I would love to be a graduate- Awoniyi

Liverpool forward Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed to SportingLife that he would love to be a graduate but also reiterated his love for football.

The former Nigerian Under-17 forward, who is on loan with German second division side FSV Frankfurt played for the first time in a friendly against Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05 that ended 1-1.

‘I love football and thank GOD that I am still on track of getting there and I know by his grace I’ll be there but I would’ve loved to become a graduate also,’ Awoniyi revealed to SportingLife.

‘However, I love football more and it is my big dream to make it which I know GOD will help.’

The 18-year-old was asked if he gets the chance under new manager Jurgen Klopp after his loan – will he aim to better the record of former African player of the year El-hadji Diouf who scored just six goals in 80 appearances, he said: ‘I don’t want to be compared with anyone as I am still learning my trade and hope to get there someday but only God knows what the future holds,’ he added.

Seyi Olofinjana, an engineering graduate from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and a former Nigerian international, is one of Awoniyi’s biggest influences and was very involved in the deal that took the player to England which the player is thankful for.

Awoniyi may get his first competitive debut for FSV Frankfurt when they travel to face Nuernberg at the weekend.

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Siasia angry with players for shunning camp

Coach Samson Siasia has expressed disappointment that only 10 of his 30 call-ups have reported to a training camp in Abuja ahead of next month’s Africa U-23 Nations Cup.

The U-23 championship in Senegal will be the qualifying tournament for next year’s Olympics in Rio.

“I am not impressed that most of the players I called are yet to report to camp. They have preferred to stay back at their clubs,” lamented Siasia after training camp opened on Monday.

“We only have 10 players in camp now as most of the other players I called up are staying away with their clubs.”

AfricanFootball.com further gathered that plans are now underway for more players to be called up to the training camp.

Nigeria are drawn in Group B at the U-23 Nations Cup along with Egypt, Mali and Algeria.

The top two teams will advance to the knockout stage of the competition with the best three teams qualifying automatically for Rio 2016.

Enyeama Celebrates Ahmed Musa On 23rd Birthday

Former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama put aside his disappointment at being stripped of the captaincy to celebrate, via Instagram, his successor Ahmed Musa who clocked 23 on Wednesday.

Enyeama also celebrated another compatriot Anthony Ujah who turned 25 on Wednesday.

The Lille goalkeeper wrote via his handle vinny2908: “Happy birthday to you @myca718 (Musa’s account). God bless your new age with all the good things of life. IG followers and lovers, @myca718 show him some love and make his day special. He has a birthday today.

“@ujah21, Another compatriot,another hero in the making.Happy birthday to you my bro @ujah21 God bless your new age.

IG family and friends,please. @ujah21 and show him plenty love.he has a birthday today.”

Enyeama also remained unfazed by the plans of the Nigerian Football Federation to honour him in a testimonial game after he inisited on quitting the senior national team.

“My dear,no worry yourself,God will celebrate me and my years of service to my fatherland,” Enyeama replied a fan’s post on Instagram.

Also, Monaco star, Elderson Echiejile, wished Musa God’s blessing. He wrote; “Happy birthday to a friend, brother and a professional colleague @myca718 May Allah continue to bless you. #HaveFun.”
Copyright: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com

NFF stops cash for Eagles bonuses

Players of the Super Eagles will no longer be paid their win bonuses by cash, beginning from next month’s World Cup qualifier, AfricanFootball.com has specially gathered.

Players of the country’s team have been directed to open accounts with a particular local bank, where their win bonuses will now be paid.

“We have been asked to open foreign currency accounts with a bank where our bonuses will now be paid,” a player informed AfricanFootball.com.

This directive comes on the heels of a new financial policy pertaining to foreign currencies adopted by the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This arrangement is one of the measures contained in a players’ code of conduct ,NFF president Amaju Pinnick announced will soon be implemented.

The Eagles as well as the various national teams have thus far been paid their bonuses in cash.

Last year, the country’s former sports minister Tammy Danagogo therefore had to fly with a presidential jet to Brazil with over three million US dollars to pay the team appearance bonuses for the World Cup.

8 Key Golden Eaglets Facts Ahead Of U-17 World Cup

The Golden Eaglets will start the defence of their FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile when they take on the United States of America in the torunament’s opening game on Saturday. The Eaglets who didn’t do too well at the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Niger, will hope to emulate their predecessors by winning a fifth title for Nigeria.
As millions of Nigerians will be backing the team to do well in Chile, Completesportsnigeria.com’s JAMES AGBEREBI lists out EIGHT interesting facts about the Eaglets since making their debut in China in 1985…
THEY’VE NEVER LOST AN OPENING GAME AT THE U-17 WORLD CUP
Since the Golden Eaglets started appearing at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, they are yet to lose their opening game. It is on record that they have played 10 opening games, recorded six wins and four draws. (1985: Nigeria 1-0 Italy) (1987: Nigeria 1-1 Soviet Union) (1989: Nigeria 4-0 Canada) (1993: Nigeria 8-0 Canada) (1995: Nigeria 1-1 Qatar) (2001: Nigeria 2-1 France) (2003: Nigeria 1-1 Costa Rica) (2007: Nigeria 2-1 France) (2009: Nigeria 3-3 Germany) (2013: Nigeria 6-1 Mexico).

