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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Why Nigeria took the world by storm in 1994-Westerhof

    Former Super Eagles Coach Clemens Westerhof has identified discipline, dedication and determination as the three major reasons why Nigeria emerged the team to beat while he was at the helm in the national team.

    The Dutchman who led Nigeria to the round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 1994 in USA added that the resolve of the players to make their nation proud was not only infectious but was indeed worthy of emulation.

    “My players were dedicated and determined to make their country proud and I must say I was and still remain proud of what we were able to achieve,” he enthused.

    An elated Westerhof who bared his mind while receiving a letter of allocation of a house from Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola in fulfillment of government promise of a house to all members of the 1994 World Cup squad, said it was a thing of joy to see the promise fulfilled despite coming 25 years after the wave making achievement was recorded.

    While thanking the Federal Government for fulfilling the promise the former Zimbabwe handler wished the country and the national team better days and achievement in future.

    He however did not fail to pray for the repose of the soul of his boys who had joined their ancestors.

    Read also: Former Super Eagles’ coach, Westerhorf gets house from FG 25 years after

    Prominent among those who made Westerhof’s 1994 squad tick was late Rashidi Yekini who scored the country’s first world cup goal and whose mode of celebration of the said goal against Bulgaria has remained a must mention whenever the world cup is being reviewed.

    One of the major achievements of the Westerhof era was Nigeria’s upward move on the FIFA ranking from the 79th position to breathtaking 5th in the world coming only behind Brazil, Germany Norway and Switzerland while overtaking top football nations like Denmark, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden and Argentina.

     

  • Former Super Eagles’ coach, Westerhorf gets house from FG 25 years after

    The Federal Government on Monday fulfilled a 25 –year pledge to former Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, Clemens Westerhof.

    At an impressive ceremony inside the conference room of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Abuja, Minister, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) said the occasion was a further proof that the Buhari administration was “committed to putting right the wrongs of yesterday and redressing all forms of yesterday’s injustice”.

    Westerhof, a Dutchman, was head coach of the Super Eagles’ Class of 1994 – appropriately –styled Golden Generation – that won Nigeria’s first –ever FIFA World Cup ticket, won Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations title on away ground and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in USA.

    Fashola, himself a first-grade football enthusiast, eulogised the virtues of football as a “great unifier, which does not bow to ethnic, religious or quota system considerations,” and hailed Westerhof for serving his time with Nigeria’s senior team with distinction.

    Read also: Westerhof gives conditions for coaching

    He apologised on behalf of Nigeria that the pledge took 25 years to redeem.

    “Mr. Westerhof ended our long –time search for a FIFA World Cup ticket and afterwards went on to lead the team to Africa Cup of Nations glory. As a nation, we made promises, but there was no follow-up.

    “I want the NFF to document those members of the squad that have not received their houses in the FCT as promised and as soon as we receive this, we will respond positively.

    “I was made aware that the promises had not been fulfilled through a letter by the assistant coach, Mr. Johannes Bonfrere, and we arranged for him to get his own in December 2017.

    “Six months later, at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, a prominent journalist, Mr. Onochie Anibeze, brought it to my notice that the head coach, Mr. Westerhof was yet to receive his own house.

    “We immediately initiated the process which has culminated in today’s event.”

    Director of Public Building and Housing Development, Dickson Onoja had narrated the exploits of the Super Eagles’ Class of 1994, and how then military Head of State, Sani Abacha, hosted the team to a reception in Abuja after the AFCON triumph in Tunisia and promised each member of the team a house in Abuja.

    Youth and Sports Minister,Barr. Solomon Dalung, who was represented by the Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Department, Mrs. Tayo Oreweme, applauded the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for fulfilling the pledge and referred to President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 fulfillment of his pledge to the world -conquering Golden Eaglets of 1985 (when he was military Head of State).

    The 2nd Vice President of NFF, Mallam Shehu Dikko, who represented NFF President Amaju Pinnick at the occasion, praised the initiative of Fashola and his ministry, saying the redemption of the pledge was a positive sign to footballers and other sportsmen and women that promises would always be fulfilled, no matter how long it took.

