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Wild Dogs consume Super Eagles

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Wild Dogs consume Super Eagles

Super Eagles knocked off the top of the qualification table by Wild Dogs 

 

AFCON Qualifiers: Wild Dogs Devour Super Eagles In Abuja - Sporting SunWild Dogs consume Super Eagles in Abuja

 

Mama Samba Balde’s 29th minute goal, a brilliant strike straight from the training ground, condemned the Super Eagles to a 0-1 defeat at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday as Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs howled to top of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification table.

 

Nigeria’s early sporadic raids ended in futility. Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel’s second minute grasscutter was easily averted from goal, Samuel Chukwueze’s shot with 7 munites into play was leisurely defused by a circumspect defender and Victor Osimhen crashed his shot into the body of goalkeeper Jonas Mendes at the 16th minutes mark of the encounter.

 

The Wild Dogs had barred their teeth at the quarter-hour but it needed the quick effort of Wilfred Ndidi to head off Alfa Semedo Esteves in the box. The Super Eagles’ defense failed to heed that warning, and 14 minutes on, Fali Cande heaved a long push forward that evaded Calvin Bassey’s and Kevin Akpoguma concentration, Balde swiftly caught on, controlled the ball expertly and flicked it past onrushing Francis Uzoho for the only goal of the match.

 

Coach José Peseiro threw on Paul Onuachu and Moses Simon for Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman at the beginning of the second half, but even as Nigeria created more chances, finishing was a concern.

 

In the 56th minute, Simon drew gasps from the crowd as he missed from six yards, and Mendes saved brilliantly from Osimhen when the marksman was through on goal. Chukwueze blasted a couple of opportunities over the sticks and Paul Onuachu’s header flew away from goal with 12 minutes remaining.

 

Defeat meant the Eagles slipped to second place while the Djurtus climbed to top with seven points to the Eagles’ six, ahead of the two teams’ confrontation in Bissau on Monday evening.    

‘Peseiro lacks respect for Nigeria football’

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‘Peseiro lacks respect for Nigeria football’

Disdains Nigeria’s football setup, local players, and management

 

Nigeria vs Guinea Bissau highlights: Osimhen misfire, Balde score as Super Eagles lose dia Afcon qualifiers match for MKO Abiola stadium Abuja - BBC News Pidgin

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Super Eagles technical adviser, José Peseiro has been accused of operating with bias, lack of respect, and harboring unhidden disdain for Nigeria’s local football organizations, leagues and players, and for even openly vowing never to invite them again to the national team.

 

This was after the Portuguese trainer led a Super Eagles selection of mainly local based players to North America for a friendly encounter with Mexico and was handed a merciless whooping by the Mexican national side in Mexico.

 

Rather than blame himself for his poor tactical knowledge, Peseiro rather chose to blame the very tools he chose to perform the task,” a  highly placed source in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disclosed to Sports Joust in a recent interview that.

 

“Afterwards, for all Peseiro cares, any home based player might as well be as good as  Messi or Ronaldo, or both combined, but as far as he is concerned, such a player will never be good enough for him ”

 

According to the source, Peseiro refused to listen to his goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu and assistant coach Finidi George, to hand Rivers United FC goalkeeper Victor Sochima, a chance in his first game in charge of the team, after Francis Uzoho’s and Maduka Okoye’s unforced goalkeeping blunders had largely contributed to deny Nigeria in an Afcon quarter final qualification match in Cameroon and the qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament that was held in Qatar last year.

 

“Go check all the previous players invitation lists under Peseiro after the Mexico friendly and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Peseiro didn’t invite any home based players for all the friendly matches he prosecuted as the national coach after the match in Mexico” our source said.

 

A review of Peseiro’s previous team selections revealed that the Portuguese featured only foreign based players in all the matches he has played since he assumed duties except against Mexico.

 

The Portuguese has also lost all the friendly matches he’s been in charge as coach of the Super Eagles, which involves matches against Mexico, Ecuador, and Algeria, and has only managed to win competitive games against a minnow like Sao Tome & Principle as well as mid-level Sierra Leone.

 

Sports Joust also gathered that goalkeeper Sochima, Kingsley Aniagboso (Giants Brillars), and Daniel Bameyi ( YumYum FC), all of whom were invited for the Nigeria versus Guinea Bissau match benefitted from a well calculated NFF directive mandating Paseiro to include a minimum of three home based players in his subsequent Super Eagles invitations going forward.

 

This communique, Sports Joust has gathered, was the direct response by Peseiro’s current employers to checkmate his obvious bias and apathy against local Nigerian players’ inclusion in his future team selections.

 

NFF loses Head of Admin

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NFF loses Head of Admin

Magaji Abdullahi passes on

 

Magaji Abdullahi (@magaji0005) / Twitter

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The Nigeria Football Federation is in mourning following the death on Thursday night of its Head of Administration, Mallam Magaji Abdullahi. Abdullahi died after a brief illness. He was 54.

 

A native of Bakori, Katsina State, Magaji Abdullahi joined the employee of the Nigeria Football Federation in May 2000, and rose to the position of Deputy Director in the Federal Civil Service before demise.

 

A diligent, hard working and energetic officer, Abdullahi served conscientiously and with compassion, and will be remembered by Board Members, Management, Staff and all those he came across during service for his dedication and sense of duty.

 

His remains were interred at his residence in Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday morning.

Osimhen to tame invading Wild Dogs

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Osimhen to tame invading Wild Dogs

AFCON 2023 Race: The ‘Man from Napoli’ leads Super Eagles’ charge for three points against Wild Dogs

 

2023 AFCONQ: Fans To Pay N2,000, N10,000 To Watch Super Eagles Vs Guinea-Bissau -

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Nigerian football fans will bank on rave-of-the-moment, Victor James Osimhen, to bang in the goals as the Super Eagles go up against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign reaches the halfway mark.

 

Table toppers, Nigeria, confront second-placed Guinea Bissau at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Friday from 5pm, with both teams eyeing the full marks in order to consolidate earlier gains towards qualifying for Cote d’Ivoire next year.

 

Italy based Osimhen, with 25 goals in all competitions this season, netted a significant four in a remarkable 10-0 win for Nigeria against Sao Tome and Principe in June last year, days after he had netted the winner in a 2-1 win over Sierra Leone on Matchday 1 at the same Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

 

With five goals, the former U17 World Cup winner and record goalscorer (with 10 goals) is among the leading marksmen in the qualifying race, and will grab his opportunities with both hands in the two matches against Guinea Bissau in order to put daylight between himself and other contenders.

 

Coach José Santos Peseiro will surely put his best foot forward in only his third match, with the objective of keeping intact his hundred per cent record in competitive matches.

 

Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho could start in goal, and there are Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kevin Akpoguma, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi and Bruno Onyemaechi to pick from for the rearguard, as well as England-based quartet Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo in the middle of the pack.

 

Captain Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu are available for the fore sector, as the Eagles aim for all six points that would pave their pathway to the finals.

 

Sierra Leone’s 2-2 draw with Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco on Wednesday turned out as a boost for the Eagles, as the Leone Stars are stuck on one point after three matches and would no longer be in the contest if Nigeria grab all six points from these two matches.

 

Coach Baciro Candé, who has led the Djurtus to garner to an impressive four points in their previous two games, said on arrival in Nigeria on Wednesday that his boys will play with confidence and invention.

 

Guinea Bissau have featured in three Africa Cup of Nations finals, making an impressive debut at the 2017 tournament in Gabon.

 

 

Partners support NFF with cash prizes

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Partners support NFF with cash prizes

Splash whooping N4 Million on prize categories to lucky winners

 

MTN Nigeria on Twitter: "Game day! Watch the @NGSuperEagles against Guinea-Bissau Live on Supersport 202 and 209, GOTV 33 and 34, AIT, STV, and all NTA networks. #ThisIsNaija #WhereFootballLives https://t.co/osLZ0fZb0E" / Twitter

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

The Super Eagles have a lot to look forward to on Friday, apart from the three points that will put daylight between them and any other team in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying pool. Now, Nigerian Breweries PLC, long-standing supporter of Nigeria Football, who also partners with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through their two products-Life and Goldberg,-are putting up three million naira for grabs.

 

The breakdown of the winning prizes are: one million naira goes to the Man-of-the-Match winner, another one million naira for winner of the new Energy-Moment-of-the-Match, and lastly, there is one million naira earmarked for Match Winner. Telecommunication behemoth, MTN, on its part, is offering one million naira as prize money to the most valuable player winner  in the battle of supremacy between the Super Eagles’ with Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

 

The Super Eagles will therefore be very motivated for the big game, even as they look forward to climbing to nine points while the Wild Dogs remain on four points in the race.

 

Sierra Leone are third on the table with two points while Sao Tome and Principe have only one point. 

Olympics Eagles fire blanks against Guinea

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Olympics Eagles fire blanks against Guinea

As road to Paris 2024 Olympic games hots up

 

Nigeria U23 0-0 Guinea U-23 Highlights

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Nigeria’s U-23 team failed to take advantage of home soil, finishing their U-23 Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture, first leg match against Guinea 0-0 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday.