THEY THRASHED CANADA 8-0 IN JAPAN 1993, THEIR HIGHEST EVER OPENING GAME SCORELINE
At the 1993 edition in Japan, the Golden Eaglets walloped Canada 8-0 in their first game of the tournament. It was their biggest opening day win ever. Goals from Nwankwo Kanu (hat-trick), Peter Anosike (brace) Ibrahim Babangida (brace) and Festus Odini, sealed the emphatic win for the Eaglets. The closest to this was in 2013 in the UAE where they beat Mexico 6-1.

THEY ARE YET TO LOSE IN THE SEMI-FINAL AT THE U-17 WORLD CUP
The Golden Eaglets have not tasted defeat in the semi-final of the U-17 World Cup. They have a knack of always progressing into the final whenever they reach the last four: (1985: NIGERIA 1-1 GUINEA, WON 4-2 ON PEN.) (1987: Nigeria 1-0 Italy) (1993: Nigeria 2-1 Poland) (2001: Nigeria 5-1 Australia) (2007: Nigeria 3-1 Germany) (2009: Nigeria 3-1 Spain) (2013: Nigeria 3-0 Sweden).

THEY HAVE NEVER WON A FINAL AFTER CONCEDING FIRST 
One sour aspect of the Golden Eaglets is that they’ve never gone on to win in a final match at the U-17 World Cup after conceding first. All the three defeats they’ve suffered in the final, the opponents scored first. Against Soviet Union in 1987, Philip Osondu drew the Eaglets level after Yuri Nikiforov had put the Europeans ahead. And in the penalty shootout, the Eaglets lost 4-2.
At the 2001 edition in Trinidad and Tobago, they crumbled 3-0 in the final to France despite beating them 2-1 in their opening group game.
And in the 2009 edition which was hosted in Nigeria, a less fancied Switzerland side shocked the Eaglets inside the Abuja National Stadium with a 1-0 win. Despite dominating a large part of the game, the Swiss scored against the run of play and held on in spite of a relentless onslaught from the Eaglets.
THEY’VE ONLY LOST TO EUROPEAN TEAMS IN FINALS
Though the Eaglets have defeated European teams on two occassions before in the final of the U-17 World Cup (West Germany and Spain), their three defeats in finals have only been to European teams: (1987: Soviet Union, 2001: France and 2009: Switzerland).

THEY’VE NEVER LOST TO AN AFRICAN TEAM AT THE U-17 WORLD CUP
The Golden Eaglets have crossed paths with African teams three times at the U-17 World Cup, and have emerged victors in all three meetings.
They first met Guinea at the semi-final of the maiden edition in China and won 4-2 in a penalty shootout. Regulation time ended 1-1. In Japan 1993, they squared up against Ghana in the final and triumphed 2-1. And in the 2001 edition, they managed a 1-0 win against Burkina Faso in the semi-final.

CHILE WILL BE THE SECOND HOST TEAM THEY WILL BE MEETING
The first time the Golden Eaglets faced the host team at the U-17 World Cup was against Japan in 1993 in the quarter-final. They went on to win 2-1 with goals from Wilson Oruma and Festus Odini. This year’s edition will see them take on the host country for the second time in their history in the tournament.

THEIR ONLY TWO QUARTER-FINAL DEFEATS HAVE BEEN TO ASIAN TEAMS
The Golden Eaglets have only suffered defeats twice at the U-17 World Cup. And it is surprising that it has only come against Asian teams.
The first was in Scotland 1989 where they lost 2-0 on penalty shootout to Saudi Arabia, who went on to win the tournament. And the second time they experienced a loss in the quarter-final was in Ecuador 1995, losing 2-1 to Oman despite taking the lead from the penalty spot.

Orji Uzor Kalu To Formally Declare For FIFA Presidential Race

The Sun news reported that sources closed to the former Governor of Abia state and businessman will make his intention official on return to Nigeria from America on October 19.

An undisclosed source said: “It is likely he will declare his intention on October 23. He is also expected to pick the form and meet the deadline of October 26 for the submission of forms. He has been to almost all the continents and visited countries such as South Korea, Canada, France, England and the United States of America, where he consulted widely on the position.

‘”We have no doubt that if he runs, he will win. The football administrator the world needs today is not necessarily a footballer, but somebody who has the connections and can handle all the cartels associated with football. Kalu is a global businessman, widely connected. He has every right to be ambitious and the FIFA presidency is not beyond him,” The source added.

According to source, Kalu is in good stead than most candidates who had indicated interest in the race, because of his worldwide connections to both sports and political personalities.

“Football is beyond the ordinary. Look at what is happening to Sepp Blatter and other FIFA topshots. Do you think it is mere football?”

However, the media source noted that Kalu says he was keeping his cards to his chest, but would only speak when the time is ripe.

The acting FIFA president Sepp Blatter is under fire due to corruption allegations.

Mikel rejected Eagles vice captainship

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel rejected the opportunity to be vice – captain of the Super Eagles before the position was handed to Eddy Onazi and Kenneth Omeruo.

Contrary to speculations  that the midfielder would not honour future Super Eagles’ call – ups after he was overlooked for the captain’s armband by coach Sunday Oliseh, one of Mikel’s representatives has insisted that the player has taken the decision in good faith and is available for selection for the World Cup qualifiers.

“Sunday Oliseh wanted Mikel to be vice – captain, since he has already given Musa the captain’s armband,” the unnamed agent told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“He only wants to play in the team. He is not interested in being an assistant captain. Whenever they invite him, he will come.

“I think he was not chosen as captain because he missed the game in Tanzania, but Oliseh was impressed with his performance in the friendlies against DRC and Cameroon.”