Venue: Rouen, France.

Kick-off Time: 7:00pm Nigerian Time.

Date: May 27th, 2016.

Nigeria will take on Mali in a friendly on May 27 in Rouen, which is about 135 kilometres from Paris and near to Saint Etienne, with kick-off time fixed at 7pm.

All the invited players for this match have until Wednesday, May 25, to report at the Novotel Hotel in Rouen with the first training session fixed for that day’s evening.

The squad are due to depart for another friendly in Luxembourg on May 30.

Both games are aimed to prepare the three-time African champions for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, which begin in October.

Interim Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf has called up 26 players all based overseas with the exception of Sunshine Stars goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa for these matches.

The officials and some of the players will fly out to France on the night of Tuesday, May 24, from Abuja.

http://africanfootball.com//news/627335/Eagles-face-Mali-in-Rouen-kick-off-time-7pm .

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Hmmn...Nice one. But then why not play against the likes of France herself?

TimJackJsm:
Hmmn...Nice one.
But then why not play against the likes of France herself?

I think the cost of securing such encounter is immense. Perhaps, France may find it pejorative or waste of human exertions and monetary resources to endorse a bid to play against a team that isn't ranked amongst top 40 vanguards of football according to FIFA ranking.

Thus, they will be swifty opt to play other emulous and prestigious teams like Spain and Germany, thereby circumventing the Super Eagles.

Nigeria needs a rapid football amelioration.

blueto:
I think the cost of securing such encounter is immense. Perhaps, France may find it pejorative or waste of human exertions and monetary resources to endorse a bid to play against a team that isn't ranked amongst top 40 vanguards of football according to FIFA ranking.

Thus, they will be swifty opt to play other emulous and prestigious teams like Spain and Germany, thereby circumventing the Super Eagles.

Nigeria needs a rapid football amelioration.

True,but then,those teams wouldn't wanna play much competitive games ahead of Euro to bar injury.
Nigeria should have been a choice for them.
Maybe they could be scare of surprise from a low ranked team beating them.

We really do have a long way to go sha,but with the going guys performing of recents,we will get there.


Mali is a compact team,regular performer in continental cups in the last four years,I expect a very nice game.

all the best to them

Mali
we ought to play a stronger opposition... eg Holland, afterall they wouldn't be at d Euros

anyways sha, check my profile pix and see what hon Patrick has to say about the Super Eagles

Yet fifa will still rank dm 67th in Africa mtchhew

To watch naija match dey tire me jare, after we no qualify for afcon17.


Anyways, Euro2016 on point, can't wait oo, that france team shaaa, belgium n Germany too,
Choi!!

To where do we want to qualify with the friendly

Nigeria1:2 Mali.... as usual

MuteMute:
Yet fifa will still rank dm 67th in Africa mtchhew

67th in the world not Africa..

@ Topic... I think it's a good step in the right direction, a rebuilding process. Unfortunately for us the likes of Luxemburg and Mali are the teams the SE can engage for now until we improve our rankings..

We suppose win...we sabi play friendly past competitive match

.

How can Rouen be close to saint etienne for God sake? Rouen is in Haute Normandy while saint etienne is in Rone alpes not up to 100km to Lyon. Lame man explication:-Saint - etienne is down south on your way to Italy while Rouen is in Haute Normandy, close to Picardie where you have Amiens on your way to lille and Belgium.Op/Journalist should not talk of what they don't know about instead of misleading the public.

It is impossible for North to be close to south without passing the middle of the country lol.

Diagram below.

what of yobo testimonial match? no wonder payers find it difficult to represent Nigeria

kenonze:
Mumu Yobo failed to officially notify NFF about his upcoming Testimonal match.

THIS match is to hold same day same time with his Testimonal match

he notified them. amaju pinnik even said it. I guess he falls to the pressure of the public to organize friendlies cos of the afcon loss but he miss it big time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsnlrFRKAmA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Watch Inspired Crew Sing Great is thy Faithfulness

ok

I should have just wore an helmet before reading your comment.

blueto:
I think the cost of securing such encounter is immense. Perhaps, France may find it pejorative or waste of human exertions and monetary resources to endorse a bid to play against a team that isn't ranked amongst top 40 vanguards of football according to FIFA ranking.

Thus, they will be swifty opt to play other emulous and prestigious teams like Spain and Germany, thereby circumventing the Super Eagles.

Nigeria needs a rapid football amelioration.

Int’l Friendlies: We’re going with our best – Boboye

Assistant Super Eagles coach Kennedy Boboye has said that the players chosen for the Mali & Luxembourg friendlies are the best ones available.

Interim Coach, Salisu Yusuf invited a mostly foreign based players but the duo of Mikel Obi and Ahmed Musa have been excused from the friendlies to enable them honor an exhibition match.

Boboye also told footballlive.ng that the handlers hope to use the games to improve our place on the fifa rankings.

http://footballlive.ng/footballnews/9ja-news/intl-friendlies-were-going-with-our-best-boboye/ .

Eagles Friendlies In Jeopardy

the Nigeria Football Federation has appealed to the Embassy of France in Nigeria with regards to issuance of visas to one player and technical and administrative officials of the Super Eagles ahead of two international friendly matches in Europe at the end of this month.

Nigeria’s matches against Mali and Luxembourg are being threatened by denial of entry visa to the only home –based player, two coaches and administrative officials of the three –time African champions.

“We are appealing to the Embassy of France in Nigeria to reconsider its stance and issue visas to these officials.

They are going to Europe for very important assignments as the two matches are key to the preparation of the Super Eagles for future engagements,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Wednesday.

NFF protocol officials said on Wednesday that about 60 per cent of the passports taken to the embassy on Friday, 29th April have been returned without visas.

The Super Eagles play Mali’s Les Aiglons in Rouen, Franceon Friday, 27th May before engaging the National Team of Luxembourg in Luxembourg on Wednesday, 1st June. All arrangements for the two matches, including payments for stadia use, training facilities and hotel accommodation have been concluded by the organizers.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/intl-friendlies-french-embassy-frustrates-nff/

Mikel, Musa out of Mali clash

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi and CSKAMoscow attacker Ahmed Musa will miss the Super Eagles’ friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg after the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the players for the Joseph Yobo Testimonial Game in Uyo on May27.Meanwhile, Nigeria caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf has invited Morocco-based midfielder Babatunde Michael for the friendly games.

The testimonial, which is expected to feature players from other countries, is scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt.

The NFF found itself at the centre of heavy criticism for agreeing to play a friendly against Mali in France on May 27, the same day the Yobo testimonial would be played. The Eagles face Luxembourg in the tiny European nation on June 1.Former Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike had launched a scathing attack against the football house over the decision, saying it was “an insult”.

“We should have the common sense of celebrating our heroes so that the younger ones in the team will live by example,” the West Ham forward was quoted by AfricanFootball.com as saying last month.

“Yobo deserves the honour and everybody has to turn up to celebrate him, but it’s unfortunate that it’s the NFF who are now looking like the obstacle to this testimonial.”

However, the NFF appeared to have bowed to pressure to allow big-name national team players feature in the game to honour former Nigeria captain Yobo, who quit international football after guiding the Eagles to a second round exit at Brazil 2014 World Cup.

“The NFF leadership has decided that Mikel (Obi) and (Ahmed) Musa should be excused from the two friendly matches (against Mali and Luxembourg) in Europe so that they can honour Joseph Yobo, who is having his testimonial game on the same May 27 that we are playing Maliin Rouen, France,” spokesman for the national football body Ademola Olajiresaid in a statement on Thursday.

“The two players have been communicated accordingly.”Former Ukraine-based Babatunde, who represented the country at Brazil 2014, is expected to fill the void left by Mikel in the friendlies.

Yobo represented Nigeria at both Under-20 and senior levels, captaining the Super Eagles at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and featuring in six Africa Cup of Nations. He won a century of caps for the senior team.

http://www.punchng.com/mikel-musa-mali-clash/

Babatunde Excited By Super Eagles Recall



Raja Casablanca midfielder Michael Babatunde is delighted to be back in the Super Eagles squad for the two friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg on 27 May and 1 June, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is making a return to the squad ten months after he last featured for the Super Eagles in their 2-0 win over Chad.

Babatunde, who is expected to be on the move after spending four months in Morocco's Brotola league with offers from Russia, Isreal and Scotland being considered, hopes to remain in the Nigeria squad as the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier beckons.

"It's good news and I'm happy to be back in the squad," Babatunde told Completesportsnigeria.com.

"The team has been through a lot and "I'm just looking forward to these games because it's an exciting time for me.

"Babatunde has played ten times for Raja Casablanca and has scored four goals with nine assists.He is expected to join up with the Nigeria squad in Rouen, France after Raja's game against Olympic Safi.

http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/babatunde-excited-super-eagles-recall/

blueto:
I think the cost of securing such encounter is immense. Perhaps, France may find it pejorative or waste of human exertions and monetary resources to endorse a bid to play against a team that isn't ranked amongst top 40 vanguards of football according to FIFA ranking.

Thus, they will be swifty opt to play other emulous and prestigious teams like Spain and Germany, thereby circumventing the Super Eagles.

Nigeria needs a rapid football amelioration.

Nigeria is too scattered at the moment to think straight like you did

maxmus84:

Nigeria is too scattered at the moment to think straight like you did

When we are still busy sorting out who will lead the GlassHouse. Amaju and Giwa are still battling themselves. Nigerian Football has a long way to go.
NaijaBet still offers Nigeria vs Mali match on their website.