Royal News

Tag: Super eagles

  • NFF Criticised After 1-1 Draw With South Africa

    NFF Criticised After 1-1 Draw With South Africa

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has criticised Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers and questioned captain William Troost-Ekong following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

    The Eagles, needing a win to boost their World Cup qualifying hopes, were dealt an early blow when defender Ola Aina was forced off the field in the eighth minute due to injury.

    The situation worsened in the 25th minute when Troost-Ekong inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving South Africa the lead.

    Nigeria responded before half-time through a header from Calvin Bassey, restoring parity. However, the team struggled to convert possession into goals in the second half. Substitutes Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze, and Chrisantus Uche were unable to break down the resilient South African defence.

    In a post-match statement shared with journalists by NFF Director of Communications Dr. Ademola Olajire, the federation singled out Dessers for his underwhelming performance, noting that he was substituted at half-time.

    “Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo and was substituted, again struggled today. He was slow to reach passes, failed to win aerial duels, and contributed little to Nigeria’s attacking play,” the NFF statement said.

    The federation also criticised Troost-Ekong for his role in conceding the opening goal, which placed Nigeria on the back foot early in the match.

    Despite the draw, Nigeria remains in contention for World Cup qualification but will need strong performances in the remaining matches to secure a spot in next year’s tournament in North America.

    The team is expected to regroup and prepare for its next fixture, aiming to address the shortcomings highlighted by the NFF.

  • Nigeria Coach refuses to give up despite South Africa setback

    Nigeria Coach refuses to give up despite South Africa setback

    Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, insists Nigeria will continue fighting for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite a disappointing 1-1 draw against South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night.

    The result left the three-time African champions in third position in Group B, with 11 points from eight matches. Their hopes of qualifying now hinge on winning their remaining two fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic.

    Speaking after the game, Chelle acknowledged the challenge ahead but vowed his players remain committed to securing maximum points in their final outings.

    “My players are professionals and I know they will still want to win the remaining two games,” he said. “A lot can happen over the next one month. But before that, we will have to analyse our performance tonight, which will not be easy.”

    Nigeria will travel to Lesotho next month before wrapping up their campaign at home against the Squirrels of Benin Republic.

  • Eguavoen: Nigeria cannot afford defeat against South Africa

    Eguavoen: Nigeria cannot afford defeat against South Africa

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical director, Augustine Eguavoen, has stressed that the Super Eagles cannot afford to lose when they face South Africa in Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

    The three-time African champions sit six points behind Group C leaders South Africa despite edging Rwanda 1-0 in Uyo last weekend. Victory in Bloemfontein would cut the deficit to three and boost Nigeria’s chances of booking a ticket to the global showpiece.

    Eguavoen admitted that the Bafana Bafana are worthy opponents but insisted the Super Eagles are determined to claim maximum points.

    “Of course it’s a massive game, we have no choice, Nigeria has no choice,” he told FARPOST. “We respect South Africa, but we are gunning for three points, simple as that.”

    The crunch fixture will take place at the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, with kickoff scheduled for 6pm local time (5pm Nigerian time).

  • World Cup Qualifier: Arokodare ready to step up for Super Eagles

    World Cup Qualifier: Arokodare ready to step up for Super Eagles

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles will look to Tolu Arokodare to spearhead their attack in tonight’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa.

    The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker steps in for injured forward Victor Osimhen, who sustained a knock during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda last Saturday. Osimhen has since returned to Galatasaray for treatment, ruling him out of the encounter.

    Arokodare, 24, emerged as the hero in Kigali, scoring the decisive goal against the Amavubi. His commanding display earned him the Player of the Match award, further underlining his growing influence in the national team setup.

    With Osimhen unavailable, head coach Eric Chelle is expected to entrust Arokodare with the responsibility of leading the front line against Bafana Bafana.

    The striker has netted twice in five appearances for the Super Eagles and will aim to add to his tally in what promises to be a high-stakes qualifier.

  • 13 Players in Super Eagles Camp for World Cup Qualifiers

    13 Players in Super Eagles Camp for World Cup Qualifiers

    Thirteen players have arrived in Uyo as the Super Eagles camp opens ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.

    Captain William Troost-Ekong, Amas Obasogie, Felix Agu and Raphael Onyedika were among the first arrivals on Monday. They were later joined on Tuesday morning by Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Moses Simon, Chiedozie Awaziem, Adebayo Adeleye and Benjamin Fredericks also checked in.

    Ten more players are still expected before the full squad assembles. The team will hold its first official training session on Tuesday evening at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

  • Nwabali Doubtful Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

    Nwabali Doubtful Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

    Nigeria’s build-up to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers has suffered a major setback after first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali picked up an injury while featuring for his South African club, Chippa United.

    The 29-year-old was stretchered off during the first half of Tuesday’s league clash with Richards Bay after going down in pain. The severity of the injury is yet to be determined, with Chippa United’s medical staff still assessing his condition.

    Nwabali’s absence would be a significant blow for Nigeria, as the Super Eagles prepare for crucial qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa next month. He has been ever-present in coach Eric Chelle’s plans, making 21 appearances for the national team since his debut.

    The situation is further complicated by the suspension of Maduka Okoye, who is serving a two-month ban for illegal betting activities. This leaves Nigeria short on experienced options between the posts.

    Among the available alternatives are Amas Obasogie, who plays club football in Tanzania but is yet to make his international debut, and Adebayo Adeleye of Greek side Volos NPS, who has only a single cap. Teenager Ebenezer Harcourt, 15, is another option after impressing at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, but he is unlikely to start in such high-pressure fixtures.

    Nigeria currently sits fourth in its qualifying group with seven points, six adrift of leaders South Africa. With two challenging fixtures on the horizon, the uncertainty surrounding Nwabali’s fitness could prove decisive in the Super Eagles’ bid to close the gap.

  • Super Eagles coach promises qualifier surprises ahead

    Super Eagles coach promises qualifier surprises ahead

    Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has insisted that Nigeria will spring surprises in the remaining four fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, despite the team’s shaky position in the race to reach the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

    Nigeria currently sit fourth in Group C with seven points after six games, six adrift of leaders South Africa, who top the log with 13 points. Rwanda and Benin Republic also sit ahead of the Super Eagles with eight points apiece.

    Chelle, who replaced Finidi George earlier this year, has overseen just two matches in the qualifying campaign so far—guiding the team to a 2-0 win away in Kigali against Rwanda, before being held to a 1-1 draw by Zimbabwe in Uyo last March. His predecessors, José Peseiro and Finidi, managed two matches each without recording a victory.

    Speaking during a chat with UK-based Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana at the 2024 African Nations Championship in Tanzania, Chelle acknowledged that critics have written Nigeria off, but maintained belief in his squad’s ability to turn the tide.

    “People have already written us off. But I am not bothered by that,” Chelle said. “I am concentrating on preparing my players for the remaining four matches that we have. I think that we are going to surprise a lot of people.”

    The Super Eagles will regroup in Uyo on September 1 to begin preparations for their crunch September double-header. They will host Rwanda on September 6, before travelling to Bloemfontein to face South Africa three days later.

    Their final two matches of the series are scheduled for October, with an away trip to Lesotho and a decisive home clash against Benin Republic.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria’s qualification hopes could be boosted by a disciplinary ruling, as South Africa risk losing three points for allegedly fielding an ineligible player during their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March.

  • Ebenezer Harcourt Makes History in Super Eagles’ CHAN Clash

    Ebenezer Harcourt Makes History in Super Eagles’ CHAN Clash

    Ebenezer Harcourt

    Nigeria’s newest football sensation, Ebenezer Harcourt, has expressed optimism about his future after marking his international debut with a clean sheet for the Super Eagles.

    The 15-year-old Sporting Lagos goalkeeper was a surprise inclusion in Nigeria’s starting line-up for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) Group D encounter against Congo on Tuesday night.

    Harcourt made history as the youngest player to feature for the Super Eagles and justified his selection by producing a composed performance that helped Nigeria secure a 2-0 victory.

    Speaking to the Super Eagles media team after the match, the teenager credited his success to seizing the rare opportunity.
    “It’s my first time with the team, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity, because in life, everything is all about opportunity,” Harcourt said.

    “I took my chance very well too. With the goalkeeper trainer guiding me, I believe I will be great,” he added.

    With his impressive debut, Harcourt has already set his sights on building a long and successful career with Nigeria’s national team.

  • Nigeria Crash 4-0 to Sudan at CHAN

    Nigeria Crash 4-0 to Sudan at CHAN

    Nigeria Super Eagles B coach, Eric Chelle, has defended his squad selection for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Zanzibar, insisting that the team comprised the best players from the Nigeria Premier Football League, even as the side suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Sudan.

    Chelle, a Franco-Malian tactician, stood by his choices, stressing that the team was selected on merit and in good faith. “Even if the outcome was disappointing, the squad was chosen to represent the best of the league,” he said.

    He explained that the current team differed significantly from his initial vision for the tournament. “Maybe five players left the camp or never came at all. They left to play in another league. So the team was not like we imagined. But the reality for me is it was the best player in the league,” Chelle added, defending his selection despite the setback.

    The defeat saw Nigeria eliminated from the 8th edition of CHAN after Sudan surged to a 2-0 lead by half-time, before adding two more goals in the second half to complete a 4-0 rout. The Eagles now sit bottom of Group D, with their chances of advancing completely dashed.

    Chelle acknowledged that Nigeria began the match strongly but conceded that mistakes soon proved costly. “The players were focused, and we scored a goal, but after that we made a lot of mistakes and gave up the game in the second half. Four goals, four mistakes for me,” he reflected.

    Breaking down the errors that led to the heavy loss, the coach said, “We cannot play games like that and lose because we made a lot of mistakes during these two games. The first goal against Senegal was a mistake. In this game, the first two goals were mistakes, and after that the other two goals were due to mistakes in positioning.”

    Chelle also highlighted the competitive challenge at this level of football, urging the team to learn from the experience. “It’s difficult at this level of competition. We need to be more focused,” he said, emphasizing the need for improved concentration and defensive discipline.

    With Nigeria now exiting the tournament, their final Group D clash against Congo next week will only be a formality, offering the team a chance to regroup and assess lessons from their disappointing campaign.

  • Agu says one Loss won’t define Eagles

    Agu says one Loss won’t define Eagles

    Former Nigerian international goalkeeper, Alloy Agu, has expressed confidence that the home-based Super Eagles can recover from their opening loss to Senegal at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

    Eric Chelle’s men suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to the defending champions, with Christian Kobi scoring the decisive goal in the 75th minute of the Group D clash at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar.

    Despite the setback, Agu remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances in the tournament.

    “This is just the first game, and they have the second group game to make amends and bounce back to winning ways,” Agu said.

    The Super Eagles will now shift focus to their second group fixture against Sudan, scheduled to take place at the same venue next Tuesday.