Tag: Super Eagles - Page 6 - African News Today

15Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Musa Explains Kano Pillars Move

Super Eagles skipper, Ahmed Musa, has disclosed why he decided to rejoin his former club Kano Pillars. On Tuesday, Kano Pillars confirmed that Musa had rejoined them, having signed a deal until the end of the season. Musa's agreement includes a clause that allows him to leave when and if he can find a club in Europe. He joins as a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) elite player to boost their image and help Musa maintain his fitness as he continues his search for a European club. The 28-year-old, who is a free agent since leaving Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in October, had received offers from England, Russia and Turkey. Speaking on the move, the former Leicester, CSKA forward, told BBC Sport Africa, "Anything that improves the image of Nigerian football is somethin...

Kelechi Iheanacho wins Premier League Player of the Month award for March

2Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Breaking News, English Premiership, News, Sports, Youths

Kelechi Iheanacho wins Premier League Player of the Month award for March

Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored five goals in three league appearances for the Foxes in the lead-up to the international break last month, including his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United. Iheanacho, whose partnership with Jamie Vardy came to the fore in the absence of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, also scored league goals in the 2-1 win at Brighton and the 1-1 draw against Burnley. "I'm so pleased and honoured to win this award. It's great to be recognised, but I couldn't have done it without the support of my team-mates and the manager," Iheanacho said. "I'm really enjoying playing at the minute and hopefully I can push on and help the team to finish as high as possible this season." Iheanacho won the award ahead of Chelsea defender Andreas ...

Cape Verde Referee Duarte To Officiate Nigeria, Lesotho AFCON Qualifier

29Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Cape Verde Referee Duarte To Officiate Nigeria, Lesotho AFCON Qualifier

The Confederation of African Football has picked Cape Verde referee Fabricio Duarte to take charge of Tuesday’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations dead rubber game against the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun stadium. Duarte will be assisted by his compatriots Jorge Correia Semedo Helio (assistant 1), Delgado Fernandes Wilson Jorge (assistant referee 2) and Antonio Manuel Fortes Tony Rodrigues (fourth official) will also be on duty. The match commissioner is Haruna Mawanda from Uganda while Nick Owusu from Ghana will serve as security officer. Alex Kotey, also from Ghana, will be referees’ assessor. According to a report published on Thenff.com, it was learnt that the Crocodiles’ delegation will fly into Nigeria on Monday morning. The match commissioner and referees arrived in Nig...

Akpeyi Breaks Silence After Missing Out Of AFCON Qualifiers

25Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Akpeyi Breaks Silence After Missing Out Of AFCON Qualifiers

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi has stated that the senior national team is open to every player adding that he will always wait for his time despite his noninclusion on the list for the Benin and Lesotho 2021 AFCON qualifiers. The Kaizer Chiefs goaltender disclosed this in a chat with a Lagos based Radio station, where he said that nothing surprises him in the Super Eagles Akpeyi also said that he will continue to support the team in their quest to qualifying for the bi-annual tournament. “The truth is that is I keep my thoughts open and as far as I’m concerned, nothing surprises me in football anymore, because I’ve been in the game for long to understand what it’s all about,” Akpeyi said. “All I just need to do is to focus on my club because I’m not contracted to th...

Rohr Certifies Teslim Balogun Stadium Turf

24Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, WAFCON

Rohr Certifies Teslim Balogun Stadium Turf

Super Eagles German tactician, Gernot Rohr has expressed satisfaction with the playing surface of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State. The pitch will host next week’s 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Crocodiles of Lesotho. The Nigerian team had a training exercise on the turf for the first time on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the Crunch battle against the Benin Republic. Rohr in an interview with newsmen after the training on Tuesday said the surface is good for preparation work ahead of the matches. He said, “The pitch is very good for football. “The boys like it and the surface is wonderful and green. I said it before when I came here, they have worked on the grass and it is very good.”

Why Onuachu was Placed on standby – Rohr

24Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Sports, Youths

Why Onuachu was Placed on standby – Rohr

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr during a media parley in Lagos clarified several issues in the national team, ahead of their AFCON qualifiers versus Benin and Lesotho. On the Super Eagles vs Benin Republic match, he said: Everyone wants to beat Nigeria, it is normal. We also want to win there (Porto Novo), so it’s a big challenge because they’ve not lost a match at home in eight years. You should expect a team (Eagles) that wants to play good football first, who are going to show Nigerians that they are fighting for their country and are able to do well in Porto Novo against the team who haven’t lost a game at home, since losing 3-1 to Algeria in a World Cup qualifier in 2013. It’s a huge challenge for us to go and try to win, knowing a point will earn us qualification. We’ve had a go...

19 Super Eagles Players Arrive Camp For AFCON Qualifiers, Begin Training Tuesday

23Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

19 Super Eagles Players Arrive Camp For AFCON Qualifiers, Begin Training Tuesday

Over 19 Super Eagles players have arrived at camp for the remaining two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Lesotho. According to the team’s media officer, Babafemi Raji, the players were already in camp late Monday night. The players in camp are captain Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Henry Onyekuru, Oghenekaro Etebo, Adekunle Adeleke, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi Shehu, Anayo Iwuala, John Noble, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Tyrone Ebuehi, Maduka Okoye, Jamilu Collins, Francis Uzoho and Paul Onuachu. “Update! 18 players now in camp. Musa, Troost-Ekong, Aina, Ajayi, Onyekuru, Etebor, Adeleke, Awaziem, Shehu, Iwuala, Noble, Iwobi, Balogun, Aribo, Ebuehi, Maduka, Collins, Onuachu,” Raji tweeted. “Update! Francis Uzoho ...

AFCON Qualifier: Why Super Eagles May Travel By Boat For Benin Fixture – Rohr

23Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifier: Why Super Eagles May Travel By Boat For Benin Fixture – Rohr

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has said that the team might travel to Benin by boat for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Rohr’s men are billed to square off against the Squirrels of Benin on March 22 in a game that could decide the fate of the two teams. The German gaffer in an interview with French radio station Europe1 (via Football 365), lamented Benin’s poor road network for their decision not to travel by road to the capital, Porto Novo. He also urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to move their hotel closer to the Nigerian-Benin border. he said, “We will have the “fitness” at the hotel, which we did not have on the previous day in Benin City,” Rohr told French radio station Europe1 (via Football 365). “We will be very close to Benin. We risk making the...

Rohr Takes a Tour of Teslim Balogun Stadium Ahead of AFCON Qualifier

13Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Rohr Takes a Tour of Teslim Balogun Stadium Ahead of AFCON Qualifier

Head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr took a tour of the facilities at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State on Friday ahead of a decisive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Lesotho in March. The Eagles handler inspected the stadium alongside the Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi and Team Secretary, Dayo Enebi. They were led by the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku. The AFCON clash will mark a return of the Eagles to the stadium after ten years, having last played there against Sierra Leone in February 2011. Taye Taiwo and Ekigho Ehiosun were on target as the team then managed by Samson Siasia ran out with a 2-1 goal margin against the Leone Stars in a friendly encounter the last time o...

30Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Interview, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Why I Shunned Ajax Move – Ajayi

West Bromwich Albion defender has explained his quest for first-team football made him reject an opportunity to join Ajax. The 27-year-old centre-back started his career at Charlton Athletic academy and was promoted to the senior team in 2012. During his time at the Valley, the Super Eagles star also spent time on loan with Dartford before moving to Arsenal permanently in 2013. The defender spent two years with the Gunners but did not get a chance to feature for the senior team and had to leave the Emirates Stadium. Ajayi went on trial at Ajax before sealing a deal with Cardiff City and has revealed why he decided not to join the Dutch side despite their interest to sign him. “When I left Arsenal, they allowed me to go and train at clubs and have a look at clubs and explore ...