The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Keshi reassures fans on Eagles

    Keshi reassures fans on Eagles

    Agency Reporter

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has assured fans that there is no cause for alarm as Nigeria gets set to commence its campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Iran on June 16.

    Many Nigerian fans have expressed disappointment at the team performance in its warm-up games against Scotland, Greece and the United States.

    Keshi, however, insisted that the results from the friendlies are not a true reflection of the team strength.

    The “Big Boss” stated that the friendlies were meant to serve as rehearsals for the team, adding that the team is ready to do serious business in Brazil.

    “We are in Brazil for serious business,” Keshi told kickOffNigeria.com.

    “Friendlies are meant to serve as rehearsals; they are different from competitive matches.

    “This is not an excuse for our performance in the matches, but seriously speaking, the results do not mean anything to me, evaluate us in the World Cup.”

  • World Cup: Mark leads FG delegation to Brazil

    .. Imoke, Shema, Haruna, Bala, Duke on the trip

    Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday led a high powered Federal Government’s delegation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    President Goodluck Jonathan had in a letter mandated Mark to lead the delegation which includes Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Gumba and his House of Representatives’ counterpart Geofrey Gaiya.

    Also on the entourage, according to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, are governors of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, his Katsina State counterpart, Shehu Shema, Federal Capital Territory Minister Bala Mohammed, Culture and Tourism’s Edem Duke as well as Youth Development Minister, Boni Haruna.

    Others are –Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo, Minister of State Foreign Affairs 1, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and Commissioner of Police Kola Sodipo.

    According to the statement, Mark will deliver President Jonathan’s goodwill message to the players and officials and also hold pep talks with them ahead of their opening game against Iran on June 16.

  • World Cup: Eagles happy with NFF bonus plan

    World Cup: Eagles happy with NFF bonus plan

    Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, has said the team is satisfied with the Nigeria Football Federation’s proposal for sharing of FIFA World Cup bonus, supersport.com reports.

    Yobo and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel had earlier met with the top NFF members to demand an appearance fee for the World Cup.

    This is outside the $10,000 match bonus proposed by the NFF.

    Yobo said the meeting to demand an appearance fee for the players was “peaceful and normal as players need to demand for their rights.”

    “That’s very true. I haven’t been around for a while. When I came, I heard about several issues that were going on.

    “I have to make sure my players are happy. I am the captain of the national team and if the players are not happy, there is no way I can be happy,” he said.

    The Nigeria captain said the meeting was important to ensure that the Super Eagles put up a creditable outing at the World Cup finals.

    Yobo, however, expressed unhappiness that the development was reported by the media.

    “This was a very peaceful and quiet meeting. I am very disappointed that it came out in the media because it was very peaceful and everybody was very happy about it,” he said.

    “You can’t stop the players from asking for their rights. This is normal. We play for our country and there are certain things that the players are entitled to.

    “As the captain of this team, I am privileged, proud and honoured to represent my country.

    “The players are all happy and they know the task ahead. Like I said, there was a meeting and the meeting will still continue.

    “There’s no problem. We just need to agree on what we want to do. We are ready to play for Nigeria and we don’t represent our country because of money,” he said.

     

  • World Cup: Argentina scared of ‘physical’ Eagles

    Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has expressed fear that his side will face a very physical Nigeria and Iran at the World Cup in Brazil.

    The football’s showpiece starts in Brazil country Thursday and the Argentines will to take on Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia in Group F.

    Argentina will open its World Cup campaign against Bosnia at the famous Maracana stadium on Sunday before facing Iran at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte on June 21.

    The 1978 and 1986 champions will then face Nigeria in the final group game at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre on June 25, futaa.com reports.

    The South Americans are favourites to top the group and qualify for the next round, but Sabella insists he is not taking La Albiceleste’s   qualification for the second round for granted.

    Although Sabella admitted that Argentina had been handed a slightly easier group than others, he believed that Nigeria and Iran could make life difficult for his star-studded side.

    “I can’t predict the future but we are going to play in games where we must play well,” futaa.com quoted the 59-year-old as saying in a chat with sportal.co.nz on Sunday.

    “We will play against strong teams, physically very strong teams, specifically Iran and Nigeria.

    “Bosnia is an European team and will also pose a physical threat but we have to be wary of other stronger elements (Nigeria and Iran).

    “We are obviously going to try our best to perform well in the group stages and have the players to be in their best condition,” he added.

  • Nigeria still 44th in FIFA rankings

    Nigeria still 44th in FIFA rankings

    Nigeria remained unmoved at number 44 in the latest FIFA rankings for the month of June released on Thursday, Goal reports.

    The Super Eagles failed to improve on its previous rankings with just seven days to the World Cup despite recording two draws against Scotland and Greece in recent friendlies.

    However, the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions slipped one place on the continent to seventh, still behind Cape Verde who is ranked sixth.

    Nigeria is ranked 28th amongst the 32 countries that will feature at the World Cup and is the least ranked side in Group F  comprising Argentina (5), Bosnia (21) and Iran (43).

    In the overall world ranking, Europe still holds onto the top two spots with Spain and Germany while World Cup hosts Brazil climbed up one spot to the third position.

    Behind the top three are Portugal, (4th, down 1), Argentina (5th, up 2), Switzerland (6th, up 2) and Uruguay (6th, down 1) who share seventh position.

    Algeria has become the top-ranked African side on the 22nd position, after overtaking Cote d’Ivoire who dropped two places to 24th position in second.

  • No emotions, sentiments in team selection – Keshi

    No emotions, sentiments in team selection – Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has revealed that he had to “take away emotions” before selecting his 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Keshi dropped seven players from his final squad and revealed that it was not an easy decision.

    “It’s always tough when you have a relationship going on with your players. I had to take away emotions. You have been together with the players for several weeks and some have to go, it’s tough,” supersport.com quoted Keshi as saying to journalists in the team’s training camp in Pennsylvania.

    The Nigeria trainer eventually dropped Daniel Akpeyi, Sunday Mba, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi, Obinna Nsofor and Ejike Uzoenyi from his World Cup squad and revealed that he “removed sentiments” before arriving at his decision.

    “You can’t bring emotions into this. I removed sentiments from this because I knew I had to be pure in my selection.

    “I was realistic and knew I had to do what I had to do. It’s not about me; it’s not even about Nigeria but about Africa because we are flying the flag of the continent in Brazil.

    “It’s a shame that I could not take the 30 of them (named in the provisional squad to Brazil) because if I could, I would have done it but some had to go,” he said.

    Nigeria begins its World Cup campaign against Iran at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba on June 16.

    The Super Eagles will then face Bosnia-Herzegovina at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá on June 21 before rounding off the preliminary campaign against Argentina at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre on June 25.

     

  • Injury cost Nsofor, Joel Obi World Cup places

    Injury cost Nsofor, Joel Obi World Cup places

    A knee injury cost Obinna Nsofor a place in Nigeria’s World Cup squad.

    Nsofor was one of seven players axed by Stephen Keshi when he named his final 23-man squad and team sources told KickOffNigeria.com that Nsofor would have been in the 23 but for his knee issues.

    “His knee swelled up after the first training session, and that’s why he missed out on the Scotland friendly.

    “The doctors worked on it and monitored it over the next few days, but in the end, a decision was taken not to risk it, because he could aggravate it at the World Cup and that could be bad for his career.”

    Joel Obi’s fate was also similar. Although he featured against Scotland, the midfielder was not at full tilt, and Keshi also decided to allow him time off to get fully fit.

     

  • Nigeria 0 Greece 0

    Nigeria and Greece on Wednesday morning played a goalless draw in a pre-World Cup friendly.

  • World Cup: Rangers ‘unhappy’ with Uzoenyi, Mba’s exclusion

    World Cup: Rangers ‘unhappy’ with Uzoenyi, Mba’s exclusion

    Enugu Rangers has expressed disappointment at the exclusion of Ejike Uzoenyi from Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

    The Flying Antelopes’ media officer, Foster Chime, told KickOffNigeria.com that he was surprised by the exclusion of Uzoenyi, who was voted the Most Valuable Player at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) held earlier in the year in South Africa, as well as Sunday Mba, the team’s ex-player, who was the hero of Nigeria’s 2013 Nations Cup winning side.

    “I just heard this morning. I won’t say it’s unfortunate because Stephen Keshi has said before now that he knows by heart the squad he will take to Brazil. So maybe before now he had already made up his mind that both Ejike and Mba will not make the team,” Chime told KickOffNigeria.com on Tuesday morning.

    He, however, cited the inclusion of Uche Nwofor and Michael Uchebo as a moral victory for the club, who had always produced players for the various national teams over the years.

    “But it’s ok since Uchebo and Nwofor have made the team. Both of them are ex-Rangers players, and they went to Europe from here,” he added.

    Chime insisted that he would have preferred if both Uzoenyi and Mba in the team as they would have added a creative flair to the team, which is seemingly lacking in the current selection.

    He, however, stated that Keshi “knows how to succeed” and must have chosen a squad that fits his plans.

    “The Chief Coach knows what he wants, and he knows how to succeed. So if he feels this is the squad that will give us success, then it’s ok. He’s the coach, he’s in charge.”

  • MY WORLD CUP DREAMS

    MY WORLD CUP DREAMS

    Twenty-one year old Volyn Lutsk of ukraine midfielder, Michael babatunde has a tall dream; that of joining Stephen keshi’s 23-man gang to Brazil. He speaks with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN about his dreams and aspirations

    BABATUNDE Michael is not only praying to make a dream World Cup debut with the Super Eagles, he is equally relishing the prospect of meeting the legendary Lionel Messi.

    He could achieve both dreams at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil since Nigeria is grouped along with Iran, Bosnia& Herzegovina and Argentina.  But Michael, like other teammates battling it out in the Super Eagles’ training camp in Atlanta, will have to wait till June 2 to know if he gets Coach Stephen Keshi’s nod for the world’s greatest showpiece in the land of the Samba.

