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Tag: Super Eagles

  • We still need Moses in Super Eagles – Ahmed Musa

    Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa has said his former team-mate Victor Moses is still needed in the national team and also wants him to have a rethink about his decision to retire from international football.

    Chelsea wing-back, Victor Moses announced his retirement from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a move which came to many as a surprise but according to Moses he wants to focus more on his club career and family.

    Super Eagles stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa who has played on the wings for Nigeria with Moses mostly on the opposite flank says he missed the Chelsea ace and insist that his spot in the team is still available despite the emergence of players like Samuel Kalu, Samuel Chukwueze among others.

    “ I miss his presence with the team and I believe he is still needed in this team. You can’t take away what he has done for the team and what he can do for the team if he decides to reverse his decision “, Musa said.

  • Victor Ikpeba task Rohr on strengthening Super Eagles midfield

    Former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba has urged Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr to strengthen his midfield ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

    The three-time African champions wrapped up their 2018 campaign with a goalless draw at home with Uganda at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium in Asaba Delta State on Tuesday.

    Ikpeba notes that there were positives from the fringe players who featured in the encounter despite the result.

    Rohr made six changes to his starting line-up that played against Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg, with Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Mikel Agu making their first start while Bryan Idowu and Daniel Akpeyi returned to action after sitting out the team’s last three games.

    “We need to see more from Osimhen, Success and Onyekuru,” the 1996 Africa Footballer of the Year said during his post-match analysis on Supersports tv after the international friendly game between Super Eagles and Uganda Cranes.

    “Ajayi did well in his first start. With Mikel, Ighalo and hopefully Moses back in the team, the Super Eagles will be very formidable.

    “Samuel Kalu’s performance so far has not made us miss Moses. He brings an element of surprise to the team and also his crosses are very good.

    “The transition of this team from the midfield to the attack remains the weakest link of the team.

    “We are not quick enough. If we get our transition right, we will be unbeatable in Cameroon.

    “We have to do well in Cameroon after missing out on two editions. We will be a threat in Cameroon with the qualities we have, but we must be ready.

    “Egypt, Mali, Senegal, Tunisia are there; they will be there to compete.”

    The former Monaco and Borussia Dortmund forward would also predict that the Super Eagles will reach the semi-finals of the 2019 AFCON.

    “Winning the AFCON will be difficult and I think the last four will be a good outing for the Super Eagles,” Ikpeba reiterated.

    “With a game to spare, they qualified for the AFCON. The players were showed patriotism to get this result. The boys reacted positively. There’s unity and love among the players.”

    “We need continuity and that has helped the team as well.”

  • Nigeria vs Uganda: Rohr reveals players to feature in friendly match

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has said that he will field players that did not feature against South Africa at the AFCON qualifiers, when they face Uganda in an international friendly on Tuesday in Asaba, Delta state.

    Nigeria booked their place in the continent’s biggest football competition after securing a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on Saturday.

    Rohr who is expected to make at least six changes to his starting line-up to face Uganda Cranes.

    During his pre-match conference on Monday, he said “When you play the 3-5-2 formation you have your front two (Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho) running all game and they get tired most times, so we have to take them off and introduce players who can offer us same upfront.

    “Iwobi was ‎also tired and Ajayi came in to protect the result for us. In our next game we will try some players who didn’t get to play and also those who didn’t make the bench,” the German explained.

    Bryan Idowu who missed the team’s last three games will start at right-back while Jamilu Collins keeps his place at left-back.

    In midfield, Victoria Setubal midfielder Mikel Agu could line up alongside John Ogu and Oghenekaro Etebo while Isaac Success is set to lead the lines for the Super Eagles and he will be flanked by captain Ahmed Musa and Samuel Kalu.

    Rohr also revealed his selection format in the goalkeeping area, “We have two goalkeepers who didn’t play against South Africa, we’ll make about six changes because we want to see everyone”, he said.

    “Afelokhai and Akpeyi will feature in both halves of the game.”

    The game will kickoff at 4.30pm.

  • President Buhari hails Super Eagles for AFCON 2019 qualification

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Super Eagles on their qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations following their 1-1 draw against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday.

    The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement in Abuja, said Buhari joined millions of football-loving Nigerians in commending the team for their spirited and disciplined performance against the Bafana Bafana.

    President Buhari noted that the victory had earned them qualification with the final match against Seychelles a mere formality.

    “Having keenly followed the senior national football team’s progress in the qualifying stages, President Buhari is enthused by their confidence, sense of patriotism and professionalism, and commends these attributes to other Nigerians,’’ the statement said.

    The president equally commended the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Supporters Club, especially Nigerians residing in South Africa who turned out in great numbers to cheer the players, for a job well-done.

    He assured them of the unflinching support of the Federal Government going forward.

    President Buhari wished the young Nigerian football ambassadors more successes as they prepared for the AFCON tournament in Cameroon.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles secured their ticket following the 1-1 draw against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday.

    The Super Eagles now led the Group E, with 10 points.

    South Africa are second with nine points but have a difficult last game to play away to Libya who are third with seven points.

    Either of the two teams can pick the last ticket of the group to Cameroon. South Africa needs a draw, and Libya a win.

  • BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2019

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles have qualified for the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

    They booked their place in the continent’s biggest football competition after securing a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

     

    Buhle Mkhwanazi scored an own goal for the Super Eagles in the 16th minute, converting a cross from Samuel Kalu into his own net, and Lebo Mothiba scored for the Bafana Bafana after a good pass for Percy Tau.

     

     

    The highly anticipated 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in June/July 2019 in Cameroon

     

    Details soon…..

