The Super Eagles of Nigeria have won their first game of the 2018 World Cup qualifying round after defeating the Chipolopolo of Zambia 2-1 today.
Alex Iwobi scored the first goal while Kelechi Ihaenacho scored the second. Big congrats to the team.
Showing posts with label super eagles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label super eagles. Show all posts
Super Eagles Players Rescued From Mobbed
Just as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had adjusted the Super Eagles departure date in order to avoid the harsh effect of the Ndola weather in Zambia, the Eagles technical crew have also adjusted the team’s training programmes so as to acquaint the players with playing under the unfriendly weather.
The Eagles yesterday resumed training under scorching sun at the practice pitch of the Abuja National Stadium.
The training which started by 2.00pm lasted for two hours where the players sweated profusely receiving cheers from the pocket of fans who were falling on each other to have pictures with the players.
Meanwhile the Abuja fans have not hidden their joy since the commencement of training in Abuja ahead of the match as they broke police and other security details to have a feel of their favourite players at the stadium.
There was a mild drama as some of the players hurriedly raced into the waiting team bus immediately after training yesterday to avoid the incidence of Wednesday when the fans mobbed the players, even as Premiership duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi could not escape the fans who struggled to touch and snap with them.
While Mikel was the first to jump into the official team bus, with other foreign-based players like Ogenyi Onazi, Carl Ikeme, it was not same for others like Iheanacho and Iwobi who were surrounded by the fans.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has revealed that it took the intervention of five armed policemen to rescue Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi from the mob that invaded the pitch shortly after the Eagles training match with Plateau United FC on Wednesday evening.
Super Eagles chief security officer, ACP Baba Abubakar, who made the disclosure while reacting unofficially to the ugly incidence at the mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium, tactically attributed the situation to security lapses.
“What happened on Wednesday was very unfortunate really. But we will take correction from it. I had ordered our men to securely lock the gate before the end of the match but somebody had given a counter order to allow the journalists entry into the pitch.
“I never rejected any apartment” - Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr
There were reports making the rounds yesterday that Super Eagles' technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, rejected a three-bedroom apartment that was offered to him in Jabi, Abuja, by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Rohr reportedly said it was too big for him and insisted on a smaller apartment.
However, according to thenff.com, the Franco-German coach has reacted to the news, 'expressing displeasure at the way people are using his openness and easy accessibility to quote him out of context and attempt to derail him from the core assignment he has at hand.'
“I never rejected any apartment. I might have spoken to a few people who I believed to be genuinely interested in me, saying that the apartment was very big and I joked that I might get lost inside it when I start to live there, but I never rejected it. When the Federation engaged me, and told me I had to live in Nigeria, I agreed to it because I believed that my base has to be in the country where I work. I did the same in Niger, Burkina Faso and Gabon, and I do not see it any differently in Nigeria. ” Rohr said.
“The Federation moved to rent an apartment for me, and this is a good gesture that shows their commitment. If I have issues with it, it should be done directly through the Federation and not on the pages of the media.”
Super Eagles Coach, Rohr Rejects Abuja House
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has rejected a three-bedroom provided for him in Abuja by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), saying it is “too big”.
The 63-year-old Rohr, who is married to an African, has inspected the three-bedroom property in Jabi, but has now told officials he could do with a much smaller apartment.
An official accommodation is part of the benefits captured in the two-year contract the Franco-German has signed to qualify Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup.
Already, the NFF have moved fast to also provide an official car for the former Gabon and Burkina Faso coach.
The official car first purchased to be used by Sunday Oliseh is now being fixed after it was used by Olympic team handler Samson Siasia beyond his time in temporary charge of the Eagles for the AFCON 2017 qualifiers against Egypt in March.
Rohr is on a staggering $47,000 a month and this salary is being bankrolled by a mystery sponsor.
Photos: Dream Team Get Gallant Welcome As They Arrive Nigeria
Nigeria’s U-23 team that won bronze at the just concluded 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, have arrived in the country after clinching the country’s only medal from the competition.
Led by Coach Samson Siasia, the team were welcomed like heroes on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
They were received by cheering fans and supporters of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club. See more photos below...
Onazi completes move to Trabzonspor
Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has completed his move from Italian Serie A club Lazio to Turkish Super League side Trabzonspor.
Trabzonspor announced last week that they had agreed a a four-year contract worth €5m for the 23-year-old, who helped the Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Onazi, who Biancocelesti valued at £7m, was linked with Premier League sides Swansea, West Ham and Sunderland, as well as Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos and Turkish champions Besiktas in the summer window transfer market before Trabzonspor surfaced out of nowhere to land the player.
The former My People star, whose contract with Lazio was scheduled to end in 2018, struggled for starts at the Rome outfit last term.
The White and Blues confirmed on Tuesday they had sold Onazi, who made 19 appearances for them last season, to the Black Sea Storm.
“S.S. Lazio communicates that Ogenyi Eddy Onazi has been sold on a permanent basis to Trabzonspor,” the 2013 Coppa Italia champions said in a short statement.
Onazi, who represented Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, guiding them to the second round, didn’t say goodbye to his teammates at Stadio Olimpico. He launched scathing attacks on them, accusing them of being dishonest.
“I’ve never had a friend in Lazio. There you make people laugh, and then stab you in the back. All the time I was alone,”Klix.ba quoted the player as saying.
Meanwhile, Lazio are currently looking to Ligue 1 candidates Paul-Georges Ntep and Ivan Cavaleiro to replace Antonio Candreva.
The sale of their international star to Inter left a gaping hole on the Biancocelesti’s wing, but they have a number of options to fill it.
Il Corriere dello Sport reports that there are two primary candidates for that position, only one of which will join the Italian side.
The first is Stade Rennais’ Ntep, who plays mostly as a forward, but whose quick pace and technical skill allows him to be deployed in Candreva’s role.
The second is Monaco’s Cavaleiro, who is a more natural winger. Both players would be a solid investment for the future, being aged 24 and 22 respectively.
Super Eagles arrives in Sao Paulo for Columbia Clash
The Nigeria U23 team has arrived in Sao Paulo ahead of Wednesday’s Group B final game against Colombia at the Arena dos Corinthians.
Samson Siasia’s charges have already qualified for the tournament quarterfinals after edging Asian champions Japan 5-4 and pipping Sweden 1-0 in Manaus.
Colombia, who drew 2-2 with Sweden and also with Japan, need a win against Nigeria to reach the last eight.
Meanwhile, Siasia has refused to be distracted beyond the match in Sao Paulo, saying he would finish with the Colombians before thinking of which team his side would face in the quarterfinals.
Hosts Brazil, without a goal or a win after two matches, looks the likely candidate but they must overcome Group A leaders Denmark when both teams clash inside Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova on Wednesday evening.
Dangling forward Sadiq Umar scored once and midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo four times as Nigeria prised all three points from Japan, and Umar was the match winner as European champions Sweden were shut out in Manaus on Sunday.
The Nigeria U23 will wear white jerseys in the game against Colombia. The players have been handed two pairs of white jerseys each, as has been the practice since the commencement of the tournament
