Eagles Abandonment Story A Ruse …Inyama, Keshi React

NFF Media Committee Chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama and Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi have reacted with shock a story in a national daily that the Super Eagles were abandoned by Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, NFF Presient, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the leadership of football in the run-up to the third place match against Zimbabwe last Saturday in South Africa.

Inyama, who spoke first said the report was not only a calculated mischief by the reporter but one designed to downplay the huge impact the Super Eagles made at its maiden outing at the CHAN African Nations Tourney.

“I am shocked to read such a report from a respected medium, who should know better, because the Sports Minister in the company of the NFF President did not only host the team in Bloemfontein, but also redeemed his pledge to the team and even when the team did not win against Ghana, he gave the amount he promised for a win because he was impressed by the team. Does that translate to abandonment?, he asked rhetorically.

The former Editor-in-Chief of SportsLink and former Abia State Sports Commissioner further declared that NFF President, Aminu Maigari has been with the team nearly all of the tourney and was addressing the team regularly, which was widely reported in the media adding that it was shocking that a newspaper will at the end of the championship now report that the team was abandoned by very responsible public office holders.

“We hope this rather tragic report is withdrawn by those concerned in the interest of sports growth”, he declared.

On his part, Keshi, who spoke through team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, said he does not understand what is meant by the word abandoned, because the Sports Minister, NFF President and several top members of the sports fraternity were with the team throughout the duration of the tournament.

“We may not have seen much of the Supporters Club in the third place but the Minster and NFF were always with the team throughout the tournament”.

He added that the Minister and the NFF President even addressed the team in a widely publicized event, wondering what the team needs to reach its goals in crucial encounters in major competitions.

“I was shocked when I read the story and I think we should always respect those in authority without blackmail”, he said.

Eagles Will Be Under Pressure Against Mambas-Chisano…Keshi Says Players Will Cope

Eagles Will Be Under Pressure Against Mambas-Chisano…Keshi Says Players Will Cope

Mambas of Mozambique Head Coach, Joao Chisano on Monday assessed the chances of the teams in group A of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), and came to the conclusion that Nigeria is the most pressured of all the teams, even as Nigerian Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, says his boys can handle the pressure.

Chisano, whose team is sharing the same Garden Court De Waal hotel with the Eagles says he made the assertion because his team if beaten by the Eagles have nothing to lose but the reverse will be the case if Nigeria were to lose to his side. “The Eagles are the big brothers in Africa, the African champions and the Coach is the African Coach of the Year, we don’t have any of those accolades, so pressure is on Nigeria not Mozambique.

On likely qualifiers from the group, Chisano said even if his side were to be beaten on Wednesday, the Eagles still has an uphill task against Bafana Bafana on Sunday. “With their massive fans and the Vivuzelas, Nigeria will again be under pressure to perform as African Champions”.

The youthful coach said he will however not be surprised if his team was eliminated from the first round, because according to him the pitch in Cape Town is very poor and that accounted for his side’s 3-1 loss to the host in the opening match. He also said he’s looking to build a strong side in the future that his countrymen will be proud of.

On his part, Keshi said he has been talking to his players along with team psychologist, Robinson Okosun and other officials for the players to forget the past and concentrate on Wednesday’s game. “Gradually, they are getting off it but I must admit that only three players played well in the last game and that was why we lost, we expect eleven players to play well on Wednesday for us to get the result we want”. On Bafana Bafana game on Sunday, Keshi simply said, “we won’t talk about that game now, after the Wednesday game we can talk about that, for now the focus is on the Mambas game”.

CHAN 2014: CAF Hails Eagles Superb Organisation

CHAN 2014: CAF Hails Eagles Superb Organisation

Nigeria’s football organizational skills received another feather to its cap on Thursday evening when the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said it was thrilled at the way the team was organized for inspection by CAF ahead of the start of the tourney on Saturday.

