Nigerians optimistic as Gernot Rohr becomes new Super Eagles coach

Super Eagles of Nigeria will open camp for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game on Sunday as invited players are expected to arrive on Monday.

The clash against Tanzania is a ‘do or die’ as both sides have no chance of qualifying for the tournament to be held in Gabon next year.

The Super Eagles will converge in Uyo, venue of the game as from Monday with a full complement of invited players expected to make the trip.

Team captain John Mikel Obi is expected to be in Uyo on Tuesday as the local trio of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Emmanuel Daniel and Jamiu Alimi are expected to be among the early birds.

FK Haugesund defender and Olympics bronze medallist William Troost-Ekong is already en-route Uyo as well as Watford’s Odion Ighalo.

KAA Gent’s Moses Simon is expected in Nigeria will on Tuesday morning as his club is involved in a league game on Sunday night.

New Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is also expected to be in Uyo on Monday as he will have two tabs on the game. The German will want to start his Nigeria sojourn with a win as well as getting an idea of his team and how to prepare for the Fifa World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October.

Nigeria have failed to make the Africa Cup of Nations for the second successive time and will look to end the qualifiers on a high with a win against the Taifa Stars next Saturday at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo.

Super Eagles squad

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Imoh Ezekiel (Al-Arabi Sporting Club, Qatar), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany)

Stephen Keshi dies at 54

Former Nigeria soccer star and manager Stephen Keshi died early Wednesday in Nigeria, the country's soccer federation confirmed. He was 54.

Keshi had a long career for the Super Eagles, making 64 appearances for the national team from 1981–1995. Keshi was part of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994, the same year Nigeria reached No. 5 in the FIFA World Rankings, the highest-ever ranking for an African team.

"He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness," a friend told AFP, "but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife."

After his playing career ended, Keshi eventually entered coaching. He managed Togo and Mali before returning home to Nigeria in 2011. Keshi managed the Super Eagles through 2015, winning another Cup of Nations as manager, making him only one of two people to win the tournament as a player and coach. 

In 2014, Keshi’s Nigeria team made the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Keshi’s wife Kate died last year. He is survived by his four children.

Nigeria annihilated Cameroun 3-0 to redeem image

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday night exterminated the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun to redeem their image in an international friendly in Brussels.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon dominated possession in the early half of the game before Celtic defender Efe Ambrose headed in a superb free-kick played by Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi at the 39th minute of the game.

The game ended 1-0 at halftime, though their were several threats/attempts by the Cameroonians to level up  but all efforts are futile before the break of the first half.

At the early stages of the second half Cameroon  struggled when skipper Stephane Mbia was sent off in the 47th minute after his second booking of the night. 

Nigeria substitute Odion Ighalo took the game beyond the Indomitable Lions with a third goal two minutes from time when he headed home off a delightful cross by Elderson Echiejile from the left flank.

Nigeria Starting XI: Carl Ikeme – Elderson Echiejile, Shehu Abdullahi, Efe Ambrose, Leon Balogun – Ogenyi Onazi, Mikel Obi (Wilfred Ndidi 63), Sylvester Igbonu (Rabiu Ibrahim 71) – Moses Simon, Emmanuel Emenike (Odion Ighalo 74), Ahmed Musa (Skipper)(Alex Iwobi 79)

Cameroon Starting line-up: Ondoa (Ndy), Bassong (Fai Collins), Chedjou, Nkoulou, Kombi, Siani, Mbia (Skipper), Moukandjo, Aboubakar, Njie Clinton, Kweuke

Subs: Ndy Assembe (1); André Onana (23) ; Zoua Jacques (9) ; Loe Raoul (4) ; Ndi Dany (20) ; Fai Collins (12) ; Salli Edgar (11) ; Eboa Eboa (15).

Don't concentrate on Eagles for now - Oliseh tells Iheanacho

Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has told Iheanacho not to concentrate on Eagles for now.

According to his statement, the reason being that the player is not ripe enough for the eagles. saying "he will get his time to play for the Super Eagles."

The Manchester City starlet has scored just once in three appearances this season, though he is yet to make the starting line up for Manuel Pellegrini side

Despite starting from bench, Manuel Pellegrini believes the player is very important to the future of the team.

"Kelechi is a very young player, he just turned 18, but I believe in him - it's not easy for him to play because he has Kun (Sergio Aguero) and Bony in front of him and they are very good players, but I think the way he continues improving working with the squad the whole week he will continue demonstrating why he's an important player for this team," said the City boss.

Though, Oliseh admits his talent but insisted that he would not be rushed into the Eagles despite inviting Arsenal's Alex Iwobi for next month's international friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon.