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Tag: Super Eagles

  • Int’l Friendly: Dessers, Lookman score as Super Eagles defeat 10-man Ghana 2-1 in Marrakech

    Int’l Friendly: Dessers, Lookman score as Super Eagles defeat 10-man Ghana 2-1 in Marrakech

    Cyriel Dessers scored from the Penalty Spot inside 38 minute, while Ademola Lookman added the second in the 84th minute  to earn Super Eagles a win  in today’s international friendly against the Black Stars of Ghana.

    Super Eagles was awarded a penalty in the 34th minute after the center referee from Morocco, Jalal  spotted an infringement against the Black Stars of Ghana.

    Interim Coach, Finidi George continued with the 3-4-3 formation adopted for the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON by former coach, Jose Peseiro.

    The Black Stars had an opportunity to equalize in the 42nd minute, when Antoine Semenyo was clear on goal but his shot went over the goal path.

    Upon resumption of the second half, Kelechi Iheanacho blew the Super Eagles opportunity to add to their tally when his shot went straight to the waiting hands of the Ghana goalie.

    However, in the 56th minute, the Black Stars went one man down when defender, Jerome Opoku was red carded for a very innocuous collision when challenging for a corner in the Super Eagles penalty area.

    Meanwhile, another opportunity fell to Dessers but he blew a goal scoring chance in the 62nd minute of the thrilling encounter.

    In the 84th minute, Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman received a pass from the right flank and fired a shot that beat the Ghana goalie for Nigeria’s second goal of the night.

    Late in the match, Moroccan referee spotted an infringement against the Super Eagles and awarded a penalty to the Black Stars, Jordan Ayew stepped up to convert it with a right footed shot that beat Super Eagles goalie Stanley Nwabali.

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria missed a lot of Key players in this encounter with the likes of Troost Ekong, Victor Boniface,  Ola Aina all unavailable due to injury.

    The Super Eagles’ next match will be on Tuesday in Marrakech  when they face the Eagles of Mali in the second international friendly match in March.

  • Eagles, Black Stars duel in Marrakech with World Cup qualifiers in mind

    Eagles, Black Stars duel in Marrakech with World Cup qualifiers in mind

    Nigeria and Ghana will clash in a prestige international friendly match in Morocco on Friday with the minds of players of both teams attuned to their Matchday 3 and 4 encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifying campaign in the first week of June.

    The Super Eagles, with only two points from a possible six in their first two matches, entertain South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Uyo before squaring up to the Cheetahs of Benin Republic away in the Matchday 3 and 4 games. Ghana’s Black Stars, with three points from beating Madagascar and losing away to Comoros, are up against Les Aigles of Mali in Bamako before hosting Central African Republic during the same international window.

    While Nigeria are in Group C of the FIFA World Cup race alongside South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho, Ghana are housed in Group I with Mali, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros Islands and Chad.

    Both teams, with seven AFCON titles between them, will duel without their top-impact players. Reigning African Player of the Year Victor James Osimhen, Nigeria’s major fear-carrier to the opposition, has had to scratch the big game due to an injury, same as his opposite number in the Black Stars camp, Mohammed Kudus.

    The Black Stars will also play Uganda’s Cranes in Morocco, while the Super Eagles are up against Ghana’s group mates Mali on Tuesday.

    Both Nigeria and Ghana were tied 0-0 in their last friendly game – played in London in October 2011.

    Just as Thomas Partey’s first-half strike that went past Francis Uzoho’s flailing arms sent Ghana to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in a 1-1 draw with Nigeria in Abuja on 29th March 2022, Asamoah Gyan’s header that flew past Vincent Enyeama in Luanda on 28th January 2010 sent Ghana to the AFCON final and Nigeria to the third-place match.

    The Super Eagles have not beaten the Black Stars in an official match since the latter fell to a well-taken free-kick by Taye Taiwo in an AFCON group phase encounter in Port Said, Egypt 18 years ago.

    On Friday, opportunity arises for new heroes to emerge as Nigeria bank on AFCON 2023 stars Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon, as well as Kelechi Iheanacho and Sadiq Umar at the fore to light up the Grand Stade de Marrakech.

    Italy-based Lookman’s three goals sent Cameroon (two) and Angola (one) packing from the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire and sent Nigeria to the last four.

