The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Eagles face adidas XI Monday

    Eagles face adidas XI Monday

    The Super Eagles will face an adidas XI in a test game in Germany before flying out to United States for a friendly against Mexico on May 31.

    Nigeria Football Federation marketing director, Idris Adama, also told MTNFootball.com Eagles kits sponsors adidas has delivered 2013 adidas boots and the FIFA Confederations Cup officials match balls to the team.

    “Adidas has confirmed to us that the Eagles will be the first team in the world to get delivery of the new balls which has been designed for the Confederations Cup in Brazil,” announced Adama.

    “The boys would equally be the first to test the 2013 adidas ball when they take on Adidas XI on May 27 at the Adidas facility in Germany.”

    Meanwhile, the number of players in the Super Eagles training camp in Germany has swelled to 17 following the arrival of more players to the Novina Hotel camp late on Wednesday.

    The latest set of arrivals includes Germany-based striker Joseph Akpala and Ukraine-based forward Babatunde Michael.

    Also in is Portugal-based midfielder John Ogu.

    Defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile as well as Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi are expected in camp on Thursday morning.

     

  • Super Eagles invitation excites John Ogu

    Super Eagles invitation excites John Ogu

    Portugal-based midfielder, John Ogu, has said his invitation to the Super Eagles is a rear privilege which he would not allow to slip off.

    He praised the Stephen Keshi-led technical crew of the Super Eagles for inviting him to fight for place in the team.

    “There are over 2,000 Nigerians playing professional football in many parts of the world, therefore getting an invitation into the team shows that I’m among the privileged few,” he told our correspondent in a chat at the weekend.

    The player said he enjoyed the few minutes he played against Kenya in Calabar, and would hope to consolidate on that when he join the team in Germany on Wednesday.

    “I can’t wait to join the team in Germany on Wednesday. I’m fit now, the injury I sustained the last time is over. I’m looking forward to making a maximum impact in the team, especially during the return leg match against Kenya and the FIFA Confederation cup in Brazil.”

    He assured that Nigerians would soon appreciate his game.

     

  • FIFA Cup: No extra incentive for Super Eagles – Amadu

    FIFA Cup: No extra incentive for Super Eagles – Amadu

    NFF scribe Musa Amadu has said that no further incentive would be given to the Super Eagles players at the forth coming FIFA Confederation Cup holding in Brazil in June.
    Amadu said that the players and their officials would receive only their normal winning bonus of $5,000. “It is a service to our fatherland, no extra incentive would be given to them. They are at the tournament to make a mark, and that is what all Nigerians expect from them. If God’s willing they win the tournament, Nigerians would surely reward them adequately. It is a call to duty” he said told Nationsports.
    The FIFA Confederation Cup will begin on 15th June, with the Super Eagles playing their first match against Tahiti on 17th June. The African Champions will take on their South American counterpart Uruguay on 20th June, while their last match would be against World and European Champions Spain on 23rd June.
    Two teams are expected to qualify from each group for the semi finals. When Nigeria last participated in tournament in 1995, they finished fourth, losing the third place match to Mexico on penalties.
  • Jonathan hosts F/Eagles, Eaglets Tuesday

    Jonathan hosts F/Eagles, Eaglets Tuesday

    President Goodluck Jonathan will on Tuesday host the country’s U-17 and U-20 teams, officials told MTNFootball.com.

    The Golden Eaglets lost in the final of the African U-17 Championship in Morocco, while the Flying Eagles placed third at the African Youth Championship in Algeria.

    The Eaglets lost on penalties to Cote d’Ivoire after final scores stood at 1-1 in the championship final in Marrakech.

    The U-20s defeated Mali 2-1 in a third-placed match to avenge a 1-0 loss to their West African rivals.

    Both teams have qualified for their respective World Cups and Nigeria can boast of a special record of having medals in Africa at full international, U-20 and U-17 levels in one calendar year.

    Top government and sports ministry officials have been locked in talks over the presidential reception.

    A top official informed MTNFootball.com: “The President will receive the teams on Tuesday at Aso Rock.

    “All arrangements in this regard have been finalised.”

    However, the Flying Eagles would be honoured in absentia as the team is currently in Germany on a training tour ahead of the U-20 World Cup in Turkey next month.

    Interestingly Nigeria won the 2011 African Youth Championship in South Africa.

    President Jonathan rewarded the Super Eagles with national honours, cash and plots of land when the team won a third Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February.

     

  • Sidney Sam dumps Nigeria for Germany

    Sidney Sam dumps Nigeria for Germany

    Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, Sidney Sam, has finally opted to play for Germany ahead of Nigeria after he was called up to the national mannschafft squad ahead of the friendly internationals against the United States and Ecuador in June.

    Sam, who has played for the Germany under-19 team is eligible to play for the Super Eagles and has been courted in recent months by the Nigeria Football Federation and head coach, Stephen Keshi.

    However, Sam may never get to dorn the green-white-green after it was revealed that he had been called up by the Germany coach, Joachin Loew for the friendly matches.

    The NFF has now reacted to the development through an Executive committee member who refused to have his name in print.

    “Keshi won the Nations Cup in South Africa without Sam so I don’t really see it as such a big miss. Besides Sam hardly speaks a word of English and would have struggled to gel with the rest of the bunch. I also hope for his sake, that Sam does not end up like Patrick Owomoyela who went on to represent Germany without any real fruits to show for it,” the NFF member told Supersport.com on Thursday.

    Sam has been capped 19 times at junior level for Germany netting three goals.

     

  • Keshi lists 25 for Mexico tie

    Keshi lists 25 for Mexico tie

    Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has invited Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Vincent Enyeama and Chelsea’s Victor Moses to lead 23 others for an international friendly match against Mexico.

    The Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said the friendly would hold on May 31 in Houston, United States.

    The statement said the friendly was to prepare the team for its busy schedule in June.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Super Eagles will play against Kenya on June 5 and Namibia on June 12 before proceeding to Brazil for the FIFA Confederations Cup from June 15 to June 30.

    The invited goalkeepers alongside Enyeama were Chigozie Agbim of Warri Wolves and Austin Ejide of Hapoel FC.

    Defenders – Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Elderson Echiejile (Sporting de Braga), Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars), Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars), Francis Benjamin (Heartland), Odunlami Kunle (Sunshine Stars) and Azubuike Egwuekwe ( Warri Wolves).

    Midfielders – John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers), Reuben Gabriel (Kilmarnock), John Ogu (Academia de Coimbra), Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland) and Michael Babatunde ( Kryvbas Kryvyi ).

    Forwards – Joseph Akpala ( SV Werder Bremen), Brown Ideye ( FC Dynamo Kyiv), Kalu Uche ( Kasımpaşa Spor Kulübü), Anthony Ujah ( FC Koln), Nnamdi Oduamadi ( Varese) and Gambo Muhammad ( Kano Pillars).

     

  • WCQ: Kenya FA needs $120,000 for Nigeria tie

    WCQ: Kenya FA needs $120,000 for Nigeria tie

    The Kenya Football Federation (KFF) said it needs $120,000 to prepare the Harambee Stars for the 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 5 against African champions Nigeria.

    KFF president Sam Nyamweya told MTNFootball.com that they are struggling financially and are calling upon all stakeholders for help.

    Nyamweya said according to their breakdown, the body needs $2,400,000 for the country’s World Cup dream to become a reality. “Most of this money will go in preparing the team and also having top friendly games,” Nyamweya explained.

    The KFF President said they are optimistic many private companies will come in to help because this campaign means a lot to Kenya.

    “We are sending the team to the 2013 COSAFA tournament in Zambia, hosting Ghana in a friendly game on June 1 and also hosting the CESAFA Senior Challenge Cup later this year and all this needs money,” Nyamweya said.

