Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has called 26 players, including forward Gbolahan Salami and defender Chima Akas, for the first phase of preparatory camp ahead of next month’s 4th African Nations Championship in Rwanda.
The Super Eagles B has already been drawn into Group C of the competition alongside Niger Republic, Tunisia and Guinea, with matches to be played at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in Kigali.
Also called are regulars Kalu Orji, Austin Oboroakpo, Jamiu Alimi (defenders), midfielders Ifeanyi Mathew, Paul Onobi, Usman Mohammed and Bature Yaro, forwards Ezekiel Bassey, Tunde Adeniji, Chisom Chikatara and Prince Aggrey, and goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Olufemi Thomas.
Invited players have been directed to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja on Monday, 14th December.
Nigeria won the bronze medal at the last African Nations Championship held in South Africa in early 2014. The 4th edition runs between 16th January and 7th February, 2016.
Super Eagles Training in Uyo
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); David Obiazor (Heartland FC); Okemute Odah (Warri Wolves)
Defenders: Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers); Austin Oboroakpo (Warri Wolves); Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars); Mathew Etim (Enugu Rangers); Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Chris Madaki (Giwa FC)
Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United); Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers); Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Warri Wolves); Julius Ubido (Heartland FC); Ibrahim Salawa Attah (Shooting Stars); Christian Madu (Enugu Rangers)
Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh has invited 23 home –based professionals who will kick–start preparations for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania.
At the head of the pack is Warri Wolves’ forward Gbolahan Salami, who scored one of the goals when the Eagles opened the race with a 2-0 win over Chad in Kaduna in June. There are also regular faces like Solomon Kwambe and Nelson Ogbonnaya.
A handful of players of the U-23 squad that survived a stern test in Pointe Noire on Sunday to qualify for the African U-23 Championship finals, will be joined by former junior international goalkeepers Olufemi Thomas and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as a number of new faces, led by top scorer in the Glo NPFL race, Tunde Adeniji of Sunshine Stars.
The players are expected to report to the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Monday, 17 August. Nigeria play Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on September 5 in one of the Matchday 2 games of the qualification series for Gabon 2017.
GOALKEEPERS: Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); David Obiazor (Heartland FC); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars)
Super Eagles forward Gbolahan Salami is reportedly close to joining Egypt football powerhouse Zamalek.
Nicknamed “Nigerian Balotelli” for his fearsome nature is fighting for his wages with Nigeria teams, Striker Gbolahan Salami made a dramatic return to Warri Wolves, from serbia in may due to the dire financial straits of the Serbian side for non payment of salaries.
In 2009 Zamalek failed to sign Salami with a bid but, this time around reports indicates they are close to a transfer for the Ex Shooting Stars, Sunshine Stars, Warri Wolves and Enyimba forward.
GBOLAHUN SALAMI WANTS 80 PERCENT PAYMENT UPFRONT FROM ZAMALEK
I might soon be joinning zamalek , but i must tell you we have sat down with the clubs representatives and all we have demanded for is 80 percent upfront payment, due to the bad financial encounter i had with my former clubside in Serbia, where they refused to make payments after i had played some league games for them.
Salami who is currently on the books of local team Warri Wolves, scored Nigeria’s first goal in their 2017 afcon qualifier over Chad in kaduna .
Warri Wolves FC fresh from their away victory in the CAF Confederation Cup in Congo stormed PortHarcourt on Wednesday morning with a crack squad for a re-scheduled league match with Dolphin fc which is billed for Thursday at the Liberation Stadium.
Coach Paul Aigbogun dropped two players from the Congo team and added three with a promise to put the Club where they belong in the league which has Giwa FC on top now.
Defender Semiu Liadi who is having a teeth problem was left out while Sikiru Alimi took the place of Onyekachi Okafor with Micheal Okoyoh coming in as the 18th player.
Warri Wolves team before their match against Racing De Bobo FC photo credit Moses Etu
The big news is that Solomon Kwambe who has not kicked a ball for the team will make his debut against Dolphin having been certified fit by the team Doctor, and Goodluck Onamado may have to keep a place on the bench.
The 18 man crack squad include goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi who has successfully wrestled the No 1 position, Tejiri Rhiogbere, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Oke Ogagatewho, Solomon Kwambe, Goodluck Onamado, Ojo Mine and Ichul Lordson.
