Hours after former captain Joseph Yobo called on the new generation of Super Eagles to “rise to the occasion and lift the Super Eagles to new levels,” a relatively young Nigerian team gifted with a sense of urgency, purpose and craftsmanship pipped Les Aigles of Mali 1-0 in an exciting international friendly in Rouen on Friday.
Without skipper John Mikel Obi and his assistant, Ahmed Musa who were released to be part of Yobo’s testimonial match in Port Harcourt, the Eagles were expected to struggle at the Stade Robert Diochon. But the young team fought well and in a pragmatic manner and could have won by a wider margin.
Forward Odion Ighalo fluffed a hatful of chances in the first half, but Etebo Oghenekaro, Alex Iwobi and man-of-the-match Shehu Abdullahi gave the Eagles legs on the field in a game that, for long periods, flowed from end-to-end.
With only goalkeeper Djigui Diarra to beat, Ighalo wasted a golden chance in the 19th minute. There were plenty of great opportunities but Ighalo, debutant Musa Muhammed and Etebo could not get the ball into the Malian net before half time.
Just before half time, an error by stand-in skipper Ogenyi Onazi nearly gifted Mali the lead. But the impressive Carl Ikeme covered well.
The mobile Musa Muhammed was thwarted after a good pass by the creative Alex Iwobi in the 50th minute. Etebo was then foiled three minutes later before Ighalo wasted another opportunity on the hour mark. Ikeme saved well from a header in the 69th minute, before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho scored Nigeria’s only goal in the 77th minute, only three minutes after coming on.
Iheanacho had replaced Iwobi in the 74th minute, in-between two efforts by Umar Aminu. Another substitute, Babatunde Michael, worked out a brilliant pass for the Manchester City forward to slot past the Malian goalie.
Six minutes from time, Iheanacho rattled the goalkeeper once again, before left back Kingsley Madu came close with a shot.
The Eagles were cheered off the field after what NFF President Amaju Pinnick called “an exciting display” at the Stade Robert Diochon. “I’m quite happy with the display and the result,” Pinnick added.
Coach Salisu Yusuf told thenff.com. “The performance is inspiring and I am happy about the team spirit. Every player fought well on the field. The commitment and determination is there, and we hope to carry this forward.”
The Super Eagles will depart Rouen on Sunday for Luxembourg City, where they play that country’s senior team on Tuesday night.
EAGLES LINE-UP: Carl Ikeme, Musa Muhammed, William Troost Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kingsley Madu, Etebo Oghenekaro (Babatunde Michael, 61’), Ogenyi Onazi (Raheem Lawal, 70’), Shehu Abdullahi (Gbenga Arokoyo, 88’), Alex Iwobi (Kelechi Iheanacho, 74’), Odion Ighalo (Brown Ideye, 61’), Moses Simon (Umar Aminu, 61’)
NFF suspends FC Taraba matches as NNL kicks off
All matches involving FC Taraba in the Nigeria National League (NNL) have been placed on hold following the inability of the Jalingo side to settle outstanding payments and arrears owed players who featured for the club last season.
Secretary of the NNL, Mr. Lawrence Katken said until the management of FC Taraba complies with the decision of the 2015 Annual General Assembly of the NFF on payment of backlog of salaries and allowances to players, the club will play no part in the Nigeria league.
“Football is governed by rules and rules are meant to be obeyed. We have no choice but to implement the decision of the Congress. We always have to ensure clubs in the NNL are ready to run because they move to the Premier League from the NNL. It beholves on us to direct them well,” said Katken.
Katken said the Football Associations in Taraba State and that of the FCT, as well as management of FC Taraba and their scheduled opponents for the League opener, Supreme Court FC, have been duly informed. This means that Supreme Court will have to discontinue their preparation for the match against FC Taraba billed for Sunday.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Nigeria National League Adhoc Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi is happy that the second tier League body has surmounted all odds to ensure the commencement of the 2015/16 Season.
Akinwunmi, who is also 1st Vice President of the NFF, said clubs will no longer bear the burden of paying officials’ indemnities, noting that his committee is out for complete fairness in the League.
Barrister Akinwunmi insisted the NNL must be seen as big business. “The League has come to stay. Our plan is to see that it grows better and all the clubs must ensure that they contribute to its success, so that a lot of sponsors and funds can roll in and everyone will benefit.”
On the 2015/16 Season, Akinwunmi said: “I am expecting a very competitive League. You know, the clubs are itching to play. I have watched a lot of friendly matches between clubs preparatory to the league kick-off and I am impressed.”
The NNL kicks off on Sunday with a total of 15 games.
NFF to partner late Rashidi Yekini’s Foundation
The Nigeria Football Federation has declared that it will partner the Foundation launched by the children of the late Super Eagles’ goal –king, Rashidi Yekini.
This was disclosed at the weekend by NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who received Yemisi Yekini and her sister, Omoyemi at the Lagos State Football Association office in Lagos.
“We will provide a solid base and support for the Foundation, which is a noble objective and deserves commendation. The NFF is truly impressed that you children of late Yekini have come up with this great idea.
“Of course, we will commit whatever we can to the Foundation. Yekini remains a Nigeria legend for all time. I advise that you should allow the Foundation to be run by professionals.”
Earlier, the eldest child, Yemisi, who is a student of cinematography at Leicester University, United Kingdom had formally informed Akinwunmi of the Foundation, and requested the NFF to help with materials that tell the story of her father’s marvelous contributions to Nigeria football while representing fatherland. These, she said, would be used to set up a Rashidi Yekini Museum in his home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, also disclosed that the LSFA/Akinwunmi Charity Foundation would take up payment of the school fees of Omoyemi Yekini, late Yekini’s last child, who is studying English at the University if Ilorin.
Yekini scored 37 goals for the Super Eagles in an international career that spanned 15 years.
Manu opens Eaglets’ screening with 40 players
Nigeria’s 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning coach Manu Garba (OON) will on Monday begin the screening of new players at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, towards putting together another world –conquering squad that will start with qualification for next year’s Africa U-17 Cup of Nations to be hosted in Madagascar.
The Golden Eaglets are the current world champions after a team led by Emmanuel Amuneke (MFR) won a record fifth title for the country in Chile last year, and Garba noted all hands must now be on deck with the team’s qualifier against neighbouring Niger fast approaching.
Garba told thenff.com that the open screening would last for three weeks starting with a list of 40 invited players scouted across the country, even as he called on ambitious and confident players within the stipulated age bracket to avail themselves of the opportunity. “We don’t have much time to waste and we are going to use just three weeks for open screening in order to have a close look at the 40 invited players,” stated Garba.”It will also be an opportunity for us to see others since many uninvited players may also turn up, based on our previous experience.”
Meanwhile, officials have warned that players coming for the screening exercise would as a matter of fact, take care of their personal welfare in terms of accommodation and feeding. They are advised to turn up with their playing kits as well as official documents to proof they are within the stipulated age bracket for the competition.
The Golden Eaglets would be away to Niger Republic on the first weekend of August, with the reverse fixture a fortnight later. The final tournament of the U-17 AFCON will be held from 2nd – 16th April 2017 in Madagascar.