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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Nigeria’s Lack of Finishing Prowess Against Saudi Arabia, Says Peseiro

    Nigeria’s Lack of Finishing Prowess Against Saudi Arabia, Says Peseiro

    By Daniel Edu

    Coach Jose Peseiro of the Super Eagles has attributed the team’s inability to score more than two goals in their recent international friendly against Saudi Arabia in Portugal to a lack of a killer instinct among the strikers. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities and dominating possession against the Green Falcons, the Super Eagles failed to capitalize on their chances.

    The match in Portugal ended in a draw, just as it did in their only previous encounter 13 years ago, which was also a friendly game. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia couldn’t be separated at the end of their second-ever meeting, with the Asian champions scoring a last-minute equalizer from a free-kick that deflected off Calvin Bassey.

    Peseiro expressed his concerns in a post-match interview, saying, “We need to improve our finishing. We played very well in the first and second halves, creating multiple chances, but we lack the killer instinct in the squad. Nevertheless, I’m content with the result.”

    Notably, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze had opportunities in the first half to put the Super Eagles ahead but couldn’t capitalize. The Saudis took a shock lead on the hour mark when a free-kick from Salman Al Faraj was deflected into Nigeria’s net by goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

    Coach Jose Peseiro made substitutions, introducing Terem Moffi and bringing in Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Moses Simon, which improved Nigeria’s performance in attack. Victor Boniface scored Nigeria’s equalizer in the 73rd minute, followed by Iheanacho’s powerful goal eight minutes later.

    The game came shortly after the Super Eagles learned their group for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and adopted “Let’s Do It Again” as their mantra for the tournament. The team will face Mozambique in another friendly match before 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe next month.

  • Super Eagles to Face Saudi Arabia in October Friendly

    Super Eagles to Face Saudi Arabia in October Friendly

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, will engage in a senior international friendly match against Saudi Arabia. The match is set to take place in the city of Portimão, Portugal, on Friday, October 13th.

    The Estadio Municipal de Portimão in the Algarve region, the home ground of Portimonense S.C. with a seating capacity of nearly 10,000 spectators, will host the encounter. Saudi Arabia’s national team, known as the Green Falcons, will also play against Mali’s Eagles at the same venue just four days later.

    Notably, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have met only once at the senior level, and that too was in a friendly match. This fixture comes just ahead of Nigeria’s campaign to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with their opening qualification match against Lesotho following shortly after.

    In November, within the same FIFA window, the Super Eagles will play their second qualification match against the Warriors of Zimbabwe. One of the most memorable encounters between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia dates back to the 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup (then known as FIFA World Youth Championship), where Nigeria secured a remarkable 2-1 comeback victory over the host nation in Riyadh, thanks to second-half goals from Christopher Ohenhen and Mutiu Adepoju.

  • Watford Pursuing Daniel Daga Amidst Competing Interest

    Watford Pursuing Daniel Daga Amidst Competing Interest

    Watford Football Club is making efforts to secure the services of promising young talent Daniel Daga, even as Premier League giants Liverpool and Serie A’s AC Milan vie for his attention.

    At 16 years old, Daga garnered attention with his outstanding performances for Nigeria’s U-20 team at the World Cup in Argentina, playing beyond his age group. While he currently plays for FC One Rocket in the Nigerian National League, his standout showings for the Nigerian U-20 squad during the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup have attracted international attention.

    Daga, a defensive midfielder known for his robust tackling and game reading abilities, is gaining recognition for his composed and confident playstyle, particularly his well-rounded passing range. His contributions primarily focus on distributing the ball to his more attack-minded teammates rather than being a potent force in the final third or as a ball carrier.

    A report by The Telegraph revealed that Watford is actively pursuing Daga, aiming to outpace several of Europe’s prominent clubs in the race to secure his signature. Daga was reportedly present at Vicarage Road when Watford defeated QPR 4-0 at the commencement of the Championship season.

    Last month, Daga acknowledged the widespread interest in his talent from various European clubs, including AC Milan, Liverpool, and Anderlecht. He also disclosed his ambitious goals for his future in the sport.

    Daga shared, “Yeah, many clubs. Many clubs apart from AC Milan, Liverpool, Anderlecht. Many other clubs are looking for me — Watford, Club Brugge; in Denmark, Midtjylland. It’s true they are all looking for me. But I’m not yet at the point because I’m looking for where I can play. Because in two years I’ll be playing at the top like (Victor) Osimhen.”

    Looking ahead, Daga expressed his aspirations, saying, “I want to see myself playing at Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Man United; play in the Champions League; play in the FA Cup, win the FA Cup and win Champions League in the next five years.”

    Daga firmly believes in his abilities and his path to success. He added, “Because I have the belief, the confidence and boldness that I’m going to be there in the next five years and I’ll be playing in the Super Eagles. I know Nigerians want to see me in the Super Eagles and I believe myself to play in the national team. It may not be the time I’ll start playing yet, but I believe 100 per cent I’ll play (for the) Super Eagles soon.”

  • AFCON: Super Eagles Suffers Embarrassing Loss to Guinea Bissau

    AFCON: Super Eagles Suffers Embarrassing Loss to Guinea Bissau

    Nigeria have lost top spot in Group A of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

    The Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Guinea-Bissau on Friday evening.

    Mama Balde scored the only goal of the game in the first half.

    Jose Peseiro’s men dominated the second of proceedings but failed to find an equalizer.

    Guinea-Bissau are now top with 7 points, while Nigeria have six points after three matches.

    Both sides will face each other again in three days’ time.

  • Super Eagles Can Win The World Cup – CAF President

    Super Eagles Can Win The World Cup – CAF President

    Patrice Motsepe believes the Super Eagles have the potential to win the World Cup.

    Nigeria have qualified for the World Cup six times with their best performance at the competition coming in 1994, 1998, and 2002 when the team reached the second round of the global football showpiece.

    Despite not qualifying for the recently concluded edition in Qatar, the Confederation of African Football president is optimistic the three-time African champions can win the title.

    “I am absolutely confident [because of] the talent, God-given skills, and history of Nigerian football. Nigeria is one of those countries that have the potential – not just to go to the semi-final, not just to go to the final, but to win the World Cup,” he told Channels Television.

    To make this happen, the South African business tycoon says CAF has several programmes for its member countries.

    “To focus on youth football development, football facilities for boys and girls, amateur football, football development at club level, training coaches and training the trainers, the development of referees and very importantly, to make sure that we work together with the football federation in Nigeria so that they can continue the leadership that they have provided for many years,” Motseppe added.

    “We are confident that Nigerian football will continue to be not just amongst the best in Africa but in the world and will make us proud as it has on so many occasions in the past. Our plan is to see Nigeria in the next World Cup.”

    His comment came days after Morocco became the first African team (after only four teams from the continent have reached the quarter-final) to reach the semi-final of the quadrennial competition, a feat the billionaire said has opened the floodgate for the continent.

    “Morocco opened the door by reaching the semi-finals this month and I am confident an African nation will go further at the next World Cup,” the chief said.

    “The main objective of CAF (Confederation of African Football) is for an African nation to win the World Cup and that goal is within reach.”

    When the World Cup returns in 2026, there will be nine or 10 African nations for an expanded 48-team championship in the United States, Canada, and Mexico — up from five in Qatar.

  • Super Eagles Midfielder Aribo Seals Premier League Move

    Super Eagles Midfielder Aribo Seals Premier League Move

    Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has joined Premier League side, Southampton on a four-year deal from Scottish Giants, Rangers.

    Although his transfer fee is undisclosed, sources close to the situation say the deal is worth £6m that could potentially rise to £10m with performance based add-ons.

    The 25-year-old has played the past three seasons at Ibrox, scoring 26 goals in 149 matches since joining from English league one side, Charlton Athletic in 2019.

    Aribo helped Rangers win their 55th SPL title in the 2020/2021 season, their firstin 10 years while liftingthe Scottish Cup last season. He was a runner-up in last season’s UEFA Europa League in which he scored in the final against German Bundesliga side Frankfurt.

    Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl is delighted with Aribo’s signing saying, “Joe is a player with many qualities to his game, and we are very excited to welcome him to the squad in time for the pre-season trip to Austria.

    “We believe Joe can bring energy and creativity to our side. Feeling comfortable in so many different positions is very helpful for a manager and shows he has a high level of football intelligence, with the ability to take on new information quickly.”

    The player added: “It’s an amazing club with a lot of history here, and it’s a good plan with what’s to come next. I’m really excited for the journey.

    “The Premier League is the best league in the world. I’ve been watching it since I was a young boy, it’s always been a goal for me to play here and show what I can do on this stage.

    “It’s an amazing feeling, a dream come true. This is where I’ve wanted to be since I was a child growing up playing, so to say that I’m here now is really exciting.”

  • S’Eagles coach, Peseiro arrives Uyo for NPFL game, to inspect GAS

    S’Eagles coach, Peseiro arrives Uyo for NPFL game, to inspect GAS

    By Odo Ogenyi,Uyo

    Super Eagles head Coach Jose Peseiro would arrive Uyo today to watch NPFL game between reigning Champions Akwa United and visiting Plateau United at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, GAS.

    Peseiro who took charge of Super Eagles in May would also inspect GAS, one of the two venues approved by CAF for Super Eagles games and be accompanied by his assistant Acacio Dos Santos and Super Eagles Head of Administration Enebi Achor.

    The Portuguese tactician who led the senior national team to a 0-10 victory over Sao Tome and Principe has also been scheduled to have a technical session with Coach Ayodeji Ayeni of Akwa United and the head Coach of Plateau United Fidelis Ilechukwu after the crucial game.

    Peseiro would on Sunday morning be conducted round facilities at the stadium by a member of the NFF technical committee Mr Paul Bassey ahead of the 2023 AFCON qualifier against Guinea-Bissau in September.

    GAS alongside Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja were the two stadiums selected by CAF suitable to host international games for the Senior national team.

  • Super Eagles demolish Sao Tome & Principe 10-0 to Record the Biggest win in History

    Super Eagles demolish Sao Tome & Principe 10-0 to Record the Biggest win in History

    The Super Eagles grabbed three points against the ‘The Falcons and True Parrots’ of São Tomé and Príncipe at the Grand Stade Agadir, also known as Adrar Stadium, on Monday.

    The Nigerian team had also bagged all three points in their 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Thursday.

    On Monday, Victor Osimhen scored four times to give the Super Eagles a resounding victory in their Day 2 encounter of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series in Morocco.

    Osimhen scored in the ninth, 48th, 65th and 84th minutes alongside Moses Simon who scored in the 28th minute Moffi (43′, 60′), Oghenekaro Etebo (55′),
    Ademola Lookman (63′) and Emmanuel Dennis (90+2′).

    Having pocketed another three points, Eagles are top of Group A.

    Head Coach Jose Peseiro had said at the Aeroport Agadir Almarissa that the encounter against ‘The Falcons and True Parrots’ would bring the best out of his team as they seek to go top of the Group A table.

    “We want to be the team at the top of the table, so we must fight hard against the opponents. Every match, we must commit ourselves fully to winning it. As I said earlier in the week, Nigeria have huge pedigree and they also have both quality and quantity of players. It is important that we select the best all the time to win the big games,” he had said.

    Defender and deputy skipper William Ekong and midfielder Innocent Bonke had returned to their respective bases in England and France to attend to injuries copped during the international break.

    Bonke was injured in the friendly game against Mexico in Dallas on May 28, while Ekong suffered a groin strain in the 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in Abuja on Thursday.

    Details later…

  • NFF Begins Search For Super Eagles’ Coaches After World Cup Miss

    NFF Begins Search For Super Eagles’ Coaches After World Cup Miss

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has begun the process of getting a new set of coaching teams for the Super Eagles and three other national teams ahead of upcoming assignments.

    They include the CHAN team, the U20 Boys also known as Flying Eagles, and the U17 Boys also known as Golden Eaglets.

    This comes against the backdrop of the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 after the matches against the Black Stars of Ghana end goalless draw and one-all in Kumasi and Abuja respectively.

    Following its executive committee meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, the NFF mandated its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to within the next five days make recommendations on coaching crews for these teams.

    It explained that the move became necessary to ensure preparations for the next qualifying tournaments and championships commence in earnest.

    The football body again apologised to Nigerians for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the world cup and reacted to the invasion of the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja by fans who were aggrieved by the Eagles’ defeat to the Ghanaian side.

    It stressed that the incident had nothing to do with the death of Dr Joseph Kabungo who was appointed as the FIFA Doping Officer for the Nigeria-Ghana playoff match on Tuesday last week.

    According to the football governing, Dr Kabungo died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest as attested to by the autopsy report.

    It added that the FIFA official’s body has been flown to Zambia for final rites accompanied by his family members who were flown to Nigeria two days after the unfortunate incident.

    The NFF also hinted at when it would hold its Annual General Assembly (AGA) which failed to take place on December 17, 2021, as a result of an ex parte injunction that suspend the exercise.

  • NFF Apologises To Nigerians Over Failure To Qualify For 2022 World Cup

    NFF Apologises To Nigerians Over Failure To Qualify For 2022 World Cup

    The Nigeria Football Federation has offered an unreserved apology to the Federal Government and Nigerians for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals holding in Qatar.

    NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi expressed regrets that the team failed to qualify despite the enormous support of the government and the fans who came out to support the team at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja for the clash with Ghana’s Black Stars on Tuesday.

    “There was nothing the team needed that was lacking. The Government provided necessary support; the NFF put all logistics in place with the active support of the Sports Ministry and Nigerians turned out en masse to support the team. The truth is that we left nothing to chance. It is sad that things turned out the way they did.

    “Sport is about winning and losing. Nobody wants to lose but sometimes it happens that way. We were quite sad that despite playing a draw in Kumasi, the Super Eagles could not win here in Abuja. We apologise unreservedly to the government and people of Nigeria for this non-qualification.”

    The Super Eagles could only achieve a score draw (1-1) against the Black Stars, which ended their hopes of playing at the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar as Ghana sneaked through on the away-goal rule.

    Meanwhile, the NFF has expressed shock and sorrow over the death of FIFA/CAF Medical Officer, Dr Joseph Kabungo, who died after the game.

    Dr Kabungo was the Doping Control Officer for the match.

    Despite various media reports stating that the Zambian medical died following the fans’ violence after the match, Sanusi explained the situation surrounding the death of Dr Kabungo.

    “We are terribly shocked at this sad development. The NFF commiserates with world football –body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football, the Football Association of Zambia, and the family of Dr Kabungo on his sudden passing. His death pains us very much and we are in a state of deep shock.

    “However, it is important to state the facts as they are. According to the information from our own medical officer, Dr Onimisi Ozi Salami who was appointed by FIFA as Medical Officer for the game, Dr Kabungo was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team. I was notified and ordered that he should be rushed to the hospital. He didn’t make it. He died just as they got to the hospital,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said.

    Dr Ozi Salami further explained that the incident happened when he (Dr Salami) was looking to get the Nigerian player for the doping exercise, while Dr Kabungo was looking to get a Ghanaian player for the same exercise.

    “I was heading to the dressing room of the Nigerian team when the General Coordinator, Kabore Hubert Bosilong from South Africa called my attention. Dr Kabungo suddenly started gasping for breath. The FIFA Security Officer for the match, Mr Dixon Adol Okello from Uganda also witnessed the incident,” the statement added.

    “We tried to resuscitate him there and then, but when this did not appear to be working, we put him in an ambulance and rushed him to Cedar Crest Hospital in Apo, where he gave up the ghost. It is a very sad incident and one is shocked that some persons have been putting a terrible slant to the whole thing by saying he was beaten up by fans. That is a lie. He died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest.”