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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Super Eagles hold nerve in shoot out to win Unity Cup final

    Super Eagles hold nerve in shoot out to win Unity Cup final

    Nigeria had twice surrendered the lead in normal time but got the job done from the spot

    Christantus Uche converted the winning penalty as Nigeria beat Jamaica 5-4 in a shootout to win the Unity Cup, defending the title they won 19 years ago.

    The friendly tournament was hosted at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium and staged for the first time since 2004, when the Super Eagles first got their hands on the trophy.

    They did so again here, as after a 2-2 draw in normal time, the shootout began with six perfect penalties. Jamaica’s Dwayne Atkinson then stepped up and smashed his effort off the top of the bar and over.

    Amari’i Bell made no mistake with his spot-kick to keep Jamaica in it, but Uche had the decisive moment as he calmly slotted home to start the Nigerian celebrations.

    Read Also: AFCON U20 : NFF submits final 23-man squad  as Flying Eagles  off to Cairo weekend

    It had been an entertaining 90 minutes in west London, with the six yellow cards and several flashpoints suggesting both teams were viewing this as much more than just a post-season friendly.

    Moses Simon put Nigeria in front inside ten minutes, finishing from close range after Cyriel Dessers had put a dangerous ball into the middle, but Jamaica were level almost immediately.

    It remained level heading into the break, before Nigeria again made a quick start to the half. Samuel Chukwueze initially appeared to be crowded out when the ball came to him on the edge of the box, but the AC Milan star worked it onto his left foot and drilled a finish into the bottom corner.

    Jamaica equalised for a second time just after the hour mark, and in familiar fashion. Cephas broke free out wide, and his delivery was once again perfect, with Jonathan Russell the man to fire beyond Stanley Nwabali.

  • BREAKING: Super Eagles beat Jamaica on penalties to win Unity Cup

    BREAKING: Super Eagles beat Jamaica on penalties to win Unity Cup

    The Super Eagles defeated Jamaica on penalties in the final of the Unity Cup on Saturday, May 31.

    Nigeria took the lead twice with goals from Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze but Jamaica equalised twice and the game ended 2-2 in regulation time.

    Read Also: NFF, Ogun State seal pact on football matches and events!

    After 90 minutes the game went straight to penalties with Nigeria scoring all their penalties and Goalkeeper Nwabali saving one of Jamaica’s penalty.

    The penalty shootout ended 5-4 with debutant Christantus Uche scoring the final penalty.

  • Unity Cup: Super Eagles starting XI for Jamaica clash

    Unity Cup: Super Eagles starting XI for Jamaica clash

    Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has made four changes to his starting line-up for the Unity Cup final clash against the Reggae Boys of Jamaica.

    Werder Bremen full-back Felix Agu, Brentford centre-back Benjamin Frederick, Moses Simon, and Nathan Tella have all been given starting spots for the game.

    Read Also: Unity Cup: Super Eagles go for victory against Jamaica

    Here’s the starting XI:

    23 Nwabali
    2 Ismaila
    5 Ogbu
    25 Fredrick
    21 Agu
    4 Ndidi
    8 Onyeka
    19 Tella
    15 Simon
    11 Chukwueze
    9 Dessers

    SUBS: Okoye, Ojetoye, Uwueze, Onyemaechi, Ifeanyi, Uche, Nduka, Isaac, Papa Daniel, Arokodare, Alimi, Iheanacho

  • Unity Cup: Super Eagles go for victory against Jamaica

    Unity Cup: Super Eagles go for victory against Jamaica

    Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has described the Reggae Boys of Jamaica as a “great team”, but hopes his team go past them tomorrow to win the 2025 Unity Cup in London.

    The Super Eagles flew past arch-rivals Ghana 2-1 to set up a showdown against Jamaica, who beat regional rivals Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 in the invitational tournament.

    Kick-off tomorrow at the Gtec Stadium, the home ground of Premier League club Brentford, is 5 pm.

    Read Also: Oliseh tips PSG ‘juggernauts’ to stop ‘wily’ Inter in UCL finale

    “We want to win, but the reality is that Jamaica is a great team with a great staff, great players,” the Super Eagles coach declared. “It will be a great game.”

