Super Falcons’ camp is already bubbling as 24 of the invited 30 players have hit camp since it was declared open on Sunday.
El Gaesh of Egypt’s Nigerian import, Chisom Chikatara has revealed that he never knew he would end up playing football at a professional level.
U-19 Cricket Team of Nigeria recorded their second victory at the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier Africa Division 1 played on Monday.
Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha’ says one of the reasons he retired from the round leather game was lack of enough playing time.
Okocha decided to quit the game that gave him so much game and fortune in 2008 at 34 after playing in Germany, Turkey, France, England, Qatar.
“I must confess that [not getting a lot of playing time] was one of the main reasons why I retired from playing at a very young age,” Okocha told media men.
“I believe that it is not worth it to train from Monday to Friday just to have 20 minutes on the pitch or sit on the bench on Saturday. I am very competitive.”
The midfielder made 75 appearances for the Eagles from 1993-2006, scoring 14 goals, including winning the 1994 AFCON, 1996 Olympic gold in Atlanta and playing at three world cup.
Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr says this current Nigerian team lacks big players like Austin Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and Vincent Enyeama who made Nigeria favorite for AFCON titles in the past.
While the Franco-German was pointing the fact that no Nigerian player now plays in the top clubs in Europe, he quickly corrected the notion that his team are one of the favorites for summer African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
“Stay humble, please. Which of our players is playing in a big team? Which one is playing in UEFA Champions League? , he asked.
“I saw the teams on Tuesday and Wednesday last week in the Champions League and obviously I didn’t see anybody. We don’t have big players like we used to have before. Where is Okocha, where is Kanu, where is Enyeama and others.” Rohr told the media at Soccer Temple Agege last Sunday.
“Fortunately, we have Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze who are playing Europa League and other young players. We have young players who are the future but our strength is the team.”
Rohr later added that he’s optimistic that the team will make a big statement on the continent without the star players like previous generations.
“We know that we have a young team with good spirit but we don’t have the stars like we have before. I hope with time that will come back.”
“So I hope that with this our strength, we can go far in AFCON,” He concluded.
Nigeria are expected to round up its AFCON qualifier campaign in style when they host minors Seychelles, before taking on Egypt in an international friendly later this month.
Coach Thomas Dennerby has invited 30 players home-based players for the preliminary camp of the Super Falcons as preparations for this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals enter a new gear.
The team are also due to play to test matches in Spain in April as part of the build-up for the World Cup.
Goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Christy Ohiaeriaku all make the list, as well as defenders Glory Ogbonna and Josephine Chukwunonye, midfielders Cecilia Nkwu, Amarachi Okoronkwo and Osarenoma Igbinovia, and forwards Alice Ogebe and Anam IMO.
However, goalkeeper Alaba Jonathan, defender Ugochi Emenayo, midfielder Evelyn Nwabuoku and forward Chioma Wogu return to the fold.
30 for Falcons camp:
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Confluence Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels); Alaba Jonathan (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Ugochi Emenayo (Nasarawa Amazons); Ugo Njoku (Rivers Angels); Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons); Mabel Effiong (Rivers Angels) Ayomide Ojo (Police College, Lagos); Josephine Chukwunonye; Mary Ologbosere (Rivers Angels)
Midfielders: *Mary Anjor* *(Osun Babes)*; Peace Efih (Edo Queens); Osarenoma Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Cynthia Aku (Rivers Angels); Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels); Adebisi Saheed (Bayelsa Queens); Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels); Joy Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens); Rejoice Ikoyo (Bayelsa Queens)
Forwards: Chidinma Okeke (FC Robo); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels); Joy Jerry (Bayelsa Queens); Esther Sunday; Folashade Ijamilusi (FC Robo); Rofiat Sule (Rivers Angels); Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons); Chioma Wogu (Bayelsa Queens).
Former Super Eagles Captain Nwankwo KANU has dismissed reports of any misunderstanding or beef with Legend and Former Captain of the National team Austin Jay Jay Okocha.
It was reported years ago that the sour relationship between the two Superstars started many years ago after the midfield maestro quit international football.
According to the reports, Kanu who at that time won the FA Cup with Portsmouth FC was selected alongside Austin Okocha to decide who got the ambassadorial honour for Fidelity Bank Plc.
Due to the influence of Kanu among some South East governors, the former Arsenal striker won it and this did not go down well with Jay jay.
The two, according to a very close source, have often avoided each other any time event brings them together.
However, Kanu spoke live through Brila FM on Tuesday morning and told former Teammate Ifeanyi Udeze that there’s no beef at all between the duo.
‘Okocha is my senior brother, Infact our families are very close’
‘Ahbeg o, there’s nothing of such’,
Both Kanu Nwankwo and Austin Okocha Captained the Nigerian National team at a different period.
Nwankwo Kanu, the legendary Nigerian former skipper who was also one of the star performers in Ajax Amsterdam last European success in 1995 has predicted a tough quarterfinal clash for his former club.
Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo revealed he turned down a chance to join Spanish champions FC Barcelona last summer because of the conditions of the deal.
Ighalo had earlier made it clear that he’s desperate to return to Europe after his good performances in front of goal couldn’t save his former Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai from relegation last season.
A return to England was reported, but it was a big move to La Liga Giants FC Barcelona that gained the momentum in the media before the forward decided to put a pen to paper for another Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua
However, Ighalo reportedly told close associates that he was actually close to joining Barcelona on a season-long loan from relegated Chinese club Changchun Yatai, but he eventually rejected it.
“The deal was for me to play on loan for a season, but I was not ready to take chances as my playing minutes could not be guaranteed and at end of the season I will be a free agent,” Ighalo told reportedly told friends.
“I preferred to secure my future by signing a longer deal in China instead and that was why the Barcelona move fell through.” he said.
Former Super Eagles assistant coach Joe Erico has charged coach Gernot Rohr to try as much as possible to engage the newly invited players to the Super Eagles just simply to have a knowledge of what they will be bringing to the team.
Erico speaking in a chat with www.brila.net said it is tough changing a winning team but however such team still needs a little tweak here and there to know more about the options on ground for him and understands why the coach would always want to field his best players which he traced to Rohr’s understanding of the mentality of Nigeria wanting to win at all times.