    “At the last NFF Football Awards in Lagos on 1st April, we honoured specially this Class of 1994 Super Eagles.

    ‘’Those of them that are still alive and in the country were brought to the event and celebrated. We wlll compile a list of those who have not received their houses and revert back to the Ministry.”

    An elated Westerhof, who flew into Nigeria from The Netherlands on Sunday night, said: “I am overjoyed. I want to thank the Nigerian Government for this, and I want to assure you that you will now see more of me in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is my second fatherland, and I am proud of what we were able to achieve with the players in those years.

    “They were disciplined, dedicated and determined to lift Nigeria high, and we took Nigeria from 79th position to fifth in the world.

    “I am thankful. However, I feel sad that some of my players have left us. May their souls rest in peace.”

    Fashola afterwards presented the letter of allocation of the house to Westerhof.

  • AFCON 2019: Row among fans over Rohr’s Super Eagles team list

    Some soccer fans and journalists have expressed divergent opinions on Super Eagles’ 25-man provisional list for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) just released by Coach Gernot Rohr.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that preparation of the senior national team toward AFCON was hot-up when Rohr released the 25-man provisional list on Tuesday for camping in Asaba.

    The composition of players that made the list came as no surprise as it includes the team’s regulars, save some players which many think should not make the list.

    Some are, however, quick to query the inclusion of Eagles captain Mikel Obi who had yet to play for the team after their exit at the group stage of the  2018 World Cup.

    Others also wondered why the inclusion of “out-of-form” Leicester City Striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, in the team.

    The Super Eagles will begin their quest for the fourth glory when the biennial football hostilities takes centre stage in Egypt starting from June 21 to July 19.

    The former Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos State, Fred Edoreh, in his opinion, justified the inclusion of both players, saying that the coach should know better.

    “I do not think it is out of order to recall Obi to the team, any team with a blend of youthfulness and experience will surely do well at any competition.

    “Inviting Mikel is good because I think his experience is also needed in the team, going by his contributions during the World Cup.

    “For Kelechi Iheanacho, his invitation is a 50-50 chance because people see him as a good player who contributes to the team. For the coach, he may probably believe that he will pick up again.

    “Sometimes the decision to field a player rest on the perception of the coach and more than that, it is good to give people chance. I also believe the coach wants to be successful as well,’’ he said.

    A veteran sports journalist with TVC, Solo Ajuziogu, said that both players might have outlived their relevance in the team, wandering what positives the coach wants to derive from their inclusion.

    Read Also: Guinea’s Keita to miss AFCON 2019

    “It seems that the coach does not have an idea of what he wants to do or he feels that the team can be a rehabilitation centre for non-performing players.

    “Of what importance is the invitation of Mikel into the team? Throughout the entire qualification stage of AFCON, Mikel did not kick a ball or contribute anything toward the qualification.

    “Maybe Rohr have a humorous sense of justice to have invited Mikel, although he claimed to have discussed his return to the team.

    “The fact remains that we have several players who can play Mikel’s role now. We have Oghenekaro Etebo, Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi and others, besides why not give others chance to prove themselves,’’ he said.

    The Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Phemmy Adetula, pointed out that the inclusion might be justifiable, owing to his experience and role in the team.

    “When talking about competition like AFCON, we need experience because since the exit of Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo, it is Mikel that has been shouldering the responsibility of leadership in the team.

    “We cannot forget in a hurry his contributions during the Olympics, although many did not like his relocation to China, but he is now back in England; I think we still need him.

    “For Iheanacho, it is neither here nor there because since he got to Manchester City team, he thought he has arrived which is not the case, to me, he is a lazy player.

    “If the coach and technical crew can work on his psyche, maybe he can improve because many Nigerians think he has nothing to contribute to the team,’’ he said.

    A soccer fan, Opeyemi Adedeji, said that though the coach knew what to do, the inclusion of Mikel and Iheanacho was a bad precedence to the team.

