The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • World Cup: Nigeria has team spirit – Wenger

    World Cup: Nigeria has team spirit – Wenger

    Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has tipped Nigeria to reach the second round of the World Cup alongside Argentina in Group F, Goal reports.

    The Frenchman feels the Super Eagles has something going for them this year – “team spirit” and a lack of big egos which has ensured for a united squad and differentiated the team from many African sides of the past.

    He said Argentina should win the group which also has Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina and that Nigeria should join the South Americans in the second round.

    “I think that Nigeria might qualify for the second stage,” Wenger wrote in his Eurosport World Cup preview.

    “The team really made a good impression on me during the African Cup of Nations. Super Eagles seem to have a really good team spirit, which is not always easy for African teams.

    “Nigeria has less star players. They have a real team, and it’s been a while since that happened for them,” Wenger said of Stephen Keshi’s team.

    On Argentina, the Frenchman expects the two-time world champions to do well playing in South America where they would be buoyed by the rivalry with neighbours Brazil.

    He also said that Alejandro Sabella has done better than Diego Maradona in his selection of a balanced side despite the array of impressive attacking talent at his disposal.

    “Normally Argentina should qualify thanks to the team’s offensive potential. You might even say that Argentina has too many good players in attack,” Wenger wrote.

    “It’s not easy to be a manager in Argentina, because it’s hard to build a balanced team without leaving some indisputable players off the field.

    “Argentina has Higuain, Messi, Aguero, and Tevez, who didn’t even make the final squad. They have so many forwards; it will be very hard to keep a balanced team. It’s what happened in South Africa.

    “Still, Sabella’s team seems more balanced than Maradona’s. They can’t make a mess of this World Cup; Argentina just can’t.

    “The two main rivals in South America are Brazil and Argentina. There can’t be a World Cup in Brazil and Argentina be humiliated and not have a great tournament,” Wenger said.

  • Super Eagles land in U.S

    Super Eagles land in U.S

    Super Eagles players landed in the United States on the final leg of their pre-World Cup camping on Thursday evening, kickOffNigeria.com reports.

    The team left London on Thursday morning and will begin preparations for the June 3 meeting against Greece immediately.

    Team officials said training will hold on Friday morning at the Lincoln Financial Field.

    Stephen Keshi’s squad of 30 will be cut to the final 23 on June 2, in time to meet the FIFA deadline.

  • Odunlami recovers from knock

    Super Eagles defender, Kunle Odunlami, has shaken off the injury he suffered in Wednesday’s international friendly against Scotland in London.

    The Sunshine Stars centre-back, who played as a right-back in the World Cup warm-up, had to be replaced by Efe Ambrose for the last quarter of an hour.

    “He is very fine. Kunle Odunlami is a very strong player. He is now walking fine without any problem. The team doctor told me he has checked him and said it is just a slight knock and nothing serious. So he is good to go.

    “During the Chan (African Nations Championship) in South Africa earlier this year he suffered the same injury in one of the games but quickly recovered to continue in the tournament,” spokesman of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya, told supersport.com on Thursday.

    Odunlami is now expected to make the trip to Philadelphia in United States with the rest of the provisional squad members after the scare that he might have suffered a serious injury.

    “I spoke to the coach (Stephen Keshi) and he also confirmed Kunle Odunlami is fine and will travel with the team to the United States. As I speak to you, my luggage and his luggage are being checked in for the trip,” Alaiya informed supersport.com over telephone.

    The African champions will go head-to-head with Greece at the Philadelphia Union Stadium next week.

    Keshi will name his final 23-man squad for the World Cup before June 2.

  • Keshi lists Joel Obi, Uchebo, Uzoenyi for Scotland clash

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has revealed his starting XI for Wednesday’s friendly encounter against the Tartan Army of Scotland.

    The coach opted to rest many of his regular players for the encounter slated for Craven Cottage in London.

    He, however, gave starting berth to skipper Joseph Yobo, Joel Obi, Michael Uchebo Ejike Uzoenyi and Shola Ameobi.

    Chelsea’s Victor Moses, returnee Osaze Odemwingie Nosa Igiebor and Efe Ambrose will start from the bench.

    The match serves as the last opportunity for many of the fringe players to prove their worth before the coach announce his final 23-man squad on June 2.

     

    Starting XI – Austin Ejide, Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echejile, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kunle Odunlami, Gabriel Reuben, Joel Obi, Michael Babatunde, Michael Uchebo, Ejike Uzoenyi and Shola Ameobi.

     

  • Mark to Eagles: Make Nigeria proud at World Cup

    Mark to Eagles: Make Nigeria proud at World Cup

    Senate President, David Mark, on Monday urged the Super Eagles to do the nation proud at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Mark in a goodwill message to the players and officials reminded them that Nigerians are solidly behind them in the quest for glory.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in a statement in Abuja quoted Mark as saying “with team spirit and total commitment, there is no team in the world you cannot conquer. I am hopeful that you will do us proud in Brazil.

    “As reigning African Champions, the huge responsibility is on us to prove a point that Africans have come of age in the global football tournament. I am optimistic that you know the huge responsibility and be ready to defend your fatherland and indeed the continent.”

    He enjoined the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Sports, not to leave anything to chance in the prosecution of the championship.

    He noted that sports especially football remain potential ingredient for all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation, religion or ethnic leanings to achieve peace and unity.

    Mark added: “It is instructive to note that any time Nigeria is playing. All of us forget our differences. No religion. No politics and no ethnic consideration. Every one speaks with one tongue; Nigeria, Nigeria and Nigeria. So, if sports would bring the much needed peace and unity, it is only logical that we focus more on sports in all ramifications.”

