The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • AFCON: Eagles list out next week

    AFCON: Eagles list out next week

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , has disclosed that the list of invited players for the African Nations Cup qualifiers against Sudan next month will be released next week.

    Keshi, who is still without a contract, told africanFootball.com: “It’s still too early to come out with a list, but I am working on it, it should be out by next week.”

    However, the coach will not say whether he would make changes to the squad that lost to Congo in Calabar and drew with South Africa in Cape Town.

    “Changes? I am not sure, but we will see how it goes. I think what is most important now is to get our qualifier back on track and we are working towards that,” he said.

    Keshi noted that his contract talks have stalled because of the protracted leadership tussle in Nigerian football.

    “There are no talks now because there is no board in place at the federation, but hopefully we would get over this because we should be taking advantage of the gains from the AFCON and World Cup,” he said.

    Nigeria plays Sudan next month continuation of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

  • Nigeria drops to 37th in FIFA ranking

    Nigeria drops to 37th in FIFA ranking

    … Now sixth in Africa

    Super Eagles of Nigeria dropped by four places to 37th position in the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday morning.

    Nigeria was ranked 34th in last month’s ranking put together by the world football governing body.

    The African champions had endured an horrific Morroco 2015 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign, losing 2-3 to Congo in Calabar and recorded a goalless draw with South Africa in Cape Town earlier this month.

    In the continental ranking, Nigeria lies sixth in Africa, behind Algeria, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.

    On the global scale, world champions Germany lead the table, with Argentina, Colombia, Netherlands and Belgium completing the countries in top five.

    The next ranking will be published on October 23.

     

    Africa’s top 10

    –          Algeria

    –          Ivory Coast

    –          Tunisia

    –           Ghana

    –          Senegal

    –           Nigeria

    –          Cape Verde islands

    –           Cameroon

    –          Guinea

    –           Burkina Faso

     

     

  • Nigeria 0 vs South Africa 0

    Nigeria 0 vs South Africa 0

    Nigeria and South Africa on Wednesday settled for a goalless draw in the African Nations Cup qualifier played in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Below are highlights of the match.

    15.45: South Africa misses another chance at Nigerian goal

    16.46: Nigeria break away

    17.19: South Africa gets a corner

    18.20: South Africa wins a throw

    20.11: South Africa gets a free kick

    Nigeria under tremendous pressure from South Africa

    23.45: Igiebor goes out for treatment

    25.20: Emenike;’s pullout goes wide

    26.38: South African goalkeeper picks the ball

    The South Africans are still dominating possession in this match

    28.51: Nigeria gets a throw in

    30:16: Nigeria gets another throw in

    31.10: Omeruo’s pass goes wide

    31.34: Nigeria wins a free kick

    32.32: Nigeria wins second corner kick

    35:33: Igiebor;s effort goes wide

    37.19: Musa pullout goes out wide

    39.02: South Africa wins a corner kick

    40.05: Nigeria wins a throw in

    42: 00 Nigeria wins a corner kick

    South African player is down on the turf

    44.12: Oboabona gets a yellow card. First booking of the match for Nigeria

    45: 00 Referee signals the end of first half

    70: 52: Nigeria makes second substitution. Sonnie Aluko replaces Igiebor

    72: 19: Nigerian players goes out injured

    74: 19: Throw in to South Africa

    74: 26: Another throw in to South Africa

    75: 08: Yellow card to South African Dean Furman for a rough challenge on Mikel

    76. 12: Echiejile’s effort goes off target

    78.33: Free kick to South Africa in their 18 yard box

    79.23: Osagona nearly put Nigeria in front with a close range header that was cleared by South African defender

    Nigeria now on the ascendency in the closing stages of the match

    83.00: Echiejile’s error nearly cost Nigeria, but Ejide came to the Super Eagles’ rescue

    Nigeria under a great pressure now.   The Nigerians have now resorted to time wasting tactics to kill off the South Africans’ pressure

    We are now playing  three minutes added time.

    92.13: Nigeria wins a free kick

    The final whistle has gone. Its Nigeria 0-0 South Africa.

     

     

  • AFCON: Eagles must defeat South Africa – Akpoborie

    AFCON: Eagles must defeat South Africa – Akpoborie

    Former Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborie, has pointed out reasons why the Super Eagles bowed to Congo on Saturday.

