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Tag: Super Eagles

  • AFCON 2023: Francis Uzoho reacts over goalkeeping duty snub

    AFCON 2023: Francis Uzoho reacts over goalkeeping duty snub

    Super Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho has said the goalkeeping position was very competitive, and required everyone to be at his best.

    Uzoho, who made this known in an interview, stressed the job of a goalkeeper was a tough and difficult one.

    The Omonoia FC of Cyprus keeper said this in reaction to criticisms over his performance with the national team.

    “I am thankful to the coaching staff for helping me to pull through the noise from the outside,” Uzoho said on Tuesday in Abidjan.

    He explained that the relationship between the three goalkeepers in the Eagles camp was healthy and that all of them were working together as professionals.

    “We have relationships outside the field of play, it is a healthy relationship and we are all good goalkeepers playing for our various clubs.

    “We have to support each other, I supported Stanley Nwabali in training and outside training.

    “I was very happy for him to get his debut in AFCON and I think he did well, it is a good decision for the coach to have options,” Uzoho said.

  • Côte d’Ivoire vs Nigeria: Peseiro sweating over Osimhen, Yusuf

    Côte d’Ivoire vs Nigeria: Peseiro sweating over Osimhen, Yusuf

    Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Jose Peseiro, says Victor Osimhen is likely to play against host Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday in Abidjan.

    Peseiro, who made this known in an interview on Tuesday in Abidjan, said the Napoli FC of Italy striker complained when he arrived for training on Monday.

    He, however, expressed hope that the African footballer of the year would be fit to face Côte d’Ivoire.

    The Portuguese said he wasn’t sure if Alhassan Yusuf would be available as he had gone for a scan and the result was being awaited.

    “When he told me, I prefered him doing nothing, it’s prevention, only that. But for Yusuf he left the match injured.

    “He is doing a scan now, no reality yet of what is happening to him, I hope nothing bad happened,” Peseiro said.

    Recall the Super Eagles came from a goal down on Sunday to force Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the competition.

    The Super Eagles will have OC Nice FC of France striker, Terem Moffi, Leicester City of England playmaker, Kelechi Iheanacho to choose from when the three-time African champion face the host, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, on Thursday.

  • AFCON 2023: We will cage Super Eagles – Côte d’Ivoire coach boasts

    AFCON 2023: We will cage Super Eagles – Côte d’Ivoire coach boasts

    Head Coach of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, Jean Louis Gasset says his team is confident of clipping the wings of the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their epic clash on Thursday in Abidjan.

    The coach said this on Tuesday at a news conference, ahead of the match on Thursday in Abidjan.

    He said the technical team has done it’s home work and has a perfect plan on how to neutralise the strength of the Super Eagles, which lies in their potent attack force.

    “Regarding our second match, we know the strengths of Nigeria, they have an impressive offensive armada.

    “They have the best African player in their squad, but against them, we will have to raise our game, and I know my players will do it because I know you have  to win that first game to be released,” he said.

    The Elephants of Cote D’ivoire defeated Guinea-Bissau in their opening match by 2-0, to shoot to the top of Group A with three points.

    While the Super Eagles struggled to a 1-1 draw against lowly rated Equatorial Guinea in their opening encounter to sit third on the table, jointly on one point with Equatorial Guinea.

    The match will take place at the 60,000 capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

  • AFCON 2023: How we can defeat Côte d’Ivoire – Super Eagles coach, Peseiro

    AFCON 2023: How we can defeat Côte d’Ivoire – Super Eagles coach, Peseiro

    Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has emphasised the need for the team to convert their chances in the second match against hosts Côte d’Ivoire at the ongoing 2023 AFCON.

    Peseiro, who said this in an interview on Tuesday in Abidjan, ahead of the crucial clash on Thursday against the Ivorians, rued the missed chances against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match.

    The Super Eagles coach assured of a more composed outing against the Ivorians, who currently top the group.

    “Our team created a lot of chances in our last game, but we scored only one goal.

    “If you want to win AFCON, you must be ready to face tough oppositions. So, we are ready, Cote d’Ivoire is a good team and one of the favourites.

    “If we create the same opportunities and take our chances, then we have a better chance of winning against Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.

    The gaffer said the technical crew was working round the clock to perfect strategies and ensure victory in the make or mar match.

    He, however, appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the team and not engage in criticism that could dampen the morale of the players.

