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Tag: Super Eagles

  • We want to keep bringing Super Eagles to Asaba – Okowa

    We want to keep bringing Super Eagles to Asaba – Okowa

    Tonobok Okowa, the Chairman of Delta Sports Commission, says the state will be delighted to continuously have the Super Eagles play their matches in Asaba.

    Okowa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Asaba that the team’s handlers seemed comfortable with the Delta capital city’s hosting capabilities and facilities.

    “The state government has not influenced it in any way.

    “The choice of Asaba by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) may be out of the fact that the state has successfully hosted other international matches and that the facilities are good.

    “The state government has not really done any form of pushing to continue to host the matches in Asaba, but if the state has the option, it will grab it.

    “We want to keep bringing them (the Eagles) back because we want to always put the stadium into use and our people love to have them here,’’ he said.

    The Delta sports official pointed out that Asaba was well situated and bordered by states such as Edo, Anambra and several others.

    “I guess the NFF loves what we have here and the first time we ever hosted an event for them was the Aiteo Cup.

    “I am sure they (NFF) loved the turnout of people and the crowd was overwhelming. This may be why they are coming back.

    “The city’s location is strategic and I know that they will always want to use this place and we will be obliged to be giving it to them at all times,” he said.

    Okowa assured that every arrangement to successfully host the three international matches slated for Friday and next week at the Keshi Stadium had been concluded.

    He added that they expected to have a surge of spectators.

    “Here, we are talking about two international matches between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Seychelles coming up on Friday, the Super Eagles’ friendly with Egypt and the Nigeria Under-23 team’s fixture against Libya next week.

    “We want people to come out and cheer them, but we guess we will have a surge. However, we have put mechanism in place to control the crowd and the traffic will be put under check throughout the period of the match.

    “We have a good security architecture in place to manage the situation,” he said.

  • AFCON qualifier: Super Eagles intensify training in Asaba

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday intensified their training at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba, Delta, ahead of the Friday encounter with Seychelles national team in the 2019 AFCON qualifier.

    The Eagles who trained under closed door are also billed for a friendly with the Pharaohs of Egypt on March 26 at the same Stephen Keshi Stadium.

    Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the stadium that the players were in high spirit preparing for the encounter.

    “The team is in high spirit; we are happy and have been here in the past. Last time we enjoyed our stay and that’s why we are here again.

    “We are training to win our match on Friday and also to win our friendly with Egypt on Monday.” Ibitoye said.

    He commended the Delta Government for its commitment to sports development, especially for the provision of sports facilities at the stadium as well as ensuring the welfare of its sports men and women.

    Meanwhile some football fans in and around Asaba have expressed disappointment for not being allowed to watch the national team’s training session.

    Amechi Moka told NAN that he traveled from Ibusa near Asaba, to the state capital to catch a glimpse of the players at the pitch only to be turned back by security operatives.

    Moka said he would remain outside the main bowl of the stadium until the end of the training session to see the players enter their bus.

    He however expressed enthusiasm to be at the stadium on Friday for AFCON qualifying match.

    Another fan, Miss Favour Okoye, said it was not right for the fans to be denied access into the stadium to watch the Eagles’ training.

    Miss Okoye, however, observed, “probably, the measure is to avoid distraction.”

    NAN reports that hundreds of football fans waited outside the stadium as only journalists were allowed just 20 minutes to watch the training session.

  • Why I turned down Barcelona – Ighalo

    Why I turned down Barcelona – Ighalo

    Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has revealed why he rejected Barcelona’s offer in the January transfer window.

    The China-based forward was linked with a possible move to Barcelona but the transfer did not materialize.

    The former Watford man ended up joining Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.

    Ighalo said he turned down a move to the Camp Nou because he was not assured of playing time.

    The Super Eagles frontman also said that he wanted to secure his future as his contract with Changchun Yatai was running out.

    Score Nigeria quoted the player as saying that ”The deal was for me to play on loan for a season, but I was not ready to take chances as my playing minutes could not be guaranteed and at end of the season I will be a free agent.

    ”I preferred to secure my future my signing a longer deal in China instead and that was why the Barcelona move fell through.”