    Claude LeRoy’s men came from a goal down to snatch a valuable 3-2 away victory against the African champions in Calabar, a result that hangs Stephen Keshi’s men chances of qualifying for Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations in the balance.

    According to the former VFB Stuttgart star, the visitors were more composed as the Nigerians did not get their acts right while commending LeRoy for a job well done.

    “We saw an organised Congolese team not in a hurry and when they got the equaliser, it was like there was going to be trouble and truly there was indeed trouble for the Super Eagles,” Goal quoted Akpoborie as saying on Super sport.

    “From the build up to the back, they (Eagles) were only playing square balls and there was no enough of movement in the midfield for us to give the penetrative passes.

    “We could use Nwofor’s strength because he only had one shot at goal which was not enough for a team like Nigeria.

    “You have to give credit to Claude LeRoy because he has brought up these boys very well and for them coming to Nigeria without any fear is a big plus.

    “The playing, the positioning, the movement and everything, that was the mark of the coach,” he continued.

    Akpoborie also slammed the players for their needless cautions as he hopes they work on their manner in subsequent games.

    “Those things came with emotion. In most cases, the players were running to the referee asking him to give cards and so on, all of those things are not to be done.

    “Most of the cards we got were unnecessary. We need to change this attitude because in more important games, it would cost us.

    He concluded by saying that the Eagles must ensure victory in the next game against South Africa else Nigeria bows out of the 2015 AFCON.

  • Fans stunned as Eagles fall in Calabar

    Super Eagles fans in Calabar  were on Saturday stunned not so much by the fact that their team lost but that they lost at UJ Esuene Stadium in the Cross River State capital.

    The stadium, which has become like the home of the national team, has not witnessed an Eagles’ defeat in several years.

    Despite the Nigerian national team’s spirited efforts on Saturday, they still lost 2-3 to Congo.

    A fan who gave his name as Felix said, “I can’t believe Nigeria’s unbeaten run in Calabar has finally been broken. That makes the loss hurt even more.”

    Another fan said, “we gave our support to the end but they still could not come up to even the score. The Congo team has broken the Calabar jinx and we hope this would not be the beginning of the worse. I mean I did not expect that it would a team like Congo.

    “However, we are still solidly behind the Eagles and hope we all recover from this shock to face greater challenges in future. Calabar still remains the home of football and the home of our national team.”

  • AFCON: Congo will be dangerous – Emenike

    AFCON: Congo will be dangerous – Emenike

    Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has warned his team mates that Congo could be very dangerous on Saturday, saying the East Africans have nothing to lose against the African champions.

    Nigeria welcomes the Red Devils to Calabar for the opening qualifying match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, africanFootball.com reports.

    In the last meeting between the two teams, the Congolese held Nigeria to a goalless draw at the 2000 AFCON co- hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.

    And the Fenerbahce star has warned his team mates that desperation and arrogance cannot bring results especially when playing against a team like Congo and other Africa teams tagged as underdogs.

    “Being the defending champions could make it tough for us and the Congolese have nothing to lose,” Emenike told africanFootball.com

    “Maximum three points is important and that’s what we are looking forward to in Saturday’s game, but we should expect a tough test from Congo.”

    He added: “Fans will be expecting a massacre, but we will be wrong if we think the Congolese will be an easy team to ride over.

    “I believe we will win, but we must show humility and respect for our opponents. I understand from experience that desperation does not work for us.”

    Emenike, for one, will hope to end his goal drought for the Super Eagles after he failed to score in four matches played by Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    “Everybody in camp is ready, it’s a collective battle and it will be a victorious one for us by God’s grace,” he assured.

  • 18 Eagles’ players train

    18 Eagles’ players train

    • Obasi, Joel Obi still absent

    Eighteen players of the Super Eagles participated in the team’s evening session at the  U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar yesterday.

    The players and officials arrived at the stadium around 3:45pm to the delight of the anticipated Calabar fans who had been anxiously waiting to see them after a long time.

    The players,who were fully kitted in white jersey, moved straight to the pitch even before the technical crew asked them to do so and divided themselves into three groups.

    Austin Ejide, Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo, Elderson Echiejile, Mikel Obi, Ejike Egwuekwe were in the group knocking the ball around while Nosa Igiebor, Juwon Osaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Efe Ambrose and Ramon Azeez formed another group.

