Super Eagles to play Mali and Luxembourg

The Nigerian Football Federation has announced that Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face the Eagles of Mali and the National Team of Luxembourg in two international friendly matches in Europe in the next FIFA window.

 Mali are currently ranked 63rd in the world and the game is scheduled to hold at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on Friday, 27th May 2016.

 Mali finished as runner-up at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1972, and took bronze medals at the finals in 2012 and 2013.

 The Eagles of Mali are already through to next year's continental showpiece in Gabon after picking up 10 points from their first four matches of the qualification series, in a Group C that also has Equatorial Guinea, Benin Republic and South Sudan. The Nigerian national team will however not participate after losing their Group's sole ticket to Egypt. 

Super Eagles would then play the National Team of Luxembourg in Luxembourg on Wednesday, 1stJune 2016, at a venue to be finalized in the coming days. 

Super Eagles fail to win against Angola in CHAN 2016 warm-up

The home-based Super Eagles played out a 1-1 draw with their Angolan counterparts in a friendly match in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday.

The teams are currently finalizing their preparations for the 2016 African Nations Championship which starts next week in Rwanda.

The Super Eagles took the lead after 84 minutes when Ikechukwu Ibenegbu converted a penalty kick after Ibrahim Salawu was brought down in the box.

The Angolan, however, struck back two minutes before the end of the game from a corner kick preventing Sunday Oliseh’s men from recording a win.

They had earlier beaten South African club, Amatuks, in a friendly game at their training game 3-0. Nigeria will continue their preparation with another warm-up game against Ivory Coast on January 11. They will depart for Rwanda after the game.

Oliseh names 23 Eagles for African Nations Championship

Sunday Oliseh, Head Coach of the Super Eagles

The Nigerian Football Federation on Saturday in Abuja said Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has named his squad for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

In a statement issued by Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director (Communications), the Federation announced that the final list of 23 players had been released by the coach. He added that the Eagles B team along with the technical and backroom staff departed for South Africa on Saturday afternoon where they will take part in a 10-day training camp. They will also play two friendly games against Angola and Cote d’Ivoire on January 6 and 11 respectively.

The Federation also said that Oliseh had arrived in South Africa ahead of the delegation. The championship which holds from January 16 to February 7 sees the Eagles in Group C alongside 2011 winners Tunisia, Niger Republic and Guinea. The group games will be played in Kigali.

The full list:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars), Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba International FC), Okiemute Odah (Warri Wolves).

Defenders: Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors), Kalu Okogbue (Rangers International), Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars), Mathew Etim (Rangers International), Chima Akas (Sharks FC), Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars),  Christopher Maichibi (Giwa FC), Samson Gbadebo (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors), Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars), Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba), Yaro Bature (Nasarawa United), Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Warri Wolves), Ibrahim Salau (Shooting Stars)

Forwards: Osas Okoro (Rangers International), Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba International FC), Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars), Bright Onyedikachi (FC Ifeanyi Ubah), Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors), Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars).