The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Amuneke: ‘Group of death’ good for Super Eagles

    Amuneke: ‘Group of death’ good for Super Eagles

    FORMER Nigerian international and Flying Eagles coach, Emmanuel Amuneke believed the Russia 2018 World Cup grouping would bring about the best in the Super Eagles, adding playing sides like Cameroun, Zambia and Algeria is too close to call.

    Amuneke who was one of Nigeria’s stand-out performers when the Super Eagles made her debut at the USA’94 World Cup, said that every hand must be on deck to ensure the country qualification for the 2018 edition.

    ” There is no doubt, this is a tough group and I’m not even talking about the calibre of the team grouped along with the Super Eagles,” said Amuneke after seeing his wards edged Dream Team 4-3 in a friendly match at the Abuja Stadium yesterday. “The NFF must urgently address the issue of who to manage the affairs of the team and that would go in a long way to prepare the team for the task ahead.”

    Speaking further, the 1994 African Footballer of the Year said it is about time the Super Eagles show Nigerians they are capable to get the job done by qualifying for the World Cup:” It is going to be a tough schedule but this World Cup group would bring out the best in our players; and they have to be equaled to the task.

  • Eagles will get new coach in two weeks – NFF

    Eagles will get new coach in two weeks – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will announce a permanent coach for the Super Eagles in two weeks, a top member of the federation has said

    Nigeria was paired with Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia in the 2018 World Cup qualifying draws held on Friday in Cairo, Egypt.

    “The target to hire a coach by the technical committee and the NFF is two weeks. After that we can get down to preparations.

    “It is better now that we know the draws and the countries we will play. We can now decide on the kind of coach we need to get the right results,” the NFF second vice-president, Shehu Dikko, told africanFootball.com on Saturday.

  • NFF shopping for Eagles’ coach sponsor – Pinnick

    NFF shopping for Eagles’ coach sponsor – Pinnick

    Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has said the federation is shopping for a sponsor for the new Super Eagles coach that is expected to appointed soon.

    Salisu Yusuf is holding the Eagles coaching job in interim capacity.

    “We’re looking for a sponsor to ensure we don’t owe the coach and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will take a decision,” africanFootball.com quoted Pinnick as saying on the matter.

    NFF said former coach Sunday Oliseh’s salaries were borne by a commercial bank, but with the banking industry experiencing difficulties lately, it is left to be seen if a bank will now come up to foot the new coach’s salaries.

  • Yusuf in pole position for Eagles’ job – Akinwunmi

    Yusuf in pole position for Eagles’ job – Akinwunmi

    Vice-president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi, has said Salisu Yusuf is in pole position to be named the new Super Eagles coach.

    Yusuf led the team to last month’s friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg.

    “Salisu Yusuf is sure of getting the (Eagles) job ahead of any other person,” africanFootball.com quoted Akinwunmi as saying at a forum organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Ibadan at the weekend.

    “He is good coach and has a bright future with the Super Eagles.

    “He is a level-headed coach and he is the kind of coach who could lead the Super Eagles to success in the nearest future.”

  • Breaking News: Ex – Super Eagles Coach Shaibu Amodu is dead

    Breaking News: Ex – Super Eagles Coach Shaibu Amodu is dead

    Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amodu Shuaibu is dead.
    He reportedly died in Benin, Edo State on Friday in his sleep after complaining of chest pains.

    His remains will be buried on Saturday in Okpella, Edo State, according to Islamic rights.

    He was one of Nigeria’s most successful coaches having qualified Nigeria to two FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2002 and 2010 but was sacked before the tournaments in Korea/Japan and South Africa respectively.

    Amodu also coached the defunct BCC Lions to win the FA Cup in 1989 and led the club to win the now rested Africa Cup Winners the following year.

  • Ex- Super Eagles coach Keshi is dead

    Ex- Super Eagles coach Keshi is dead

    Former coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, is dead.

    Keshi, 54, popularly known as the big boss, reportedly died of cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin, Edo State.

    His death was confirmed in a statement issued by the family and signed by Emmanuel Ado, titled: “Stephen Keshi (CON) has gone to be with his wife.”

    “With thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, announces the death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi.

    “Our son, brother, father, father-in-law,brother-in-law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years (Nkem), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th of  December 2015.

    “Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned to fly back today Wednesday, before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He has found rest.

    “We thank God for his life.

    “We want to ask for understanding in this very difficult time for the family,” Ado stated.

  • FIFA ranking: Eagles climbs 6 places to 61st

    The two victories over Mali and Luxembourg in an international friendly may have rubbed off positively on the fortune of Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the June ranking of the world football governing body- FIFA as the former African champion climbs six places to be ranked 61st in the world.

    Within five days, a young Eagles’ team handled by local coaches led by Salisu Yusuf defeated Mali 1-0 in France and went ahead to pound Luxembourg 3-1 in front of the home fans.

    However, the Eagles are still out of the top five teams in Africa while their rising this month has moved them to 12th place in the continent.

    The three-time African champions could still face a very difficult 2018 World Cup qualifying group even after the latest FIFA rankings as they will be missing out from the seedings for the qualifying round of the 2018 World Cup.

    It is touted that the top five teams in the continent – Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt – will enjoy a better chance of making Pot A of the draws holding on June 24 in Cairo, Egypt. FIFA is expected to announce the lucky five top seeds next week.
    Having crashed out of AFCON 2017, Nigeria will be seeking to qualify for a sixth World Cup when the qualifying series for Russia 2018 kick off in October.
    The 20 African teams still in contention for the World Cup will be drawn into five groups of four teams each with winner of each group catching the flight to Russia in 2018.

  • ‎ Nigeria defeats Luxembourg in friendly

    ‎ Nigeria defeats Luxembourg in friendly

    Nigeria on Tuesday evening defeated Luxembourg 3-1 in an international friendly played at the Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg City.

    Olympiakos striker, Brown Ideye, opened the scoring for the Super Eagles in the 36th minute, before Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, doubled the advantage for the three-time African champions mid- way into the second half.

    Substitute Odion Ighalo scored Nigeria’s third goal in the 89th minute.

    Vincent Thill’s late goal was not enough for the European side who struggled to match the superior West Africans throughout the encounter.

  • Super Eagles arrive in Luxembourg for Tuesday friendly

    Super Eagles arrive in Luxembourg for Tuesday friendly

    The Super Eagles on Sunday arrived in Luxembourg City ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly against the country’s senior national male football team.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian delegation arrived from Rouen in France, where they beat Mali 1-0 on Friday in another friendly match.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Sunday in Abuja said the Eagles arrived at noon on Sunday.

    “They are now at the Alvisse Parc Hotel, an impressive facility located on Route d’Echternach in Luxembourg City.’’

    It said there was a great spirit in camp as players and officials looked forward to a win against Luxembourg.

    The statement disclosed that the team later trained at the Stade Josy Barthel, venue of Tuesday’s clash with Luxembourg.

  • Home-based Eagles to play final AFCON qualifier

    Home-based Eagles to play final AFCON qualifier

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is seriously considering lining up the home-based Super Eagles for the final African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in September.

    Nigeria has failed to qualify for the 2017 AFCON slated for Gabon and so the home game against Tanzania will be a mere formality, africanFootball.com reports.

    “Players from the domestic league are most likely to prosecute the Tanzania match because it will not only save the federation much-needed funds, but also give the players the opportunity to stake a claim in the main Eagles squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers,” a top official told africanFootball.com.