The game on March 27 was originally scheduled to hold in Lagos, with Wednesday's friendly against Sierra Leone seen as a dress rehearsal for the qualifier, but a series of hiccups and players' complaints about the artificial turf has forced a change in thinkin
"The game will be played in Kaduna," NFF Executive Committee member Christopher Green told KickOffNigeria.com on Thursday.
"The executive committee will meet to ratify the decision but Lagos is definitely out."
It will be the first time the Super Eagles return up north, after the unhappy memories of playing Angola in a 2006 World Cup qualifier in Kano which they drew 1-1.
That result ultimately cost led to failure to qualify for the tournament.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Ehiosun in dreamland
Nigeria’s new wonderboy, Ekigho Ehiosun cannot believe he has earned a place in the record books with his famous goal-scoring debut in Wednesday’s international friendly against Sierra-Leone. The forward, who scored the first hat-trick in the Nigeria Premier League this term, confirmed his status as the leading scorer in the league with a brilliant touch for Nigeria’s second goal minutes after he replaced Turkey based Emmanuel Emenike.
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Wednesday’s feat earned the NPL star a place in an exclusive list that includes former international, Finidi George, who also scored on his international debut for Nigeria.
“It’s a wonderful dream for me. I still can’t believe what’s happening. The scene was very different.
“I was short of words after the goal. I didn’t even know how to celebrate the goal. Joy was all over me and I give all Glory to God.
It was a great time for me.
“My phone was busy from the match venue to the hotel,” the Warri Wolves forward told SuperSport.com.
Ehiosun applauded the technical crew and the foreign based players on the bench for giving him the confidence to make an impact on match day.
“When Emenike got his first knock, the goalkeeper’s trainer, Ike Shorunmu looked at me and told me to get dressed. Later on, Mikel Obi and Elderson Echiejile equally said I should get ready to go in.
“When Emenike couldn’t continue, Siasia’s assistant, Simon Kalika said I should know the Sharks defenders I played against when I scored my hat-trick in the league were better that Sierra-Leone’s defenders.
“Before my introduction, Siasia told me to be calm and enjoy myself on the field. At that point I knew I had to deliver because they all had confidence in me,” Ehiosun said. The forward revealed that Siasia has made a huge impact in his career. He had earlier credited Siasia for his hat-trick against Sharks, last Sunday. Ehiosun’s performance has justified the time spent at the Nigeria ‘B’ Abuja camp of the Eagles under Siasia and his backroom staff.
Nigeria's Obafemi Martins set for Birmingham City debut
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has finally returned to the United Kingdom after securing a visa that will allow him to play for Birmingham City.
He joined the Blues on loan from Russian club Rubin Kazan on 31 January but visa problems delayed his debut.A statement on the City website says Martins, 26, has received clearance to play against Stoke City on Saturday.Martins previously scored 28 goals in 88 Premier League appearances for Newcastle United between 2006 and 2009.Birmingham manager Alex McLeish feels fans will quickly warm to the new signing."He's an explosive type of player and is similar to Christian Benitez but with more experience," said McLeish."He has great pace, is two-footed, very good in the air and I'm sure he's a signing that will excite the fans."The Nigeria international has also played for Inter Milan in Italy's Serie A and Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga.Baba sepe
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Why Nigeria? CHAN
For the second tournament running, African football powerhouses Nigeria and Egypt will be missing from the Championship of African Nations, CHAN, which begins on February 4 in Sudan.
While the Pharaohs opted out of the tournament just like they did in 2009, a little known side from Niger humiliated the Nigerians when they lost 2-0 during qualifying. It was a shock defeat that jolted the Nigerians.
When the tournament kicks off in a few days, Nigeria and Egypt (even though in a crucial political crisis at the moment) will watch from the sidelines.
It is a big loss to the tournament that those two countries will not be there to show their skills among the rest of the continent’s local based footballers. However, it is also a big loss to both countries’ young players as they will not have the opportunity to expose their skills to scouts looking for new talents.
The maiden tournament in Cote D’Ivoire where Congo DR emerged champions has assisted that country’s football in moving to greater heights. More than half of that victorious Congolese team was drawn from TP Mazembe, the club that has now won back-to-back CAF Champions League trophies. If anything, Congolese football has become the better for their participation in the maiden CHAN.
