Tag: Super Eagles - Page 5 - African News Today

Eguavoen Reacts To Criticism Over Home-based Players Selection For Mexico Friendly

24Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Eguavoen Reacts To Criticism Over Home-based Players Selection For Mexico Friendly

Former Nigeria international and current NFF technical director Austin Eguavoen has reacted to criticism making the rounds over the exclusion of certain players from the 25-man home-based squad for next month’s friendly against Mexico. Following the unveiling of the names of the 25 home-based players shortlisted for the friendly in the United States, the inclusion and omission of certain players was questioned in different quarters. But Eguavoen, who will be in charge of the home-based Eagles for the friendly, explained the criteria for the selection of players for the game. “It was a bit difficult (assembling the team),” he told Super Eagles media. “Information came a bit late even at that it’s our country. I’ve been to few league games, the NPFL, NNL and even the NNLO, we pencil...

I’ll Give Good Account Of Myself Against Mexico -Nwaeze

23Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Nigeria, Sports, Youths

I’ll Give Good Account Of Myself Against Mexico -Nwaeze

Kwara United’s Chris Nwaeze has promised to give a good account of himself when the Super Eagles face Mexico in an international friendly game. Nwaeze was among the 25 Ho,e Based players invited by Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr for the game against Mexico on July 3 in USA. Reacting to his invitation, Nwaeze in a chat with the club’s media team, stated that he’s ready to give his best. “I am happy with this latest development about my career and that of my other teammates who also made the list and I want to promise that we will give good account of ourselves in the national team,” Chris Nwaeze told Kwara United Media.

Rohr Names Home-Based Squad for Mexico Friendly

21Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Rohr Names Home-Based Squad for Mexico Friendly

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has named a 25-man home-based squad to face Mexico in an international friendly at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on July 4. Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble and forward Anayo Iwuala and a recalled Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Heartland keeper, top the list of the players invited to camp for the friendly. Also invited are Rivers United defender Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enyimba midfielder Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Ibrahim Olawoyin (Enugu Rangers) and Stephen Jude (Kwara United). The players are expected to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuse, Abuja on June 22 with their travel documents. Only 22 of them will travel to the United States of America for the glamour friendly. It is expected that the LA Coliseum, a 77,500-capacity facility will be at full capacity f...

Why Ademola Lookman, Ejaria Super Eagles Switch is Yet to Be Completed – Official

11Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Why Ademola Lookman, Ejaria Super Eagles Switch is Yet to Be Completed – Official

A top official has given a reason why Ademola Lookman and Ovie Ejaria are yet to complete their switch to the Super Eagles after they have represented England at various age-grade levels. The official said that contrary to media reports Lookman and Ejaria change of allegiance has not yet been approved by FIFA because the two players do not have Nigerian passports yet. He said that FIFA cannot approve a switch of nationalities without proof of a player’s citizenship, which in this case is the Nigerian passport. “They can’t get FIFA clearance without having a passport and evidence of the citizenship of the country they have chosen to represent,” disclosed the official. Coach Gernot Rohr is committed to strengthening his squad in time for the 2021 AFCON and the 2022 World Cup qual...

Troost-Ekong And Collins Ruled Out of Nigeria Clash With Cameroon

6Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Cameroon, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Troost-Ekong And Collins Ruled Out of Nigeria Clash With Cameroon

The Super Eagles have seen the experienced defenders ruled out of their plans heading into Tuesday’s tie against the Indomitable Lions. The Watford and Paderborn stars suffered different knocks as the Super Eagles bowed 1-0 to the Indomitable Lions on Friday at the Wiener Neustadt Stadium – with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s first-half effort settling the encounter. While Collins was in action from start to finish, Troost-Ekong was replaced in the 90th minute by Galatasaray centre-back Valentine Ozornwafor – who was making his Super Eagles debut. Coach Gernot Rohr confirmed this development while disclosing that he would try a new approach against Toni Conceicao’s men on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, we lost two other players to injury and it’ll be difficult for the second game in de...

