MetalJigsaw:
Nice. but that's if he maintains his current form.

Exactly

Joebie:
Ambrose has actually been in form since he joined Hibs.
But hey, he is playing in Scotland and not for Celtic, and he is "old"...

I will enjoy this debate.

safarigirl:
and if he loses form let's say in February? He should still be in the list based on his performances at the tail end of this year?

The only way he can make the 30 man list is if he is involved in the planned friendlies of next year, else, no space. As of stands, Rohr has over thirty players that have been part of his team over the past year and Efe is not one of them. If he doesn't join the fold before May, he cannot stake for a place.

Dem no dey just put people inside list like that... See sef, many people are waiting till March to discuss possible players on the list, it's for a reason.

You seem to force things down my throat just to drive your points. I have stated clearly why he will be on my list. I didn't say he must make Rohr's whether inform or not haba.

Guard against further blunders, Onigbinde cautions NFF


By Samuel Ifetoye



Chief Adegboye Onigbinde

Former Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) instructor, Coach Adegboye Onigbinde, has cautioned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against committing further school boys’ blunders as the country prepares for the forthcoming Mundial.


The former Super Eagles’ gaffer, who is still pained by the recent sanction slammed on the country by FIFA over the use of an ineligible player, Abdullahi Shehu, in the last World Cup qualifier.


Though the veteran coach admits that no human being is infallible, he insists that with her football pedigree, Nigeria should never be found wanting in that regards.


“We are all human beings, people can make mistakes, but such mistakes are not expected of a nation like Nigeria with her pedigree in world football. Are we then saying that we don’t have one single person, who understands the rules of the game?


“If anybody managing our football claims ignorance of these regulations then I do not know what more to say about it. This does not cut a good picture of the country. But we are lucky that in spite of it, we are still going to the World Cup.


Onigbinde, who said that the fine from FIFA does not speak well of the country added, “Let’s hope that we are not going to make further blunders. Football administration is a very simple thing if only we decide to do it right.


“Towards the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, I appointed a staff of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the team secretary. This automatically made him the team’s administrative head. His job was to keep all records and alert us. I am very much aware of the set up in the NFF’s Technical Department, and I am of the opinion that the technical department has not been adequately empowered.”


Onigbinde, who became the first indigenous coach to take the country to the World Cup said: “If they had agreed for me to sit down with them, I would have pointed out the grey areas in the department to them. That problem is still there up till today and there is even a bigger confusion as regards the functions of those in that department.


“These are the lapses we are talking about, there is a lot of things wrong with our football administration because we are not doing it right. If you don’t do it right, you cannot get it right and it is most unfortunate. I am very sad about the sanction, not only sad, but also angry.

I rarely get angry but this time around, I am angry, because I know we are capable of doing things better. I can only wish Nigeria the very best of luck,” he stated.

https://m.guardian.ng/sport/guard-against-further-blunders-onigbinde-cautions-nff/

Off topic news

Ordega Wants Super Falcons To Dominate World Stage, Calls For International Friendlies



Gold Usenekong
8 hours ago
By James Agberebi: Super Falcons and Atletico Madrid’s women team forward, Francisca Ordega, says it is time for the Nigerian senior women football national team to make progress beyond being the dominant team in Africa, and start doing well at the world stage, Completesportsnigeria.com report’s.

The Super Falcons have dominated African women football since its inception, winning seven of the nine Africa Women’s Cup of Nations which started in 1998 with Nigeria as hosts.

But the team has also struggled to replicate the same dominant form when they face teams outside Africa.

Since making the quarter-finals at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the USA, the Falcons have crashed out in the group stage of their last four outings (2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015).


In the latest FIFA women’s world ranking released on Friday, the Falcons dropped from 35th to 37th position.

Ordega who won the women’s AFCON in 2010, 2014 and 2016, and represented Nigeria at the 2011 and 2015 women’s senior World Cups, stated that other African teams are catching up with Nigeria.

“It’s a good feeling when you know what you are doing is right,” Ordega who joined Atletico Madrid’s women’s team on loan from American side, Washington Spirits in October 2017, said in a two-minute video on the LaLiga’s verified Twitter handle.



“I feel good when people see us as the best team in Africa, but that is not enough. We really want to be recognized in the world, not just in Africa.


“I can’t say anything about the future, but now most teams in Africa are coming hard for us. They are not sitting and allowing Nigeria to be the best in Africa. They really want to come out and show their talents, their football is developing.


“So we can’t relax because we are the best in Africa. We have to step up to the world. During the international break (for women national teams), I couldn’t go because we had no games. I think if we get more games, it’s going to help us, especially we the players. It’s going to help us in the world and not just in Africa.”


Ordega added: “Next year, we have a lot of qualifiers like the World Cup (2019) qualifiers. So, other countries are coming hard for us,. So we can’t just relax because we are the best. We really have to show that we are the best in the world and not only in Africa.”



https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ordega-wants-super-falcons-dominate-world-stage-calls-international-friendlies/amp/

safarigirl:
he is currently in form in December

30-man list will be released in May. So, he will make your list in May based on his form in December?

He has been in form before December, 2017.

If you recall very well, Ambrose was sent on loan to Hibernian FC in February this year and did pretty well.

At the expiration of the loan, Hibernian Fc offered him a 2 year contract. From that period up till now, he hasn't looked back. Dude has done pretty well and can't just be overlooked. The guy's performance should earn him a place on the 30 man list.

Efe Ambrose will make my 30 man list for next year's World Cup.
Dude is currently on form.
Rohr should not ignore him.

fabyom:
I have been an on looker for quite some years. commenting for the first time. welcome me house please
!

You are welcome to this great family.

Have fun.

Icon4s:
The Flamingos drew 0-0 with Ethiopia in Benin City yesterday and qualified courtesy of their 1-1 away draw.

Meanwhile their next round opponent, Cameroon, beat Algeria 11-0 on aggregate (4-0 in Algeria, 7-0 in Cameroon) to book a meeting with Nigeria.

This got me thinking. Is it that the Ethiopians produced a very strong side or Nigeria has raised a very poor U17 team? Cos I didn't watch the game.

Secondly why have we always produced poor U17 teams at female levels. The falconets have always achieved far more than the Flamingos with 4 semi finals and two finals. While our best for the Flamingos is the quarter final.

Something is definitely not right.

We are going into that Cameroon encounter with the later as favorites.

We have never failed to qualify for any Female U17 or U20 WC. I hope this will not be the first.

Maybe NFF needs to strengthen her scouting system.
The focus must not always be Lagos and other few popular cities.

I am afraid these ladies may find the battle so tough against the free scoring opponents (Cameron).

We also have to be sincere in our way of doing things. We must always pick the best at all times. The recent case of Omidiji comes to mind.

safarigirl:
Lol...the way I carry Kelechi matter for head, like say na my brother

No be say Pep offend me personally sef, but what he did to that boy is unforgivable.

I too dey carry other people matter for head, meanwhile nobody gives a shoot about me

@bolded you can never tell.

AIG07:
Make I check these people.

Oga no mind us oooo.
Chaiiii e don tey.
Hope you doing fine?

I am so impressed Ajiboye manned the goal post for the tie.


NPFL Invitational: Home Eagles Outscore Enyimba, Reach Final



By Adeboye Amosu in Kano: The home-based Super Eagles have progressed into the final of the Nigeria Professional Football League invitational tournament following a 1-0 win against Enyimba in their Group A clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium here in Kano on Friday, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.


Sunday Faleye who shone in the NPFL for relegated Shooting Stars of Ibadan last season scored the winning goal for the Super Eagles in the 56th minute.


Salisu Yusuf’s charges top the group with four points ahead of Plateau United and Enyimba who finished in second and third position with two and one points respectively.


Yusuf made 10 changes to the team that played against NPFL champions Plateau United on Wednesday with only Stephen Eze retaining his place in the starting line-up.


The team was impressive right from the start with Austin Oladapo and Dayo Ojo pulling the strings in midfield.


The first chance of the game fell to Faleye in the seventh minute but he directed his header off the post following a beautiful cross from Ifeanyi Nweke.


The impressive Faleye was causing problems for the Enyimba defence and on 11 minutes he teed up Ojo who failed to direct his shot on goal.


Enyimba who looked out of sorts up till that moment were left off the hook again in the 15th minute when Emeka Ogbuh’s shot hit the woodwork.


Ojo came close again for the Home Eagles in the 27th minute, his effort going narrowly wide with Enyimba goalkeeper Fatau Dauda well beaten.


The Home Eagles upped their game after the break with Eze and Oladapo coming close to breaking the deadlock for the team.


They were however left off the hook on 52 minutes with Stanley Dimgba missing a sitter for Enyimba.


Faleye then broke the deadlock for the Home Eagles in the 56th minute.


The youngster controlled a long ball from Nweke and blasted the ball past Fatau Dauda in the Enyimba goal.


Oladele Ajiboye produced a fine save to deny Freedom Omofowan late on
as Enyimba battled hard to find the leveller.


Ajiboye also denied Chinonso Okonkwo off a free kick in the final minutes of the encounter.

https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/npfl-invitational-home-eagles-outscore-enyimba-reach-final/

SUPER EAGLES OPPONENT, CROATIA, GETS WORLD CUP BASE

www.nairaland.com/attachments/6415744_rapshodyforestryresort534x445_jpeg9dd5ecbcfff97de82e7a19674c67a269

BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.

Nigeria’s first Group opponents at the Russia 2018 World Cup, Croatia has picked Forest Rhapsody Resort in the village Ilicevo in Zelenogorsk, about 60km to Saint Petersburg as its camp base. The Super Eagles open their campaign in Russia with a clash with Croatia in Kaliningrad.


Croatia, five times World Cup campaigners, revealed their camp base on their authenticated twitter handle.


Sports Village Square has gathered from a news source in Croatia, Total-Croatia-News, that the choice of Forest Rhapsody Resort is informed by the vastness of Russia where teams will have to travel long distances from one match venue to the other.


The camp base chosen is in the Northern part of Russia as two of Croatia’s three group matches will be played in the North.


After the first match with Nigeria at Kaliningrad, which is an exclave between Poland and Lithuania, Croatia will have to travel 1,684.9 km to Nizhmny Novgorod to face Argentina. By road, the journey is about 22 hours.


From there to Rostove-on-Don, the venue for the third match with Iceland is another 61 hour drive. The Croatian team reasoned that from their Camp Base to St Petersburg is a 50 minute bus drive from where the team can catch flights for their encounters with Nigeria and Argentina in about an hour 20 minutes.

https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2017/12/15/super-eagles-opponent-croatia-gets-world-cup-base/

Good foresight so far.
Nothing more than proactiveness.
We want more.


AMBASSADOR HOPES FOR NIGERIA, RUSSIA WORLD CUP FINAL
2days back

www.nairaland.com/attachments/6409751_amajuandrussianambassador858x445_jpega914e5ddbf92383873de81ecf427fc48

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, Nikolay Udovichenko dreams of Russia –Nigeria clash in the final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday, July 15 2018.

According to a media release from the Media Department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the ambassador on Tuesday stated: “I want to congratulate the NFF and the Super Eagles for Nigeria’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup.

“Please be assured that the Russian Federation is fully ready to host the competition. We have received a lot of requests from the host cities on what special characteristics the Nigerian team have. They want to be fully prepared in all aspects to receive the Super Eagles.

“From the depth of my heart, I am hoping that your team makes it to the final in Moscow on 15th July, to play against Russia.”

Udovichenko spoke on Tuesday afternoon as he received a delegation from the Nigeria Football Federation, led by its President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

Pinnick thanked the Ambassador for his good wishes, while noting that Nigeria’s first feel of Russian soil ahead of the FIFA World Cup ended in a sweet victory over Argentina in a friendly match in Krasnodar.

“We helped you to beat Argentina because they had beaten your team in another friendly a few days earlier.

“We have good relationship with the Russian Football Federation, and we desire to establish good relationship with your embassy here so that ourselves and other Nigerians going to the FIFA World Cup will have no problems with regards to entry visa.”

Pinnick stated that the NFF has come forward this early to parley with the embassy because the football body is keen to have all visa applications treated and dispensed with latest end of April 2018.


Consul of the Embassy, Diuitri explained that football fans wishing to be at the FIFA World Cup finals in 2018 must have their match tickets and Fan ID, “which will enable them to travel round Russia during the finals at no extra cost.”


Also at the meeting were Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (NFF General Secretary), Ivan Lydkin (attaché), Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications), Tunde Aderibigbe (Head of Protocol), Calistus Ebare (Pinnick’s media aide) and Ayo Olu Ibidapo (NFF Communications Department).

https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2017/12/12/ambassador-hopes-nigeria-russia-world-cup-final/

SUPER EAGLES ARE AWFUL, REMARKS LIONEL MESSI

www.nairaland.com/attachments/6409701_messi1_jpegdf80ad47d4ee9d58653afe00b650e93a

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi has analysed each of his team’s Russia 2018 opponents in a sentence, giving the Super Eagles, the least regards in what appears a building up mind games.


If his comments are anything to go by, the Nigerian goalkeeper will have to pick the ball from his net many times when the Super Eagles face Argentina on June 26 at Russia 2018.


In an interview with FIFA online, the prolific striker summed each of Argentina’s Group D opponents in a phrase. Sports Village Square feels the iconic player believes that the Super Eagles are the least of headache for his team.


On the Super Eagles, Messi remarked: “Nigeria: “one day they score four goals, the next one, they leave plenty of space for you to do anything”. This differs sharply from his views on Iceland, the World Cup debutants and the smallest country ever to qualify for the global tournament.


This is Messi’s views on Iceland: “Might seem easy, but they are tough and well organised”. Croatia, the team that placed third in their World Cup debut 19 years ago is rated thus by Messi: “they give you more room to playbut have great players”.


Messi’s views on Nigeria compares very well with that his fellow star player of the Argentine side, Sergio Aguero who saw Nigeria’s 4-2 win last month as mere fluke occasioned by his absence in the second half and the fears his teammates were having for him while he was rushed to the hospital having collapsed in the dressing room at half time.


While Nigeria had a relatively easy passage to the World Cup despite being in a qualifying group of death in Africa, Argentina had a patchy path and traumatic campaign had had to depend on last gasp of breath and effort from Messi to secure qualification.


After Argentina qualified for Russia 2018, Coach Jorge Sampaoli remarked that football owed Messi a World Cup, and the Argentine captain believed so too, saying, “I hope football pays its debt to me”

https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2017/12/14/super-eagles-awful-remarks-lionel-messi/