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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Super Eagles coach Rohr praises Mikel ahead of AFCON 2019

    Super Eagles coach Rohr praises Mikel ahead of AFCON 2019

    Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr has praised Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel after the midfielder’s early arrival at the national team’s get-together in Asaba.

    The German said that Mikel had demonstrated commitment to contribute to the team’s success at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

    The number 10 had not played for the Super Eagles since he went the distance in the 1-2 loss to Argentina on June 26, 2018, and there were fears that he had called time on his international career.

    ”Mikel has at all times been a professional and the fact that he arrived here early means that he is very committed to do well and to lead us,” Rohr said.

    ”We expect 25 players here but some of them cannot come in today because they had games– like Ighalo came yesterday from China — Alex Iwobi is also being expected.

    ”So, the team will be complete in two days but already 18 players have arrived here in Asaba. Training will start immediately on Tuesday to get our players ready.”

    The Super Eagles will be having two training sessions on Monday, with the morning and evening workout starting 1000 hours and 1645 hours respectively.

  • I can do better for Super Eagles, Norway-based James tells Rohr

    I can do better for Super Eagles, Norway-based James tells Rohr

    Leke James, a forward with Molde FK in Norway, says he can perform better for the Super Eagles if given the opportunity by the senior male national football team handlers.

    James who plays in the Norwegian top-flight “Eliteserien’’ told newsmen on Sunday in Abuja that the opportunity to show what he can do is all he needs now.

    “I have more than what it takes to break into the Super Eagles team, and to play regularly as part of the team’s striking force. It’s just the opportunity.

    “I can understand that many people will not look the way of Norway when thinking about quality players for our national team. But that is wrong.

    “What we play there is fantastic football, and I am an exceptional player in particular, going by all available statistics.

    “I can do better than many of the players many Nigerians have on their radar now for the national team going for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt,’’ he said.

    James said Super Eagles’ present strikers were only being considered ahead of him on the basis of past glories.

    “Let me use Odion Ighalo as an example in this case. Ighalo had already made his mark before going to China. So, he is not being assessed on the basis of his erformance in China or the quality of the league.

    “So, in the case of others like me, the fact that we play in the Norwegian league, which many of our people hardly watch or know about should not be a yardstick in assessing us,’’ the former Golden Eaglet player, who was signed on by Molde from Beijing Enterprises FC of China in 2018 by current Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, said.

    James who played alongside Spain-based Kenneth Omeruo in the Eaglets under coach Alphonsus Dike said he has the needed qualities to excel with the Super Eagles having paid his dues.

    “It will be an honour for me right now to be called up to any of the Super Eagles teams, but I will be deserving it because I have paid my dues as a player and as a striker, and I have all it takes to deliver,’’ the 26-year-old whose playing role model is former Super Eagles’ John Utaka said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that James started out his career playing for Bridge Boys FC in Lagos before he transferred to Aalesunds FK of Norway in January 2012.

    An injury obtained during pre-season hindered his path into the first team and he did not get back into full training until the start of July.

    He made his first appearance for Aalesunds coming on as a substitute at the start of the second half of the game against Tirana in the UEFA Europa League.

    James scored twice in a 5-0 win, and went on to make his league debut later that month against Stabaek.

    He went on to join Beijing Enterprises in 2016, playing in the Chinese League One between 2016 and 2017.

    In April 2018, James joined three-times national league champions Molde FK in the 82-year-old 16-club Eliteserien on a three-year contract.

    He got his Molde debut in July 2018.

    That was when he came on as a 67th minute substitute in Molde’s 3–0 win against KF Laci of Albania in the 2018/2019 Europa League, scoring the third goal.

  • My Nations Cup story and super Eagles chances -By Ehi Braimah

    My Nations Cup story and super Eagles chances -By Ehi Braimah

    By Ehi Braimah

    Football is like opium, the addictive analgesic, taken by football fans around the world – the evidence abounds in every stadium environment and around television sets screening live matches. Now, you can also watch a tension-soaked match on your tablet or smart phone, as long as it is internet enabled and the appropriate apps are downloaded, many thanks to rapidly growing technologies! Nigerians are very passionate about football and the English Premier League (EPL) and other leagues in Europe have driven this passion to an all-time high. For those who do not know, I’m an Arsenal FC fan – a Gunner for life!

    The excitement is usually palpable – chants of ahhs and oohs rent the air arising from additional surge of adrenaline; energetic victory songs and gloomy faces of defeat tell the inevitable stories after 90 mins. Sometimes, a team can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as in the cases of Liverpool versus Barcelona and Ajax versus Tottenham – two nerve wrecking semi-final Champions League matches that produced miraculous comeback victories by Liverpool and Tottenham that set the stage for an all-England clubs final in Madrid, Spain recently. Liverpool won the game 2 – 0 with Mohammed Salah scoring the first goal from the spot in less than two minutes and Divock Origi scoring the second goal three minutes from full time.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to participate at the next Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to hold from June 21 to July 19, 2019 in Egypt, with their group matches holding in Alexandria. Having missed the last two tournaments hosted by Equatorial Guinea in 2015 and Gabon in 2017, what are the chances of the Super Eagles now that the competition has been expanded into a 24-team format? The fighting spirit displayed by Liverpool and Tottenham is what the Super Eagles need to become relevant again in African football. Nigeria has won the Nations Cup three times – in 1980 when we hosted the competition; in 1994 in Tunisia and 2013 in South Africa.

    I was right inside the FNB Stadium six years ago in Johannesburg, South Africa, when the Super Eagles guided by the late “Skippo” Stephen Okechukwu Keshi – may God Almighty preserve his soul — lifted the Nations Cup trophy as champions of Africa beating Burkina Faso by a lone goal in an epic encounter on February 10, 2013 when the tournament featured 16 countries.

    Since 1957, Egypt has dominated African football by winning the Nations Cup a record seven times but the remarkable back to back wins in 2006, 2008 and 2010 stands the Pharaohs out as the Kings of African football. Cameroon and Ghana on the other hand have won the Nations Cup four times each and the continental rivalry between these three counties has become legendary.

    It is being speculated that Egypt is ‘hosting to win’ again – that’s what they did in 1959, 1986 and 2006. This should be a source of concern to the other teams including Nigeria, merely looking at the historical records. Expectedly, Mohammed Salah, the confident striker and EPL highest goal scorer last season — an honour he shared with team mate Sadio Mane and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — will lead the attack for Egypt.

    In trying to assess the chances of the Super Eagles and understand how our national team can overcome the formidable challenge posed by Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana, I called Bode Oguntuyi, a sports reporter of note and long standing colleague, to share his views on the matter. Bode told me the Eagles will not be disgraced at the tournament but they have to work very hard.

    Nigeria will play alongside Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar in Group B at the tournament in Alexandria. This is a group Nigeria should win without breaking too much sweat, with the toughest opposition likely to come from Guinea.

    Recent statistics suggest that the Eagles should not under rate the Guineans. The two countries were in the same qualifying group for the 2012 Nations Cup, and the Syli Stars prevented the Eagles from taking their place at the main event following a harrowing 2-2 draw in Abuja after the Guineans had won the first leg 1-0 at home.

    Then, at the 2016 Africa Nations Championships, Guinea handed the home based Eagles another 1-0 defeat in the last group game to move into the quarter-finals while Nigeria headed home. For the Eagles to remain super and qualify from their group in Alexandria, Coach Gernot Rhor and his players should beware of the Guineans because, apart from Egypt further down the road, the Syli Stars will be out to stop them again.

    Going by their current form, Bode expects the Eagles to qualify from their group but where they finish on the table may determine how far they go in the tournament. “If the Eagles take care of business and finish top of the group, they will be handed the relatively easy draw of playing the team that has the best third place finish in any of Groups A, C or D. But if they finish in second place, they will have to square off against the second placed team in Group F which has Ghana and Cameroon,” says Bode.

    I’m sure the Eagles would like to avoid a confrontation with Ghana and Cameroon so early in the tournament, a very good hint for Gernot Rhor. The competition gets tougher from that point on, since the chaff of the tournament would have been burnt off and only the teams with a real chance of winning the trophy would be left. By the time we add Guinea and Egypt into the mix, the Eagles and the coaching crew should know from Day One who their tough opponents would be and assess their chances critically.

    Michael Porter, the world renowned professor of strategy, says strategy is all about winning by gaining competitive advantage. For example, having an influential midfielder or a top striker or a goalkeeper with a safe pair of hands could be a good advantage. Mikel Obi was an influential midfield supremo at the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa, and I expect him to lead by example again in Egypt, especially now that he is the team captain.

    Realistically, it should be considered a successful tournament for the Eagles should they make it to the semi-finals. After that, any other achievement is a bonus. The reason for this is simple: despite the impressive results of both the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Nations Cup qualifiers during which they won their tickets with a game to spare, the team is still in transition. But because they are the Super Eagles of Nigeria, you underrate them at your peril. In fact, former international and ‘Prince of Monaco’, Victor Ikpeba, believes the Super Eagles will get to the semi-finals. “The team will do well having missed the last two tournaments,” says Ikpeba confidently. “Although we shall miss Victor Moses in the Eagles line-up, Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa will lead the attack and they will be supported by Alex Iwobi and Mikel Obi,” Ikpeba further assures Nigerians.

    *Braimah is a public relations and marketing strategist based in Lagos

  • Police arrest suspected killer of ex-Super Eagle’s father

    Police arrest suspected killer of ex-Super Eagle’s father

    The Police in Anambra has arrested one Ikechukwu Emilie who allegedly participated in the kidnap and murder of 86 year-old Chief James Iloanyusi, father of Ex-Super Eagles player, Chikelu Iloanyausi.

    Mr Haruna Mohammadu, Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) disclosed this to newsmen in a statement on Saturday in Awka.

    Mohammadu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the suspect was arrested at his hideout in Anaku, Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state.

    The PPRO noted that the suspect escaped arrest in 2014 when he jumped down from Phix Hotel Abagana , a three storey building with handcuffs on.

    The police further said the suspect had been elusive since then while still terrorising Anaku and Otoucha axis of the state.

    “At about 1:30pm, following credible intelligence, Police detectives attached to the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested the suspect Ikechukwu Emlilie, aged 30, in his hideout at Anaku in Anyamelum LGA of Anambra State’’, he said.

    He explained that police had commenced full investigation and that effort is being intensified to apprehend other accomplices in order to bring them to Justice.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Chief Iloenyosi was kidnapped on Nov. 25, 2013 on his way to mass and was found dead after the family paid ransom to the alleged kidnappers.

  • AFCON 2019 will be tough, Super Eagles’ll give 100% fight – Media Officer

    AFCON 2019 will be tough, Super Eagles’ll give 100% fight – Media Officer

    The Media Officer of Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye, on Saturday predicted an acid test for the team as they seek their fourth time glory in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

    Ibitoye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that though the 32nd AFCON tournament would be tough, the team would give a 100 per cent fight to win the title.

    NAN reports that the Eagles will begin their campaign in the Group B that includes Madagascar, Guinea and Burundi with a game against Burundi on June 22 at the Alexandria Stadium.

    Ibitoye told NAN that though many opinions had tilted towards Eagles going through the knockout stage in a group that looks seemingly easy, yet it could be a tricky one.

    “The fight is to defend the integrity of Nigeria and try to win our games in the qualifiers before we can be champions. The other teams in our group are not there for a picnic or vacation, they also want to win.

    “It will be the battle of those that are well prepared, so we need to go the extra mile and push towards getting results because there are lots of teams that will want to spring surprises in Egypt.

    “The AFCON tournament is now bigger and will be tougher because of the new format of 24 teams which means that we will have to play more games. It is not going to be easy.

    “The good news, however, is that we are going there to give our 100 per cent fight in it. We will take the matches one at a time, we are in a group where if we work hard, we can top them,” he said.

    Ibitoye said that the Eagles would camp in Asaba where they will play a game and then play another friendly match against Senegal in Egypt.

    “The team will have few weeks of camping in Asaba, but we want to be in Egypt early to start preparations. By the end of May, we would have the full details of the preparations.

    “The plan is for us to get to Egypt at least seven or eight days before our first match. So, in Egypt, we will play a friendly against Senegal because we want to really focus on getting our players fresh.

    “There is a need to understand that AFCON is coming up at the end of European football season, so the trick is to get the players fresh and keep them away from injuries.

    “It is going to be a tough challenge in Egypt, so the coach has been talking to the players on his approach and the need for them to be fit so that we can come together to play the tournament with full blast,” he said.

    Ibitoye said that Egypt remained the tournament favourites considering the fact that they were the host nation and also have a good squad.

    “The tournament will be taking place in Egypt so they are the favourites and also have a good squad. Morocco also comes to mind and Senegal.

    “The likes of the defending champions, Cameroon and Ghana are potential winners and outsiders such as South Africa, Mali and Guinea; these are teams that can spring surprises,” he said.

  • AFCON 2019: Nigeria, Ghana friendly called off

    AFCON 2019: Nigeria, Ghana friendly called off

    In preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON, the proposed friendly match the Black Stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria has been called off.

    It was earlier report that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will host the Black Stars in a preparatory match ahead of the tournament in Egypt.

    However, it was gathered that the Ghanaian senior team would be in the UAE at the time of the match and it would be difficult making the trip to Nigeria to play the game.

    “They actually wanted to play us in Nigeria and they had discussions with only the Deputy Sports Minister, Perry Okudzeto,” said Ghana football official.

    “But we may be in the United Arab Emirates, which will be difficult.”

    Ghana had chosen to hold a three-week pre-Afcon 2019 camping in Abu Dhabi.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through the General Secretary, Dr. Muhammad Sanusi had confirmed that the International friendly between the Super Eagles and the Terranga Lions of Senegal would take place in Egypt.

    Sanusi in a chat with Sports247 said the Senegalese FA had made arrangements for a friendly match with us and the match would be played in Egypt.

    The Super Eagles have been drawn in group B alongside Madagascar, Guinea and Burundi seek its fourth African Cup of Nations title in Egypt later in June.

  • AFCON 2019: Super Eagles will do better than previous outing, says Adepoju

    AFCON 2019: Super Eagles will do better than previous outing, says Adepoju

    Mutiu Adepoju, ex-Super Eagles player, said on Monday that the senior male national team would put up a better performance better in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament holding in Egypt from June 21 to July 19 than they did in 2014 in South Africa.

    Adepoju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the team is in such good form that it could take on any team in Africa.

    The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, known as the Total 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, is scheduled to be the 32nd edition of the competition.

    The tournament will be hosted by Egypt from 21 June to 19 July 2019,

    He said that Nigeria’s super Eagles was outstanding during the qualifying stage having won some of their matches home and away.

    “The team displayed class and superiority in their match against Seychelles and others.

    “I hope like every other Nigerian is expecting good results from the team,” Adepoju said.

    NAN reports that the tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon. They are also the title holders after winning the previous edition.

    On Nov. 30, 2018, Cameroon was stripped of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations [5] due to delays in the delivery of infrastructure, the Boko Haram insurgency and the Anglophone Crisis.

    On Jan. 8, Egypt was chosen by the CAF Executive Committee as the host nation of the competition. The tournament has also been moved from the original dates of June 15 –July 13 to June 21– July 19.

  • AFCON: Ex- International, Adepoju optimistic of Super Eagles chances

    AFCON: Ex- International, Adepoju optimistic of Super Eagles chances

    Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has expressed optimism on the Super Eagles doing very well in the forth coming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt in June.

    The ex-international disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, while reacting to the AFCON draws which took place Friday night in Cairo.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles are drawn in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi, a group analysts have described as relatively easy.

    Adepoju, however, stressed that the Super Eagles would need to prepare well and play as a team to go far in the competition.

    “Yes on paper we have a relatively easy group, but the boys will have to step up their game and play as a team to go far in tournament,

    “I am optimistic we can do well at tournament if we put our acts together, ” he said.

    The former Real Sociedad of Spain midfielder advised Coach Gernot Rohr to start preparations for the tournament early and ensure only fit and committed players were selected.

    Adepoju who was part of the AFCON wining Super Eagles team in 1994 in Tunisia also called on Nigerians to support the team.

    NAN reports that the 32nd edition of AFCON with its expanded 24-team format will take place in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.

  • 2019 AFCON: Fans counsel Eagles against complacency with `favourable’ group

    2019 AFCON: Fans counsel Eagles against complacency with `favourable’ group

    Football fans on Saturday have counsel the Super Eagles against complacency with the group pairings they got at the draw of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin said they should not underrate the teams because there are no longer minors in football.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been paired in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi for the 2019 AFCON scheduled to hold from June 21 to July 19 in Egypt.

    Mr Tope Aderinoye said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should ensure they start preparation immediately and not think that the group stage would be easy.

    ”It might not be easy as everybody thinks, so it is better the NFF engage them now, so that by the time the tournament starts, they would have crossed the ‘t’ and dotted the ‘i’s.

    ”This is because we cannot afford not to come out of that group convincingly,” Aderinoye said.

    Another respondent, Mr Ibrahim Abdulrahman said the players and the coaching crew should clear the thoughts that the other teams in the group are minors.

    ”They should be prepared to play them as if they are playing the like of Cameroon, South Africa and Senegal.

    ”These so called small teams can spring up surprises when nobody expects, because there are no more minors in football,” Abdulrahman said.

    On his part, Mr Shona Ajala, said the pairing looks like a walk in the park but the Eagles should not take it for granted.

    ”Our group seems the easiest but we shouldn’t be complacent about that.

    ”Super Eagles have grown beyond qualification by calculations because it is when we have supposedly easy opponents that we struggle to qualify.

    ”So, that should take caution from now on,” Ajala said.

  • AFCON 2019: Super Eagles to face Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    AFCON 2019: Super Eagles to face Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn to face Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi in Group B of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The draw ceremony took place behind the famous Giza Pyramids, Cairo. The event was greeted with great fanfare that showcased the culture of the country.

    It was a spectacular treat that left mouths wide open including the crème de la crème of world football.

    Anthony Baffoe was in charge of the draw and was assisted by African football greats Ahmed Hassan, Yaya Toure and El Hadji Diouf.

    Guinea, who picked silver ahead of Nigeria at the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia, are making their 12th appearance with Nigeria going for their 18th appearance.

    Group A has hosts Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe, while Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania are in Group C.

    In Group D, Namibia face an uphill task against former champions Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa in what is seen as the group of death.

    Group E will have Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola battling, while current champions and five-time winners Cameroon, four-time winners Ghana, Benin and Guinea-Bissau are in Group F.