TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nduka Ugbade

  • Why NFF fired national teams coaches, Yusuf, Ugbade

    Why NFF fired national teams coaches, Yusuf, Ugbade

    The Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) has relieaved U-23  Coach Salisu Yusuf and Golden Eaglet coach, Nduka Ugbade of their duties.

    Both managers were fired due to their team’s woeful performance on the continent.

    Their sack was made public by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau in a chat with pressmen.

    “Their jobs are tied to the competition. The coaches have no jobs to do for now since their teams failed to qualify,” he said.

    Yusuf’s Dream Team failed to qualify for the U-23 African Cup of Nations and, as a result, won’t be part of the next Olympic football event.

    Ugbade’s Golden Eaglets also crashed out of the U-17 African Cup of Nations in the last eight.

    This also cost Nigeria, a five-time world champion, a place at the next World Cup.

  • Algeria 2023: Burkina Faso can’t stop us – Ugbade

    Algeria 2023: Burkina Faso can’t stop us – Ugbade

    Nigeria’s U17 Boys, Golden Eaglets have not come as far as the quarter-finals of the Africa U17 Cup of Nations to be dumped out of the competition without earning a World Cup ticket, says Head Coach Nduka Ugbade.

    The Golden Eaglets and their officials arrived in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria on Monday, three days ahead of their quarter-final clash with Burkina Faso’s Young Etalons at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.

    “We had an interesting match with South Africa and it has prepared us well for further challenges in the competition. We learnt a lot playing Zambia, Morocco and South Africa – all strong teams – in the group phase and that was good furnace for us to be a better squad.

    “The quarter-final matches will be very hard nuts to crack because that is the step that earns you the World Cup ticket. None of the four games will be easy. Our interest is Burkina Faso and we are working hard towards achieving success.”

    Burkina Faso had an interesting last match of the group phase, coming from behind to defeat and dump out Cup holders Cameroon 2-1 in a truly fascinating encounter.

    Nigeria also came from behind twice to edge South Africa 3-2 in a memorable encounter in Constantine, with the five goals scored by different players on the night.

    Ugbade added: “We have not come this far to drop out. My boys are focused hard on the World Cup ticket. After that, we can then focus on other objectives.”

    The match between Nigeria and Burkina Faso begins at 8pm on Thursday.

    Victory over the Young Etalons will earn Nigeria the opportunity to go for a record-extending sixth FIFA U17 World Cup title.

  • U17 AFCON Q/Final: We are ready for Burkina Faso – Golden Eaglets Coach

    U17 AFCON Q/Final: We are ready for Burkina Faso – Golden Eaglets Coach

    Golden Eaglets coach, Nduka Ugbade has said the Nigerian Under 17 team is well prepared for the quarter-final encounter against Burkina Faso in the ongoing U17 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ugbade disclosed this during a press briefing, where he stressed that the Golden Eaglets are focused and working hard towards achieving success.

    “We had an interesting match with South Africa and it has prepared us well for further challenges in the competition. We learnt a lot playing Zambia, Morocco and South Africa – all strong teams – in the group phase and that was good furnace for us to be a better squad.

    “The quarter-final matches will be very hard nuts to crack because that is the step that earns you the World Cup ticket. None of the four games will be easy.

    “Our interest is Burkina Faso and we are working hard towards achieving success. We have not come this far to drop out. My boys are focused hard on the World Cup ticket. After that, we can then focus on other objectives,” he said.

    TNG reports the Golden Eaglets had earlier arrived in Algiers for the crunch quarter-final match against Burkina Faso on Thursday. They played all their group games in Constantine and will now look for good tidings in Algiers.

  • Algeria 2023: We are expecting a tough encounter with South Africa – Golden Eaglets coach, Ugbade

    Algeria 2023: We are expecting a tough encounter with South Africa – Golden Eaglets coach, Ugbade

    Ahead of tonight’s last group B encounter with the Amajimbos of South Africa, Golden Eaglets head coach, Nduka Ugbade has noted that he’s expecting a tough match at the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations taking place in Algeria.

    The last group B match that will decide who takes the quarter-final slot  will hold  at the Stade Mohammed Hamlaoui in Constantine.

    Currently, the Nigerian side sit in second position in Group B with three points from two games.

    Ugbade’s side need just a point to seal a place in the quater-finals of the

    The Amajimbos are on similar point with the Golden Eaglets but have inferior goal difference.

    “We are prepared against South Africa, we saw the game they played against Zambia, totally different from the first one,” Ugbade said in a short video posted on NFF TV.

    “When you look critically to the situation the two of them met at the COSAFA and Zambia won 1-0. I’ve seen the whole team, very strong team my concern is more about development.”

    The game will kick-off at 8pm Nigerian time.

  • U17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets beat Zambia 1-0

    U17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets beat Zambia 1-0

    Two-time champions Nigeria on Sunday picked all three points in a 1-0 win over Zambia to commence their Africa U17 Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Algeria on a promising note.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Favour Daniel struck powerfully past the Zambian goal-tender from a goalmouth melee 14 minutes to the end of the game.

    The goal gave Nigeria all the honours in a largely average encounter that opened the campaign in Group B.

    Nigeria dominated for large swatches of the evening at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui.

    But ineffective short passes and poor shooting in front of goal denied them an avalanche of goals against a Zambian team that failed to bite.

    Both teams hit the woodwork in the first period and Abubakar Abdullahi saw his efforts saved twice as Nigeria piled on the pressure.

    The five-time world champions were set to take a two-goal win into their clash with Morocco on Wednesday but substitute Light Eke made light work of a penalty kick awarded two minutes into additional time and gave the goalkeeper no worries.

    Nigeria’s defender Yahaya Lawali was named Man of the Match.

    Meanwhile, in their encounter, Morocco beat South Africa by 2 goals.

    The Nduka Ugbade’s team will face Morocco on Wednesday before meeting South Africa in their final match of Group B on Saturday.

    The four top-placed teams at the 12-nation finals will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup.

  • Prolific Eaglets set for final training camp in Germany

    Prolific Eaglets set for final training camp in Germany

    Nigeria’s U17 boys under the tutelage of FIFA Cadet World Cup-winning captain Nduka Ugbade are gearing up for a final training camp in Germany ahead of the Africa U17 Cup of Nations due in Algeria between 29 April – 19 May.

    Last summer, the Golden Eaglets swept aside all before them to win the WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana which made them eligible for a spot at the continental finals.

    In February, the Eaglets had an extended training camp in Abuja, where the technical crew seized the opportunity to evaluate more players, and then went on break. Since resuming camp in Abuja a fortnight ago, following the country’s general elections, the team has played nine friendly matches, winning eight and drawing one.

    The five-time world champions have also scored 50 goals and conceded 11 goals. The latest friendly games were against Galadima FC on Easter Sunday, whom they defeated 3-1, and against V.P. Sports which they pounded 10-2 on Tuesday.

    Ugbade, who captained Nigeria’s U16 team to FIFA World Cup victory in China in 1985, and was a key player for the U20 team that finished as runners-up at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia four years later, insists that the technical crew is not resting on its oars as they get set to pick the team that will go on the final training camp and onwards to Algeria.

    “We continue to work hard as we look forward to the championship in Algeria. Our objective has not changed: we go hard for the World Cup ticket and then we aim for the trophy. First target is a ticket to the World Cup finals, and then we take things from there.

    “I have confidence in the squad we have been able to build, even as we are still utilizing every minute, every hour to tinker with what we have and see how it can get better. We have a tough act to follow in that Nigeria has won the World Cup five times in this category, and nothing we do will be seen as special. However, we know that if we can win the Africa Cup, it will be a stepping stone to joining the great squads that have won the World Cup for Nigeria,” said Ugbade who was also part of the Super Eagles’ squad that qualified Nigeria for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1993, and won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994.

  • Algeria 2023: Ugbade calls 48 players to camp in Abuja

    Algeria 2023: Ugbade calls 48 players to camp in Abuja

    Nigeria’s U17 squad, Golden Eaglets will begin their preparations for this year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations on Monday, after Head Coach Nduka Ugbade called 48 players to camp in Nigeria’s federal capital.

    The invitees, which include most of the bunch that won the WAFU B U17 Championship in the Ghanaian city of Cape Coast last summer, have been told to report to Abuja on Friday, 20th January 2023.

    The Africa U17 Cup of Nations has been scheduled for Algeria 8th – 30th April, from which the four top-placed teams will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U17 World Cup finals that will be staged in Peru 10th November – 2nd December.

    Nigeria are five-time champions of the FIFA U17 World Cup after triumphs in China in 1985, Japan in 1993, Korea Republic in 2007, United Arab Emirates in 2013 and Chile in 2015.

    ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

    Richard Odoh, Hameed Ayomide Balogun, Ebube Wisdom Okere, Umar Abubakar, Tochukwu Simeon Ogbabido, Tochukwu Joseph Ogboji, Utibe Friday Silas, Emmanuel Osaro Onotu, Jubril Odeyemi Azeez, Faruq Jimoh, Kevwe Onomigho Iyede, Suleiman Shehu, Abdullahi Buhari, Victor Divine Emmanuel, Daniel Ayomide Egunshola, Abubakar Shuaibu, Ozor Victor Okeke, Emmanuel Michael, Miracle Jackson Ogwor, Light Chijioke Eke, Raphael Oyebanjo, Miracle Agabi Williams, Yahaya Danjuma Lawali, Prince Oche Bawa, Favour Oluwasegun Daniel, Precious Tonye Williams, Jerry Patrick Ogbole, Emmanuel Junior Chidi, Mubarak Emmanuel Suleiman, Abubakar Ibrahim Zubairu, Richard Oliseamaka Uche, Joseph Oluwatobi Robert, Michael Uche Ogba, John Auta, Shola Oluwafemi Kolo, Pascal Obioma Uzoho, Victor Friday, Itaribo Ayebaekepriye, Jeremiah Oluwaseyi Olaleke, Basil Chimaobi Mbata, Oluwadare Olodan, Precious Benjamin, Tochukwu Michael Agbo, Samuel Aderibigbe, Abubakar Idris Abdullahi, Umar Jamiu, Tijjani Mohammed, Abdullahi Haruna

  • WAFU B U 17: Ugbade pumps up Eaglets’ spirit ahead final against Etalons

    Head Coach Nduka Ugbade has told his Nigeria U17 boys they still have grounds to conquer despite securing a ticket to the Africa U17 Cup of Nations taking place in Algeria next year.

     “We are going into the Final match, and we are up against Burkina Faso, a team that has won all its four matches in this competition. We have also won our three matches here but we must win the fourth and final one to clinch the trophy. Let us not allow Burkina Faso to play five matches and win all five matches. We must work assiduously to win all our four matches here to be the only undefeated team of the tournament,” Ugbade told the Golden Eaglets at a training session in Cape Coast on Wednesday.

     Ugbade and the Eaglets have drawn rave reviews so far at the WAFU B U17 Championship, after scoring 10 goals in their three matches, while conceding only four, as left back Emmanuel Michael picked up the Man-of-the-Match award in each of the three games.

     While Nigeria did the business in a three-team Group A that also included hosts Ghana and Togo, Burkina Faso were in the four-team Group that included Niger Republic, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic. The Young Etalons dominated them all, and then pipped three-time world champions Ghana 1-0 in the second semi final on Tuesday to set up a potentially explosive Final with the Golden Eaglets.

     Deadball revelation Emmanuel Michael will be the cynosure of eyes at the Cape Coast Stadium on Friday evening, having scored thrice from free-kicks for Nigeria in this tournament. The match begins at 6.30pm Ghana time (7.30pm Nigeria time).

     

    Nigeria and Burkina Faso are already qualified to the Africa U17 Championship which Algeria will host next year, and from which Africa’s flagbearers to next year’s FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru will emerge.

     

    Victory on Friday evening will mean Nigeria have swept the stakes in youth football in the seven-nation WAFU B within one month, with the U20 Boys (Flying Eagles) having won the WAFU B U20 Championship in Niger Republic just last month.