Friday 13 February 2015

Amuneke’s wards will do the country proud


The former Nigeria U-17 star is convinced that Emmanuel Amuneke’s wards will do the country proud when the African Cadet championship begins on Sunday



Former Nigeria U-17 player, Shedrach Beto-Bassey is assured that the Golden Eaglets will live up to expectations when the African U-17 tournament kicks off in Niger Republic on February 15.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke’s boys will face Guinea, Zambia and hosts Niger in Group A of the competition which also serves as qualifier for the 2015 Fifa U-17 World Cup in Chile.

According to the retired right full back, the country’s representatives have an opportunity to emerge as champions going by the level of preparations of the team.

“We stand a chance of coming out between first to third because we have all it takes judging by the level of preparations the team had,” Beto-Bassey told Goal.

“Going by the abundance of talents we have in the country and the personality of coach Amuneke who knows how to get the best, we stand a chance to pick a World Cup slot too.

Nigeria face hosts Niger Republic in the opening game on Sunday and the former Nitel FC star believes, the Eaglets will not be intimidated but will get a win instead.

“Though the boys are not popular to Nigerians, they have a competent coach in Amuneke. We will defiantly silence the hosts in the first match.

“I can tell you that the hosts are not happy with the draw that pitched them with our boys because they know they are in for a serious trouble playing the Eaglets.

He added that the exploits of the 2013 set of Nigeria U-17 team would not mount pressure on the high scoring side insisting that it would instead be a blessing in disguise for the team.

“The coach must have told them this not to be carried away by the record set by the Manu Garba’s Eaglets.

“They have the whole sky to fly, so they won’t be under any pressure. I would advice the technical crew allow them enjoy the tournament.

“I believe in them and I’m optimistic they will excel. In fact, our previous achievements in the tournament would put our opponents under pressure,” he concluded.

Wednesday 11 February 2015

The out-of-contract Super Eagles coach is expected to return to his role in a few days after being offered a new deal on Tuesday.

 
The Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has recommended a renewal of contract for Stephen Keshi as the senior national team head coach. The committee led by Emeka Anyansi-Agwu concluded their meeting and tabled their recommendation to the executive board of NFF in due course.
Anyansi, who disclosed this to media at the headquarters of NFF, stated that the delay in the contract renewal was to enable the committee do a thorough job in a bid to get the best option.
He also explained that the committee has been in contact with the coach contrary to media reports where Keshi was quoted to have denied any approach by the committee.
According to Anyansi, “If anyone is saying that he has not been paid for about two months that he handled the team without contract, that cannot be true. Keshi is my personal friend and we don’t hold anything against him.”
Keshi, who has been out of contract since the end of the Super Eagles’ 2014 World Cup campaign,failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea two years after he led the team to win the 2013 title.
Even though he has come under intense criticism by figures like former coach Amodu Shaibu and ex-player Jonathan Akpoborie among many others, Keshi has been able to get a new contract due to the influence of President Goodluck Jonathan who asked the NFF to keep him on after he was sacked late in 2014

The out-of-contract Super Eagles coach is expected to return to his role in a few days after being offered a new deal on Tuesday

The Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has recommended a renewal of contract for Stephen Keshi as the senior national team head coach.
The committee led by Emeka Anyansi-Agwu concluded their meeting and tabled their recommendation to the executive board of NFF in due course.
Anyansi, who disclosed this to media at the headquarters of NFF, stated that the delay in the contract renewal was to enable the committee do a thorough job in a bid to get the best option.
He also explained that the committee has been in contact with the coach contrary to media reports where Keshi was quoted to have denied any approach by the committee.
According to Anyansi, “If anyone is saying that he has not been paid for about two months that he handled the team without contract, that cannot be true. Keshi is my personal friend and we don’t hold anything against him.”
Keshi, who has been out of contract since the end of the Super Eagles’ 2014 World Cup campaign,failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea two years after he led the team to win the 2013 title.
Even though he has come under intense criticism by figures like former coach Amodu Shaibu and ex-player Jonathan Akpoborie among many others, Keshi has been able to get a new contract due to the influence of President Goodluck Jonathan who asked the NFF to keep him on after he was sacked late in 2014
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