    Barcelona had been in the market for a striker to provide cover for their hitman Luis Suarez.

    The LaLiga leaders eventually signed Ghanaian Kevin-Prince Boateng on loan from Sassuolo until the end of the season.

  • AFCON Qualifier: Ighalo, Iwobi, Ajayi arrive Eagles’ camp

    AFCON Qualifier: Ighalo, Iwobi, Ajayi arrive Eagles’ camp

    Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi, and Semi Ajayi were among the first arrivals in the Super Eagles’ camp in Asaba on Monday ahead of Friday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Seychelles.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three-time African champions, Nigeria, have already booked a place in the AFCON holding in Egypt in July, with the encounter against Seychelles hardly more than an academic exercise.

    But the Eagles have spoken of the need to end the qualification series on a high and maintain their reputation while using the game to kick-start preparations for the continental competition.

    They take on the Pirates of Seychelles at the Stephen Keshi Stadium from 4p.m. on Friday.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire NFF’s Director of Communications said that nine players including forward Ighalo, and midfielders Iwobi and Ajayi were among first arrivals at the team’s camp in Asaba.

    “Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi are all in town, as well as home –based professionals Ikouwem Utin, Ndifreke Effiong and Valentine Ozornwafor.

    “The bulk of the invited group of 23 will come in on Tuesday, with the international friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday next week also in mind,” Olajire said.

    NAN also reports that Technical Adviser Gernor Rohr called up 23 players for the two matches, with Ikouwem Utin and Effiong leaping onto the list as a result of injuries to Samuel Kalu and Ola Aina.

  • AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles coach Rohr arrives Asaba, as camp opens today

    AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles coach Rohr arrives Asaba, as camp opens today

    Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr arrived in the country yesterday to begin preparations for Nigeria’s 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) last qualifying match against Seychelles, as well as the international friendly against Egypt this weekend in Asaba.

    The Super Eagles will host Seychelles in Asaba on March 22 and meet Egypt at the same venue on March 26.

    According to the Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, the invited players will start arriving in Asaba today, while training will begin tomorrow.

    He noted that the Eagles’ boss and his back room staff will use the two international games to start building the team ahead of the 2019 Nations Cup holding in Egypt.

    He added: “The Eagles coach and his assistants are already in camp, but the players will start arriving for the games on Monday (today).

    “Seychelles will arrive in Nigeria either on Wednesday or Thursday for the game.”

    Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi believes the Asaba pitch will not give the Eagles any problem when they battle the visiting teams this weekend.

    “I don’t know where stories emanated from in some quarters that Rohr and the players are complaining about the Asaba pitch.

    “Right now, we have not had any complain from the coach. Before Asaba was selected for the two games, the NFF as a responsible body had enough conversations with the stakeholders in the game. This is not the first time the players are playing an international match on the Asaba pitch,” he declared.

  • Why Mikel, Iheanacho are out of Super Eagles squad – Rohr

    Why Mikel, Iheanacho are out of Super Eagles squad – Rohr

    Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel and Kelechi Iheanacho were dropped from Nigeria’s squad due to lack of regular playing time and non-readiness, coach Gernot Rohr has confirmed.

    The Super Eagles gaffer released a 23-man list to prosecute their final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Seychelles on March 22 and a friendly tie against Egypt four days later with both players missing.

    Iheanacho has struggled for form at the Leicester this campaign having scored just a goal so far in the Premier League.

    In addition to his poor form, the 22-year-old who has made 30 appearances across all competitions this season is yet to start a league match since December 8 [vs. Tottenham Hotspur].

    Meanwhile, John Obi Mikel has been impressive in the Championship since he joined Middlesbrough on a short-term deal in January.

    But the German tactician noted that the 31-year-old ruled himself out of this month’s international outings and also warned other players who are not playing consistently at their various clubs ahead of the country’s participation in the continental showpiece that will take place in Egypt later in June.

    “Kelechi needs to play in his club. He also needs to take advantage of the international truce to show his qualities to his new coach,” Rohr told Caf website.

    “I give him time but there is danger for the Africa Cup of Nations for those who do not play regularly in their club. The final list for the Afcon is far from being made for anyone.

