Tag Super Eagles2018 FIFA World Cup

Patronage

Abuja, June 19, 2018 (NAN) Football viewing centres in Abuja received high patronage over the weekend as fans took advantage of the long holidays to watch the World Cup matches, the operators say.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited some of the centres at Karu and Nyanaya, suburbs of Abuja, observed that though the Eagles lost their opening game, the fans watched other countries play.

The Federal Government had declared June 15 and June 18 as public holidays to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr to mark the end of the Ramadan fast.

The operators told NAN that football lovers had more time to watch the World Cup matches because of the long weekend.

They also said that people preferred to watch World Cup matches at viewing centres to have that outdoor feeling they would never get watching all alone at home.

Tony Adeniran, who runs a viewing centre nicknamed “San Siro’’ at Area D in Nyanya, told NAN that poor electricity supply during the festive period helped in attracting fans to his centre.

“Maybe if there was regular power supply, people would have watched in the comfort of their homes.

“But since there was no electricity, people had no option than to come to the viewing centre to watch.

“There are three matches a day, so I was constantly buying fuel to ensure that my electricity generator was running,’’ he said.

“People prefer to come and watch the World Cup matches than to stay at home with no electricity,’’ he said.

Paul Eze, another operator, just about two kilometres away from Tony’s San Siro, added a little twist as to why he experienced a surge in viewers.

Of particular interest to viewers during the weekend was Nigeria’s first group game against Croatia on Saturday, which the Super Eagles lost 0-2.

Some of the operators told NAN that the Eagles’ failure to progress beyond the group stage of the tournament could hurt their businesses.

Hemen Edoh, who manages a bar with a dedicated football viewing section at Karu Site, feared that enthusiasm for the World Cup could wane if the Super Eagles lose their next match against Iceland om June 22.

“Nigerians are very emotional when it comes to the Super Eagles. I know many who are watching the World Cup because we are playing.

“The moment our team is out, some won’t bother to come and watch the games again,’’ Edoh said.

He, however, told NAN that from his experience, viewers would only return when the tournament reaches the quarter-finals.

Nigeria’s must-win second group match is against Iceland on June 22 at the Volgograd Arena. (NAN)
KIA/DE/PDE
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(Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Peter Ejiofor)

Eagles
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, June 6, 2018 (NAN) Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Wednesday lost 0-1 to Czech Republic in an international friendly played in Austria and which left behind many questions about the readiness of the team.

The match played at the Rudolf Tonn Stadium, a multi-purpose facility in Rannersdorf, a city in the sub-division of Schwechat outside Vienna, left the Eagles asking themselves more questions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the game was expected to give coach Gernot Rohr one last chance to iron out any deficiencies before the World Cup begins.

Both teams started the game with attacking intent.

However, it was the Czechs who created all the chances, but were denied by a combination of good defending and poor finishing.

The Czechs pressure eventually paid off as they opened the scoring with 25 minutes played.

A short corner kick was whipped in and a near-post header forced a good save out of Francis Uzoho but the ball fell into the path of Tomas Kalas, who had a simple finish.

Nigeria were thereafter struggling to play with any fluidity and were restricted to chances from set-piece plays for the remainder of the first half.

The Super Eagles however started the second half with more intent as they looked to keep the ball and break down a stubborn Czech defence.

The players were then called off the pitch in the 59th minute as the heavens opened, with rain and hail pelting the ground.

The storm soon calmed, and the players were brought back onto the pitch.

Both teams made several substitutions as the coaches looked to give some of their squad players an opportunity.

The changes affected the tempo of the game and in spite of a much better showing in the second half, Nigeria could not find an equaliser.

The Czechs held on for the lone goal victory as Nigeria ended their preparations for the World Cup with another disappointing loss.

But it was a loss which left many wondering whethrer the team was really ready for the competition which gets underway on June 14.

A bigger cloud hangs in the horizon with the fact that Nigeria’s first match is on June 16, against Croatia in Kaliningrad, just about 10 days away.(NAN)
VO/KOLE/OLAL
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(Edited by Remi Koleoso and Olawale Alabi)

Camp
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, May 22, 2018 (NAN) The Super Eagles’ pre-World Cup training camp in Uyo swelled on Tuesday with the arrival of Leicester City’s duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as five others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kenneth Omeruo, Tyronne Ebuehi, France-based Chidozie Awaziem, Bulgaria-based Stephen Eze and goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye were amongst the latest arrivals

Team vice-captain Ogenyi Onazi, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Junior Lokosa who were amongst the camp’s early birds took part in physical training on Tuesday.

The latest arrivals brings to 13 the total number of players currently at the Ibom Meridian Hotel camp.

The other players, with the exception of China-based duo of team captain Mikel Obi and Odion Ighalo, are expected to arrive before full training commences on Wednesday.

The Super Eagles are due to face Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday in Port Harcourt as part of their build-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

NAN also reports that coach Gernot Rohr and the players were spotted at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

It was the venue of the friendly match between the Super Eagles Team B and Spainish clubside Atletico Madrid.

The UEFA Europa League champions had defeated the Nigerian side 3-2 at the end of a pulsating encounter to lift the maiden edition of the GOtv MAX Cup.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Friendly

Abuja, March 24, 2018 (NAN) The Super Eagles of Nigeria demonstrated their intention to impress at the 2018 FIFA World Cup by defeating Poland 1-0 at the Stadion Miejski on Friday in Wroclaw.

Victor Moses’ 61st minute penalty kick made the difference as the Eagles fought hard to earn a win over world number eight Poland.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr made the most difficult call between the sticks, as he eventually went for Francis Uzoho.

The selection earned the youngster his first full debut for the Super Eagles and he gave a fairly good account of himself as proceedings went on in the match.

Elsewhere in the Eagles team, Joel Obi was given his first Super Eagles cap since his last outing in a friendly against Scotland in May 2014.

The Torino of Italy midfielder partnered Wilfried Ndidi in the middle of the pack, while Brian Idowu was also chosen ahead of Elderson Echiejile at left-back.

Eight minutes into the game, the Super Eagles were culpable, as hosts Poland almost took the lead after Robert Lewandowski hit the post from a sliding pass.

However, it was a physical contest between the Eagles and the Poles, leading to the removal of Polish Karol Linetty before the Nigerian side tried their bit to threaten their hosts with Moses picking himself up to curl a free kick past Lukasz Fabianski’s post in the 34th minute.

The Super Eagles had much to worry about between the sticks but Uzoho overcame his jittery start to the encounter and got down well to deny Lewandowski’s point-blank effort in the 51st minute to keep the hosts at bay.

However, it was the Super Eagles who had the upper hand as Moses was fouled in the area and the Chelsea man slotted in his spot kick perfectly to give Nigeria the lead.

With the morale-boosting win, the Super Eagles will now take on Serbia on Tuesday in London to consolidate their fine form en route the 2018 World Cup in Russia.(NAN)

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Super Eagles

Abuja, March 20, 2018 (NAN) The training camp of the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, was agog on Wednesday with invited players hitting camp and being involved in the first training session.

The Super Eagles are billed to take on the Polish national team at the Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw, Poland, on Friday, March 23.

According to tweets from the official Twitter handle of the Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles), among the early arrivals to camp on Wednesday were: Troost Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Tyronne Ebuehi, Brian Idowu and Leon Balogun.

They were followed by Francis Uzoho, Elderson Echiejile, Stephen Eze, Joel Obi, Shehu Abdullahi, John Ogu, Moses Simon, Kenneth Omeruo.

Later in the day, the team announced the arrival of Odion Ighalo, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Agbo and Ahmed Musa to the camp.

This brings to 18, the number of players already in camp as others are expected to arrive later on Tuesday.

One of the players invited by coach Gernot Rohr for the friendlies against Poland and Serbia, Shehu Abdullahi, said he was delighted to be invited.

“I’m delighted to have received @NGSuperEagles invitation for the friendlies against Poland and Serbia. It’s a great honour to represent my dear country! Thanks @thenff, Gernot Rohr and my fans in Nigeria.”

The pre-World Cup friendly match between Nigeria and the Polish national team, who are ranked 8th in the recently released FIFA Ranking, will kick off at 8:45pm Nigerian time.

The Super Eagles will then take on the Serbian national team on Tuesday, March 27 in London. (NAN)

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Reactions
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Dec. 1, 2017 (NAN) A cross-section of football fans in Abuja on Friday expressed satisfaction with the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup draw, adding that Nigeria got “a fair deal’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria on Friday in Moscow drew Argentina for the fifth time in Super Eagles’ six appearances at the FIFA World Cup finals.

The Super Eagles were drawn alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in Group D.

A cross-section of football fans who spoke with NAN at the Abuja National Stadium said in spite of the Super Eagles being drawn against Argentina, the draw was fair enough.

Nura Sanda, a medical doctor, said Nigeria was lucky to be in the group.

He added that it was another opportunity for the Super Eagles to prove to the world that their recent 4-2 win against the South American giants was not a fluke.

“The battle between Nigeria and Argentina has always been a thriller and the Eagles’ 4-2 win against the Argentines recently in a friendly match has made it even sweeter ahead of their Russia 2018 group stage encounter.

“I can’t wait to see the two sides clash again. As for our other opponents, I think Nigeria should be able to beat them comfortably and qualify for the knockout stage,” Sanda said.

Richard Omatiga, a businessman, was more expressive, saying “Nigeria and Argentina again? This Nigeria/Argentina love affair is becoming too much. Now they will be looking to revenge the humiliation they suffered from Alex Iwobi’s hands’’.

“Anyway, we should be able to make it to the round of 16.

“Even though the like of Croatia are not pushovers, boasting of players such as Perisic, Mandzukic, Modric and Rakitic. But I am confident that we can make it out of the group,” he said.

On his part, Obinna Nwafor, a civil servant, said: “Our group seems to be a tough but fair one’’.

“This is because it could have been worse like the Morocco situation where the Africans have been pitted against the likes of Euro champions Portugal and Spain.

“However, whatever group we are in, we need to progress. But, it is an exciting one.

“For us, we have to take each opponent very serious right from our first game against Croatia. But our aim has to be to top the group,” he said.

Seyi Dada-Martins, a multimedia consultant, also said: “It is a very dicey group we have been drawn into, but I’m confident in the abilities of the set of players we have to scale through the group stage.

“I think Croatia is a bigger threat in that group. Once you lock down (Lionel) Messi, Argentina is useless,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the Super Eagles players’ reactions, defender Leon Balogun was the first to take to his Twitter handle to express his opinion on the draw.

“Wow – what a draw! This group is a challenge, an honour, a chance, an opportunity…it’s fire!!!! World Cup baby,” Balogun wrote.

NAN reports that Nigeria will take on Croatia on June 16 in Kaliningrad, before facing Iceland on June 22 in Volgograd and Argentina on June 26 in St. Petersburg.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 14 and last till July 15.(NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

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Draw

Abuja, Dec. 1, 2017 (NAN) Nigeria on Friday in Moscow drew Argentina for the fifth time in six appearances of the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup finals.

The Super Eagles were drawn alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in Group D.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Friday’s Final Draw for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup took place at the State Kremlin Palace.

The State Kremlin Palace is the Parliament of the Russian Federation, which served the same purpose when the country was a much bigger, more intimidating Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Gary Lineker, who played in the 1986 and 1990 finals for England and scored in both competitions, conducted the Draw alongside Russian star Maria Komandnaya.

Miroslav Klose, the World Cup’s highest goalscorer who netted across four finals in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 was the trophy bearer.

Draw assistants were Laurent Blanc (1998 World Cup winner with France); Gordon Banks (goalkeeper of England’s 1966 winning squad) and Cafu (two –time winner with Brazil).

Also involved in the Final Draw were Fabio Cannavaro (Italy’s 2006 winning captain), Diego Forlan of Uruguay (winners in 1930 and 1950) and Diego Maradona (who led Argentina to victory in 1986, after they won at home in 1978).

Others were Carles Puyol (involved in Spain’s 2010 triumph in South Africa) and Nikita Simonyan (who played for 2018 hosts Russia in the 1958 finals in Sweden).

Below are the groups:

Group A – Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay

Group B – Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran

Group C – France, Australia, Peru and Denmark

Group D – Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria

Group E – Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia

Group F – Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea

Group G – Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England

Group H – Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 14 and last till July 15. (NAN)

VO/OLAL

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)