    Cyriel Dessers, who scored a delight against Mexico in a friendly in Dallas in the summer of 2022, and Nathan Tella are also available to Coach Finidi George.

    At the rear, George is likely to stick to AFCON 2023 number one Stanley Nwabali in goal, and perhaps Chidozie Awaziem, Kenneth Omeruo, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Jamilu Collins behind a midfield of Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka or Alhassan Yusuf.

  • Int’l Friendlies: Black Stars intensify preparation for Super Eagles

    Int’l Friendlies: Black Stars intensify preparation for Super Eagles

    About Twenty-three players have hit the Black Stars of Ghana camp  in Morocco to intensify preparations for Friday’s friendly against the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Tuesday’s game against the Cranes of Uganda.

    The Black Stars  players are currently at the team’s training camp in Marrakech, Morocco.

    The four-time African champions have been having their workout at the Marrakech Sports City training facility.

    Recall that the  Black Stars opened camp on Monday with 13 players.

    The rest of the squad reported on Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening.

    The first game against Nigeria will be played at the Grande de Stade Marrakech.

     

     

  • Our objective is to get good results against Ghana and Mali – Finidi George

    Our objective is to get good results against Ghana and Mali – Finidi George

    Coach Finidi George has told thenff.com that the principal objective of African vice champions Nigeria is to earn good results in the upcoming friendly games against Ghana and Mali’s senior teams, scheduled for the city of Marrakech in Morocco.

    Looking ahead to Friday’s clash with four-time African champions Ghana, the two-time World Cup star reiterated that the Super Eagles are presently in high station in African football, having finished as runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, and everything must be done to maintain that status and even exceed it.

    “We finished in second place at the Africa Cup of Nations and everyone expects us to maintain that high rating and be even better in a short while. Our objective is to get good results in these two matches and stay positive ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

    “They call it friendly matches but there is really nothing friendly when you play, especially Ghana. I have been involved in matches against Ghana since the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal. Matches between our countries are serious duels and always seen as battles by our peoples. The Black Stars did not perform that well at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and they will be keen to banish that memory.”

    Finidi George won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals, and won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments. His first AFCON encounter against Ghana was on 23rd January 1992, in a semi-final encounter that the Black Stars won 2-1.

    Afterwards, the pacy winger was involved when both teams played out a barren draw in a friendly in Lagos in March 1994; a 0-0 draw in Accra in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier; a 3-0 win for Nigeria in Port Harcourt that sent Nigeria through to Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup and; a 1-0 win for Nigeria in an AFCON quarter-final match in Bamako in 2002.

    “We will be missing four players who have pulled out due to injury but I have confidence in the team that we have here that they will wear the green-white-green with pride and with patriotic fervour.”

    As of Wednesday morning, only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel was being expected in the Adam Park Hotel of the Eagles in Marrakech, with 21 players having settled in.

    Ghana will also be led by a renowned former international, Otto Addo, who has just been recalled for a second stint in charge of the Black Stars.

    Friday’s match will be the 60th encounter between both countries, since a Jalco Cup match on 20th October 1951 ended 5-0 in favour of Nigeria. Twenty of the previous 59 duels have ended in draws, including their last two encounters (2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches) in March 2022.

    Their last friendly match, in London on 11th October 2011, ended scoreless.

    NIGERIA, GHANA IN HISTORY

     

    20 0ct 1951 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 5 Ghana 0

    11 Oct 1953 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    30 Oct 1954 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

    30 Oct 1955 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 7 Nigeria 0

    27 Oct 1956 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

    27 Oct 1957 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 3

    25 Oct 1958 (Jalco Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 2

    10 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1

    26 Oct 1959 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

    22 Nov 1959 (Jalco Cup): Ghana 5 Nigeria 2

    28 Aug 1960 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

    10 Sep 1960 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

    9 Oct 1960 (Nkrumah Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 3

    29 Oct 1960 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1

    8 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    30 Apr 1961 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 2 Nigeria 2

    17 Dec 1961 (Friendly): Ghana 5 Nigeria 1

    10 Nov 1962 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    23 Feb 1963 (Nkrumah Cup); Ghana 5 Nigeria 0

    30 Oct 1965 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 0 Ghana 4

    7 Nov 1965 (Zik Cup): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0

    23 Jan 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

    12 Feb 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0

    22 Oct 1967 (Zik Cup): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

    23 Dec 1967 (Zik Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 2

    10 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1

    18 May 1969 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1

    8 Jan 1973 (All-Africa Games): Nigeria 4 Ghana 2

    10 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 2 Ghana 3 – abandoned, match awarded 2-0 to Ghana

    25 Feb 1973 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    11 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 1 Ghana 0

    17 Aug 1974 (Festival): Nigeria 0 Ghana 1

    24 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

    30 Aug 1975 (Festival): Ghana 3 Nigeria 0

    4 Sep 1977 (Ecowas Cup): Nigeria 2 Ghana 1

    8 Mar 1978 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 1

    21 July 1978 (All-Africa Games): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    1 May 1983 (ECA Anniversary): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    15 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    30 Oct 1983 (Olympics Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

    5 Mar 1984 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 2

    27 July 1986 (Friendly): Ghana 2 Nigeria 0

    2 Sep 1990 (AFCON Qualifier): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    13 Apr 1991 (AFCON Qualifier): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    23 Jan 1992 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

    9 Mar 1994 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    28 Aug 1999 (Friendly): Nigeria 0 Ghana 0

    11 Mar 2001 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    29 July 2001 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 3 Ghana 0

    3 Feb 2002 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

    15 Dec 2002 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

    30 May 2003 (LG Cup): Nigeria 3 Ghana 1

    23 Jan 2006 (AFCON): Ghana 0 Nigeria 1

    6 Feb 2007 (Friendly): Ghana 4 Nigeria 1

    3 Feb 2008 (AFCON): Ghana 2 Nigeria 1

    28 Jan 2010 (AFCON): Ghana 1 Nigeria 0

    11 Oct 2011 (Friendly): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    25 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Ghana 0 Nigeria 0

    29 Mar 2022 (WC Qualifier): Nigeria 1 Ghana 1

  • Int’l Friendly: Number of Super Eagles players in camp swells to 22

    Int’l Friendly: Number of Super Eagles players in camp swells to 22

    All invited players for the upcoming international friendly matches between the Super Eagles and the Back Stars of Ghana and the Eagles of Mali have all hit camp.

    Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Frank Onyeka, Francis Uzoho, Chidozie Awaziem and Bright Osayi-Samuel all arrived the team’s camp on Wednesday (today) to swell up the number.

    Interim head coach, Finidi George now has all the 22 invited players at his disposal.

    The new arrivals are expected to train with their teammates later on Wednesday evening.

    The session which is expected to last for an hour will start at 4:30 pm local time.

    Full List of Super Eagles players in Camp

    Stanley Nwabali, Ojo Olorunleke, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Benjamin Tanino, Alhassan Yusuf, Alex Iwobi , Fisayo Dele -Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika,
    Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, Sadiq Umar, Nathan Tella,
    Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Francis Uzoho, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidozie Awaziem

  • Int’l friendlies: Finidi George opens up on his goal for Super Eagles

    Int’l friendlies: Finidi George opens up on his goal for Super Eagles

    Super Eagles Coach, Finidi George says, his goal is to ensure that his team perform very well in their upcoming international friendly games, so as to make Nigerians proud.

    George will occupy the chief’s corner in the dugout when the Super Eagles confront West African arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly on Friday.

    This was after he was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday to hold the reins in the meantime, following the exit of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.

    This is coming 21 months after he began to understudy Peseiro, who led the Eagles to the second position at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

    The African vice champions are expected to also confront Les Aigles of Mali in a second friendly game at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech, Morocco on March 26.

    “As a coach, there’s a huge responsibility that comes with the job, but that’s what we do. You have to be calm and do your job and ensure you do it properly.

    “We know a lot of Nigerians are watching. So, we want to make them proud. The AFCON is gone and these are two games that are very crucial to Nigeria.

    “So we will take it very seriously and make sure we get the best out of these games,” George said.

    George, a former Ajax player will be leading a group of 22 Super Eagles players.

    He will be looking to tune-up their skills, tactics and strategy in this month’s international window ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.

    The coach had his first training session with the team on Tuesday in Marrakech as they were put through their paces.

    No fewer than 14 out of the 22 players expected at the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech, took part in some light work outs.

    However, defenders Gabriel Osho and Tyronne Ebuehi, as well as forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi have been ruled out of the friendlies, having been knocked out by injuries.

    “The training has been good even though we are still waiting for some players, but the players that are here now have done a good job in training.

    “It was not that intense because some of them (the players) are just coming in from their travels. But it’s been a good feeling, the team spirit is good. So I am happy about that,” the coach said.

  • Meet Super Eagles interim coach, Finidi George

    Meet Super Eagles interim coach, Finidi George

    Former Nigeria forward Finidi George will occupy the chief’s corner in the dugout when the Super Eagles confront West African arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly in Marrakech on Friday.

    The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) winger, who made a scoring debut for fatherland in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991, has been appointed by the NFF to hold the reins in the meantime as a group of 22 players take on Ghana and Mali in this month’s international window.

    On his debut in 1991, George, who also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe, scored one and made four assists for legendary ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), and also assisted the latter to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994.

    Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.

    On Friday, George, from a family of football stars (elder brother Alari and younger brother Igeniwari of blessed memory were established players), will bellow instructions from the touchline, 21 months after he began to understudy Portuguese José Santos Peseiro, who led the Eagles to runner-up position at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year.

    As at Tuesday lunchtime, 12 of the 22 players expected had arrived in Morocco’s fourth-largest city, with defenders Gabriel Osho and Tyronne Ebuehi, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi having been knocked out by injury.

    At the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Benjamin Tanimo, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.

    Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho were being expected in Marrakech by Tuesday. Only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is being expected on Wednesday.

    The African vice champions will also take on the Les Aigles of Mali at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, 26th March.

  • Int’l Friendly: Iwobi, Nwabali, eight others storm Super Eagles

    Int’l Friendly: Iwobi, Nwabali, eight others storm Super Eagles

    Ten key players have hit the Super Eagles camp in Morocco ahead of the two international friendly games with the Eagles of Mali and the Black Stars of Ghana.

    The early arrivals in camp are Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Stanley Nwabali, Jamilu Collins, and Bruno Onyemaechi.

    The other players in camp are Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and Fisayo Dele -Bashiru.

    The remaining 16 players are being expected in camp between now and Thursday.

    The players will have their first training session at 4:30pm local time.

    The Super Eagles will take on Ghana at the Grand de Stade Marrakech on Friday, March 22.

    The three-time African champions will face Mali four days later at the same venue.

  • Int’l Friendly: Black Stars getting ready for Super Eagles as 13 players hit camp

    Int’l Friendly: Black Stars getting ready for Super Eagles as 13 players hit camp

    Ahead of the much anticipated friendly game between the Black stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria, about thirteen Ghana players have hit camp in Marrakech, Morocco

    The players include Joseph Wollacott, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Andre Ayew, Tariq Lamptey, and Antoine Semenyo.

    Others are Kassim Nuhu , Abdul Samed Salis, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Patrick Kpozo, Seidu Alidu, Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew, and Denis Odoi.

    Videos and pictures show the Black stars players working out on Tuesday morning in preparation for the two games.

    Thirteen more players are still being expected in camp.

    Ghana will face eternal rivals Nigeria in their first friendly at the Grande de Marrakech on Friday.

    The Black Stars will also line up against the Cranes of Uganda at the same venue next week Tuesday.

  • Int’l Break: Finidi set to lead Super Eagles against Ghana, Mali, meets with team officials

    Int’l Break: Finidi set to lead Super Eagles against Ghana, Mali, meets with team officials

    The Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) has confirmed that Finidi George will coach the Super Eagles of Nigeria  against the Black stars of Ghana and the Eagles of Mali in the forthcoming  international break.

    It would be recalled that the Super Eagles have been without a head coach ever since Jose Peseiro announced his departure few weeks ago.

    The Portuguese gaffer couldn’t reach an agreement with NFF over contract renewal hence he left the team.

    The NFF then put on a notice asking for applications for the vacant role.

    According to a post on the Super Eagles X platform, coach Finidi met with the Super Eagles team  officials ahead of the two international friendly games this weekend.

    “Coach George Finidi has held a meeting with Super Eagles team officials as he leads the Super Eagles in international friendlies against Ghana and Mali #SoarSuperEagles.” The post reads