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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Russia 2018: 1, 000 supporters club members to cheer Super Eagles — Ikpea

    Russia 2018: 1, 000 supporters club members to cheer Super Eagles — Ikpea

    Samuel Ikpea, National Chairman, Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), on Thursday said the club would take 1,000 of its members to cheer the Super Eagles at Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Ikpea made the disclosure to TheNewsGuru in Lagos while reviewing the club’s preparations for the World Cup holding from June.

    He said the club had set machinery in motion toward ensuring that the supporters club was adequately represented in the quadrennial football fiesta in Russia.

    “We are already mobilising our members for the World Cup in Russia. We have sent messages to the 20 registered member states and Abuja to send 50 of their members for the competition.

    “We have been in the business of doing that for a very long time now, we also have members outside the country and we are ensuring that wherever they are, they are going to Russia.

    “Our Marketing Unit is already saddled with sourcing of funds and the sponsors of our trip to Russia because we are a non-governmental organisation (NGO), so we need to source for the funds.

    “I want to assure Nigerians that we have been doing that for the past 62 years when the club was formed and we will not fail this time around,’’ he told TNG.

    Ikpea said that the club had received little support from the Nigeria Football Federation and the Federal Ministry of Sports, adding that this would not derail its programme in Russia.

    “We have not have not been able to receive any good support from NFF or the Sports Ministry, since the inception of the new government as against the last administration when we received N50 million.

    “We are hoping that since this is a World Cup, something may come out, but we have been talking to various corporate bodies, we have put a machinery in place to achieve that.

    “We have not had any issues like Visa racketeering since the club was formed and to my knowledge of about 16 years in the administration of NFSC, we have yet to record such.

    “We have good understanding with all the embassies as far as visa issuance is concerned and none of our member has ever absconded after competitions. The records are there,’’ he told TNG.

    Ikpea said that the suspended and dismissed members of the club had their fate decided by the congress of the club, a decision which should be respected by all the football stakeholders.

    “There are some people that have been suspended and some dismissed because of their anti-club activities. We have all the evidences against them, including police report.

    “All their actions are well documented and I think every good leader should be able to respect the decision of the congress of any particular entity.

    “We expect that both NFF and the sports ministry should be able to respect the congress on the expelled members but if they chose not to, that is not in consonance with the change mantra.

    “I am aware that those members have chosen to form a parallel supporters club, Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club and Nigeria Athletics Supporters Club. Their actions have truly vindicated us,’’ he said.

    Ikpea said that the suspended and dismissed members had ulterior motives of causing disaffection in the club, adding that since they could not achieve that they went on to form another group.

    “The dismissed members were able to form another group since they cannot achieve their aim of scattering us in NFSC, so they have formed another group.

    “Their actions, I may not be able to clearly state whether they have the support of the Minister of Sports and NFF or not, but they are not part of us.

    “I will advise that they leave the NFSC alone and not destroy what some people have helped to build since 1957 when the club was formed.

    “We don’t have any problem with the NFF and we are ready to work with any administration because supporting the national team is a national symbol more than individual or administration,’’ he said.

    Ikpea said that the club would ensure adequate support for the Eagles with the efforts of its partners, adding that it had no issues with Telecommunications giant, Globacom over sponsorships.

    “As far as we are concerned, World Cup is a target for us and we have set up committees to take care of all the logistics from the flight tickets to hotel accommodation.

    “We have no issues with the Globacom over their sponsorships, in fact, we have a good relationships with them, it’s just that the economic recession in the country may have affected the company.

    “We have sent our proposal to them and we are hoping to have a good response from them and if not, we will look for other sponsors to foot our bills.

    “I use this medium to call on corporate organisations to give their support now that the national team needs it and not until they come with victory then everybody wants to associate with them,’’ he said.

  • NFF expects more commitment from Super Eagles at Russia 2018-Sanusi

    Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), says the federation expects more commitment from the Super Eagles when they campaign at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Sanusi told the NewsGuru in Abuja on Thursday that the football body expects nothing short of this from the team.

    “What we expect from them is what they have been doing before, which is being committed to the job.

    “They have shown a lot of commitment, revealing that they are ready to die for their country and that is why God assisted us to qualify for the World Cup with a match at hand.

    “They have demonstrated that trust and commitment, showing that money is not everything.

    “Even when the money was not there, they played without asking, not to talk of when there is money available.

    “We are now hopeful that they will deliver at the bigger stage in Russia,’’ he said.

    The NFF official also lauded the players for their dedication to the country.

    Nigeria, who became the first African country to qualify for the 32-team mundial with a game to spare, is pitched in Group D alongside familiar foes Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.

  • Enyimba stopper Ezenwa reveals Eagles’ CHAN title ambition

    Enyimba goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa has declared that the Super Eagles have set themselves the target of winning next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco.

    Ezenwa who is captain of the Super Eagles made up of players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) explained that they have been working to improve on their last international outing at the WAFU Cup of Nations in Ghana where they lost in the final game to the hosts in September.

    However the Nigeria stopper knows that starting their first game against Rwanda in Tangier on 15 January on a winning note remains key to their ambition.

    “Last time we played in the final of the WAFU Cup of Nations but unfortunately we lost. Now we are building on improving on that attitude that helped us reach the final when the CHAN begins in Morocco next month. We have agreed among ourselves to make sure that we reach the final and also bring the trophy home this time. But everything starts with the first game as we want to take the tournament one game after another.

    “It is always very important to win your first game in any competition. Rwanda is a good side. We watched them play in the 2016 edition (of the CHAN) and they did quite well. So playing Rwanda won’t be as easy as it looks. We just have to be focused and know why we are there, and make our country proud in 2018,” said Ezenwa to npfl.ng.

    “Yes we can (win the CHAN). At present there is solidarity in the team, we have agreed to stand with each other. Right now that is our goal. Immediately we arrived camp (for the NPFL Invitational Tournament) we had a meeting, just like before we left for the WAFU Cup, we agreed that it is ‘operation must reach the final.’ So among ourselves we have set that target of going out there to make our nation proud.”

    Ezenwa remains a key member of the CHAN-bound Eagles as well as the A-team that qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    npfl

     

  • Nigeria’s latest FIFA ranking will not impede Super Eagles, Onigbinde says

    Akinade Onigbinde, the Coach of FRSC Football Club of Abuja, says Nigeria’s drop in FIFA’s December ranking would not adversely affect the team’s performance before and during the World Cup.

    Onigbinde told Sports Journalist on Friday in Abuja that the Super Eagles have already distinguished themselves as one of the best teams in the world.

    He said the Super Eagles did not just take giant strides in their 2018 World Cup qualifying matches, but also in high-grade friendly matches.

    “Our players are superb. They have proved it at different times, especially during and after the World Cup qualification campaign.

    “I do not know the parameter used in arriving at FIFA’s ranking, but what I know is that the Super Eagles have made us proud and I know they will do better in Russia,’’ Onigbinde said,

    He, however, called on Nigerians not to relent in their support for the Super Eagles before the World Cup, where they are expected to surpass their previous performances.

    TNG reports that Nigeria’s Super Eagles are ranked ninth in Africa’s top 10 by FIFA, while Senegal was ranked first.

  • Super Eagles can excel at Russia 2018 with our abundant youth talents, lawmaker says

    The Super Eagles can excel at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the quality of players Nigeria has all over the world, a sports enthusiast, Stanley Osagie, has said.

    Osagie, a lawmaker in the Edo House of Assembly, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that Nigeria has the advantage of having many overseas-based players.

    “The Super Eagles can shock the whole world in Russia next year. I am not scared of their opponents at all.

    “The team has all the players needed to excel, because of the kind of experience they have playing abroad,’’ he said.

    The APC lawmaker who represents Edo South-East said there was no need to be scared of any threat the likes of Argentina, Croatia and Iceland could pose to the Eagles.

    “They are countries like us. We have what they have, and even more than what they have.

    “If we play well, we will go places in Russia. I am confident about that,’’ he said.

    Osagie noted that quality players abound in many parts of the country, and praised Greenbox Facilities Limited for organising a novelty match to expose hidden talents.

    TNG reports that the Abuja-based company had on Saturday organised the match for its staff, with Team A beating Team B 4-1 after coming from a goal down.

    Cephas Ishaku had in the 19th minute put Team B ahead, before Daniel Gabriel drew Team A level in the 35th minute.

    Moses Ogbu put Team A in the lead in the 41st minute of the 70-minute game, and he extended the lead in the 54th minute.

    Daudu Zaki put the game beyond their opponents with four minutes to go.

    Osagie later described the match and its organisation as encouraging, saying it was a good show of what the youths can do.

    “The players’ performance is exciting, and it is encouraging that we have such talents in the country.

    “With their youthfulness, I believe they can go places,’’ he said.

    The lawmaker who took the match’s ceremonial kick-off also praised the match’s organisers, Greenbox Facilities, for the initiative.

    “If other private organisations can come up with this kind of initiative, Nigeria will be better for it.

    “Greenbox Facilities has pointed the way forward, for us to see new talents and even help out the unemployed,’’ he said.

  • CHAN Eagles, MFM face off in NPFL Invitational final

    African Nations Championship (CHAN) bound Super Eagles and last season’s runners-up in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) MFM FC will go toe to toe in the final game of the NPFL Invitational Tournament in Kano on Sunday.

    The Super Eagles managed by Salisu Yusuf are the only side that have won a match at the tournament since it began on 11 December at the Sani Abacha Stadium with the five other games ending in stalemates.

     

    Yusuf’s men played out a goalless draw with NPFL champions Plateau United on Day 2 of the competition before edging Enyimba 1-0 through a sumptuous Sunday Faleye finish in the first game of Day 3 on Friday to book their place in the final. The national team are also the only team yet to concede a goal.

    MFM are without a win in the tournament but have scored the most goals, being two. Both goals were scored by Adegboyega Adekunle as they were held by Akwa United and Kano Pillars in their group games by similar scoreline of 1-1.

    LOW-SCORING TOURNAMENT

    It has been a tournament with fewer goals. The two finalists have a combine of three goals between them which accounts for 43 per cent of the total goal scored. So far, seven goals have been scored in six matches averaging 1.16 goal per game.

    Despite the low-scoring stats, MFM forward Adekunle has been responsible for two of the seven goals. His tally means he has accounted for 29 per cent of the total goals netted in the tournament with Faleye, Chinedu Udeagha, Tosin Omoyele, Ajibola Otegbeye and Alassan Ibrahim scoring one each.

    HOW THEY MIGHT PLAY

    Nonetheless the low-scoring return is expected not to influence the selection of the coaches of the two teams. It is expected that MFM manager Fidelis Ilechukwu will stick to the group that played the last game against Kano Pillars.

    For the Super Eagles, Yusuf has dropped the hint that there could be a change in the goalkeeping area with Theophilus Afelokhai starting after Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye featured in the games against Plateau United and Enyimba respectively.

    The coaches will further use this game to assess their teams as they prepare for two different African competitions, the CHAN and the CAF Champions League.

  • Super Eagles quality will do Africa proud at Russia 2018 – Hadji Diouf

    Former Senegal forward, El Hadji Diouf, believes the Super Eagles possess the quality to have a memorable outing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Three-time African champions, Nigeria, who will be making their sixth appearance at the mundial, are among the five African countries that made it to the Russia 2018.

    They have been drawn in Group D, along with Argentina, Croatia and Iceland.

    Gernot Rohr’s charges have some exciting talents in their rank, with the likes of Chelsea’s Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Odion Ighalo, and Wilfred Ndidi expected to make a big impact for team at the global soccer fiesta.

    “Nigeria have a top quality team, and I see them doing well in Russia. There is Victor Moses at Chelsea, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and lots of other exciting talents in the team,” Diouf, a former Liverpool star disclosed this in Kano where he featured for African Legends team against Kano Pillars in a charity fundraiser match.

    “If they play to their potentials and pay attention to details they will have a good time in Russia.

    “They did great in the qualifiers and to qualify without problem from a group that has Cameroon and Algeria it is not a small feat.

    ” Personally, I look forward to seeing the Super Eagles play in Russia, same for other African countries too.”

    The Super Eagles will face Croatia on June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium in their opening game of Russia 2018.

    Their second group game is against Iceland on June 22 at the Volgograd Arena, while their last group fixture is against Argentina at the Krestovsky Stadium, St.Petersburg.

  • Super Eagles will win CHAN Trophy – Super Eagles Head Coach

    Super Eagles Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf, has pledged to lead the team to clinch the CHAN trophy as the preparation for the competition begins in Kano on Monday with the annual Super Six competition. Salisu said his team would strive to begin the World Cup year by winning the trophy in Morocco.

    The 5th African Nations Championship is scheduled for Morocco from January 13 to February 14, 2018. “Winning the championship is paramount on my mind. We have been missing it since inauguration and hope to begin the World Cup year on a fashionable note,” he said.

    He said that the Super Six would give him the ample opportunity to reassess the players as new ones from the competition would be added to the team. Thirty players are already invited to Kano for the first phase of the preparations. The 2014 CHAN bronze medallists would test strength with the nation’s leading domestic clubs in the annual Super Six Tournament.

    Super Eagles goalie Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Stephen Eze, Osas Okoro and Adeleye Olamilekan, midfielders Afeez Aremu, Rabiu Ali and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi as well as forwards Kingsley Eduwo, Sikiru Olatubosun and Anthony Okpotu are among those who will battle for shirts.

    The glamour Super Six Tournament, traditionally organized to set Nigeria’s flag-bearers in continental competitions in battle mood after the lull and inactivity of the post –season break, will this year welcome NPFL reigning champions Plateau United, MFM FC, Akwa United FC, homers Kano Pillars and Enyimba FC, as well as the Super Eagles B. Nigeria will tackle 2014 champions Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage at the 5th African Nations Championship. The matches of Group C will be played in Tangier.

    Breaking Times

  • Nigerians scared of me – Aguero

    Although Nigeria defeated Argentina 4-2 in a recent friendly game in Russia, the Albiceleste striker, Kun Aguero still rates the Super Eagles as the weakest team in Group B of the 2018 World Cup.

    Aguero started and scored one goal in the game before he was withdrawn due to ill-health. Argentina was leading 2-1 before Aguero’s exit and according to the Manchester City striker, the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal affected his teammates, who later succumbed to Nigeria.

    He told Lbero, “The second half against Nigeria I could not see, because I was in the Hospital, but when they told me how it panned out, I asked, ‘what happened?

    “That happens sometimes, it was because they thought of me, they were scared, I do not know.”He described the other teams in the group as descent, picking out Croatia as the team likely to trouble Argentina in Russia.

    “The rivals are not bad, but let’s not say it’s very good for us, Iceland is one of the debutants, they do not play badly, they are a very organized team and they have (Gylfi) Sigurðsson.

    ”They are the first two games, they are the most important, they will not be easy.“Croatia have a great midfield, they have Modric, Rakitic, you have Perisic, who plays outside and he’s very fast, Croatia is a bit more complete.”

    Meanwhile, former U-20 national team coach, John Obuh has urged the Eagles’ handlers to use the Super Six pre-season championship slated for next week in Kano to discover more players for inclusion in the CHAN bound team.

    Obuh noted that the inclusion of the CHAN Eagles in the Super Six Championship is a good platform for the players to blend properly ahead of the continental showpiece, adding that selecting the best players in the domestic league to play against their various clubs would expose the coaches to more talented players.

    Obuh also noted that the coaches needed to give every player the opportunity to fight for a place in the CHAN team, adding that it would not be a good omen for the country if the Eagles team B failed in the CHAN after playing in the WAFU final.

    Meanwhile, Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye has disclosed that the invited players for the Super Six Championship are expected to be in Kano on Monday.

    Soccernet

  • Nigeria’s Super Eagles are unpredictable, Argentinian Superstar reveals

    Former Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastien Veron has said he is not happy with the Russia 2018 World Cup draw pitting Nigeria against his country in Group D.

    Veron, who helped Argentina beat the Super Eagles 1-0 in their group match at the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, labelled Nigerian an “unpredictable” team.

    Nigeria defeated Argentina 4-2 in a friendly game in Krasnodar, Russia, last month but Veron said the result would not affect the South American nation when both teams play at the World Cup.

    “Nigeria is unpredictable. They always come to us in the group. African players are actually unstable and depend on what they have a day before and how they feel ahead of the game,” OwngoalNigeria.com quoted the former Manchester United midfielder as telling Dnevno.

    “Croatia is not bad, it has players in strong clubs in Europe. They should not be underestimated. We are stronger than them, but we should be careful.”

    Breaking Times