    “The coach might have his reasons, but inviting Mikel is something we cannot fully accept because he truly deserted the team during the qualification stage preferring to face his club.

    “Mikel’s allegiance to the team is questionable because as a team captain, he should have known better by supporting the team with his presence but he likes to choose when to play.

    “For Iheanacho, for the coach to know that it is controversial, he should try and feel the impulse of Nigerians and he will know that his inclusion was done in bad faith.

    “Why should a coach invite a bench warmer to a national team? Iheanacho’s last game at Manchester City speaks a lot of his loss of form, we don’t need him instead we should invite others,’’ he said.

    A grassroots football player, Akeem Oladejo, said that Iheanacho’s form had dropped, hence he does not have any relevance in the team.

    “Iheanacho in Super Eagles is not what we need now. He has lost his form, so he does not have anything to contribute again. The young man is sluggish and sometimes misses glaring chances.

    “I think the coach needs to drop him because I don’t see him making the final list with his present form,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the team list includes: Goalkeepers, Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina Unietd), Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa).

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy), Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey), Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton and Hove Albion, England).

    Others are Keneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (Rotherdam United, England).

    Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Beer Sheva, Israel).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Odion Ighalo (Shangai Shenshua, China); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey).

    Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain).

    Nigeria is in Group B alongside, Guinea, Burundi and Madagascar.

    NAN

  • Finding a home ground for Super Eagles

    While receiving the Fair Play Award on behalf of Akwa United at the just concluded Aiteo NFF Awards, chairman of the club, Paul Bassey described Uyo, capital city of Akwa Ibom State, as the home ground of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He backboned his assertion by reminding the audience that it was at the Nest of Champions, Uyo, that the national team qualified for the last FIFA World Cup. Well, after hosting the matches against Seychelles and Egypt in a space of five days most recently, Asaba, the Delta State capital may have something to say about Bassey’s claims.

    Coming from a history of playing virtually all their home matches in the National Stadium in the 1980s and 90s, some football enthusiasts canvass for Lagos, which was then the federal capital, to be the permanent home of the Eagles. Those in this school argue that having an eternal home like England’s Wembley Stadium or Brazil’s Maracana would not only help the fortunes of the team but also boost the brand of the team. They posit that not having a ground the national team can call home especially under the scrutinizing eyes of the Lagos press and dense concentration of supporters, the seesaw play of the Eagles may continue to be the norm.

    But time has changed. The return to democracy in 1999 coincided with Nigeria hosting the FIFA World Youth Championship. While Nigeria 99 encouraged us to upgrade at least eight arenas across the nation that were used as venues for the tournament, democratically elected governors built sporting infrastructure as show of achievement to the electorate. With the Abuja National Stadium also in the mix, the handlers of our football now became spoilt for choices of where the Super Eagles should play.

    With the end of dictatorships that have the habit of using sports as a form of public relations to the more accountable civil rule, budgetary allocations to sports shrunk and the federal capital moving to Abuja, sustaining the Super Eagles in Lagos became more demanding. This led to opaque considerations on taking the team outside Lagos as much as possible at the cheapest cost possible. Some governors take advantage of this to accommodate the team but this is usually an all-expense venture. The hosting state, under the approval of the governor, accommodates the team at its expense, pay player bonuses and even throw the gates open for free on match day. This is typically a good deal for the football federation. That was why all the qualifiers that ushered the Eagles to Russia were played in Uyo because the Akwa Ibom State government was ready to pay the bills and so Bassey could make a boast at the awards.

    But can Bassey make such a boast next year? Hosting of these one-off games are usually tied to the temperament of a sitting governor. Subsequently, if a governor is naturally inclined to football and the hosting of it, he makes his state the home ground of the Eagles and if his mood changes or another state strikes a better deal with the football federation, the home ground changes again.

    I don’t subscribe to making Lagos or any state the permanent home for our football. First, the national stadiums in Surulere and Abuja are both shadows of their original selves at the moment and fixing them for less than half a dozen matches a year doesn’t make economic shrewdness. Secondly, comparing Nigeria with England doesn’t suffice. Wembley belongs to the Football Association and so can be used by the Three Lions or for any FA Cup final, but in Nigeria, our pitches are government-owned and run. So looking for a permanent home ground in an era where periodic change of government is the canon is unrealistic. Thirdly, a perpetual home ground for our football restricts other parts of the nation from having a feel of our collective patrimony. In fact, federalizing our football has proven that fans outside Lagos are more enthusiastic. Even England takes the Three Lions outside Wembley sometimes. For example, England’s Euro 2020 qualifying match against Kosovo coming up in September would be staged in St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton implying Wembley is not as permanent a home ground as some want us to believe.

    Then attaching the roller coaster performance of the national team to their faffing around is not empirical. The Eagles 25 years ago were victorious not because they played in Lagos; they were victorious because they were Super! They were invincible wherever they played unlike the squad nowadays when we not only sometimes make a mockery of their aquiline moniker but also have dubious reasons to demonize some fields.

    As we progress in this free market world, the political involvement of government in running sports should continue to diminish. It is not developmental prudence for a state where a lass goes viral on social media because she is pursued from her dilapidated school for inability to pay fees (something that should be free) would host three international matches about the same time frame for free (something that should generate income for the state). Or another “football-loving” governor using state resources to host the Eagles but owes players of its state-owned football club months of wages.

    My proposal moving forward is that government should hands-off administration and funding of professional sports completely. Football especially has risen enough to be fiscally independent of any tier of government. With this, football would not be taken as a social good tainted with politics but as a commercial good that improves the economy of the hosting city.

    What a profit-driven NFF should do is to come with its programme of fixtures that its teams would be involved in a foreseeable future and transparently ask for interested bids. Location, national spread, stands size, condition of the playing turf, accessibility for fans, security, hotel accommodations, TV friendliness of the stadium, importance of the match, opponent disadvantage and the like would be considered along with commercial partners in choosing the winning bid. The bidders, most likely the states, will come up with arguments why certain fixtures should come their way. Arguments like wider marketing reach for commercial partners, football development and how it would improve the economy of the state. It should be a chance for the states not only to showcase their sentiments for Super Eagles but also an occasion to attract tourists to their states. Governors can use the opportunity to show achievements in other sectors in the state.

     

    • Okun folami writes from Festac, Lagos.

     

  • Benin to replace Ghana for Super Eagles

    Super Eagles are now set to take on fellow 2019 AFCON qualifiers Benin in a warm-up game in June after a proposed friendly with Ghana was called off.

    It was first reported that a proposed with the Black Stars was never going to come off because Ghana have already arranged a training camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the AFCON around the same time.

    Officials have now informed SCORENIGERIA that efforts are now geared for the Eagles to face Benin Republic in Asaba in the first week of June before they head out to Egypt for the AFCON.

    The Eagles will also battle Senegal in Egypt as part of their build-up for the 2019 AFCON.

    Last month they beat AFCON hosts Egypt 1-0 in a friendly in Asaba.

  • AFCON 2019: Ex- International, Adepoju optimistic of Super Eagles chances

    Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has expressed optimism on the Super Eagles doing very well in the forth coming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt in June.

    The ex-international disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, while reacting to the AFCON draws which took place Friday night in Cairo.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles are drawn in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi, a group analysts have described as relatively easy.

    Adepoju, however, stressed that the Super Eagles would need to prepare well and play as a team to go far in the competition.

    READ ALSO: AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    “Yes on paper we have a relatively easy group, but the boys will have to step up their game and play as a team to go far in tournament,

    “I am optimistic we can do well at tournament if we put our acts together, ” he said.

    The former Real Sociedad of Spain midfielder advised Coach Gernot Rohr to start preparations for the tournament early and ensure only fit and committed players were selected.

    Adepoju who was part of the AFCON wining Super Eagles team in 1994 in Tunisia also called on Nigerians to support the team.

    NAN reports that the 32nd edition of AFCON with its expanded 24-team format will take place in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.