CAF’s General Coordinator for the Cape Town zone and former Ghanaian international, Anthony Baffoe who was in the company of famed retired Mauritius referee, Lee Kim Chong, Lesotho’s Baba Malephane, Cameroon’s Abel Mbengue, who is in charge of security and other CAF top notch gave the commendation when he inspected the team at its Garden Court De Waal abode in Cape Town.

“We hardly see teams from Africa and for African tournaments very organised with everything in place as we have seen of Nigeria, we must commend you and especially the Nigeria Football Federation for this wonderful attitude and we urge other countries to borrow a leaf from the way Nigeria do their things”, he said. The hall consisting of players and officials of the Super Eagles responded with a thunderous applause, with Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, promising to relate the news to the NFF and assuring that it will be sustained.

GLO CAF Awards fallout…Eagles Salute Maigari Over Awards Sweep…Tip Mikel For Future

GLO CAF Awards fallout…Eagles Salute Maigari Over Awards Sweep…Tip Mikel For Future

Despite Super Eagles and Chelsea midfield maestro, John Mikel Obi not being named the African Footballer of the Year at Thursday’s awards ceremony in Lagos, it was plaudits galore for the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maiagari, his executive committee and all Nigerians over the near clean sweep of awards at the Eagles camp in Cape Town on Thursday night.

From Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the bull’ Amokachi, Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor to other officials and indeed the players it was clapping and praises galore as award after award was named after Nigeria. Even the Protocol Official attached to the team, Lawrence Kentu and other security personnel in the team were not left out of the praise for the NFF and its leadership.

“It’s simply the best era in Nigerian football and we pray and hope that it will be sustained in the coming years”, declared an obviously elated Emmanuel Attah, who is the team’s Coordinator. Gangling defence ace, Azubuike Egwuekwe, said he was not too disappointed at Mikel’s loss because head or tail, Nigeria was the champion of the night. “We are sure that Mikel or a Nigerian will win the next award”, he said excitedly.

Team Psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun spoke in a similar vein, declaring that with the clean sweep of awards, the year 2014 will be a better one for Nigeria. “Yes we may be a little disappointed that Mikel did not win but are assured that we will do better in the New Year, starting with the CHAN tournament and we will return again next year to take what rightly belongs to us”.

Amokachi, who is normally not used to emotions said there was a lot to cheer from the award ceremony. “We had a clean sweep and we must comment President Maigari and his board but the message is for us to work harder and remain the dominant force in African football”, he said. Team’s Media Officer Ben Alaiya, simply said he could not agree more with the deluge of accolades that were poured on Nigerian football and the Maigari led NFF. “Its congratulations and more work to be done”.

Eagles Arrive Cape Town In High Spirit…Envoy Charges Team…Nigerian Troupe Welcomes Team

Eagles Arrive Cape Town In High Spirit…Envoy Charges Team…Nigerian Troupe Welcomes Team

The Super Eagles arrived South Africa on Wednesday morning to begin quest for honours in its maiden appearance at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2014, specially designed for players who ply their trade across leagues in Africa.

The team led by Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi, who is holding forte for Stephen Keshi, who has stayed back in Nigeria for this weekend’s Glo-CAF Awards before joining the team, left the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos on Tuesday night at about 10:30pm. After five and half hours flight with a South Africa Airways plane, the team arrived Johannesburg at 4:30 Nigerian time, which is 5:30 in South Africa.

The team was received by a team of Nigerian Embassy officials led by Ambassador Sunday S Yusuf, who expressed delight at the safe arrival and ensured that the team had a smooth passage through immigration procedure. The envoy also charged the team to ensure that they win the trophy at the first try. “Nigerians are now used to winning, especially here in South Africa and I’m sure you will not let the nation down”, he said. Amokachi assured that the team will do its best at the tourney, even as Keshi is being expected on time before the Eagles opening game against Mali.

After a little wait at the OR Thambo International Airport, the team connected another SAA flight to Cape Town where it will play its preliminary matches. On arrival the team was received by about 30 cheering and drumming Nigerians under the aegis ‘Nigerian Union in Western Cape’. The group was led by Kalu Obi.

From there the team whose Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, was already on ground was taken effortlessly to its abode at Garden Court De Waal, a quiet suburb of the city. The team has since settled down and will have its first training session tonight at 8:30pm local time, which is 7:30 Nigerian time.

Garden Court De Waal

These Eagles Will Go Places, Says Keshi… Maigari, Bako Hail Team

These Eagles Will Go Places, Says Keshi… Maigari, Bako Hail Team

Major football stakeholders in the country were at the Abuja National Stadium on Saturday, when the Super Eagles took on the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in a CHAN pre-tournament tune-up. The game ended 2-1 in favour of Nigeria.

Among them was the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Hon Bolaji Abdulahi, the NSC Director General, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari, former NFA Chairman, Col Abdulmumuni Aminu, NFF Technical Committee Chairman. Barr Christopher Green, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, who heads the secretariat department of the technical committee, NFF Scribe Barr Musa Amadu and indeed all executive committee members of the federation.

It was a fitting test for the Super Eagles, who are first time qualifiers for the African Nations Tournament that starts next week in South Africa.

After an impressive and dominant first half, which saw the Eagles score through impressive hitman Ifeanyi Ede in the fifth minute and Ugonna Uzochukwu in the 26th minute it looked like the Nigerian national team will have a game full of goals but misses were too many and that gave the Ethiopians room to come back in the second half and score against Nigeria.

From an outsider’s point of view, Ikenna Paul was outstanding as his two long throws resulted in Nigeria’s two goals. Azubuike Egwuekwe was obviously the Nigerian man of the match, goalkeeper and skipper, Chigozie Agbim, looked shaky atimes in goal, Abubakar Aliu was very hardworking but wasteful in front of goal and Kwambe Solomon needs to justify the tag of ‘Cafu’ the Brazilian legend that many now refer him to. Ebenezer Odunlami was a delight in the centre back, Shehu Abdulahi was good in the middle of the pack when he came on in the second half through dangerman Asrat Megersa.

All others, especially the substitutes need to work on their game and Head Coach Stephen Keshi knows so. Speaking moments after the match, Keshi says he believes in the team he has been able to work with under three weeks. “Three weeks is too short to raise a national team but for me the scoreline does not matter because we are getting the results we want from the players, they will sure go places”.

NFF President Aminu Maigari towed a similar line, declaring that sooner than later the Nigerian league will form the fulcrum of the future Super Eagles. Maigari spoke through NFF Technical Committee Chairman, Barr Chris Green, who also praised the job that Keshi is doing with the home based squad.

On his part former National Broadcasting Commission Chairman and an avid football follower, Mallam Danladi Bako declared that finally Nigeria is getting it right in football politically and technically. “I told a few friends on the executive committee that all they need to do is to be patriotism, dedication and the results will come for Nigeria. Barr Green will bear me out, today we are seeing the results but we must not rest on our oarse”.

Mikel Glo CAF Win Will Boost Eagles’

‘Mikel Glo CAF Win Will Boost Eagles’

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and his Ethiopian counterpart, Sewnet Bishaw believe that it’s about time Nigeria returns to the summit of African football with one of their players winning the coveted African Player of the Year Award. The awards are scheduled for Lagos, Nigeria next week.

Bishaw who spoke first also expressed his love for the Abuja National Stadium and wished it was in his native Ethiopia. “Nigeria was obviously the best football nation in Africa last year and I won’t be surprised if a player from the country emerges the player of the year. They deserve to get the award. I also wish this beautiful stadium is somewhere in Addis Ababa”, he said smiling.

Keshi on his part said it has been a very long time since a Nigerian won the African Footballer of the Year Crown and he is rooting for John Mikel Obi to emerge the best among the pack. “It will boost the team and Mikel and all Nigerians because it has been a long time since we last won the award and I know we deserve to win this year”, he said.

On whether he will be happy to be named the African Coach of the Year, Keshi said he will play the wait and see game but added that it will be a great honour to be so named. Keshi who is primed for the award and may not depart with the national team to South Africa on Tuesday evening is favoured to bag the prestigious Coach of the Year Award.