Nigeria sack Amodu, draw up Hiddink-led shortlist

February 6, 2010

Nigeria football bosses on Friday announced the sacking of coach Shuaibu Amodu, publishing a short-list of coaches they hope will lead the ‘Super Eagles’ through the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Amodu had been under pressure even before Nigeria’s third place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations, which ended with Egypt’s third consecutive victory last week.

The Nigeria Football Federation’s short-list is topped by Dutchman Guus Hiddink, Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal, Frenchman Bruno Metsu, former Ratomir Djukovic and former England caretaker coach Peter Taylor.

Hiddink is currently the coach of Russia, Metsu led Senegal to the 2002 World Cup and Djukovic guided Ghana to the 2006 World Cup.

According to an official statement after the marathon meeting, the NFF technical committee headed by Taiwo Ogunjobi will recommend one of three of these coaches for immediate employment before the end of this month.

The federal government of Nigeria will pay the new foreign coach, according to officials.

Amodu and his assistants will now train Nigeria’s second team for the 2011 Championship of African Nations (CHAN), meant for African players featuring in their respective domestic leagues.

In November, Amodu qualified the Super Eagles for the 2010 World Cup to be staged in South Africa in June.

However, the performance of the team under Amodu, who also qualified the team to the 2002 World Cup, was widely criticised by the press and the public.

LAGOS (AFP)

Tags: Africa, africa cup of nations, african nations, Bayern, Bruno Metsu, caretaker coach, Chan, coach peter, consecutive victory, dutchman guus hiddink, eagles, Egypt, England, federal government of nigeria, football federation, frenchman, ghana, government of nigeria, LAGOS, louis van gaal, marathon, nigeria, nigeria football, peter taylor, russia, Senegal, shortlist, South Africa, Taiwo Ogunjobi, technical committee, World Cup

Nigeria promised big pay day to win Nations Cup

January 18, 2010

Nigeria are set for a big pay day with each player guaranteed at least 88,500 dollars should they win their third Africa Cup of Nations here in Angola, officials have disclosed.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have already announced that each player will get 30,000 if they qualify the team to the knockout stage of Angola 2010 and a draw with Mozambique on Wednesday in Lubango will earn them this bonus.

Officials informed that the Super Eagles, as the Nigeria team are known by their fans, could almost triple this bonus if they go all the way and clinch the trophy on January 31 at the November 11 Stadium in Luanda.

A breakdown of this payment showed a win in the quarter-finals will earn each player another 10,000. Victory in the semi-final means each player will pocket an additional 15,000, while winning the final will make each player another 20,000 richer.

The NFF now pay each player a daily camping allowance of 500, meaning that for the three weeks they will be in Angola, a player will be paid another 10,500.

They have already pocketed 3,000-a-man as an appearance fee for the competition, bringing the total of these bonuses to 88,500.

The NFF and the Presidential Task Force for the 2010 World Cup will each contribute half of these payments.

“It is now left for the players to earn it,” said a top NFF official.

The NFF have also made it a rule for the Eagles to now travel in more comfort and so each player is now entitled to fly business class during any international engagement.

Besides huge financial rewards, players were given houses and national honours by the Nigerian government when they won the Nations Cup in 1980 and 1994.

BENGUELA, Angola (AFP)

Tags: Africa, africa cup of nations, Angola, appearance fee, business class, eagles, financial rewards, football federation, honours, knockout stage, Luanda, lubango, Mozambique, nations cup, nff, nigerian government, november 11, pay day, quarter finals, World Cup

Win or bust for Nigeria and coach Shua

January 16, 2010

Nigeria face Benin on Saturday with the World Cup-bound Super Eagles under huge pressure to stay in the African Cup of Nations after a 3-1 loss to defending champions Egypt in their opener.

Nigeria coach, Shuaibu Amodu, has also been issued an ultimatum to beat next-door neighbours Benin or else make way for his assistant, Daniel Amokachi, to take the team through the rest of the championship.

Despite qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup in South Africa later this year, Amodu has come under fire over his tactics and team selection.

The loss to Egypt on Tuesday paved the way for his critics to again call for his head.

Amodu also qualified Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup, but after he failed to guide the team to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations same year in Mali, he was given the boot and in his place Adeboye Onigbinde took charge of the Eagles at the World Cup.

Top officials have admitted that they have already held talks with the Dutch coach of Mozambique, Mart Nooij, over the Eagles job even though the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have continued to declare their confidence in Amodu.

A first round exit from Angola 2010 would also hit the players in the pocket after they agreed a win-bonus deal of 30,000 dollars-a-man if they progress to the kockout stage of the competition.

They will be left empty-handed if they crash out in the first round.

Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins has been permitted to fly out to Europe to appear before an English court over a compensation claim brought against him by his former agent after officials initially announced he was away to look over a troublesome shin problem.

Officials are confident, however, he will return in time for Saturday’s clash.

Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu has shrugged off a knock on his left knee he received against Egypt and which forced him to skip training on Wednesday, while Lokomotiv Moscow striker Osaze Odemwingie would likely start after he recovered from a throat infection.

Nigeria will be favourites to win this clash, but skipper Joseph Yobo they have to be at their best against a Benin side that was full running and commitment against Mozambique in their opening group fixture.

“We are all disappointed about what has happened (3-1 loss to Egypt) and we know it is time to step up our game to avoid an early elimination from this championship,” said Yobo.

“No one is happy about the result, and we are looking forward to giving our all in the next games.”

Benin are making their third Nations Cup appearance and on all three occasions they have clashed with their fellow west Africans, losing all three matches.

However, the Squirrels’ Nigerian-born striker, Razak Omotoyossi, has said he will not be doing the Eagles any favours on Saturday.

“My target is to score against Nigeria,” said the Metz striker, who was in action two years ago in Ghana when Benin fell 2-0 to Nigeria.

Omotoyossi was at the heart of Benin’s effort to record their first-ever Nations Cup victory against Mozambique on Tuesday, he netted the penalty after he was upended by the goalkeeper and then initiated the move that resulted in an own goal by Mozambique defender Dario Khan.

However, the game ended in a 2-2 draw.

The stocky striker will again be complimented by Stephane Sessegnon from Paris Saint-Germain, who against Mozambique showed flashes of the brilliance that has sparked off a scramble for his signature by several top English clubs.

BENGUELA, Angola (AFP)

Tags: africa cup of nations, african cup of nations, Angola, Benin, compensation claim, competition, Dickson Etuhu, eagles, Egypt, fulham, Germain, lokomotiv moscow, Mart Nooij, martins, midfielder, neighbours, nigeria, nigeria football, osaze odemwingie, South Africa, team selection, throat infection, ultimatum, Wolfsburg, World Cup

Keshi: “They need to make Africa proud now”

November 18, 2009

Despite the increasing amount of African players in European top football, Stephen Keshi doubts the African chances at the World Cup, next year in South Africa.

The Nigerian is thrilled that the Super Eagles reached the World Cup at the last minute. However, Keshi is uncertain if they, alongside Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and South Africa, could make the continent proud next year.

The Mali coach, who saw his team lose the sole WC-slot to Ghana, pointed out that the teams that represent Africa, should “make Africa proud.”

But asked if they could do that he said: “I don’t know but I just want them to be better organised. If you look at Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon they have quality players and all we need is that whoever is in charge concentrates and organises well because they need to make Africa proud.”

Paul Haring

Tags: cameroon, coach, concentrates, continent, eagles, ghana, Ivory Coast, last minute, mali, nigeria, quality players, South Africa, World Cup

Nigeria drop Yakubu, Martins from crunch tie

August 21, 2009

Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins of Wolfsburg have not been picked by Nigeria for next month’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Abuja.

Nigeria coach, Shuaibu Amodu, who announced Friday a 21-man squad for the Group Two qualifier on September 6, said he left out both strikers because they are yet to attain full match fitness after recovering from injuries.

However, Amodu has recalled Hoffenheim forward Chinedu Obasi for the Tunisia clash. He said he was delighted Obasi has recovered from an injury which prevented him from being part of the Super Eagles matches in June.

“I’m happy that Obasi is back from injury. He will be a valuable addition to the team,” Amodu said.

Amodu will also decide on two more call-ups by Monday. He said he has to choose between England-based defender Danny Shittu and Obinna Nwaneri, who features for FC Sion in Switzerland, as well as between forwards Joseph Akpala from Club Brugge and John Utaka, who plays for Portsmouth.

Tunisia lead the group with seven points from three matches, two points ahead of second-placed Nigeria. Kenya and Mozambique are the other teams in the group.

LAGOS (AFP)

Tags: abuja, abuja nigeria, clash, club brugge, crunch, danny shittu, eagles, England, forwards, John Utaka, Joseph, kenya, LAGOS, man squad, martins, match, Mozambique, nigeria, obasi, Portsmouth, striker, strikers, Switzerland, Tunisia, ups, world cup qualifier

Burnley pay record fee for Scottish star Fletcher

July 1, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Scottish international striker Steven Fletcher became newly-promoted English Premier League side Burnley’s record signing on Tuesday when they agreed a 3million pounds fee with Scottish club Hibernian.

The 22-year-old – capped four times and named young player of the year for last season – had been a target of Hibernian’s Scottish Premier League rivals Celtic back in January but it had been turned down.

Burnley – who earlier on Tuesday signed defender Tyrone Mears for 500,000 pounds from Championship side Derby County – confirmed the capture of Fletcher on their website.

“The highly-rated 22-year-old has agreed a four-year deal at Turf Moor.”

Fletcher’s fee is double the previous record outlay when they signed Martin Paterson and Chris Eagles for 1.5million pounds apiece last year.

Fletcher, who still had four years left on his contract, had been very disappointed when the Celtic offer was turned down and had insisted he wanted to turn his attention to play in England.

Fletcher scored 52 goals in nearly 190 appearances for Hibs and scored Scotland’s winning goal in April’s World Cup qualifying match against Iceland at Hampden.

Tags: burnley, Chris Eagles, derby county, eagles, England, English Premier League, Fletcher, hampden, hibernian, Iceland, london, Martin Paterson, match, mears, outlay, scotland, Scottish, scottish club, scottish international, Scottish Premier League, Steven Fletcher, striker, target, Tyrone Mears, World Cup

Tunisia will be key, says Nigeria´s Kanu

June 9, 2009

LAGOS (AFP) – Nigeria skipper Nwankwo Kanu has said a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia on June 20 could well decide the country’s qualification to the football extravaganza in South Africa next year.

Tunisia lead the standings in Group Two on six points, two points more than Nigeria. Mozambique and Kenya are the other teams in the group.

“The standings in our group shows clearly that the match in Tunis will go a very long way in determining who qualifies for the World Cup,” said Kanu, who was first capped by Nigeria in 1993.

“We all know the importance of this match. It’s a do-or-die affair and we cannot afford to lose this game. We want to beat Tunisia right there in Tunis.” At 32, Kanu has defied critics who say he is over the hill and should give way to much younger players.

Last week, he played the first half in a friendly against France which Nigeria won 1-0 and he came on as a second half substitute to inspire a youthful Nigerian side to a big 3-0 home win over Kenya in World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

“I’m still needed in the Eagles. I will quit when the time comes but for now, the boys need to tap from my experience and knowledge. And they are learning very fast,” he said.

“The little I was able to show them against Kenya is that they need to be composed when things are not going right for the team and take the initiative.

“I hope to remain a part of the team until the coach tells me he no longer needs me.”

In the meantime, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will depart for a training camp in Malta on Saturday preparatory to the match against Tunisia.

A squad of 23 players will then leave for Tunis on Thursday, June 18, for the match