Leading football supporters club in the country Football Fans Club of Nigeria, FFCN led by ambassador Oluwakemi Ogunfuwa is set to unveil the club New Jersey for the Africa Cup of Nations starting in Cameroon this weekend.
The unveiling which is slated for Thursday 6th of January, 2022 will take place at the office of the leading sports kits manufacturer in the country, Owu.
The event will also see the club take a walk after the unveiling to Ojuelegba under the bridge with music and fanfare in a bid to create much awareness to every avid soccer fans about AFCON 2021 which will kickoff this Sunday in Cameroon.
Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has named his 28-final list of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon 9th January – 6th February 2022, with Captain Ahmed Musa, midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi and effervescent forward Victor Osimhen all making the cut for the big houseparty.
The three –time winners will confront seven-time and record winners Egypt, Sudan and debutants Guinea Bissau with venue in the northern town of Garoua, and a mouth-watering clash with the Pharaohs in the group opener on Tuesday, 11th January means the Eagles must hit the ground at blistering pace.
Former Nigeria captain Eguavoen, who coached the Super Eagles to third-place finish at the finals in Egypt 15 years ago, has selected four goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and 10 forwards to aim for Nigeria’s fourth diadem in Cameroon.
Goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Olaoluwa Aina and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and Chidera Ejuke and forwards Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze are also on the roster.
There is a return to the group for former U17 World Cup –winning captain Kelechi Nwakali, forward Emmanuel Dennis and 2016 Olympics star Sadiq Umar.
All invited players, bar the UK-based crew, are expected to arrive in camp in the Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja on 29th December, with the UK-based players expected to start arriving on Monday, 3rd January.
SUPER EAGLES’ SQUAD FOR 33RD AFCON CAMEROON 2021
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England)
Former Super Eagles captain and manager Augustine Eguavoen, has been appointed as the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles on an interim basis. This is with immediate effect, and follows the termination of the relationship with Franco-German Gernot Rohr, who has been in charge of the three –time African champions for the past 64 months, and is Nigeria’s longest –serving manager.
Following a virtual meeting of the NFF Executive Committee on Sunday, it was decided that Eguavoen will work with Salisu Yusuf (Chief Coach); Paul Aigbogun (Assistant Coach); Joseph Yobo (Assistant Coach); Dr Terry Eguaoje (Assistant Coach) and Aloysius Agu (Goalkeeper Trainer). Former Nigeria captains Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Garba Lawal have been appointed to provide technical and ambassadorial support for the crew.
General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said: “The relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and Mr Rohr has come to an end. We thank him for his services to the Super Eagles and Nigeria.
“We also want to thank the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for their collaboration and guidance all through.”
Eguavoen, a former Nigeria captain, was coach of the squad when it finished in third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2006. He was on-field captain when the Super Eagles lifted the Africa Cup for the first time on away ground, in Tunisia 27 years ago.
He will now take charge of the team as it begins preparations for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon 9th January – 6th February 2022, and until the appointment of a substantive Head Coach.
The 2021 edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Cameroon on the 9th of January 2022 and end on the 6th of February 2022 with three times winner Nigeria justling alongside 23 other African nations gunning for gold trophy.
The country foremost and well respected football supporters club, Football Fans Club Of Nigeria (FFCN) would be on the stands to cheer the country senior national soccer team “Super Eagles” to victory as they aim to clinch their fourth title.
Speaking on a live sports show Nigeria Sports Express on Jordan 105.5fm about their preparations and travel plans ahead of their trip to Garoua in Cameroon where Nigeria will domicile and to play their Group D matches, the CAF award winning ambassador talked about the difficulty between travelling by air and by road.
“There are several ways you can get to Cameroon”, she said while speaking via telephone interview on Nigeria Sports Express on Jordan FM (105.5FM) in Lagos.
The most challenging aspect is the logistics in getting to Garoua, it’s either by road or by flight, though it is more challenging by flight than going by road.
“Another challenge we are battling at the moment is sponsorship, but my members are up and doing, we are ready to foot our bills and I’m proud to say that we also have our diaspora branch in Cameroon, which they will come out en mass to support their darling Super Eagles to victory.
She however revealed that her group alongside other Supporters groups has agreed to come together in one voice to render support to every Nigerian football team.
“We are working together, we have promised and agreed that whenever the National teams are playing either male or female, junior or senior team we will always be together for the sake of Nigeria and the passion we have for football, we will be together for the game, after the game everybody can go to their different hotels.
“If you watched our last match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium it was in one voice we were united and we hope to carry on like that.”
She then gave clear insight on how challenging it would be when travelling by road than going by air.
“Going by road is easier because if we want to go by air we have Kenya Airways that will take you from Lagos to Nairobi before taking you to Yaounde from Yaounde to Garoua by train and that will take you nine hours, but if you go by road from Lagos to Yola its a whole day journey then rest in Yola then take off the following day to Garoua which is about a whole day journey, don’t forget Garoua is where Nigeria will be playing.
