Tag: AFCON Qualifiers

Musa, Omeruo, Others Make Provisional List For Cameroon Friendly

File photo of Super Eagles during a training session.

 

Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has listed 31 players in a provisional squad for Nigeria’s prestige international friendly game against five-time African champions, Cameroon in Austria on Friday, 4th June 2021.

The game will take place at the Wiener Neustadt in the Austrian capital, Vienna starting from 8.30 pm Austria time.

Leading the list unveiled on Friday is Captain Ahmed Musa, with deputy captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Samuel Chukwueze also called.

Portugal-based Abraham Marcus is called for the first time and Enyimba FC’s energetic forward Anayo Iwuala, whose tenacity and drive has helped the People’s Elephant to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup, has an opportunity to fight for a place and continue on his international footprints, following cameo appearances against the Benin Republic and Lesotho in AFCON qualifiers in March.

READ ALSO: Neymar To Miss PSG’s French Cup Final Against Monaco

The provisional list of 31 will be reduced to 23 before the Super Eagles fly to Vienna for the clash with perennial rivals Indomitable Lions.

Cameroon defeated the Eagles for three of their five AFCON titles (1984, 1988, 2000) but have not beaten Nigeria in regulation time since a 1-0 triumph in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Stade Omnisports in Yaounde on 27th August 1989.

The Eagles thrashed the Lions 4-0 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Uyo in September 2017 and were forced to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in Yaounde, setting the stage for Nigeria’s qualification for the finals in Russia.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC)

Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, The Netherlands); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosa, Cyprus); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abraham Marcus (CD Feirense, Portugal)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars FC); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Sadiq Umar (Almeria FC, Spain); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Simy Nwankwo (Crotone FC, Italy)

‘Football Is National Treasure’: Sanwo-Olu Hosts Super Eagles

The players also presented a signed jersey to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his wife.

 

Ahead of Super Eagles’ first game in Lagos in 10 years, players and officials of the team on Wednesday paid a visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Super Eagles were led by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, and hosted at the Lagos House in Marina.

The governor after hosting the players shared photos on his official Twitter handle noting that Football is a national treasure for Nigerians.

“We held a reception for our dear Super Eagles at the State House in Lagos as they prepare for their AFCON Qualifiers.

“Football is a national treasure for us as Nigerians and Lagos has historically favoured the Super Eagles so we wished them well with prayers and good cheer,” the governor posted.

 

The players also presented a signed jersey to the governor.

The Super Eagles, three-time champions of Africa is scheduled to play Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria To Miss Three France-Based Players Due To COVID-19

Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr briefs reporters in Lagos on March 22, 2021.

 

Three Nigerian players based in France have missed training at the gym in Lagos ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers games against Lesotho and Benin Republic on March 27 and 30.

This is according to the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, who briefed journalists while the players had a light training session on Monday in preparation for the matches.

He revealed that the affected players in Europe would be absent following the COVID-19 restriction imposed by the French government.

A third of France’s population was under a new partial lockdown Saturday to stop the spread of COVID-19, as some European countries resumed AstraZeneca vaccinations following an all-clear from EU regulators and the WHO.

The pandemic is still speeding up worldwide, with the number of new global coronavirus infections rising by 14 per cent over the last week compared to the previous week.

Rohr explained that although he expects more players, he would replace the absentees with local players from Enyimba.

“Some of our players could not come because of the (COVID-19) restrictions, especially the players playing in France. They are not allowed to come,” he said.

READ ALSO: Injured Pepe Out Of Portugal World Cup Qualifiers

“We are missing our three players from the list. We have to replace them so I found some local players to replace these people.”

The three local players are Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble and striker Anayo Iwuala alongside Abia Warriors defender Adeleke Adekunle have been summoned to the Super Eagles’ set-up for the first time.

The coach also supervised the gym work-out with the early arrivals that include captain of the team Ahmed Musa, Assistant Captain, William Troosk-Ekong, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Henry Onyekuru, and Oghenekaro Etebo.

Nigeria currently tops the Group E log with eight points (one ahead of Benin Republic and five more than third-placed Sierra Leone).

The Eagles will tackle the Squirrels at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo on Saturday, March 27, and will lock horns with the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos three days later. Both are the concluding games of the AFCON qualifying series.

Rohr Names Eagles Starting Team Against South Africa

Rohr Names Eagles Starting Team Against South AfricaSuper Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has released his starting team for the 2019 AFCON qualifiers against South Africa.

Daniel Akpeyi will be in goal while Chidozie Awaziem, Elderson Echiejile, Williams Troost- Ekong and Shehu Abdullahi are the defenders.

Ogenyi Onazi will anchor the midfield alongside Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo while Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon will spearhead the attack.

The match kicks off at 5:00 pm Nigerian time on Saturday at the Goodswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Nigeria Beat Togo 3-0 In Friendly

Super Eagles Coach, Rohr Confirms Ogenyi Onaz' InjuryThe Super Eagles of Nigeria have beaten Togo 3-0 in a friendly played at the Municipal stadium in Paris, France.

