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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Super Eagles World Cup kit voted best

    While the Super Eagles team are rated as No.47 in the world, the Nike jersey they will be sporting in Russia was voted as the snazziest going to the FIFA World Cup.

    The Nigerian jersey, in a Sky Sports poll, got 21,200 votes to come in first followed by Germany’s jersey while Australia’s yellow top came in third.

    Out of the 32 kits that will be sported in Russia, Adidas will be responsible for 12; Nike for 10; Puma for four; New Balance for two; Errea, Umbro, Uhlsport, and Hummel have one each. This follows the modern kitting trend that is a straight fight between Adidas and Nike and the rest.

    On the retro Nigeria jersey, Nike said on their website, “As the Nigerian National Team steps into this summer’s tournament, the world will know they’ve arrived. The federation’s infectious charisma shines through in the flamboyant Nigeria collection.”

    In a throwback to the 1994 Adidas jersey, this new Nike offering is very different from what was readily available. Nike explained the design: “With a culture as vibrant as Nigeria’s, the collection had a lot to live up to.

    “The central design theme is an abstract feather pattern inspired by the team’s “Super Eagles” nickname. Last seen during Nigeria’s 1994 appearance on the world stage, the design has been enlivened to capture the energy of the 2018 team.”

    The Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] recently revealed that Nike had received about three million pre-orders for the new offering, a claim that was subtly countered by the international conglomerate in a Twitter message.

    “The jersey has not been released yet, it is scheduled to be available in June. Also, there has not been an option to pre-order the jersey. Stay tuned to our site for updates.”

  • President Buhari hosts Super Eagles at State House ahead of departure for #Russia2018

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday received Super Eagles at the State House in Abuja head of their departure for .

  • Nigeria cut World Cup squad ahead of England friendly

    Nigeria have trimmed their 30-man provisional squad down to 25 ahead of the 2018 World Cup ahead of Saturday’s friendly against England.

    Coach Gernot Rohr has told Stephen Eze, Dele Ajiboye, Junior Lokosa and Uche Agbo they will not be needed in Russia.

    BBC Sport understands Moses Simon remains with the travelling group to undergo tests on his thigh injury.

    “It’s tough because we can’t take all the 30 players to the World Cup,” team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye told BBC Sport.

    “They’ve been informed and they’ve thanked the coaching staff for the opportunity and promise to keep supporting their colleagues.”

    Despite KAA Gent winger Moses seemingly ruled out of the World Cup altogether the coaching staff are keen to give him more time to ascertain the true extent of his injury.

    The 25-man travelling to London includes Premier League quintet of Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi.

    Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi is the captain of the squad which must be whittled down to 23 by June 4, with the tournament starting on June 14.

    Rohr is expected to make his final cuts to the squad after the England match, needing to drop two players before travelling to Russia with his final 23.

    The Super Eagles will be making a sixth appearance at the World Cup tournament in Russia where they will play Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in Group D.

    The three-time African champions reached the Round of 16 in 1994, 1998 and 2014 but exited the 2002 and 2010 tournaments in the group stages.

    Nigeria squad travelling to Europe:

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

    Defenders: William Troost-Ekong and Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Leon Balogun (Brighton, England); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey)

    Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Joel Obi (Torino, Italy), Mikel Agu (Bursaspor, Turkey)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Victor Moses (Chelsea, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England); Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone, Italy)

    NB: Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium) travels to undergo further medical tests.

  • Russia 2018: Super Eagles to meet Buhari in Aso Villa today

    The Russia 2018 World Cup-bound Super Eagles contingent will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa on Wednesday morning.

    The session was earlier slated for Tuesday evening.

    It would be an opportunity for the country’s leader to meet with and wish the three –time African champions well on their way to a sixth appearance at football’s biggest showpiece.

    NFF chieftains told thenff.com that Wednesday’s session will take place at the Federal Executive Council chambers at 10am, just before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

    Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, will present the country’s ambassadors to President Buhari, hours before they are due to fly to London aboard a chartered aircraft for another pre-World Cup friendly, this time against England’s Three Lions at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.

    In five previous outings at the FIFA World Cup, the Eagles have reached the Round of 16 on three occasions (1994, 1998 and 2014), but exited at the group stage at the 2002 and 2010 finals.

    From London, the delegation will fly into Bad Tatzmannsdorf, a city in Austria where they will spend eight days at the world–renowned Avita Resort before flying to Russia.

    In-between the final camping in Austria, the team will play a final pre-World Cup friendly against the Czech Republic at the Rudolf Tonn Stadium (just outside Vienna) next Wednesday.

  • Photos: Saraki pays surprise visit to Nigerian Super Eagles

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki pays surprise visit to Nigerian Super Eagles ahead of their friendly match against England on Saturday.

    See photos:

     

     

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  • Super Eagles will perform better against England – Yusuf

    Super Eagles will perform better against England – Yusuf

    The Super Eagles will lift their game in a friendly against England, assistant coach of the side Salisu Yusuf .

    The three-time African champions will confront the former world champions in the tune-up for the World Cup on Saturday in London.

    And Yusuf was reacting to the team’s unimpressive showing in their 1-1 draw with DR Congo on Monday.

    He explained that the Eagles were a bit cautious against the Leopards, adding that they wanted to avoid injuries ahead of the World Cup.

    “We had a good game and like I told you before the match, it was not do-or-die affair. We just have to take it easy and see how fit the players are before we travel for the World Cup,” he said.

    “It was a good opportunity for the head coach to see some of the players that had not played with us before and with what he saw in the team, he was satisfied.

    “I also want you to know that the players had to play with caution so that they wouldn’t sustain injuries.

    “We have few days to the World Cup and every coach will not pray for injury in his team, so that is why I will say we are satisfied with the performance of the team as well.

    “We have a match against England on June 2 and I am sure that Nigerians will see how the team would have improved before the game.”

    Nigeria will take on Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the group phase of the 2018 World Cup.

  • NIG 1-1 DRC: DR Congo Leopards forces Super Eagles to draw in friendly game ahead of Russia 2018

    NIG 1-1 DRC: DR Congo Leopards forces Super Eagles to draw in friendly game ahead of Russia 2018

    The Leopards of DR Congo on Monday forced Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a draw in an international friendly match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, in Port Hacourt, River State.

    Congo DR scored a second half penalty to hold the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a 1-1 draw .

    Nigeria started the game the better side with Simy Nwankwo shaving the bar with a left footed effort after evading his marker with a slick move inside the box of the Congolese.

    Francis Odinaka Uzoho in goal for Nigeria was forced into a save with his foot. A save which the young Deportivo La Coruna shot stopper had to adjust with his body to make as the ball was drifting away from him.

    NPFL top scorer, Junior Lokosa drew a foul with a sleek touch which helped him evade his marker and from the resultant freekick taken by Ogenyi Onazi, Kelechi Iheanacho took advantage of a misunderstanding in the backline of Congo DR to set up William Troost-Ekong for the only goal of the half.

    A raft of second half substitutions helped Nigeria regained the lead in terms of possession but the closet they came to scoring was when Etebo tried to lob the Congo DR defender after he was caught off his line trying to clear a ball.

    Ola Aina was harshly judged to have fouled his man inside the box with replays showing that the contact was outside the box but the referee pointed to the spot and Congo DR levelled from the resultant spot kick.

    Tried as they could Nigeria failed to regain the lead and the game which is the farewell game for the Nigerian team ended 1-1 despite five minutes of time added on after regulation time.

  • Mikel Obi speaks about Nigeria’s friendly match DR Congo

    Mikel Obi speaks about Nigeria’s friendly match DR Congo

    Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi has stated that the international friendly match against DR Congo on Monday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt will not be an easy one for Gernot Rohr’s men.

    The former Chelsea star believes that the Leopards are very talented side and the game will serve as preparation for Rohr’s men ahead of next month’s World Cup in Russia.

    “We do not expect the Congolese to be easy opposition,” Mikel told thenff.

    “They have a strong team made up of very talented players and we know this is one good opposition for us to confront before going to the World Cup.

    “The FIFA World Cup is no picnic. We have to arrive in Russia with a winning mentality and you get that feeling of being ready only after beating strong teams.”

    Nigeria’s next friendly match is against England on June 2.

  • Gernot Rohr should pay attention to my wonder strike – Usman Mohammed

    Nigerian player, Usman Mohammed has said his wonder goal scored against Spanish side Atletico Madrid in their Gotv Max Cup on Tuesday sends a message to Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr to pay attention to him.

    The match which was played in Uyo saw the Europa League champions triumph 3-2, and Norway -based player says he is delighted to score against the La Liga side .

    Usman, 24, was unhurried as he wriggled past the Atletico defenders right inside the box before he finished off with the best goal of the night.

    “My goal is a message . Every day , I am pushing to play in the Eagles ,” Sarpsborg 08 star was quoted by SCORENigeria as saying on Wednesday .

    “I ’m so excited to be back with the national team . I will always be available for my country .”

    He added , “One of my coaches always told me not to be in a hurry when I ’m with the ball inside the box .

    “I have scored goals like this even in Europe and I was so confident I could do it again .”

  • NFF to pay Super Eagles World Cup bonuses before Congo friendly

    NFF to pay Super Eagles World Cup bonuses before Congo friendly

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has revealed that Nigeria players will be paid their 2018 FIFA World Cup bonus before their friendly against DR Congo.

    The NFF and the Super Eagles players signed a graduated bonus structure in November and as part of that process, FIFA made advance payments of $2million to the national associations.

    Speaking to KweséESPN, Pinnick said: “FIFA paid $2million and we have been able to raise an additional $800 000.

    “That is what we need to pay the players and prosecute both the remaining pre-World Cup games and the World Cup itself.

    “The players will be paid their share of what we agreed with them as soon as they arrive for the friendly in Nigeria.”