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Ademola Lookman Names Most Skillful, Fastest Players In Super Eagles Squad

Ademola Lookman, the Atalanta forward, has named the most skillful and fastest players in the current Super Eagles squad.

In a recent interview with the Counter Attack Podcast, Lookman identified himself, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze as the most skillful players in the Super Eagles.


“I will say me but if I couldn’t say me, I will have to say Chukwueze and Boniface,” Lookman said.

The 26-year-old also named himself, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ola Aina as the fastest players in the team.

“Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ola Aina, and I have got to put myself in there,” he added.

Lookman was instrumental for Nigeria in their last two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

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Super Eagles: John Ogu Advises NFF On Coach To Lead Nigeria’s National Team

John Ogu, the Super Eagles midfielder, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to retain Austin Eguavoen as head coach of the senior national team.

Recall that the NFF had appointed Eguavoen to oversee the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualification games against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Eguavoen’s appointment came after the NFF failed to get a substantive coach for the Super Eagles.

In a tweet on his X account on Wednesday, Ogu wants the NFF to keep Eguavoen in his position ahead of the AFCON qualifiers in October 2024.

“Dear @thenff, Please keep coach @coacheguavoen. Give him time to keep building the team moving forward,” Ogu tweeted.

Eguavoen, however, is expected to lead the Super Eagles in their next AFCON qualifiers in October.

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AFCON 2025 Qualifier: Super Eagles Fly Out To Kigali For Amavubi Clash

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have flown to Kigali in preparation for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Amavubi of Rwanda, scheduled for Tuesday.

The players and their officials left the Victor Attah Airport, Uyo on Sunday afternoon.

The Super Eagles plan two training sessions in Kigali before the clash with the home team.

The West Africans started their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on Saturday.

The three-time African champions will face the Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali on Tuesday.

Rwanda held the Mediterranean Knights of Libya to a 1-1 draw in Tripoli in their first game.

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Nigerian Coach Best For Super Eagles, No Need For Expatriate – Troost-Ekong

William Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles captain, is rooting for an indigenous coach to lead the team.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in June announced it will appoint an expatriate to lead the Super Eagles.

The NFF recently failed in their attempt to appoint German Bruno Labbadia as head coach of the three-time African champions.

The soccer house id still searching for a foreign coach to lead the team.

Troost-Ekong however voiced his support for a local coach to take over the post.

“I’ve always said that having a coach from Nigeria is an advantage. Someone who has been in our shoes and understands what we’re going through can bring that experience to the team,” the Al-Khaloood of Saudi defender told reporters in Uyo.

Former international, Augustine Eguavoen will lead the team in interim capacity for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

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AFCON 2025 Qualifier: They’re All Fit – Eguavoen Speaks On Who To Start Between Okoye And Nwabali

Austin Eguavoen, the Super Eagles interim manager, has admitted that it is ‘headache’ for him to decide who will be in goal for Nigeria between Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye ahead of Saturday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifier against Republic of Benin.

Eguavoen, who spoke at his pre-match press conference, said both goalkeepers are all fit.

When asked who will start in goal between both goalkeepers against Benin, Eguavoen told reporters: “The headache in the entire team. 23 quality players, some quality players that are also not in the team right now.

“So, it is headache for the coach but the good thing is that they are all fit and we can always play with 11, the required number of players and the good thing is that the players also know that.”

The match will hold at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

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AFCON 2025 Qualifier: It’s Victory Or Nothing Against Benin Republic – Okoye

Maduka Okoye has said it is important for the Super Eagles to start their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on a winning note.

The Super Eagles will entertain their neighbours Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday.

The three-time African champions have won only one of their last five outings.

Okoye stated that the Super Eagles must go all out for a win against the Cheetahs.

“It’s important we win because this is an important AFCON qualifier,” the Udinese goalkeeper told reporters.

“We have to be at our best and play at our highest level.

“What is most important is the victory for the team and for Nigeria.”

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Maduka Okoye Gives Verdict On Nwabali Amid Battle For Super Eagles’ First-Choice Goalkeeper

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has praised Stanley Nwabali as an outstanding goalkeeper in the ongoing competition for the Super Eagles’ top goalkeeper spot.

Okoye spoke ahead of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifiers against Republic of Benin and Rwanda on Saturday and Tuesday.

Nwabali is currently Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper due to his form at the 2023 AFCON.

Speaking to Victor Modo, Okoye expressed readiness to compete with the Chippa United gloveman for the starting berth.

“Like you said, we have top goalkeepers. Stanley proved it in the AFCON and for me, it is also great to share the pitch with them you know and train together with them and the very good goalkeeping coach and yeah it is always good,”Okoye said.

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It’s God’s Favour — Eguaveon Denies Lobbying For Super Eagles Coaching Role

Austin Eguavoen, the caretaker coach of the Super Eagles, has refuted claims that he lobbied for the interim coaching role.

In a recent statement released through the official Super Eagles communication channels, Eguavoen emphasized that his appointment was not a result of any personal efforts or influence but rather the manifestation of divine favor.

“I am a member of the Federation, working as the Technical Director Nigerian Football Federation,” he said.

“When a situation like this comes and you are being called upon, you can’t say no. It’s a task that I had performed; it is a duty that falls under my responsibility.

“For the fact that the hierarchy of the Federation now feels and thinks that I can salvage the situation, why not? But one thing should be clear to the public: I didn’t ask for this; I didn’t lobby for this, I didn’t apply for this; it is God’s favour.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the appointment of Augustine Eguavoen as the interim head coach of the Super Eagles for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

The decision came after negotiations with German coach Bruno Labbadia broke down.

Eguavoen, 59, who has served as the national team’s technical director since 2020, will temporarily take charge during this international break.

The Super Eagles legend is no stranger to the role, having previously coached the national team in three different stints, the most recent being in 2021 when he led the team at the AFCON following the sudden dismissal of former coach Gernot Rohr.

Continue reading “It’s God’s Favour — Eguaveon Denies Lobbying For Super Eagles Coaching Role”
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Eguavoen To Lead Super Eagles For Benin, Rwanda Fixtures After Labbadia’s Withdrawal

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Augustine Eguavoen, a former player and Technical Director of the Super Eagles, as the head coach for the team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

This decision comes in the wake of German coach Bruno LabBadia’s unexpected withdrawal from the role.

 

 

LabBadia, who was previously named as the successor to Finidi George earlier this week, reportedly declined the position due to unresolved issues with German tax laws.

The NFF disclosed late Friday via a statement on X that these tax concerns were the main obstacle to finalizing the agreement.

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau explained, “We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities. It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32% to 40% of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.

“The NFF and Mr. Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

“The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up. We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.” 

The NFF has named a 23-player squad for the upcoming qualifiers, with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, and stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong making their return after extended injury absences.

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Super Eagles Drop in Latest FIFA Rankings, Spain Climb to 3rd

The Super Eagles has been ranked 39th in the latest FIFA rankings.
The team lost one place from their previous rank of 38th.

This comes as Spain, the new Champions of Europe, leap five places to claim the 3rd position globally.

The Super Eagles, currently without a manager following Finidi George’s resignation, remain within the top five teams on the African continent.
Morocco, ranked 14th in the world, retains its status as the number one team in Africa, a position solidified by their historic semi-final run in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal follow closely, ranking 19th globally.
Mo Salah’s Egypt is positioned 36th in the world, while Sebastien Haller’s Ivory Coast holds the 38th spot, placing them third and fourth in Africa, respectively.
Nigeria completes the top five in Africa, despite their slight drop in global rankings.
The rest of Africa’s top ten includes Tunisia (41), Algeria (46), Cameroon (51), Mali (53), and South Africa (57).
On the global stage, EURO 2024 winners Spain have moved from eighth to third, reflecting their recent success. England, the runners-up, have also improved their standing, moving up to fourth.
Argentina maintain its position at the top of the rankings after adding the 2024 Copa America trophy to their 2022 FIFA World Cup victory. France remain steady in second place.