Yakubu “The Yak” Aiyegbeni was a fearsome striker in his heyday both at club levels and and for the national team and hoped to leave the young players of the Flying Eagles with some inspiration, when he dropped in to see them in their World Cup camp in Germany.
The NFF has announced that the Flying Eagles will test their readiness for teh World Cup in Poland later this month with a friendly against Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria’s world cup campaign over the years have been characterized by heartbreaks and successive teams not living up to their potentials, something Swede tactician Thomas Dennerby is convinced he has managed to tame.
Former African 100m sprint champion and Nigerian Athletics Legend Chidi Imo has appealed to new sensation Divine Oduduru to commit his allegiance to Nigeria and hopefully ignore the lure of representing any other Country.
Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg will not be at the World Cup this summer after she pulled out of Norway’s squad for the tournament in France.
The Grasshoppers will be without the Ballon d’Or winner when they come up against the African Champions on June 8.
The Lyon striker’s absence for the tournament in France this summer comes as great relief to the Falcons who are housed in the same group as the Norwegians, South Korea and hosts France in Group A. It will be recalled that the Norwegian has refused to play for the national side since 2017.
Hegerberg is taking a stand over a perceived lack of respect for female players and has not represented her country since 2017. Hegerberg was infamously asked to twerk by French DJ Martin Solveig after she was presented with the Ballon d’Or in December.
Norway is scheduled to play Cameroon in a friendly in France on June 2 to gather knowledge of what playing an African side feels like before facing the Super Falcons six days later.
Regardless of the absence of the best player in world football being a major talking point in Norway,even overshadowing the squad announcement, the Coach doesn’t seem perturbed by it.
“There are no big surprises and players we know well. We have worked with a core troupe from the European Championships until now, and I think we have a well-balanced squad. There are some championship debutants and some established.” Sjogren told the media at Telenor on Thursday.
“It is also exciting with the younger ones coming from the U23 national team, who have done well and now established themselves in our squad. There are some positions we have been thinking about, but we have landed this in the end. I think it’s a well-composed squad. I am very pleased with the preparations for this championship and feel we are well prepared.” Sjogren added
Norway and Nigeria have met twice before previously, with the European giants winning on both occasions.
The Super Falcons suffered an 8-0 humiliation to the Grasshoppers at the 1995 Women’s World Cup in Sweden before bowing to a 3-1 defeat at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
This summer, Nigeria will be hoping to avoid a repeat when they take on the former champions at Stade Auguste-Delaune.
Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick has given words of assurance on getting top notch medical care for ailing former Green Eagles’ captain, Christian Chukwu.
Speaking to brila.net, Pinnick served updates on moves being made to fly Chukwu to London for further medical treatment noting that everything had been done to get him in a very stable condition and he would be leaving for the UK next weekend.
“We are working hard on Christian Chukwu’s situation and I’m very much in touch with the hospital and Peter Thomas of the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos so we are seriously on top of things. We are looking at him leaving before next weekend”, he revealed.
Christian Chukwu captained Nigeria to her first ever football success when the then Green Eagles won the African Nations Cup in 1980 and he deservedly earned the nickname, ‘Chairman’ for his authority and commanding presence in the Eagles’ defence.
The Nigerian U-17 cadet team, Golden Eaglets have been commended by the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick for the spirited display put up at the U-17 AFCON where they finished fourth and have been assured they will get world class preparation for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
Speaking with brila.net, Pinnick hailed the manu Garba tutored side for securing a world cup ticket while noting that he remains happy with the young team as the real success lies in a successful transition of the players from U-17s to U-21s.
“I would like to commend the Eaglets. People need to remember that our U17 and U20 are fundamentally for football development programme for Nigerian football.
“We are very happy with what we have been able to achieve with the Golden Eaglets. Sure we want to win trophies but football at this stage supersedes it. We want the transition to count which comes second, the transition from Golden Eaglets to Flying Eagles, to U23 and Super Eagles”, he noted.
The Golden Eaglets finished fourth at the U-17 tournament in Tanzania having lost via penalties to their Angolan counterparts. The 2019 FIFA U-17 world cup will be played in Brazil.
Would you hit your mom? If she got in the ring with to spar, would you dare throw a punch?
Rangers International of Enugu for the first in the league this season suffered back to back losses after going down to Rivers United in the Nigeria Professional Football League rescheduled match on Thursday.
The Pride of Rivers welcomed the Flying Antelopes to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in the Port Harcourt and produced their most impressive display of the season as they dominated the injury ravaged Gbenga Ogunbote’s side .
The visitors were without their first choice full backs Tope Olusesi and Isaac Loute, central defender Ugwu Uwadiegwu, Isiaka Oladunjoye, Akpos Adubi as well as attackers Ifeanyi George and Pascal Seka all through injury bar the latter who just had his redcard rescinded late on Wednesday night.
Rangers almost took the lead in the 5th minute after some good work from Emeka Ayogueke making his full league debut for the Flying Antelopes but Godwin Aguda’s effort was cleared off the line by Odunlami with goalkeeper Abiodun Akande beaten.
Rangers once again had a chance two minutes later with Ayogu ekeat the centre of it but Adun Osamudiamen should have done betterwhile shooting over from 20 yards. Immediately at the other end, United had a free kick in a decent position but Konan N’gouan’s effort was deflected agonisingly wide.
Rangers’ injury woes was compounded as 2014 World Cup striker Michael Uchebo was replaced after coming off worse in a clash with Rivers United defender Festus Austin before the half time .
The big attacker was replaced with Former Sharks of Port Harcourtstar Ibrahim Ajani replaced him after the half hour mark.
Malachi Ohawume who was rewarded with a rare start following his fantastic State FA Cup display scored the first goal of the game in the 36th minutes as the hosts went into the break ahead.
Wasiu Jimoh added the second for the home side in the 59th minutes as his powerful drive beats Nana Bonsu in goal for the disjointed visitors.
From that point, it was Rivers United all the way, so many chances came begging but it was until 14th minutes from time before Nelson Esor scored the third to′ inflicted back-to-back defeats on Gbenga Ogunbote’s men for the first time this season.
The win lifts Stanley Eguma’s side out of the relegation zone into a lofty 4th, while Rangers maintains their lead on the Group A log.
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