Oliseh Delights At Unity In Eagles’ Camp

Coach Sunday Oliseh has expressed delight at the unity in the Super Eagles’ camp as the group focuses on earning a place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

Nigeria could only draw 0-0 with Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the weekend as the race to Gabon 2017 reached a third of the way, but former captain Oliseh says he has confidence in his wards to steer Nigeria to the finals.

“I have said it over and over that I am no magician. We have to come to accept the hard fact that we are not right there at the top there, at the moment.

“No doubt, we have potential, and based on the unity I have seen amongst the players, and the willingness to work hard and accomplish, we will get back to the top in good time.”

Sunday Oliseh photo credit sundayoliseh.tv

Sunday Oliseh spoke at a press conference at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with the Mena of Niger Republic.

“We are building a new team, and patience is required. It is like starting from the scratch, because the fact is that we didn’t qualify for the last Africa Cup of Nations.

“However, I have the confidence that this group will make Nigeria proud again.”

Coach Oliseh will lead his troops out at the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium against the Mena, who lost 0-2 to Burundi in Bujumbura on Saturday. But right back Leon Balogun, who suffered a knock at training and thus missed the Tanzanian match, flew back to Germany from Dar es Salaam.

Midfielder Izunna Uzochukwu is also out, and this necessitated the invitation of Nasarawa United midfielder Bature Yaro. Also, defender Kenneth Omeruo has recovered from his knock against Tanzania.

Tuesday’s match starts at 3pm.

Super Eagles Fly To Tanzania On Thursday Afternoon

The delegation of Super Eagles of Nigeria to Saturday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania will fly out of Abuja at 3pm on Thursday, according to the NFF

Arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam will be at 10pm (8pm Nigeria time) of the same day.

The Tanzania Football Federation has confirmed that the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Taifa Stars and Super Eagles of Nigeria will come up at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam on Saturday, September 5.

The match will kick off at 4.30pm Tanzania time (2.30pm in Nigeria).

The Super Eagles are joint top with the Pharaohs of Egypt in Group G of the qualifying series, having beaten Chad 2-0 in Kaduna in June’s Matchday 1, but the North Africans have one goal advantage having beaten the Taifa Stars 3-0 the same weekend.

Super Eagles during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Nigeria Training on Sep,1st, 2015 at National Stadium, Abuja
© Kabiru Abubakar/Backpagepix

The Nigeria Football Federation has also confirmed that it has finalized all arrangements with regards to the Super Eagles’ movement into and out of Dar es Salaam, as well as accommodation for the delegation in the Tanzanian capital.

Sources further confirmed that while the delegation will fly out from Abuja, the chartered aircraft will fly the delegation to Port Harcourt on return, where the Super Eagles tackle the Mena of Niger Republic in an international friendly on Tuesday, September 8.

Super Eagles, Tanzania Match To Start 2.30pm Nigeria Time

The Tanzania Football Federation has confirmed that the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Taifa Stars and Super Eagles of Nigeria will come up at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam on Saturday, September 5.

A mail from TFF President Jamal Malinzi also confirmed that the National Stadium has natural grass, and that the match will kick off at 4.30pm Tanzania time (2.30pm in Nigeria).

Nigeria’ Super Eagles share joint top –place with the Pharaohs of Egypt in Group G of the qualifying series, having beaten Chad 2-0 in Kaduna in June’s Matchday 1, but the North Africans have one goal advantage having beaten the Taifa Stars 3-0 the same weekend.

Coach Sunday Oliseh has 19 home –based professionals in camp in Abuja, and has also called 18 overseas –based players, led by Eagles’goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama.

The Nigeria Football Federation has also confirmed that it has finalized all arrangements with regards to the Super Eagles’ movement into and out of Dar es Salaam, as well as accommodation for the delegation in the Tanzanian capital.

Sources further confirmed that while the delegation will fly out from Abuja, the chartered aircraft will fly the delegation to Port Harcourt on return, where the Super Eagles tackle the Mena of Niger Republic in an international friendly on Tuesday, September 8.

Oliseh Calls Enyeama, 17 Others For Tanzania

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has invited 18 overseas-based professionals for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

First–choice goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama headlines the list that also has defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Haruna and Joel Obi, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Anthony Ujah.

There are a number of surprises, in line with Oliseh’s earlier pledge to make current form and first–level football key indices for selection.

There are goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, midfielder Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu and forwards Emem Eduok, Sylvester Igboun and Moses Simon.

All the 18 players, who will join up with the 23 home boys who arrived camp in Abuja on Monday, are expected in Abuja on Monday, 31st August, 2015 at the latest.

HARUNA LUKMAN

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy); Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); Lukman Haruna (Anzhi Machatsjkala, Russia); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emem Eduok (Esperance ST, Tunisia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Anthony Ujah (Werder Bremen, Germany); Sylvester Igboun (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium)

Oliseh returns next week

Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, will return to the country next week, as preparations hit top gear for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

The former Super Eagles’ captain is presently in the United Kingdom with his assistant, Jean Francois Loscuito, and a number of meetings with senior Nigerian internationals in that country are on-going.

Oliseh, officially presented on July 15, has assured that he is already working assiduously towards raising a solid squad to pick up three vital points from East Africa in four-and-half weeks’ time.

“The match in Dar es Salaam is very, very crucial, not only because it will be my first match as Head Coach, but also because we have no choice than to win. The three points are important for us to keep up the tempo in our group.

“We are on the same three points with Egypt, though they have scored a goal more. That is why we cannot afford any slip along the way. We will deal first with the match in Tanzania, and then we will start thinking about the CHAN qualifiers with Burkina Faso in October, and then the World Cup qualifying fixture in November. There is a lot of work. After these matches, we will now start working towards the two AFCON qualifying matches we have with the Pharaohs in March next year.”

Oliseh, in company with NFF President Amaju Pinnick, will also be involved in a number of sessions with some corporate groups interested in partnering with Nigeria football.

“We will spread our dragnet far and wide, and any player who is in great form and we believe can add value to the Super Eagles will be invited to fight for shirt to represent Nigeria.”

The Super Eagles play Tanzania at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam on Saturday, 5th September, with an international friendly to fulfill a few days later.

Rwanda Crowned Zone 5 Champions At AAG Beach Volleyball Qualifier

The Rwandan men’s beach volleyball team of Olivier Ntagengwa and Flavien Ndamukunda has been crowned Zone V champions after beating Burundi in the final of Zonal qualifiers for AAG on Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Rwandan Pair that won zone 5 AAG qualifier

Ndamukunda and Ntagengwa beat Burundian opponents 2-0 (21-11 and 21-18). The two-day tournament started on Friday.

Rwanda has qualified for this year’s All African Games slated for Congo Brazzaville in September 4-19 along with Burundi, Kenya and Egypt.

En-route to the final, the Rwandan pair secured two wins in three games in group stages. Rwanda beat Uganda 2- 0 (21-18 and 21-16) and Eritrea 2-0 (21-5, 21-6) before losing to Burundi 2-1 (26 24, 18-21 and 13-15).

In semi-finals Ntagengwa and Ndamukunda beat the Kenyan team 2-1, (21-17, 21-13, and 15-12) while Burundi won over Egypt 2-1.

Rwanda v Eretrea

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TAREK AL-ADWAR, CAVB

Volleyball: Tanzania Host African Dream Project Implementation

Tanzania hosted the implementation of the African Volleyball Confederation “CAVB” African Dream Project in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania last week.

The project which is supported by FIVB President Dr Ary Graca is considered one of the most important Development plans in Africa in the last few years.

Five countries, namely Djibouti, Rwanda, Uganda and hosts Tanzania attended the 4 day clinic conducted by Canadian Instructor Mark Tennant. A member from Tanzania Olympic Committee closed the clinic in attendance of the local media.

The Programme aims at having a common project for all African countries, mainly focusing on volleyball at school. All relevant stakeholders must be involved which are Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Youth, and National Olympic Committee. The project will see the setting up of centers that will be used to develop identified athletes at young age and arranging all the keys for their involvement later on to their corresponding Youth national teams.

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Muharam Mchume from Tanzania

Flying Eagles host Tanzania in Kaduna

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will host their Tanzanian counterparts in a 2015 AYC second round, second leg clash at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

The match will be played on Saturday, May 24.

The Flying Eagles defeated the Ngorongoro Heroes 2-0 on Sunday in the first leg encounter at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam with second-half goals from Musa Yahaya and Taiwo Awoniyi.

The team led by NFF executive committee member Shehu Adamu flew back to Abuja Monday afternoon from Tanzania after a stopover in Addis Ababa and headed straight to Kaduna, where a squad of 25 players will train ahead of the return match.

The team are booked into the African Continental Hotel.

Team secretary Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim said they have already settled down and will resume full training Tuesday evening at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

The overall winners of this tie will clash with the winners of the second round match between Angola and Lesotho for a place at the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal in March.

Lesotho won the first leg in Maseru 3-1.

FLYING EAGLES READY FOR TANZANIA, AS HOST CONFIRMS SUNDAY DATE…

FLYING EAGLES READY FOR TANZANIA ASSURES MANU GARBA

Flying Eagles are ready to fly Nigeria’s flag very high in this weekend’s 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier in Tanzania, according to a confident coach Manu Garba.

“We are fully ready for this match,” Manu said after his team’s intensive training session at the National Stadium in Lagos Tuesday morning.

“We respect our opponents, but we want to win in Tanzania so that the second leg in Nigeria will be a mere formality.

“We have very good information about Tanzania after the Nigeria Football Federation sent an official to spy on them last month. They like to play football and have a good recovery rate, but we will be equal to the task.”

He added: “We are a Nigerian team and so we have the character to withstand any situation. And we will again prove this in Tanzania.”

Last month, the Nigeria U20s played two test matches in Morocco, which they drew, and have also played against local clubs in Abuja ahead of this qualifier.

All 18 squad players are free of injury despite the bruising warm-up match against Benin Republic on Sunday in Cotonou.

Manchester City duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali impressed as second half substitutes in Benin and could well start against Tanzania.
Both players had struggled with fitness and injury when they joined up with the squad last month.

The Flying Eagles will depart Lagos by 1.35pm Wednesday for the seven-hour flight to Addis Ababa from where they will connect to Tanzania.

They are due back in Nigeria on Monday.

Tanzania confirm Sunday for AYC qualifier

Meanwhile Tanzania have confirmed that a 2015 African Youth Championship second round, first leg qualifier against Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will be staged on Sunday.

In an official correspondence by the Tanzania Football Federation dated May 6 and signed by general secretary Mwesigwa Selestine, the host federation apologised for shifting the game by a day “due to reasons beyond our reach”.

The match will be played at the 60,000-capacity National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, which has a natural grass pitch.

Kick-off time is 4pm local time, which is 2pm Nigerian time as they are two hours ahead.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have before now been kept in the dark about the match details.

Tanzania eliminated neigbours Kenya on penalties to reach the second round, while six-time African champions Nigeria drew bye into the second round.

Meanwhile, it was cheering news in the Flying Eagles camp when the wife of team doctor Ozi Salami gave birth to a bouncing baby girl on Monday.

It is the Salamis second daughter.