The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Enyeama returns to Eagles’ camp in Belgium

    Enyeama returns to Eagles’ camp in Belgium

    Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will head back to the Super Eagles’ training camp in Belgium on Saturday to meet with top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation over a major row with Sunday Oliseh, officials told africanFootball.com.

    Enyeama left the Eagles’ camp for  his  France base on Thursday after Oliseh announced CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa as the team’s new skipper.

    The NFF president Amaju Pinnick and as his two vice-presidents – Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, are all in Belgium for the friendlies against Congo DR and Cameroon.

    Enyeama, who has been the country’s skipper since Joseph Yobo retired from international football, has already announced his retirement from international football.

  • Friendly: Congo beat Nigeria 2-0

    The Super Eagles was on Thursday defeated 2-0 by the Congo Democratic Republic in an international friendly played in Belgium on Thursday.

     

  • Breaking News: Enyeama quits Super Eagles

    Breaking News: Enyeama quits Super Eagles

    Lille goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has quit international football after a meeting with top official of the Nigeria Football Federation in Belgium Thursday.

    Enyeama’s decision did not come as a surprise after a major falling out with Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, on Tuesday night following the announcement of Ahmed Musa as new captain, africanFootball.com reports.

    Earlier, on Thursday, the ex- Enyimba shot stopper, who has been Eagles’ skipper since Joseph Yobo quit international football last year, vowed “not to walk out on Nigeria.”

    But he later said on Instagram: “I have fought a good fight for more than 13 years. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith and sang the anthem with passion.

    “Henceforth, there is laid for me a crown which only GOD can reward me for my 13 years of national service.

    “God bless NIGERIA.  HENCEFORTH, I am no more the captain of the NIGERIAN senior football team, I am no more the goalie of the team, I am out of the team.

    “I am no more available for international duties.

    “I want to say thank you to every Nigerian fan and our supporters worldwide. It has been the most trying period of my life, but I know that Nigerians are there for me and God is with me. God bless NIGERIA.”

  • Enyeama mulling Eagles retirement after row

    Enyeama mulling Eagles retirement after row

    Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, is considering his international future after a bust-up with coach Sunday Oliseh on Tuesday night, ESPN reports.

    Enyeama arrived at the team camp on Tuesday, after attending his mother’s funeral last Saturday in Akwa Ibom.

    Reports said Oliseh was unhappy about his captain’s late arrival and demoted him at a team meeting after dinner, naming CSKA Moscow forward, Ahmed Musa, as the new captain.

    “I was surprised,” Enyeama, who has 101 international caps, told ESPN FC. “So I stood up to explain my position and ask for an explanation, but the coach asked me to sit down.

    “I insisted on speaking because I felt that with the years of dedicated service I have given to the country I deserve at least the respect of giving my own side. But he told me that either the whole team would leave the room for me, or I would have to leave the room for the whole team.”

    The Lille goalkeeper was later expelled from the camp.

    It took the intervention of Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, to resolve the matter and Enyeama was allowed to remain with the squad.

    However, the goalkeeper has indicated it is unclear if he will continue to represent Nigeria.

    “There have been several incidents these last few months,” he said. “I don’t need it, the team does not need it, so maybe the best thing might be to step aside in the interest of the country so that the team can focus on football instead of distractions.”

  • Oboabona yet to arrive Eagles’ camp

    Oboabona yet to arrive Eagles’ camp

    Godfrey Oboabona is yet to arrive the Belgium venue of Nigeria’s international friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon, Goal reports.

    Goal gathered that all the invited foreign-based players have reported at the Verviers camp of the team expect the former Sunshine Stars player who is facing travel document issues in Turkey and would join his colleagues on Wednesday.

    Captain Vincent Enyeama, who buried his late mother on Saturday, joined his colleagues on Tuesday afternoon and took part in the team’s evening training session at the Battice FC training ground.

    Meanwhile, the six home based players are still in Nigeria due to refusal of the Belgian embassy in Nigeria to give them entry visas.

    Nigeria faces Congo DR in Vise, Liege, on Thursday and confronts Cameroon three days later in Dendermonde.

     

  • Friendlies: Musa, Onazi, 13 others train in Belgium

    Friendlies: Musa, Onazi, 13 others train in Belgium

    Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa and 14 other foreign-based players on Monday commenced training in Belgium for this week’s international friendlies against Congo DR and Cameroon.

