The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • SUPER EAGLES JOB: Micho is favourite

    SUPER EAGLES JOB: Micho is favourite

    AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal today that Uganda coach, Sredojevic  Milutin aka Micho is in line to be named Nigeria’s next coach after the temporary coaching combination led by Samson Siasia has completed their mandate.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have already opened up discussions with experienced Serbian coach, Micho and his representatives since the CHAN in Rwanda.

    Top sources informed AfricanFootball.com that the technical committee chairman, Chris Green  met with Micho in Rwanda over the Eagles top coaching post and everything is now pointing to the former Rwanda and Orlando Pirates of South Africa coach to take over the Eagles after the two-match mandate given Siasia and his assistants.

    “Green met with Micho at CHAN and it is like it is already a done deal. The plan was to appoint Shuaibu Amodu for the Egypt matches and after those games, a substantive foreign coach will be named with Micho already in pole position,” a top official told AfricanFootball.com.

    “But Amodu declined the post because he is hypertensive and so the temporary arrangement of Siasia and co, who have been clearly told they will revert to their previous posts after the matches against Egypt.”

    Another source also told AfricanFootball.com: “Micho’s representatives have told me they have established a link with the NFF for quite some time now.”

    It will also be recalled that former Nigeria international Tijjani Babangida, who was Sunday Oliseh’s special assistant, has alleged representatives of Herve Renard informed them NFF officials again led by Green attempted to offer Oliseh’s job to the former Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire coach.

    Micho is 46 and he has proved his tactical prowess and wealth of knowledge across Africa – from Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda to Uganda – and it will be a track record that will come in handy when the 2018 World Cup qualifiers get underway in October.

  • Siasia will succeed with Eagles – Adepoju

    Siasia will succeed with Eagles – Adepoju

    Former Nigeria midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has hailed the appointment of Samson Siasia as Super Eagles coach, saying he will succeed with the team.

    Siasia was re-appointed Nigeria coach, hours after Sunday Oliseh resigned from the position and he will be assisted by Nigeria U-20 coach Emmanuel Amuneke, Salisu Yusuf  and Alloy Agu ahead of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt.

    The Super Eagles sit second in Group G, two points off the Pharaohs at the summit, and must avoid any slip to avoid missing out of the biennial African football showpiece.

    And Adepoju argued that Siasia will rejig the team and succeed in his second stint.

    “His appointment is okay and I am sure he will do a good job,” Adepoju told Goal.

    “Definitely he will surely deliver not minding the situation we have found ourselves. He has been there before and has the experience.”

     

  • AFCON: Nigeria can defeat Egypt – Oliseh

    AFCON: Nigeria can defeat Egypt – Oliseh

    Former Nigeria coach, Sunday Oliseh, has said the North African side, Egypt is no longer a dominant force and can be defeated by Super Eagles in next month’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers.

    Oliseh quit as Eagles coach on Thursday after claiming several contractual breaches by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Nigeria hosts the Egyptians in Kaduna on March 25, while the reverse fixture takes place two days later in Cairo.

    Oliseh left his position with just a month to the all-important qualifiers, but he has restated his belief that his former charges will defeat the North Africans.

    “The Egyptians are not as good as they were four years ago, we can beat them,” africanFootball.com quoted the ex-Eagles skipper as saying on a radio interview on Saturday morning.

    He refused to comment on the coaches that had been appointed to replace him ahead of next month’s matches.

    “It doesn’t matter who is there, what matters is that Nigeria advance,” he said when asked about the Samson Siasia-led coaching crew named to lead the team against Egypt.

     

  • I quit in Nigeria’s interest – Oliseh

    I quit in Nigeria’s interest – Oliseh

    Sunday Oliseh has said he quit as Super Eagles coach in the interest of the country.

    Oliseh on Thursday night turned in his resignation letter, which was addressed to general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi.

    “Your contractual violations and the interest of the nation necessitate that I tender my resignation and recourse to the termination of our working agreement,” africanFootball.com quoted the ex-Eagles captain as saying in the letter.

    A rented apartment in Abuja promised Oliseh and his two assistants after he was appointed in July 2015 has not been fulfilled by the federation.

    He is also owed four months’ salary, while his assistants are also being owed for several months.

    He further accused the NFF of not giving him enough support to prepare the team for next month’s all-important African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers against Egypt.

  • Mixed reactions trail Oliseh’s resignation

    Mixed reactions trail Oliseh’s resignation

    Friday Ekpo, an ex-international on Friday described the resignation of the Super Eagles handler, Sunday Oliseh, as shocking.

    Oliseh in the early hours of February 26 announced his resignation, citing violations of his contract terms and unpaid salaries by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) as well as lack of support among others.

    The former Super Eagles midfielder was appointed on July 15, 2015. He took over from Stephen Keshi whose appointment was terminated by the NFF.

    Ekpo said that the resignation came at a crucial time when the nation was preparing for a major qualifying match against Egypt on March 26.

    “Honestly, I don’t know where we are heading to with this latest development of Oliseh’s resignation.

    “I hope this won’t affect our chances of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Ekpo, also urged the leadership of the NFF to get things right in order to avert such recurrence in the future.

    “The NFF should always do things the right way, that is the only way we can avoid things like this,” he said.

    Also, Falade Oyekan, Chairman of the Lagos Divisional Football Association (LDFA), said he was not surprised over the coach’s resignation.

    “What has Oliseh achieved as a coach that is the question we should ask ourselves as a nation, a lot of Nigerians questioned his appointment then.

    “The painful thing is that we have a very vital match at hand and he chooses to throw in the towel at this time,” he said.

    Donatus Emeka, a grassroots football coach, said that Oliseh should have resigned when he failed to qualify the home-based eagles for the second round of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Emeka said that the NFF should be held responsible for the crises affecting football in the country.

    “If you do the wrong thing, definitely you will get the wrong result and that is what has happened concerning Oliseh.

    “NFF should do the needful to redeem its image and apologise to the nation,’’ he said.

  • Eagles Chief Coach Oliseh resigns

    Eagles Chief Coach Oliseh resigns

    Super Eagles Chief Coach, Sunday Oliseh has resigned his job.
    He announced his decision in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @SundayOOliseh early Friday morning.

    The tweet read “Due to Contract violations ,lack of Support,Unpaid wages,Benefits to my players,Asst.Coaches & myself, I resign as Super Eagles Chief Coach.
    “I feel fortunate, blessed and eternally grateful for having had the honour to Play,Captain & Coach this great Nation of ours,Nigeria.”

  • Green charges Amuneke to win U-20 World Cup

    Green charges Amuneke to win U-20 World Cup

    The Nigeria Football Federation technical committee chairman, Chris Green, has charged Emmanuel Amuneke to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup with the Flying Eagles and land the Super Eagles job.

    Nigeria is yet to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup despite coming close in 1989 and 2005.

    Green said the ex-Barcelona winger could stake a strong claim for the Super Eagles job if he succeeds with the Flying Eagles next year.

    “He has already won the FIFA U-17 World Cup and has now been taken up to the U-20s with his boys. And should he now deliver again, he could take over the U-23s or even the Super Eagles,” africanFootball.com quoted the NFF technical chief as saying on the ex-Nigerian international winger.

     

  • AFCON: Egypt must fall – Oliseh

    AFCON: Egypt must fall – Oliseh

    Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has said he does not expect his team to play beautiful football when Nigeria hosts Egypt in a crucial African Nations Cup qualifier next month, but still expects victory over the North Africans.

    The two super powers of African football will clash in Nigerian town of Kaduna on March 25, africanFootball.com reports.

    A home win will lift Nigeria above the Pharaohs in the race for the automatic ticket to next year AFCON in Gabon.

    “It may not be beautiful, but we must win,” africanFootball.com quoted Oliseh as saying on next month’s encounter.

    “We can carry the day, if we play at the level they can play and with the support of the fans.”

    The coach added that he expects to open training camp with players from the domestic league at least two weeks to the AFCON qualifier.

  • Matthew has cemented Eagles place – Oliseh

    Matthew has cemented Eagles place – Oliseh

    Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has said midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew has played his way into the main team after he picked him as his best player at the recent African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

    Oliseh has said at least seven players from CHAN team led by Matthew have proved they are good enough for the full Super Eagles.

    “From CHAN, it is no secret that Ifeanyi Mathew was our best and most consistent player there. Personally, he is one of the players I am looking at for the Super Eagles,” africanFootball.com quoted the Eagles coach as saying on the player.

    “I just hope he does not lose form or suffer any injury.

    “We had at least seven very good players from CHAN who can stand up to the high level because I put them through high tempo play.”

    The 19-year-old Matthew, playing as the second defensive midfielder, was an ever-present as Nigeria crashed out in the group stage of the CHAN.

    The versatile player has already represented Nigeria at U-17and U-20 levels.

    Oliseh also disclosed his plans for next month’s crucial African Nations Cup qualifiers against Egypt.

    He said:  “I plan to invite two players for each wing and they will fight it out in training. The player who is more ready will play.

    “I will not see home-based or foreign-based player when they hit camp.”

     

  • Eagles must qualify for 2017 AFCON – Pinnick

    Eagles must qualify for 2017 AFCON – Pinnick

    The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has said the board would do everything possible to ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

    Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea after Super Eagles played a 2-2 draw with South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    With the team sitting in second spot behind Egypt, Pinnick said the priority of the Glass House is to ensure that Nigeria hoists her flag in Gabon next year.

    “Our focus is on the game against Egypt and we know how important it is to our ambition of qualifying for the next AFCON in Gabon,” Goal quoted Pinnick as saying to Complete Sports on Wednesday.

    “We know Nigerians are still disappointed with the performance of the Eagles at the last CHAN and we cannot afford to miss out on the AFCON again after our failure to qualify for the last edition.

    “We don’t want to put our mind on qualifying as one of the best losers as that could be costly at the end of the day,” he added.