₦airaland Forum

As the stage is set for the kick-off of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) this weekend, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com’s[/url] JOHNNY EDWARD outlines five reasons Salisu Yusuf’s men should be considered the favourites to win the title.

1. Wealth Of Experience

The Home Eagles’ experience at the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations in Ghana will come in very handy during the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament in Morocco. Salisu Yusuf’s side reached the final of the tournament in Ghana after a slow start, but lost to Ghana 4-1.

Since footballers are creatures of habit, a little inside knowledge of how they capitulated in the final will be more than welcome for the ten players who were in that squad. Knowing the expectation of fans back home, the team will be eager to banish the horror their poor showing in the final of the WAFU Vhp against Ghana by surpassing their previous achievement when they battle, Rwanda, Libya and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage. Also, knowing that a good outing could hand them a 2018 World Cup chance could be a huge motivation to the squad.

2. Coach Yusuf’s Ambition To Succeed


Salisu Yusuf’s first task will be to guide the team past the group stage in his debut appearance at the competition as head coach, a feat his former boss, Sunday Oliseh could not achieve in the last edition of the tournament staged in Rwanda.

Yusuf will use the lessons learnt in the last tournament in Rwanda where the Home Eagles failed to advance to the quarter-finals, to guide his team to glory in Morocco.

Also, he will be ambitious to bag his first major laurel as a coach with the Home Eagles, having led the team to the final of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations in Ghana last year.


3. Good Blend of Young And Experienced ‎Players

Nigeria’s squad depth has been supplemented with an injection of fresh legs. From the 2017 WAFU Cup squad. Adeleye Olamilekan, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu Chima Akas, Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors); Destiny Ashadi, Kingsley Eduwo, and Ubong Friday have all been left out with the likes of Sunday Faleye, Nura Muhammed, Ikouwem Utin, Abdullahi Musa, Peter Eneji and Ifeanyi Nweke among those expected to fill their size able boots.

Combining these youngsters’ eagerness to impress with the experienced heads like Rabiu Ali, Osas Okoro, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Anthony Okpotu, the Home Eagles could well be on a road to success in Morocco.

4. No Much Pressure of ‘Favorites’ Tag

Judging from how Nigeria have fared at the tournament since making their debut appearance, the Home Eagles are not widely touted as the favorites to win this championship in Morocco, and this will allow the team play with more freedom and less pressure.

Teams like DR Congo who have won the tournament twice, 2014 winners Libya, Angola who reached the final in 2011 are amongst the countries tipped to excel

5. Strength In Depth Of The Squad

The players who made Coach Salisu’s squad all have proved to be one of the best legs in their respective positions.

The Home Eagles are going into the CHAN tournament with 13 new players who were not part of the 2017 West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations in Ghana, but these newbies performed brilliantly for their respective teams in the Nigerian Professional Football League last season.

This is because the regular players in the squad all joined new teams in Europe to further their career abroad while some were ruled out due to injuries.

The players in the squad are Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC), Kalu Orji Okogbue (Rangers International), Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC), Abdullahi Musa (Wikki Tourists); Timothy Danladi (Katsina United), Ifeanyi Nweke (Kano Pillars),Ibrahim Mustapha (Enyimba FC), Emeka Ogbuh (Rivers United). Others are Sunday Faleye (Shooting Stars), Nura Muhammed (El-Kanemi Warriors), Emeka Atuloma (Rivers United), Augustine Oladapo (Enyimba FC) and Ekundayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars).

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/5-reasons-home-based-super-eagles-can-win-chan-2018-%e2%80%8e/

Changchun Yatai striker, Odion Ighalo, is ready to listen to offers from English Premier League (EPL) clubs who meet a £20m release clause in his contract, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

The 28-year-old joined Changchun Yatai last year from Watford for £20m and still has three years left on his contract.

Ighalo who recently rejoined his Chinese Super League side, Changchun Yatai for pre-season, has been contacted through his representatives by two EPL teams, according to a report on Skysports.‎

The Nigerian striker scored 15 goals in 27 appearances in his debut season with seven assists for Changchun Yatai.

Odion has previously featured for Udinese, Cesena and Granada before joining Watford in 2014.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ighalo-open-transfer-negotiation-epl-return/

Two- time world champions, Argentina, will begin their preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with two friendly matches in March against Italy and Spain

According to online news outlet, Ole.com.ar Albiceleste will come up against Italy who failed to qualify for the mundial in Basel on March 23, while their encounter against Spain which will take place four days latter is billed for Madrid.

The Argentina Football Federation are also working on the possibility of having the team play a farewell game on May 30 at La Bombonera before heading off to Barcelona for a one- week training camp at the Joan Gamper Sports Centre on the outskirts of the city.

Reports earlier suggested that the friendly affair will be against Bolivia in Buenos Aires.

A training match with Israel as the probable opponent is planned for June 8 before leaving Spain for their Bronnitsy training centre base camp in Russia the next day.

Jorge Sampaoli’s men are drawn in Group D along with Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland.

The South Americans will face the Super Eagles in their third group game on June 26 at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/super-eagles-world-cup-foes-argentina-face-italy-spain-friendlies/

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles and Cameroon played a 0-0 draw in a tune-up game in Rabat, Morocco on Wednesday night ahead of the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) taking place in Morocco.

The Indomitable Lions bossed the early part of the first half despite it being a cagey affair.

In the 23rd minute, Cameroon’s early edge in the game was almost rewarded but goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa made a brilliant one-on-one save after the Eagles defence was sliced open.

The Eagles gradually started getting back into the game and thought they had taken the lead on 40 minutes but Gabriel Okechukwu’s effort was flagged off for offside.

The second half saw the Eagles make a host of changes which with Ezenwa going off for Dele Ajiboye among the changes.

The second-half was not different as both teams found it difficult to break the deadlock.

And in the last minutes of the game Ajiboye made a finger tip save from a header off a corner to keep the score at 0-0.

The 2018 CHAN will be held from January 13 to February 4.

The Eagles are in Group C alongside Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea and 2014 CHAN winners Libya.

Cameroon are in Group D with Angola, Burkina Faso and Congo.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/home-eagles-draw-cameroon-chan-warm-game/

Nigeria defender, Tyronne Ebuehi, is keen to extend his stay at Dutch outfit ADO Den Haag, but insists the club must show desire to keep him by offering him what he rightly deserves, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN).

Ebuehi who has been capped twice by Nigeria is in the final six months of his contract at the club, and both parties are in talks over a new deal.

The right-back has also been linked with a move to English championship club Norwich City and Portuguese outfit Benfica.

”I do not think the offer I received is very great. I need the club to appreciate me more,” Ebuehi told Omroepwest.nl at the club’s training base in Belek

“I’m enjoying myself here and I do not want to leave. I still learn every day, am happy with the players and trainers and if I can sign here, I would really like to do that. But I am also just honest. I do not think the offer I received is very good.”

The 21-year-old also debunked speculations he has signed a pre-contract with Norwich City and that he attended the club’s Emirates FA Cup clash against Chelsea last Saturday.

“The most important thing now is the training camp. Of course I see messages on social media, so I cannot say that I do not care about it at all,” Ebuehi stated.

“I think some rumours are pretty funny. Maybe I signed the contract in my sleep.”
Ebuehi further stated that he was not motivated by money as he seek to sort out his future.

“I am not someone who now plays football for money. That is something that comes later. The most important thing for me is my development. I have to be better and I want to achieve the highest possible level,” he admitted.

“At the end of my career, I want to say that I have made the most of it, but as I said before, the rating can be better for someone who has played so many matches. ”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ebuehi-demands-pay-rise-extend-ado-den-haag-stay/

Super Falcons midfielder, Ngozi Okobi, believes linking up with Swedish club Eskilstuna United will make her a better player, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria. com[/url] (CSN)

Okobi joined Eskilstuna United from another Swedish outfit Viitsjo GIK where she spent two seasons.

“I look very much forward to coming to Eskilstuna, which is a top club. The team wants to play good football and keep the ball within the team,” Okobi told the club’s official website.

“My goal is of course to be an even better player and to help the team to as good a position as possible in the league.

“I’ve also played in Washington Spirit in the United States of America and Damallsvenskan (Swedish League) is very classy.”

Head coach of Eskilstuna United, Johan Bennas, is also delighted with the Okobi’s arrival at the club and hopes she ‎plays at her best for the club.

“In Ngozi Okobi, we have a technical player with offensive qualities who is always calm on the ball. She has good feet and and and we look forward to working with her.

” She has great potentials and we believe we have not seen her best yet in the Damallsvenskan but we are convinced she will be at her best here.

The 24-year-old has been capped 27 times by Nigeria and has scored our goals.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/super-falcons-star-okobi-set-new-challenge-swedish-club/

Former Arsenal and Chelsea stars, Ian Wright and Dennis Wise, has faulted Arsene Wenger’s decision to start Alex Iwobi ahead of Walcott and Alexis Sanchez in Arsenal’s 0-0 away draw at Chelsea in their first leg semi-final clash of the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

Iwobi was filmed clubbing just 48 hours before featuring for the Gunners in their 4-2 FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest at Ashton Gate last Sunday.

And despite that incident,the Nigeria international was picked ahead of the pair for the clash against Chelsea, and Wright thinks Wenger’s decision showed he had lost control at the club.

“For a youngster to come into a club like Arsenal, and thinks he is OK to go out less than 48 hours before a game, it says there is something wrong in the dressing room,” Wright said on Sky Sports’ The Debate.

“You can’t have a player thinking he can do that and still play again (against Chelsea). What message does that send?

“In the current climate with Arsenal going through what they are, experienced players wanting to leave, no leadership, for that to happen.

“Arsenal have got to find what they are losing. People laugh and see us as a joke. It feels like he is losing control.

“Mourinho wouldn’t have that and I don’t think a United player would do it.

“When we were playing, you didn’t read about players doing that. Sir Alex Ferguson went to people’s houses and threw players out for having a party.

“It’s just something you don’t do.”

Former Chelsea legend Dennis Wise also backed Wright’s view and believe Wenger sent the wrong message to the rest of the Arsenal squad starting Iwobi in the game at Stamford Bridge.

“If I was one of those players on the bench, knowing what he had done, I would be upset. It doesn’t send the right message,” Wise said during his post match analysis of the game.

“Sanchez and Walcott are on the bench. Is it because they are going or for a tactical part? I would have put either of them in front of Iwobi.”

Meanwhile, Wenger has branded Iwobi’s actions “unacceptable” and he confirmed Iwobi would be fined if he was found to have breached Arsenal rules.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wright-wise-blame-wenger-starting-iwobi-arsenals-carabao-cup-draw-vs-chelsea/

South Africa U-20 women’s coach Maud Khumalo has expressed optimism that her players are battle ready to slug it out with Nigeria’s Falconets for one of Africa’s two tickets to this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France.

The 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will run from 5 August to 24 August in France.

The Basetsana of South Africa (South Africa’s U-20 women’s team) will host the Falconets in the first-leg play-off round inside the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

To get to the play-off stage, the Falconets who have participated in all eight editions of the competition which started in 2002 in Canada, overcame Tanzania and Morocco 9-0 and 6-2 on aggregate in the first and second rounds respectively.

South Africa, who have never qualified for the tournament before, brushed past Namibia and Burundi 9-0 and 5-2 respectively also.


“The mood in camp is very positive in the sense that the girls are relaxed,” Khumalo told South Africa Football Association (SAFA) official website.

“They are open minded and they know what they are up against. This is a challenge we need to face and they are ready for it.

“As a coach I need to take any form of pressure and make sure it doesn’t go through to the players. Some of them are young and have never played against Nigeria before. But it is a blessing in disguise because I have some of them who have played Nigeria before and they’ve grown within the game.


“It is a blessing in disguise like I said because before they play against Nigeria without knowing what they are up against. But now they know what they are up against and they are willing to give their best and also they are will to fight tooth and nail to get this spot to go to the World Cup. It is also for them to get to the world stage to get exposed. It is a lifetime opportunity for some players so they are going to give their best.”

She stated that mixing education and football has not in any way affected her players as they are focused on the task ahead.

“Pressure is always going to be there but it’s how you react to it,” she said. “Both education and football are very important. Education and football is what makes these players enjoy what they are doing. And congratulations to the matriculants, it shows they’ve got zeal to make things work.

“For me as a coach it was not easy but I managed to make them relax and make them see what is important. For now they are much more relaxed and their attention is okay and they are focused on what is ahead, they are ready to compete. There’s nothing like pressure coming from studying even though we have another player that is suppose to write her exam in the university. But she is in the right frame of mind (for the Nigeria game).

And on her confidence going into this weekend clash, she said: “In my team I have mental strength and teamwork. That will make us go through.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/south-africa-coach-u-20-wwc-qualifier-lifetime-opportunity-beat-nigeria/

Nigerian striker forward Fred Friday has joined Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam on loan from AZ Alkmaar for the rest of the season, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN).

The 22-year-old joined AZ Alkmaar from Lillestrom of Norway in 2016 and scored 18 goals in 37 league appearances for the club, prompting interest in his services from other clubs.

Sparta Rotterdam’s technical adviser Leo Beenhakker explained why the club went for the Nigerian.

“Fred was at the top of our list to reinforce the attack and we are glad that we have now made it official and he will join us,” the former Netherlands coach told the club’s official website.

The player who is on a training tour with AZ Alkmaar in Estepona, Spain is now expected to make a short trip of 35 kilometers to Sotogrande where Sparta Rotterdam are having their own camping exercise ahead of the start of the second stanza of the Dutch Eredivisie.


He is in line to make his debut for Sparta Rotterdam against Vitesse Arnhem next week Tuesday.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/sparta-rotterdam-signed-fred-friday-loan/

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi was rated poor for his performance in Arsenal’s shock 4-2 away defeat to 10-man Championship club Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday.

Iwobi was brought back into the Arsenal first eleven against Forest after sitting out the thrilling 2-2 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League last Wednesday.

But despite playing the full 90 minutes, Iwobi could not prevent Arsenal from crashing in the third round for the first time since 1996.

And according to mirror.co.uk’s Arsenal player ratings, Iwobi got four out of 10 for his disappointing performance.

And commenting on Iwobi’s performance, the paper wrote: “Another poor performance from a player horribly out of form. Played in a deeper role than normal but couldn’t influence the game.”


Other Arsenal players who were rated four were Theo Walcott, Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock and Mathieu Debuchy.

The two players who got good ratings were David Ospina and youngster Reiss Nelson, while Danny Welbeck who got Arsenal’s second goal and Ainsley Maitland-Niles both got five.

The worst rated players were defensive duo Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding who were rated three.


Arsenal player ratings vs Nottingham Forest:

David Ospina (6)

Rob Holding (3)

Per Mertesacker (3)

Mathieu Debuchy (4)

Reiss Nelson (6)

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (5)

Joe Willock (4)

Mohamed Elneny (4)

Alex Iwobi (4)

Danny Welbeck (5)

Theo Walcott (4)

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/iwobi-walcott-metersacker-get-low-rating-arsenal-defeat-forest/

Kwara United head coach, John Obuh, is not losing sleep over his team’s failure to make it to the final of Bet9ja Nigeria National League Super Four competition, and is upbeat they can hold their own against Nigeria Professional Football League clubs when the new season gets underway, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com.[/url]

Kwara United who are back in the top flight after spending two years in the NNL lost 4-2 on penalties to Go-Round FC of Omoku in the opening fixture of the competition at the Agege Stadium on Sunday.

The Harmony Boys dominated the game,but were punished for their profligacy in front of goal.

Obuh is however unconcerned with the outcome of the game and is looking forward to a good season.

“We lost (against Go-Round) because we failed to convert our chances in the first half. There are a lot ofpositives from the game which we can be happy about even as we have some things to work on too,” Obuh tells[url] Completesportsnigeria.com.‎[/url]


“It’s not a big deal if we don’t win the competition as the sole aim of the competition is to help all the teams prepare for the new season.

“For us, I believe we are ready for the new season and well prepared to flow with the big boys in the NPFL.”

The former Golden Eaglets coach is however disappointed with the format of the competition.


“I don’t understand why we have to play two games in the competition. I believe it’s not right. We would have love a situation where we play more games to prepare us for the new season,” Obuh adds.

“We have the opportunity of playing in a pre-season competition in Port Harcourt where we would have played more games but we opted to participate in the Super Four.

” In the future, it will be good to look at the format. May be a kind of a league format where all the teams play against each other to determine the winner. “

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nnl-super-4-obuh-unworried-kwara-united-defeat-go-round-set-npfl-campaign/

Heartland team manager, Mobi Oparaku, says that the club is back to take its place among the elites in the Nigeria Professional Football League after securing promotion to the top flight, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com.[/url]

The Naze Millionaires were relegated to the Bet9ja Nigeria National League in the 2015/2016 season after finishing in 18th position in the NPFL table.

It was the the first time the Owerri club who are one of the most successful clubs in the history of the NPFL with five titles will be relegated in its 40 years existence.

They are however back among the big boys after winning the NNL Southern Conferences last term.

“We are back for good. Everybody know the history of this club and where we belong. What happened the previous season was disappointing (going on relegation) but we thank God we are back in the NPFL,” The former Golden Eaglets and Super Eagles defender told [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] at the Agege Stadium Lagos ahead of his team’s NNL Super Four tie against Remo Stars.


“It was difficult for our fans too, but we proved our class by coming back immediately. The NPFL is a familiar terrain for us and I believe we have what it takes to do well in the new season.

” It will sound too ambitious to say we will win the title immediately but we do our best to prove to people that the Heartland of old is still alive.

“One thing I can confidently say is that we won’t be relegated again. We are surely back in the NPFL to stay.”