Nigeria Lacks Quality to Reach World Cup Semis – Rohr

5Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Interview, News, Nigeria, Sports

Nigeria Lacks Quality to Reach World Cup Semis – Rohr

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, is not convinced of his players ability to reach the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup despite their impressive form for their European clubs during the just-concluded season. While Rohr admits the likes of Paul Onuachu, who emerged Belgium’s Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner after a record-breaking season, Kelechi Iheanaco, Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, William Troost-Ekong are top players, he says they don’t play for top-tier clubs like their African counterparts. “They (other African countries) have players playing in the best teams in Europe, we don’t,” the Franco-German told ESPN. “Our players are playing in lower clubs. We don’t have these players like Egypt, like Senegal, like Ivory Coast who are playing in the biggest ...

Rohr Picks Musa, Ekong, 22 Others for Cameroon International Friendly

25May

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Cameroon, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Rohr Picks Musa, Ekong, 22 Others for Cameroon International Friendly

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has selected captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong and home boys John Noble and Anayo Iwuala among the 24 Super Eagles who will do battle with five-time African champions Cameroon in a prestige friendly in Austria on Friday next week. The list also has goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, defenders Ola Aina and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Abdullahi Shehu, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Simy Nwankwo, Turkey –based former U20 defender Valentine Ozornwafor, Denmark –based midfielder Frank Onyeka and Lorient FC of France’s Terem Moffi are also included. Nigeria, who have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times but have been bumped by Cameroon in the final of the competition on three...

Don’t Blame Anybody for Your Struggles, Amokachi Replies Lawal

25May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Don’t Blame Anybody for Your Struggles, Amokachi Replies Lawal

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi has hit back at Raheem Lawal over an indictment of being unfairly dropped from the 2013 African Cup of Nations winning squad, noting that the midfielder was not best suited for selection into the eventual title-winning side. Recall that Lawal had on his Instagram story alleged that Amokachi dropped him from the team because he was not among the players the gaffer intended to sell after the showpiece in South Africa. In his reaction, Amokachi lauded the 31-year-old for his talent, but urged him to desist from blaming others for his failure. He said, “For me 100 per cent when names were mentioned on who could take over from Jay Jay Okocha, Raheem was the closest to him and that is the truth,” Amokachi stated on Monday i...

Simy Nwankwo Must Leave Crotone To Get Super Eagles Chance Again – Rohr

30Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Simy Nwankwo Must Leave Crotone To Get Super Eagles Chance Again – Rohr

Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr insists in-form forward Simy Nwankwo must leave modest Serie A side Crotone to boost his chances of playing for the country again. Nwankwo has earned rave reviews due to his superb displays for relegation bound Crotone this season. The 28-year-old has scored 19 league goals for Serse Cosmi’s side this season. Only Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo have registered more goals than him in the Italian top flight this term. The forward has been overlooked by Rohr since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia where he was named in the squad on the back of his impressive showing for Crotone. “I know Simy very well, it was me who called him for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He performed well at that competitio...

Rohr: Ighalo’s Presence Would Have Boosted Goal Scoring Output of Osimhen, Iheanacho

22Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Uncategorized

Rohr: Ighalo’s Presence Would Have Boosted Goal Scoring Output of Osimhen, Iheanacho

Super Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr has expressed optimism that the presence of former Super Eagles Forward, Odion Ighalo would have improved the finishing of young strikers such as Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho. Ighalo called it quits on his time with the Super Eagles after the 2019 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, where the team won the bronze medal after defeating Tunisia in the Third-Place match. He also emerged as the highest goal scorer of the competition and was named in the team of the tournament. Despite speculations of a return to the team during the just concluded 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, however, the German tactician stuck with Osimhen and Iheanacho to qualify Nigeria to the bi-annual tournament. Rohr while speaking in an interview with Elegbete TV, said that Igh...