Ahead Africa U-23 Cup of Nations , Siasia Faces Selection Headache

Two weeks of contrasting fortunes for U-23 National Team Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has ended with sheer headache on which players he should pick for the pre-Africa U-23 Cup of Nations camp in Morocco.

Last week, it was a frustrated Siasia who cried out that his camp was empty due to clubs’ incessant demand for their players to report for club duties. This week, the story has changed as the former Super Eagles’ Head Coach is now faced with the problem of selecting the 30 players who will make his list to Morocco where the team will have a final camping before proceeding to Senegal for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations starting on 28 November.

All invited 35 home -based players were at the team’s training session on Tuesday evening, with competition intense as all struggled to impress as the list of 30 is soon to be compiled. The session was so charged that Siasia himself had to tell the players to take things easy so as to avoid injuries.

Expressing satisfaction with the players in camp, an elated Siasia said: “For now, all I can say is that I am very happy with what I have seen as the players came back from their club engagements fully refreshed and ready to do the nation proud. The NFF has also responded positively to my cry for the release of these players so we can prepare properly for the big task of picking one of Africa’s tickets for the football event of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I must confess that selecting the 30 players who will be departing the shores of this country for Morocco is giving myself and my assistants real headache, but this is a positive headache which at the end of the day will enable us select only the best that will fly the nation’s flag with gusto.”

Siasia Samson Nigeria U23 Coach credit fifa.com

Meanwhile, U-23 National Team will on Thursday at the National Stadium, Abuja trade tackles with newly promoted NPFL club Niger Tornadoes of Minna. The encounter is expected to kick off at 4pm.

On Saturday morning, the team will engage C.O.D FC of Lagos.

FULL LIST OF PLAYERS IN U-23 CAMP

1. Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)
2. Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars)
3. Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland FC)
4. Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys)
5. Sincere Seth (Rhapsody Academy)
6. Erhun Obanor (Abia Warriors)
7. Daniel Etor (Enyimba FC)
8. Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves)
9. Godwin Aguda (Enugu Rangers)
10. Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba)
11. Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors)
12. Chukwuebuka Iroha (Diamond FC)
13. Austine Oladapo (FC IfeanyiUbah)
14. Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC)
15. Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves)
16. Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)
17. Godspower Effiong (Kano Pillars)
18. Ifeanyi Mathew (El -Kanemi Warriors)
19. Bright Onyeadikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah)
20. Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars)
21. Mustapha Abdullahi (Sportlight FC)
22. Bature Yaro‎ (Nasarawa United)
23. Zaradeen Bello (Kano Pillars)
24. Ahamefule Chizoba
25. Seun Olulayo (Sunshine Stars)
26. Tiongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa United)
27. Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves)
28. Kingsley Eduwo (Sunshine Stars)
29. Abubakar Aliyu
30. Anaezemba Nzube (Enyimba FC)
31. Charles Chukwudi (Plateau United)
32. Daniel Enmanson (Akwa United)
33. Ibrahim Alhassan (Hearts FC)
34. Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors)
35. Adebayo Ajadi (36 Lions‎)

Coach Allen Heap Praise on Ayodele and Pyagbara

Sharks FC goal keeper, Henry Ayodele was undoubtedly the man of the match in the Weekend fixture between Bayelsa Utd and Sharks Fc after making fifteen saves at the Oghara township stadium.

The heavily built goal keeper who was dubbed the Big Show by Oghara fans made six of the saves in the opening twenty eight minutes and got thumbs up from his coach, Festus Allen who described Ayodele’s feat as a heroic performance worthy of the accolades from the fans.

COACH ALLLEN WITH FANS AFTER THE GAME

“The goal keeper was the hero of the game, most especially the saves he made in the first half were simply mind blowing”.

“He deserves all the accolades poured out on him by the fans and Ayodele was just so instrumental to our victory”.Allen said

Allen also did not fail to heap praise on Christian Pyagbara whose individual brilliance from an impossible situation in the seventy second minute gave Sharks maximum point.

“It is this kind of performance that distinguishes a striker from another; Christian was in his right element today”.

“Scoring from an impossible situation can only be possible through sheer individual brilliance, to me it was a clinical finish and Pyagbara did the needful”. Allen stressed

And with his second away win of the season in as many as eight matches Coach Allen is optimistic the one nil victory over Bayelsa united will spur the team when they host Lobi stars in a rescheduled league fixture on Wednesday.

FLYING EAGLES SETTLE DOWN IN DAKAR AHEAD AYC OPENER

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have settled down in Dakar ahead of Sunday’s opening AYC match against hosts Senegal.

The Flying Eagles checked into their four-star Alafifa Hotel in bustling downtown Dakar, not far from the Presidential villa, around 3am local time, which will be 4am Nigerian time Thursday) after a flight that took them from Abuja via Lagos and Banjul, Gambia.

They will train most likely at the match venue by 4.30pm local time later Thursday.

Nigeria leader of delegation Rafiu Yusuf said the traditional arrival meeting with CAF officials earlier fixed for Thursday will now be on Friday.

Weather conditions are favourable, warm in the afternoon and not as cold as it was the early morning when the team touched down in Dakar.

“It’s mildly cold, good weather to play football non-stop,” said midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi.

In the meantime, Flying Eagles opponents on Sunday, Senegal, have been busy preparing for the tournament as they have won their last two warm-up matches against both Zambia and South Africa, who are in Group B.

The host nation won both matches 1-0.

Reports suggest they have revamped the squad now handled by former Teranga Lions of Senegal coach Joseph Koto in the last two weeks.

SAMM AUDU,

Flying Eagles Depart For AYC Wednesday

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will depart for the African Youth Championship in Senegal on Wednesday, officials have announced.

The Flying Eagles secretary Aliyu Ibrahim Awal disclosed that the team will fly out of Abuja via Lagos and Banjul, Gambia, to Dakar.

“We will leave Abuja Wednesday afternoon on our way to Dakar,” said the top team official.

The team will begin their quest for the 2015 AYC on Sunday against hosts Senegal.

Kick-off time is 5.30 pm Nigerian time at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar.

They will also take on Congo March 11 and Cote d’Ivoire March 14.

The final group game against the Ivorians will be played at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’bour, which is a short bus ride from Dakar and the base for Group B.

The four semi-finalists at this tournament will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup to be staged in New Zealand from May.

Flying Eagles

Flying Eagles final AYC squad:

Goalkeepers: Joshua Enaholo, Sunday Alampasu, Olorunleke Ojo

Defenders: Musa Muhamed, Zaharadeen Bello, Izu Omego, Mustapha Abdullahi, Samuel Okon, Abdulganiyu Saheed

Midfielders:Ifeanyi Matthew, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Akinjide Idowu, Obinna Nwobodo, Bernard Bulbwa, Abdullahi Alfa

Strikers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Christian Pyagbara, Abdullahi Ibrahim Alhassan ‘Muazam’, Usman Hassan, Chidera Ezeh, Wasiu Jimoh

CAF Confederation Cup: Dolphins Swim Past The Vegetarians

After a pulsating ninety minutes of football, Dolphins scored one goal, took the game to penalty shoot outs and won 5-3 to edge past Leones Vegetarianos FC in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.

Dolphins lost the 1st leg 1-0, and started the return leg the same way they did in Malabo by missing glaring chances.

As early as the 2nd minute Ifeanyi Egwim found space in the Vegetarianos area but his cross went way of mark and an overlapping Ayobami Asekunowo could not connect.

In the 16th minute it was the turn of Victor Alegbe to miss as some good passing moves by Dolphins completely split the Vegetarianos defence open but Alegbe who had just the post in front of him with goalkeeper Yannick out of the way blasted wide.

Fredor for the visitors had his chance to get a crucial away goal for his side in the 27th minute when they had a free kick after Jonathan Zikiye had fouled his man but his free header went wide after Sunday Rotimi had been beaten.

Players of Leones Vegetarianos rue their loss

However, it was Emeka Atuloma who turned hero of the day a minute later as he curled a free kick from about 25 yards to put Dolphins 1-0 up and tie the game on aggregate.

On the hour mark, Stanley Eguma took off Ifeanyi Egwim for Omoh Johnson and then Isiaka Olawale replaced Chidiebere Okolie who had missed a chance just a minute before he was substituted.

Christian Pyagbara freed him and with just the goalkeeper facing him after beating the offside trap, he blasted wide.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Victor Alegbe shook off his marker and tried a shot that was spilled by the goalkeeper but Pyagbara failed to bury the rebound.

In the ensuing penalty shootouts, Tijani Adamu, Emeka Atuloma, Victor Ezuruike, Chigozie Ihunda and Christian Pyagbara all scored while Yumby Nicanor, Pendah and Esoto Ada scored for Leones but Sunday Rotimi saved Guy Yannace’s kick.

Dolphins players led by Onyekachi Akakem and Sunday Rotimi celebrate the shootout win

Start list

22. Sunday Rotimi, 6. Ayobami Asekunowo, 26. Jonathan Zikye, 8. Emeka Atuloma, 30. Victor Ezuruike, 5. Joseph Douhadji, 3. Chidiebere Okolie, 13. IFeanyi Egwim, 9. Christian Pyagbara, 20. Tijani Adamu, 10. Victor Alegbe

Subs

7. Isiaka Olawale replaced Chidiebere Okolie

24. Omoh Johnson replaced Ifeanyi Egwim

14. Chigozie Ihunda replaced Victor Alegbe

CAF Confederation Cup: Dolphins v Leones Vegetarianos

Team News

Kick Off time 16: hrs Nigerian time

Date: Saturday, February 28, 2015

CAF Confederation Cup 1st round 2nd leg

Venue: Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium

TEAM NEWS

Dolphins coach, Stanley Eguma has made just one addition to the match day squad from the one that played in Malabo against Leones Vegetarianos two weeks ago.

Hope Fiberesima who missed the game has been included for the return leg.

Christian Pyagbara who left camp nine days ago to join up with the National U20 team has also returned and makes the match day squad.

Victor Ezuruike tries to stop an Enyimba player in the League last season

MATCH PREVIEW

In Malabo two weeks ago, it was a game of two halves.

Dolphins controlled the first half and had four clear chances to score. Isiaka Olawale, Ifeanyi Egwim, Christian Pyagbara and Tijani Adamu all missed while facing the goalkeeper when it would have been easier to score.

The home side got two chances in the second half and scored one.

Dolphins before now had never played against Leones Vegetarianos but have come up against two clubs from Equatorial Guinea.

In 2005 in the CAF Champions League first round, Dolphins lost 1-0 in Malabo to Renascimiento FC and won 3-0 in Port Harcourt.

In 2012, also in the CAF Champions League, Dolphins beat Sony Ela Nguema 3-0 in Malabo and 3-1 in Port Harcourt.

MATCH FACTS

How they played in first leg

Start list

22. Sunday Rotimi, 6. Ayobami Asekunowo, 26. Jonathan Zikye, 8. Emeka Atuloma, 30. Victor Ezuruike, 5. Joseph Douhadji, 7. Isiaka Olawale, 13. IFeanyi Egwim, 9. Christian Pyagbara, 20. Tijani Adamu, 10. Victor Alegbe

Subs

Omo Johnson replaced Christian Pyagbara, Chigozie Ihunda came in for Victor Alegbe and Ifeanyi Egwim was taken off for Chidiebere Okolie.

Match Day Squad

Goalkeepers

Sunday Rotimi

Joseph Onwuga

Defenders

Tobins Zikala

Jonathan Zikiye

Joseph Douhadji

Victor Ezuruike

Ayobami Asekunowo

Onyekachi Akakem

Midfielders

Hope Fiberesima

Emeka Atuloma

Chidiebere Okolie

Tijani Adamu

Isiaka Olawale

Victor Alegbe

Attackers

Christian Pyagbara

Ifeanyi Egwim

Omoh Johnson

Chigozie Ihunda

Pyagbara Admits Pressure At Dolphins

Dolphins’ new boy, Christian Pyagbara admits he is under pressure to start scoring goals.

Pyagbara who got fourteen goals at Sharks last season crossed over to city rivals Dolphins as replacement for Emem Eduok who got 25 goals in all competitions.

Pyagbara admits he is under pressure to score for his new side.

“There is pressure but you can’t let that affect you. If I do not score I will provide assists.

“You do not necessarily have to score many goals but as a striker you have to work hard as you can either score or assist,” Pyagbara said.

“My target however, this season is to score twenty goals,” he said.

Pyagbara would have had to take a tough decision dumping Sharks for Dolphins, knowing the rivalry that exists between both sides.

Christian Pyagbara

“It was not easy but I had to take the decision by going for what I wanted.

“I had been at Sharks for two seasons and won nothing so I wanted a change of environments.

“I weighed my odds and Dolphins always go far in tournaments so I chose to join them for the Confederation Cup,” he said.

Pyagbara has already played one game for Dolphins in the 1st leg of the CAF Confederation Cup against Leones Vegetarianos in Malabo two weeks ago.

He is expected to feature in the 2nd leg on Saturday, February 28 at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium.

Eguma Prepares For Life Without Eduok

Dolphins head coach, Stanley Eguma is already prepared for life without Emem Eduok in the coming football season.

As the club prepares for Saturday’s 2nd leg 1st round CAF Confederation Cup clash against Leones Vegetarianos FC in Port Harcourt, Eguma extols the virtues of Emem saying his departure is a big loss for the club.

“In football, players come and go and clubs eventually replace those who depart,” Eguma said.

“The thing is that Emem does not fall in the category of players that you can easily replace.

“We tried to get Peter Ebimobowei soon after his departure was confirmed but unfortunately for us and fortunately for Peter he secured another deal outside the country which was beneficial to him,” Eguma said.

Emem Eduok

Dolphins eventually settled for Christian Pyagbara who crossed from city neighbours, Sharks to team up with the duo of Ifeanyi Egwim and Omo Johnson who were with the team last season.

“Pyagbara is one player that can comfortably fit into the shoes Emem left behind and I’m happy about it.

“He has a knack for scoring goals and he did so last season so we hope will continue that way this season especially in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Dolphins Coach: Stanley Eguma

“Ifeanyi Egwim has been with us for some time and though he didn’t do too well last season we hope he will pick up this season,” Eguma said.

“Omo Johnson is another striker we have and I must say we are gradually getting to replace Emem and by the time these players click we may forget the name of Eduok,” Eguma said.

Flying Eagles Name Final AYC Squad Thursday

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have to submit a final 21-man squad for the 2015 AYC to CAF by midnight of Thursday, officials have disclosed.

The Nigeria U20 currently have a 28-man provisional squad that includes Belgium-based defender Wilfred Ndidi and Dolphins new signing Christian Pyagbara.

Pyagbara joined the Flying Eagles training camp in Abuja on their return from two warm-up matches in Ghana, while the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are waiting on Belgian club Genk over the release of Ndidi for the AYC.

In the meantime, the results of the scans on Musa Yahaya and Zaharadeen Bello are expected to be made known in the new week.

Yahaya suffered a knee injury during the Flying Eagles second test match against Ghana in Tema, while Bello is nursing a swollen calf.

The Nigeria U20s are due to fly out for a training tour ahead of the AYC, which kicks off March 8 in Dakar, Senegal.

Rotimi Blames Profligacy For Dolphins Loss

Dolphins’ captain, Sunday Rotimi says missed chances were to blame for the loss in Malabo to Leones Vegetarianos on Saturday.

Dolphins lost the CAF Confederation Cup game via a 57th minute goal and Rotimi says that goal may not have mattered if the team had taken their chances.

“It’s a game we should have won but our attackers threw away many chances in the first half. From where I was, I counted four of them.

“In important games like these you must take your chances and these four we got were clear cut chances and we should have scored them but our attackers failed to do so and the result is the loss,” Rotimi said.

Rotimi also pointed out that the team was not robbed in Malabo but that they lost due to carelessness.

“We know the terrain very well and referees will always give slight advantages to the home side which he did on Saturday, but imagine if we had scored those four goals or even two of them and the story would have been different.

“We were not robbed, we were just careless on the day,” Rotimi said.

Dolphins Fc

How they played

Coach of Dolphins, Stanley Eguma handed a debut to Christian Pyagbara and it was Dolphins on the front foot in the first half but carelessness on the part of the attackers ensured the first half ended goaless.

Ifeanyi Egwim had a chance to score but missed when that was the more difficult option.

Isiaka Olawale was also through on goal but failed to find the back of the net and Tijani Adamu had his turn to miss and while the goalkeeper was beaten, his outstretched leg stopped the ball from going in.

Christian Pyagbara also registered his name amongst players who missed clear cut chances in the first half when he blasted wide with the ball at his feet in front of the goal.

Going into the break, it seemed Dolphins would turn out winners on the day until the 57th minute when Jonathan Zikye failed to take care of a Vegetarianos winger whose low cross in the box was jabbed home after defenders Victor Ezuruike and Joseph Zaovi Douhadji were found ball watching.

Five minutes later it could have been 2-0 if not for Sunday Rotimi making a point blank save in the box and Dolphins were the more relieved team at the full time whistle.

Dolphins start list

22. Sunday Rotimi, 6. Ayobami Asekunowo, 26. Jonathan Zikye, 8. Emeka Atuloma, 30. Victor Ezuruike, 5. Joseph Douhadji, 7. Isiaka Olawale, 13. IFeanyi Egwim, 9. Christian Pyagbara, 20. Tijani Adamu, 10. Victor Alegbe

Subs

Omo Johnson replaced Christian Pyagbara, Chigozie Ihunda came in for Victor Alegbe and Ifeanyi Egwim was taken off for Chidiebere Okolie

Pyagbara, Alegbe Leave Dolphins

Two players, Christian Pyagbara and Victor Alegbe left the camp of the team yesterday and did not return with them to Port Harcourt after the Super 4 ended in Abuja.

Victor Alegbe played for Dolphins last season from Wikki Tourist and Christian Pyagbara who was at Sharks last year is on the verge of joining the CAF Confederation Cup campaigners.

After an above average showing at the Super 4, both players caught the eyes of the Flying Eagles (U20 team) coaches who requested that they stay back to join their team.

Pyagbara scored one goal for Dolphins at the Super 4, in the 4-1 loss to the Flying Eagles while Victor Alegbe did not get a goal.

Pyagbara Sharks fc of Portharcourt

Meanwhile, Dolphins returned to Port Harcourt on Monday but did go to their Elekahia Estate camp.

They stopped at the Greater Port Harcourt City where they camped before the Super 4 to continue their preparations for next weeks’ game in the CAF Confederation Cup against Leonas Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea.

Superlative Pyagbara Commends Team Mates On Scoring Spree

Sharks Christian Pyagbara increased his goal tally to fourteen this season after a superlative performance in the 4-1 drubbing of Sunshine stars of Akure in one of the GNPL week 34 encounter played over the weekend.

Pyagbara who scored two goals in each half opened his goals account as early as the 47th seconds when he received a side footed pass from Daniel Agbagwu before shooting a grounder into the far corner of the net to become the second Sharks player this season to score the fastest goal after Fredrick Obomate opener against Kaduna United in the 22nd seconds in port Harcourt.

The Ogoni born CHAN 2014 super Eagles player doubled his account in the 40th minute after Dele Olorundare had cancelled out his opener in the 9th minute.

Pyagbara would however wait patiently for another thirty eight minutes to score his first hat trick of the season to send the fans into a frenzy when he tapped home a squared pass off the boot of Chima Akas.

Christian Pyagbara

And when the fans thought they had seen enough of Pyagbara goals scoring spree he cemented Sunshine Stars misery with his 4th goal of the day in added time with a powerful drive two meters from the box after a Sunshine defender misjudged a pass to Pyagbara from Joseph Nathaniel.

A delighted Christian who has now equaled Victor Ezeji’s record of four goals in a single match is the first Sharks players ever to score four goals in a match.

The light complexioned attacker who also wrote down his name in the history books of Sharks as the second player after Fredrick, who was the first player to score a goal under one minute this season gave kudos to his team mates for helping him achieve the feat.

“I am very delighted with my performance today because I was not expecting to score as many as four goals in a match so early in my career and I must commend my team mates for making the goals come easy”.Pyagbara said