Heartland will host Sunshine Stars on the opening day of the 2017/2018 at the popular home ground, Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Sunday.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/oparaku-heartland-back-npfl-stay/

Al Ahly’s Nigerian striker Junior Ajayi has been named in the 2017 Confederation of African Football best XI.

The selection is based on online voting by football fans across Africa.

Ajayi is one of the three Al Ahly players listed in the 2017 African best eleven during the Aiteo CAF Awards in Accra on Thursday night.

The 21-year-old who got maried in Lagos last Saturday was in the running for the CAF African Player of the Year- based in Africa award before the category was scrapped.

The former CS Sfaxien striker was named in attack alongside reigning African Footballer of the Year award Mohammed Salah and Espérance striker Taha Yassin Kheniessi.


In goal, 33-year-old Tunisian first choice, Aymen Mathlouthi, was picked while in defence, Manchester United’s Eric Bailly was joined by Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly and Tunisia), Ahmed Fathi (Egypt and Al Ahly).

In the midfield, Wydad Casablanca’s pair of Mohamed Ounajem and Achraf Bencharki joined Feyenoord’s Karim El Ahmadi and Khalid Boutaïb from Turkish Süper Lig side Yeni Malatyaspor.
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/aiteo-caf-awards-ajayi-bailly-voted-2017-african-best-xi/

Former Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh, believes Mohamed Salah deserved to be crowned the 2017 African Footballer of the Year, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com reports[/url].‎

Salah who joined Liverpool from As Roma at the start of the season has scored 17 Premier League goals this term. He was also instrumental to Egypt’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Salah succeeded Riyad Mahrez who was the recipient of the top CAF award in 2016.

The 25 year old Salah beat his Liverpool team-mate and Senegal winger, Sadio Mane, to the coveted award. Borussia Dortmund and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came third.

Salah, was also voted the 2017 BBC African Footballer of the Year in December.


“Fully well deserved to be crowned Africa’s best, I must say. Such a talented player,” Oliseh who came third in the 1998 edition of the Confederation of African Football Player of the Year award behind Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji and his ex-Nigeria teammate, Austine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha tweeted through his Twitter handle, @SundayOOliseh, after Salah was announced the winner during the awards ceremony in Accra, Ghana on Thursday, January 4 2018.

Salah joined Liverpool from Serie A side Roma last summer for £34m. He has been impressive, scoring 23 goals in 29 matches across all competitions. In his 60 official games in 2017 for Egypt, Roma and Liverpool, he scored 39 goals and provided 19 assists.
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/oliseh-salah-fully-deserved-caf-player-year-award/

By James Agberebi: Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has sent a congratulatory message to Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala who was crowned 2017 Aiteo CAF Women’s Player of the Year in Accra on Thursday.

Oshoala retained her Africa Player of the Year award, her third title after finishing ahead of Chrestina Kgatlana of South Africa and Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene of Cameroon.

Omeruo took to his Instagram page to express his happiness, however urging her to keep working hard.

“Yesssss you did it again.. congratulations star girl.. you are the best. Always proud of you.. keep your head down still.. More to come,” the Chelsea defender on loan at Turkish club Kasimpasa wrote.

In the men’s category, Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah beat club teammate and Senegal forward Sadio Mane and former winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund to the award.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr lost out to Egypt’s Argentine coach Hector Cuper in the Coach of the Year category.
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/omeruo-celebrates-star-girl-oshoalas-aiteo-caf-best-player-award/

Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been crowned 2017 Aiteo Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Player of the Year.
Salah, 25, was announced as the 2017 recipient at the State House Banquet Hall, Accra, Ghana on Thursday night.

The 2017 BBC African Player of the Year winner beat club teammate and Senegal forward Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund to claim the award.

In second position was Mane while Aubameyang was third.
Salah becomes the first Egyptian since Mahmoud El Khatib in 1983 (when the award was organised by France Football magazine) to be crowned African best player.

In the category for the Women’s Player of the Year award, Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala emerged the winner, thereby retaining her title which she won in 2016 and has now won it three times (2014, 2016, 2017).

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr lost to Argentina and Egypt coach Hector Cuper in the Coach of the Year category while the Pharoahs of Egypt who qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and were finalist at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations won National Team of the Year.

The Women’s National Team of the Year went to South Africa, 2017 CAF Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca of Morocco got the Club of the Year aaward, Zambia’s Patson Daka was presented with the Youth Player of the Year award, Legends Award went to Ibrahim Sunday of Ghana who won the CAF Player of the Year in 1971, Ahmed Yahya was awarded with Leader of the Year and President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo and newly elected President of Liberia George Weah were awarded with Platinum Award.

As Part of events to mark the 2017 CAF awards, past winners of the CAF Player of the Year Award were present. Also top African music stars like Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, Phyno, Flavour, Wizkid, Olamide, Patoranking and Fali Ipupa of Democratic Republic of Congo were on hand to entertain the guests.

2017 CAF Award Winners:
Men’s Player of the Year:

Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)

Women’s Player of the Year:

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dalian Quanjian)

Women’s National Team of the Year:

South Africa

Coach of the Year:

Hector Cuper (Egypt)

National Team of the Year:

Egypt

Club of the Year:

Wydad Athletic Club

Youth Player of the Year:

Patson Daka (Zambia and Liefering)

CAF Legends Award:

Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana)

Leader of the Year:

Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania)

Platinum Award:

Nana Akufo-Addo (President of Ghana)

George Weah (President of Liberia)
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/salah-oshoala-win-2017-aiteo-caf-best-player-awards-cuper-beats-rohr/

The January transfer window is up and running with a handful of signings already done. In this piece, https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ JAMES AGBEREBI lists five successful winter transfers involving Nigerian players over the years…

NWANKWO KANU
After just 12 games and one goal for Inter Milan, Nwankwo Kanu was snapped up by Arsene Wenger for Arsenal during the January transfer window in 1999 for £4.15 million.
Kanu went on to spend five seasons at Arsenal before departing for West Bromwich Albion in 2004 after making 119 appearances, scoring 37 goals.
While at Arsenal, Kanu won two Premier League titles (2002, 2004), two FA Cups (2002, 2003) and one FA Community Shield (1999).

WILFRED NDIDI
Following his impressive performance for Belgian top flight club Genk, Wilfred Ndidi signed for Leicester City in January 2017.
Joining Leicester, Ndidi went on to establish himself as a regular for the Foxes in his first season in the 2016/2017 campaign.
He made 17 league appearances and found the back of the net twice in the Premier League last season.
This season, Ndidi is one of six players (Kasper Schmeichel, Marc Albrighton, Wes Morgan, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire) who have played all 22 league games for Leicester.

EFE AMBROSE
Efe Ambrose left Celtic for then Scottish Championship club Hibernian on loan in January 2017 thanks to his former manager at Celtic Neil Lennon.
The loan move proved the right decision for Ambrose as he found his form again, helping Hibernian secure promotion back to the Scottish Premiership.
He made 10 appearances during his loan spell and scored one goal which was in a 2-1 league win against Falkirk on 25 March.
Also, he won the Scottish Championship player of the month award for March 2017.
So far this season, Ambrose has played all 22 Scottish Premiership games for Hibernian, scoring one goal.

ODION IGHALO
In his first season in the English Premier League during the 2015/2016 season, Odion Ighalo was outstanding for Watford as he scored 15 goals in 37 games.
The following season was rather a far cry as he struggled for playing time and only netted one goal in 18 league appearances.
During the 2017 January transfer window, Ighalo joined Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai for a reported £20 million.
And at the end of the CSL, Ighalo had scored 15 goals from 27 league appearances.

OBAFEMI MARTINS
After sojourns in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and USA, Obafemi Martins moved to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua in the winter transfer of 2016.
Martins scored nine goals in 26 league appearances in his first season, and in his second season in 2017 he scored seven goals in 13 league appearances.
And in the 2017 Chinese FA Cup final, Martins scored in both legs as Shanghai Shenhua beat Shanghai SIPG to lift the trophy for the first time since 1998.

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/happy-new-year-5-successful-january-transfers-involving-nigerian-players/

Nigeria goalkeeper, Austin Ejide believes the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations slated for Gabon. He also disclosed in this interview by SAB OSUJI that the players will put above 120% in every game to ensure qualification. Excerpts…

Austin, it must have been a hectic season for you in Israel. How will you describe the season just ended?

I'll say it was not a bad one for us at Hapoel Be'er Sheva, at least we have a chance to go back to Europe through the Europa League. We wanted to get much better than the previous season but all the same, we have to give God the glory that we were not entirely left empty handed.

You must have enjoyed the comradeship of your fellow Nigerians there, talking about the likes of John Ogu who is your teammate at Be'er Sheva and Nosa Igiebor and Kayode Olanrewaju.