The other countries that participated in the maiden edition have also seen their players move on to greater things. An example is Ghana’s Rahim Ayew who moved to Zamalek after that tournament and eventually was part of the impressive Ghanaian contingent at the World Cup in 2010.
Baba sepe
Nigeria 2 vs 1 sierra-leone
He did look nervy in the end, and that image of him biting his fingernails will take while to leave the memory, but Samson Siasia got off to a win in his first match as Super Eagles coach, claiming a 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone in Lagos.
Taye Taiwo's first half penalty and Ekigho Ehiosun's toe-poke in the second had the Super Eagles flying, but their spirits were deflated by a late Sierra Leone goal two minutes from time.
Siasia has spent the weeks since his appointment promising attacking football, and on that score he delivered. Every chance the Eagles got, they attacked the Leone Stars down the wide areas. Ahmed Musa, who broke the Nigerian domestic league goalscoring record last term, was proving particularly troublesome down the right channel with his pace and guile.
Peter Utaka was not quite as effective on the other flank, but he is a central striker.
It was the visitors who got the first opportunity, with barely three minutes played when Mohammed Bangoura's cross cum shot forced Dele Ayenugba into a fingertip save. But from then on, it was Nigeria.
Utaka was denied a penalty when clean through on goal, but was awarded one for a trip that looked dodgy. Taye Taiwo had no complaints as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to put the Eagles ahead.
Emmanuel Emenike, one of three debutants on the night, missed a fine chance to double the advantage when he muscled his way in from the left flank and just failed to put the ball under the keeper.
His day was ended when he collided with an opponent in midfield and had to be stretchered off. It was his replacement, domestic league top scorer Ekigho Ehiosun, who doubled Nigeria's advantage.
Fed from a short corner routine between Osaze Odemwingie and Joel Obi, Ehiosun arrived with a poacher's instinct to get a toe to Obi's excellent delivery.
Odemwingie had the ball in the net for 3-0, but the flag denied him. Replays showed the assistant referee was wrong.
And the decision was to prove costly, when the visitors found space behind substitute Adefemi Olubayo and ripped a shot past Aiyenugba. Cue boos from the Lagos crowd.
But the Eagles rallied, and towards the end, they had won back the support of their fans. There is still a long road to travel, but now the hard work has started for Siasia
Taye Taiwo's first half penalty and Ekigho Ehiosun's toe-poke in the second had the Super Eagles flying, but their spirits were deflated by a late Sierra Leone goal two minutes from time.
Siasia has spent the weeks since his appointment promising attacking football, and on that score he delivered. Every chance the Eagles got, they attacked the Leone Stars down the wide areas. Ahmed Musa, who broke the Nigerian domestic league goalscoring record last term, was proving particularly troublesome down the right channel with his pace and guile.
Peter Utaka was not quite as effective on the other flank, but he is a central striker.
It was the visitors who got the first opportunity, with barely three minutes played when Mohammed Bangoura's cross cum shot forced Dele Ayenugba into a fingertip save. But from then on, it was Nigeria.
Utaka was denied a penalty when clean through on goal, but was awarded one for a trip that looked dodgy. Taye Taiwo had no complaints as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to put the Eagles ahead.
Emmanuel Emenike, one of three debutants on the night, missed a fine chance to double the advantage when he muscled his way in from the left flank and just failed to put the ball under the keeper.
His day was ended when he collided with an opponent in midfield and had to be stretchered off. It was his replacement, domestic league top scorer Ekigho Ehiosun, who doubled Nigeria's advantage.
Fed from a short corner routine between Osaze Odemwingie and Joel Obi, Ehiosun arrived with a poacher's instinct to get a toe to Obi's excellent delivery.
Odemwingie had the ball in the net for 3-0, but the flag denied him. Replays showed the assistant referee was wrong.
And the decision was to prove costly, when the visitors found space behind substitute Adefemi Olubayo and ripped a shot past Aiyenugba. Cue boos from the Lagos crowd.
But the Eagles rallied, and towards the end, they had won back the support of their fans. There is still a long road to travel, but now the hard work has started for Siasia
Baba Sepe.
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