Paul Le Guen last month.

    “The committee was impressed with Mr. Rohr’s profile and current activities for the German Football Federation (DFB),” vice chairman of the committee, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, said after the recommendation.

    “He was very positive, showed great interest in the job and is ready and willing to live in Nigeria. He is also willing to work with indigenous Nigerian coaches and with the committee, and believes the Super Eagles can qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is very important to the NFF.

    “He swayed the committee with his calmness, good knowledge of the African terrain, focus and maturity.”

    Sunday Oliseh was the Super Eagles’ last permanent coach before he quit in February over alleged contractual violation by the NFF.

    Rohr, who has been working on development programmes for the German football association (DFB) since December, played at Bayern Munich and Girondins Bordeaux.

    He coached Bordeaux when the club lost to Bayern Munich in the 1996 UEFA Cup final and last worked in Africa as Burkina Faso coach before joining the DFB.

    His other past managerial jobs were with French club Nantes and Nice, Young Boys Berne in Switzerland, the Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel and the national teams of Gabon and Niger.

    Rohr took Gabon to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Nations Cup on home soil and also managed Niger at the 2013 edition but failed to get the country out of the group stage.

    Before leaving Burkina Faso, he led the Stallions into the final round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.