  • 2019 AFCON: Fans counsel Eagles against complacency

    Football fans on Saturday have counsel the Super Eagles against complacency with the group pairings them at the draw of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin said they should not underrate the teams because there are no longer minors in football.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been paired in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi for the 2019 AFCON scheduled to hold from June 21 to July 19 in Egypt.

    Mr Tope Aderinoye said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should ensure they start preparation immediately and not think that the group stage would be easy.

    ”It might not be easy as everybody thinks, so it is better the NFF engage them now, so that by the time the tournament starts, they would have crossed the ‘t’ and dotted the ‘i’s.

    ”This is because we cannot afford not to come out of that group convincingly,” Aderinoye said.

    Another respondent, Mr Ibrahim Abdulrahman said the players and the coaching crew should clear the thoughts that the other teams in the group are minors.

    READ ALSO: AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    ”They should be prepared to play them as if they are playing the like of Cameroon, South Africa and Senegal.

    ”These so called small teams can spring up surprises when nobody expects, because there are no more minors in football,” Abdulrahman said.

    On his part, Mr Shona Ajala, said the pairing looks like a walk in the park but the Eagles should not take it for granted.

    ”Our group seems the easiest but we shouldn’t be complacent about that.

    ”Super Eagles have grown beyond qualification by calculations because it is when we have supposedly easy opponents that we struggle to qualify.

    ”So, that should take caution from now on,” Ajala said.

  • BREAKING: Christian Chukwu undergoes successful operation in Enugu

    Contrary to reports that former Super Eagles coach ‘Chairman Christian Chukwu is in a sorry state and desperately requires about $50,000 dollars for immediate operation in the United States, Sportinglife.ng can confirm it is not true.

    On the contrary the former Harambee stars of Kenya coach has  successfully undergone operation on the leg in Enugu and is recuperating in an undisclosed hotel.

    Sportinglife.ng further gathered that it was based on doctor’s advice that the Rangers Technical Adviser was asked to stay in a hotel instead of going home after the successful operation to avoid constant disturbance from many who will be tempted to go and visit him.

    Initial reports making the rounds gave the impression that the former Green Eagles captain is in dire need of funds, a scenario which is far from the truth as Sportinglife.ng gathered  Chukwu is entitled to a monthly take home of N700, 000 as Technical Adviser of Rangers international, a club which he did not only play for but also coached in the course of his football career.

    Chukwu captained the Super Eagles to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and was national team coach between 2002 and 2005.

    Apart from winning the Nations cup in 1980, he also contributed to Nigeria’s second Nations Cup title in 1994 as assistant to Dutchman Clemens Westerhof

  • SEYI OLOFINJANA: I’ll be honoured to manage Super Eagles

    Former Nigerian international midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana is steadily moving up the coaching and management ladder at English Premier League side, Wolverhampton Wanderers and he believes he’s acquiring so much knowledge that would be useful to manage the Super Eagles in the future, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    It’s indeed a season of introspection for Seyi Olofinjana, former Super Eagles’ midfield Trojan and one of the very few Nigerian footballers with sound academic background. In a career spanning a period of 11 years between 2000 and 2011,  Olofinjana had an impressive  56 international caps  under his belt but he surmised that his debut in an international friendly  against Malawi under the late coach Shaibu Amodu  would forever remain indelible in  his memory.

    “There were so many wonderful memories playing for the ever beautiful Super Eagles but none would be compared to that very first  time wearing the national jersey and singing the national anthem with millions watching,” Olofinjana , a storied product of the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) began in an exclusive interview with The Nation. “Amodu was a great coach and myconfidant and his management skills were second to none.

    “He gave not just myself but all new players the belief that that we were talented enough and have merited selection.”

    Though it  looked like yesterday when Olofinjana  made that  debut against the visiting Malawi at the Abacha Stadium in Kano, he remains nostalgic about  4th June 2000 which   is just  a year away from two decades.

    “4th June 2000, I was in the team led by Shaibu Amodu and Musa Abdullahi (both late); the feeling was and is still is indescribable. Just pure grace,” noted Olofinjana who would be 39 on 30th June.

    “I feel blessed to have donned the colours of my country 56times in a career that spanned a decade.

    “With almost 200million people with almost a quarter of not more capable of occupying that position, being favoured by God to be selected for that long is still a mystery.  I’d be forever grateful to God and people he used for such an important privilege.”

    Olofinjana has indeed had a seamless transition from being a player to administrator and this might not be unconnected with his educational background as recently hinted by erstwhile president of NUGA and former Vice- Chancellor of University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin.

    “You must have certainly heard about a player called Seyi Olofinjana who played for the Super Eagles ; it was during my period as president of NUGA that he became a household name in Nigeria,” Oshodin, the professor of health education once  told The Nation. “Olofinjana was discovered in the team that I took to China to play when he was a student of LAUTECH; that was where the scouts saw him and he started playing for Nigeria.”

    It is not as easy as that though; but Olofinjana’s career is an ideal one for any aspiring footballer to follow as he perfectly combined education with his football career even at retirement.

    Apart from graduating with a degree in chemical engineering from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Olofinjana recently graduated from The Master of Sport Directorship (MSD) programme at the Manchester Metropolitan University as he continues to chart his road to the top.

    “I have been asked this (how easy was it to have combined academics at LAUTECH and playing for the Super Eagles) so many times and sometimes,I wonder how I did it as well,” explained Olofinjana that played for a number of European clubs including SK Brann in Norway; Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hull City, Stoke City, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday in England. “Obviously, God played a major part and contrary to the notion of many people that I had it all planned.

    “It was just a divine intervention possible for anyone willing to commit himself or herself and more importantly focus.  In was tough but the focus was always on the goal and preparations for life after football.”

    Since his retirement in 2015, Olofinjana has since been working at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Academy and was recently named as Loans Pathway Managerat the English Premier League side.

    “Transition from playing to management has come with its challenges – life style change, family balance, working hours and all sorts, but I must emphasise that education has played a major role in preparing me as well as dedication,” stated Olofinjana in his usual candour. “The Master’s degree is another step towards preparing for life after football and stressed my passion not just for coaching but administration hence the application for the loan and pathways manager’s role as it’s all encompassing.

    “Prior to my new role as the loans and pathway manager, I was the U23s coach and while I am still part of the coaching set up, I do less coaching for now.

    “How soon I can deploy this knowledge to the development of Nigerian football?  I’d say NOW!

    “Without a shadow of doubt, managing the Super Eagles or administering the game in Nigeria is part of my future dreams.

    “I would again be honoured to (manage the Super Eagles);after all, I have learnt and still learning and would be ready to help the nation realise its full potentials in whatever capacity.”

    Of course, Olofinjana can looked back at his career with satisfaction as widely reported, he began his career with local sides Crown of Ogbomoso  and Kwara United before moving to Europe with Norwegian side SK Brann.

    After two seasons at Brann he moved to English club Wolverhampton Wanderers and became a regular at Molineux right from the first season. His second season was curtailed by a back injury that also forced him to miss the 2006 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    However,in the 2006–07 seasons, he finished as the club’s top league goal scorer as they made the play-offs under Mick McCarthy. He netted Wolves’ opening goal of the following campaign in a 2–1 defeat to Watford but could not repeat his goalscoring level of the previous season, scoring only twice more. He missed part of the season as he competed in the 2008 AFCON in Ghana where Nigeria lost in the quarter-finals.

    “It is always a beautiful time together when the AFCON comes to town,” recalled Olofinjana who played along with the likes of Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka, Obafemi Martins and a host of others.“Different egos, talents, individuals and weirdos come together and being compelled to work together for a period can be both fun and challenging.

    “How as a group we never won the Nations Cup is baffling with the talents we had in the squad .But as I’ve always said, Super Eagles’ problem isn’t about players but administration.

    “How well you’d go in a tournament isn’t determined just on the field but preparations put in place prior.

    “As a matter of fact, winning any tournament is always a by-product of good all round organisation.  A lot saw the talents and wondered why but what goes on behind the scenes was witnessed by very few.”