Yeah, we are Nigerians and we usually talk to each other, we also play in the Nigeria national team and I must say we enjoy the support and companionship of each other. Despite the fact that some of us are in different clubs, we make it a point to talk to one another. John Ogu is in the same club with me, we are more or less like brothers from the same mother and we enjoy each other's company. You don't expect anything less, given the fact we play in the Super Eagles together and also here in Israel, we also play in same club.

Austin, there have been speculations you may not be part of your club, Hapoel Be'er Sheva's plans in the coming 2015/2016 season….

(Cuts in) So many things have been insinuated but the truth is that I signed for a three year contract when I joined them. The three years are now over, and I can look back and say I put in my best for them and they know that. They know what I offered and my contribution to get the club to where they are now. I must also be happy that I was part of them and gave them my all. Truth is that contracts are reviewed upwards and I have tabled my demands and it is left for them to accept or not. But as the situation stands now, my agent is on top of things. If they discuss well, fine, but if not one has to look elsewhere.

There are reports Be'er Sheva don't seem well disposed to giving you a new contract because they want an Israeli in order to balance their foreign and indigenous quota?

I have enjoyed my stay here in Israel since I came some years ago. I've as well enjoyed every bit of my playing for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, quota or no quota. They have been nice to me, the fans have shown plenty of love to me, the supporters and people there are wonderful and I really appreciate them. But you see, there are times when you stay to the point that you are now seen as an indigene. That means your tax begins to go up and all of that. And of course, you know what I'm talking about.

So, where will Austin Ejide's fans look to seeing him play this coming 2015/2016 season?

We are still on off season, but who knows, if God says Be'er Sheva, fine and good, but if He says elsewhere, that's okay by me. I want to leave everything in the hands of God and my agent is working on that too.

Let's talk about the Super Eagles and the 2017 AFCON qualifiers. Nigeria defeated Chad 2-0 last weekend in Kaduna, what are your thoughts on that?

That's the way to begin,I really commend the players, the coaches, fans and even the NFF for that. Nothing is more important than winning your first game in qualifiers like these. All of us saw what happened last year when we did not qualify. So it's nice, starting on a winning note this time around and I commend the team.

Some would argue Chad was not the kind of team to stretch a team as big as Super Eagles.

I don't agree with that, no team is cheap these days, every country raise their games especially whenever they are playing against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, so it is important we come out strong, with the desire and mentality to win and that was what the guys did and I commend them for that.

Do you think this Super Eagles team can make it to the 2017 AFCON, given the many new faces that Stephen Keshi paraded against Chad?

Let me put it this way; the Super Eagles don't have any reason not to qualify for the 2017 AFCON. We have the players with the right mentality to do the job. We missed it last time and cannot afford not to be in Gabon in 2017. We have learnt our lessons, through the hard and bitter way. The players felt bad that after winning the Nations Cup in the previous edition, we could not go to Equatorial Guinea to defend our African title. So this time around, every player has in his mind the desire to put 120% effort to ensure qualification. All the new players you talked about, are they not Nigerians? Are they not professionals? Nigeria is blessed with so many talents and the coach has the right to dip his hands and select, so we have to back the players and coach with support and prayers for us to make it to Gabon in 2017.

You were not selected for the match, that is the second time in a row that you were left out.

Yes, I was not invited when we played South Africa in a friendly. I was not also invited for the Chad game. Don't forget Nigeria has many talents and the coach can select those he needs for a particular game, so I'm not worried. As a professional and patriotic Nigerian, I have to support the team whether I'm there or not and wish and pray for them to win because those players selected are there to win and bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians.

If Chad could stretch the Super Eagles to a scoreless first half, how much of a challenge do you expect from Tanzania, who are our next opponents given the fact that the match will hold in Dar es Salam, Tanzania?

I want to say that beating Tanzania on their ground will not be impossible because the hosts will be the ones to be under pressure. You know that they lost their first game (3-0) to Egypt, so hosting the Super Eagles will put them under pressure from their home fans who will want them to win. So the Eagles will cash in on this to get the result we want, once the Eagles get the first goal, it will be difficult for the Tanzanians.

What are your thoughts on Flying Eagles ouster in the round of 16 of the just concluded FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand?

I thought the team would have gone beyond the round of 16. They played wonderful football after the Brazil defeat on the opening day of the group games, that one thought they would have gone beyond Germany but that's football for you. However, I am happy the team produced some wonderful talents who can do well for the country in the next level.

The Super Falcons also crashed out in the group stage of the Women's World Cup too, after holding so much promise.

Yes, one had expected them to qualify after the 3-3 draw with Sweden in the first game, but losing 2-0 to Australia was not the best because it damped the morale of the girls. I was impressed with their performance against USA even though they lost 1-0. Hopefully, in subsequent championships, they will excel because they have shown they are bridging the gap with the top countries in women's football.

It's been nice talking with you Austin, all the best to you.

Thanks, you are welcome.

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ejide-eagles-wont-be-under-pressure-in-tanzania/

FT Nigeria 2 – 0 Chad

90+3- Musa loses the ball. The ref blows the final whistle. Nigeria 2-0 Chad

90+2- Balogun stopped in his track after a Troost-Ekong through pass

90- 3 minutes added

89- Freekick Nigeria. Musa fouled. Rabiu Ibrahim dazzled earlier with intelligent footwork.

84- John Ogu for Salami (Nigeria); Monde for Madtloiungi (Chad): Substitutions

83- Danny Karl Max on for Ninga Casimir: Chad substitution

78- Odion Ighalo wins Nigeria a penalty. He will take it. Meanwhile Onazi is red-carded for unsporting reason. Ighalo scores from the spot kick. Dillah guesses right but the Watford striker puts the ball under him. Nigeria 2-0 Chad.

75- Odion Ighalo fouled by Kevin Nicaise who is now booked. Rabiu Ibrahim's kick was close but not enough

73- Salami dribbles his marker but his cross is cleared. Ball Possession: Nigeria 68-32 Chad.

71- Kenneth Omeruo yellow-carded

70- There was no Nigerian player in sight to pounce on Ahmed Musa's cut back

66- Dillah punches the ball away from Nigeria's corner.

65- Musa's good cross meets Ighalo but his shot is deflected for a corner. Omeruo is receiving treatment.

62- GOAL! Gbolahan Salami fires a thunderous shot with a half volley to bring the crowd into ecstacy. Nigeria 1-0 Chad

60- Babatunde Michael subbed by Rabiu Ibrahim and Odion Ighalo for Salami for Nigeria.

58- Musa makes to shoot but the ball taken off his boot. Leon Balogun fouled by N' Douassell. He is booked (yellow)

52- Gbolahan Salami fouled. Its not a penalty as the Eagles bench thought but just outside the box. The freekick by Aaron Samuel curled round the wall but hits the upright and bounces out!

50- A throw for Nigeria. The Eagles boss possession now but Musa's cross cut out

48- The Eagles string few passes but Kingsley Madu's shot goes off target

47- Salami's cross is caught by Chad's keeper

46-Chad keeper, Dillah deals with a tricky ball in their box

45- Kick off by Chad. The visitors' cross is caught by Enyeama.

45- Musa's cross is once again disappointing. 1 minute has been added after regulation time in the first half.

43- Mbairamadji Dillah and Eagles' Babatunde Michael collide and require medical attention

40- A freekick to Chad. Anderson Esiti committed the foul.

38- A throw-in to Chad but Vincent Enyeama produces an instinctive, superb save to keep the score at 0-0 from the Chadians' goal-bound effort.

34- Gbolahan Salami could not finish off what proves to be Nigeria's best attacking move of this match. Keeper Mbairamadji Dillah scampers back in a bid to catch the ball but the ball had gone over the bar

32- Nigerian corner. Leon Balogun jumps to head the ball but it scrapes the upright and out.

31- Aaron Salami wins Nigeria a freekick

29- Gbolahan Salami produces wonderful footwork but the ref rules a freekick for Chad rather than Nigeria after he goes to the ground

27- Gbolahan Salami's freekick not utilised. Freekick to Chad

25- Kevin Nicaise kicks ball out for Nigerian throw-in. Freekick to Nigeria after Balogun is fouled by Chad dangerman

24- Michael miscues a glorious chance but seconds later, Salami wins Nigeria a freekick. Ahmed Musa produces a great freekick but keeper Dillah tips over the bar for another

20- Kingsley Madu fouled but Nigeria lose the momentum and Chad now get a goal-kick

17- Chad create pandemonium in the Eagles defence. Yassi Mahamat; the tormentor-in-chief. They get a corner but ball then cleared

13- Ogenyi Onazi loses the ball and gifts Chad a throw-in. Enyeama saves the ball however

11- N'Douarssell flagged offside.

10- Chad get first corner of the game, Kenneth Omeruo giving away the ball. Taken by Hilarie Kedugui but the ball is headed away. Relief now for the Eagles defence

8- Kingsley Madu chests and rips a fierce shot but it was wide

7- Leon Balogun brings down Ezechuel N'Douassel

4- Ahmed Musa's cross is eventually poor after a promising move

4- A throw-in to Nigeria

3- Gbolahan Salami fouled by Ezechiel N' Doursell

2- Freekick to Chad. Aaron Samuel the culprit

1- Kick off Nigeria. Throw to the Eagles

Nigeria and Chad have never met at any level of football. Chad have never participated in any international competition in history.

Nigeria
Enyeama- Balogun, Madu, Omeruo, Troost Ekong- Onazi, Esiti, Michael- Salami, Samuel, Musa

Chad
Mbairamadji Dillah- Constant Madtloiungi, Massama Asselmo, Kevin Nicaise, Naldjim Haroun- Marius Mbaiam, Hilarie Kedugui, Yassi Mahamat- Ninga Casimir- Ezechiel N' Douassel

Nigeria FIFA ranking: 45th
Chad FIFA ranking: 79th

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/minute-by-minute-nigeria-vs-chad/

FT Nigeria 2 – 0 Chad

90+3- Musa loses the ball. The ref blows the final whistle. Nigeria 2-0 Chad

90+2- Balogun stopped in his track after a Troost-Ekong through pass

90- 3 minutes added

89- Freekick Nigeria. Musa fouled. Rabiu Ibrahim dazzled earlier with intelligent footwork.

84- John Ogu for Salami (Nigeria); Monde for Madtloiungi (Chad): Substitutions

83- Danny Karl Max on for Ninga Casimir: Chad substitution

78- Odion Ighalo wins Nigeria a penalty. He will take it. Meanwhile Onazi is red-carded for unsporting reason. Ighalo scores from the spot kick. Dillah guesses right but the Watford striker puts the ball under him. Nigeria 2-0 Chad.

75- Odion Ighalo fouled by Kevin Nicaise who is now booked. Rabiu Ibrahim's kick was close but not enough

73- Salami dribbles his marker but his cross is cleared. Ball Possession: Nigeria 68-32 Chad.

71- Kenneth Omeruo yellow-carded

70- There was no Nigerian player in sight to pounce on Ahmed Musa's cut back

66- Dillah punches the ball away from Nigeria's corner.

65- Musa's good cross meets Ighalo but his shot is deflected for a corner. Omeruo is receiving treatment.

62- GOAL! Gbolahan Salami fires a thunderous shot with a half volley to bring the crowd into ecstacy. Nigeria 1-0 Chad

60- Babatunde Michael subbed by Rabiu Ibrahim and Odion Ighalo for Salami for Nigeria.

58- Musa makes to shoot but the ball taken off his boot. Leon Balogun fouled by N' Douassell. He is booked (yellow)

52- Gbolahan Salami fouled. Its not a penalty as the Eagles bench thought but just outside the box. The freekick by Aaron Samuel curled round the wall but hits the upright and bounces out!

50- A throw for Nigeria. The Eagles boss possession now but Musa's cross cut out

48- The Eagles string few passes but Kingsley Madu's shot goes off target

47- Salami's cross is caught by Chad's keeper

46-Chad keeper, Dillah deals with a tricky ball in their box

45- Kick off by Chad. The visitors' cross is caught by Enyeama.

45- Musa's cross is once again disappointing. 1 minute has been added after regulation time in the first half.

43- Mbairamadji Dillah and Eagles' Babatunde Michael collide and require medical attention

40- A freekick to Chad. Anderson Esiti committed the foul.

38- A throw-in to Chad but Vincent Enyeama produces an instinctive, superb save to keep the score at 0-0 from the Chadians' goal-bound effort.

34- Gbolahan Salami could not finish off what proves to be Nigeria's best attacking move of this match. Keeper Mbairamadji Dillah scampers back in a bid to catch the ball but the ball had gone over the bar

32- Nigerian corner. Leon Balogun jumps to head the ball but it scrapes the upright and out.

31- Aaron Salami wins Nigeria a freekick

29- Gbolahan Salami produces wonderful footwork but the ref rules a freekick for Chad rather than Nigeria after he goes to the ground

27- Gbolahan Salami's freekick not utilised. Freekick to Chad

25- Kevin Nicaise kicks ball out for Nigerian throw-in. Freekick to Nigeria after Balogun is fouled by Chad dangerman

24- Michael miscues a glorious chance but seconds later, Salami wins Nigeria a freekick. Ahmed Musa produces a great freekick but keeper Dillah tips over the bar for another

20- Kingsley Madu fouled but Nigeria lose the momentum and Chad now get a goal-kick

17- Chad create pandemonium in the Eagles defence. Yassi Mahamat; the tormentor-in-chief. They get a corner but ball then cleared

13- Ogenyi Onazi loses the ball and gifts Chad a throw-in. Enyeama saves the ball however

11- N'Douarssell flagged offside.

10- Chad get first corner of the game, Kenneth Omeruo giving away the ball. Taken by Hilarie Kedugui but the ball is headed away. Relief now for the Eagles defence

8- Kingsley Madu chests and rips a fierce shot but it was wide

7- Leon Balogun brings down Ezechuel N'Douassel

4- Ahmed Musa's cross is eventually poor after a promising move

4- A throw-in to Nigeria

3- Gbolahan Salami fouled by Ezechiel N' Doursell

2- Freekick to Chad. Aaron Samuel the culprit

1- Kick off Nigeria. Throw to the Eagles

Nigeria and Chad have never met at any level of football. Chad have never participated in any international competition in history.

Nigeria
Enyeama- Balogun, Madu, Omeruo, Troost Ekong- Onazi, Esiti, Michael- Salami, Samuel, Musa

Chad
Mbairamadji Dillah- Constant Madtloiungi, Massama Asselmo, Kevin Nicaise, Naldjim Haroun- Marius Mbaiam, Hilarie Kedugui, Yassi Mahamat- Ninga Casimir- Ezechiel N' Douassel

Nigeria FIFA ranking: 45th
Chad FIFA ranking: 79th

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/minute-by-minute-nigeria-vs-chad/

Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona has informed http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ that they are in the country to give their best against Chad in the June 13 African Cup of Nations qualifier, saying they have learnt.
The Turkey based former Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure defender, who is one of the fifteen foreign based players invited by Coach Stephen Keshi for the 2017 AFCON qualifier, also told Complete Sports that they will give their best to make Nigerians happy this time around.

“It was painful that we could not make in 2015 but I must tell you that we have learnt from that and we are ready to do our best to make sure that Nigeria makes it this time around. Coming early to camp is a sign that all the players are here for business”, says the Nigeria international.

“We are not going to take it lightly with Chad, we will see every game as a Cup final and that is the resolve of the players here in camp. We have met the coaches and we have both agreed that Nigeria must be at the next edition of the African Cup of Nations in Gabon.

While being asked what caused the team’s failure in 2015, the former Sunshine Star defender said he has put that behind him and is looking forward to what he wants to achieve with the team at the 2017 edition.

“I don’t want to talk about the past, we are here to beat Chad and that is exactly what we are going to do. I must also tell you that we are not also going to underrate any team in the process of qualifying for the AFCON" he sums up.

Former Nigeria captain, Peter Rufai, tells SAB OSUJI in this interview that the Flying Eagles will break the Brazil jinx in the opening match of Group E in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals.
Rufai also posits that the Nigeria U-20s can lift the trophy…

What are your thoughts on this present Flying Eagles squad coach Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade have taken to the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand?
I see the team as one that can go places. They have been consistent right from the U-17 level. At that stage, we all saw what they achieved, winning the U-17 World Cup in Dubai,UAE, two years ago. Having graduated to the U-20 level too, we saw how they won the AYC title in Senegal a couple of months ago. And if you add these to their performance in Germany where they went for a three-week camping tour, won all three trial games, then you can begin to say this team can make Nigeria proud at the championship.

They will begin their campaign late Sunday night (early Monday morning) against Brazil in group E, what are your expectations?
I'm expecting victory from the team. I know they can do it because the team Manu Garba has put together, for me, is very solid. The players are hard working and individually skillful, recall Bernard Bulbwa's goal against Senegal in the AYC final, how he side-picked the ball, turned and shot right from the edge of the box. So the potentials in the team are not in doubt, their mental strength, team spirit and cohesion as well as commitment are ingredients that single out a good and ambitious side and the team has all these qualities.

Nigeria has never won this FIFA U-20 World Cup before, doesn't this fact or jinx scare you especially when they have Brazil to contend with in our group?
We have not won the Cup before but I have noticed some exceptional qualities in the team just as I said earlier. This makes me confident. Of course I believe in the technical prowess of coaches Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade which they have proved over time. I know there is always a first time in anything in life. It is very possible.

Are you saying the team can win the World Cup in New Zealand?
First, I expect them to put up a good performance, take every opponent as a champion they just have to edge out. They should also see themselves as champions, which they are. They should knuckle down, take the games as they come, and if they do this they are bound to reach the final and once they are in the final, certainly they will come home with the Cup.

Wonderful permutation, Flying Eagles, World Champions in the making. But does it occur to you that Nigeria has never beaten Brazil at this level of World Cup championship? Don't you think this jinx may constitute a problem for the Flying Eagles?
No, they are not a threat, rather I see it as a challenge that will inspire the team. Nigeria, at whatever level of the national team, get stronger and tougher in games against perceived difficult oppositions and I can see this playing out again in New Zealand when we meet Brazil. Difficult games bring out the best in our teams and this cuts across our various national teams. I see this making the players very serious, determined and more committed to prove to the World, including Brazil, that they are not in New Zealand for sight-seeing but to defend themselves and the green-white-green jersey and bring glory to their fatherland.


Tell me what really happened that you did not play for Nigeria at the U-20 level…
Actually I was invited to the camp but school activities didn't allow me. That was in 1977. Father Tiko was in-charge of the senior national team then as well as being in-charge of the Flying Eagles. It was during the preparation for the first edition of the championship held in Tunisia. I reported to camp but had to go back to school because of examinations. I would have loved to be part of the team, especially since that was the first edition of the championship but then I chose the right path and I have no regrets about it.

Certainly you must have been sad missing out of the squad even though Nigeria did not qualify for the championship proper in Tunisia?
I would have been sad if I had missed it as a result of lack of form or non-invitation. But because I missed out based on academic pursuit which is also good as my parents advised me so I don't have any regrets at all.

Stephen Keshi has finally been restored as Super Eagles coach. What are your thoughts abouts that?
First and foremost, I've to commend the Nigeria Football Federation and Stephen Keshi as well as his manager for finally coming to an amicable resolution of the Super Eagles contract issue. I also commend all those who in one way or the other, ensured that peace reigned in Nigeria football for Super Eagles to move forward. Having said that, I must say that I'm happy over Keshi's coming back as Super Eagles coach; that's number one. Secondly, I will say that Keshi has shown a lot of patriotism to this country. As a player, he showed his patriotism to Nigeria and has repeated that now as a coach. Another coach would have opted out during the period of dispute, to take up appointment with another country even with less pay but he did stood firm and interested in serving his country. He wants to use the opportunity of his second coming to try to make up for our not qualifying for the last Nations Cup.The NFF has also done well by keeping faith with him.

Chad is Nigeria's first opponent in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.Are you looking forward to that game in Kaduna? Is that match going to be easy for the Super Eagles?
Chad will not be an easy opponent. But I must also say that it is one match we will comfortably win. Yes, we have had our ups and downs in the game in recent times but that's not enough for anyone to think that a team like Chad will come here to trample on our Nations Cup aspirations. Of course, it is important not to underrate any opposition but Chad should not be the team to scare us. They know at the back of their minds that they are coming to play against a giant of African football, a team which has been involved in the Nations Cup for long and a team that has won the championship three times. They should be the ones to be afraid us and respect us, so I'm not afraid of them and statistics show that irrespective of the travails we have had in recent times, Nigeria football and that of Chad should not be placed on same pedestal based on the quality of players available to both countries.

What about Tanzania, an East African nation who are Nigeria's next group opponents after Chad?
Same is applicable to Tanzania. They will all come to flex muscles against the Super Eagles but determination alone is not enough and never a guarantee for victory over the Super Eagles. They will only come to try their luck but expecting victory means stretching their luck too far.

But we have had cases in the past when these underdogs defeated the Super Eagles. The most recent being Congo who defeated the Eagles in Calabar in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. Don't you fear such may repeat itself again because this is football where even the unexpected does happen?
We lost to Congo because they had a good tactician in Claude Le Roy who knows African football and its players too well.He has all it takes to coach any team, so if you are playing against his team you don't need to say because his team is coming from a small country and not known in the game. Le Roy as a coach will be the determing factor. But in all of these, I don't have any worry whatsoever about Chad and Tanzania. However, if any of these two teams have a tactical guru like Le Roy then we should have cause to worry.

The Super Eagles are in the same qualifying group with Egypt. They have won the AFCON more than any other country on the continent. Perhaps you may have some concerns when Nigeria meet them later in the course of the qualifiers.

The Pharaohs of Egypt are not an easy side to knock down. The few times I played against them, we have had to come from behind to win or draw though we later won on penalties at some point. So I can say they are not a side to be underrated or overlooked. Egypt is a team we have to put on all our tactical thinking caps to overcome. This is where I'm calling on the NFF and the Super Eagles coaches to come together to map out a strategy that can guarantee victory for the Eagles. Egypt don't just play based on the present strength of opponents, they bring to fore past record of matches they have played against the opponents, study them and perfect their strategy. This forms part of their preparations and if on our side we can get all these facts together, then this will help the team a lot.

NFF has a technical study group headed by Austin Jay Jay Okocha, do you think they can come in here ?

For sure, it's going to help because the group is bound to bring back good news if and when they are sent to evaluate opponents strengths and weaknesses. So I think this will help also in the developmental aspects as well.

You retired from active football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan. Since then no one has seen your face near the national teams coaching, what's the reason?

I can only say if the authorities believe I'm needed, if they think I have something to offer the country as regards coaching, if they think I have value to add to the national team, if they know the value that I can bring to the development of Nigeria football, if they know what it means to acquire knowledge after playing career, if they really know what value and respect means they will call for those of us who possess all these qualities. But I thank God Almighty that I have been busy all this while with youth developmental programme which I thought was wise to give to my country after my career in Europe. I love the grassroot developmental programme I'm running across the nation through the support of corporate bodies and also giving seminars across the nation and abroad as well. I have also been engaged in giving youths motivational talks across the country and abroad as well as engaged in my football academy, Star-Ruf Football Academy which is managed by experts.


Tell us more about this Star-Ruf Football Academy

Well, it has to do with imparting footballing knowledge to the younger ones, for them to make a career in football and keep away from social vices. In this regard I set up an academy, STAR-RUF ACADEMY which also has a branch in Europe, Spain to be specific. It is aimed at impacting on youths that want to take football as a profession. I am an instructor in the basics of the game, I decided to set up one here in the country. I have a diploma in how to establish and manage an academy, how to coach youths and put them on the right track to pursue a career in football.

How many students or apprentice footballers do you have in Star-Ruf Academy at the moment?

We have 40 players in the senior category, we have 20 players in the U-13 category and 40 players in the U-15 category.

How do you run this academy, I mean in terms of training or do you handle the training aspect all alone by yourself?

No, Star-Ruf Academy is set up and run along professional lines. We have a management structure that has administrative manager, sports secretary and all that. In terms of coaching, coach Loveday Omoruyi is the head of coaching, he is a professional coach, my former teammate at Stationery Stores of Lagos, former national team player and has coached Gateway United, Zamfara United, Jasper United, Bendel Insurance and even coached in Benin Republic. All that I do is provide them the coaching syllabus.

How do you deal with players' urge for overseas contracts?

This is one area Nigerian parents have to really show understanding. Yes we prepare players for higher stakes in their careers especially going on trials in Europe. But then, it's not an over-night thing, we prepare them especially players in the senior team and based on their performances and form, we begin to either take them to clubs in Nigeria or Europe. Unfortunately many of them want immediate travels irrespective of whether they are good and ready enough for such trials or not. You will be wasting a lot of money taking unfit player to Europe and at the same time lowering the vault on the quality of Nigerian players as well as your academy players if you take players that don't measure up to European standards out for trials and I want parents to understand this.

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/rufai-brazil-are-no-threats-to-flyingeagles/

–Time to win Nigeria jersey and face-cap


The Barclays Premier League in England has ended and attention shifts to the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

The Flying Eagles will play their first game of the 2015 U20 World Cup against Brazil early Monday morning, precisely 2am (1pm Monday, in New Zealand).

This is your chance to win big as you have your say in preview of this match. Two top winners selected after this Nigeria's U20 World. Cup opener will win two authentic Super Eagles jerseys and two more readers will get two face-cap each as consolation prizes.

The Nigerian U20 side are yet to defeat Brazil at the U20 World Cup in four previous meetings: three defeats and one draw, since 1983.

Do you think the Flying Eagles will defeat Brazil for the first time at this level? Who will be the players to watch on both sides and what is your score prediction for the game?

Simply post your comment (preview) on this match through the 'Leave A Reply field' at the bottom of this page.

http:///1AxKiS5

The home-based Super Eagles squad will on Tuesday play a friendly match in Katsina to open a brand new stadium in the Katsina State capital, the Nigeria Football Feceration website confirmed on Saturday.

The Eagles will face Katsina selected side, with kick-off set for 5pm.

The new Karkanda Stadium, which will be declared open on that day, has a capacity of 35,000 and an artificial playing turf. It was only recently completed by the Katsina State Government under the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema.

The Super Eagles, currently camped in Abuja for preparations ahead of the 13 June AFCON qualifier against Chad in Kaduna, will have a feel of the new pitch on Monday before playing the friendly on Tuesday.

They are expected back in Abuja on Wednesday.

Read More: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nff-confirm-eagles-for-katsina-stadium-friendly-2/

With most Super Eagles players either not getting regular playing time for their clubs or failing to sign for top clubs, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has stated it is not in his power to determine how the club careers of the players will go.

It hasn’t been the best of times for many Super Eagles players as most of them struggle to play regularly for their clubs, even when playing for less fancied sides, and Keshi acknowledges the issue, but says he cannot do anything about it.

“I can’t control their performances for their clubs or how often they play,” he says. “It is a personal thing, it’s about personal excellence and it depends on the individual.

“If you think you have to work harder to become better, it is left to you as the player, I cannot control that.

“Although I talk to them one on one, if I think they are not doing well enough for their clubs then I’ll say so but it is not my job to be on their necks everyday about it.

“They’re all adults, they’re professionals and they should live up to a professional level and that is it,” he stated.

A good number of the current Super Eagles players have recently struggled to gain regular playing time for their clubs, with only a handful of them playing week in, week out for their clubs.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/keshi-i-cant-control-players-lack-of-game-time/

–Football veterans take Nigeria president-elect to task on football development as the NFF contract talks with Stephen Keshi remains at the crossroads

Completesportsnigeria.com sets up a Jury amidst the unending Super Eagles coaching job palaver. The NFF, still awed by the influence of the presidency in recalling out of contract coach Stephen Keshi after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, still can’t do without the dissent Big Boss who later made a public apology on Saturday. How intriguing! And our jury returned almost unanimously with a proactive recommendation: that Nigeria’s president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) must learn from the mistake of the incumbent, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and not interfere in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation, instead must provide the enabling environment for the development of football, nay sports in Nigeria. Adegboye Onigbinde, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Felix Owolabi and Mike Umeh spoke to Completesportsnigeria.com about moving Nigerian football forward without any presidency interferance.

Buharism

Nigerian football, nay sports fraternity are already looking forward to seeing what the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari’s slant for or against sports will look like after assuming office on May 29. But particularly, the larger population of the football-crazy Nigerians has been expectant. There is a consensus that Nigerian football which has plummeted terribly needs a serious revamping.

Buharism is the sobriquet ascribed to Buhari’s military regime of December 1983 to August 1985, for its peculiar no-nonsense and steadfast approach to issues in governance. Nigerians who voted him in massively now hold that firmness of character in his honour and expect that the retired General will uncork that formula yet as a civilian Head of State, to sanitize Nigeria. And the ailing Nigerian football is virtually begging to feel the sweeping effect of Buharism and spring back to life. But “how” is is the concern of Completesportsnigeria.com’s Jury in this discourse.

Most of our jury members condemned the the mistake of the incumbent head of state: going too far in meddling in the affairs of the NFF, influencing the body to recall Stephen Keshi for his Super Eagles contract extension. About nine months after that presidential ‘mediation’, the NFF and Stephen Keshi are yet to find a common ground to formalize a new contract. And Nigerian football has suffered the setbacks induced by the prolonged saga.

buhari-golden-eaglets
Buhari’s crown: Golden Eagets with the FIFA/JVC U16 World Cup title in 1985


Ambitious General

Unknown to many, President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari is an ambitious football lover. Leadership newspaper on January 22, 2015 quoted General Buhari’s secondary school classmate: former Inspector. General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie as saying that the President elect Will grab any good opportunity to express his love for football.

Coomassie said: “…While we were in school, Buhari was the head boy. He loves playing football. We were all close friends in school. After we finished secondary school, General Buhari decided to join the military, I joined the police and Justice Abdullahi decided to go to the university…”

As a military Head of state, Buhari had the honour of motivating the national team, the Green Eagles to Silver medal brazil_2003_friendlyfeat at the 1984 Nations Cup hosted by Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria’s cadet team, the Golden Eaglets made Buhari’s government proud by winning the first ever cadet (now U-17) World Cup in China. In fact, Buhari reportedly nicknamed the Ngeria’s national U17 side the Golden Eaglets when he staged a reception in honour of the triumphant team captained by the current Flying Eagles assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade.

General Ibrahim Babangida’s military setup dethroned Buhari’s regime immediately after that cadet World Cup triumph.

Another pointer to Buhari’s unwavering love for football was recorded when he turned up at the Abuja National Stadium on June 11 2003 (during General Olusegun Obasanjo’ regime), to cheer the Super Eagles during an international friendly match with Brazil.

General Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) manifestos during their 2015 Presidential electioneering campaign may have been silent on sports, but there is no ruling out the possibility of his innate passion for football holding sway after assuming office at Aso Rock.

Warning

Our jury cautions the president-elect, Muhammad Buhari to desist from being over-ambitious this time around as the civilian President, to avoid derailing Nigerian football the Jonathan way.

Former Super Eagles and CAF Instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde condemns in strong terms the ‘interference’ of President Jonathan over who becomes the national team coach. And he hopes the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari does not meddle in the affairs of the national team in the same vein.
onigbinde-keshi“No preeident in the world can go into all aspect of governance. We have qualified people who can run our football,”Onigbinde, a former FIFA instructor and member of FIFA Study Group begins unequivocally on the floor of Completesportsnigeria.com Jury.

“That was why I said it was a shame that the (current) president of Nigeria will decide the appointment of a coach for the national team.

He continues: “At a point, the president said they should allow Keshi to continue as the coach of the national. A president coming to that level? It means that the people who are directly in charge are missing few things.

“When did you hear that the Prime Minister of England or the queen of England came down to run football for their country? No president have to come in to say that a coach should be allowed to continue. And that was why when that instruction came, I sent a text message to Keshi that if I were you, I will thank the president profusely and bow out.

“I said this (to Keshi) because the president will not come down to work with you, there are people who will work with him, but we have been on the matter for over eight months now.

Former NFF Vice-President, Chief Mike Umeh Corroborates: “Talking about national team coaches, and more specifically, the Super Eagles as has been reported in the media, no, the government should not interfere in who becomes the national team coach – that is not the duty of the President or the National Sports Commission.

On his part, 1980 AFCON winner Felix Owolabi posits that the president should limit himself to providing the enabling environments for football to develop rather than direct involvement in the decisions of the federation.

“It is a profession that has made me, and I will not have any course to regret it. So this is where we have to look into it and get the best person with the personality that will manage the position. So it will be better if the president-elect will have interest so that he will put the right person there as minister, that should be the only focus of the president.”

One time Green Eagles Captain and former Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adokiye Amiesimaka agrees that a president should have no business with the decisions of a sports body like the NFF, but is not convinced that President Jonathan actually dabbled into it as has been widely reported.

Keshi_honouredAmiesimaka insists: “President Jonathan never said that he imposed Stephen Keshi on the Nigeria Football Federation as the Head coach of the Super Eagles. It’s just the press that have written a lot of things. That was not the situation.

“Why not ask Amaju Pinnick (NFF President) who is stopping you from taking a decision on hiring or firing a national team coach. If they have to hire Keshi. they should hire him, and if they have to fire him, they should fire him.

“The NFF is not even properly incorporated. That is what they have to do just like FIFA which is not created by Swiss law, but are only incoroprated in Switzerland because that is where they are based.”

Adokiye’s Blueprint

Adokiye Amiesimaka flaunts his football development blueprint for the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

“The question is going back to the basics. We need to get a youth development programme that works. Its not about Adokiye-Amiesimakahaving a competition and bringing players together, preparing two months to the competition. I mean preparation at the grassroots level,” the one nicknamed Chief Justice of football offers on the Completesportsnigeria.com Jury.

“We want to be the best in the world, but we don’t know what it takes to be there. You start from level A.

“The press is part of the problem. You focus too much on results and not preparation. If you want to produce a professor in Law, you start from the nursery school, then to the secondary school, perhaps High School, then the University. When you identify talented players, you need to take them through their formative years. That is the case in Europe and South America, but not at the expense of their education though.

Amisimaka quips: “As it is now, are the Super Eagles not strong? Are we not one of the most powerful teams in Africa.”

He continues seriously: “You see, we dream a lot in this part of the world. We say we are one of the best teams in the world, one of the best to be reckoned with; that is not true. That’s a wishful thinking.

“I’ve been asked this question a lot of times, but nobody wants to do the needful and I feel it is a waste of time. Yes, we have potentials but we now sound like broken records.”

Onigbinde’s Optimism

Onigbinde is pointing to the way forward with a firm optimism that the new president-elect will affect football and sports in general positively, going by the retired General’s reputation of steadfast action.

Adegboye Onigbinde, match commissionerKabiru Abubakar@BackpagePix“I want to congratulate the president-elect. We all know who he is and the type of person he is. One is expecting a lot of things in terms of development, especially in our sports. He is a sportsman.

“If you permit me to be sentimental here, I remember the type of support he gave us in 1984 in Cote d’Ivoire at the Africa Cup of Nations. Buhari (as military Head of State) sent a personal message of goodwill to me before we played the final which unfortunately we lost (against Cote d’ Ivoire).

