Orkpekyandega:
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Etebo, Ezenwa and 4 others retained by Siasia for Egypt
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Footballlive.ng has gathered that Super Eagles interim Coach, Samson Siasia will only keep 6 NPFL based players for the Afcon qualifier against Egypt.Three defenders, two Midfielders and a goalie were retained by the selectors, sources in the camp confirmed.


The list of 6 players was headlined by CAF 2015 Most Promising Talent, Oghenekaro Etebo (MF unattached), and Super Eagles B first choice goalie, Ikechukwu Ezenwa (GK Sunshine Stars).


Ifeanyi Matthew (MF, Kano Pillars), Chibuzor Okonkwo (DF, FC IfeanyiUbah), Orji Kalu (DF, Enugu Rangers), Matthew Etim (DF, Enugu Rangers) make up the list.
footballlive.ng/footballnews/9ja-news/etebo-ezenwa-and-4-others-retained-by-siasia-for-egypt/

tbaba1234:
Iwobi is the first foreign based player to hit camp.. Great attitude.

Played yesterday and already in camp.

tbaba1234:
Iwobi is the first foreign based player to hit camp.. Great attitude.

Played yesterday and already in camp.

That true. Great guy. Great talent & skills. Great attitude.
The FA have lost out on this one. FA bye..........gringrin according to Sir Terzurum5

owngoalnigeria.com/2016/03/20/iwobi-first-eagle-in-camp/

TheSuperNerd:
Elderson Echiejile played all 90 mins for AS Monaco as they shocked PSG away from home 2-0.

Decent showing from Echiejile in the game.

So happy Iwobi is in camp already, read England are hoping Nigeria don't cap him in the games against Egypt so as to have an outside chance of trying to persuade Iwobi to feature for them.

Note: Iwobi is yet to make his "competitive debut" for The Super Eagles. But we all know Iwobi is ours. England's just being a pest. #smiles

I suspect something Sir, if the post by Sir tbaba1234

England launch last-gasp Alex Iwobi bid as Arsenal starlet's full Nigeria debut looms

in the Dream Team thread is any thing to go by. I suspect Iwobi is running away from the FA's influence. Who knows if that is one of the reasons why he never wanted to waste time in England, but reported early. I love his patriotism. He wants to play for us with the whole of his hart. I think Sir Forgiveness is happy with this development

Orkpekyandega:
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Who are local boys to start for Nigeria vs Egypt?
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We rate the chances of the six local players who will join the foreign-based squad ahead of Friday’s must-win AFCON qualifier against Egypt in Kaduna


Ikechukwu Ezenwa 10%

The Sunshine Stars goalkeeper will not make the 18-man squad except first-choice Carl Ikeme or his cover Daniel Akpeyi are not available.


Chibuzor Okonkwo 40%

The FC IfeanyiUbah defender has always featured in coach Samson Siasia’s teams whether with the Olympic team or the Super Eagles. It was therefore not surprising when he was recalled by the coach. In training camp he played at right back and central defence. He may have slowed over the years, but may well be the best option at the Eagles problematic right back.


Etim Matthew 30%

The Enugu Rangers defender is yet another option at the problematic right back position. He has previously worked with Siasia with the U23s, which should give him additional points.


Kalu Orji 35%

The Rangers defender can play at right back or in central defence. He showed his class as a stopper at the CHAN in Rwanda and with Kenneth Omeruo ruled out and Leon Balogun a major doubt, he could well battle Efe Ambrose and Godfrey Oboabona for a starting spot at the heart of the back four.


Ifeanyi Matthew 35%

The Kano Pillars midfielder could play either as a defensive or offensive player. His creativity and versatility will give him a decent chance to be considered more likely for the reverse fixture in Alexandria on March 29. With former coach Sunday Oliseh, he would have been a sure-bet to start on Friday.


Oghenekaro Etebo 60%



The former Warri Wolves star who is bound for Europe after the AFCON qualifiers and he is Siasia’s favourite player in whom he is most pleased going by his exploits at the U23 AFCON in Senegal. He has the biggest chance of all the players who have been training for the past two weeks to start on Friday in Kaduna.
http://africanfootball.com/news/620691/Who-are-local-boys-to-start-for-Nigeria-vs-Egypt
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Orkpekyandega:
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El-Nenny: I told Iwobi that it will be hard to beat Egypt
By Abdelrahman Amr
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Egypt’s national team midfielder Mohamed El-Nenny talked to MBC TV channel about the crucial double-header against Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations qualifications.

The first leg will be held in Kaduna on the 25th of March, while the second leg is going to be played four days later in Alexandria.


“I have a good feeling that we will be able to win the match. Nigeria is a good tough team but we’re good too. I also feel that I am surrounded by support from everyone encouraging us to get back to winning,” El-Nenny explained.


When asked about whether he talked with his fellow team mate in Arsenal Alex Iwobi about the match, El-Nenny confirmed that they did speak about it briefly. “I told him that it will be hard for Nigeria to beat Egypt.”


The young midfielder answered the question about who he would choose as the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi by choosing the Argentinean legend.


“Messi is a unique football talent. Ronaldo is not a lot less than him but Messi is better without a doubt,” he added.

Egypt is currently on top of its group with six points after beating Chad and Tanzania, while Nigeria is in the second place with four points.
http://www.kingfut.com/2016/03/21/el-nenny-i-told-iwobi-will-hard-beat-egypt/
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Orkpekyandega:
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Eagles new boy Aminu nets sixth goal in Turkey
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Aminu

Super Eagles new boy Umar Aminu scored his sixth goal in the Turkish Super League for Osmanlispor in a 3-1 win over Genclerbirligi.

Osmanlispor are sixth on the league table with 39 points in 26 games.


The former Samsunspor striker, who will be in Kaduna this week for AFCON 2017 qualifier against Egypt, scored in the 49th minute to give Osmanlispor a 2-1 lead.

His compatriot Raheem Lawal started the game and lasted for 85th minute, when he was replaced by Vaclav Prochazka.
http://africanfootball.com/news/620421/Eagles-new-boy-Aminu-nets-sixth-goal-in-Turkey

Orkpekyandega:
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Eagles Arrive In Kaduna Tuesday; Mikel, Shehu, Umar Hit Camp
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The Super Eagles will depart Abuja for Kaduna on Tuesday ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt on Friday.

This was revealed on the Super Eagles official Twitter handle.


It was disclosed that the Eagles will head for Kaduna after their morning training on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the overseas-based quartet of Mikel Obi, Aminu Umar, Abdullahi Shehu and Alex Iwobi have already hit camp.


They join the six home-based players which are Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Orji Kalu, Ifeanyi Matthew, Matthew Etim, Oghenekaro Etebo and Chibuzor Okonkwo.
http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/eagles-arrive-kaduna-tuesday-mikel-shehu-umar-hit-camp/

Orkpekyandega:

.
So sir looking at how prolific our forwards have been with their Clubs before this match, will you still love Ighalo to lead the front line, considering his shyness in front of goal?
cc: forgiveness.

Icon4s:


See, in national team action u dnt jst base your players' assessment on club performances in the last 1 or 2 months.

You and I have seen Ighalo on several occasions and we know what he is capable of. He has not scored in the EPL for some time doesn't mean if he is gifted with opportunities against Egypt he will nt convert them. Football is like that. You enjoy a period of continues banging of goals and then another period without goals. 14 EPL goals for a whole season already makes him a prolific striker.
Ighalo is by far our best center forward option.

National team duties are quite different from club duties. Experience counts for much especially in a big game.
That is why I am nt moved by the performances of the likes of Chidozie Awaziem, Ehizibue, and the rest. The technical committee I am sure have taken note of them for future call-ups.

A young defender starting 2 or 3 games for the senior team of a club in my opinion is not enough for me to press for an inclusion of that player in the senior national team for a game of the nature. At best I can for now press for his inclusion in the U23 and maybe in the games against Chad and Tanzania (if he continues playing). It is nt an issue of "bc Awaziem starts for Fc Porto he is now automatically better than Ambrose and Obaobona". You cannot rule-out the place of experience and co-ordination in the center back position.

I, jst like most coaches believe so much in experience at center back. We can play a debutant at Right or Left back positions bt not at center back bc it would be too risky more especially in a would be tension soaked game. We are all not so comfortable with Ambrose - Obaobona CB back pair bt believe me that is the best pair we can afford for now.

My hope is for us to build a new Center back pair from Rio Olympics and graduate them together into the Super Eagles. It could be Awaziem-Omeruo pair or which ever pair that makes the starting 11. Football is a Team sport and co-ordination in the area of defense matters. U saw how the Omeruo and Obaobona CB pair worked for as at the 2013 AFCON. Throwing in defenders at random has been our major problem and it will continue to hurt us if we continue in that trend

The young players will definitely get their turn but first we need to manage the situation we find in our hands now.

Orkpekyandega:

I suspect something Sir, if the post by Sir tbaba1234 in the Dream Team thread is any thing to go by. I suspect Iwobi is running away from the FA's influence. Who knows if that is one of the reasons why he never wanted to waste time in England, but reported early. I love his patriotism. He wants to play for us with the whole of his hart. I think Sir Forgiveness is happy with this development

Orkpekyandega:
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Arsenal star Alex Iwobi to face decision between England or Nigeria
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[img]http://cdn-03.independent.ie/incoming/article34555548.ece/43cfa/ALTERNATES/h342/p7arsenal3.jpg[/img]
Arsenal's Alex Iwobi is congratulated by team-mates after the final whistle. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Alex Iwobi is at the centre of a Football Association tug-of-war after a succession of impressive displays for Arsenal.

The 19-year-old winger was destined to commit his international future to Nigeria, the country of his birth, but has represented England at under-16, 17 and 18 levels - opening the door for a last-ditch attempt to persuade him otherwise.


Despite representing his homeland on two occasions, both friendlies, the nephew of former Bolton midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha is still eligible for Roy Hodgson’s side.


Back in September, England succeeded in persuading Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish to choose them over the Republic of Ireland but the 20-year-old Solihull-born winger has endured a torrid campaign in the Midlands.


With little chance of making Hodgson’s squad for the European Championship in France this summer, Grealish is yet to feature for the national side since announcing his intention to turn down the advances of Republic manager Martin O'Neill.


Iwobi, meanwhile, is in line to make his competitive debut for Nigeria this week after being named in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying squad. The winger scored for the Gunners on his first Premier League start against Everton this weekend after also featuring at Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek.


“He played for the England youth teams for a while,” explained manager Arsene Wenger, at Goodison Park on Saturday. “And after that, the U19s didn’t play him. No, they didn’t pick him. He has not played in the under-19s, basically, and he has a choice, you know.


“I think he has chosen Nigeria and we have to respect that. He travels Sunday to Nigeria, and will join up with them. We’ll see what stands in the way. Already the Africa Cup of Nations was in January, so when the players have a choice.”
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/arsenal-star-alex-iwobi-to-face-decision-between-england-or-nigeria-34558024.html
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