The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • 2018 W/ Cup qualifier: Nigeria hosts Swaziland in Port Harcourt

    2018 W/ Cup qualifier: Nigeria hosts Swaziland in Port Harcourt

    Nigeria will host the second leg, second round 2018 World Cup qualifier with Swaziland in Port Harcourt on November 17, four days after the first leg in Lobamba.

    The Super Eagles would travel to southern Africa for the first leg on November 13 before hosting the Swazis in the Rivers State capital.

    “The first leg will be played on Friday, November 13 while the return leg will be played in Port Harcourt on November 17,” the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi,   told Goal.

    Players from Europe are expected to arrive the camp camp by November 9.

    Earlier, the NFF announced on its website that the first leg game will take place under floodlight at the Somhlolo Stadium by 7pm. The 20,000-capacity arena is all standing.

    The return leg will be in Port Harcourt, the city that is fast becoming the new home of the Super Eagles after it played host to September’s international friendly with Niger and October’s African Nations Championship qualifying game against Burkina Faso.

    The NFF has not concluded plans on which city will host Egypt in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a game which had previously been slated for Kaduna.

  • CHAN: Eagles targeting away win – Akas

    CHAN: Eagles targeting away win – Akas

    Sharks FC defender, Chima Akas, has said the team has resolved to beat Burkina Faso for the second time in Sunday’s return leg of the African Nations Championship qualifier in Ouagadougou.

    The Eagles hold a 2-0 advantage going into the second leg, but Akas who spoke with Goal shortly before the team departed for Ouagadougou, said his team mates know the importance of not only sitting back and trying to protect their advantage.

    “We are ready and raring to go. We won’t give anything to chance in Ouagadougou because the confidence and the mood in camp is that we will like to qualify for Rwanda 2016. We are not bothered about any hearsay from Burkina Faso coach or whoever.  We are only concerned about our own game,” Akas told Goal.

     

  • Eagles official lauds NFF arrangements

    Eagles official lauds NFF arrangements

    Super Eagles Coordinator, Pascal Patrick, on Saturday praised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for ensuring the comfort of players, coaches and other officials of the national team.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF spokesman, said that Patrick commended the body, particular on the improvement of travelling and accommodation arrangements.

    It said that NFF had sustained a habit of chartering aircraft for the senior national team for away matches under the Amaju Pinnick led board in the face of financial constraints.

    “The truth is that the NFF must be commended for the travelling arrangements that make things so easy for our players.

    “Coming here to Ouagadougou, we flew in a comfortable jet for less than two hours from Port Harcourt.

    “If we had to travel by regular flight, we would have spent days on the road and players would complain of fatigue as we transited from one place to the other.

    “ The NFF arrangements deserve praise,’’ it said.

    According to the statement, Patrick, who is also vice chairman of Bauchi State Football Association, played for various clubs in the country.

    It added that the coordinator also played in the U-23 and Super Eagles and is highly schooled on the physical and mental exertions of travelling by regular flights.

    “Whoever says the Pinnick led NFF has not done very well is only being mischievous.

    “ I experienced firsthand what it means to travel by regular flights and getting to the opposition venue much fatigued. The story has changed,’’ it added.

  • Emenike quits Super Eagles

    Emenike quits Super Eagles

    Al Ain striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has announced his retirement from international football.

    The 28-year-old Emenike said on Instagram he is ending his five-year stint with the Super Eagles.

    “For everybody that thinks I am the problem of Super Eagles, I am using this opportunity to give you a breaking and interesting news that I am no longer a Super Eagles player. It has always being my pleasure to play and win for the team.

    “I have always been proud of my successful years in the team and I am pleased to call it off at this point in order to avoid insults,” africanFootball.com quoted Emenike as saying on Instagram.

     

  • ‘Mikel rejected Eagles vice captainship’

    ‘Mikel rejected Eagles vice captainship’

    Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel rejected the opportunity to be vice – captain of the Super Eagles before the position was handed to Eddy Onazi and Kenneth Omeruo.