 

Success Makanjuola and Timilehin Ogunniyi, who ran Tanzania out of gas in Ibadan in October last year, could not produce the same fiery performance as Guinea stifled Nigeria’s midfield play, created chances of their own and were solid at the rear.

 

In the 28th minute of the game, Ogunniyi rocked the crossbar from a free-kick 20 yards out on the right, but that turned out the major effort of the Olympic Eagles in a tepid game that did not quite live up to its billing. Makanjuola’s inswing cross in the 45th minute was parried from danger by goalkeeper Mory Keita.

 

In the second half, the visitors came quite close to scoring when Ousmane Camara hit the upright from a corner kick. Ifeanyi Ogba blasted a couple of opportunities wide, and in the 64th minute, Jonathan Alukwu watched in agony as Keita punched away his shot when Nigeria flew forward.

 

On the dot of time, Nigerian defender Christopher Nwaeze was handed the red card for a second bookable offence, and will miss the return leg in Rabat on Tuesday.  

Nigeria to receive women’s world cup

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Nigeria to receive women’s world cup

FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy to land in Abuja

 

Past displays of the FIFA women’s world cup in Nigeria in 2019

 

African women’s football giant Nigeria will welcome the original FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy as the train makes its way to the Federal Capital, Abuja on Sunday.

 

The Trophy which has already left FIFA’s headquarters en route to several countries, will touchdown in Nigeria, one of only seven countries to have taken part in every edition of the competition, on Saturday evening. The Trophy will make its way to all the 32 countries taking part in this year’s finals, with Nigeria being the ninth stop on the game-changing global tour.

 

Since world football’s governing body, FIFA, launched the women’s flagship tournament 32 years ago, only Nigeria, USA, Norway, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and Sweden have played in every edition. All seven nations will again be on display at the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup finals to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from 20th July to 20th August this year.

 

The one-month championship Down Under will be the biggest in the history of the competition, as it welcomes 32 teams – the same number the featured in the men’s World Cup in Qatar late last year.

 

The FIFA Women’s World Cup was launched as a 12-team tournament in China in 1991, and stayed on that number for the championship in Sweden in 1995. It became a 16-nation tournament in the USA in 1999 and 2003 and was also the same number for China in 2007 and Germany in 2011. It became a 24-team tournament in Canada in 2015 and remained that way at the last competition in France in 2019.

 

Only four countries have won the glittering trophy: USA, Germany, Norway and Japan. USA have been victorious on four occasions and Germany have lifted it twice. Japan and Norway were champions once each.

 

Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia will fly Africa’s flag in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, with nine-time African champions Nigeria already slotted into Group B which will also feature co-hosts Australia, Republic of Ireland and Canada.

 

The Super Falcons will play their first match at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup against Canada at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Friday, 21 July 2023.

 

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy will be on display at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja from 12 noon on Sunday, with a photo session planned for a number of invited guests.

 

Before the display, the FIFA team will pay a courtesy visit to the Honourable minister of youth and sports, Chief Sunday Dare in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

 

More information regarding the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour is available at FIFA.com/TrophyTour. 

 

‘Amaju Pinnick left an empty treasury’

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‘Amaju Pinnick left an empty treasury’

Cash starved new NFF board has not paid Super Eagles players match bonus since inception

 

NFF Confirms Nigeria Vs Algeria Friendly Clash In September - Heritage Times

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is starved of funds because its erstwhile president Amaju Pinnick handed over an empty treasury to the incumbent president and his new board. The development has handicapped the new NFF board in the payment of match bonus to the Super Eagles since their inception last year.

 

Sports Joust has reliably gathered from sources familiar with situation that the NFF is so broke that the Federation is finding it very difficult in carrying out its programs.

 

“When we assumed office, we inherited a completely empty treasury from the former board, our reliable source stated. This has made it very hard for us to carryout our programs. As you are aware, we need funds to be able to do anything.

 

Unfortunately, without funds, we can do nothing that is meaningful. The old board decided against leaving any funds in the Federation’s account. This is the sad situation that we have found ourselves.

 

Sports Joust also gathered that the cash crunch the NFF board have been forced to endure is the reason that national teams coaches are being owed salaries.  “We cannot pay salaries when we just do not have the money,” said our source.

 

“What we can do is work very hard to get money from legitimate sources. We are talking to corporate sponsors and well meaning Nigerians to get their help and progress is being made. Paying coaches salaries and our players their bonuses is our plan and commitment. Hopefully, we will be able to do that soon.”

