FLYING EAGLES STRIKER AWONIYI IS SUPER 4 MVP

Flying Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP)of the pre-season invitational tournament Super 4.

The award carries a prize money of 200,000 Naira.

Awoniyi, who has a pre-contract with Swedish club Kalmar, scored two goals for the Flying Eagles and his all-round play was exceptional.

He is expected to sign a professional contract with the Swedish club in August, when he turns 18.

He featured at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, which Nigeria won in style.

The Nigeria U20s, who are preparing for the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal in March, won the six-team tournament in style with 13 points from five matches.

They won the competition with a round of games to spare, scored the highest number of goals (12) and were unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Kano Pillars new signing and Nigeria ‘B’ international Christian Obiozor finished as top scorer of the Super 4 with four goals.

Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates with Flying Eagles after winning the Super 4 in Abuja Sunday

Flying Eagles at 2015 Super 4

Day 1: January 24:
Enyimba 0 Flying Eagles 2

Day 2: Monday, January 26
Pillars 1 Flying Eagles 2

Day 3: Wednesday, January 28
Flying Eagles 1 Warri Wolves 0

Day 4: Friday, January 30
Flying Eagles 4 Dolphins 1

Day 5: Sunday February 1
Dream Team 3 Flying Eagles 3

Glo NPFL Super 4: Eguma Blames Late Preparation, Fatigue For Loss

Stanley Eguma says fatigue and late start to the season were responsible for their 2-0 loss to Kano Pillars on Saturday.

Samuel Tswaya scored in the 6th minute and Christian Obiozor in the 9th minute.

“I knew we would not be at our best at this tournament,” Dolphins coach, Eguma said.

“Fatigue from the journey was one factor, since we arrived just last night. We also fought hard but we missed chances.

Dolphins Coach: Stanley Eguma

“We had little preparations because the boys arrived late to camp but we will use the Super 4 to improve on our fitness,” Eguma said.

Okey Emordi, coach of Pillars insists the team still has some more work to do to be fully ready for their Champions League contest in February.

“It’s not because won… thank God for that. I was unimpressed with the positional game of the players and their recovery after losing the ball. I expected more from my players.

“This competition is a prelude to our continental competition. We are lucky to have won the match anyway. IF it was Dolphins that got those early goals, then we would have been the losers.”

Dolphins continue in the Super 4 on Monday against the U23 team at 5pm.

Dolphins Focus On Gombe After Rangers Loss

Dolphins head coach, Stanley Eguma says his side have put the loss to Rangers behind them and will now focus on Gombe United who they play on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

Eguma said after the game that he believed his players did well and deserved to win but will not dwell on a game that has ended.

“We prepared to win or at worst pick a draw but it was quite unfortunate that we couldn’t.

“All was well until the ending part of the game when the referee gave a penalty against us and I really do not think that was a penalty but we won’t let this one match pull or back as we will continue to strategize for other game and people we will recover from today’s loss,” Eguma said.

Embattled Rangers coach, John Obuh said he just wanted to win, knowing the strength of the current Dolphins side.

Dolphins salute

“Dolphins have gone unbeaten for so long so I expected them to play as well as they did so I just wanted to win no matter what,” Obuh said.

After going six games unbeaten in the League and eleven in all competitions, Dolphins fell 2-1 to Rangers in a game that could have gone either way.

Rangers took an early lead through Super Eagles attacker, Osaguona Ighodaro in the 10th minute, his 14 goal of the season.

Tijani Adamu equalized for Dolphins in the 63rd minute before Christian Obiozor scored Rangers’ winner seven minutes later.

Rangers are now in 14th position while Dolphins drop out of the top four.