    Two of the Super Eagles call-ups, Chrisantus Uche and Amas Obasogie, could not join the squad in London due to visa issues.

    Brentford youngster Benjamin Fredrick has since been called up as a replacement for Uche.

    It will be another chance for coach Chelle to assess more players from the NPFL after he started three of them against Ghana Wednesday night.

    It is also expected that Werder Bremen left-back Felix Agu will make his long-awaited debut for the Super Eagles after he was cleared by the German FA.

  • Super Eagles struggling with my ‘pressing’  style, says Chelle

    Super Eagles struggling with my ‘pressing’  style, says Chelle

    Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has revealed that the Super Eagles struggled in the second half of their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ghana in the semi-final of the 2025 Unity Cup at the Gtech Community Stadium in London before they were exhausted from the fast paced first half.

    The Super Eagles began the game with perennial rivals, the Black Stars like house on fire and dominated the first half, racing to a 2-0 lead courtesy of a smart finish from Cyriel Dessers — his third international goal — and an own goal by Ghana’s Razak Simpson off  Semi Ajayi’s beautiful header.

    However, the tide shifted dramatically in the second half. The Black Stars came out rejuvenated, pressing higher and creating more chances, while Nigeria appeared to lose energy and struggled to maintain their earlier intensity.

    Chelle, who took charge of the Super Eagles earlier this year, believes fatigue played a major role in the drop-off.

    According to the Franco-Malian coach, his team’s aggressive pressing game in the first half took a toll on the players physically.

    “My philosophy is [that] I want to make some high pressure on the pitch, but the system is very difficult for the players,” Chelle said at the post-match press conference.

    “My dream is that I want my team to keep up the high pressure for 90 minutes. But I think it is impossible. So we need to work and improve.”

    Read Also: NFF mourns as 1980 AFCON winner  Bassey dies in Eket

    The scenario bore similarities to Nigeria’s disappointing draw against Zimbabwe during their last World Cup qualifier in Uyo, where they faded late in the game after taking the lead.

    Chelle is confident that with more time and consistent training sessions, his players will adapt better to his style and become more resilient in the latter stages of matches.

    “Since I’ve been the coach of this team, I’ve had maybe seven or eight training sessions. We have played three games — two wins and one draw. We need to improve. We need to work. The players need to know what I want,” he said.

     “I think we made a great first half and in the second half we were tired. My guys, I’m so proud of them because they fight. It was difficult, but I see that they deserve — we deserve — the victory.”

    Nigeria’s win over their eternal rivals sees them advance to the final of the 2025 Unity Cup, where they will face Jamaica. The Reggae Boyz booked their spot with a thrilling 3-2 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the other semi-final.

    The final promises to be a fitting climax to the friendly tournament in London, with Chelle’s young side looking to crown their progress with silverware.

  • Ndidi tips Super Eagles for World Cup fightback

    Ndidi tips Super Eagles for World Cup fightback

    Super Eagles Interim captain against the Black Stars of Ghana, Wilfred Ndidi has stressed that the Super Eagles need to stay positive the way they were in the first half of the game  against the West African side to  bounce back in the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

    Nigeria are in fourth spot in the qualifying campaign with just seven points from six games in Group C behind South Africa, Rwanda and Benin Republic but Ndidi disclosed that their victory over Ghana is a confidence booster ahead of the next round of qualifiers in September.

    He agreed the Eagles had a good first half versus the Black Stars but struggled in the second half and he blamed it on he and his teammates decision not to stick to the first half plan.

    Read Also: NFF mourns as 1980 AFCON winner  Bassey dies in Eket

    “We need to stick together more just like the first half. If we had done like the first half, we won’t have been under pressure in the second half and maybe we could have scored a few more goals,” Ndidi told journalists in London.

    “It should win back some confidence. It is a positive thing that we are winning games. If we stay positive like the way we did in the first half I think we can still have a chance.”

