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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Super Eagles can succeed at Russia 2018 – Stakeholders

    Super Eagles can succeed at Russia 2018 – Stakeholders

    A cross-section of stakeholders in Nigerian football says the senior male national team, the Super Eagles, have the capacity to excel at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup and beyond.

    The stakeholders expressed this view on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at a one-day seminar organised by the management of The Sun Newspapers, in conjunction with the AITEO Group.

    The seminar, which was organised with the Rivers Government’s support and the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, examined the Eagles’ chances at the mundial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Cup will kick off on June 14 in Moscow.

    The stakeholders also expressed the belief that the Eagles could excel beyond the 2018 World Cup with a good team spirit, and determination of players, sponsors and management team.

    Danladi Bako, a former Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), said the Super Eagles would succeed if the National Assembly ensured statutory funding for the team.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to also motivate the national team by attending more matches they engaged in.

    “Also, the team can succeed if sports writers stopped promoting players to the national team when they knew that such players were not good enough to don the national colours.

    “There should be the promotion of cohesion and team spirit by managers, rather than squabbles and rancour. Where a team lacks unity, there will be a breakdown in communication and there will also be failure.’’

    Bako also called for a proper structure where a national team was built from the cadet levels to the senior level.

    “We all hope that the Eagles will do well if the managers work on the mentality of the players,’’ he added.

    Also speaking, Fanny Amun, a former coach of the under-17 male national team, called for long-term preparation for the national team to succeed beyond Russia 2018.

    “We will experience failure if players don’t train and play constantly. Long-term preparation is far better than a short preparation and political will is vital in team preparation.

    “Funding is there, but should be complementary to team preparation. All Nigerians should support the team to succeed in Russia and beyond,’’ Amun whose team won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan in 1993 said.

    In his remarks, Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of Abia Warriors, said “the maturity of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) management is a plus in managing the players’’.

    “This time, there is unity. For the first time, the players are getting their `alerts’ before the World Cup,’’ he said.

    Inyama also enjoined the NFF to prevail on President Buhari to assent to the NFF Bill passed by the National Assembly to move the country’s football beyond Russia 2018.

    A former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, said “Eagles players should be able to retain the ball, release the ball and receive the ball’’.

    “There should be cohesion for the overall success of the team.’’

    He also said God had been kind to Nigerian football, adding that with adequate backing of government the Super Eagles would succeed in Russia and even beyond the 2018 World Cup.

    “The endowment is there to galvanise the team to a level that can make the country proud,’’ Onigbinde said.

    NAN reports that the seminar had as its theme “That the Super Eagles May Excel in Russia 2018 and Beyond’’.

  • Russia 2018: Super Eagles will play DR Congo despite Ebola threat – Dalung

    Russia 2018: Super Eagles will play DR Congo despite Ebola threat – Dalung

    The Minister of Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung, has said the planned valedictory match for the Super Eagles before jetting out of the country for the World Cup in Russia would be played as scheduled.

    The Super Eagles are billed to face DR Congo in a friendly match on Monday, May 28 in Port Harcourt but the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus in the Central African country led to many expressing doubt about the fixture holding.

    However, the Sports Minister while speaking with State House correspondents on Monday, listed measures that have been taken to ensure the match goes on and at the same time avoid the contagious disease being brought into Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is going to play the friendly with DRC, I have discussed with the Federal Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization in participation, we have reviewed the situation and received adequate information about it,” Mr Dalung said.

    The minister further explained the steps that will be taken to keep the epidemic from Nigeria.

    “So we have agreed on major approaches. One, the DRC team is coming through a chartered flight and those coming for the match will be using that chartered flight and they would have been screened from the DRC and they will be screened here in Nigeria,” he said.

    “There is going to be no other person that is going to be admitted using any other means of transportation for the match.

    “We also discovered that the Ebola outbreak is limited to a particular place and it has not escalated. So, we wouldn’t want to run the risk of setting a precedent of which we will later be a victim.”

    Mr Dalung said based on the strict measures already in place, there was no need to fear and the match can go on unhindered.

     

     

  • BREAKING: NFF releases Super Eagles World Cup list

    BREAKING: NFF releases Super Eagles World Cup list

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday released provisional 30-man World Cup squad for the Super Eagles.

