Sports

‘Eagles ’ll Surpass Previous Records In Brazil’

Published

12 years ago

February 24, 2014

The Nigeria Football Fed
eration (NFF) has said that it would “leave no stone unturned’’ for the Super Eagles to surpass previous World Cup records when the 2014 edition kicks-off in Brazil.
The NFA Chairman, Aminu Maigari, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said the current NFA board relied on long-term preparation for success.
According to Maigari, the Mexico friendly put together for the Super Eagles and the early selection of camping site for the world cup preparation, are some of the strategies designed to ensure success at the mundial.
“This is the first NFA board to do away with short and medium term preparations; we believe in long-term preparation because we have seen results.
“We believe we need to put these players in a place so that they can get used to themselves and be properly coached and trained.
“With such kind of environment, they will not have distractions but we have gone far in our preparations because we have secured a place for the World Cup camping.
“The environment will take care of everything that these players will require; we are going further to organise some befitting international friendly matches for the team.
“We have the Mexico friendly scheduled to take place on March 5, in the U.S., and we have other request underway.
“We are just looking forward to when the coaches will invite these players to camp.’’
He said that the NFA strongly relied on President Jonathan for its World Cup plan to be actualised.
“I don’t think finance will be an issue going by what President Jonathan had done for us in the past.
“The president is so much committed to this and he wants to use it (World Cup) to make Nigerian people happy.
“We re following presidential steps to ensure we make Nigerian people happy.
“The players too are not relenting on their efforts to ensure that Nigerians are happy with the achievements in football,’’ he said.
NFA’s Assistant Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, also told newsmen that the NFA was putting finishing touches to the other proposed friendly matches lined-up for the team.
He said the countries and venues for the encounter would be made public as soon as arrangements were concluded.
The Super Eagles foreign-based players will join the team’s camp in the U.S. for the friendly against Mexico.
Meanwhile, the four invited home-based players will depart with the coaching crew from Nigeria.

Flamingoes player (left), struggling to beat an opponent during an international engagement recently

Sports

Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification

Published

4 hours ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.

We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”

The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.

“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.

“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.

Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.

It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.

Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.

Sports

ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION

Published

4 hours ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.

He stated that in spite the fact that sports journalists are doing greatly in the country but hardly find any sports journalist that specializes on a particular sport reporting and become an authority, as it obtainable in advance countries.

Mr. Ogolo , who was the former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State Chapter, said this after he received the Veteran Sports Journalist Award, during the SWAN @60 Diamond jubilee award night, in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, sports journalists have done tremendously well in sports development through effective and efficient reportage.

“SWAN has done greatly to develop sports in Nigeria, so they should be given its rightful place.

“Members should continue to do what they are doing, Nigerians are sports loving people when you give them facts and accurate reporting they will be happy, besides, sports writers have a big role to play in advancement of sports in Nigeria”, Mr. Ogolo said.

The former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The TIDE Newspapers, used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN for the award.

He explained that the award is one of the most important and special awards he has received, hence it came from his primary constituency as a journalist.

” I am not just happy but overwhelmed. This award will spur me to contribute more in development of sports and I we equally support SWAN Rivers State Chapter in my little way” he stated.

By: Tonye Orabere

Sports

DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN

Published

4 hours ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.

He stated that the sports writing fraternity is where he cannot forget as a sports journalist that starts from the grassroots.

Mr. Nyong said this while presiding over South South SWAN zonal meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries, including some elders in the zone, on Friday, in Abuja.

He explained what led to his suspension and sue unity and peace amongst members, saying that what happened should be a thing of the past, as he was actually misled and deceived.

The Deputy National President reiterated his commitment to work with Cyril Dum Wite led administration in Rivers State Chapter of SWAN, saying that SWAN is one and there should be no division of any such.

He reels out ideas that can make SWAN viable and enviable in the zone.

“I want peace and unity amongst members of the association in the zone, we are one family, let us work as family. Thank God I am back fully, members of the zone will enjoy the association”, Mr. Nyong said.

Also speaking the Vice President of SWAN south south zone, Azuka Chiemeka, thanked members that attended the meeting and also advised members to work in peace, unity and love with others members to achieve positive result.

It will be recalled Bonny Nyong was suspended in Full council meeting held in Kano following what can be described as misconduct, but was forgiven and his suspension was lifted after he apologised to Full council members in a meeting, held in Abuja, during SWAN@60 celebrations.

By: Tonye Orabere