    Also in Monday’s training were –Ogenyi Onazi, John Mikel Obi, Carl Ikeme, Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Sylvester Igbonu, Rabiu Ibrahim and Obiora Nwankwo.

    Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon, Emmanuel Emenike and Alex Iwobi completed the list of players in camp.

    Super Eagles top official, Enebi Achor, told africanFootball.com the team will train twice on Tuesday (10am and 4pm) at the same venue.

    Nigeria faces Congo DR on Thursday, before tackling Cameroon three days later as part of preparations for next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against either Swaziland or Djibouti.

     

  • Eagles get new venues for Belgium friendlies

    Eagles get new venues for Belgium friendlies

    The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that Stade de la Cite de l’Oie, Vise and Ros Beiaard Stadion will now host Super Eagles’ international friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium.

    Stade Charles Tondreau – home of Belgian division 3 outfit Royal Cercle Sportif Visé will be the battle ground when Nigeria meets DR Congo on October 8 with the match kicking off at 7:00pm, Goal reports.

    Three days later, Super Eagles will head for Ros Beiaard Stadion where the three-time African champions face arch rivals Cameroon at 6:00pm.

    The games were lined up to prepare Nigeria for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.

  • AFCON qualifier: Nigeria fined $5,000 for fans’ misconduct

    AFCON qualifier: Nigeria fined $5,000 for fans’ misconduct

    The Confederation of African Football has fined the Nigeria Football Federation $5,000 for fans’ misconduct during the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad in Kaduna.

    Nigeria defeated the Chadians 2-0 and fans later invaded the pitch at full time to celebrate Nigeria’s victory in the match played in June, Goal reports.

    According to a statement released on CAF website on Tuesday, the decision was one of the many actions taken during the body’s disciplinary committee meeting held on September 20.

     

     

  • Ambrose to replace injured Omeruo in Eagles’ squad

    Ambrose to replace injured Omeruo in Eagles’ squad

    Glasgow Celtic defender, Efe Ambrose, will replace injured Kenneth Omeruo in the Super Eagles’ squad for next month’s friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon.

    Omeruo suffered a hamstring injury in a league match for his Turkish club Kasimpasa last weekend and the severity of this injury has yet to be ascertained, africanFootball.com reports.

    The Nigeria Football Federation said on its Twitter handle that Ambrose will take Omeruo’s place in the Eagles squad for the test games in Belgium.

    Versatile Ambrose has played at right fullback for the Eagles, but fell out of favour in the latter stages of Stephen Keshi reign as coach.

    He is now likely to fight for a place in his more familiar central defence role.

     

  • Oliseh invites 19 for CHAN qualifier

    Oliseh invites 19 for CHAN qualifier

    Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh, has invited 19 home-based players for next month African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso.

    The domestic lads are expected to commence camping in Port Harcourt on October 5, supersport.com reports.

    Top joint-scorer in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Tunde Adeniji is joined by Warri Wolves’ marksman, Gbolahan Salami, Solomon Kwambe, Idris Aloma, Usman Mohammed, Ezekiel Bassey and Bature Yaro.

    There are also goalkeepers, David Obiazor and Okemute Odah, defenders Kalu Orji and Jamiu Alimi, former junior international midfielder, Ifeanyi Mathew and forwards, Dayo Ojo and Godwin Obaje.

    All the invited players are expected to report in Port Harcourt on Monday ahead of the first leg clash against the Etalons at the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium on October 18. The return leg fixture comes up in Ouagadougou on October 25.

    All six home-based professionals who will be in Belgium with the mainstream squad for the two international friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon, on October 8 and 11 respectively will join the 19 players on their return to the country on October 12.

    These are goalkeepers Femi Thomas (Enyimba FC) and Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars), defenders Chima Akas (Sharks FC) and Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors), midfielder Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars) and forward Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars).

     

    The full list:

     

    Goalkeepers: David Obiazor (Heartland FC); Okemute Odah (Warri Wolves)

    Defenders: Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers); Solomon Kwambe (Warri Wolves); Idris Aloma (Enyimba FC); Samson Gbadebo (Lobi Stars); Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars); Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars)

    Midfielders: Abdulrazaq Abdul (Enyimba FC); Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United); Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers)

    Forwards: Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists); Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars)