March 11, 2024
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will return to footballing action at the next FIFA window with 2 friendly games against African rivals; Ghana and Mali in Morocco.
According to a press release by the Nigeria Football Federation, Nigeria will face Ghana on the 22nd of March 2024, at the Grande Stade de Marrakech and then take on the Eagles of Mali on the 26th at the same venue.
Although a coach is yet to be named for the team, the NFF released a 26-man team to prosecute the two games with Ghana and Mali.
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders:
Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales); Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England) Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)
Forwards:
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
January 10, 2024
President, Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, says Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum will be handed a new deal, before the NFF contingent leaves for Ivory Coast.
Randy Waldrum was appointed by the NFF in 2020 and led the Falcons to the semi-finals of the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco and the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the Super Falcons gallantly lost out on penalties to to eventual finalist; England in the round of 16.
Waldrum’s assistant Justin Madugu has been in charge of the squad on interim basis, leading to speculations that the American and the federation may have parted ways.
The NFF and Waldrum had been at daggers drawn after the American tacitly accused the federation of misappropriating the $960,000 FIFA grant meant for the Falcons World Cup preparation.
However, Gusau said the federation had reached an agreement with the coach for a contract extension following protracted talks, adding that the coach’s insistence on bringing his assistant, as well as improved allowances, delayed the process.
The NFF boss said the deal would now likely be sealed on Thursday, before the federation’s delegation travelled for the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.
“We had a lot of discussions with Waldrum and I think he’s agreed (to a contract). We had issues before the World Cup, about who he wanted in the team, but in the contract of NFF and Waldrum, there’s nowhere it is stated that Waldrum has the right to come with any assistant,” Gusau stated.
November 21, 2023
Super Eagles Head coach, Jose Peseiro, has denied having any links with Egyptian giants, Zamalek concerning their vacant coaching role.
Egyptian website, Kooora, had fingered Peseiroas one of the coaches who submitted their resumes for the top job after the recent sacking of Juan Carlos Osorio for poor results.
The 63-year-old recently signed a new one-year deal with the Nigeria Football Federation after his initial contract expired in June.
The Portuguese tactician, who was recently linked with Zamalek’s job in Egypt, told btolat.com that he remained focused on his current job with Nigeria.
“At the present, all my focus is on the Nigerian national team only,” he said.
“There are no negotiations from Zamalek in any case and I am not thinking about anything else.”
Despite Peseiro’s commitment to the Eagles’ job, football stakeholders have called for the immediate sacking of the Portuguese tactician following the team’s abysmal performances in the last 2 games. The Eagles were held at home by lowly ranked Lesotho 1-1, and only managed another draw against Zimbabwe in the first 2 games of the FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
October 9, 2023
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has extended invitations to goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale and forward Asisat Oshoala headline and 19 other players invited to the Super Falcons’ camp for this month’s Paris 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament qualification fixture against the Senior Women National Team of Ethiopia.
According to the NFF press release, Ethiopia will host the first leg of the second-round fixture in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, 25th October with the second leg in Nigeria on Tuesday, 31st October. Ethiopia eliminated Chad in the first round of the series as nine-time African champions Nigeria drew a bye.
The Super Falcons, who finished 8th at the 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand in the summer, also drew a bye to the third round of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, after Sao Tome and Principe’s senior girls scratched the tie. The Falcons will be up against their counterparts from Cape Verde in the third round of that series at the end of November.
Paris, France will host next year’s Women Olympic Football Tournament. The Super Falcons played at the Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France).
Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengard FC, Sweden); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint Etienne, France) .
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday ((Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens)