    The team struggled to convert the numerous chances created in their 1-1 draw against a resilient Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

  • AFCON 2023: Alhassan set to miss Group A encounter against host nation, Cote D’Ivoire

    AFCON 2023: Alhassan set to miss Group A encounter against host nation, Cote D’Ivoire

    Baring last minute change of mind, Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro may not field Nigerian midfieder, Alhassan Yusuf against the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

    Recall that Yusuf  sustained a thigh injury in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

    However, the injury is not serious, and he is expected to be available for the Super Eagles final group game against Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau.

    The 23-year-old missed training on Monday and Tuesday due to the setback.

    Head coach Jose Peseiro has a number of options to pick from in midfield.

    Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho are all available for selection against the Ivorian national team.

  • Eagles: Our medical team approached Sadiq Umar’s case with every sense of professionalism

    Eagles: Our medical team approached Sadiq Umar’s case with every sense of professionalism

    The camp of Nigeria’s senior men football team, Super Eagles has decried reports in sections of the media that have continued to garnish the medical case of Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar with conspiracy theories, incorrect assumptions and unbecoming insinuations. The camp has released a statement with regards to how the player was withdrawn from Nigeria’s squad for the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals ongoing in Cote d’Ivoire.

     

    We are surprised at the news trending on social media concerning Sadiq Umar and how he was withdrawn from the team camp. The fact is that our medical team meticulously abided by the best medical procedures and were diligent in their processes and conclusions before advising Head Coach José Peseiro that the player be withdrawn from the squad.

     

    The player, Sadiq Umar, was okay when he arrived at camp; he had to undergo the standard pre-competition medical assessment and he was good. He started to train with the team. Unfortunately, he copped an injury on the back of his left knee during our friendly match against Guinea in Abu Dhabi on 8th January, that led to a penalty against our opponents. The medical team advised that he substituted, as a cautionary measure, but he said he was fine and could continue the game. At half time, he said he reiterated that he was good to continue playing, and he played the entire 90 minutes.

     

    However, the following day, he woke up to see the knee swelling, and the medical team had to apply ice which is the normal thing. The same day, we had to travel to Lagos and on the 10th January, flew to Abidjan. Then, the swelling became worse.

     

    Most of the reports we have seen are not a true representation of what actually happened. We have a very competent medical team who are well-trained in sport and exercise medicine and highly experienced and exposed to the most modern techniques and practices. They followed all due processes and protocol in tandem with the consultant knee surgeon that the player himself contacted in Spain, before the decision was made in the interest of the nation and the career of the player.

     

    As much as the medical team has refused to join issues with anyone due to their professional patience and privacy policy, we will not allow anyone to rubbish our collective responsibility as Team Nigeria to this Africa Cup of Nations championship. We reiterate that the player was carried along throughout the process, and he started his rehabilitation with the team physiotherapist before he returned to his club in Spain.    

  • AFCON 2023: Eagles look forward to ‘interesting encounter’ with Elephants

    AFCON 2023: Eagles look forward to ‘interesting encounter’ with Elephants

    Nigeria’s playing body has long concluded a diagnosis of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with neighbours Equatorial Guinea and looking very much forward to what they believe will be an ‘interesting encounter’ with host nation Cote d’Ivoire at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.

     

    The table-topping Elephants, two-time champions of the continental competition, will look to book an early Round of 16 ticket by defeating Nigeria at the newly-built Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe, while three-time champions and podium appearance-leaders Nigeria, joint-second on the group A log, are determined to wrestle all the points and enhance their prospects of a slot in the knockout rounds.

     

    Defender William Ekong, who led out the squad on Sunday, has appealed to Nigerians from all walks of life to keep supporting the team as they seek for all three points against the hosts on their own turf on Thursday evening.

     

    “We went all out to pick the three points against Equatorial Guinea, but it didn’t happen. We live to fight another day. From our side, we are appealing to Nigerians from all over the world to keep supporting and believing in the team. Our objective is to first reach the knockout rounds and then we push strongly from there.”

     

    Nigeria created opportunity after opportunity against the Thunder, but poor finishing ensured a 1-1 draw and share of the spoils on Sunday afternoon.

     

    Coach José Peseiro has been provided with options in the fore with the arrivals of Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi, and the camp believes strongly that the team that scored 22 goals in qualifying (more than any other team in the series) could start firing better on Sunday.

     

    “We expect a tough game because the Ivorians are the hosts and they are also top of our group. But we have our aspirations as well and we believe in ourselves,” defender Kenneth Omeruo said on Monday.

     

    Half of the squad spent Monday morning in the gym before the evening training session, which was open to the media.

     

    The stature of Thursday’s encounter has been enhanced by current realities around the two teams, but it was always going to be a game to behold since the draw was made, as matches between both countries at senior level have been furious and feisty on the terrain, and even outside it.

     

    Both countries first clashed at the Africa Cup of Nations when Nigeria hosted in 1980. The encounter at the National Stadium, Surulere ended scoreless, and it was Nigeria’s second game (as it will be on Thursday) of the tournament. The Eagles had to defeat Egypt in their third match to qualify for the semi finals (in which they pipped Morocco 1-0) to make progress, and eventually win the trophy for the first time.

     

    Ten years later, both countries again clashed in the group phase, with Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) scoring the match’s only goal after just three minutes in Annaba. The Eagles eventually made it to the Final, losing 0-1 to the host nation, Algeria.

     

    In 1994, both teams clashed in the semi-finals at the Stade El Menzah in Tunis. It ended in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, with petite Michel Bassole scoring for the Ivorians and Yekini and Benedict Iroha netting for Nigeria. Yekini scored the winning penalty for the Eagles, and Nigeria notched her second crown by defeating Zambia 2-1 in the Final

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

    In 2006, both teams met in the semi-finals in Alexandria, with the Ivorians running away 1-0 winners. Two years later, the Ivorians were again 1-0 winners after Salomon Kalou scored the only goal in a group phase encounter in the Ghanaian city of Sekondi.

     

    In 2013, on their way to a third triumph, the Eagles edged the Elephants 2-1 in a quarter-final like no other at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba scored for Nigeria.

     

    In-between, there have been FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures, the most memorable of which remain the two matches between both teams in the race to USA 1994.

     

    In Abidjan on 2nd May, 1993, Yekini scored after only five minutes, but Abdoulaye Traore and Ibrahim Ouattara got the goals that gave the Elephants victory at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny. In Lagos four months later, goals by Yekini (a brace), Daniel Amokachi and Thompson Oliha handed Nigeria a 4-1 win. The Eagles went ahead to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals.

  • AFCON 2023: I’m disappointed in myself for conceding against Equatorial Guinea – Super Eagles goalie, Stanley Nwabili (Video)

    AFCON 2023: I’m disappointed in myself for conceding against Equatorial Guinea – Super Eagles goalie, Stanley Nwabili (Video)

    Super Eagles number one goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili  has said that he’s very disappointed in himself for conceding a goal in Nigeria’s opening group A match against Equatorial Guinea.

    According, to the Chippa United goalie, he shouldn’t have conceded against the Nzalang Nacional  of Equatorial  Guinea.

    I think i blame myself for not communicating properly with my defenders before the goal was scored.

    However, the goalie has assured Nigerian fans that he will put up his best against the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire on Thursday, January 18th.

    Nwabili said that the whole team will their best foot forward to ensure that victory is recorded against Cote D’ Ivoire.

    Asked if speculations flying around about him leaving his present club Chippa United to the Kaizers Chief of South Africa is true, Nwabili noted that it’s just a mere speculation that he wouldn’t want to distract himself with at the moment.

    See video below:

     

     

  • AFCON 2023: Osimhen, Yusuf benched as Super Eagles return to training

    AFCON 2023: Osimhen, Yusuf benched as Super Eagles return to training

    The duo of Victor Osimhen and Alhassan Yusuf were not part of training on Monday as the Super Eagles returned to training after their 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in Abidjan.

    Although the duo turned up for the training, they were barred from participating in the exercise.

    A correspondent covering the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire reports that Osimhen complained to the coaching crew immediately after the team’s bus arrived.

    No one seems to know the nature or extent of the injury that got him off the training.

    But OC Nice of France striker, Terem Moffi, was sighted in a tedious training while Leicester City of England striker, Kelechi Iheanacho also took part to give Jose Peseiro options in the attack.

    The Eagles will take on the host, Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

    The Media Officer of the team, Babafemi Raji, however, confirmed that their withdrawal from training on Monday was only a precautionary measure.

    Raji made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the training.

  • AFCON 2023: Terem Moffi arrive Super Eagles camp

    AFCON 2023: Terem Moffi arrive Super Eagles camp

    The arrival of Nice based Terem Moffi has swelled the number of players in the Super Eagles camp to 25, TheNewsGuru can authoritatively reports.

    Moffi, who replaced injured Victor Boniface joined the rest of his teammate on Sunday night in Abidjan.

    Boniface copped a groin injury in training and had surgery in Berlin last week.

    Moffi is expected to train with the rest of the squad at the Ecole Nationale de la Police on Monday afternoon (today).

    The session which will start at 4:00 pm local time is open to the media.

    The Super Eagles started their campaign at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-1 draw against the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

    Jose Peseiro’s side will be up against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in their next game on Thursday.