Tag: Super Eagles

Ahead of  Saturday’s crucial  2026 FIFA World Cup  qualifier  against  the visiting Amavubi of Rwanda,  the Super Eagles  yesterday had  their first  full training  with all the 23 invited players  for the match in attendance.

Former African Footballer of the Year and in-form Galatasaray  striker, Victor  Osimhen , led  the last  batch of players that included Christantus Uche, Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze and Raphael Onyedika.  Earlier on Wednesday,  the Super Eagles’ rank was swelled with the arrivals of Africa Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman and new Panathinaikos of Greece forward Cyriel Dessers.

As at Tuesday, 16 players  were already in Uyo  with the last being  first choice goalkeeper  Stanley Nwabali  whose arrival was a major boost  for the Super Eagles  following his injury scare  penultimate weekend.

In a video shared on NFFTV,  yesterday’s evening  training  included  body conditioning for the new arrivals in order  to shake off jet lags  before all the 23 players  were put through their paces with ball works  under the watchful eyes of the  coaching  crew led by Franco Malian, Eric Sekou Chelle.

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The Matchday 7 encounter between Nigeria and Rwanda  has  become very crucial to both teams as they are both wide away from group leaders South Africa, who have 13 points (prior to FIFA’s decision on their use of an ineligible player in the win over Lesotho in March this year).

 Rwanda are second in the pool with eight points, same as Benin Republic, with Nigeria in fourth on seven points. Lesotho have six  points, with Zimbabwe propping up the table on four points.

Saturday’s showdown at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium comes five months and two weeks after the Super Eagles defeated the Amavubi 2-0 in the latter’s home ground in Kigali in a Matchday 5 encounter.

The squad of 23 will also execute Tuesday’s Matchday 8 encounter against South Africa in Bloemfontein, which will be played at the Toyota Stadium (also known as Free State Stadium) on Tuesday evening.

Football fans will pay the sum of N3,000 and N1,000 respectively to watch Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Tickets for the VIP section will go for N3,000 and the popular seats will sell for N1,000 at designated centres within the Uyo metropolis from Friday morning.

NFF’s Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Alizor Chuks, said: “It is important to let the general public know that the NFF Security Committee has declared total war on all ticket manipulators this time. Ticket fakers and racketeers will be dealt with.

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 “All tickets will be scanned at the gates. All intending spectators are advised to buy their tickets from accredited ticket sellers. Fake ticket sellers or holders will be arrested and prosecuted.”

Ahead of Saturday’s match, the Amavubi contingent landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo at 5.28pm on Tuesday. The delegation was led by the newly-elected President of the Federation Rwandaise de Football Association (FERWAFA), Fabrice Shema Agoga.

The contingent was well-received by a team from the local organizing committee, and is staying at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo.

They are scheduled to train at the practice pitch of the Nest of Champions by 4pm on Wednesday.

By Victor Oguntade

The Super Eagles are gearing up for their World Cup Qualifiers match against Rwanda on Saturday, and Team captain William Troost-Ekong  has confirmed  the  Super Eagles  readiness for their must-win double header  against Rwanda and South Africa  as the race for the  2026 FIFA World Cup inches towards the finish line.  

Speaking on NFF TV, Troost-Ekong expressed gratitude to the fans for their support, emphasizing the importance of cooperation among the players towards the  showdown matches  first with Rwanda on Saturday and  South Africa next Tuesday.

“We’re going to be focused on cooperation because I think that’s the thing that’s going to give us confidence for the game on Saturday,” the Al-Kholood defender said. ” The team is determined to secure a positive result against Rwanda, which would boost their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

Ahead of Saturday’s crunch game against  Rwanda on Saturday, Troost-Ekong has urged  the  fans to come out in support of the team.

“I want to ask them (the fans) to continue to encourage us to be in the stadium on Saturday, to be praying for us, everyone else in Nigeria,” he said.“ With the fans’ support, the Super Eagles are confident of securing a positive result and taking a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup.”

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Speaking  on th new faces  in the team, Troost-Ekong  praised young defender Benjamin Fredrick, who impressed with his performance in the London  Unity Cup in May.

“Benjamin is a humble, hardworking, very talented defender. I think we were all really impressed with what he showed us in the Unity Cup.”

He also commended Moses Simon for giving Benjamin the platform to play professional football en route to playing for the national team, adding the Dender E.H. defender has a bright future ahead of him.

“We have a young, talented player that’s going to be the future of Nigeria as a defender,”  he said.

“With his talent and hard work, Benjamin is expected to make a significant impact on the Nigerian national team.”

Legendary former football star, Chief Patrick Olusegun Odegbami (MON), has come out with a down-to-earth verdict that the Super Eagles’ chances of reaching next year’s FIFA World Cup are ‘very slim,’ but he also quickly added ‘not impossible.’

Sports247 reports that ‘Mathematical’ Odegbami’s verdict comes barely a week to the September 6th date for the resumption of Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualification quest, with Rwanda visiting Uyo for the reverse fixture of a tie which they lost 2-0 in the first leg.

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On the other hand, the more crucial of the upcoming games will be on September 9th, away to South Africa, who are currently top of the group with 13 points and, though they face a deduction of three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho, would still stay top if they defeat Nigeria.

The South Africans snatched an away draw in the first leg, which also gives them a head-to-head advantage over Nigeria, and only outright victory in Bloemfontein will revive the Super Eagles’ chances against Bafana Bafana, whose ‘away’ match versus Lesotho on Friday will also be played in Bloemfontein because the ‘hosts’ do not have a suitable pitch in their landlocked country.

Odegbami took a closer look at the pre-match scenario and declared, “The truth is that our chances are slim. When you look at the results, the matches we have to play and how we have to play them, you will agree it’s difficult.”

Odegbami posited, “The path is already difficult, but, with a little bit of luck, we may be able to do it. Which is what we are hoping for? We are also hoping that our team will come back together at the right time, so that we can win the rest of our games and hope that the others will stumble somewhere.”

Akor Adams’ hopes of making his long-awaited debut for the Super Eagles have been dashed after the striker picked up a muscle injury in his left thigh, ruling him out of Sevilla’s Spanish La Liga encounter against Girona this weekend and Nigeria’s FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The 25-year-old was absent from training on Wednesday, with Sevilla’s medical staff later confirming damage to the long adductor muscle in his thigh. As a result, Adams will not feature in Saturday’s trip to Estadi Montilivi and has been ruled out of Eric Chelle’s provisional 31-man squad for the crucial qualifiers against Rwanda in Uyo and South Africa in Bloemfontein.

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Sevilla confirmed the setback in a statement:

“Sevilla FC completed their first training session on Wednesday, preparing for this weekend’s match in Girona. Neither Rubén Vargas nor Akor Adams trained with the group. The Swiss player worked in the gym, while the Nigerian is suffering from an injury to the long adductor muscle in his left thigh and will miss the match against Girona.”

The injury is a huge blow for Adams, who recently earned his first senior call-up to the Nigerian national team. It also adds to Sevilla’s early-season struggles, with the Andalusian club losing both of their opening La Liga fixtures.

Although yet to score this season, the forward has shown glimpses of promise, notably registering an assist in Sevilla’s 3-2 opening-day defeat to Athletic Bilbao. His focus will now shift to recovery as he looks to return stronger and help both club and country in the coming months.

As the Super Eagles B team prepares to face reigning champions Senegal in Zanzibar, optimism and focus reign supreme in the CHAN Eagles camp.

Midfielder Tochukwu Michael and striker Anas Yusuf have both expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances at the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), highlighting team spirit and personal determination as key motivators ahead of the high-stakes clash.

The Remo Stars’ midfielder Tochukwu Michael described his experience in the CHAN Eagles camp as both competitive and inspiring.

Speaking on the blend of talent within the team, he emphasized that despite the competition for starting spots, unity remains the squad’s greatest strength.

“It has been a great experience from the coaches to my teammates. We have a lot of good players. It is a competition — all man for himself — but I have a great feeling that I have so much to offer,” Tochukwu said.

More than personal glory, Tochukwu is focused on team cohesion. He believes that success will come through collective effort and trust in head coach Eric Chelle, whom he praised for his football intelligence and leadership.

 “I really want us to have one mind and one spirit — the goal of winning the CHAN. I am more focused on the team bond because I can’t play alone. There is a positive spirit that we will go far,” he added.

 “Chelle is a good person. He understands and speaks football. If you understand the game, you’ll know he is a quality coach.”

Tochukwu concluded with a rallying call to the nation, promising full commitment from the team.

 “We are privileged to represent Nigeria amidst many. We are ready to give our all to have the gold medal at the end.”

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Nasarawa United striker Anas Yusuf, who finished as top scorer in the 2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League season, also shared his enthusiasm for the journey ahead.