“Cote D’Ivoire Air will take you to Abidjan before taking you to Yaounde now Air peace is saying they will go to Douala so it is not like a direct flight to Garoua except you go by road through Yola to Garoua, so for us apart from being more economical it is easier and the timing is lesser than going by flight”, she concluded.
Nigeria who has been drawn alongside Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan in Group D will begin their campaign against The Pharaohs of Egypt on the 11th of January at the Round Adija Stadium in Garoua.
On Saturday, this reporter confirmed the sack of Super Eagles chief coach Gernot Rohr. The Nigeria football federation finally reached an agreement with the Franco/German to terminate his contract which was was expected to run to December, 2022, on mutual grounds.
The NFF also agreed with Gernot Rohr’s representatives to pay all his outstanding salaries and his total severance package on installmental basis.
Now there is a good news. The Nigeria football federation have concluded plans to employ 47 year old former Serbian National team coach Mladen Krstajić as new coach of the Super Eagles.
NFF president Amaju Mekvin Pinnick will arrive London on Monday to seal the deal.
Krstajic led Serbia to the 2018 world cup in Russia where they failed to proceed beyond the group stage of the competition
After Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Cape Verde that saw the Super Eagles sail through to the final round of the world cup qualifiers, NFF president Amaju Melvin Pinnick and other board members met in the room of one of the Vice presidents.
Also at that meeting was Super Eagles chief coach Gernot Rohr and Tunde Adelakun his representative.
The NFF did not mince words as they told Rohr that his services are no longer needed. According to an insider, both parties agreed to terminate his contract immediately while they work out modalities to pay his severance package which is reported to be around 600,000 USD.
Rohr has since returned to his base in France while the NFF are moving ahead with getting a replacement in good time ahead of the 2021 Nations cup which is just over 40 days away.
Footall makes people happy when administrators carry out their responsibility diligently and provides enabling environment to everyone associated with the game to thrive.
In this article this writer highlights 10 developmental benefits to Nigerian football if Kunle Soname we’re to be NFF president.
Nigeria will be number 5 on FIFA Ranking and the best playing football nation in Africa
Nigeria football will be totally autonomous with over 25 corporate bodies sponsoring the national teams and the various leagues
We will employ the best coaches in world football to take charge of our dear Super Eagles and Super Falcons
Our youth teams will dominate the world again and play with their right ages
Nigeria will boast of over 20 world class football pitches and some of football’s best infrastructures
Supporters club will enjoy maximum support from the federation and there will be unity and peace among the groups.
Our flagship league, the NPFL will be on television all season and sponsors will be rolling over each other to sponsor the league and the twenty participating teams
Our referees will be given world class tutorials from some of the world’s best and monthly, they will embark on coaching courses around the globe
There will be international coaching course for young and intelligent football coaches. He will build capacities and help position them among the world’s best
He will give journalist opportunities to thrive. Create platforms for young journalists to acquire more knowledge and provide enough fundings to support those willing to acquire knowledge abroad
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has debunked the rumour flying about that it has sacked Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Gernot Rohr. The name of the Franco-German has played widely in both local and international media in the course of Thursday, with most platforms stating authoritatively that the 68-year old has been given the heave-ho by the Nigeria Football Federation, his employers. However, President of the NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, said that no such decision has been taken. “The Board of the NFF is studying the report of the Technical Committee, which it submitted after the match against Cape Verde in Lagos on Tuesday. There are a number of possibilities but we have not taken a decision to sack Gernot Rohr. I want to assure that whatever decision is eventually taken will be one that will please the generality of Nigerians. “Mr Rohr has a contract with the NFF and there is a procedure for disengagement. If we get to that bridge, both parties will look at the contract and see what has to be done both ways. The Super Eagles’ squad is a national asset and we are just fortunate to be in that space to take decisions. Any decision we take must be what will be acceptable to Nigerians from far and near.” Rohr, a former Germany international defender, has led the Super Eagles in 54 international matches over the course of five years and three months, winning 28 of those matches.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria once again flattered to deceive as they were pegged down 1-1 by yet another minow to finish the first round of the Qatar 2022 World cup qualifying series with indifference performances.
In a group comprising Liberia, Cape Verde and Central African Republic (CAR), many footballers fans had envisage a easy cruise to the next passage for Super Eagles until the team capitulate to CAR in front of home fans in Lagos, losing 1- 0 and end the 40years world cup qualifiers unbeaten run. However, the team redeemed their image few days later beating CAR in the corresponding fixture. Although the game was played in the adopted home ground of the Central African Republic’s in Cameroon prompting some people to contemplate the possibility of Eagles winning the contest had it been played in CAR.
The retrogression of Super Eagles performance continues till the last day of the group matches as Super Eagles struggled and put in another lacklusterous shift against Cape Verde who also are vying to win the group with a win in Lagos.
Nigeria may have qualified for the next round of the qualifying series but the underlying factor point at the tactical ineptitude of the team’s technical crew. It’s no brainier to say the team possessed one of the best players on the continent. The likes of Osimhen, Onuachu, Ejuke, Moses Simone, Joe Aribo have been a star performer in their respective clubs but the replication of club’s form in the national team is such difficult that you wonder if these are the same players on parade in their clubs.
Nigeria lost 2-0 to Madagascar during the last AFCON in Egypt 2019, surrendered 4 goals to draw 4-4 against Sierra Leone in Benin during the 2022 AFCON qualifiers, and with the recent uninspiring performances against CAR and Cape Verde the big question on the lips of football fans is if the Super Eagles will able to cross the final hurdle of the last round of the world cup qualifiers where the likes of Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, Ghana etc are also in the mixer?
The journey to the echelon of success begin in a day, not even a day, rather in a minute, alas in a second. There is a brand new terminology in the lexicon of politics in Ikeja Federal Constituency, the leading and foremost constituency in Lagos, South West and the nation at large. Whenever the history of Ikeja Federal Constituency is talked or written about in political folklore, the first phrase that would probably spring to mind is RTD. HON. JAMES ABIODUN FALEKE, Member Federal House of Representative, National Assembly, Abuja representing the Ikeja Federal Constituency. The news of his exemplary and untainted style of leadership and giving back to the constituents who trusted him with their mandates has shot into the wave of mileage and and got to many as a shock though, but this writer won’t say a shock because a famous philosopher said and I quote ” IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SHALLOW THINKING LEADER TO MAKE. A DEEP IMPRESSION ON PEOPLE” he said also ” A TRUE AND EFFECTIVE THINKING LEADER WITH A TRANSPARENT HONESTY OF CARRYING ALONG HIS PEOPLE WON’T FIND THE PATH DIFFICULT” Rtd. Hon James Abiodun Faleke has proven the qualities that stands him out amongst his colleagues and contemporaries whilst at the same time justified the above quote with his heartwarming and overwhelming achievements in Ikeja Federal Constituency. Meanwhile, the euphoria that greeted the achievements may not be completed without saluting his courage, zeal and audacity to succeed where others failed. The shock and near-shocker of his strides in Ikeja Federal Constituency is his resolve to train and empower more people, give hope to the hopeless, renew the faith of the faithless, give life to those whose interest is fading/has fades and provide succor to third rated constituents while his determination and commitment to ensuring all that needed to be done shall be attended to with no oversight. Doubters, Rtd Hon James Abiodun Faleke have left you behind to continuing swimming in your pool of hatred while he set the pace, run his race in his pace and watch the world doff their hats and now their heads. His (Rtd Hon James Abiodun Faleke) achievements is a statement to every like minds that he is a result oriented man of vision, purpose and focus with technical know-how of what it takes to reposition the Ikeja Federal Constituency to become the envy of others. Historically, this is the first of his kind in Ikeja Federal Constituency. The past representative before him were ineffective and redundant in reciprocating the mandate entrusted with them (Doubters prove me wrong). I’d like to state reflectively that the likes of RTD. HON. JAMES ABIODUN FALEKE don’t come twice in a decade, in a century, even in life time, though, it is only God that is incomparable but he (God ) bless the earth once a while with such a rare gem. Keep your innovations, don’t relent on your efforts to continue with your good deeds. The pace you’re setting today is enough to accommodate the progressives. The pace is widen enough for everyone to run his race, maintain and sustain the pace you have provided. Long Live Ikeja Federal ConstituencyLong Live Rtd Hon James Abiodun Faleke
Nigeria Football Federation President Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick has told the Super Eagles to leave no room for errors when they square up against the Lone Star of Liberia in their penultimate match of the group phase of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying race in Tangier on Saturday evening.
Speaking to the players after Friday’s official training at the impressive Grand Stade de Tangier, Pinnick charged the players to work assiduously as a team to earn the win that would lift the pressure off their shoulders going into the final group phase encounter against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks in Lagos on Tuesday.
“I have seen the training and I am impressed by the level of seriousness, fitness and commitment. The spirit is great and I believe you will do the job tomorrow. Let us leave very few room for mistakes; in fact, no room for errors at all. I don’t need to start telling you how much Nigerians from all walks of life are looking forward to you picking up the three points here. The three points are important and we should put them in our bags as we fly back to Nigeria tomorrow night.”
The FIFA Council Member addressed the players after another vibrant and energetic training session, this time on the turf where they take on the Lone Star in tomorrow’s encounter. He was joined by NFF 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko; Chairman of Technical Committee, Alh. Ahmed Yusuf; Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, NFF Executive Committee Member and; Mr Augustine Eguavoen, NFF Technical Director.
Victory in tomorrow’s game, and failure by Cape Verde to amass all three points against Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo also tomorrow, will send the Super Eagles to the knockout round of the qualifying series with a game to spare.
Nigeria are on nine points, two more than Cape Verde, meaning another three points and any form of stumble by the Blue Sharks will make the Super Eagles unassailable going into the final match on Tuesday.
Sport Angle Int'l- SAI SPORTS 