“He is a silent burner. He is not the boisterous type. He is very effective and active, and that is why one is expecting a lot of improvement in our sports in particular,” Onigbinde submits to Completesportsnigeria.com Jury.

Owolabi’s Agenda

Owolabi expects General Buhari to ring the right changes at the federal level of sports administration if he must get it right with his football and other sports development agenda in Nigeria.

buhari-1“For a very long time, the sports fraternity has clamoured for a better reference as far as our sports is concerned. What I mean is that when you have a new government like this, the sports family will want to expect that when they are choosing who is who, like the minister of sports, it should be people who are relevant to the course of sports,” Owolabi states.

“For example in Europe, a minister is made the head of works or something like that, accordingly in his area of specialization. But in Nigeria, you pick a medical doctor to be a sports minister. These are some of the problems we have been facing. So, you will find out that we are not moving ahead, instead we are always stagnant.

“Unfortunately,cwe don’t have a blueprint on the way forward for Nigerian sports, different administrations with different view, especially on how to run football, which is not supposed to be the case. In a nutshell, let us put it to the new government, that it should be a challenge to them that they are coming to make a reform.”

Umeh’s Blueprint

Mike Umeh wants the President-elect to make football and sports in general benefit from the private sector participation.

“I expect the President-elect to reorganise Nigerian sports and football in particular. Sponsorship is key in sports. And to curtail government interference in Nigerian sports, we need the active participation of the private sector. That is where the enabling economical environment in the country will help sports. In some parts of the world, there areMike Umeh laws that compel multinational organisations to set aside certain percentage of their profit for sports development.

“The incoming President is known to be a disciplined and focused man. We hope that he will bring the change that will move our sports forward.

Speaking further on the idea of the Presidency having a direct say in the affairs of sports bodies, Umeh adds: “Are you saying that we should not have a sports minister or that accountability is not a key word in sports?

“There should be checks and balances and we expect fairness by the sports officials. “

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/experts-buhari-must-not-hijack-eagles-like-jonathan/

On loan Stoke City forward, Victor Moses, reportedly rejected a chance to return to Chelsea during the January transfer window.

Moses has revived his Premier League career with the Potters and Stoke are ready to open talks with Chelsea over a potential £5million summer move.

His return to form has been so impressive that Mourinho offered him the chance to join Chelsea’s title challenge in the new year.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Mourinho wanted to terminate the season-loan arrangement prematurely and bring him back to Stamford Bridge, as he moved to strengthen his title-chasing squad.

However, Moses had fears of being put on the bench if he goes back to the Blues, rather than getting a regular run of games he is currently enjoying at Stoke and his refusal forced Chelsea to sign Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado.

A £9million signing from Wigan in August 2012, Moses will be targeted by Hughes for a permanent move at the end of the season and Stoke are hopeful of reaching an agreement.

Chelsea have received significant loan fees from his spells with Liverpool and Stoke and are likely to let him leave.

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/

–West Brom and Super Eagles star speaks on life before stardom.

Having left home at 16 to pursue football against his mum’s wishes, Brown Ideye is thankful he can smile now. So much so he is able to give a highly animated impression of her watching him play for West Bromwich Albion.

Squinting to study an imaginary television back home in Nigeria, his arms flap wildly. ‘Don’t kick him!’ he shouts, mimicking his mother Teresa’s voice. ‘Ref can’t you see!’ he jabs his fingers.

‘Each time West Brom play my mother is wearing my shirt, sitting down in front of the telly, and she is like this,’ Ideye laughs.

It is quite some turnaround given she banned him from playing the game as a 14-year-old through fears he would get caught up with criminal gangs on the streets of Lagos.

After his father Joel died, she even sent him to her sister’s remote village eight hours away to keep him from football and, as she saw it, trouble.

A decade later Ideye, 26, is West Brom’s £10million record buy and, after initial difficulties, beginning to make good on his price tag.

He faces Aston Villa in the FA Cup quarter-final today, looking for revenge on the local rivals who triumphed in a dramatic Premier League match on Tuesday night.

He scored two goals in the last round to do more than any in the 4-0 destruction of West Ham United, and is allowing himself dreams of Wembley.

A May date at the grand stadium might present the chance for his mum to support her son in person for the first time. ‘In summer it’s possible, right now it’s cold for her,’ he says. ‘I want us to get to the final. If we do then I can arrange it.’

Had she got her way all those years ago, however, Ideye would not be a Premier League player. ‘It’s hard growing up in Lagos,’ he says. ‘There is always a story to tell in a city like that. My friends were involved in crazy stuff. They were bad boys of the area. I was picked up once by the police.

‘My mum stopped me going out with them. She was upset. Each time I told her I wanted to play football she would say, “No you’re going to be with your friends.”

Ideye was sent to live with his aunt but eventually ran away to train with his old coach and finally told his mum he wanted to make a 200-mile trip to Bayelsa State to play regularly. ‘She didn’t accept. That’s how I left. I went to Bayelsa State then Ocean Boys. Then bam, bam, bam.’

The bams are Neuchatel Xamax in Switzerland, Sochaux in France, and Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine, where he scored 33 goals in 74 games and earned most of his 24 Nigeria caps.

Once he had signed professional forms, Ideye patched up his relationship with his mum. Tears flowed. ‘When I got the contract in Switzerland I went back home, sat with my family and had breakfast, dinner, lunch, everyone happy.

‘Afterwards she called me into her room and said, “I’m sorry about everything, your dad is late and I am the only person who can guide you. I looked at what your friends were doing and believed if I left you that is how you’d become.” I said, “I get that.” She started crying. She could not believe she tried to stop me becoming what she is enjoying today.’

Having looked well short of his pedigree in the opening months of the season and on the verge of a cut-price deal on deadline day to Qatar side Al-Gharafa, a glorious spell of four goals in six days (three games) followed.

Cultivating an understanding alongside Saido Berahino and with guidance from Tony Pulis, Ideye looks to have found his feet in England. ‘I took a lot of time to adapt,’ he admits. ‘I was overwhelmed that I am the record signing. I put a lot of pressure on myself. People are not patient.

‘The game doesn’t turn out the way I want, I become frustrated, I keep on pushing when I am supposed to calm down. Things were going so fast.

‘As for the social media, you can’t expect everyone to like you. They will say what they want. I don’t see what can shake me given what has happened before.

‘It’s inspiration. They are pushing me to my success. I like people criticising me.

‘That one week turned out to be something I dreamt. I felt this day would come. Getting back to the Brown Ideye people know.

‘One day the people who are saying, “He’s no good” are the same people who will say, “Don’t let him go.”

He hopes to be running in celebration at Villa Park, performing the somersault tumble that marked his last goal. ‘I always did that when I was a child,’ he says. ‘When you’re excited you find yourself doing things you don’t plan. The fans love it so I will keep on doing it.’

#BrownIdeye

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/ideye-my-mum-tried-to-stop-me-from-playing-football/

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba says his son wants to play for England. Son Isaac, 15, has played for Chelsea’s U14 team.

“My son was playing for Chelsea and I asked him which nationality do you want to play for,” father 36-year-old Didier told Sports Illustrated.

“He’s French, but he said he does not want to play for Ivory Coast or France, he wants to play for England.

“Even when I was in China, I said to them (his children), do you want to come and live with me, but they said that they would come to see me on holidays.”

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/drogbas-son-wants-to-play-for-england/

Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile has admitted he is engaged with to his long time girlfriend, Annabel Akpala, a 500level medical student of the University of Port Harcourt.

The AS Monaco defender who is poised to make his 11th Ligue 1 start against Montpellier this weekend told Complete Sports that he proposed to Annabel, the youngest sister of Karabukspor forward, Joseph Akpala, who is also a model, in Benin Republic eight months ago after he was dropped from the World Cup squad on account of injury.

“That happened after the World Cup and I’m happy with it,” he said.

The 27 year old also admitted he proposed to her with a 3-stone diamond ring and could tie the nuptial knot in the summer.

“I’m fully focused with Monaco but let’s see what happens this summer.”

Recall that Annabel was the winner of the Most Beautiful Girl Pagent in Port Harcourt, Rivers in November 2014.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/echiejile-engages-akpalas-sister/

–ex-international not interested in Keshi’s post

Former Nigeria International, Sunday Oliseh has ruled out any chance of taking up the senior national team handler’s job.

The 40-year-old ex-footballer-turned Football Analyst and motivational speaker admitted the craving to make himself available for the job since he’s ‘well qualified’.

However, the AFCON 1994 winner explained that his need to fulfill other ambitions and the pressure that comes with the job of the Super Eagles hot seat makes any interest in the position less appealing.

” So many people have been asking me , why don’t you go and Coach the Super Eagles? Well,I want to live long.

” In as much as I know I’m very much qualified for it, I love my Country and the proof of this abounds, but I’ll rather share my experience and allow my thoughts and knowledge reach a vast majority.”

#SundayOliseh

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/oliseh-rules-eagles-job/