Though he was not surprised by his inclusion in the final 23-man squad, the prolific forward is now targeting nothing less than victory for Nigeria.

 “With my hard work and performance, I knew I had a chance, but I was still surprised to be picked. The camp is good, and I am enjoying my stay with the team,” Anas said.

What stands out for the attacker is the camaraderie among players and staff, which he believes will be instrumental in delivering the CHAN title.

“I am happy with the crop of players I have as teammates. We are like one family. I would love to win CHAN for Nigeria.”

Apart from the fixture with Senegal on Tuesday, the CHAN Eagles will face Congo and Sudan in Group D of the competition holding in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The CHAN Eagles were yesterday held  2-2  by Zanzibar in a pulsating match ahead of  their next week’s opening match at the 2024 Africa Nations Championship to be jointly held by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Yesterday’s encounter means the CHAN Eagles  go into the 2024 CHAN undefeated in  all their preparatory matches. NPFL top scorer of last season Anas Yusuf and Olamilekan Adebayo gave the home-based Eagles a 2-0 lead before the home team fought back to draw 2-2.

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Both teams played out a scoreless draw in their first clash Monday.

The team led by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle will open their CHAN campaign on August 5 against defending champions Senegal.

They will then take on Sudan also in Zanzibar, before a final Group D game against Congo in Tanzania.

Nigeria’s home-based senior men’s team will seek victory over hosts Zanzibar today  in the second of a two-match programme arranged to put the Super Eagles B in competition mood ahead of the 8^th  African Nations Championship kicking off on Saturday.

The 2018 silver medallists were held to a scoreless draw in the two teams’ first game played at the Mau Stadium – located in the centre of Zanzibar – on Monday.

Nigeria, also bronze medal winners in 2014, dominated Monday’s game all-round, with superior ball possession and attempts on goal. They created a plethora of chances but the Zanzibar rear-guard worked overtime to keep the score line barren.

Adedayo Olamilekan, Hadi Haruna, Sikiru Alimi and Harrison Tochukwu were impressive in a game in which goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, captain Nduka Junior, Leonard Ngenge, Abdulrafiu Taiwo, Sodiq Ismaila, Ijoma Anthony, Harrison Ozondu, Akanni Qudus, Taofeek Otaniyi, Godwin Obaje, Jabbar Malik and Shola Adelani also featured.

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Today’s encounter, also scheduled for the Mau Stadium, comes five days before Nigeria’s first match of the competition – a clash with Cup holders Senegal – at Zanzibar’s 15,000 -capacity Amaan Stadium.

The Eagles will then confront Sudan in their second match of the group phase (also at the Amaan Stadium) on Tuesday, 12th August before concluding their group D campaign against Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, 19th August.

The four-week, 19-nation finals have encamped five teams in groups A, B and C, with only Nigeria’s group D having only four teams. Other venues for the competition are the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium (both in Nairobi, Kenya), and the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

Shola Adelani of Ikorodu City and Adedayo Olamilekan of Remo Stars have shared their delight at being named in the Super Eagles B squad for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The duo spoke about the significance of their inclusion, their admiration for head coach Eric Sekou Chelle, and their ambitions for the tournament.

For Adelani, the call-up represents a long-held aspiration fulfilled. “It is a dream come true for me,” he said in an interview with NFF TV while reflecting on the journey so far.

He praised coach Chelle’s tough yet nurturing style, saying, “The coach always says if you are not a warrior you can’t be a footballer. He said you can’t stay long in the game if you don’t want them to hit you or you cannot play hard. I like the coach because he has really helped me to grow.”

Adelani also believes the team is well-prepared for the competition. “The boys are ready. For the past two weeks now we have been training very hard and when we make mistakes he always tells us that mistakes are part of football. I am sure we are ready for the task ahead.”

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Olamilekan, on the other hand, reflected on past disappointments as fuel for his progress. “I was dropped at the Under 17 and Under 23 camp but even though I was sad, I had to pick myself up.”

His perseverance has now paid off with a place in the CHAN squad, which he described as thrilling. “I am happy that the coach said he has confidence in me. I like the coach because he likes people giving their all.”

Like Adelani, Olamilekan also expressed firm ambitions for the tournament. “We are not just satisfied with placing second because we have our sight on the title.”

As the team continues its preparations under Coach Chelle, both players are united in their belief and determination, hoping to make a mark at CHAN 2024 and bring glory to Nigeria.