Nigeria Drops To 67th On Fifa Ranking

Nigeria’s Super Eagles dropped five spots in the latest Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), ranking released on Thursday, at the world’s football governing body headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

 The three-time African champions are now ranked 67th in the world and 14th in the continent.

Nigeria were ranked 11th and 62nd in Africa and the world respectively  in the month of February, but the nation’s poor outing in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) double header against the Pharaohs of Egypt may have contributed to the further slid down the ladder.

The Super Eagles once again failed to qualify to the continental showpiece, Gabon AFCON 2017 after losing 1-0 to Egypt.

Nigeria Drops To 67th On Fifa Ranking

Arsenal Forward Chooses Nigeria Over England

Arsenal young centre forward, Alex Iwobi has switched allegiance to play for country of his parents birth,  Nigeria. 

The young forward has represented England at junior levels and was deemed to make the mark with the Three Lions (senior national team) thanks to recent impressive performance with his club side.

Alex Iwobi celebrates scoring for Arsenal

Iwobi, 19, is reported in the United Kingdom to have agreed to play for the ‘Super Eagles’ where he believes his chance of getting regular playing time is brighter than with England.

Arsenal Forward Chooses Nigeria Over England

Siasia Name 42-Man Squad

Returning Nigerian head coach, Samson Siasia has named a 42-man squad for Super Eagles upcoming clash against the Pharoah’s of Egypt in Kaduna on Friday, March 25 and Alexandria on Tuesday, March 29.

 

The 22 home-boys are expected to hit the Abuja camp on Sunday, March 6 before the overseas-based players arrive as from Sunday, March 20.

The former Nigerian captain, who was in the same position between December 2010 and October 2011, assured that only the best players who ‘showed ability to run and decimate the opposition’ will be given opportunity in matches.

 

Regulars among the domestic lads are Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Olufemi Thomas, Kalu Orji Okogbue, Austin Oboroakpo, Chima Akas, Ezekiel Bassey and Chisom Chikatara while the foreign imports are Carl Ikeme, Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon and Fanendo Adin.

 

Home-based professionals:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars), Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba), Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)

 

Defenders: Kalu Orji Okogbue (Enugu Rangers), Chibuzor Okonkwo (FC IfeanyiUbah), Mathew Etim (Enugu Rangers), Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors), Sincere Seth (Rhapsody FC), Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys), Chima Akas (Akwa United), Chris Madaki (Kano Pillars), Oke Ogogatewho (Sunshine Stars)

 

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (Kano Pillars), Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba), Etebo Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves), Yau Hassan (Wikki Tourists), Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves)

 

Forwards: Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba), Prince Aggrey (Kano Pillars), Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah), Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors), Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists)

 

Foreign-based professionals:

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

 

Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland), Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense FC, Portugal), Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey)

 

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England), Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Matalyspor, Turkey)

 

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium), Victor Moses (West Ham United, England), Aminu Umar (Osmanlispor FK, Turkey), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England), Aaron Samuel (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England), Fanendo Adi (Portland Timbers, USA)

Siasia Name 42-Man Squad

GFA Has Not Arranged Any Friendly Match - Saani Daara

Ghana Football Association spokesperson, Ibrahim Saani Daara has rubbished media reports that the football governing body of the country has organized an international friendly against West Africa neighbours, Nigeria.

There are media reports that the Ghana FA has arranged a a friendly match with the 2013 Africa Cup of nations Champions as part of preparation for the upcoming 2017 and 2018 Africa Cup of nations and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

But the FA communications director says he is unaware of a proposal from the Nigeria Football Federation or the Ghana Football Association making a proposal to their counterparts for the any match.

“We [Ghana Football Association] has not arranged for any friendly match yet. The Black Stars have matches to play in March, but I am not a aware of any friendly match against Nigeria,” the former Choice FM journalist told Accra-based radio station, Atinka FM.

“We have not spoken to Nigeria for any friendly match and I don’t know of any friendly match against any opposition in June.” He said.

The Black Stars of Ghana defeated Comoros 2-0 on aggregate to book a ticket to the next phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for Russia, and sit top of Group H for the upcoming 2017 Africa Cup of nations in Gabon.

Ghana will play a double Africa Cup of nations qualifier against Mozambique in March.

GFA Has Not Arranged Any Friendly Match - Saani Daara

Stephen Appiah Not Surprised With Watford Striker Odion Ighalo"s Rise

Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah says he is not surprised with the rise of Watford striker Idion Ighalo, adding that he knew about him during his time with Cesena.

The Nigeria striker who is on the shortlist for the Player of the Month of December in the English Premier League has netted 13 goals for Watford in the Barclays Premier League.

He is one of the  most sought after strikers presently in the EPL, this according to Stephen Appiah doesn’t surprise him because he knew of his abilities during his time Italian side Cesena.

He failed to score any goals for Cesena and netted just once for former side Udinese.

“For me, I am not surprised that he is one of the top strikers in the EPL today. I played with him during my time with Cesena during the 2010–-2011 football season”, Appiah told footballcrusader.com.

“I took him as a little brother whom  I advised from time to time, but since then I never had the chance to meet him again or hear anything about him.”

Ighalo played three just games for Italian side Cesena throughout the year and was not able to score a goal, an action according to Appiah was due to the stiff competition in the Cesena team at that time.

In between his time in Spain, the Nigerian played three just games for Italian side Cesena.

“We had several experienced players in the team back then so it was difficult for him to break into the first team, and he was very young too. But I saw a few traits of what he can do at training and on a few occasions that he was given the chance to play”, Appiah added.

In his teens, he played for Prime and Julius Berger — renamed as Bridge FC — in Nigeria where he was picked up by agent Marcelo Houseman who secured him a move to Lyn in Norway. 

There, he was astonished to discover snow for the first time. While some of his fellow countrymen could not tolerate the cold and moved back home, Ighalo was intent on succeeding to keep out of the strife he had left behind.

Then, at 19, he got a big move to Udinese — where Alexis Sanchez was a team-mate — and became part of the Pozzo family. Loans to Pozzo-owned Granada, who he helped to promotion to the Spanish top flight, preceded a loan then permanent transfer to Pozzo-owned Watford.

Ighalo moved to Europe and signed for Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, where he impressed instantly.

Stephen Appiah Not Surprised With Watford Striker Odion Ighalo"s Rise