Following his man-of-the-match performance against the Super Eagles B side in a Grade A friendly game on Thursday; Mahanaim FC’s, striker Aliyu Baba has categorically stated that there is more to come from him, after he gave the Eagles handler plenty to worry about in a two nil defeat to Chan Team.

Nicknamed the Tiger, the non-league player showed no fear as he scored twice to shock the CHAN Eagles handlers at the training pitch of the MKO Abiola stadium, to give his young side an impressive 2-0 lead.

However, goals from Promise Amadi and Chidebere Nwobodo put the Eagles’ level at the break before a second-half header from Ebube Duru, which sealed the win for the more experienced CHAN Eagles.

Speaking to the club media after the game, Aliyu Baba who caught the eyes many football lovers in club’s (first) giant-killing run during the FCT Aiteo cup, stated that he was happy with his performance as it was just another good day in the office.

“I feel great to score against the National Team, it was a good game for us and I am sure we gave our best on the field.

“Well I won’t say I am surprised with my goals, it’s what I am here for, to score goals and help the team and I can guarantee that there is plenty to come from me in the future,” Aliyu added.

The Mahanaim Striker who is also on the radar of series of Premier League clubs, Foreign clubs has shown consistency with the club scoring a hattrick against Police FC , whilst he converted the lone goal that knocked down and bundled out Garden City Panthers in the club run to the FCT Aiteo Cup semifinals before his side’s 2-0 defeat to EFCC FC.

Nigeria’s Home based Super Eagles fought back from a 2-goal down to defeat Mahanaim FC of Abuja 3-2, in its first test match ahead of a crucial two legged CHAN 2023 qualifiers against the Black Galaxy’ of Ghana.

The match was played on the newly repaired and refurbished training ground of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, 18th of August, 2022. In the highly balanced game, 2013 AFCON winner Ogenyi Onazi featured and had a good 45 minutes Presence in the game.

The Eagles conceded two early goals to the brilliance of Mahanaim FC Striker, Aliu Baba but found it was back through Akwa United’s Promise Amadi and Chidebere Nwobodo of Rangers Intl as the first half ended 2-2.

The super eagles made six changes to the 5 changes in the second half as lanky rivers united defender Ebube Duru headed home the winning goal for the Chan Eagles in the second half.

Assistant coach Kenedy Boboye’ said the team is still a work in progress.

Meanwhile Ogenyi Onazi’s reason for featuring in the friendly match for the Homebase Super Eagles was to keep up and examine his level of Fitness before going to his club, in Europe.

Mahanaim Media department:

Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu, has expressed delight over his invitation to the senior national team, Super Eagles for the upcoming African Nations Championship qualifiers against Ghana.

Nwosu, who won the Best Goalkeeper award in the 2022 West African Football Union WAFU B U20 tourney was filled with joy with the news of his invitation as he thanked the football federation, coach Salisu Yusuf and Ladan Bosso for being giving the opportunity to show his God-given goalkeeping prowess.

He said, ‘I am very happy to earn my first invitation to Super Eagles at this early stage in my career. I want to thank the NFF for the consideration, coach Salisu Yusuf for the opportunity given to me, and Ladan Bosso for his fatherly advise that spurred me on in the WAFU B U20 Competition. I wont take the opportunity for granted and want to use it to make Nigerians proud.

Head Coach of Super Eagles B, Salisu Yusuf invited Nwosu Nathaniel and 34 other players for their clash against Galaxies of Ghana in the 2023 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament. The Super Eagles wil square up with Ghana in the first leg in Accra on Sunday, 28th August while the second leg is scheduled for Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja on Saturday 3rd September. The winners on aggregate will go on to participate at the 7th African Nations Championship in Algeria in 2023.

Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has called to camp 35 players who will battle for shirts in the Super Eagles B squad that will tackle Ghana home and away in a 2023 African Nations Championship qualifying fixture in a few weeks.

All invited players are expected at the Bolton White Apartments in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Wednesday, 10th August.

The Eagles B will square up to the Black Galaxies in the first leg in Accra on Sunday, 28th August with the return encounter already scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 3rd September.

The winner on aggregate will earn a berth at the 7th African Nations Championship finals to be staged in Algeria early next year.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Adeyinka Adewale (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC); Nathaniel Nwosu (Flying Eagles).

Defenders: Tope Olusesi (Rangers Int’l); Kazie Enyinnaya (Rivers United); Sani Faisal (Katsina United); Samson Gbadebo (Akwa United); Ebube Duru (Rivers United); Christopher Nwaeze (Akwa United); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Tosin Adegbite (Enyimba FC); Temple Emekayi (Rivers United); Andrew Ikefe (Plateau United).