A brace from Ahmed Musa and another from Kelechi Iheanacho ensured the three-time African champions sustained their dominance over their West African neighbours.

The match is part of the Super Eagles preparations for next week’s 2019 AFCON qualifiers against South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria Trash Algeria 3-1 in Uyo
File photo

Fifa Ranking: Nigeria Now 11th In Africa

Super-EaglesNigeria has moved up four places in the latest FIFA rankings to become the 11th best in Africa and 60th in the world.

In the latest rankings published on FIFA’s website on Thursday, the Super Eagles of Nigeria rose to the 60th position in the overall ranking.

On the continental scale, the team led by Gernot Rohr, are now ranked 11th in Africa behind Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Mali, Cameron.

Argentina retains its number one spot with Germany coming in second, Brazil, third and Belgium occupying the fourth position.

africa-fifa

The upward bump in the Super Eagles’ ranking is largely due to their wins against Zambia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and Tanzania in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

African champions, Cote d’Ivoire are still the highest ranked team in Africa, moving up three places to the 31st position on the global ranking.

Keshi Should Be Allowed To Complete AFCON 2015 Qualifiers, Amodu Tells NFF

AmoduCoach Shaibu Amodu has appealed to the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to allow Stephen Keshi handle the Super Eagles for the two remaining matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The former Super Eagles handler, who was put in interim charge of the team, said that he wanted Keshi reconsidered for the two matches as the time frame is too short to tinker with the fabric of the squad or start to build a new one altogether.

Coach Amodu promised to offer whatever assistance required by Keshi and his crew for the remaining two matches.

Nigeria will play  two ‘must win’ matches with the first against Congo Brazzaville in Pointe Noire on November 15 and the second against South Africa four days later.

Nigeria must not only defeat Congo, but defeat the French-speaking Country by a margin of two goals away, for a chance to qualify for the 2015 finals in Morocco.

Nigeria Invites 23 Players For AFCON Qualifiers

AFCON QualifiersAfrican Champions, Nigeria, have called up 23 players for the 2015 Nations Cup qualifying matches against the Red Devils of Congo and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

The list released by the Nigeria Football Federation features goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama; defenders, Kenneth Omeruo and Efe Ambrose; midfielders, Ogenyi Onazi and John Mikel Obi, and forwards, Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike.

Monaco of France defender, Elderson Echiejile, who missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to injury, Nosa Igiebor and Schalke 04’s Chinedu Obasi are all back for the qualifiers.

Home–based quartet, Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kunle Odunlami and Gbolahan Salami, who were part of Nigeria’s third place finish at the African Nations Championship in South Africa earlier in the year, would be making a return to Capetown.

Enugu Rangers’ topman, Christian Osaguona also add to the number of players from the domestic league.

Nigeria starts its AFCON qualifiers with Congo in Calabar on September 6, and later leave for Cape Town to take on the Bafana Bafana on September 10.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Joel Obi (Inter Milan, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke (Schalke 04, Germany); Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen FC, Netherlands); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AS Varese 1910, Italy); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Christian Osaguona (Enugu Rangers)   

CAF Disqualifies Rwanda From AFCON Qualifiers

RwandaThe Organising Committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, has disqualified Rwanda from the qualifiers of the African Cup of Nations, Morocco 2015.

The decision followed a protest made by the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) during the first leg match of the second round of qualifying played against Rwanda on 20 July 2014 in Pointe-Noire.

Congo contested the eligibility of the player, Birori Dady, aligned with Rwanda, and plays for the AS Vita Club of Kinshasa with Congolese (DRC) passport as Etekiama Agiti Tady, and with a different age.

Following investigations by CAF on the basis of documents provided by the federations of Rwanda, Congo and DR Congo, and hearing the player’s testimony on August 11, 2014 at CAF headquarters in Cairo, the football body established that the two identities only referred to a single person.

While the Rwandan Football Federation (FERWAFA) maintained that to their knowledge the player Dady Birori had one identity, investigations revealed that he was summoned as Etekiama Agiti Tady to join the national team of Rwanda.

Based on these and other findings, the Organising Committee of the Cup of Nations, in accordance with Article 41 of the regulations of the tournament, and Articles 82 and 83.1 of CAF Disciplinary Code, decided as follows:

1. Immediately suspend the player Etekiama Agiti Tady/Birori Dady until further notice and ban him from playing for club and the national team

2. Rwanda declared losers of Match No.37 against Congo, and consequently being eliminated from the competition

3. Consign Congo to the group phase of the qualifiers of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations – Morocco 2015 in Group A, as replacement for Rwanda

4. Reserved the right to confirm the exact length of the player’s suspension and to impose additional sanctions if necessary at the next meeting of the Organising Committee scheduled for 17 September 2014

5. Urged players and stakeholders to regulate the situation of dual identity

The decision of the Committee takes effect immediately and with option for appeal in accordance with the regulatory provisions in force in CAF Disciplinary Code.

Congo now takes Rwanda’s slot to join Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan in Group A.