Others are Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Micheal Egbeta, Micheal Okoyoh, Bright Akpojuvwewo, Oghenekaro Etebo, Gbolahan Salami, Abu Azeez, Stanley Dimgba, Omoforman Freedom and Sikiru Alimi.
Speaking before the team left Warri, Paul Aigbogun said they will use the match against Dolphin and the home game on Sunday against Nasarawa United as a re-hearsal towards their crucial last match before the group stage against AC Leopards.
A 27 man team of MK Etancheite Football Club of D.R Congo, Warri Wolves opponent in the CAF Confederation Cup, 2nd round, 1st leg on Saturday, arrived Warri on Tuesday afternoon aboard Arik Airline, beaming with smiles.
The team which landed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport at 11am was received by officials of Warri Wolves and air lifted immediately to Warri where they hope to spend a whole five days before the cracker which comes up at the Warri City Stadium on Saturday.
There was a mild drama at the airport as we refused to cater for 2 of them because CAF rules put it clearly that the host team can only cater for 25 but it was resolved amicably.
Meanwhile, the Match Commissioner from Ghana and Match Officials from Sychelles will arrive Warri on Friday for the match which promises to be explosive.
“The Congo team actually arrived Lagos at 11am and we took them straight to Warri on Tuesday. They came with a 27 man team but we told them we can only airlift 25 based on the CAF rules but it was sorted out at the airport. We know that they mean business by coming five clear days before the match but we are equal to the task.” said Etu Moses, Media Manager of Warri Wolves.
Among the players that Warri Wolves need to focus on are Captain Kabangu, Losiyo Bofumbo, Mombo Lusala and Kabangu Ndima.
Warri Wolves team before their match against Racing De Bobo FC photo credit Moses Etu
In a related development, Gbolahan Salami whose birthday comes up on Wednesday, 15th, April has urged his team mates to brace up for the challenge and give him a befitting birthday gift which is victory over MC MK from D.R Congo.
” Wednesday is my birthday and I want my team mates to brace up for the game and use the victory as a gift. I will cherish it if we win by a wide margin.”
The Ethiopian Embassy has denied two influential players of Warri Wolves visas on the premise that their passport validity is not up to six months in what is regarded as an attempt to thwart the efforts of the Warri based team from qualifying for the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Those affected are Goalkeeper Okiemute Odah and Onyekachi Okafor and at the same time rejected the passport of the Media Manager whose own is to expire on 22nd on the same pretext that the validity is not up to six months.
Warri Wolves team before their match against Racing De Bobo FC photo credit Moses Etu
In a brief statement made available to the media late Wednesday night by the Media Manager, Tega Iriose, has been called up as a replacement for Okiemute Odah who was in goal in the first leg in Warri which ended 2-0 in favour of Warri Wolves.
The team will also miss the services of Captain Azubuike Egwuekwe who is nursing a slight injury but the team will have the following players available. They are Daniel Akpeyi, Semiu Liadi, Joseph Eyimofe, Goodluck Onamado, Gbolahan Salami, Abu Azeez, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu among others.
Super Eagles fringe player, Gbolahan Salami who has just returned to the Country after a botched trip to Serbian Club, Red Star Belgrade has been given the green light to resume with Warri Wolves where he had a glorious outing before the move at the end of last season.
In a short statement released to journalist on Wednesday by the Media Manager of the Club, Etu Moses, Salami has been cleared by the Management to return and the beautiful aspect of the whole thing is that the Club registered him for the CAF Confederation Cup assignment.
According to Etu, Salami will be in Warri this weekend to fight for his shirt as the situation is no longer the same before he left.
Etu said the Club in anticipation that the former Shooting Stars player would leave, recruited some young attackers and Salami will have to battle them for the No 9 shirt.
Etu also stated that Coach Aigbogun no longer builds his team around a single scorer, rather, we now have a situation where anybody can score as witnessed in the Continental Matches where we had different scorers for the four goals.
Etu however disclosed that the condition under which Salami will operate has not been determined but said it would be resolved as soon as he arrives because he played for the club on loan last season.
Following the last minute withdrawal of the Sudanese national team from the international friendly against the Nigerian side, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has moved swiftly to ensure that the team plays a game on Saturday, January 17 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The team will now tackle the Yemini national side on the same date.
Sudan, which gave no reasons for its sudden withdrawal was scheduled to play Nigeria January 17 and Finland, January 22, both games were scheduled for Dubai. But Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, said in order not to distort the schedule of the national team for the New Year, Yemen was approached and accepted to play the Eagles and later Finland on the scheduled dates.
The Nigeria versus Yemen game will be played at the Sevens Stadium in the bubbling city of Dubai. Already, The Secretary General of the Yemen Football Federation, Dr Hamid Alshaibani, has sent a letter to the organizers a copy which was made available to the NFF accepting to test the might of his side against the reigning African Champions.
Already, the Super Eagles, who lost narrowly by 0-1 to Cote D’ Ivoire last Sunday have since arrived Dubai to prepare for the game against the Yemeni side. The team arrived Dubai by road on Tuesday afternoon and are staying at the Time Grand Plaza Hotel.
Following the departure of Warri Wolves striker, Gbolahan Salami, to go and firm up details of his contract with a Serbian side, 19 players and their officials led by NFF Technical Committee Chairman, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu and Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the NFF, Head Technical Department made the trip to Dubai. Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi, gave the players an off day Tuesday but declared that rigorous training for the game against Yemen will resume on Wednesday.
UAE Trip Excites Eagles, Salute NFF
Super Eagles players who made it to the United Arab Emirates for the double header friendly against Cote D’ Ivoire and Yemen, have been heaping praises on the leadership of theNFF for the forward looking approach to the national team.
The players said the mere fact that the team did not make it to the Equatorial Guinea 2015 Nations Cup was enough to demoralize the NFF, but the Executive Committee and the Secretariat of the body, still thought it wise to arrange a January outing for the team, almost the same time the Nations Cup will be starting.
Super eagles Abu Dhabi Training
Team Captain Chigozie Agbim and his deputy Azubuike Egwuekwe who spoke on behalf of the players said they are delighted with the trip and the first class facilities that the team have been exposed to in the course of the friendly games. “We must say a big thank you to the NFF for this visionary move and all we can say is forgive the team for not qualifying and we vow that it will never happen again in our time”, Agbim declared.
Egwuekwe added: We know we are better than most of the teams that are going to the Nations Cup but we made mistakes along the line and we must thank Nigerians for forgiving us and also thank the NFF for being forward looking despite the mishap, we will reward them next time with another Nations Cup win”, he said.
Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles on Friday morning landed in the United Arab Emirates for the two international friendlies against Cote D’ Ivoire and Sudan later in the month.
The Emirates Airliner that the team boarded from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday night landed at the Dubai International Airport at about 5:30am local time, which is 2:30am in Nigeria. After airport formalities the team of 19 players and officials took a jolly bus ride from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, a journey of about an hour.
On hand to welcome the team was new face Steven Ukoh, who plays his football with Swiss side, FC Biel. He was quite joyous to link up with the Nigerian team for the first time and declared that he can’t remember ever Nigeria, except as a child. But his quick mix-up with the rest of the players whom he has never met before must be commended.
The team is quartered at the serene Crown Plaza Hotel in Abu Dhabi and will have its first training session by 7:30pm local time, which is 4:30pm in Nigeria to start preparations for its first match against the Ivoriens January 12.
Super eagles Abu Dhabi Training
The 20 players in the Eagles squad: Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United); Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves); Theophilus Afelokhai (Kano Pillars)
You might ask,has Balotelli ever been good? Relatively good you might say. On a good day he can decide a game all by himself and he tend to that mostly in big encounters one of which was the Manchester Derby when he was playing for the Etihad owners. He had 20 goals in 59 appearances for Inter Milan and also had the same tally in Manchester but with 5 games less. His best performance so far was at AC. Milan where he bagged 26 goals in just 43 appearances for the Italian Outfit.
Balotelli was the youngest Inter player(18years 85days) to score in the Champions League beating Nigerian Obafemi Martins record. On 21 December 2010 Balotelli won the Golden Boy Award saying that only Lionel Messi was slightly better than him.
Balotelli scooped the MOTM award in the FA cup final in which the Citizens won 1 nil to break their 35 years trophy drought. In the International scene, Balotelli also was the first Black player to represent Italy in a Major competition(Euro 2012) where he was the joint top goal scorer alongside a host of players. At the 2014 World Cup qualifier Balotelli was Italy highest goal scorer with 5 goals and also had a very good tournament tin the 2013 Confederation cup where Italy finished third. Agile,quick,powerful and a Set-piece specialist Balotelli can be a handful for the world best defenders on his day.
Mario Balotelli. photo credit imageion.net
THE BAD
Balotelli became more famous for his antics off the pitch. Balotelli has a lot of disciplinary issues which began when he was at Inter. Jose Mourinho excluded him from his first team in the Second half of January 2009 due to his lack of effort in training. In March 2010 he came under heavy criticism from the Inter supporters after he was spotted putting on a Milan Jersey though he apologised.
He again caused controversy in 2010 when he threw his jersey on the ground in response to fans who had booed him for his poor performance,again he admitted later that the incident was the only regret in his life. Balotelli move to Manchester to re-ignite his career but his two years at Manchester City he had 4 red cards and served several suspensions. On the International scene Balotelli was on one occasion halted by teammate Leandro Bonucci who covered his mouth for fear the striker would say something that will get him into trouble when he scored against Rep.of Ireland at the Euros in 2012. At the age of 24 he has amassed 51 yellow cards and 4 red cards so far. All in all Balotelli is known for being a very Indiscipline and immature player.
THE BALOTELLI
There some special players in world football that have a very terrible disciplinary record and Balotelli is no exception. Getting sent off or having a spat with managers and coaches is what even the most disciplined of players do but there are other extraordinary things that “ONLY BALOTELLI” is capable of doing especially off field activities.
In June 2010 Balotelli and his friends fired air Pistols in the open in Milan. In that same year he was photographed in the midst of two notable Italian Mafia mobsters.
While in Manchester, Balotelli was seen carrying £5,000 and when he was interrogated by the police he said He was rich. Balotelli drove into a women’s prison claiming he wanted to have a look around. He threw darts at a youth team player. There were rumours in the Newspapers that he confronted a Bully at School and he even gave a homeless man £1000. Balotelli was reportedly seen using an I-pad on the Bench in Italy game against Manchester City and required an assistance to put on a bib during training.
A day before the Manchester Derby Balotelli and his friends set his house on fire when a fire-work was let off in it,and later that week Balotelli was named as Greater Manchester Ambassador for fire work safety.
In March 2012, Balotelli gate crashed a press conference held by Inter Milan for Manager Stramaccioni. More recently Balotelli was accused for racism and antisemitism for posting an image on Instagram of the video game character Mario,with the caption “jumps like a black man,Grabs coin like a Jew” which he has received a one match ban for.
Balotelli has been a household name for players that have poor disciplinary record that was why Nigerian and Warri Wolves Striker Gbolahan Salami was called the Nigerian Balotelli. Balotelli is now plying his trade at Anfield and has just manged a goal in as many games against a lowly Ludogorets Razgard side and I know by now Brendan Rodgers might be regretting signing him from Milan for £16m in the first place.
Mario can be very GOOD if he focuses mainly on his football, he can be a BAD boy and get sent off when you need him most or do UGLY things that makes all soccer lovers say “why always BALOTELLI”
In kick –starting its pledge to ensure that the Senior National Team, Super Eagles is engaged for all the FIFA –free days available next year, the Nigeria Football Federation has secured two international friendly matches for the team prior to the 30th Africa Cup of Nations finals.
NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, confirmed on Wednesday that the Eagles will confront two teams they battered on the way to a third African title in South Africa early last year, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in January 2015.
The Super Eagles will confront 1992 African champions Cote d’Ivoire, whom they edged 2-1 in the quarter finals in South Africa, on 9th January, and take on fellow Eagles of Mali, who were overhauled 4-1 by the Nigerians in the semi finals in South Africa, four days later.
“We are working round the clock to make sure that the Super Eagles will have opponents for all the FIFA windows available in year 2015, and we are happy that the two games with the Ivorians and the Malians are sealed.
“The Elephants and the Les Aiglons are on their way to the 30th Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, so they are sure to give our team good games.”
Already, Assistant Coach Daniel Amokachi has drawn a list of 24 players who will do battle for shirts for the two matches.