    Incredibly, Nigeria has only won the AFCON thrice following victory on home soil in 1980 with a team that included Captain Christian Chukwu, Mathematical Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka, goalkeeper Peter Okala and others.

    The country had to wait till 1994 to add a second title  in Tunisia  under  Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof-led  squad  that is  commonly referred to as the Golden Generation complete with late skipper Stephen  Keshi, late sensational striker Rashid Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh among others .Again, there was a long period of interregnum until 2013 when late  skipper ‘Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi made history  as the second person in the history of the AFCON after Egyptian Hassan Shetata to have won the continent’s most sought-after  trophy both as a player and coach.

    This June, the Super Eagles return to the continent again in search of glory for the first time since their last success in South Africa and Olofinjana believes the current team being managed by German coach Gernot Rohr can go all the way in Egypt if some of the pitfalls of the past can be mitigated upon.

    “If some or all I’ve highlighted earlier can be looked into, the challenge for the talented boys would be to win the AFCON in Egypt having giving a good account of themselves  at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018,”affirmed Olofinjana.

     

     

  • Aiteo Funds 30% of NFF’s Entire Expenditure, says Pinnick

    President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has shared reasons why he felt the founder of Aiteo Group, Benedict Peters, was a template for every other Nigerian billionaires who are looking forward to invest in Nigerian sports.

    According to the Pinnick who spoke on Monday during the Aiteo/NFF Award Night in Lagos said, in the last two years the Aitoe Group has funded 30% of the entire expenditure of the NFF describing it has a feat worthy of emulation.

    He explained that the steadfast commitment to the growth of the round leather game from the company really made the country proud at the Global stage with remarkable experience in the 20918 FIFA world Cup in Russia but also for in CAF Nations Cup qualifiers and other national levels commitments.

    “Today, Aiteo alone funds 30% of the entire expenditure of the NFF. All the deals we have with Aiteo are also for a duration of five years. We have so many Nigerian billionaires, and we think they should emulate what Aiteo is doing,” he said.

    Read also: AITEO lauds Super Eagles for remarkable world cup outing

    High-point of the award night was the presentation of awards to the Super Eagles Class of 94. Among those present to receive the award in person were: Peter Rufai, Daniel Amokachi, Augustine Eguavoen, Sunday Oliseh.

    Others includes; Jay Jay Okocha, Samson Siasia, Edema Fuludu, Mutiu Adepoju, Alloy Agu, Nduka Ugbade, Ben Iroha, Uche Okechukwu, Finidi George, Taribo West and Victor Ikpeba. The daughter of late Super Eagles forward, Rashidi Yekini also walked the stage to receive her father’s award.

    Speaking on behalf of the 94 team, Sunday Oliseh said “Indeed it is a great one for me and my teammates, those of us alive; we are very proud and it is also a moment to reflect on those who have passed on.”

    Earlier, in his remark the the Chief Executive Officer of the Aiteo Group, could but joined the NFF to celebrate the Eagles Class of year 1994 stating that they are always remembered for their feat has helped to produce the best ever FIFA Ranking for the country.

    He said,“Today, we all remember that golden era with very fond emotions. It was a phenomenal moment when our country spoke one language – football; when we achieved the highest FIFA ranking ever for an African team for our beautiful playing style; and when our team gave us something bigger than a trophy -A legacy.”

    “Since we forged this winning partnership with NFF, football in Nigeria has witnessed tremendous improvements. We have not only intervened decisively in eliminating financial constraints that hitherto constricted on-field performance; we have also provided strong moral support to the facilitation of instructive platforms such as this, the Aiteo NFF Awards,” he added.

    The event was attended by prominent people across various facets of society including the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who received a special award from the NFF. The award was presented alongside Lagos Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kwara state Governor-elect, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, and Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

    FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura, at the occasion received a special award. NFF the Vice Presidents, Shehu Dikko and Seyi Akinwunmi, who is the Chairman of the Awards Committee joined dignitaries on the occasion.

    Ahmed Musa emerged The Player of the year in the Male category while and Onome Ebi was honoured for the female category.