    Ndidi nonetheless thumbed up the decision to give the Nigeria Premier Football League players a chance in the game insisting the Super Eagles is not the exclusive preserve of foreign based players.

    “I feel Super Eagles is for Nigerians who can distinguish themselves as footballers. It is not meant for foreign based players. The home based players did well.”

    The Super Eagles will face the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica tomorrow in the grand finale of the Unity Cup. Jamaica beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 in the other semi-final.

  • Unity Cup Tourney : Super Eagles, Black Stars faceoff  in explosive clash in London

    Unity Cup Tourney : Super Eagles, Black Stars faceoff  in explosive clash in London

    Three-time African champions Nigeria and four-time champions Ghana will bring alive the Unity Cup Invitational Tournament in London on Wednesday when both regional rivals clash in the second semi-final of a tournament of immense cultural and sporting relevance.

    Both teams bring a number of critical elements into the encounter taking place at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, including a 74-year rivalry in which Ghana have smiled more than Nigeria, but either team has felt like they lost a World War 3 whenever results did not go their way.

    Until March last year, when they won a friendly match against the Black Stars 2-1 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles had not beaten their West African foes in 18 years. That was when Taye Taiwo’s shot from a free-kick outside the box condemned the Black Stars to defeat in a group phase encounter in Port Said, at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The Black Stars won the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification pitching both teams together, on the away goal rule, and retain the bragging rights of the biggest win in their clashes – a 7-0 spanking of then Red Devils in a Jalco Cup match in Accra on 30th October 1955. Ghana also won the two teams’ only previous clash at Brentford, running away 4-1 victors in a friendly encounter on 6th February 2007.

    However, the Super Eagles have equally had their day in the sun, such as the 3-0 thrashing of the Black Stars in Port Harcourt to earn passage to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, and eliminating the Cup holders from the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Wednesday’s clash in west London is another opportunity for the Super Eagles to prove their mettle, with Head Coach Eric Chelle having called an interesting blend of home-based talent and boys based overseas.

    Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is expected to be in goal, with Semi Ajayi, Felix Agu, Sodiq Ismaila, Igoh Ogbu, Bruno Onyemaechi, Junior Nduka, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Waliu Ojetoye available for slots in the defence, and Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Saviour Isaac and Collins Ogwueze tugging for the midfield shirts. Christantus Uche was yet to arrive in the team’s Doubletree By Hilton Ealing abode as at Tuesday evening.

    Read Also: NFF mourns as 1980 AFCON winner  Bassey dies in Eket

    Ahmed Musa, Simon Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Samuel Chukwueze, Sikiru Alimi and Adamu Abubakar are available for Coach Eric Chelle in the fore-line, as Tolu Arokodare, who a few days ago clinched Belgium Pro League’s top scorer award, arrived last  night and might not feature having not trained with the team. 

