The Nation Newspaper

Tag: World Cup qualifier

  • Ethiopia like Brazil, Spain – Keshi

    Ethiopia like Brazil, Spain – Keshi

    Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi believes Ethiopia has all the potential to spring a surprise to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    The coach made his views known through team media officer, Ben Alaiya after the draws for the Africa play-offs were decided at the headquarters of the Confederation of Africa Football in Cairo on Monday.
    Presently in America on holidays, Keshi equally compared the East African side to Brazil and Spain and therefore warned those who may have written them off to desist forthwith.
    “Ethiopia should not be taken as an easy ride. For all you may know they could be the surprise pack and as the coach has always maintained every team in this round all have the same chances of qualifying for the global showpiece,” said Alaiya. 
    Reiterating what Keshi had always said, Alaiya told SportingLife that the coach had no particular preference for the type of opposition he expected. “Whether it id a simple or hard team, his was to look forward to the match,” he said.   
    The two sides have met seven times with Nigeria gaining the upper hand seven times. The last meeting was at the Africa Cup of Nations this year which Eagles won 2-0 to qualify for the quarter finals. Ethiopia It is only once that Ethiopia has beaten Nigeria in a Nations Cup qualifier in 1994.
  • ‘Saintfiet had it coming’ -Keshi

    ‘Saintfiet had it coming’ -Keshi

    Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi does not regret his outburst directed towards Malawi trainer, Tom Saintfiet, after he accused the Belgian of being unreasonable.

    Keshi in an interview conducted by supersport.com in August slammed Saintfiet after the Belgian claimed that Calabar was not safe to host Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game. The Big Boss as Keshi is popularly known however believes his words were inspired by patriotism.

    “What I said wasn’t directly to him (Saintfiet). I was merely defending my team and defending my country and that was it,” Keshi told supersport.com on Wednesday.

    He then explained that the major focus was Saturday’s game against the Flames.

    “The main focus is to concentrate on the game on Saturday. Winning is our main focus for now and that is it,” he said.

    A win for Nigeria on Saturday will guarantee top spot in Group F, and seal the country’s place for the playoffs for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

  • Mba warns!

    Mba warns!

    Malawi mind game won’t distract Eagles

    Super Eagles midfielder, Sunday Mba believes the Eagles are focused for Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Flames of Malawi at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    Mba told SportingLife during Wednesday’s press interaction at the team’s Transcop Hotel base that squad members are not bothered about their opponents’ antics ahead of clash.

    ‘‘The Malawi game is big and we are ready for it. We are here to work hard and get qualification for the final round which is the next match that will take us to Brazil 2014. ‘’ I know every country we always do everything to unsettle us.

    ‘’I believe playing against Africa Champions like Nigeria is a big thing to them and they may want to use anything to distract us but I want to tell you that we are not here for that. We are here to win and keep our qualification tickets alive. Malawi might be talking tough but their mind game won’t distract Eagles,’’ Mba cautioned.

  • Nsofor vows: We are in Calabar to win

    Nsofor vows: We are in Calabar to win

    Super Eagles forward Obinna Nsofor has said he and his teammates have been urged to beat Flames of Malawi in Saturday’s Brazil 2014 qualifying match at U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar. Nsofor, who is playing Eagles’ first game in Nigeria after long break from the national team, said Eagles will work hard to get victory on Sunday.

    Nsofor played his first game under Stephen keshi during Eagles’ friendly game against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the Mandela Challenge on August 14.

    ‘’I am happy and excited to be back with the team after a long time. It is fantastic to play for Eagles again. The atmosphere here in the camp is very friendly. I am back and ready to give my best to the team,’’ Nsofor told SportingLife.

    ‘‘We all know the importance of this game and we won’t take anything for chance. We are not concerned about what Malawians are saying concerning the match. We are focusing on our own game plan. We are here to win and not to talk about Malawi. They can say whatever they like to say, what is important to us is to win the game on Saturday which is key to us.’’

  • World Cup qualifier: Eagles’ camp now opens Sept. 2

    World Cup qualifier: Eagles’ camp now opens Sept. 2

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles will now converge on Calabar on September 2 ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

    Head coach Stephen Keshi had initially named a 42-string squad, with 24 players from the domestic league who were scheduled to report for training camp on August 24.

    But a frugal NFF ordered the coach to focus on the immediate task at hand and cut his squad to the 23 he needs for the game.

    All the players will now report on the new date in Calabar.

    “What do you want me to say,” Keshi told KickOffNigeria.com when asked if the directive would have an adverse effect on his training programmes. “They say they don’t want us to camp, so we will not have a camp.”

    The Super Eagles play Malawi on September 7 needing just a point to progress to the final stage of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, and Keshi insists that there is no reason to worry.

    “As long as we play our game and do the things we have been working on in practice, we will come out on top.”

  • WCQ: Eagles hold first session for Kenya

    WCQ: Eagles hold first session for Kenya

    The Super Eagles on Tuesday morning got down to business with the first training session ahead of this month’s World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

    Futaa.com reports that 23 players took part in the maiden session under the watchful eyes of the technical crew led by Stephen Keshi.

    The Media Officer to the Eagles, Ben Alaiya, in a chat with futaa.com confirmed that things are already looking up in the camp as battle for shirts effectively begins.

    “23 players took part in the first session on Tuesday morning and things are looking good already,” Alaiya told futaa.com

    The Super Eagles resumed camping in Abuja on Sunday evening for the first time after winning the African Nations Cup in South Africa.

    The team will play Kenya in a 2014 World Cup qualifier at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, in a fortnight.

     

  • Keshi invites 24 local players for W/ Cup qualifier

    Keshi invites 24 local players for W/ Cup qualifier

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has picked 24 players from the domestic league for a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar on March 23.

    The full list of foreign-based professionals will be announced on Thursday morning, officials told MTNFootball.com.

    The call-ups from the local league include five of those who made the squad to the recent African Cup of Nations in South Africa- Chigozie Agbim, Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona, Gabriel Reuben and Azubuike Egwuekwe.

    There were also recalls for Papa Idris, Daniel Akpeyi, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Zango Umar and Solomon Kwambe.

    Fresh invitees are Shooting Stars duo of Dele Ajiboye and Taofeek Adepoju, Zubairu Mohammed from Niger Tornadoes and Jiya Mohammed of Bayelsa United.

    The players will open training camp in Abuja from Sunday, from where they will be joined by foreign-based players next week for the trip to Calabar.

     

     

    The full squad:

     

    Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland) Dele Ajiboye (3SC)

    Defenders: Egwueke Azubuike (Warri Wolves), Papa Idris , Zango Umar (Kano Pillars), Godfrey Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars), Chibuzor Okonkwo (Rangers), Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars), Benjamin Francis (Heartland), Zubairu Muhammed (Tornadoes)

    Midfielders and Forwards: Sunday Mba (Nigeria), Gabriel Ruben, Gambo Muhammed, Ubale Mannir (Kano Pillars), Pius Samson (Ranchers Bees) Gomo Onduku (Sharks), Obinna Nwanchukwu (Heartland), Ayo Saka (Enyimba), Jiya Muhammed (Bayelsa FC), Emeka Eze (Rangers), Anthony Okputu (Lobi Stars), Adepoju Taofeek (3SC)

     

  • WCQ: Keshi shifts focus to Kenya tie

    WCQ: Keshi shifts focus to Kenya tie

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , has shifted his attention to this month World Cup qualifier against Kenya, describing the match as serious as every other game.

    Nigeria will take on Kenya on March 23 in Calabar and Keshi has vowed not to depend on old glory.

    “We have to take it (Kenya) seriously, he said on Super Sports TV.

    “Any team that plays Nigeria will want to prove a point because they know we are now the African champions.”

    Futaa.com reports that two more players have been called up to the Kenyan squad for the match against Nigeria.

    Kenyan coach, Adel Amrouche, called up AFC Leopards keeper Martin Musalia and Tusker’s defender Mark Odhiambo to the Harambee Stars team that will soon go to camp to prepare for the match.

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  • WCQ: Keshi unveils squad next week

    WCQ: Keshi unveils squad next week

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , has said invitees for a World Cup clash against Kenya will be known next week with no new player from the Nigerian Premier League.

    Nigeria hosts the Kenyan Harambee Stars in Calabar on March 23, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The African champions currently top of Group F with four points, while Kenya is bottom of the standings with one point after both teams played two games each.

    Nambia and Malawi are the other teams in this group.

    “The list for the Super Eagles for the game against Kenya will be released next week on or before the March 9. We already know the players but we are weighing up some options,” Keshi said.

    Keshi is expected to keep faith with the squad who won the African Nations Cup in South Africa with Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike a notable absentee because of a long-term hamstring injury he suffered at the tournament.

    Keshi’s assistant Sylvanus Okpala has already hinted there will be no fresh call-up from the domestic league because it has yet to kick off.