Tag: Super Eagles

  • JUST IN: Okoye Ruled Out Of Ghana Clash As 20 Super Eagles Begin Training

    JUST IN: Okoye Ruled Out Of Ghana Clash As 20 Super Eagles Begin Training

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, has been ruled out of the team’s clash with Ghana due to illness.

    The team’s media officer, Babafemi Raji, disclosed this Tuesday afternoon.

    The Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper has been replaced by Enyimba FC goalkeeper, John Noble, according to Raji.

    20 players in camp

    Meanwhile, 20 Super Eagles players are already in camp as training sessions beginning Tuesday evening.

    The players are camping at the Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja, ahead of their two-legged FIFA World Cup play-off encounter with arch-rivals, Ghana.

    Nigeria take on Ghana away on Friday, 25th March, with the reverse leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 29th March from 6pm.

    The winner over two legs will earn one of Africa’s five tickets to the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled for 14th November – 18th December this year in Qatar.

    The Super Eagles in camp at present are:

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa);

    Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

    Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient, France); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England);

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England);

    Expected
    John Noble(Enyimba FC, Nigeria), Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain)

  • We’re committed to winning FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ticket – Super Eagles

    We’re committed to winning FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ticket – Super Eagles

    By Mike Oboh

    Players and coaches of Nigeria’s senior men team, Super Eagles, have assured of their determination to earn a spot at the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals, holding in Qatar 14th November – 18th December this year.

    At a virtual meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Sunday Dare and chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday night, Coaches Augustine Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amuneke and the playing body said they are aware of the huge challenge that Ghana’s Black Stars will present in next month’s two-legged play-off, but are determined to emerge victorious.

    Captain Ahmed Musa said: “The FIFA World Cup is the biggest football tournament in the world, and every player wants to feature there. A good number of the players in the team now have not been there, and the few of us that have been there want to experience it again. We just want the NFF to help us get enough fans into the Abuja Stadium for the second leg. We will go to Ghana and dig our feet and ensure we get a result. We must admit that Ghana also want to qualify and they have a strong team. The return leg will be crucial and we are ready for the battle, but we want our fans to be in there cheering us on.”

    Technical Adviser Augustine Eguavoen had this to say: “It is always an honour to serve the country. I was impressed with the high level of discipline and commitment of the players at the AFCON in Cameroon, and I feel privileged to lead the group. We have two tough games against Ghana next month but I am not too worried because we have a squad that knows it is a mountain that we have to climb. We have a good headache to deal with – which is a surplus of good players. I want to thank the Government and the NFF for all the support during the AFCON; we will need even greater support for the World Cup play-off.”

    Chief Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said he was privileged to work with the team. “I have worked with some of the players in the U17 and U20 teams, and some others I have known for many years. We have the team to earn the World Cup ticket and we will put our best foot forward for each game.”

    Deputy Captain William Ekong added that the players are aware of the big task ahead and only wants the Government to ensure that the pitch of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja is in ‘pristine condition’ for the return leg encounter against the Black Stars. “We loved the pitch of the stadium in Garoua and it helped us play some good football. We would be delighted if the Abuja Stadium is in similar condition for the second leg.”

    In his opening remark, Youth and Sports Minister Sunday Dare extolled the players for their efforts at the AFCON, and expressed belief that lessons have been learnt from the defeat to Tunisia in the Round of 16: “I know you are still unhappy about the loss to Tunisia, but I want you to visit the anger of the defeat by Tunisia on Ghana. We all know about the history of the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana in football, and this is one fixture that we must not lose.

    “We know that dogged spirit is there in you, and we also want you to see yourself as one big family. We have confidence in you that you can do it and will give you all the support. Coaches Eguavoen and Amuneke have smooth access to the NFF President and he will always be ready to provide what you need. As for the pitch of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, we have experts working there all the time and I assure you it will be in perfect condition for the match.”

    President of NFF and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick charged the players to face the two-leg fixture with even greater determination and play with grit, guts, zest and elan. “These are two very crucial matches in which you have to give more than your best. Winning the World Cup ticket is non-negotiable.”

    Also at the meeting was General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

    Among the players present were Musa, Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Abdullahi Shehu, Sadiq Umar, Jamilu Collins, Frank Onyeka, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Kelechi Nwakali, Wilfred Ndidi, Zaidu Sanusi, Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, Oghenekaro Etebo, Daniel Akpeyi, Peter Olayinka, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Samuel Kalu, Henry Onyekuru.

    Nigeria, who have featured in six of the past seven FIFA World Cup finals, slug it out with the Black Stars in Cape Coast on Thursday, 24th March before both teams tango again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 27th March.

  • Why I rejected Super Eagles job -Peseiro

    Why I rejected Super Eagles job -Peseiro

    By Isaac Kertyo

    Portuguese tactician, Jose Peseiro, has said he snubbed the deal to become the coach of the Super Eagles because of “disagreement regarding contractual clauses and financial matters.”

    He said this in a post on his official Instagram page.

    Following the sacking of Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles coach, Peseiro was announced as the German tactician’s replacement.

    He was to take charge of the team after the just-concluded 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon which saw Augustine Eguavoen lead the Super Eagles on interim basis.

    However, on February 7, the Nigeria Football Federation retained Eguavoen as Interim Technical Adviser while former Nigeria World Cup star and former U-20 Boys’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, was appointed as a Chief Coach and an immediate assistant to Eguavoen.

  • Qatar 2022 Race Final Battle: Super Eagles, Black Stars to clash in Abuja on Sunday, March 27

    Qatar 2022 Race Final Battle: Super Eagles, Black Stars to clash in Abuja on Sunday, March 27

    By Mike Oboh

    Nigeria and Ghana will face off in a pitched battle at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 27th March in what is the final leg of a potentially –explosive FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round.

    The Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday confirmed the date of the reverse leg to the Confederation of African Football, with the Ghana Football Association now to confirm whether the first leg inside the Cape Coast Stadium will be on Wednesday, 23rd March or Thursday, 24th March.

    The final leg encounter will be the 59th clash at senior level between both West African giants in a chequered 71 –year rivalry, and will also be the first game involving the Super Eagles at the country’s premium sporting arena since the Eagles defeated Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane 3-1 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on 15th October 2014.

    Nigeria reached the play-off round after topping a qualifying pool that included Cape Verde, Liberia and the Central African Republic while Ghana emerged from the section that had South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.

  • Eguavoen remains Interim Manager as NFF reconstitutes Super Eagles’ technical crew

    Eguavoen remains Interim Manager as NFF reconstitutes Super Eagles’ technical crew

    By Mike Oboh

    The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday announced the reconstitution of the technical crew of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, with Augustine Eguavoen staying as Interim Technical Adviser while former Nigeria World Cup star and former U20 Boys’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke drafted in as immediate assistant to Eguavoen.

    One of the most garlanded footballers to have come out of Nigeria, Amuneke scored both goals that won Nigeria the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final match against Zambia in Tunis, scored the goal that won Nigeria and Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal in 1996 and played in the 1994 and 1996 FIFA World Cup finals, scoring two goals in USA ’94.

    As coach, the electrifying winger qualified Tanzania for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and led the Taifa Stars in the finals. He is a Member of both the FIFA and CAF Technical Study Groups.

    “The NFF Board has approved a recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee retaining Augustine Eguavoen as Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim) while Emmanuel Amuneke becomes the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles. Salisu Yusuf will be the 2nd Assistant Coach/Chief Coach of the CHAN team and Joseph Yobo will be 3rd Assistant while Aloysius Agu remains the Goalkeepers’ Trainer,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi announced.

    The reconstitution comes after the Super Eagles’ outing at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, and ahead of the potentially –explosive FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round against the Black Stars of Ghana next month.

    Sanusi added: “We acknowledge and appreciate the interest that Mr Jose Peseiro has shown in Nigeria Football during our very cordial discussions and have absolutely no doubt about his capacity. We believe that perhaps in the future, there could be an opportunity to work with him. However, in view of the positive performance of the Super Eagles at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations which has given hope to Nigerians and boosted our confidence in the present coaching crew to qualify us for the World Cup in Qatar, we have decided to accept the recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee to retain the Eguavoen-led coaching crew and strengthen it with the addition of Emmanuel Amuneke.”

    NEW SUPER EAGLES COACHING CREW

    Augustine Eguavoen – Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim)

    Emmanuel Amuneke – Chief Coach/1st Assistant

    Salisu Yusuf – 2nd Assistant/Chief Coach, CHAN

    Joseph Yobo – 3rd Assistant

    Aloysius Agu – Goalkeepers’ Trainer

  • Rohr in talks with Ghana for coaching job

    Rohr in talks with Ghana for coaching job

    Gernot Rohr, former Super Eagles head coach, is in talks with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to become Black Stars manager.

    Rohr was dismissed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last December after a series of unsatisfactory performances in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

    The Franco-German has been without a job ever since last month while the Black Stars of Ghana are also without a manager following the dismissal of Milovan Rajevac after the team’s premature exit from the group stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    On Friday, a source close to Rohr confirmed to us that the 68-year-old has open negotiation with GFA to become the Stars’ new head coach.

    It is also understood that nothing has been confirmed yet between both parties.

    If it goes through, Rohr will be coaching Ghana against the Eagles at the upcoming World Cup qualification play-off billed for March 2022.

    The winner of the fixture will earn one of five tickets to represent Africa at the World Cup later this year in Qatar.

  • AFCON 2021 Ouster: Pinnick praises Eagles’ endeavour as gallant squad exits 33rd AFCON

    AFCON 2021 Ouster: Pinnick praises Eagles’ endeavour as gallant squad exits 33rd AFCON

    . Says Nigeria’s focus already on FIFA World Cup play-off

    By Mike oboh

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick on Sunday commended the efforts of the Super Eagles despite a 0-1 loss to Tunisia in their Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match in Garoua.

    “We are proud of the efforts of the players. They gave their all and tried very hard to win even when they had numerical disadvantage. It was just not our day.

    “I want to thank His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for his love, support and encouragement to the team while they were in the championship. I also praise the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare for his interest and attention in the progress of the team. Losing at this stage is painful but we take solace in the great spirit with which the team approached its four matches in Cameroon, out of which it won three.

    “The focus and attention will now shift to the FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Ghana in March. We want to assure Nigerians that we will prepare even harder for those two matches to get the job done.”

  • Super Eagles Crash Out Of 2021 AFCON After Loss To Tunisia

    Super Eagles Crash Out Of 2021 AFCON After Loss To Tunisia

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria are out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

    They lost 1-0 to Tunisia in their Sunday encounter in the AFCON Round of 16.

    Barely two minutes after he was brought into the game, Alex Iwobi was sent off for a bad tackle.

    This is after Tunisia shocked the Super Eagles of Nigeria by scoring two minutes into the second half.

    A long-range shot from Youssef Msakni gave the Carthage Eagles their first goal in the game.

    The goal came after Msakni’s shot from outside the 18-yard box was poorly parried into the net by Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye.

    Super Eagles had faced a tough challenge in the first half of their encounter against Tunisia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

    A cagey opening controlled by Nigeria became tough in the 21 minutes as the Tunisian attackers put pressure on Nigeria’s defenders.

    Skilful attackers Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho failed to sparkle as they barely got a chance on the pitch this evening in the tough game.

    Simon played a major role when the Super Eagles won their group matches against Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau.

    Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria) is shown a yellow card in the 20th minute.

    Struck by many absences, including 12 players testing positive for COVID-19, Tunisia proved tougher for the Super Eagles than expected.

    While Tunisia have two goals on target, Nigeria had none in the first half.

    The Super Eagles were the only side to get the maximum points in the group stage.

    Nigeria started the campaign with a 1-0 win over record champions Egypt, followed by a 3-1 victory over Sudan, and concluded the group with a 2-0 win against Guinea Bissau.

    Champions in 1980, 1994, and 2013, the group stage maximum tally and entertaining performances are expected to give the Super Eagles the needed morale boost in their hunt for a fourth AFCON title.

    Nigeria and Tunisia are meeting for the sixth time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with four of the previous five matches being played in knock-out games. Nigeria are unbeaten in all five (W3 D2, excluding shoot-outs).

    Tunisia’s only successful AFCON meeting with Nigeria came in 2004, when they progressed via penalties in the semi-finals after the match finished level, going on to win the competition that year.

  • 2021 AFCON: Maintain winning momentum, Buhari charges Super Eagles

    2021 AFCON: Maintain winning momentum, Buhari charges Super Eagles

    By Mike Oboh

    President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Super Eagles players to maintain their winning momentum at the ongoing AFCON 21 as they confront their Tunisian counterpart this evening in the round of 16

    Nigeria’s President gave the charge as he urged the Super Eagles to maintain their winning momentum when they face Tunisia tonight in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

    Speaking with the team on Sunday morning from the Presidential Villa in Abuja via Zoom with the Minister of Youth and Sports beside him , President Buhari thanked the players and their coaches for doing the nation proud.

    His words: “I want to thank you for what you have done for the nation so far. You have to keep winning. Nigerians are proud of you.

    “You have demonstrated patriotic zeal and a high level of discipline, determination and commitment in all the games you have played so far and that is why we all are happy with you.

    “The Government will continue to support you within available resources at our disposal.”

    The coach, Austin Eguavoen and captain, Ahmed Musa in their responses promised that the team will not rest on their oars but will face their Round of 16 game tonight with the same attitude displayed during the group phase.

    Also present at the Zoom meeting were the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, the Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin and the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick.

  • AFCON: Gbajabiamila congratulates Super Eagles for qualifying for the knockout stage, obtaining maximum points

    AFCON: Gbajabiamila congratulates Super Eagles for qualifying for the knockout stage, obtaining maximum points

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria for qualifying for the knockout stage of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in Cameroon in grand style.

    Gbajabiamila expressed delight that the Super Eagles qualified for the next stage by obtaining the maximum points in the group stage after defeating Guinea-Bissau two goals to nil.

    The Eagles defeated all their opponents in Group D, namely Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau, and obtained nine points in the process.

    Gbajabiamila said the spirit with which the Super Eagles have been playing at the tournament showed they are ready to come back home with the trophy.

    He commended the players for working as a team and lauded the technical crew for giving them the right guidance to confront their opponents.

    The speaker, who is the leader of the Federal Government’s delegation to cheer up the Super Eagles during the tournament, wished them well in their next encounter.