     

  • Bafana Bafana are not afraid of Nigeria – Baxter

    Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter says he and his team holds no fear over facing Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

    Baxter, who is gunning for his third win in three games when Bafana face the Super Eagles, expects the three-time African champions to have vengeance on their mind ahead of the clash.

    The British gaffer led South Africa to a 2-1 win over Nigeria in 2004 in a Mandela Challenge before defeating the Super Eagles 2-0 in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017 – his first match in his second stint at the helms.

    “We do have Nigeria first‚ in the small matter of an African Nations Cup qualifier‚” Baxter told the Sowetan, a South African online newspaper.

    “Everybody knows the list of injuries that we have had. Everybody knows what I said in the first press conference (a week ago) that despite that (the injuries) I want to speak about the players that we do have because even though we respect Nigeria, we do not fear them.

    “I think we still have enough talent‚ enough desire and if we can structure a game plan in the next three or four days‚ I think by the time we run out onto the FNB Stadium, we would be confident‚ we would not be complacent‚ because Nigeria have just come from a (2018) World Cup (in Russia).”

  • AFCON 2019: Kiddominant, AKA to perform at Super Eagles clash against South Africa

    Nigerian super producer Kiddominant and South African rapper AKA will take to the field during the AFCON qualifiers clash between Nigeria and South Africa on Saturday to perform their hit single, ‘Fela in Versace.’

    Just before both countries go to ‘war’ on the football pitch to determine who emerges winner of Group E and seal automatic qualification for the 2019 Nations cup holding in Cameroon, the two nation will be united through music.

    This was made known by AKA on his social media pages on Tuesday, November 13.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BqIKRVFnHnU/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1xrzcjbf9kw2b

    Kiddominant, who is prominent with his work on Davido’s ‘Fall’, Mayorkun’s ‘Mama’ and a number of other hit records featured on South African rapper, AKA’s album, ”Touch My Blood”, producing and rendering hook support on the single, ‘Fela In Versace

  • 22 Super Eagles players in Asaba camp ahead of Bafana Bafana clash

    Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and 21 other players trained at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Tuesday evening ahead of Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Johannesburg.

    According to a statement by Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), there were goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi, Theophilus Afelokhai and Ikechukwu Ezenwa at the training.

    “At the training, we also had defenders Olaoluwa Aina, Adeleye Aniyikaye, Semi Ajayi, Bryan Idowu, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins.

    “There were also midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu and Mikel Agu, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Henry Onyekuru, Alex Iwobi, Isaac Success and Samuel Chukwueze.

    “Only France-based forward Samuel Kalu is expected on Wednesday,’’ he said.

    Super Eagles of Nigeria need just one point from Saturday’s encounter inside the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg to be sure of a ticket.

    On Match Day 1 of the qualifying series, South Africa won 2-0 with goals from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau right inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    However the defeat, the first-ever loss to South Africa in a competitive match, stirred the formidable spirit in the Eagles.

    They went on to sweep all before them to earn a 2018 FIFA World Cup ticket with a match to spare.

    Also, since the 2019 AFCON qualifiers resumed in September, Nigeria has won all three matches to stand at the door of qualification with a match to spare.

    Nigeria’s delegation to Saturday’s big match will depart the country aboard a chartered flight from the Benin City Airport on Thursday evening.

  • S/Africa vs Nigeria: Gov. Okowa to splash dollars on Eagles

    S/Africa vs Nigeria: Gov. Okowa to splash dollars on Eagles

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state on Tuesday evening pledged to reward the Super Eagles with $25,000 for every goal scored in their crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

    The two sides will go head-to-head on Saturday, 17 November, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in a top-of-the-table showdown.

    Nigeria lead Group E on nine points, one better than Bafana Bafana, which stunned the Eagles 2-0 in Uyo in the first leg last year.

    Gernot Rohr’s men will hope to make it four consecutive wins in the group after overcoming Seychelles 3-0 on the road, and getting the better of Libya back-to-back in a 4-0 and 3-2 triumph.

    And as part of measures aimed at ensuring victory for the team in South Africa, the Delta governor paid a surprise visit to the team on Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, where they are training for the game.

    ”Delta State Governor, His Excellency @GovIfeanyiOkowa was a surprise guest at our training session at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, this evening, promising the team a cash reward of $25k for every goal scored vs South Africa on Saturday,” a tweet on the Super Eagles handle read.

  • Bafana will be ready for Super Eagles’ revenge mission – Baxter

    Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter says he and his team holds no fear over facing Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the FNB Stadium Johannesburg, CSN reports.

    Baxter who is gunning for his third win in three games when Bafana face the Super Eagles expects the three-time African champions to have vengeance on their mind ahead of the clash.

    The British gaffer led South Africa to a 2-1 win over Nigeria in 2004 in a Mandela Challenge before defeating the Super Eagles 2-0 in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017 – his first match in his second stint at the helms.

    “We do have Nigeria first‚ in the small matter of an African Nations Cup qualifier‚” Baxter told the Sowetan, A South African online newspaper.

    “Everybody knows the list of injuries that we have had.

    “Everybody knows what I said in the first press conference (a week ago) that despite that (the injuries) I want to speak about the players that we do have because even though we respect Nigeria, we do not fear them.

    “I think we have still enough talent‚ enough desire and if we can structure a game plan in the next three or four days‚ I think by the time we run out onto the FNB Stadium, we would be confident‚ we would not be complacent‚ because Nigeria have just come from a (2018) World Cup (in Russia).

    “They are undefeated since we beat them the last time (in the first qualifier in June last year) and they will certainly want to wreak their revenge.

    “So‚ we will be ready and I still believe that we have a very good chance of getting the result that we need.”

    After the matchday-five AFCON qualifier on Saturday in Johannesburg, the Bafana Bafana will travel to Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium to welcome Paraguay in the Nelson Mandela Challenge next Tuesday.