Gombe United goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim leads the invitees, with Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kwambe Solomon, Umar Zango, Rabiu Ali, Emem Eduok, Kingsley Sokari, Mfon Udoh, Gbolahan Salami and Gambo Muhammad also called.
Players are expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, 28th December with their international passports and four passport photographs.
Nigeria Super Eagles starting 11 With Babatunde Micheal at the 2014 World Cup photo credit Reuters
Midfielders: Ammel Angel Wilfred (Kogi United); Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks FC); Charles Henlong (Giwa FC); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Chinedu Udeaga (Enugu Rangers); Emem Eduok (Dolphins FC); Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)
Forwards: Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Osaguona Christian (Enugu Rangers); Gambo Muhammad (Kano Pillars); Christian Obiozor (Enugu Rangers)
NFF Lauds Seina Marine, ARIK On Support For Referees’ Training
The Nigeria Football Federation has applauded Seina Marine Limited and ARIK airline for the support both companies are offering to 20 Nigerian elite referees going to the United Kingdom for the arbiters’ next capacity enhancing programme.
NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick said: “Seina Marine Limited is bankrolling the cost of the three –week exercise as well as the stay of the 20 referees in London.
“On their part, ARIK Airline has offered to fly the referees at only half the fare and we are very appreciative of this gesture. I can tell you that this is the beginning of what is sure to be useful relationships between Seina Marine and NFF, as well as ARIK Airline and NFF.
“There were 10 referees involved in the first batch that returned to the country on Sunday. There will be 20 referees in the second match that will leave the country on January 25, 2015, for another two –week capacity building exercise.”
It is confirmed that 17 highly –qualified persons, including coaches and ex-internationals will fly to the United Kingdom mid –January for a three –week match reading technique and backroom analysis exercise, aimed at helping all the National Teams in international engagements.
…Congratulates MFM On World Cup Triumph
MFM FC
The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated the MFM Football Club on its victory at the inaugural Church World Cup which ended in Goa, India on Sunday.
In a letter of congratulations addressed to the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr. Daniel Olukoya on Wednesday, and signed by General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, the NFF lauded the feat and affirmed that it was worthy of recognition and good mention.
“The new Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation is determined to celebrate excellence in all spheres of the Nigeria game, and the laudable achievement of your football team, which has brought honour to our dear country, deserves recognition and good mention.
“We also want to express deep appreciation of the NFF and the Nigeria football family for the keen interest of the General Overseer and the entire leadership of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in football, and also commend your huge investment in the football sector, which has seen MFM Football Club become one of the strongest teams in the Nigeria National League – the second tier of our country’s domestic football.
“The NFF believes that the excellent feat of MFM FC in India will encourage the leadership of your church to invest even more in football for the benefit of the youth of our nation.”
Ten Eagles Fly Into Camp…Anyansi, Keshi say It’s Must Win Against Sudan…Full Camp Expected Tuesday
The seriousness of the Super Eagles double header against Sudan in Omdurman and Abuja has been underlined by the promptness of players’ arrival to the team’s camp at the Bolton White Apartment in Abuja, the Federal Capital.
As at 3pm on Monday, at least ten players have arrived the team’s camp with training expected to commence on Tuesday Morning at the training pitch of the Abuja National Stadium. All other players invited for the game are expected on Tuesday before dinner time.
Super Eagles in Philly
Among the early arrivals are Omatsone Aluko of Hull City, Hope Akpan, Babatunde Michael, who shone like a million star at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, midfield gem, Noskhare Igiebor, who recently relocated to Israel, Aaron Samuel, Gbolahan Salami of Warri Wolves, his team captain in Warri, towering Azubuike Egwuekwe, Emem Edward , Chigozie Agbim and leading Nigerian league scorer, Ighodalo Osagunna.
A visibly refreshed Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, said he was impressed by the response of the players because of the need to bond well before the first leg game against Sudan. “The response so far has been wonderful and I am in touch with those who are yet to arrive and they will surely be here on time for proper preparation against Sudan.
Speaking in the same vein, re-elected member of the NFF Executive Committee, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, said the new board under the leadership Melvin Amaju Pinnick is determined to not only qualify Nigeria for the Maroc 2015 Nations Cup but also to retain the trophy. “We have the experience of a lot of the executive committee members and the President is determined that we will reach our destination, that is why we are meeting this week to chat the way forward for the national teams”, he declared.
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