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Tag: Nigeria vs Ghana

  • Nigeria vs Ghana: 18 Super Eagles players train in Abuja camp

    Nigeria vs Ghana: 18 Super Eagles players train in Abuja camp

    Leceister city’s Kelechi Iheanacho Rangers of Scotland Joe Aribo, Keneth Omeruo and 15 other players are in the camp of the Super Eagles

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    Wilfred Ndidi’s replacement Innocent Bonke and Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis had earlier arrived the Abuja camp of the Super Eagles.

    Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen, new convert Leicester’s Ademola Lookman, Old boy Ogenyi Onazi are among those still being expected.

    List of players still in camp

    William Troost-Ekong

    Leon Balogun
    Semi Ajayi
    Ola Aina
    Frank Onyeka
    Odion Ighalo
    Daniel Akpeyi

    Calvin Bassey
    Innocent Bonke
    Emmanuel Dennis

    Shehu Abdullahi
    Francis Uzoho
    Mose Simon

    Ahmed Musa
    Oghenekaro Etebo
    Kelechi Iheanacho

    Kenneth Omeruo

    Jo Aribo

  • Nigeria vs Ghana: Lorient FC midfielder Bonke to replace Ndidi

    Nigeria vs Ghana: Lorient FC midfielder Bonke to replace Ndidi

    France based Nigerian midfielder Innocent Bonke has been called-up to replace injured Wilfred Ndidi in the forthcoming Qatar 2022 Worldcup qualifying play-offs against Ghana.

    Ndidi’s injury in Leceister’s Europa conference league match against French side Rennes means he would be ruled out of the two-legged affairs.

    .Leicester City boss, Brendan Rodgers confirmed Ndidi’s situation, adding that the Nigeria international may spend three weeks on the sideline.

    Qatar 2022 playoffs: Ndidi set to miss Nigeria vs Ghana Clash

    He has, however, played in each of Lorient’s last seven matches in the French Ligue 1.

    Innocent Bonke’s performance for French side Lorient as been hailed as superb and very impressive as the young midfieder dazzled in the last seven games in the colours of Lorient fc

  • Cape Coast stadium may be approved for Ghana versus Nigeria clash-CAF

    Cape Coast stadium may be approved for Ghana versus Nigeria clash-CAF

    Officials of Confederation of African Football (CAF) have hinted that the Cape Coast stadium Ghana could be approved for the Worldcup qualifying play-off between the Black Stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    On Tuesday, CAF took a final look at the state of Cape Coast Stadium to ascertain if it would be suitable to host the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier between the Black Stars and Super Eagles.

    The CAF officials had visited the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, for a similar inspection following viral reports that the Cape Coast Stadium was in bad shape.

    Cape Coast Stadium hosted all of Ghana’s Cameroun 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and their previous World Cup elimination matches. But the stadium, which was rated as Ghana’s current best venue by CAF, suffered a huge blow when the government hosted its March 6 Independence parade there, with students, workers and security horses trampling on the pitch.

    Viral pictures of the damaged pitch surfaced shortly after the Ghana independence day celebrations held in Cape Coast.

    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and National Sports Authority in the country are racing against time to ensure that CAF doesn’t move the game outside Ghana as stadia in Benin Republic, Morocco are being considered as options should the cape coast stadium not fully ready for the match.

    However, CAF officials who visited the stadium in Cape coast on Tuesday felt satisfied with the level and speed of preparations and assured that if it continues with the speed Ghana may play the match against Super Eagles at the venue.

    The Ghana versus Nigeria match is the final Worldcup qualifying play-off that will ensure that the winner gets the ticket to the mundial .

    Five countries will represent Africa at the worldcup in to be hosted by Qatar in the summer of 2022.

  • WorldCup Playoffs: FIFA make changes to match officials

    WorldCup Playoffs: FIFA make changes to match officials

    World football –ruling body, FIFA has effected minor changes in the list of match officials for this month’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 playoff showdown between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana.

    Both accomplished arch-rivals tango in a two-leg fixture that will determine who picks one of Africa’s five slots at this year’s FIFA World Cup finals, first in Cape Coast on Friday, 25th March and then in Abuja on Tuesday, 29th March.

    In a fresh appointment sheet sent to the Nigeria Football Federation, Moroccans Rédouane Jiyed (referee), Lahsen Azgaou (assistant referee 1), Mostafa Akarkad (assistant referee 2) and Samir Guezzaz (fourth official) are retained for the first leg duel in Cape Coast, but Mandu Humphrey of Uganda has now replaced South African David Junse Van Vuuren as security officer.

    Bernie Raymond Blom from The Netherlands will be the VAR official, to be assisted by compatriot Rob Dieperink while Athanse Nkubito from Rwanda will be the referee assessor. Gregorio Badupa from Guinea-Bissau will serve as match commissioner and Victor Lawrence Lual from South Sudan will be the general coordinator.

    For the return leg in Abuja, FIFA has replaced former FIFA referee Essam Abdelfattah Abdelhamid who was to serve as referee assessor. His place will now be taken by Senegalese Badara Diatta, another former FIFA referee.

    Sadok Selmi (Tunisian; referee); Khalil Hassani (Tunisia; assistant referee 1); Attia Amsaaed (Libyan; assistant referee 2) and Haythem Guirat (Tunisian; fourth official) are retained, as well as Frenchmen Jérôme Brisard (VAR) and Willy Louis Delajod (assistant VAR); Prince Kai Saquee (Sierra Leonean; match commissioner) and Kabelo Bosilong (South African; general coordinator).

  • Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo attacks critics over national team call-up

    Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo attacks critics over national team call-up

    Super Eagles striker and Al Hilal goal poacher, Odion Jude Ighalo has taken a swipe on critics who frown at his re-invitation to the super Eagles in March’s double header worldcup qualifying playoffs against Ghana.

    Ighalo, has been invited again to the national team squad for the playoffs after his former Saudi Arabian curbside Al shabab stopped him from representing Nigeria at the just concluded AFCON in Cameroon.

    The striker has made it clear that he remains unfazed by criticisms of him wanting to stage a return to the national team

    Ighalo has been in a good goal scoring form, after notching in 5 goals in 6 matches for his new club Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

    “I don’t pay attention to that. Everything they’re saying is their own cup of tea. At my age, I just signed for a new team. This is my 11th team in my professional career.

    “I have been called up, I will take my bag and I will go to represent my country and give my best on 100 percent.

    “As long as I come out from every game and I’m satisfied with my performance — whether it is a win, loss, or draw — then that’s it. I’m a professional footballer.

    “This is what I’ve been doing for 17-18 years so why would I be worried about what people say?”

    Ighalo is full of hopes that Super Eagles will defeat Ghana to qualify for the WorldCup in Qatar .

    Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on the Black Stars of Ghana in the 20,000 –capacity Cape Coast Sports Stadium as from 7.30pm on Friday 25th March, with the reverse leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 29th March as from 6pm.

    The winner of the two legged tie will join four other African countries to represent Africa at the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled for 14th November – 18th December this year in Qatar.

     

  • Qatar 2022: Eguavoen lists Musa, Ekong, 30 others in provisional squad to battle Ghana

    Qatar 2022: Eguavoen lists Musa, Ekong, 30 others in provisional squad to battle Ghana

    Also called up are goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze.

    Leicester City FC of England forward Ademola Lookman, recently cleared by FIFA to switch international allegiance and former U17 World Cup star Akinkunmi Amoo are officially called for the first time, while defender Calvin Bassey and forward Emmanuel Dennis return to the fold of the three –time African champions.

    2021 AFCON forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Peter Olayinka, defender Chidozie Awaziem and long-time absentee Ogenyi Onazi are in a seven-man standby list.

    The camp opens in Abuja on 21st March, with a 24 –man final list for the two big games to be released at a later date.

    Nigeria take on Ghana in the 20,000 –capacity Cape Coast Sports Stadium as from 7.30pm on Friday 25th March, with the reverse leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 29th March as 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.

    FULL SQUAD:

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

    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); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)

    Standby: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Ogenyi Onazi (Al-Adalah FC, Saudi Arabia)