  • Ebola: Nigeria, DR Congo friendly match not under threat – NFF

    Ebola: Nigeria, DR Congo friendly match not under threat – NFF

    Nigeria’s friendly match against the DR Congo is not under threat in spite of the Ebola outbreak in the country, the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi has said.

    Akinwumi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that necessary precautionary measures had been put in place to forestall transmission of the deadly disease into Nigeria.

    NAN reports that the football governing body had lined up some friendly matches as build up to the Super Eagles participation in the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    In the friendly matches, the Super Eagles are expected to play DR Congo on May 28, in Port Harcourt before the warm-up game against the Three Lions of England on June 2 at Wembley Stadium.

    Before the DR Congo match, the three-time African champions had defeated the national team of Argentina 4-2 in the battle of Krasnodar, Russia, then beat Poland 1-0 at the Municipal Stadium, Wrockaw, Poland.

    The Gernot Rohr boys however lost to the national team of Serbia 0-2 at the Hive Stadium, England.

    The third friendly match for the Eagles against the Diables Rouges (Red Devils) of Congo has been a speculation for cancellation due to the deadly Ebola disease outbreak in the country.

    The fears of many football enthusiasts was however allayed by NFF as Akinwumi said there was no need to panic over the friendly match saying that adequate measure had been put in place to forestall transmission of the disease into Nigeria.

    “We will not jeopardise the health of Nigerians, we have notified the DR Congo Football Federation, while both presidents have met at the CAF committee and finalised issues.

    “Beyond that, we have written to the Ministry of Health to have all those coming to Nigeria tested. However, most of the Dr Congo players for the match are foreign-based.

    “To assure Nigerians, we will not risk anything for the match, there should be no fear at all.

    “We are 100 per cent sure that everyone coming for the match will be subjected to test in Congo before coming and Nigeria before they go out,’’ he told NAN.

    Akinwumi said that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo did not affect the whole country but some villages and that would not stop the federation from doing the needful.

    “We are told that the news of Ebola outbreak in DR Congo happened in the remote village and not in the whole country, but we are also cautious about the health of Nigerians.

    “We want the best for the national team in terms of preparation and prosecution of the World Cup proper. The fund raising we are planning for the team is a bonus too,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles are expected to fly out to their camp in Austria on June 3 from London.

    They are to play another final friendly against the Czech Republic on June 6 in Austria.

  • Russia 2018: No injury scare in Super Eagles – Media Officer

    Russia 2018: No injury scare in Super Eagles – Media Officer

    With 31 days to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, says there is no need to panic over injuries in the team.

    Nigeria is pitted against Argentina, Croatia and Iceland in the Mundial’s Group D.

    Ibitoye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that some of the players that cupped injuries were recovering and have resumed training.

    “We have a month and a few days to the World Cup. Some players like Leon Balogun, Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi and Tyron Ebue are recovering from injuries and have started training.

    “Balogun and Onazi have started playing for their clubs.

    “Generally speaking, we have nothing to worry about in terms of our boys because those who are recovering are being well monitored and the reports from the medical team are very positive,’’ he said.

    According to Ibitoye, reports from the medical team indicates that the players will be 100 per cent fit before the World Cup begins.

    “We have three more games to play before the World Cup. For the first time in a long while, we have played six friendly games, each to achieve a purpose in team building and in helping us to prepare for the teams we will face at the World cup,’’ he said.

    The Eagles spokesman said that from the first international friendly against Argentina to the matches against Poland, Serbia and the remaining ones to be played against DR Congo, England and Czech Republic, were done for reasons.

    Ibitoye said: “All these games are well planned. They have something to achieve in the team. Everything is going perfectly well. I think it is kudos to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    “The board and secretariat of the NFF have worked so hard to be able to get all these together,’’ he said.

    He commended Coach Gernot Rohr and his crew for planning and monitoring the players in their clubs.

    He said that the technical crew had worked hard to prepare the team mentally and physically, especially sending fitness coaches to work with players recovering from injury and prepare them for the opposition.

    “As we speak, the coaches are putting finishing touches to the provisional list from which our final squad for the World Cup will be released.