    The money is also expected to cover travel and camping logistics, including players and officials allowances plus accommodation for visiting teams.

    The Kenyans are currently bottom of Group F in the World Cup qualifier on two points behind third placed Namibia on three points while Malawi and Nigeria are tied on five points in second and first respectively.

    But victory against Nigeria next month could place Kenya back in contention for a place in the next round of the qualifiers.

     

  • WCQ: Super Eagles must defeat Kenya, Namibia – Keshi

    WCQ: Super Eagles must defeat Kenya, Namibia – Keshi

     

    Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, believes the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia are cup finals that must be “approached with seriousness.”

    Supersport.com reports that Nigeria currently heads Group F for the Africa zone in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification with five points from three matches.

    Wins against Kenya and Namibia in June will virtually seal Nigeria’s place in the final round of qualifying; a fact not lost on Keshi.

    “Those games are Cup finals. We will do everything within our powers to get decent results in those games. It’s never easy to win away from home in Africa but we have to prove that we are champions,” Keshi told Supersport.com.

    The gaffer then went on to speak about Nigeria’s rise in the latest monthly rankings of world football body, FIFA.

    “If Nigerians are happy with the rise in the rankings, then I am also happy with that too but to be perfectly honest with you, that’s not what I am most concerned about.

    “I am concerned about providing things that Nigerians will be happy about.

    “As for the FIFA rankings, I don’t know how FIFA determines the system but like I said, if Nigerians are happy, then I am too,” he stressed.

     

  • Emenike promises Eagles $50,000 for World Cup qualification

    Emenike promises Eagles $50,000 for World Cup qualification

    partak Moscow striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has promised a $50,000 reward to the Super Eagles if the team qualifies for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    Nigeria leads a qualifying group that includes Malawi, Kenya and Namibia with five points from three matches.

    Emenike, who is out of next month’s World Cup qualifiers in Kenya and Namibia due to recent injury to his knee, said he has been a Super Eagles fan long before he debuted for Nigeria against Sierra Leone in 2011.

    “I promise the whole team $50,000 if we qualify for the World Cup in Brazil,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com

    “Like I said before that we have a team that can make this country proud, and I am doing this from the bottom of my heart just to motivate the team. I am not doing this to intimidate anybody but just to show my total support to the team because I grew up supporting the Super Eagles.”

    He added: “I am really behind the team. I don’t want them to miss me because there are other players who can get them the goals.

    “Before I decided to play for Nigeria, even before I dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, which I am today by God’s grace, I have been a passionate fan of the Super Eagles.

    “I could remember when I used to watch the team way back at the 1994 Nations Cup and World Cup, and I am speaking today as a Super Eagles player, it is a great honour. So the team means a lot to me and that is why I deem it fit to support the team in my little way.

    “I never knew I will play for Nigeria. This is a reward for what I have done in Europe and it is time I supported my country even more.”

     

  • Keshi to pay assistant coach

    Keshi to pay assistant coach

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has opted to pay his Togolese assistant Valere Houandinou, who was affected by a backroom shake-up.

    Valere, who also worked with Keshi to qualify Togo to the 2006 World Cup, was laid off by a “broke” Nigeria Football Federation recently.

    “Keshi has decided to shoulder the burden of paying Valere’s salary after the NFF said it was running low on funds to carry the huge wage bill of the Super Eagles,” Keshi’s brother and manager Emmanuel Keshi told MTNFootball.com

    “The big boss decided to support the NFF at this time because the federation’s president Aminu Maigari is a good man who has been very sincere and supportive in ensuring that the Eagles succeed.

    “As part of the efforts towards moving forward, Keshi has resolved to use his goodwill for the NFF, remember President Goodluck Jonathan gave him a blank cheque upon his return from South Africa, Keshi intends to cash that cheque now by appealing to the President to support the NFF.

    “You would agree with me that the burden on the NFF is huge, the U-17, U-20 and the Super Eagles are all preparing at the same time.”