    “I have always been a big fan of Lionel Messi; he’s my all-time inspiration,”Babatunde told The Nation Sport & Style through an electronic conversation. “While I was in Nigeria, I was called African Messi by some of my friends because of my left feet. I watched Messi whenever he played in Barcelona in order for me to pick one or two things in his style; yes, it’s working well for me.

    “I have developed one of the few things I have learnt so far. I got inspiration from Messi and it will be a big achievement playing at the world Cup with Messi. I have it as a dream, but I am also praying to God to make it possible for me to fly and be able to achieve a good result against Argentina.

    “I still have a long way to go in order to be an average player to Messi. I learn every day, I develope everyday and great things do come to me every day. I just need to be focused, which I am already doing.

    “I see Messi as an inspiration to so many youngsters coming in the future. I am not in the same category with Messi but I believe with hard work, I can get to the top of my career. For the fact that I love him and I chose to learn from him, would help my career,” he noted as he spoke further on his transformation from a fan of the Super Eagles to a World Cup potential player. Excerpts.

    Life as Super Eagles player

    I have grown better as a player and person since I made my dream debut for the Super Eagles. It came at the best time of my career. Super Eagles career has been wonderful because I have been able to see some of the players I used to watch on TV. I knew some of them, some were my friends while I was dreaming of playing along some players but Coach Stephen  Keshi made all dreams of achieving Super Eagles career come true when I was unexpectedly first invited. While I was with Karparty FC in Ukraine, my club coach then had told me about a quality I had never noticed in myself. At a conference, I was commended and pointed out that I have what it takes to be in any team because I was still a raw material for any coach. I never knew until I was invited to the Super Eagles camp, mixing up with my senior colleagues and I was thrilled the day coach Keshi told me at a training session that I should keep on trying more on my skills. He was satisfied and encouraged me on how I can easily maintain the top lane. My life has changed tremendously as a national team player and I am very proud about it

    Confederations Cup challenge

    Keshi has one attribute that is not common with many African coaches – the act of giving players self confidence. After dialogue with me at a t training session, I had the opportunity to be in a hotel room with Austin Ejide who used to be my mentor in the team. I told Ejide what the coach told me at the training ground and Ejide also told me the coach was right; that I am player who could give more than what I was doing. I felt worried, I was jittery but he advised me a lot on how to play for the Super Eagles and how I can easily develope under Keshi. What Keshi told me was exactly what I was doing ever since and he noticed it, so I stuck to my style and it worked for me. Keshi is not my coach but a father figure to so many young players home and abroad. And that was how I got my chance to prove myself in Brazil, but the coach still knows much by allowing me to under-study on the bench. But still I could not do enough at the competition before we crashed out.

    At every competition, you learn both as a team or player. We have learnt our mistakes and I believe it would be corrected. We were determined to prove a lot at the Confederations Cup but we were not lucky enough to achieve our dreams but that does not mean we can’t fly in Brazil again. Confederations Cup is a big lesson for us to go back home and do our home work which we have done and are ready for the world.

    Life with Super Eagles big boys

    In the Super Eagles, we are one in-house; I don’t have a caucus, I mingle with everybody and they see me as a brother, though I have friends in the team and I also give respect to some whom deem fit. This is family-team, we see ourselves as friends and brothers. I am talking from my own perspective because I know what kind of relationships I have gotten from some the big boys and it makes it easier.

    His future with Super Eagles

    I am here in the team today because I am gathering experience for the future. There is structure in this Super Eagles team, and going by what the coach is doing right now, the youngsters today will be the players of tomorrow, only if there is continuity both in the technical crew and the FA. I am not eager to impress the world but I am hoping to keep my consistency alive in the team. Only consistency will make me better in the team and I am working hard to get to remain in the team for long. I am poised to serve like Daniel Amokachi, George Finidi, Emmanuel Amuneke and a host of other great players.

    About his coaches

    That aspect can be attributed to the will of God. At every point in time, my agent always told me to be as humble as I can and listen to my coaches because they were the messiahs at that time. They make you a greater player or mess up with your career. I have been able to listen and enjoy life under some coaches in my career so far. A player of my calibre still has a long way to go and such can either be positive or negative depending on attitude and approach. I am a positive thinker. I love to learn because I gain from learning. I do ask questions whenever I think it’s necessary. I don’t feel shy to ask my opponent questions to excel because my career lies on the pitch and I must always live as an ambitious player. Players like Arjen Robben have learnt from great players in the past, and today people like me look at his playing style. It’s a great thing to learn because you will develop with time. So my coaches always want me because I always come for their advice and take it.

    Eyes on Brazil

    This is the most challenging time for almost half of the players; there is no guaranteed shirt for any player. Just as I want to be there, every other player wants to be there too, but the coach’s decision is final. It will be joyful to be part of the final squad to go to Brazil for the World Cup. I have a dream to pursue in the team and I believe going to Brazil with this talented squad could say more about my career. I just have to concentrate on my fitness right now and look forward to God’s favour because it’s only the grace of God, not anything; but I am working hard to convince the coach I am ready to go.