Midfielders: Babatunde Bello (Akwa United); Philip Ozor (Enyimba FC); Maurice Chukwu (Rivers United); Hafeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Zulkifilu Mohammed (Plateau United); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Jide Fatokun (Kwara United); Kenechukwu Agu (Rangers Int’l); Joseph Onoja (Rivers United); Haggai Katoh (Plateau United); Uche Onwuasonaya (Rivers United).

Forwards: Abdulazeez Yusuf (Gombe United); Sadiq Abubakar (Enyimba FC); Chidiebere Nwobodo (Rangers Int’l); Promise Amadi (Akwa United); Chijioke Akuneto (Rivers United); Valentine Odoh (Abia Warriors); Andy Okpe (Remo Stars); Adams Yakubu (Akwa United); Godspower Aniefiok (Kano Pillars); Ossy Martins (Rangers Int’l)

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of Salisu Yusuf as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles B (otherwise known as CHAN team) as well as the U23 (Olympics) team.

Yusuf, who was Head Coach of the Super Eagles B when the team emerged runner-up of the African Nations Championship in Morocco in 2018, will work with Kennedy Boboye (Assistant Coach); Fatai Osho (Assistant Coach); Abubakar Bala Mohammed (Assistant Coach); Fidelis Ikechukwu (Assistant Coach); Eboboritse Uwejamomere (Match Analyst) and Ike Shorounmu (Goalkeepers’ Trainer) and Suleiman Shuaibu (Goalkeepers’ Trainer 2).

In other appointments, Ladan Bosso retains his position as Head Coach of the U20 Boys. He will work with former U17 Head Coach, Fatai Amao (Assistant Coach); Oladuni Oyekale (Assistant Coach); Jolomi Atune Alli (Assistant Coach) and; Baruwa Olatunji Abideen (Goalkeepers’ Trainer).

For the U17 Boys, Golden Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade was named Head Coach. He will work with Ahmad Lawal Dankoli (Assistant Coach); Omoniyi Haruna Ilerika (Assistant Coach); Yemi Daniel (Assistant Coach) and; Mohammed Nasiru Isah (Goalkeepers’ Trainer). Ugbade captained Nigeria’s first cadet team that won the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.

For the U13/15 Boys known as Future Eagles, Patrick Bassey will be Head Coach and will work with Abdullahi Tyabo Umar (Assistant Coach); Mohammed Kalli Kachalla (Assistant Coach); Ifeanyi Uba (Assistant Coach); Alh. Mohammed Kwairanga (Assistant Coach) and; Abubakar Abdullahi (Goalkeepers’ Trainer).

The NFF also stated that a new Head Coach for the Super Eagles will be announced and officially unveiled once the processes for his engagement and contract-signing are concluded.

The NFF Executive Committee has also approved the recommendation of the Technical & Development Sub-Committee for the new Head Coach to work with Coach Salisu Yusuf (whenever he is available from Super Eagles B/U23 Team duties) as 1^st Assistant. Former Nigeria international Finidi George will be 2^nd Assistant, with Usman Abdallah as 3^rd Assistant. Eboboritse Uwejamomere will be the Match Analyst and another former Nigeria international, Ike Shorounmu will be the Goalkeepers’ Trainer.     

Nigeria International Michael Ibe has returned to his boyhood club Abia Warriors until the end of the season.

The Umuahia based club won the race to land Ibe, with some NPFL clubs also reported to be keen on the attacking midfielder, who chose to return to his first NPFL team.

Ibe, started his professional career with Abia Warriors before joining Akwa United where he won the Aiteo Cup in 2017.

In 2019, he reunited with his former coach Abdul Maikaba at Plateau United before moving to FK Andijon in Uzbekistan.

His exploits with Andijon saw him join Mash’al Mubarek mid-season, in one and half season with the team, Ibe scored 10 goals and 6 assists in all competition for Mash’al.

Ibe is currently in Umuahia and will hope to bring his wealth of experience into Imama’s tutored Abia Warriors.

Gabriel Okechukwu, former Akwa United striker has completed a four year deal move to top Japanese club, Consadole Sapporo worth Two Million Dollars.

Okechukwu who last played for Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca will now be playing in the J-League.

The 26 year old striker is a product of Water FC of Abuja who made himself known to soccer scene with his moved to Akwa United in 2017.

The lanky forward helped the Promise Keepers win the 2017 Aiteo Cup scoring the winning penalty that saw them beaten Niger Tornadoes in the final.

The Super Eagles striker also played on loan for Moroccan side, SC Chabab before returning to Wydad Casablanca where he was a free agent before signing for Sapporo in Japan.

He also played in the Ukrainian league at some point where he scored a goal in four appearances.

Okechukwu was also instrumental for Nigeria Home Based Super Eagles feat in CHAN held in Morocco in 2018 where they reached the final and to the host country.

Consadole finished 10th in the Japanese top division last season, Gabriel Okechukwu is tipped to help the Japanese side go further by winning the league or at least getting a continental ticket and a domestic cup this season.