    He praised the management and officials of the NFF including the Director-General of  the Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, the President  of NFF, Aminu Maigari and Coach Stephen Keshi.

    He reiterated the need for cooperation in order to achieve the objective.

    The Super Eagles left Abuja on Sunday for preparatory friendly matches with Scotland, United States and Greece before heading to Brazil for FIFA’s premier soccer tournament starting on June 12.

  • Match fixing: Nigeria Vs Kenya video submitted to FIFA

    Match fixing: Nigeria Vs Kenya video submitted to FIFA

    A video footage of the 2010 World Cup qualifier between Kenya and Nigerian played on November 14, 2009 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani , has been presented to FIFA over match fixing allegations.

    The Nigeria Football Federation submitted the tape as part of a match-fixing probe sparked off by a convicted match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal, who claimed he fixed the match that saw the Super Eagles book a ticket to South Africa in 2010.

    Nigeria defeated Kenya 3-2 in that encounter.

    “The core of the match-fixer’s allegations is based on our match against Kenya in Nairobi, which we won 3-2. After some difficulties in getting the match tape, we have finally submitted it to FIFA for them to further study, futaa.com quoted a top NFF official who is involved in the investigation as saying to AfricanFootball.

     

  • Supporters’ club launches campaign for Eagles

    Supporters’ club launches campaign for Eagles

    The Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters’ Club (NFSSC) on Friday launched a World Cup sticker campaign titled: “Goodluck to Super Eagles.”

    At the launch of the stickers, President-General of the NFSSC, Rafiu Ladipo, said the “Goodluck to Super Eagles initiative is geared towards ensuring that the Super Eagles get maximum support during the 2014 World Cup.

    Ladipo further revealed that aside the stickers; the club will also produce banners, flyers and t-shirts as a source of support to the team.

    “This is just the beginning of what to expect from the Supporters’ Club at the Mundial because we want to ensure that the Super Eagles get maximum support to enable them excel in Brazil,” KickOffNigeria.com quoted Ladipo as saying at the forum.

  • My goals will lift Nigeria at World Cup – Emenike

    My goals will lift Nigeria at World Cup – Emenike

    Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike has promised to score goals as much as necessary to aid Nigeria’s success at the World Cup in Brazil.

    Goal reports that Emenike enjoyed his best-ever season at the heart of Fenerbahce’s attack, leading the club to its 19th league title with 12 league goals and nine assists in 29 matches.

    The bulky attacker declined setting any goal target for himself at the World Cup.

    “Individually, I have nothing to prove and I just hope to prove it well,” Goal quoted Emenike as saying to Africanfootball.com.

    “I know the duty of a striker is to score goals at every tournament, I am aware of that and I am preparing to be at the right time to score the much-needed goals to help my nation do well. But I have no World Cup goals’ target.

    “Nigeria’s success is my target at the World Cup,” he said.

    The 27-year-old said Super Eagles will bring joy to Africa in South America.

    “I believe we will make Nigerians and the entire continent of Africa proud in Brazil,” he said.

  • Emenike to Messi: Underrate Eagles at your peril

    Emenike to Messi: Underrate Eagles at your peril

    Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has responded swiftly to threats coming from Argentina’s super star, Lionel Messi, warning that underrating Nigeria will be at the South Americans’ peril when the World Cup kicks off next month.

    The Fenerbahce of Turkey power-playing forward said the Eagles will approach the game like any other, as there will be no special feelings playing against the star-studded Albiceleste.

    Messi has reportedly cautioned Group F opponents that they would have their hands full as he prepares to lead the two-time world champions’ attack at the mundial.

    “I don’t want to be particular about Argentina, every team is important, and they are not better than other countries in the group,” said told The Nation.

    He continued: “Everyone is entitled to his opinion when it comes to football, exchanging words over matches that have not been played is unnecessary and distracting. We are not going to be distracted by their threats. The truth is that they are underrating us which I think it’s good for us. They are a very good side no doubt but the best team also loses matches.

    “Sometimes it’s not about self ability. Argentina is dependent on Messi, but the Eagles team is not built around any particular player. We depend on collective abilities and that gives us an edge. They (Argentina) can underrate us if they like, but that will be at their own peril. Nigeria will approach each game with as much maturity as we can. Messi must know that he alone cannot play all the positions. “

    Emenike said what Nigerians should pray for is the grace of God, and not focus on human abilities as the World Cup comes calling.

  • World Cup: Enyeama tips Eagles for semi finals

    World Cup: Enyeama tips Eagles for semi finals

    Vincent Enyeama is confident the Super Eagles will go as far as the semi-finals at the FIFA World Cup which will commence in Brazil next month.

    The goalkeeper, who was voted the best African footballer in the French Ligue 1 this past season, stated that Nigeria will make history this time despite the fact that the continental champions had failed to progress beyond the first round in their last two outings.

    “I think we are going to make big progress,” KickOffNigeria.com quoted Enyeama as saying on FIFA’s official website.

    “We are focused on the World Cup, to make Africa the proudest continent. Ghana almost reached the semi-finals four years ago. We are going to achieve a better result and be the first African team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup.”

    Nigeria had been paired in Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran, and Enyeama is confident Nigeria will progress from the group.

    The 31-year-old, who will be making his third appearance at the World Cup, is also coming up against Argentina for the third time. He was on the bench for Nigeria during the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, and manned the posts against the South Americans four years ago in South Africa.