    The third group had Chigozie Agbim, Christian Ighodaro Osaguona, Kunle Odunlami, Uche Nwofor and Sone Aluko.

    The players trained for five minutes before it was halted by the technical crew for prayers. Immediately after, Super Eagles assistant coach Valere Houandinou and Ike Shorunmu led the players in the jogging exercise which lasted about six minutes before the normal training session.

    The evening training session was in three parts. The first part had some players in blue bib while others donned  white. The players in blue were Mikel, Onazi, Efe, Ramon, Oboabona, Agbim, Osaguona, Emeruo and Echiejile while the players in white shirt were Musa, Nosa, Juwon, Salami, Nwofor, Ejide, Odunlami and Egwuekwe.

    In the second training session, the squad was divided into two groups; each group had eight players which faced themselves in a four-aside game.

    The first team, which was guided by coach Daniel Amokachi had Mikel, Musa, Osaguona, Nwofor on their side facing Salami, Ramon, Igiebor and Sone Aluko while the second team led by coach Valere included Juwon, Onazi, Egwuekwe and Odunlami and they played against Echiejile, Oboabona, Omeruo and Efe.

    The third session had the team divided into two for a full training session which lasted about an hour supervised by the head coach Stephen Keshi. After a delightful training, the squad ended the training with jogging and various  exercises.

    Meanwhile,four players were conspicuously missing in the second training session yesterday. The players are Chinedu Obasi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Joel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike and David Obiazor who replaced Vincent Enyeama.

    The training came to an end with prayer at 5:55pm.

  • Mikel, Onazi, others arrive Eagles’ camp

    About 17 players have so far arrived the Super eagles Calabar camp for the AFCON qualifiers against Congo at the U.J. Esuene Stadium on September 6

    Among those already in camp are John Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Sone Aluko, and stand-in Captain Austin Ejide.

    Coach Stephen Keshi said he expects the best from the players on Saturday in the game against Congo.

    The national team Head Coach also said he decided to replace Vincent Enyeama, who is absent for personal reasons with Elkanemi of Maiduguri first choice keeper, David Obiazor.

  • Eagles hold first training session today

    Eagles hold first training session today

    •To have the remaining sessions at UJ Esuene Stadium

    The country’s senior national team, the Super Eagles will have their first training session this morning at the Abraham Ordia Training Pitch at the University of Calabar(UNICAL). The training  session will start by 7.30am and it will be conducted under the supervision of head coach, Stephen Keshi and his lieutenants – Daniel Amokachi, Valere and Ike Shorounmu.

    Besides today’s training session , the Super Eagles will have their subsequent training sessions at the UJ Esuene Stadium – the venue for the Saturday’s AFCON clash.

    Eagles’ Team Coordinator, Emma Attah made this known to SportingLife at the Transcorp Hotel base of the team yesterday in Calabar.

    “We are going to train at the Abraham Ordia Stadium inside UNICAL by 7.30am tomorrow (today) but we shall have our subsequent training at the venue of the match after tomorrow’s (today’s) session.”

  • Keshi’s contract saga still ‘unresolved’

    Keshi’s contract saga still ‘unresolved’

    Stephen Keshi has admitted he is not clear about his future with Nigeria and as such he may not be in charge of the Super Eagles for next month’s 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

    Nigeria hosts Congo on September 6 and travels to South Africa four days later to meet Bafana as places at Morocco 2015 gather momentum.

    A 23-man squad has been announced for the qualifiers and the Nigeria Football Fderation president, Aminu Maigari, said the call-ups were made by Keshi and wants the coach’s contract negotiations to be concluded in good time.

    But Keshi told africanFootball.com his situation is far from resolved.

    Keshi and the NFF entered into contract talks last week, but talks have been stalled due to the crisis that has rocked the federation.

    “I don’t know when I would be returning to Nigeria because things don’t seem to be clear yet,” he maintained.

    “But right now as I speak to you I am enjoying the comfort of my home and just waiting on my managers to alert me on the next line of action.”

    He further insisted a new and improved contract has to be in place before he could return to his post.

    “I cannot just resume duty when talks have not been concluded,” said Keshi, whose first contract ended at the World Cup in Brazil.

    “The federation is offering me exactly what they offered two years ago. I don’t think that is wise or a contract renewal.”