Siasia optimistic despite AAG ‘difficult fixtures’

Ahead of their departure to Congo Brazzaville for the All Africa Games, Nigeria U23 coach Samson Siasia has admitted they have a tough task ahead, but remains positive.

The Dream Team VI, as the Nigeria U23 team is referred to, were drawn in group B with Egypt, Ghana and Senegal - even though the Egyptians have since withdrawn from the competition.

But that notwithstanding, and in a potentially difficult group, Siasia reckons it won't be easy playing against their group opponents, but remained optimistic of their chances to go all the way.

"To be honest, it's going to be difficult playing against our group opponents," Siasia reckoned.

"It's going to be difficult playing against them but I think it's better to play against these ones we have in our group than playing against the weaker ones that you think we'll beat and they beat us.

"But it's okay, we are not going to run away from it, we have been working hard and we shall see how we can prepare better and win the All Africa Games, that should be our top priority," Siasia posited.

The team will travel with the Team Nigeria contingent aboard a chartered flight from Abuja.

Victor Moses set for another loan move to West Ham

Super Eagles forward, Victor Moses is set for another loan spell and this time his destination will be West Ham United.

The Nigeria international, Moses since completing a move to Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in 2012 hasn't impressed with the Blues and that has compelled him to go on a series of loan moves; in 2013, Moses was on loan at Liverpool where he struggled to perform but he impressed at Stoke City on a season long loan where scored four goals in 24 appearances.

According to Sky Sports, West Ham are on the verge of completing a loan deal for the Chelsea winger, and the deal is expected to be completed before Tuesday deadline.

Though the Nigerian has struggled to tie a place in Chelsea's squad, but he has impressed at international level.

Victor Moses helped Nigeria lift the 2013 Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON ), he was also at the FIFA World Cup 'Brazil2014' where the Super Eagles got to the last sixteen.

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has stated that the skillful winger’s speed and thirst for scoring goals sums up an attraction for coaches who are ready to maximise his potentials.

Former Super Eagles coach sure of victory against Tanzania

Former Nigeria assistant coach Daniel Amokachi is confident the Super Eagles will beat the Taifa Stars of Tanzania when both teams lock-horns in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday.

Former African champions, Nigeria, are gunning to return to the continental competition which they missed out on last time, and already started the qualifying series on a promising note, beating Chad 2-0 in their first game.

"I'm sure the chief coach has selected the players he needs and I'm sure we have what it takes to beat Tanzania," Amokachi said to News24.

"We need to take it easy and do what we have to do on and off the pitch. The players must also understand why they are there and if they run for ninety minutes and do the right things, I'm sure they'll come back with three points.

"The most important thing is that we started on a good note by winning against Chad and if we can get another three against Tanzania, it will go a long way for us," he said.

When asked what Sunday Oliseh should do to get the best out of the players,  'The Bull', as he's fondly called, was non-committal, insisting that only the coach can determine how to get the best from his players.

"I think that is a question the coach should answer. He is the coach and he's the man in charge of the team so I think he knows how to go about that," Amokachi added.

Chattered flight to lift Super Eagles for Tanzania trips

The Super Eagles will make the trip to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and back to Nigeria on a chattered flight, as they aim to book a ticket from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier group.

The Super Eagles take on Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, September 5, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it has tidied up all arrangements surrounding the game.

Already, the NFF has concluded agreement with a leading Nigeria airline to fly the team into Dar es Salaam and back to Nigeria, with departure to be from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the return set for the Port Harcourt International Airport.

NFF officials confirmed on Wednesday that the chartered aircraft will convey the delegation into Dar es Salaam on the eve of the match, as Tanzania is a high altitude zone.

The delegation will depart Dar es Salaam immediately after the match, and fly into Port Harcourt, where the Super Eagles have an international friendly against the Mena of Niger on Tuesday, September 8.

Arrangements for the hotel where the Super Eagles will stay in Dar es Salaam have also been finalized, according to NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.

Nigeria and Egypt have three points each from the Matchday 1 of the qualification series to be on top of Group G, though the Pharaohs have scored one more goal and are slightly ahead following their 3-0 defeat of Tanzania in Cairo.

On the same weekend, the Pharaohs will travel to Ndjamena to confront the Les Sao of Chad.

Nigeria to host CIV, Sierra Leone AFCON qualifier clash

Nigeria will host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone and the reigning African champions, Cote d’Ivoire due to the Ebola virus scare in Sierra Leon.

The game, a Matchday 2 clash in Group I of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, will hold at either the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos or the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday, September 6, the NFF announced on Wednesday.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick said that on receiving the request from the Sierra Leone Football Association, which is the host association for the match, the NFF approached the Federal Ministry of Health for a go-ahead.

“We are delighted to announce that we have received the go-ahead from the Federal Ministry of Health to host the match. The Sierra Leoneans will come with a delegation of 32, made up of mostly overseas –based professionals, technical crew and officials of the SLFA, to be led by its president, Isha Johansen.

“We are happy about the go-ahead because, once more, our country has an opportunity to underscore its leadership role on the African continent, nay global sphere. The NFF has initiated discussions with the Lagos State Government and Rivers State Government on preventive measures, such as keeping Sierra Leone’s small delegation in a special hotel where they can be monitored at all times.”

Stressing that the hosting of the match is without any financial commitment to Nigeria, Pinnick stated that Nigeria has everything to gain and nothing to lose by hosting the match, recalling that recently, the U-20 Women National Team played a 2016 World Cup qualifier in Liberia and the Liberian team also came to Nigeria for the return leg, without any health issues.

It will be recalled that since the Ebola virus pandemic that ravaged some West African countries last year, the Confederation of African Football had compelled Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to find alternative venues for home matches. These countries have played their ‘home’ matches in countries like Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali without any health issues.

“We are talking of hosting the African champion team, with the likes of African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure and others, and this will certainly earn us commendation from CAF and FIFA.”

Raheem Lawal on Beşiktaş radar

Nigeria international, Raheem Lawal, 25, has been reported to be on Turkish Super League club, Beşiktaş wish list.

According to Eurosport Turkey, The Black Eagles are set to make an official bid of €1.5m for the Super Eagles midfielder, Raheem Lawal and also offer Ömer Şişmanoğlu to his Eskişehirspor as part of the deal.

Raheem Lawal 

With an obvious injury worries in the middle of the pack at Beşiktaş; both Veli Kavlak and Tolgay Arslan will be out of action for a long time and it's obvious an immediate replacement in Raheem Lawal who joined Eskişehirspor from Mersin Idmanyurdu for €1 million is considered.

There has been talks about a strong link to Italian Serie A for the Nigerian and a latest interest from a host of Turkish clubs with Galatasaray and Beşiktaş in the mix but the Technical Director at Eskişehirspor, Bahadır Ünalan confirmed to Radyospor about the interest from Italy.

"There has been offer from Roma but non from Galatasaray,' Ünalan told Radyospor

Raheem Lawal who was part of Super Eagles failed adventure to secure a ticket to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) didn't make the recent list of invited players by the new Nigeria manager, Sunday Oliseh to battle Tanzania in an AFCON qualifier.

Victor Moses returns to training this week

As reactions continue to pour in over Chelsea winger Victor Moses’s omission from the list of players called up by the coach of the Nigeria senior national team Sunday Oliseh, a new twist have been added to the drama with reports indicating the 24 year old will return to training this week.

Victor Moses 

Oliseh reportedly excluded Moses from his 18 man foreign based players list, for Nigeria’s next month 2017 Africa cup of Nations qualifier game, against Tanzania in Dar Es Salam but according to various Chelsea news source, Moses is set to return to training this week and is even in contention to face West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Moses confirmed on twitter two days back that a small injury had kept him out of the tie against Manchester City, although he had not appeared on any injury reports and was not mentioned by manager Jose Mourinho either, ahead of the clash at the Etihad which Chelsea lost 0-3.

However According to the guardian Mourinho chose to have Victor Moses back in training this week and possibly in contention at The Hawthorns after a slight groin injury. The Nigerian international, who has spent time on loan at Liverpool and Stoke in recent campaigns, was one of the more impressive performers on the pre-season trip to the United States.

A critical look at Oliseh’s 18-man list

I am not against Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh’s 18-man list of foreign based players called up for the Africa Cup of Nations against Tanzania as it is his job so to do, but my main concern is the result after 90 minutes.

I will also absolve Oliseh for explaining that “we’re going to try everybody, we cannot invite everybody at the same time,” but if his speech at his unveiling ceremony in Abuja is anything to go by, then I must say he has contradicted himself.

I hardly can see any difference between his 18 man list of foreign based players (even the invited home based) and that of former coach Stephen Keshi.

From the list of midfielders invited - Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy); Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); Lukman Haruna (Anzhi Machatsjkala, Russia); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia), Oliseh may seem to be attempting to put together a ‘younger’ side, but he disregarded whether they’re from a top league or not, neither did he consider how these players will quickly sync since they’ve not played together in a very long time.

Not to take anything from them, some of the invited midfielders were in action in their club’s last fixture and did quit well. Joel Obi was introduced in the 67th minute for Afriyie Acquah in a 4-1 win over Pescara on Sunday. Nwankwo Obiorah played all 90 minutes as Pacos de Ferreira beat his Academica side 1 – 0 in Portugal on Monday. Rabiu Ibrahim played all duration to help his side Trencin defeat DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda 2-0 in Slovakia, but Haruna Lukman, who is on loan from Dynamo kyiv, was not listed in Anzhi Makhachkala’s 1-1 draw with Amkar on Friday.

The omission of Odion Ighalo could pose the biggest distraction ahead of the AFCON qualifier away at Tanzania. Ighalo scored in Nigeria’s last game against Chad, he also scored six goals in Watford’s pre-season games and has scored one goal in two games in the English Premier League this season.

But Oliseh was quoted as explaining that “Odion Ighalo is a fellow Nigerian but we cannot invite everybody at the same time. We can only play eleven players at once and we have two other strikers and we’re going to try everybody but let’s see the ones we have now.” That’s okay, no offence taken bro.

John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses were also not listed, despite Oliseh’s visit to the duo at the Wembley Stadium during the Community Shield game against Arsenal. They both have not played a competitive game for Chelsea this season and should be held responsible for the omission.

Considering the importance of the tie against Tanzania, being an away fixture, and the still-fresh pain of not qualifying for the 2015 Nations Cup, Nigerians will begin to throw stones (condemn) at Oliseh and of course his employers if the team fails to secure at least one point from Dar es Salaam.

In the Super Eagles attack, I’m optimistic that Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa will gel, and in the defense I hope Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo don’t make silly mistakes. Coach please take note.

In conclusion, I officially welcome Sunday Oliseh to the seat of the most difficult job in the world, and strongly advice he gets a shock or criticism absorber.

Kelechi Iheanacho staying put at Manchester City

Nigeria U20 international Kelechi Iheanacho will soon make his official debut for the first team of Manchester City, his intermediary, American Henry Galeano has predicted.

Ahead of the announcement of the 18 - man roster by Sunday Oliseh on Monday, many stakeholders thought the Taye Academy product would be considered for selection but his inactivity for the first team of The Citizens counted against him.

Expectations are still high in these parts that Iheanacho will make his maiden appearance for the Premier League vice - champions, having been promoted to the first team days leading up to the start of the new season.

When quizzed on whether The Etihad outfit have plans to loan out the Flying Eagles midfielder before the close of the summer transfer market, Henry Galeano dropped a big hint that he'll be staying put in Manchester.

''That is correct (he is yet to make his debut). He will get his time soon, second game of the season so far,'' Henry Galeano told news24.

Still only 18, Kelechi Iheanacho has been included in Manchester City's 18 - man squad two times already in the ongoing campaign.

Oliseh snubs Ighalo, Mikel in 18 man list

Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has overlooked Nigerian players in top English clubs in a list of 18 foreign based players invited for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

Top of the list is inform Watford striker Odion Ighalo who scored in Nigeria’s last game against Chad, he scored six goals in Watford’s pre-season games and has scored one goal in two games in the English Premier League this season.

Also snubbed are Chelsea pair of John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses. Both players have made Jose Mourinho’s bench in the two EPL games played so far.

Sunday Oliseh

However, first –choice goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama headlines the list that also has defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders Rabiu Ibrahim, Lukman Haruna and Joel Obi, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Anthony Ujah.

There are a number of surprises, in line with Oliseh’s earlier pledge to make current form and first –level football key indices for selection.

There are goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, midfielder Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu and forwards Emem Eduok, Sylvester Igboun and Moses Simon.

All the 18 players, who will join up with the 23 home boys who arrived camp in Abuja on Monday, are expected in Abuja on Monday, 31st August, 2015 at the latest.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England).

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey).

Midfielders: Joel Obi (Torina FC, Italy); Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); Lukman Haruna (Anzhi Machatsjkala, Russia); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emem Eduok (Esperance ST, Tunisia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Anthony Ujah (Werder Bremen, Germany); Sylvester Igboun (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium).  

Oliseh now set to announce invited overseas based players

Super Eagles chief coach Sunday Oliseh will make public, a list of invited overseas based players for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania ‘today or tomorrow’, the Nigeria Football Federation have confirmed.

Speaking in a radio interview on Monday morning, director of communications at the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire revealed that the much awaited list will be made public as soon as it is received from the Super Eagles coach.

Sunday Oliseh

“We will definitely make the list (of invited overseas based players) public today or tomorrow,” Olajire said, “We just have to receive a confirmation from the coach and after that we will make it public,” he added.

Following his declaration during his unveiling that he will not invite players who play in lower divisions or ‘non-credible leagues’, expectations for his team list has been high.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports has it that Manchester City of England youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho, may make the list of invited overseas based players for the game against Tanzania.

The 18-year was very impressive for his English club during their pre-season run of Australia, scoring twice and making two assists, but is yet to play a competitive first team game for the club.

He has however made the substitutes’ bench in City’s two games this season against West Brom and Chelsea.

Obafemi Martins returns with a bang

Out of favour Super Eagles forward Obafemi Martins returned from a two months injury layoff, to score a brace that propelled his team Seattle Sounders to a 4-0 win over Orlando City.

Martins opened scoring for Sounders after a beautiful interchange of passes between him and Lamar Neagle in the 17th minute and the only minor blip to his overall all round performance, was when he missed a penalty that could have given his team a 2-0 lead going into the break.

Obafemi Martins

However he make atonement for his missed penalty with a sublime finish, dinking the ball over the head of the goalkeeper before jabbing it into the net, ahead of two Orlando City defenders to give his team a 3-0 lead.

He was substituted three minutes after his second goal as he bids his way back into full match fitness, hoping his injury worries are now firmly behind him, to help his team in their quest to have a better season than last time out.

The 30 year old has 9 goals to his name this season, well on course to better his tally of 17 last season and he has once again reiterated his desire to represent Nigeria, under new coach Sunday Oliseh after being snubbed by his predecessor Stephen Keshi.

His last game for Nigeria was a World Cup 2014 qualifier on the 23rd of March, 2013.

Super Eagles defender excited to work with Oliseh

With the Super Eagles camp opening on Monday, Super Eagles defender Solomon Kwambe says he can’t wait to return to the national team fold ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania and the 2016 CHAN qualifiers against Burkina Faso.

Kwambe, who is one of the 23 home based players invited to camp by coach Sunday Oliseh, says he and his teammates will have to work harder to ensure Nigeria does not fail to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations again.

“I can’t wait to return to the national team camp and I can’t wait to see the guys (Super Eagles teammates),” he said.

“It is going to be serious business because we have to work harder to ensure we qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations because we cannot afford not to qualify like the last time.”

The Warri Wolves defender also admitted that he is looking forward to working with Sunday Oliseh, who takes charge of the team for the first time since his appointment.

“I’m also looking forward to working with the new coach and hopefully we will achieve good things together,” he added.

Golden Eaglets begin training in Katsina

Nigeria's U-17 squad, the Golden Eaglets have on Monday began training in Katsina ahead of the FIFA U17 World Cup.

The Emmanuel Amuneke-led side, made up of 35 players and nine officials, were accommodated at the Katsina Motel located in the Government Reserved Area.

Speaking on arrival, Amuneke said the Golden Eaglets were happy to be in the state for their pre-tournament close camping for the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Golden Eaglets

“We are delighted to be in Katsina and we want to thank Governor Maisari for this opportunity," said the former African Footballer of the Year. "Of course, we would love to stay here as long as we want but the most important thing for us is to prepare well for the World Cup."

The Golden Eaglets according to Amuneke, would from Monday begin their routine session and would train twice daily in one of the newest facilities in the land - the recently opened Karkanda Stadium in Katsina.

“We don’t have time to waste and the hard work has truly begun because we have few days left to the World Cup.”

Emem Eduok targets move from Esperance to Europe

Emem Eduok has refused to write off the chances of Esperance qualifying for the semi - finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.

However, the Blood and Gold are in a precarious position in Group A despite their 1 - 0 away win over Stade Malien, with Eduok scoring the match winner in the 27th minute.

''If we can win the remaining two matches, we can qualify for the semi-finals,'' said Emem Eduok to news24.

''I don't blame anyone for where we find ourselves now because this is football and it's unpredictable, so we have to forget about the past and face the future.''

One month before the close of the summer transfer market in Tunisia, the former Flying Eagles striker has not ruled out a possible departure from Esperance but has set a lofty target he hopes to achieve if his dream of playing in Europe does not come to pass in this window.

''I'm still praying about leaving this summer, soonest everyone will know about it. I want to move to Europe so I have to work harder to attract offers.

''My target is to win the highest goalscorer award which is very possible, and to also help the team to win the league, I mean the Championship,'' Emem Eduok added.

A product of Dolphins of Port Harcourt, Emem Eduok still has a contract with Esperance until June 30, 2018.

Alex Iwobi drawing inspiration from Arsenal loanee Chuba Akpom

Alex Iwobi is determined to make an impression for Arsenal this season and is motivated by the progression made by his childhood pal Chuba Akpom, who broke into the first team of the Gunners before him.

Akpom, who is on loan at Hull City until June 2016, started his career with the Tigers on the right foot, having netted in each of his last two games in all competitions.

''I was happy for him, to join Hull City on loan,'' Alex Iwobi told arsenal.com.

''I was speaking with his family and I could see that he was really happy to go on loan because he just want to get some minutes and prove a point. Hopefully Hull will be the team for him.''

Alex Iwobi and Chuba Akpom both joined Arsenal's Academy at Under 9 level and the duo were involved in pre - season training with the first team eleven years later.

''Arsenal’s academy is so successful because of the training, the coaching, the staff, the facilities.

''I never say everything’s perfect but Arsenal’s training ground really is perfect,'' the attacker concluded.

Alex Iwobi made the bench for Arsenal's first competitive fixture this season.

Super Falcons abandoned, return to Nigeria by road

Super Falcons seem to be on their own as the team was abandoned for several hours in Benin Republic, and had to return to Lagos by road.

The team lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in a 2016 Olympic Games qualifier, a result that dashed their hope of featuring at the women’s football tournament in Rio.

Super Falcons

News24 gathered that the players, on Tuesday afternoon, were forced to board public bus from Cotonou in order to return home after suffering disappointment and delay for hours in the West African country.

The Super Falcons, last week, had a connecting flight from Lagos via Cotonou to Bata, on their way to play the away game, but had to suffer the rigors of traveling a long distance by road to Lagos.

It would be recalled that Nigeria Football (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick was widely criticized for watching the Community Shield game between Arsenal and Chelsea on Sunday, when the Super Falcons and the Dream Team were involved in crucial qualifiers on same day. But the NFF has explained that Pinnick was in London for a couple of meetings.

Oliseh meets with Victor Moses

Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has met with Chelsea winger Victor Moses as the new handler aims to build a formidable team.

Moses featured in the Community Shield game that saw his side fell 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday, as he replaced John Terry in the 82nd minute of action.

Victor Moses

Oliseh, alongside Nigeria Football Federation boss Amaju Pinnick were among the spectators at the Wembley stadium, and the former Nigeria captain has revealed he had a fruitful meeting with the AFCON 2013 winner.

“Very constructive meeting with Chelsea & Super Eagles' Victor Moses. The team building continues,” Oliseh wrote on his twitter handle.

Moses, who won his first cap for Nigeria in 2012 has played for the Super Eagles 24 times.

Injury got hold of the better side of the former Wigan star in 2014, which limited his performance for both club and country.

Iheanacho eyes Premier League debut against West Brom

Nigeria Youth International Kelechi Iheanacho is in line to make his premier league debut for English giants Manchester City, when they host West Bromwich Albion on Sunday in their first premier league game of the 2015/2016 season.

The imminent sale of Edin Dzeko to Roma coupled with Iheanacho’s fine form in preseason games, where he played in all but one of the team’s six games, scoring twice and setting up two other goals, have made him the genuine contender to take Dzeko place in the team.

Kelechi Iheanacho

Shortly after scoring in the team in their 4-2 loss to Stuttgart over the weekend, the 18 year old Nigerian said despite the loss they are ready for the task of facing West Brom.

"Despite the loss, we are ready for the first team of the premiership, me and the rest of the team" He told the club official TV channel.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini who has since endured with two high profile forwards in Dzeko and Stefan Jovetic, departing this summer has also got Wilfred Bony called on, but Iheanacho will at least make the bench in a game he might end up facing two Nigerians on the books of the Baggies- Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe.