The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Victory over Cameroon: Super Eagles N63million richer

     

    Call it dollar rain and you will be perfectly correct as Super Eagles look set to be rewarded with $175,000 (About N63million).

    The largesse is courtesy of Alteo boss Benedict Peters who had just before the match promised to give the team $100,000 if they beat Cameroon and addition promise of $25,000 per goal.

    Eagles did not only make defeat of Cameroon a reality but scored three goals thanks Ighalo and Iwobi.

    Although there were glaring shortfalls in the match Nigerians believe it is was a major improvement compared to what the team played leading to a 2-0 loss to Madagascar in the last group match.

    Cameroon are thus became the second  high profile team to exit Egypt just a day after Morocco were sent packing by Benin Republic contrary to permutations in some quarters.

    Saturday’s match saw two African legends Samuel Eto and Nwankwo Kanu watching from a vintage position, jubilating intermittently depending on which way the pendulum was swinging.  It was however Kanu who smile last at the end of regulation time.

  • Breaking: Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach Quarter-Finals

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, after defeating the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon 3-2 in Alexandria.

    Odion Ighalo scored a brace, and Alex Iwobi got one goal to book Nigeria a match next Wednesday with the winner between Egypt and South Africa.

     

    Details Shortly………..

  • I prefer trophies to money – Iwobi

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Super Eagles midfield pearl Alex Iwobi has revealed that he prefers winning trophies to stocking cash in any bank.

    He also opted for winning the FIFA World Cup with Nigeria than winning the UEFA Champions League with Premier League side Arsenal FC.

    Iwobi, revealing that he can play any position on the field, said that the Super Eagles are hungry and fired up for victory against Cameroon on Saturday evening.

    Below are excerpts of the interview:

    Lagos or London?

    I am more comfortable in London

    Davido or Wizkid?

    Both are great artistes, but for me, I prefer Wizkid

    Casual or Corporate?

    Casual

    World Cup trophy or Champions League?

    World Cup trophy

    Trophy or Money?

    Trophy

    Ronaldo or Messi?

    Difficult, but for me, Messi

    Chelsea or Arsenal?

    Arsenal

    African Continental or Chinese?

    African Continental

    What do you think about the Nations Cup so far?

    I believe that we have done well so far, it is not easy to qualify and play in the competition. People say we were favourites in the group, but we knew that it was not going to be easy, as Burundi and Madagascar showed their worth in their first AFCON. No game was easy but we were able to qualify, and that is the main thing.

    Do you think there is still a chance of victory against Cameroon?

    Of course, even though we had a defeat in the last game, but it will give us a bit of humility and hunger to go to the next game against Cameroon.

    What seems to be your best position on the pitch?

    My best position is hard to say. Sometimes I do very well playing wide, sometimes I do well in the midfield, it is hard to say my best, but I know that wherever I am told to play, I give my best.

     

  • Round of 16 clash with Eagles: Seedorf reels out dos and don’ts for Lions

    Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf has highlighted two things Indomitable Lions must do as they prepare to face Super Eagles in the round of on Saturday.

    The Dutchman who is managing a national team for the first time, said the lions must maintain in tempo in terms of defense but must combine the barricade with ability to create and take chances”

    “We have to improve a few details, especially in the last part of the field, to be a bit smarter, create more chances,” he said.

    That the team did not concede any goal in the group stage according to him is an indication that Lions are doing well by making it difficult for opponents to create chances.

    Seedorf who made career 640 appearances for the seven different clubs he played for, scoring 100 goals, will be hoping to outwit German tactician Gernot Rohr when both teams battle for a place in the last eight in Alexandria.

    Goal scoring appear to be a common denominator for both teams as both teams  only managed to score two goals in three matches of the group stage.

    Seedorf who took over the lions last year however remains optimistic that the side will up their game against perennial rivals Nigeria. 

    A number of soccer fans who spoke to Sportinglife.ng ahead of Saturday’s encounter avoided predicting possible scoreline with many confessing that Eagles defeat by debutant Barea of Madagascar came as a shocker forcing them to adopt a wait and see posture towards round of 16 matches.

    “On paper you could say the Eagles have an edge but with the defeat against Madagascar you never can say when a blunder will occur,” they said, Wednesday.

  • Aftermath of shock defeat: Odemwingie demands improved Eagles

    Former international Peter Odemwingie has urged the Super Eagles technical crew to stop the break dance and get extremely serious in their next match at the ongoing Nations cup in Egypt.

    The former Eagles striker who was apparently disappointed with the team’s performance against debutants Madagascar on Sunday night noted that Eagles play pattern appears to be drifting.

    As a panacea the former Stoke City ace opined that there is need to inject more skillful players into the team. He nonetheless wished the team luck as they await their next opponent in the round of 16.

    “Na wow oh. More skillful players next game pls. From a team that plays open football we became way too simple. Let’s get the balance right. Up eagles,” he said

    The former West Brom and Cardiff ace who announced his retirement from international football on the 3rd April 2019,joined Indonesian Liga 1 side Madura United in 2017 after leaving English League one side Rotherham United.

    Odemwingie who featured for the senior national team from 2002 to 2014 made over 63 appearances scoring 10 goals.

    The 37 year old, who graced three Nations cup 2004, 2006 and 2010 in the course of playing for the national team, was also part of the Silver winning 2008 Beijing Olympics team.

    One memorable outing for which he is often remembered for was the 2004 Nations cup hosted by Tunisia where he scored a brace in the 4-0 demolition of Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the group stage.  The Eagles went on to play in the third place match defeating Mali 2-1 in Monastir.

    Odemwingie who plied his trade in England, France Russia and Indonesia made 412 career appearances for the various clubs he has played for with 125 goals to his credit.

  • Madagascan fans party all night over Eagles defeat

     

    Strong indications abound that Barea of Madagascar will receive tumultuous reception when they return irrespective of what happens in the round of 16 or beyond.

    The countries capital Antananarivo became a huge carnival as fans danced and sang in celebration of their team’s 2-0 defeat of Super Eagles on Sunday night. Local media reported that the concert of horns and whistles continued late into wee hours of Monday in several neighborhoods of the capital.

    A jubilant crowd paced the streets with Malagasy flags. Most fans summed up the three reasons for the celebration to include; making instant impact as debutants of the Nations cup, defeating what some dubbed “Almighty Super Eagles” and hitting the round of 16 as group leaders.

    Permutations in the country say finishing as group leaders is beneficial and improves the chances of Barea going further in the competition.

    “This position will allow Madagascar to find a team supposedly less third place in another group in the final stages thus increasing the hope of going further” submitted one for the local reports.

    Coach of the side Nicolas Dupuis who was appointed in 2017, had his contracted extended till after the 2019 Nations cup after he successfully qualified the team for the continental fiesta beating Equatorial Guinea 0–1 in last qualifier in Antananarivo.

    An elated Dupuis expressed satisfaction with the performance of his boys.

    “I am very proud of my players and I would like to congratulate them for this result. It was a job well done and this is a big victory for us.

  • Eagles savor clement weather intensify training for Madagascar

     

    Super Eagles training in Alexandria Friday was not only impressive but was made tick by clement weather, fillers from the camp revealed.

    The Gernot Rohr tutored side, already have a place in the round of 16 and lead the group with six points.

    A win against Madagascar who defeated fellow debutants Burundi on Thursday will see the Nigerians finish with nine points winning all three group matches.

    The team though accused of being goal stingy in some quarters however received accolades not only for winning the first two matches but claiming the maximum points available even with loan goal victory in both clashes against Burundi and Guinea respectively.

    Marco Ilaimaharitra who was the main man was Madagascar claimed three points against Burundi will be hoping to have an opportunity again to show what he can do.

    An elated Madagascar head coach Nicolas Dupuis is receiving standing ovation in

    Antananarivo and has urged his team to double effort Eagles, while admitting that the encounter will not be cheap.

    Madagascar fans who celebrated hard over the victory against Burundi have been looking at their chances of moving to the next stage.

    Some are praying for Guinea and Burundi to play out a draw. They reason that it will take Guinea a victory over Burundi with at least two goals to overtake Madagascar, while the Barea need only to hold Eagles to a draw to forge ahead.

  • Rohr may rest key players against In-laws Madagascar

    With six points and two goals in the kitty in two matches Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr may be tempted to rest key players in the last group match against Barea of Madagascar on Sunday.

    One person who will be watching to see how the match pans out is Rohr’s wife who is from Madagascar. Rohr’s wife who is said to be in the hospitality industry follows the progress of the German sweat merchant in the course of his job but seldom follows him to tournaments.

    The Eagles got what some called a soft draw after the three time Nations cup winners after they were pitched against two debutants Burundi and Madagascar.  Eagles opening match against Burundi was however not a tea party as the Burundians shunned their underdog status to give Eagles a run for their strength and experience.

    Read Also: Breaking: AFCON 2019: Nigeria beat Guinea, qualify for Round of 16

    It took a strike by late substitute Odion Ighalo to rescue the Eagles from what would have ended either in a barren draw of even a surprise defeat.

    Rohr led Eagles to a disappointing group stage ouster at the last world cup in Russia with some soccer fans in the country insisting that he has to aim at winning the Nations cup to make up for the poor run in Russia.

    The former Niger and Burkina Faso coach has however insisted that the Eagles are not the favorites to clinch the title tipping hosts Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal instead as hot favorites.

    Madagascar who held Guinea to a 2-2 draw in their opening match will Thursday face Burundi in what has been dubbed battle of debutants at the Alexandria Stadium.

  • Guinea declare operation beat Nigeria as Eagles continue pay protest

     

    Protest and disagreement over money appears to have become a recurring decimal in the relationship between the national teams and the Amaju Pinnick led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Just few days after Super Falcons refused to leave their hotel in France insisting on getting their allowances before checking out, Super Eagles currently campaigning at the Nations cup in Egypt have joined the band wagon.

    The Eagles who are billed to take on Guinea in their second group match on

    Wednesday flagged off massive protest on Tuesday, shunning training and boycotting press briefing ahead of tomorrow’s match.

    Information emanating from the team’s camp indicates that the players were not ready to listen to the sugar coated promises often given by Glass House officials insisting on pay before service.

    Some of the players Sportinglife gathered described the Glass House as specialists in promise and fail, adding that in as much as it is good to be patriotic a labourer still deserves his wages.

    They accused the officials of taking their welfare with levity just because they listen to their sweet nothings while resisting the temptation to portray the country in a bad light.

    “There is time for everything we cannot just continue this way promises will be made they will not be kept, “some of the players were quoted as saying.

    Ahmed Musa who was billed to show for the pre-match conference failed to turn up forcing Coach Rohr to go alone for the briefing. Media men did not fail to query the coach over why the players were not represented at the conference, to   which he confessed that they stayed back in solidarity for what he dubbed a crucial player’s meeting.

    Eagles managed to earn a lone goal victory over Burundi, raising fears that it may not be a smooth sail for the team despite having two debutants in the group. Going into the next match against Guinea with so much protest in camp some say is an indication that the team may lose the match due to loss of concentration

    Recall that even the Under 20 side also protested in Poland refusing to leave their hotel until they are paid.

    Ironically while the Eagles are protesting, fillers from Guinea camp indicate that the players have vowed to rattle Eagles who currently lead the group with three points.

     

     

     

  • Mikel confesses: Burundi were too hard to crack

    Super Eagles Captain John Obi Mikel did not mince words in a post-match interview after the team managed to scrap a lone goal victory over Burundi on Saturday.

    Mikel who is a free agent following the end of his short term contract with Championship side Middlesbrough revealed that the original plan was to go for early victory but noted that the Burundian side held their ground making it difficult for the Eagles to  have a smooth sail.

    “It was indeed a tough match. We played a compact team that was not easy to break into,” he admitted even as he expressed delight that the Eagles ultimately earned the three points at stake.

    An apparently relieved Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr agreed with his Captain that it was a tough match.  He however blamed the struggle on setbacks in the camp no thanks to virus that attacked the players within the week making it impossible for many of them to function to full capacity.

    The former Niger and Gabon coach nonetheless remained optimistic that the team will play better as the tournament progresses.

    “It was definitely a tough match and we are happy to have gotten the result.  We had some challenges with virus attack that knocked out some of the players, but I believe we will get better with every match,” he enthused.

    Rohr who clocks 66 on June 28 will be hoping to record another victory against Guinea to garner six points in two matches and be in a position to celebrate a super birthday two days before taking on in-laws Madagascar on June 30th.