The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Walya Antelopes

  • Keshi hails Eagles after defeating Ethiopia

    Keshi hails Eagles after defeating Ethiopia

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has saluted his CHAN-bound team after edging past Ethiopia 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday.

    First-half goals by Ifeanyi Ede and Ugonna Ozochukwu set the tone for an Eagles victory in Abuja, MTNFootball.com reports.

    And Keshi said he will take some satisfaction from the tactical play of his home-based team especially in the first half.

    “I am very impressed with the performance of the team especially on tactical play. If I get this kind of performance in all our games in CHAN, I will be satisfied,” MTNFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying after the match.

    “We played against a very good side. This is the first team of Ethiopia, very experienced team, the team had been together for a long time and my boys played under a little pressure, they wanted to impress the crowd, they wanted to impress the media.

    “The first half they played together and I think it should be like that, but in days to come they would improve.

    “We are not yet a team, we are still working. You cannot get a team under three weeks, it’s impossible, expect you are a magician.”

    Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw said his team had learnt some lessons from the match.

    “The purpose for today’s game was to get experience for the younger players even though they have been together for long. So the purpose of this game is just for exposure and we have learnt a lot from the game,” he said.

    “We have never conceded a goal from a throw-in. Today we saw that goals can be scored from throw-ins, we have learnt from that and we will try to correct our mistakes,” he stated.

     

  • Eagles unchanged for Ethiopia’s clash

    Eagles unchanged for Ethiopia’s clash

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has retained the squad that featured against Malawi for Sunday’s clash against Ethiopia, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The Eagles flew past Malawi 2-0 in Calabar, but for some poor finishing and some brilliant goalkeeping, Nigeria would have won by a bigger margin as the boys played with a lot of understanding and confidence.

    Keshi therefore wishes to attack hosts Ethiopia and so rather than go for a defensive-minded midfielder, he has kept faith with Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi in a 4-3-3 formation.

    Sunday Mba and Real Betis ace Nosa Igiebor will therefore start from the bench.

    The attack is led by Emmanuel Emenike with support on the wings from Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses, while the back four has the central defensive partnership of Godfrey Oboabona and Azubuike Egwuekwe.

    Ethiopia has also gone with the tried and tested for Sunday’s clash.

    Saladin Said will partner Shemeles Bekele in a 4-4-2 formation.

    Skipper Degu Debebe will take charge in the defence.

     

    Nigeria starting XI:

     

    Vincent Enyeama – Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Nnamdi Oduamadi – Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa.

     

    Ethiopia starting XI:

    Jemal Tesaw – Abebaw Butako, Degu Debebe, Aynalem Haile, Siyoum Tesfaye- Asrat Megersa, Minyael Teshome, Adane Girma, Behailu Asefa – Saladin Said and Shemeles Bekele

     

     

  • Eagles won’t fail in Ethiopia – Kwambe

    Eagles won’t fail in Ethiopia – Kwambe

    Super Eagles defender, Solomon Kwambe, has assured the side will not disappoint against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia on Sunday.

    The African champions will confront the Ethiopians in the first fixture of the two-legged African World Cup play-offs at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    Kwambe said victory is already assured in the crucial game given the winning aura his teammates are bringing into the match as shown in their smiles upon arrival at the camp.

    “The mood in camp and among the players is charged with anticipation of resounding victory against the Walya Antelopes in Sunday’s duel in Addis Ababa.

    “There is no iota of panic among the players in camp as the new arrivals wore broad smiles.

    “Victory is written on everybody’s faces, all the players are smiling indicating that fortune will smile at us on Sunday.

    “I don’t think there is any cause for alarm, we just need the support and prayers of every Nigerians to further soften the challenge.

    “It won’t be an easy game, it’s a match one can’t predict straight-forward the outcome as the Ethiopians are surely preparing and want to win the duel as well as ourselves.

    “I’ve heard a lot about the harsh weather over there in Ethiopia but that’s nothing compared with the winning mentality right now among the players.

    “Twice of the anticipated harsh weather nor the Ethiopians won’t stop us from winning the match right there in Addis Ababa.

    “We’re the African champions and we must demonstrate the stuff that made us African kings in whatever and wherever we see ourselves, we’ll surely triumph against the Ethiopians,” said the Sunshine Stars strongman to supersport.com.

     

  • World Cup playoffs: Walya Antelopes host Eagles October 13

    World Cup playoffs: Walya Antelopes host Eagles October 13

    Ethiopia will host Nigeria in a 2014 World Cup playoff on October 13 in Addis Ababa.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier complained that Ethiopia had not confirmed the match day.

    The General Secretary of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF), Yigsaw Bezuayehu disclosed that the match will be played on October 13.

    “We have played our home games on Sundays and the match against Nigeria will not be an exception,” said the EFF top official.

    This then means that Nigeria will fly out of Abuja on a chartered flight on Saturday, October 12, so as to beat the effects of the high altitude in Addis Ababa.

    Nigeria has picked Saturday, November 16 as the date for the return leg match at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    The overall winners of this playoff matches will qualify for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

     

  • World Cup playoffs: Eagles won’t rely on records – Echiejile

    World Cup playoffs: Eagles won’t rely on records – Echiejile

    Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echeijile, has said Nigeria will not depend on their past records against Ethiopia in next month’s World Cup playoffs.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria enjoys a favourable record against Ethiopia having won four, drawn two and lost only once to the East Africans.

    But Sporting Braga defender Elderson said what would matter most when both clash again next month would be what they produce on the pitch.

    “Records are always there, but we will just go all out to do our best so we could be in Brazil next year,” maintained the left back on his official website www.elderson3.com

    He said the Eagles cannot afford to underrate Ethiopia even though most Nigeria fans have already given the Eagles the ticket to Brazil 2014.

    “I can understand the belief the fans now have in the Eagles, but we cannot afford to underrate any team especially at this stage of the qualifiers,” he said.

    “What is certain is that they will come with everything at us because they also want to be in Brazil for the World Cup.

    From our match at the AFCON, they showed they are a good team. They have speed and like to keep the ball. They are tactically not an easy team to come up against.”

    The high altitude of Addis Ababa has been widely seen as a major factor that could swing the first leg in favour of the home team.

    “It could be a problem (high altitude),” admitted Elderson.

    “But we are up for everything that will come up against us because we want to be in Brazil next year.”

    The Braga star would also back Ghana to beat Egypt in possibly the toughest-looking World Cup playoffs in the African zone.

    “It will be a very tough match for both teams,” he said.

    “But I will be supporting Ghana because I have some friends in the team – Asamoah Gyan and John Boye. We were together at Rennes in France.”