Arsenal to play against Super Eagles in Abuja

Arsenal FC have concluded plans to test their full team against the Super Eagles of Nigeria as part of their 2012-13 pre-season preparations. 

 The game has been scheduled for Abuja on August 5. 

Arsenal have never played a West African side though they have paraded many West Africans in their side amongst whom is former Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kano, Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor and they currently have Cameroonian midfielder Alexandre Song in their team. 

 Nigeria is currently ranked 60 in the latest Fifa rankings and will face an Arsenal side which finished third last season in the English Premier League. 

 DanJan Sports, the promoters of the Arsenal tour, have finalised agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). “We are delighted to announce that Arsenal Football Club will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Abuja," David Omigie of DanJan Sports said.

The NFF have agreed that the country will present a strong side as Coach Stephen Keshi continues his development process. Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, will also use this game to showcase his full squad for the 2012-13 football season. 

The London club traditionally hosts an annual pre-season tournament at the Emirates Stadium, but they opted to postpone the event for a year because of the 2012 London Olympics. 

The visit to Nigeria will conclude Arsenal's pre-season tour after playing in both China and Malaysia in July. 

 Arsenal FC stated on their website that; “The club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993, and is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent.

 Meanwhile, DanJan Sports also revealed that tickets for the upcoming friendly match with Nigeria will go on sale from July 4 across outlets to be announced soon. 

 In July 2008, they brought Manchester United and Portsmouth to Abuja for a pre-season friendly. As well as the match between the two, Portsmouth also played against Kano Pillars, a Nigeria Premier League side.

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Joseph Yobo: New Super Eagles will rule under Keshi

Nigeria skipper Joseph Yobo has hinted that the new Super Eagles led by coach Stephen Keshi will rule Africa in a matter of time. 

 Yobo who missed the 3 important games against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda in June due to injury said he is happy the eagles qualified for the final qualifying round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. 

I’m really happy that we qualified for the final round, and I hope we will definitely qualify for the Nations Cup under Keshi, and Nigerians should be patient too, the new Eagles will soon rule Africa.

 Draws for the 2013 Afcon final round qualifier is scheduled to hold in July, but Yobo hinted that the Eagles are in top shape to face any opposition, for the nations cup final round qualifier.

We are hoping for the very best of draws when it takes place,” the Eagles captain stated. The Super Eagles got a 2-0 victory against Rwanda in a 2013 Afcon qualifier on Saturday.

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Stephen Keshi dedicates Nigeria victory over Namibia to victims of plane crash

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has commiserated with victims of the plane crash that happened in Lagos on Sunday.

A Dana Air plane carrying 153 passengers crashed in a Lagos suburb as it tried to land at the same time that the Super Eagles were playing their opening Group F 2014 World Cup qualifying game against Namibia in Calabar.

The Nigerians won the game by a hard fought lone goal but the coach feels that the victory has been overshadowed by the crash.

“It’s sad,” said Keshi during post match press conference. “We honestly want to dedicate this victory to the victims and pray that the family members will receive strength.

“It was an important victory for us but this calamity has coloured it,” he said to reporters

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Keshi: Super Eagles cannot be perfect overnight

As the Super Eagles observed a day of rest on Wednesday and looking forward to starting their final preparations against Namibia at the U.J Esuene Stadium on Thursday, coach Stephen Keshi has pleaded with Nigerians to give him time in building a formidable national team that the country will be proud of.

“Nigerians must understand that we are rebuilding and it’s not going to be perfect in a day or just one or two matches,” Keshi said.

“What we need from them is patience and of course prayers. On our part we are ready to give more than 100 per cent to ensure that the country returns to the top of football in Africa and one of the best in the world”, he said.

Meanwhile, Patrick Ugbe, host of the team in Calabar and Cross River Commissioner For Youth, Sports and Orientation, believes that the team he has seen in training will overcome the obstacle of Namibia on Sunday.

“The team we have here is relatively young and I must say some players have been exceptional in training, though it looks like the entire team means business and the state government, particularly Governor Liyel Imoke likes to invest in such teams,” Ugbe said.

The Super Eagles have received the royal blessings of the ruler of Qua people in Calabar Municipality, Ndidem (Dr) Ika Ika Qua 11. The monarch assured the national team that traditional institutions are in support of the team against the southern africans on Sunday.

“It’s wise that you people have come to seek my royal blessings, because no matter how bad a landlord is, when you are in his house you must pay him homage. We wish the team and its officials well and we are certain that after we have appeased the land, victory will surely be ours,” he said.

The team will commence training at the U.J Esuene Stadium on Thursday after observing Wednesday as a day of rest after two days of hectic training.

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Vincent Enyeama named Super Eagles captain in place of injured Joseph Yobo

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has named Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama as the substantive captain of the Super Eagles in place of the injured Joseph Yobo on Monday in Calabar. This was done as preparations intensified for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Namibia on Sunday.

Enyeama is expected to continue in the role until Yobo recovers from his injuries. The naming was part of the morning training session which commenced at about 7:30 inside the University of Calabar mini stadium. The training had 22 players in attendance, but defender Papa Idris was not fully involved as he was still recovering from an ankle injury but trained under the supervision of team physiotherapist Olawale Oladejo.

The foreign based professionals who trained on Monday include Omatsone Aluko, Victor Moses, Ikechukwu Uche, Efe Ambrose, Fengor Ogude, Elderson Echejile, Gege Soriola, Ekigho Ehiosun, Ahmed Musa and Vincent Enyeama. They were joined by the 12 home-based stars who made the cut from the team that went to Peru led by Warri Wolves goalie, Chigozie Agbim.

Montpellier’s hero John Utaka and Israeli based goalkeeper Austin Ejide joined later to help shore up the camp of the national team.

At training, Keshi told the team that the game is all about goals. “In our time, matches against teams like Namibia were not discussed in terms of whether we would win but how many goals we would score and that is what I want us to return to in the new Super Eagles,” Keshi told the players.

He continued that Namibia must not be taken with kid gloves. “They say we are the super power and Namibians are minnows, those are only words, and until we show it on the pitch we will just be living in a fool’s paradise.”

The Super Eagles will continue to train twice daily at 7:30 am and 3:30 pm until the team moves to the U.J Esuene Stadium on Thursday.

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