The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Nations cup qualifier:Supporters club to storm Uyo Wednesday

    Nations cup qualifier:Supporters club to storm Uyo Wednesday

     

    Super Eagles tie against Bafana Bafana billed for June 10 in Uyo is a must win as Nigeria cannot afford to miss the Nations Cup again.  National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Vincent Okumagba who made the submission while baring his mind on current form of the Eagles and the Nation’s chances in the Nations Cup and world cup qualifiers, said the supporters club is determined to provide the team massive support revealing that the party will hit Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital on Wednesday, 72 clear hours to the match.

    Okumagba who expressed satisfaction with Eagles display against Hawks of Togo in Thursday’s friendly in Paris, said the decision to move three days ahead is to enable the supporters club mobilise members and non members alike to ensure massive turn out to ginger the Eagles to victory.

    “”We cannot afford to miss the Nations cup again. We will move into Uyo by Wednesday to mobilise everybody, be on ground to usher the team into the city and ensure massive turn out so that we can play the role of the 12th player for Eagles. It is a must win match so are ready to offer the needed support to make that happen, “he enthused.

    Minister of Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung had earlier dismissed submission by South Africa’s new Coach Stuart Baxter that he has never lost to Nigeria and will shock the Eagles at the nest of Champions come June 10.

    The minister described the talk as mere body massage aimed at boosting the moral of his boys to put in their best.  He said it is normal for technical bench to make comments that can lift the spirit of their boys even if the odds does not favour them.

    “” He needs to avoid dwelling on the past.  He probably has not seen the Eagles play under this current dispensation. But of course that is to be expected for technical hands to say things to ginger their teams ahead of important matches.

    If the Eagles can go to Ndola and win Chipolopolo at home then you can have an idea of what is likely to happen in Uyo come June 10″ he enthused.

    Baxter is making a return as coach of Bafana Bafana after handling the team initially from May 2004 to November 2005.

  • Eagles are Now Battle Ready for AFCON Qualifiers – Official

    Eagles are Now Battle Ready for AFCON Qualifiers – Official

    The Super Eagles are now set to get off to a winning start in the AFCON 2019 qualifying campaign against South Africa on June 10 in Uyo.

    The National Team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye made this after the Thursday friendly match gainst the Hawks of Togo in Paris, France.

    According to Ibitoye fall outs from the match indicates that the Eagles will not settle for anything less than a winning start as the qualifiers campaigns beckon.

    He said, though the Eagles were ruthless in front of goal and so took their chances against Togo on Thursday night, which was not the case against Corsica, a team official has said.

    Nigeria raced to a 3-0 win within 30 minutes against Togo in the friendly game with Leicester City forward Ahmed Musa scored a brace and fellow Premier League star Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City bagging the third goal.

    “We took our chances, which was not the case against Corsica,” said Eagles spokesman Toyin Ibitoye.

    “There is a lot to build on, which is very positive. The long training camp in France will certainly pay off.”

    Akwa United striker Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Muazzam’ said Eagles dominated the game from start to the end.

    “We dominated the match from start to finish,” he said.

    Ibitoye said the Eagles are now set to get off to a winning start in the AFCON 2019 qualifying campaign against South Africa on June 10 in Uyo.

    “The team is now in excellent mood mentally and physically for the challenge ahead of us,” he said.

    “We want to start the AFCON qualifying campaign with a win.

    “We missed the last two AFCONs, we don’t want to miss a third one.”

  • Pinnick, Dikko, Aiteo chieftains meet Eagles in Paris

    Pinnick, Dikko, Aiteo chieftains meet Eagles in Paris

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick, 2nd Vice President/LMC chairman Shehu Dikko and top executives of Nigeria’s foremost energy solutions company, Aiteo Group were at the Super Eagles’ Hyatt Regency Hotel camp in Paris on Thursday.

    The NFF and Aiteo Group signed a landmark 5-Year partnership agreement five weeks ago, which made the energy solutions company Optimum Partner of the NFF.

    The company’s Deputy Managing Director,Francis Peters and the Group Executive Director (Corporate Services/ General Counsel), Barr. Andrew Obinna Onyearu, were with Pinnick and Dikko.

    NFF and Aiteo Group’s agreement is to take care of the remuneration of Coaches of all the National Teams, taking a huge financial burden off the shoulders of the Football Federation – a move the NFF President has described as the first of several to come.

    “We have come to introduce these unique Nigerians (Peters and Onyearu) to you (Super Eagles), so that you can put your minds at rest that all your interests are receiving the right kind of attention by the NFF,” Pinnick assured.

    “Aiteo have matched their words with action. The issue of payment of Coaches of the National Teams will no longer be a headache for the NFF. The first set of payments have been made and all those concerned will begin to get their confirmations any moment from now.”

    Both Mr. Peters and Barr. Onyearu commended the NFF President and his Executive Committee for their efforts in attracting Corporate Nigeria to the Nigerian game, urging the Eagles to stay focused and committed to getting good results on the pitch.

    Peters said the partnership with the NFF is only the beginning of many more relationships in the near future.

    “We commend this NFF leadership for their foresight and ingenuity. They approached us and we saw that we can help to solve some of these financial challenges and also contribute our quota to the development of the game. We are happy to partner with them. This is just the beginning. I am sure there is still so much more to come,” Peters concluded.

  • Eagles land in Paris ahead of Togo match

    SIXTEEN Super Eagles players have just landed in Paris to begin their second phase of camping, ahead of the African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

    Nigeris international Kelechi Iheanacho was in the Super Eagles traveling party to the French capital.

    However, a source close to Iheanacho has stated that there’s a possibility that he will leave for England tonight, if he is given permission by manager Gernot Rohr, as he has some pressing commitments to sort out.

    The ex-Golden Eaglets sensation was the saviour again for the Super Eagles when he converted a spot-kick in the closing minutes of their 1-1 draw with Corsica on Friday night.

    Nigeria will face West African side Togo in their next friendly on Thursday before returning home for serious business.

  • Red card spoils Victor Moses party

    Red card spoils Victor Moses party

    Super Eagles forward Victor Moses booked a painful exit from the FA Cup  finals in Wimbley on Saturday after he was given the marching orders by Centre referee in the 68 minutes. Moses had been accused of falling to the ground under a non-existent challenge forcing the referee to hand him a second yellow and subsequently a red having earned the first yellow in the 11th minute of the match.

    The Nigerian was seen walking away from the pitch and down the tunnel with disappointment written all over his face.

    Moses’s marching orders may have contributed to eventual loss of the Blues who were eyeing a double after pocketing the league title with their Champions League ticket also in the kitty.

    The Football Association announced earlier in May that it will introduce a new rule on diving for next season, with players able to be banned respectively if they are found guilty of simulation.

    A panel comprising an ex-match official, one former manager and a retired player will meet to review each case independently.

    Moses who was left out Nigeria’s friendly matches as he concentrated on his club’s chase for laurels celebrated the league title elaborately with his family and was looking forward to replicating the same thing after the FA cup, a dream which hit the rocks with a bang following his marching orders and Chelsea’s eventual 2-1 loss.

  • No goalkeeper crisis in Eagles -Alloy Agu

    No goalkeeper crisis in Eagles -Alloy Agu

     

    Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Alloy Agu has dismissed fears in some quarters that goal keeping department might pose a problem as the team shapes up for series of world cup and Nations Cup qualifiers respectively.

    The fears are not unconnected with injury worries for current number one and Wolverhampton Wanderers safe hand Carl Ikeme forcing the technical crew to leave him out of the France friendly.

    In a swift reaction however Alloy Agu maintained that there is no cause for alarm as the goalkeepers in camp are not only in top shape but are capable of holding their own any day.

    While admitting that it is the prayer of every coach to always have his players free of injuries and in top shape, such intermittent injuries he noted  cannot be ruled out in the game of football, adding that players always overcome such temporary draw backs to regain fitness.

    The goalkeepers in camp he added have been tested and have the needed qualities to rise to the occasion.

    “There is nothing like goalkeeping crisis in the Eagles.  We have goalkeepers that have been tested and who are capable of and ready to do their job, so there is no cause for alarm and Nigerians need not worry,” he assured

    Two goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa whose profile and confident has continued to grow, and Dele Alampasu made Eagles list for Friday’s friendly against Corsica in France. Ezenwa who plays for FC IfeanyiUba had prior to jetting out to France opined that his business is to always put in 100% effort at all times. The friendly against Corsica will be followed by that against Hawks of Togo at the same venue.

    The double header is expected to help the technical crew select a formidable team that will ensure resounding victory against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the Nations cup qualifier billed for the Nest of Champions Uyo, Akwa Ibom state June 10.

  • 2019 AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles arrive France

    2019 AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles arrive France

    Super Eagles players have arrived France  and will depart for Corsica by 5pm (local time) later on Tuesday for  preparations toward next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Meanwhile, the Gernot Rohr men will face Corsica on Friday at the Stade Francois Coty in Ajaccio, while they will confront Togo at the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret in Paris six days later.

    Nigeria and South Africa meet in the 2019 AFCON qualifier at the  Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on June 10.

  • Ndidi’s award excites Amiesimaka

    Ndidi’s award excites Amiesimaka

    Ex-Green Eagles Winger, Adokiye Amiesimaka, says recent young player award bestowed on Wilfred Ndidi by English Premiership Club, Leicester, is a big plus for Nigerian football.

    Ndidi, 20, a Super Eagles midfielder and former Nigerian youth international, joined the EPL side from Genk FC of Belgium.

    Amiesimaka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the award by the former league champions showed that Ndidi was a top quality player.

    “For him to be given such an award by Leicester who won the Premier League only last season is obviously a plus.

    “It means he is a top quality player and its impact on us here is good, by virtue of the fact that he is a member of the national team,’’ he said.

    Amiesimaka, former Chairman, Sharks FC of Port Harcourt, said the award was also an indication that Nigerian football had a quality player in one of the best organised leagues in the world.

    “Even more importantly is what we’ll do with that plus, how do we make the most of that in the national team and how will it benefit us?’’ he said.

    He said that the derivation of the award should be translated to his optimal use in the national team to achieve good results in major national and international matches.

    Amiesimaka said that the welfare of Ndidi and other members of the national team should be a priority to excel in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.

    NAN reports that Ndidi started his career playing for the Lagos-based Nath Boys Academy in the Lagos Junior League (J-League) and won numerous accolades.

    He then played as a central defender for Nigeria’s youth team, the Golden Eaglets in 2013 for the African U-17 Championship.

    He later played for the Manu Garba U-20 youth team of Nigeria that played in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Ndidi was called up to the Senior Nigeria team, the Super Eagles, on Oct. 8, 2015, making his debut in the friendly game against DR Congo.

    He also played again a few days later in the 3-0 win against Cameroon, when he replaced Mikel Obi in the 63rd minutes.

    He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

     

  • We will give Super Eagles a tough time – New S/Africa coach

    We will give Super Eagles a tough time – New S/Africa coach

    The new coach of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, Stuart Baxter, says his team will give Nigeria’s Super Eagles a tough time when the two teams clash on June 10.

    “I hope we will be very competitive with Nigeria. We will give them a game,” Baxter said after his unveiling in Johannesburg on Monday.

    He was appointed earlier this month as a replacement for Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba who was sacked in December last year.

    The Englishman will start his second spell at Bafana Bafana with a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Eagles in Uyo in June.

    Baxter, who signed a five-year contract, said he would name his technical team and squad for the Nigeria game on May 25.

    “We need to be competitive and players will do it the South African way. That should reflect the play in the country,” he said .

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baxter, had previously coached the 1996 African champions from May 2004 to November 2005.

    He will however continue to coach Premier Soccer League side SuperSport United until the end of the season.

    Speaking on his team, the 63-year-old said there was no shortage of talent in South Africa.

    “I believe the nation has enough players to succeed and I also believe in my abilities. I’m very optimistic,” he said.

    “I’m really looking forward to this latest challenge. If I wasn’t ready, I would not have accepted the challenge.

    “I’m very optimistic if we can pull together, but don’t be too negative because it will affect everyone. I’m asking for buy-in from every South African.

    “I will be going abroad to watch players who ply their trade there. I will watch every South African. They will get a fair chance.

    “I want Bafana Bafana to unite South Africa in the long term. If we do that we will become a powerhouse of football,” said Baxter.

  • Onazi to donate boots to talented players in Nigeria

    Onazi to donate boots to talented players in Nigeria

    Super Eagles’ deputy skipper, Ogenyi Onazi has promised to give back to the society by distributing hundreds on football boots to talented players in Nigeria on his return to the country, reports NationSport.

    The Trabzonspor of Turkey midfielder, who is well known for his generosity, posted a one minute video on his Instagram Page @Onaziogenyi while arranging new set of boots alongside his agent, Ayodele Makinwa and Akindele Ola Dolce.

    “Our boys in Nigeria, this is how we encourage people so they can be able to train very well so that they can become bigger than Onazi and the likes of the big boys.

    “Some people are going to get lucky, though not everybody because it’s not going to be for everybody. It’s just for the lucky hundred people and you can pray to be among the lucky ones.

    “But don’t come and wait for me at Murtala Muhammed Airport”, he said jokingly in the video.

    The 24 year old also wrote along with the video, “As we are getting closer to the end of the season, I can’t forget so soon that I have a whole punch of talent back home waiting for this kind of encouragement. I will always do my best to encourage the young and talented. #nikefamily #godgrace #makepeoplesmile”, he said.