 

Our source said that the board is very grateful to the players and coaches for their understanding the situation. “The players and coaches have been very understanding so far. Hopefully the situation will change very soon.”

 

The Super Eagles and the national U-23 side will play important competitive encounters this month. According to our source, they are likely not going to be paid their bonusses after their games.

NFF refuses to pay Finidi, Ike

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NFF refuses to pay Finidi, Ike

Declines to formalize Finidi, Ike’ contracts and has not paid them salaries since they were hired

 

Nigeria vs Ghana: NFF get questions to answer about Eguavoen and Super Eagles - Reasons Nigeria no qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup - BBC News PidginNFF won’t pay its local staff their salaries

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Former Beskitas of Turkey goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu declined reporting to work at the Super Eagles’ Abuja camp over the failure of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to formalize the contracts of the Nigerian coaches in José Paseiro’s backroom staff since their employment in May.

 

This is the reason the Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer and the team’s assistant coach, Finidi George, failed to turn up in camp ahead of Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Super Eagles and Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja. A highly placed NFF source familiar with matter stated: “When the NFF called on Saturday to tell one of them that they intended to buy his ticket to join the team in Abuja, he categorically told the official that he would not honor the invitation until his salary and his contract is formalized.”

 

Sports Joust reliably gathered that both Ike and Finidi are yet to receive any salary since they were drafted into the technical crew of the Super Eagles in May 2022 . Sports Joust understands that the broken relationship between Ike and the team’s technical adviser was over Paseiro’s refusal to invite recommended home based players to the national team.

 

The fractured relationship with the Portuguese manager of the Super Eagles was another reason Shorunmu is not enthusiastic in reporting to camp as the team’s goalkeeper trainer. Shorunmu and Finidi have been replaced by the Nigeria Football Federation with Flying Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa and Enyimba of Aba head coach , Usman Abdullah. The NFF said the decision to replace both coaches was taken with Paseiro.

 

Sarenren-Bazee working on career transformation

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Sarenren-Bazee working on career transformation

Former Hannover 96 star decides to leave his FC Augsburg future open

 

Noah Sarenren Bazee Pictures and Photos - Getty Images

 

By Ed Emeanua

 

Noah Sarenren-Bazee is currently working hard behind the scene on a major career transformation program with his current Bundesliga club, after opting to leave his FC Augsburg future open.

 

In an interview with ‘Transfermarkt.de’, the 26-year-old winger talked about a realizable club future transformation: “I’m not really dealing with it now,” Sarenren-Bazee said.

 

“We have an important remaining program (with FC Augsburg). I will invest all my energy (in it). You’ll see everything else, I can’t look to the future (now).”

 

The player who turned over his international football future to Nigeria prior to the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014, will see out his contract with Augsburg which ends in the summer of 2024.

 

At the height of his now languishing career in 2014, Sarenren-Bazee, who practically single handedly helped Hannover 96 with his enthralling skills and pace to gain promotion from Germany’s second level football division to the Bundesliga, was regarded a formidable addition to Nigeria’s senior national side, the Super Eagles.

 

 He was invited by Gernot Rohr who convinced him to observe the Nigerian team setup at close quarters at an European Super Eagles campsite while nursing an injury.

 

He was officially initiated into the team during his brief camp outing with the team, marking that lone encounter the closest he has come to playing for his father’s country of birth.

 

The former Hannover 96 star is yet to fully recover from that injury or other injuries that have dogged his once highly promising footballing career for club and country ever since.

 

Sarenren-Bazee moved from Hannover 96 to FCA in 2019 for 1.7 million euros. Since, the move, the right winger has been bogged down by injuries.

 

Most recently, the nimble right-footer had to hibernate again for almost an entire season with a cruciate ligament tear.

 

However, Sarenren-Bazee remains positive about the future and has one important wish: “My main goal is to play more (matches),” he said.

 

In the ongoing season with FC Augsburg, this has translated to just eight minutes of Bundesliga professional football.

 

But, Sarenren-Bazee’s footballing transformational project continues at the Augsburg 2 setup, where he is currently on loan with FCA teammate Reece Oxford.

 

Four days ago, the fleet footed winger found the net in the fifth minute in Augsburg 2’s 3-1 defeat of SV Wacker Burghausen in the Bavarian Regionalliga.

 

One thing that is certain about this dogged Nigerian footballing gem-this onerous path is not new to him in his injury spangled career.

 

One way or the other, Sarenren-Bazee has perennially been able to navigate the entire course of his numerous past rehabilitation programs.

 

Though this one might not be the last of his injury travails, it definitely will not get the best of him.

 

Bank on seeing him come through on this occasion as well.

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