Sports
Flying Eagles: Obuh Optimistic Despite Defeat
Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh has pledged that his team would live up to expectations at the 2013 AYC after the team lost 2-1 to Esperance in a warm-up match.
Obuh made the remarks in a statement signed by the team’s Media Officer, Samm Audu in Abuja.
The team had lost its first game to its Tunisian U20 counterparts 2-0 last Thursday.
“The result was again not what we expected, but the performance of the team has reassured us we will be the team to beat in Algeria.
“It was a good game but we have to work on our goal scoring ability, and I expect the players not to lose their composure even after the referee made some bad calls.
“All the same, I believe in this team, we have worked very hard, and we will continue to work even harder to ensure the best for Nigeria,” it said..
The statement noted that the Flying Eagles created the best chances in a goalless first half, and would again have to blame their finishing for not going ahead in this test game.
It said that Christian Pyabara had an effort blocked by goalkeeper Wassim Naouara from inside the box after 27 minutes and in the 35th minute.
It said that skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun failed to make the most of a free header right inside the box.
“The biggest chance of the first period fell to Pyabara, but he somehow shot over the bar after a great work from the left by Alhaji Gero.
“Esperance took the lead in the 50th minute after goalkeeper Jonah Usman failed to clear the ball and in the ensuing melee Lampjed Chehoudi fired home.’’
It added that the Tunisian champions doubled their advantage two minutes later when Kingsley Madu committed a foul inside the penalty box.
According to the statement, Nigeria’s midfielder Moses Orkuma was sent off for retaliation in the 59th minute.
However, substitute Umar Aminu pulled a goal back for the African youth champions in the 67th minute after a flowing team play.
It said that the Flying Eagles finished stronger as they continued to fight for the equaliser, but Esperance held out to barely shade a hard-fought encounter.
The Tide source reports that the Flying Eagles are slated to play two more friendly matches before hitting Algeria for the 2013 AYC in Algeria.
Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt contingent, comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff, and officials, depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State on Wednesday, bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The team is set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the first-round first-leg match of the CAF Champions League.
This was contained in a press release signed by the media officer of the club, Charles Mayuku and made available to Tidesports on Wednesday.
He said that the highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the 80,000-capacity Kinshasa-Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on morrow with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.
According to the statement the encounter marks the first-ever meeting between both sides in any competition, adding that an air of excitement and unpredictability to the fixture.
“As the Pride of Nigeria embarks on this crucial journey, the team is determined to return with a decent result that will set them up favorably for the second leg on Sunday, 28th September” the statement said.
The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.
Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.
Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.
Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.
The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.
Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.
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