    Contrary to speculations  that the midfielder would not honour future Super Eagles’ call – ups after he was overlooked for the captain’s armband by coach Sunday Oliseh, one of Mikel’s representatives has insisted that the player has taken the decision in good faith and is available for selection for the World Cup qualifiers.

    “Sunday Oliseh wanted Mikel to be vice – captain, since he has already given Musa the captain’s armband,” the unnamed agent told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “He only wants to play in the team. He is not interested in being an assistant captain. Whenever they invite him, he will come.

    “I think he was not chosen as captain because he missed the game in Tanzania, but Oliseh was impressed with his performance in the friendlies against DRC and Cameroon.”

     

  • Okocha advised me to pick Nigeria – Iwobi

    Okocha advised me to pick Nigeria – Iwobi

    Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi, has revealed that ex Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha, convinced him to dump England for Nigeria, after telling him that he would become a better player with the three-time African champions.

    Iwobi appeared 11 times for England’s youth sides before making his international debut for Nigeria in the October 8 friendly against Democratic Republic of Congo, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    “Right now I would say I’m pushing to play for Nigeria,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted the youngster as saying in the latest edition of Arsenal Magazine.

    “Playing for England was a good experience but Nigeria gave me a great opportunity to go and play for my home country, and also follow in the footsteps of my uncle. So I think that is going to be the pathway for me.

    “He (Okocha) told me that if I played for Nigeria I could become even better than him. To hear that was massive because he was a great player. He’s given me a challenge and I might have to accept it.”

     

     

  • NFF plans Algeria or Morocco friendly for Eagles

    NFF plans Algeria or Morocco friendly for Eagles

    Nigeria Football Federation will open talks with Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria for a friendly ahead of the crunch two-legged African Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt in March, the body’s president, Amaju Pinnick told africanFootball.com

    He said the NFF is determined to ensure that the players are in the right frame of mind technically and mentally against the record seven-time African champions.

    “I have asked them to begin to shop for a friendly game against Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria in the next available FIFA window,” he told africanFootball.com

    “That tells you how important the next AFCON qualifiers are to us. We want to make sure that the boys are properly prepared and have an idea of how the North Africans play.

    “But in any case, coach Sunday Oliseh has already started studying the tapes of the Egyptians and he is preparing the game plans.”

  • Cameroon match fallout: Musa promises Eagles’ improvement

    Cameroon match fallout: Musa promises Eagles’ improvement

    Super Eagles skipper, Ahmed Musa, has promised the team will improve in subsequent matches after Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Cameroon 3-0 Brussels, Belgium.

    “It was a very good game for us. We did well and it served the purpose because we are gradually coming back to the team Nigerians want us to be, which we also want to be, we understand ourselves better being a new team. We all put in our best to achieve the result,” Musa told africanFootball.com.

    The CSKA Moscow forward said the victory is for fans of the Eagles.

    “The victory is for the team’s fans for always being there for us. They should keep supporting us as we will keep working hard to make them and the entire country proud,” he added.

    Musa played for 79 minutes before giving way for Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi.

  • Nigeria beats Cameroon 3-0

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Sunday defeated Cameroon’s the Indomitable Lions 3-0 in an international friendly played in Brussels.

  • Kanu, Shittu to watch Nigeria, Cameroon clash

    Kanu, Shittu to watch Nigeria, Cameroon clash

    Former Super Eagles skipper, Nwankwo Kanu, will be among the spectators when Nigeria faces Cameroon in Sunday’s international friendly in Brussels, Belgium.

    The ex- Arsenal star arrived in Brussels on Saturday and had a chance meeting with former Super Eagles defender, Danny Shittu, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    “Kanu arriving at the same time as us in Brussels for the game tomorrow v Cameroon. ‪#‎coincidence,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Shittu as saying on Instagram.

    The Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick and his lieutenants – Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko are already in Belgium and will watch the game at the Stade Edmond Machtens.