    NIGERIA vs. GHANA: HEAD-TO-HEAD

    20 0ct 195: (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 5-0 Ghana

    11 Oct 1953: (Jalco Cup): Ghana 1-0 Nigeria

    30 Oct 1954: (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3-0 Ghana

    30 Oct 1955: (Jalco Cup): Ghana 7-0 Nigeria

     27 Oct 1956: (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3-0 Ghana

    27 Oct 1957: (Jalco Cup): Ghana 3-3 Nigeria

    25 Oct 1958: (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3-2 Ghana

    10 Oct 1959: (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 3-1 Ghana

     26 Oct 1959: (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 4-1 Nigeria

     22 Nov 1959: (Jalco Cup): Ghana 5-2 Nigeria

     28 Aug 1960: (WC Qualifier): Ghana 4-1 Nigeria

    10 Sep 1960: (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2-2 Ghana

    9 Oct 1960: (Nkrumah Cup): Nigeria 0-3 Ghana

    29 Oct 1960: (Zik Cup): Nigeria 1-1 Ghana

    8 Apr 1961: (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

    30 Apr 196: (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 2-2 Nigeria

    17 Dec 1961: (Friendly): Ghana 5-1 Nigeria

    10 Nov 1962: (Friendly): Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

     23 Feb 1963: (Nkrumah Cup); Ghana 5-0 Nigeria

    30 Oct 1965: (Zik Cup): Nigeria 0-4 Ghana

     7 Nov 1965: (Zik Cup): Ghana 3-0 Nigeria

     23 Jan 1967: (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2-2 Ghana

    12 Feb 1967: (Zik Cup): Ghana 2-0 Nigeria

     22 Oct 1967: (Zik Cup): Ghana 2-1 Nigeria

    23 Dec 1967: (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2-2 Ghana

    10 May 1969:: (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2-1 Ghana

    18 May 1969: (WC Qualifier): Ghana 1-1 Nigeria

     8 Jan 1973: (All-Africa Games): Nigeria 4-2 Ghana

     10 Feb 1973: (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2-3 Ghana*

     *Abandoned, match awarded 2-0 to Ghana

    25 Feb 1973: (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

    11 Aug 1974: (Festival): Nigeria 1-0 Ghana

    17 Aug 1974: (Festival): Nigeria 0-1 Ghana

     24 Aug 1975: (Festival): Ghana 1-2 Nigeria

     30 Aug 1975: (Festival): Ghana 3-0 Nigeria 

    Sep 1977: (Ecowas Cup): Nigeria 2-1 Ghana

    8 Mar 1978: (AFCON): Ghana 1-1 Nigeria

     21 July 1978: (All-Africa Games): Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

    1 May 1983: (ECA Anniversary): Ghana 1-0 Nigeria

    15 Oct 1983: (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

    30 Oct 1983: (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 1-2 Nigeria

    5 Mar 1984: (AFCON): Ghana 1-2 Nigeria

     27 July 1986: (Friendly): Ghana 2-0 Nigeria

    2 Sep 1990: (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 1-0 Nigeria

    13 Apr 1991: (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

     23 Jan 1992: (AFCON): Ghana 2-1Nigeria

    9 Mar 1994: (Friendly): Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

     28 Aug 1999: (Friendly): Nigeria 0-0 Ghana

     11 Mar 200: (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

    29 July 2001: (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 3-0 Ghana

    3 Feb 2002: (AFCON): Ghana 0-1 Nigeria

    15 Dec 2002: (Friendly): Ghana 0-1 Nigeria

    30 May 2003: (LG Cup): Nigeria 3-1 Ghana

     23 Jan 2006: (AFCON): Ghana 0-1 Nigeria

    6 Feb 2007: (Friendly): Ghana 4-1 Nigeria

    3 Feb 2008: (AFCON): Ghana 2-1 Nigeria

     28 Jan 2010: (AFCON): Ghana 1-0 Nigeria

    11 Oct 2011: (Friendly): Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

     25 Mar 2022: (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0-0 Nigeria

    29 Mar 2022: (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 1-1 Ghana

     23 Mar 2024: (Friendly): Ghana 1-2 Nigeria

  • International Friendly: Super Eagles, Super Falcons camps bubble

    International Friendly: Super Eagles, Super Falcons camps bubble

    Ahead of different international friendly games, the camps of Nigeria’s senior teams (Super Eagles and Super Falcons) have come alive with most invited players already in.

    As at 18: 55hrs on Monday, 18 of the 23 Super Falcons invited for the friendly matches against Cameroon (31st  May at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo and 3rd June at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta) had arrived at the team’s Am2pm Hotel in Ijebu-Ode.

    At about the same time, on the same day, 22 of the 26 Super Eagles invited for the Unity Cup Invitational Tournament in London had arrived at the team’s Doubletree Hilton Ealing.

    The Eagles take on the Black Stars of Ghana at the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford tomorrow, 28th  May and then play a second match at the same venue on Saturday 31st  May.

    Read Also: Tobi Amusan breaks, set new record at Diamond League Meet

     The opponent will be determined by their result against the Black Stars, and the result of the 27th  May clash between Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.