    “I know that a lot of extensive work has been done. I will not be surprised if Rohr sticks with those he has been working with.

    “I will also not be surprised if maybe, one or two players based on what they are doing presently and their shape now are also able to break into the World Cup squad.

    “ Any of these scenarios is a possibility,’’ Ibitoye said.

    NAN

  • Adepoju lauds organisers of Atletico Madrid, Super Eagles friendly

    Adepoju lauds organisers of Atletico Madrid, Super Eagles friendly

    Nigeria’s ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju, on Friday, lauded MultiChoice Nig. Ltd., owners of GOtv satellite network provider for organising a friendly match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Atletico Madrid of Spain.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the historic match tagged `Go Max Cup 2018’ will take place on May 22 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

    Atletico Madrid is one of the best European side form the La Liga football league in Spain.

    The friendly match is being organised by members of the MultiChoice Company, the delegation of the La Liga outfit and members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Adeopoju who spoke to NAN in Lagos on the sidelines of the event said: “I am happy about the development.

    “It is indeed happening at a time when Nigeria needed it most to develop our football and portray the nation in a very good light.

    “Having played in the La liga as well, I think it is a great opportunity for the nation to have a good connection with the kind of development in Spanish football’’.

    Also, Amaju Pinnick, the Nigeria Football Federation President, extolled the leadership of MultiChoice for another opportunity to support the development of football in Nigeria.

    He said that the partnership which was struck back in 2016 had continued to yield pleasant results and that it would be a historic moment for Nigeria’s football.

    Javier Del Rio, the La Liga delegate told NAN that the synergy between Nigeria’s football and the Spanish league was for the development of football at the grassroots.

    He said that since the coming together of the two countries, great development had been achieved, adding that having Atletico Madrid to play in Nigeria was one of them.

    “Atletico Madrid is one of La Liga’s greatest clubs, and coming to Nigeria is aimed at giving fans the chance to enjoy watching their stars close.

    “Africa and Nigeria in particular are very important for us and we know you have a lot of love for Spanish football, something we are proud of.

    “We are interested in partnering with any developmental projects in Nigeria because we believe in the success globally,’’ Del Rio said.

    Martin Mabutho, the General Manager Sales and Marketing MultiChoice Nigeria, said that he was delighted to bring one of the three biggest clubs from La Liga to Nigeria.

    “As you all know Atlético Madrid is one of the top clubs in LaLiga and our customers and indeed, football fans in Nigeria, will have the rare opportunity of watching the stars play the Super Eagles right here on Nigerian soil.

    “We at MultiChoice are undoubtedly the continent’s leader in the coverage of sports and we have repeatedly shown this not only by the exclusive content we broadcast, but also by the way we support sports in Nigeria.

    “We have done well in putting the country on the global sports map through exciting initiatives like the GOtv MAX Cup and backing the friendly match between Nigeria and Atletico Madrid is just one way we intend to doing our job.

    “With the FIFA 2018 World Cup around the corner, the friendly match would go a long way in helping the coach assess the readiness of his team,’’ Mabutho said.

    NAN

  • Super Eagles will be ready for pre-World Cup friendlies – Onazi

    Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has assured that the Super Eagles would be ready to put in their best in pre-World Cup friendlies against the DR Congo, England and the Czech Republic.

    Nigeria host the Leopards of the DR Congo in Port Harcourt on May 28, before a prestige clash with England’s Three Lions at Wembley Stadium in London on June 2.

    They will thereafter go on to have an encounter with the Czech Republic on June 6 at the Rudolf Tonn Stadium, just outside Vienna.

    “We are not focusing on any particular game, and we are getting ready to face all the teams we have to play before the World Cup. It is the right mentality to approach the games.

    “I have been asked several questions about the match against England, but I have been telling people that the England match is very important, just like the other matches that we have to play.

    “What is key for us is to get into the right psychological state to confront every opposition that lie ahead, including those that will be waiting at the FIFA World Cup,” Onazi who plays for Trabzonspor of Turkey told thenff.com, the website of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The former FIFA Under-17 World Cup silver medal-winning midfielder dismissed feelings that the team would be over-confident going into Russia 2018 following victories in friendlies against Argentina and Poland.

    “There is nothing like over-confidence. What I can say is that we are a very ambitious team and we will always be ready to play any team.

    “Yes, we defeated Argentina and Poland, but that has not in any way generated feelings of over-confidence in the camp. We are focused and have our heads on our shoulders.

    “For us, humility and hard work will be the winning words going ahead. Our preparation is going on well and we are happy with that.

    “At the World Cup, we will come up against different teams with different styles and approaches of play. It is important that we are adequately prepared and we appreciate the games that the NFF has lined up for us,” Onazi, who played for Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, said.

    NAN

  • Nigeria will succeed in Russia – Joseph Yobo

    Nigeria will succeed in Russia – Joseph Yobo

    Ex-Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, believes the current squad of the National team will succeed in the forthcoming FIFA world Cup in Russia.

    Yobo spoke on the sidelines of a media parley organised by Multichoice Nigeria on Thursday to unfold its plans to bring the world soccer fiesta to the homes of Nigerians.

    He said that the team should not be intimidated by others in their group — Croatia, Argentina and Iceland.

    The former Everton defender commended the effort of the Coach, Gernot Rohr, in bringing together gifted players to fight for jerseys ahead of the mundial.

    Yobo said he was of the opinion that the challenge in the goalkeeping aspect would be overcome and the team would do the nation proud in Russia.

    He commended DStv for yet again bringing their quality to bear as they prepare to showcase the greatest football fiesta to Nigerians.

    “It feels good to see that they want everybody to be a part of the football show by bringing it to their homes.

    “The reduced tariffs would afford their customers to enjoy and be a part of history, and I believe the current squad of the Super Eagles would excel in Russia,” Yobo said.

     

  • Eagles can still play DR Congo friendly in Abuja – Dalung

    The pre-World Cup friendly between Nigeria and Congo DR in May can only be played outside Abuja if National Stadium is not ready, Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung has said.

    The Nigeria Football Federation had last week said the Super Eagles would play the game at the Adokiye Amasimaka Stadium.

    “We are looking at Port Harcourt if by then we are unable to complete work at the stadium here in Abuja,” Dalung said.

    “As you can see here work has gone far. Port Harcourt remains our Plan B to host the farewell game. The ides is for the players to mop up the blessings and prayers of Nigerians.

    “As for the team’s preparation, we are comfortable with the plans and government is also comfortable with the fund we requested and I believe all things being equal, we shall get deserved response as at when due.”

    Nigeria are in Group D alongside Argentina, Croatia and Iceland at the Russia 2018 World Cup.

  • International friendly: Super Eagles to battle DRC in Port Harcourt

    The Rivers State Government has announced its readiness to host the International Friendly between the Super Eagles and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on May 28, 2018.

    The agreement for the hosting of the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo in Port Harcourt on May 28, 2018 was reached after a high-profile meeting between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinick and Super Eagles Coach, Gerhard Rohr at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting at the Government House, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye said that the state government will do everything possible to ensure that the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium is ready for the International Friendly.

    The State Government thanked the Nigeria Football Federation for their collaboration targeted at the development of football in the country.

    He said: “Governor Wike has done well in terms of funding national sporting events. He hosted the African Wrestling Championship on behalf of the Federal Government. Now he is hosting the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the Federal Government. This is something that is worthy of commendation”.

    Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinick commended the Rivers State Government and the people of the state for their unflinching support for the Super Eagles.

    He said that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is happy with the state of facilities at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium.

    “We are playing on the 28th of May, 2018 against the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the match, the Rivers State Governor will host the two teams to a dinner”, he said.

    He said that the CAF President will watch the International Friendly in Port Harcourt.

    “Everywhere is home to the Super Eagles. Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Kano, Kaduna or Minna. They are Super Eagles of Nigeria and every part is integral to the development of football “, Pinick said.

    The NFF President outlined the World Cup preparation programme of the Super Eagles, saying that the target of the team is to lift the World Cup.

    Super Eagles Coach, Gerhard Rohr said that the Super Eagles need three major international friendlies to be prepared for the World Cup.

    Rohr said that he expects the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium to be fully ready for the Congolese friendly by the next four weeks.

    He said that some key players of the team are injured, adding that those on the injury list will be nurtured to fitness ahead of the World Cup.