    “He [Mikel] has arrived in Middlesbrough recently. He told me he was not ready and needs to work after his knee injury in China. He did not play all winter either.Article continues below

    “He has been not ruled out for the Afcon but could not make the match in Asaba. We will see for the future.”

     

  • Life in China difficult, Mikel Obi reveals

    Life in China difficult, Mikel Obi reveals

    Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has finally opened up on the real reasons he returned to England to sign for Championship side, Middlesbrough after spending two seasons in the Chinese Super League.

    Mikel could not resist mouth-watering £140,000-a-week wages dangled at him by Tianjin Teda FC when he left Chelsea on a free transfer but after playing in the Asian country, Mikel told the Telegraph that he could not adjust to life in China because of the deplorable state of their football facilities.

    Though Mikel admitted that his relationship he had with his teammates was the only positive side to his stint in China but the reality hit him as soon as he arrived in Tianjin, a coastal city of 15 million people in the north of the country and discovered that it was not professional football as he knew it.

    “It was two years of a huge culture shock,” Mikel began in the interview, having finished speaking at Middlesbrough’s training ground to a group of refugees. “The food was a problem, the lifestyle, the style in which everything was done.

    “When you have been at a club like Chelsea in the Premier League, for 11 years, it was very hard to adapt to how things were done. It isn’t at the elite level, let’s put it that way.

    “The pitches were poor, stadiums are poor, and the medical facilities were not what I was used to. I’m not saying it’s all the Chinese clubs, some of them are quite professional, but the one I was at, it wasn’t as professional as it should have been. It became tough for me almost straight away.

    “I wouldn’t say I regretted it, I had a good time with my team-mates, but it was never easy. The standard of football, it’s not even Championship standard.

  • AFCON 2019: Super Eagles need to prepare well – Ighalo

    AFCON 2019: Super Eagles need to prepare well – Ighalo

    China-based Super Eagles forward, Odion has said that Super Eagles clash with Egypt is good preparation for the team ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    The Shanghai Shenhua striker believes the games will help the team tremendously as they prepare for the tournament.

    “We are in a good direction, we just want to continue to work hard together as a team, not to feel relaxed just because we have gotten the ticket to the AFCON,” Ighalo said.

    “It’s one thing to qualify and it’s another thing to go there and perform and that is what we want to do.”

    He added that “We want to compete, we want to do better than what the Eagles before us have done in the past, I just want us to keep the concentration level high, and who knows – everything is possible.”

  • Super Eagles coach Rohr unveils players to face Seychelles, Egypt

    Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has invited stand-in team captain Ahmed Musa and 22 other players for Super Eagles’ matches slated for this month, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Monday.

    Nigeria host the Pirates of Seychelles in their final match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on March 22 and Egypt’s Pharaohs in a friendly on March 26 at Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

    Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, said in a statement that defender Kenneth Omeruo of CD Leganes of Spain has been invited alongside regulars Leon Balogun, Abdullahi Shehu and William Ekong.

    Midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as forwards Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon were also called up.

    Rohr has also invited to camp Flying Eagles’ defender Valentine Ozornwafor, as well as well as former FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner Victor Osimhen and Denmark-based Paul Onuachu.

    All invited players, alongside technical and backroom crew, are to report in the Delta State capital on Monday, March 18.

    Full list:

  • Super Eagles striker Musa congratulates Buhari

    Super Eagles striker Musa congratulates Buhari

    Super Eagles striker Ahmed Musa has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election.

    On Wednesday morning, the 76-year-old politician was declared the winner of the February 23 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] after defeating his closest rival Atiku Abubakar. Buhari of All Progressives Congress polled 15,191,847 votes while Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party garnered 11,262,978 votes.

    Following the victory, the Nigerian international and Al Nassr forward has taken to the social media to felicitate with the President.

    “Congratulations to my president Muhammadu Buhari,” Musa posted on Instagram.

    Musa who joined the Global last summer from Premier League side Leicester City, has scored five goals in 15 league appearances for his Saudi Arabia side.

    The fleet-footed forward will hope to impress when Al Nassr takes on Al Shabab in their next league game on Thursday.