Odegbami motivates Super Eagles

Nigeria football legend, Segun Odegbami has encouraged the Super Eagles to give nothing but their best against Iceland today, as that is the only showing Nigerians expect from them.

The Africa football icon expresses that from the team spirit he saw in Volgograd, Nigeria’s opponent today, Iceland “are in trouble”

Odegbami was speaking at the instance of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick during the team’s meal time Thursday evening.

‘Mathematical’ is the sole individual to talk to the squad ahead of their biggest challenge thus far in Russia, when they confront the Strákarnir okkar at the Volgograd Arena.

“I am in Volgograd. I have just finished watching the final chapter of an unfolding drama in Group D of the World Cup,” the 65 year starts.

‘Big Seg’ sees Nigeria coming out tops against Argentina too.

He continues: “It is curtains for Argentina, because I do not see how they will survive their last match against Nigeria. It was a rare privilege earlier this evening when, at the instance of Amaju Pinnick, I was given the rare privilege to address members of the Super Eagles at their dinner table, the only person to do so on the eve of their greatest challenge when they confront the Vikings of Iceland with all the pent up ‘anger’, energy, determination and motivation from the Croatian match. It was a spirit lifting meeting that we had.

“I simply reminded them of their responsibility to ensure that they displayed the full version of the Nigerian do-or-die spirit. I reminded them also about their responsibility to the ordinary Nigerian on the street that is with them unconditionally foŕ as long as they give their best. I reminded them of their assured place in history if they could rise above the disappointment of their first match, win tomorrow and convert this moment of their greatest challenge into the moment of their greatest triumph. I gave them the good wishes of all nigerians and prayed with them for favour from the elements.”

“It was a small contribution to their already bulging enthusiasm and confidence. I saw their spirit. They will fight like they have never fought before. When we parted to go and watch the Argentinian match on TV, both my Head and my Heart were in synch about expectations tomorrow – Iceland are in trouble,” the one-time FIFA Presidential hopeful states while writing on Sports Village Squareplatform.

Nigeria versus Iceland match is 4:00 PM Nigerian time. It is a game both teams will probably need to win to make the last 16, and Nigeria definitely cannot afford to lose the game after opening with a defeat.

@YNaija

World Cup: Okocha faults Rohr’s tactics

One time Super Eagles mercurial midfielder, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has attributed Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to Croatia to poor tactical approach.

The Super Eagles went down in the 32nd minute through an own goal before the European side were awarded a penalty on 71 minutes which Luka Modrić.

Okocha blamed Nigeria’s defence set-up as what lead to the two goals conceded.

He also emphasised that the team’s captain John Obi Mikel was largely to be faulted as both Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi did not shine because he was deployed at the number 10 role.

“It was a decent first half but maturity was the edge the Croatian team had over the Nigerian team,” Okocha said on SuperSport, where he was a guest analyst, after the game.

“The Super Eagles got done by the movements of the Croatian team in their box. The Super Eagles midfielders were not doing their best both in defending and in attack.

“Eagles didn’t get the best out of Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses because the manager was trying to accommodate Mikel Obi in the team.

“The manager didn’t earn his money today. We were not a threat in the first half and I was expecting him to play three at the back, five players in the midfield and two strikers to the team a chance to get back into the game.

“It is sad because I know we can do better than this. Of course there is still hope but we have to do it the hard way now.

“These (Croatians) are world class players who know how to win by exploiting little details.”
Okocha also blamed Rohr for deploying Mikel in the creative role.

“We didn’t have a creative player today,” the former Nigeria No. 10 added. “Mikel has been a good servant to the national team. His best position is playing in front of the defence. We saw what he did playing for Chelsea where he had a glorious career.

“The most creative player in that team is Alex Iwobi but he was played on the flanks. He (Iwobi) can play on the flanks at Arsenal because they had better players in that role like Mesut Ozil.

“The reason why we lost was because we played our best players out of their positions.

“Playing Mikel in that position didn’t help Moses and Iwobi on the flanks.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria would square up with Iceland in the second game of the group on Friday in a must win contest.

Rohr: Eagles physically and mentally ready for Croatia

Teehnical Adviser Gernot Rohr declared on Thursday that Nigeria’s Super Eagles are “physically and mentally ready” for their first match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals coming up on Saturday against Croatia.



Rohr, a former German international defender who coached the national senior teams of Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Gabon, and top Tunisia Club Etoile du Sahel before taking charge of the Super Eagles two years ago, insisted that his wards are in no mood to play second fiddle at the Kaliningrand Stadium.



“We are looking forward to the match with a lot of optimism. It will be a tough one, but we are physically and mentally ready. We had quality preparatory matches and trained twice at our final camp in Austria, and since arriving in Essentuki, we have done some useful tactical preparation.



“It is important to start well in a good tournament like this, and that is what we hope to do on Saturday,” Rohr told the world media on Thursday.



The Super Eagles flew into the Kaliningrad Khrabrovo Airport on Thursday evening from Essentuki, about 48 hours to the clash with Croatia at the 35,000 –capacity Kaliningrad Stadium.

AWCON: Falcons dismantle Gambia 6-0

Seyi Joshua

Nigeria Super Falcons walloped their Gambia counterpart 6-0 to qualify for this year’s African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) with a 7-0 aggregate win, four goals from Desire Oparanozie and a brace from reigning African Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala endured the eight times African champions qualified for their 11th tournament in Ghana.

Holding a one-goal lead from the first leg, the Falcons raced in to the lead after just 3 minutes when Oparanozie converted from 12 yards when Ordega was brought down in the box.

Nigeria did put the ball in the net 5 minutes later via the boot of Oshoala but the goal was rightly called off for offside before the striker scored Nigeria’s second and her first on the stroke of half-time.

Four minutes into the second half Oparanozie scored her brace and the Falcons third after tapping in from a sublime pass from Asisat Oshoala to make it 3-0.

Five minutes after the hour mark France based Oparanozie completed her hat-trick and Nigeria’s fourth when she slots in from Ngozi Okobi’s pass before Okobi was withdrawn three minutes later with Halimatu Ayinde replacing her.

With less than 15 minutes to go the Falcons were still buzzing from the support of the Lagos fans as Oshoala and Oparanozie completed the rout as Nigeria ran out 6-0 winners against their sorry guests.

Nigeria will play in this year’s African women championship in Ghana with a place for the World Cup in France next year up for grabs

Stakeholders must rally this team for survival - Duke

Seyi Joshua 

Osun United returnee gaffer, Duke Udi has called on football stakeholders in the state to rally supports for the team in its quest to avoid relegation.

The one time Super Eagles player made the call this morning while featuring on Osun State Broadcasting Corporations (OSBC) Saturday Morning Treat, he urged the supporters to forget the past and contribute their quotas in changing the fortune of the club. 

"I want to first and foremost apologize for what happened in the past, am not happy personall with the whole scenario. Some people jokingly alledged me that I had soft spot for Osun United when I brought Sunshine Stars here last season.

"I told them we were even lucky to have escaped with a lone goal down. I am committed to my job anytime any day, I tender my unreserved apology for those things that fell apart for things to go right". The immediate past Sunshine Stars tactician soberly submitted.

While reacting to his plans to steer the club out of relegation, he noted:" The time is now for us to reacces the players commitment, God's willing, we would be having at least seven (7) experience players to join us for the second round. 

"Fighting relegation isn't an easy task, management must play its part, supporters must play their part too, all form of unsavory chants towards players has to stop even if we are losing, the blame game has to stop this time around.

"I am optimistic that our next two home games shall be won convincingly. The league is on hold and we have to take advantage of it to do some rigorous exercise, if you have any good player that can help us, send him to me, God forbid, Osun United must not play in Nationwide League."

Some callers then charged Udi to buckle up in reorganizing the team and stay focus to come out of the horrendous and ghastly situation, noting that for them to be assuaged, Omoluabi Giants must stay safe at the end of the season.