NPFL Elite Players Scheme: Yobo set to join Kano Pillars or Ifeanyi Ubah FC

Former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, will sign for a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, after reaching an agreement with the League Management Company (LMC).

According to the LMC, Yobo will be assigned to a club for the last 12 matches, under the NPFL Elite Players Scheme.

Four teams – Kano Pillars, Akwa United, IfeanyiUbah FC and Wikki Tourists – are all fighting to land the former Everton and Fenerbahce defender.

Nigerian Eagles cage Mali in France

Hours after former captain Joseph Yobo called on the new generation of Super Eagles to “rise to the occasion and lift the Super Eagles to new levels,” a relatively young Nigerian team gifted with a sense of urgency, purpose and craftsmanship pipped Les Aigles of Mali 1-0 in an exciting international friendly in Rouen on Friday.

Without skipper John Mikel Obi and his assistant, Ahmed Musa who were released to be part of Yobo’s testimonial match in Port Harcourt, the Eagles were expected to struggle at the Stade Robert Diochon. But the young team fought well and in a pragmatic manner and could have won by a wider margin.

Stephen Keshi: World Cup elimination painful, calls for unity in defeat

Braslia - Stephen Keshi said that his side's World Cup elimination by France in the last 16 was "painful", but vowed that he would not seek out scapegoats.

Bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, Nigeria stood toe to toe with France for much of Monday's match at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha National Stadium, only to lose to two late goals.

A handling error by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama enabled Paul Pogba to head in a 79th-minute opener and France completed victory in injury time when Joseph Yobo scored an own goal from a Mathieu Valbuena cross.

While both French goals stemmed from Nigerian mistakes, Keshi was adamant that all of his players bore equal responsibility for the African champions' exit.

Captain Yobo Prefers a win Against Argentina as Oboabona resumes training ahead of the clash

The Super Eagles' Captain, Joseph Yobo, who is just one game away from joining the centenary group with 100 international caps, has warned his teammates that the last Group F clash is going to be a difficult one.

“The Argentina match is going to be another exciting and difficult game because we know how good they are with a lot of talents.

“It will be great to achieve the centenary mark for Nigeria. It shows what I have been able to contribute to Nigeria’s progress in the game. But the most important thing for me is to help my country do well at the World Cup.

Yobo was quoted as saying he preferred a win on Wednesday to his much advertised attainment of 100 caps if featured in the match against Argentina.“It is good news that I will reach that milestone, but what is uppermost in my mind is for the team to win and for us to advance to the next stage.

Brazil 2014: Keshi declares Eagles fit for USA clash

The Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is sure that the criticisms the Super Eagles have received in their build-up to the World Cup will stop after the match against the United States on Saturday.

The Eagles manager, in an interview on Thursday, said the players were now going through specific training programmes with the squad cut down to the exact 23 players billed to play in Brazil. 

He attributed the pattern of play exhibited so far by the players to the fact that they were just starting to train as a team. He said, “We all just started training as a team last week. Now we have increased the intensity and the focus has shifted to specifics. We simply played against Scotland with little or no training having just arrived in town but the players are in better conditions now and responding well. We are facing a good team as we play the USA but I am sure people are going to see a much coordinated and purposeful team. The game will be better.”

Full list: Keshi releases Nigeria’s final 23-man team for Brazil 2014 World Cup

Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has released his list of 23 players for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Find the list below:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille/FRA), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United), Austin Ejide

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco/FRA), Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC/SCO), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor/TUR), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough/ENG), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC/ISR), Joseph Yobo (Norwich City/ENG)

Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG),Ogenyi Onazi, Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Gabriel Reuben (Beveren/BEL), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis/SPA), Sunday Mba (CA Bastia/FRA), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge/BEL)

Eagles' provisional 30-man list for FIFA 2014 World Cup out, Osaze, Yobo in

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has on Tuesday announced the Nigeria’s provisional 30-man list for the Brazil FIFA 2014 World Cup. The list, submitted by Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, was read on Tuesday evening by a member of the Technical Committee of the NFF, Paul Bassey.

Full list of the Nigeria Squad for FIFA 2014 World Cup:

Goal Keepers – Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim (Gombe Utd), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves).

Defenders – Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).

Midfielders – John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers Int’l), Sunday Mba, Gabriel Rueben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi, Michael Uchebo.