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

Eagles, Pillars In Exciting Score Draw …Keshi, Abdulmakabi Happy…Amokachi Marks Subdued Birthday

Eagles, Pillars In Exciting Score Draw

…Keshi, Abdulmakabi Happy

Nigeria’s Super Eagles had perhaps their best test on Monday morning since camp opened three weeks ago, when they played out a 2-2 draw against back to back Nigerian Premier League champions, Kano Pillars of Kano.

The game which was played at the mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium, attracted quite a few fans including NFF Director of Competitions, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, Pillars Management Committee boss, Dr Abba Yola and the national women’s U20 team known as the Falconets, complete with their technical crew and staff at the stadium.

The Eagles technical crew opted to start with the best possible squad available as Chigozie Agbim, Solomon Kwambe, Ebenezer Odunlami, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Ikenna Paul, Ugonna Izuchukwu, Benjamin Francis, Rabiu Ali, Abubakar Ali, Uzoenyi Ejike and Ifeanyi Ede all started.

With just five minutes on the clock, the Eagles forced a free kick after Uzoenyi was harshly brought down close to the vital area. He opted to take the kick himself and his deft left foot found the head of towering Egwuekwe, whose header was helped into the net by Abubakar Ali. Many thought it was going to be a goals feast for the Eagles but how wrong they were.

The league champions with Chief Coach, Abdulahi Abdulmakabi dishing out instructions regrouped quickly and five minutes later forced a penalty when their raid on the Eagles vital area was adjudged to have been palmed by one of the defenders. The resultant penalty was neatly tucked in by Bello Kofamata, who turned out to be the hatchet man for the league champions.

As the Eagles were thinking of a positive reaction, it was Kofamata, who struck again in the 21st minute when a quick throw from keeper, Joseph Ewuga found Saliu Nura who outran the Eagles defence to find Kofamata, who was too delighted to hit home. The Eagles reacted almost immediately when Rabiu Aliu and Abubakar Ali’s fierce challenge fell to the chest of Aliu who riffled home sweetly in the 40thminute. It was to be the final goal of an exciting encounter.

The second half inclusion of Christian Pyagbara, Barnabas Imenger, Ikechukwu Azubuike, Ejiro Etebor, Bright Esieme, Aliyu Obaje and goalkeeper Dele Alampasu brought sparkle but no goal. The game thus ended 2-2 , with Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi declaring that he was happy with what he saw of his boys.

Abdulamakabi, the Pillars’ handler declared that it was a testy duel and his players whom he said know all the Eagles stars gave their all. He added that the Eagles will go far at the CHAN tourney in South Africa.

Amokachi Marks Subdued Birthday

It was also a sort of celebration day for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, as Assistant Coach, Daniel ‘The Bull’ Amokachi added another year on Monday morning. The power playing forward in his hey days said he was not in the mood for celebration, even as he declared that God has been wonderful to him.

In the morning match against Kano Pillars, he stayed coy over the development until Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, with the connivance of Media Officer Ben Alaiya, hinted Head Coach Stephen Keshi that his assistant was a birthday boy. Amokachi smiled away and acknowledged the fact but declared that having celebrated his 40th birthday in grand style he will wait for another milestone to celebrate.

“I must say I give thanks to Almighty God for always being there for me. He has blessed not only me but my family and even the team we work for, what more can one ask for except to thank Him and ask for long life and more prosperity. Honestly, God has been very good to me and I can’t ask for more from Him. I just want Nigerians to help me praise God on my birthday”, he said on Monday evening.

CHAN: Mba Doubtful, As Three Exit Eagles Camp…Medics Assure On Gambo

CHAN: Mba Doubtful, As Three Exit Eagles Camp…Medics Assure On Gambo

Super Eagles 2013 Nations Cup hero, Sunday Mba, who is one of the players being relied upon to pull the strings at the forthcoming CHAN African Nations tournament, may after all not be available for the tournament, according to Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

Keshi, said on Thursday, that Mba, was on his way to France to join Bastia, the French side that first indicated interest in the player after the Nations Cup triumph. Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi was to add that the player could leave camp as early as Friday, as he was not one of the players listed for the friendly game in Port Harcourt on Saturday against a Rivers selected side.

“We have resigned ourselves to fate and working hard to discover those who can fill Mba’s shoes, as he seems to have nicked a deal with Bastia and may not be part of CHAN tourney. We just to brace up and wish him the best because it’s a career thing” he said.

Also on Thursday, the weeding process of the CHAN Eagles continued with three players exiting camp. Keshi who addressed the players once again told them that they have all it takes to play for the national team but there was not time enough to fit into the system and he would continue to monitor them for future call ups. “Take heart because as I always say, many are called but few are chosen, we would soon be back knocking on your doors.

Those who left camp on Thursday were Sunshine Stars Kingsley Onome Eduwo, Bendel Insurance’s Bello John Ikeleji and Eric Kwame of Plateau United. More players are expected to exit the camp of the national team after the training game in Port Harcourt and Monday’s other practice match against Nigerian league champions, Kano Pillars.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles medical team has assured the technical crew that Kano Pillars, Gambo Mohammed will be ready on time for the CHAN tourney. Gambo has been out with a harm-string problem, recovered last week but there was a relapse in the course of the week which forced him out of Thursday’s morning training. “He should be back and better”, Amokachi assured of the highly regarded striker.