    SUPER FALCONS IN IJEBU-ODE

    Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie, Toni Payne, Francisca Ordega, Omorinsola Babajide, Rofiat Imuran, Oluwatosin Demehin, Olamide Bolaji, Josephine Mathias, Sikiratu Isah, Jennifer Echegini, Osinachi Ohale, Amarachi Odoma, Morufa Ademola, Miracle Usani, Emem Essien, Blessing Ilivieda, Linda Jiwuaku

    SUPER EAGLES IN LONDON

    Ahmed Musa, Simon Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Semi Ajayi, Frank Onyeka, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Felix Agu, Igoh Ogbu, Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Junior Harrison Nduka, Sodiq Ismaila, Waliu Ojetoye, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Saviour Isaac, Collins Ogwueze, Sikiru Alimi, Adamu Abubakar, Stanley Nwabali, Samuel Chukwu

  • Unity Cup: Super Eagles hit London on Sunday

    Unity Cup: Super Eagles hit London on Sunday

    The players from the domestic league called up for an invitational tournament in London, as well as the Super Eagles’ backroom staff, will depart from Lagos on Sunday, officials said.

    The Super Eagles will take on arch-rivals Ghana in the tournament named Unity Cup on May 27, before they play a second game against Jamaica or Trinidad & Tobago.

    Read Also: NFF conducted Federation Cup draw fairly, says Aluo

    Some of the home-based players invited for these matches include Ahmed Musa, Ifeanyi Oyebuchi, Papa Daniel, and Nduka Junior.

    The Super Eagles will play another friendly against Russia in Moscow with a different squad on June 6.

  • Super Eagles’ official barber Joshua eyes Guinness Book World Record

    Super Eagles’ official barber Joshua eyes Guinness Book World Record

    Super Eagles of Nigeria official barber, Aiyenuro Joshua of T-Jos Signature, is eyeing the Guinness Book record for the longest haircut in the world. 

    He is expected to embark on a “barbing marathon” between June 10 – 17, 2025 at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

    Joshua was unveiled in Abuja yesterday  by the leadership of the African Civil Society Forum (AFRICSOF) who are collaborating with T-Jos Signature to drive and actualise continental vision of African Youths.

    Speaking during the unveiling, President of AFRICSOF, Amb. Blessing Akinlosotu disclosed that the move was intentional to make a strategic departure from the conventional programming and activities of regular Civil Society, to a partnership venture to promote and manage a young and talented African with lofty aspirations of setting a World Record in the Guinness Book at a Barbing Marathon for the longest haircut in the world.

    He stated: “We are gathered here today to formally unveil and celebrate this noble hearted youth in the person of Mr. Aiyenuro Joshua of T-Jos Signature, who is an official barber of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    “Africa is highly endowed and renowned for young population, strength, resilience and high survival instinct, yet out of the 60,000 records holders as at year 2022, in this prestigious book, Africa and Africans can only boast of a very insignificant number of listings, with the giant and big brother Nigeria having less than 50.

    Read Also: NFF conducted Federation Cup draw fairly, says Aluo

    “This has become an open challenge to us in AFRICSOF, explaining the passion, energy, and resources we intend to invest and mobilize for this Project.
    “AFRICSOF and T-Jos has already started looking and working beyond the Phase One of Record Setting, to the Phase Two of Pet Projects designs and implementation, that would break Skill Acquisition Records in Africa,”  he said.

    “We call on both the Public and Organised Private Sectors, with all well-meaning Nigerians and Africans to join forces with AFRICSOF towards achievement of this dream for this determined young man in particular, the Country and our beloved Continent in general.

    “This is the kind of News item the Media should promote vigorously and sacrificially. Religious Establishments equally should view this Project as perfectly aligning with the divine mandate of Human Character Building and National Transformation.

    “It has already started receiving endorsements from Celebrities, Superstars and relevant Establishments. We request for more, if not all, hands to be on deck for this.

    “This dream must not die, this agenda must not fail. We owe it as a duty to the young people of Africa to use this as a deliberate Special Project Vehicle (SPV) to birth a Skillset and Talent Re-Awakening across Africa, to globally reposition our youth with a never-say-die spirit to conquer the world, break existing records and set new ones across all and every aspect of human endeavours.”