The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Super Eagles

  • Super Eagles Int’l friendly crucial says Disu

    Tajudeen Disu, a member of the 1983 Mexico FIFA World Youth Championship, says Super Eagles friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Senegal will be crucial in testing the fitness of the players.

    Disu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, advised the players to take the matches seriously.

    He added that the players’ fitness and current form should be well assessed.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles will be up against Senegal’s Teranga Lions on March 23 before taking on the Etalons of Burkina Faso four days later.

    Both matches will be played at The Hive, home ground of Barnet Football Club.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had said that the friendly was scheduled in preparation for the World Cup qualifier against the current AFCON champion, Cameroon in August.

    Disu said: “We have so much to gain in these friendly matches, it’s not particularly about winning, but to be assured that we have a capable team come August’’.

    When asked if the friendly was not too far from when the qualifiers would kick off in August, he said that the timeliness of the friendly matches was fair enough.

    “I believe the timing is okay as long as they can schedule another friendly match by June,’’ he said.

    Similarly, ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, advised handlers of the team to use the international friendly matches to test more players.

    Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr had listed goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and forwards Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho for the friendly matches.

    Also included are home-based goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.

    Experienced left back Elderson Echiejile, Portugal-based Chidozie Awaziem, Israel-based John Ogu and Watford FC of England forward Isaac Success are also called.

    Germany-based forward Noah Joel Bazee and Holland-based defender Tyronne Ebuehi will join up with the squad for the first time, while youngster Victor Osimhen, record top scorer at the FIFA U17 World Cup, returns.

    Shorunmu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the players should be assessed based on their performance during the friendly matches.

    The Super Eagles are ranked 41st in the world, 10 places below Senegal’s Teranga Lions and three places below the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

  • Ugbade confident Eagles will impress in London

    Ex-Interational Nduka Ugbade has thrown his weight behind the Super Eagles as they gear up for the two international friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

    Ugbade made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by a telephone interview on Wednesday in Abuja.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles will engage Senegal at Barnet Football Club’s ground ‘The Hive’ on Thursday and then play the Etalons of Burkina Faso four days later.

    The two friendlies in London are being used to get the team ready for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which start in June and the resumption of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in August.

    Ugbade, the first African to lift a World Cup when he captained the U-17 to win the cadet championship in 1985, noted that the team was a mixture of young talents and experience.

    He further told NAN that the friendlies would be a good test for the Eagles, adding that Senegal and Burkina Faso were worthy adversaries.

    “I’m happy we secured the games against some of Africa’s toughest teams.

    “Senegal with all their stars will be a very good test for Nigeria, while Burkina Faso are also tough as they showed at the last Africa Cup of Nations,” Ugbade said.

    “Both teams possess technical and tactical strength as we witnessed in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

    “So, the games will help prepare the team for the tough tasks ahead as we have to do all we can to qualify for the World Cup and Nations Cup.

    “These kinds of games are good for the players and the coaches too, to enable them see areas that need to be worked on.

    “I believe Nigeria will do well in the games as the new coach, Gernot Rohr, has shown what he can do in the few games he has been in charge.”

     

  • London Friendly: Eagles set for final training

    London Friendly: Eagles set for final training

     

     

     

     

    Super Eagles will have final training ahead of the two friendly matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso respectively Wednesday morning.  The Gernot Rohr tutored side had their first training Tuesday evening with the technical crew monitoring every player with rapt attention.

    The Eagles did not participate in the 2017 African Cup of Nations, and are using the games with Senegal and Burkina Faso to test their preparedness for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon and the 2019 Afcon qualifier against South Africa.

    The training according to the technical crew was deliberately made short on Tuesday but Wednesday training is expected to be more encompassing with all departments giving effective drill.

    Among players that took part in the first training include Arsenal’s forward Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi and Carl Ikeme.

    Others include Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Moses Simon, Kenneth Omeruo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success, Tyrone Ebuehi, Chidozie Awaziem and Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee.

    Eagles will test Taranga lions might on Thursday before filing out against Burkina Faso on Monday.

    Meanwhile coach Rohr has frowned at last minute pull out of Chelsea forward Victor Moses from the friendly matches.  The former Wigan Athletic forward who had earlier played for 70 minutes against Stoke after his injury during the FA Cup against Manchester United was re-confirmed injured by the club forcing him to leave the camp. But the last minute turn of event did not tickle the fancy of the coach who has earlier warned that he expects a full house in the course of preparing for the world cup and Nations Cup qualifiers respectively.

    Some soccer fans have also reacted to last minute pull out by Moses with some recalling it wouldn’t be the first time he has missed friendly matches involving Eagles. They however expressed hope that Eagles will ultimately form a formidable blend with a view to achieving good result in the qualifiers against Cameroon, Algeria and South Africa.

  • Osaze settles for Indonesian club Madura Utd

    Osaze settles for Indonesian club Madura Utd

     

     

     

    Super Eagles ace and Former Premier stoke City forward , Osaze Odemwingie, has reached agreement  with East Java’s Madura United to play in Indonesia’s top tier Liga 1, which will kick off in April.

    The 35-year-old Nigerian winger will be tested first in a few exhibition matches next week in Cilacap, Central Java and Yogyakarta.

    The preseason matches and a medical test on March 30 will determine whether Odemwingie is fit for the team.

    “The agreement with the player is 99 percent complete as we’ve agreed on the pre-contract conditions,” Madura United team manager, Haruna Soemitro, said via the club’s social media accounts.

    “Odemwingie’s quality conforms to the team’s current needs, yet we need to see his performance during the preseason matches in Cilacap and Yogyakarta next week,” Soemitro added.

    Odemwingie had his peak performance in 2010-13 when he played for West Bromwich Albion and he scored 31 goals in 90 appearances.

    The winger player, who according to transfermarkt.com is worth $537,675, was released by Rotherham United in January.

    Before joining Rotherham in October last year, he was loaned out by his former club, Stoke City, to Bristol City, where he scored just two goals in seven appearances.

    The possibility of Odemwingie joining Madura adds the heat to Indonesia’s football transfer market, especially after Persib Bandung made a surprise move by signing ex-Chelsea star, Michael Essien, this week.

    The Indonesian Football Association, or PSSI, recently announced that the 18 clubs of the Liga 1 have the right to sign only one foreign player, who must be a marquee one — who had played in the FIFA World Cup or for the European top flight leagues.

  • Musa enjoys 14 minutes action in Leicester victory

    Musa enjoys 14 minutes action in Leicester victory

     

     

    Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa had the pleasure of playing for 14 minutes Saturday as rejuvenated Leicester City recorded first win in 11 away matches.

    Musa who has been left out in recent matches including the wave making Champions league victory against Sevilla came in as late substitute for Shinji Okazaki with Leicester already leading host West Ham 2-3.  Algerian international Riyad Mahrez opened scoring Leicester in the 5th minute of the game with Huth and Vardy increasing the tally in the 7th and 38th minutes respectively.  Vardy particularly enjoyed a good assist from Nigeria international Winifred Ndidi who was in action for 90 minutes.

    Musa’s 14 minutes return may as well be signal that the former CSKA Moscow ace who boasts of some Champions league experience may stand a chance of enjoying piece of the action when they face Athletico Madrid following the Champions league quarter finals draw released on Friday.

    Both Musa and Mahrez have been penciled down to feature in the world cup qualifiers between their countries later in the year.

    An elated coach Shakespeare said ‘there’s no secret,’. ‘I think hard work. Endeavour. Resilience. We showed all of that today. Along with some good footballers.’

    Talk of the quarter-final drawn against Atletico Madrid has been put on hold. ‘The Champions League has been put to one side,’ Shakespeare added.

    ‘We have parked it. We wanted to do that. We knew we were coming on the back of an awful away record and we wanted to try and put that right. Talk of Atletico was put to the back of everyone’s mind. We said as a group, once the draw was made, we know who we have got and now let’s park that and concentrate on the Premier League.’

  • London Friendly: Hope rises for Moses

    London Friendly: Hope rises for Moses

     

     

     

     

     

    Indications that Super Eagles forward Victor Moses will be available for the double header friendly matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso emerged Saturday as the former Wigan Athletic was in action for 70 minutes against Stoke City.

    Moses who pulled out mid-way in the FA Cup victory against Manchester United on Monday, was initially placed on the sideline list but performance against Stoke is an indication that he has bounced back to fitness.

    Moses who has featured in virtually every match played by the Blues in recent times will be a huge boost for Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr who is hoping to use the friendly matches to shape up his team ahead of the World cup qualifiers against Cameroon and Algeria respectively.

    Brazilian import William shot the Blues into the lead in the 13th minute of Saturday’s match with Jonathan Waiters getting an equaliser for the homers in the 38th minute.

    Stoke however lost grip of the game when a more daring Chelsea increased the tally three minutes to end of regulation time through Gary Cahill, and maintained 65% dominance to the final whistle.  The victory has further place the Stamford Bridge landlords in a vintage position to win the league even as they look forward to FA cup semifinals clash against Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday. Some believe the Antonio Conte boys stand a good chance of making it a double this season.

  • London Friendly: Olarenwaju eager to impress

    London Friendly: Olarenwaju eager to impress

    FK Austria Wien forward Kayode Olarenwaju has described his invitation ahead of Super Eagles double header friendlies against Taranga Lions of Senegal and Stallions of Burkina Faso as a rare opportunity which he intends to grab with both hands.
    The former junior international noted that his invitation is an indication that Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and the football federation believe in him and he intends to do all he can to prove is worth.
    “I am very happy about my invitation, it is a rare opportunity and I intend to put in my best to avoid letting the coach or the federation down,” he enthused
    The 23 year old who has made over 65 appearances for his club scoring 25 goals in the bargain, was called in as replacement for Wolfsburg’s Victor Osimhen who has been knocked out by injury. Olarenwaju who is expected to hit camp on Monday, has represented Nigeria in the U-17 and 20 world cups respectively is yet to debut for the Super Eagles.
    The Eagles versus lions friendly will take place at Hive Stadium, home ground of League Two club Barnet.

  • Mikel,ideye play for 90 minutes as Tianjin Teda draw

    Mikel,ideye play for 90 minutes as Tianjin Teda draw

     

     

    Super Eagles duo of John Obi Mikel and Brown Ideye were in action for full 90 minutes for their Chinese Super League side

    Tianjin Teda against Jiangsu Suning at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Friday.  The tie which ended in goalless draw handed visiting Tianjin Teda their first one point in the new season which kicked off last weekend.

    The tie in which centre referee dished out half a dozen yellow cards, saw one of the cards going to Ideye in the 28th minute and the second to teammate Guo Hao in the 69th minute.

    Hosts Jiangsu Suning however got the lion share of the cautions with cards going to Brazilian import Ramires, Liu Janye, Ji Xiang and Tao Yuan respectively.

    Season opener for Tianjin Teda ended in a 2-0 defeat and Friday’s draw means the Mikel Obi captained side will have to wait a bit longer to record their first win.

    Shanghai Shenhua’s Obafemi Martins who was not listed as teammate Carlos Tevez led the side to a 4-0 demolition of Jiangsu Suning in the season opener March 5th, will be hoping to be in action Saturday when they take on Tianjin Quanjian at the Hongkou Stadium.

  • Mikel,Ighalo open Chinese season on a losing note

    Mikel,Ighalo open Chinese season on a losing note

     

     

     

    Super Eagles and Tiajin Teda captain John Obi Mikel opened his Chinese Super League season Saturday on a losing note.

    The match played at the Jinan Olympic sports Center Stadium saw hosts Shandong Luneng open scoring in the 78th minute  through Binbin Liu after the entire first half had failed to to produce a goal for either side.

    The homers increased the tally four minutes later all thanks to Senegalese import Demba Cisse who got a timely assist from Xinghan Wu.

    Mikel and his new teammates playing their first competitive match as a team since he joined the side from Premier league side Chelsea, managed to maintain 49% possession but could not convert any of their chances.  The Chinese Super League appear to be implementing recent restriction on the number of foreign players on the pitch to the letter as only Mikel, Cisse and Italian Graziano Pellè were in action.  While the Italian and Cisse played for the home side, Mikel was the only foreigner in action for the visitors

    Mikel was however not the only Eagle that suffered defeat in the opener, as Odion Ighalo’s club Changchun Yatai were thoroughly demolished 5-1 by Shanghai SIPG at the Shanghai Stadium. The former Watford forward however saw a full 90 minutes action.

    Compatriot Obafami Martins begins his quest for honour with his club Shanghai Shenhua in the new season Sunday against Jiangsu Suning

  • Kayode Olanrewaju worried over Eagles snub

    Kayode Olanrewaju worried over Eagles snub

    .Begs Rohr for chance

    Austria-based striker, Olanrewaju Kayode is unhappy over his non-invitation to the Nigeria national team for the upcoming international friendlies with Senegal and Burkina Faso in London later this month.

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, has listed Germany based forward Noah Joel Bazee and Tyronne Ebuehi among 25 players to take part in upcoming matches.

    23-year-old Kayode, who has played for the Under 17, U-20 and Olympic teams for Nigeria has scored 7 league goals, two in the cup and three in the UEFA Europa League so far this season for Austria Wien, is appealing to the national team selectors to consider him for future call ups.

    “For a long time now, I have not been invited to the national team. But I know very soon, Coach rohr would look in my direction because my position remains vacant. I am ready to score for Nigeria, I am ready to score for Rohr, but all that can come through only if I am invited.

    “Some people said I play in a far league, some said I play in the cold, some said I play in Austria and it is not English Premier League. But I will tell you football in La-Liga is the same in Austria. I played in the Europa League last season, so what experience do I need again. I have represented Nigeria at youth levels and my mates like Ogenyi  Onazi and Kenneth Omeruo are the ones playing currently for now,” Kayode said.