Tunde Folawiyo

As a supporter of Nigeria’s national football team, Tunde Folawiyo was no doubt disappointed when their recent clash with Greece ended with neither side having scored. However, although the Eagles failed to net any goals, they performed well in terms of defending themselves; Greece only had one clear opportunity to score, during the 83rd minute, when Salpingidis’ header resulted in the ball going just over the bar.

Initially, it seemed as though Greece might take the lead when, in the 7th minute, a quick pass from Karagounis to Fetfatzidis went unnoticed by the Eagles. However, Fetfatzidis’s shot was inaccurate, and never made it into the net. Three minutes later, things seemed to be looking up for Nigeria, when they were awarded a free kick, that was taken by Emenike, but a weak shot by the striker meant that the team failed to gain the upper hand.

The remainder of the match was filled with missed opportunities, as both sides struggled to break down their opponents’ defensive line. Towards the end, Nigeria resorted to taking shots from long range, rather than attempting to get closer to the goal post, but this approach proved fruitless. Things went from bad to worse after Echiejile suffered an injury on the pitch and had to sit out the rest of the game.

After the match, Eagles coach Stephen Keshi expressed some disappointment with the team’s performance, noting that his players would have to improve very quickly if they wished to succeed at the World Cup. He acknowledged that every team has bad matches now and again, and added that perhaps this less-than-perfect game would motivate the players to work harder during the tournament. He finished by saying that the purpose of a friendly is to help a team unearth its weaknesses, and this is precisely what happened during the Eagles’ battle against Greece.

Despite his words, Keshi might be regretting his choice of squad members, given their performance in this match. Eagles fans such as Tunde Folawiyo were probably quite surprised at the manager’s decision to exclude midfielders Joel Obi and Nosa Igiebor, as well as Sunday Mba, who played extraordinarily well during the African Nations Cup. However, Keshi explained that he could not be sentimental when making his choices, and had to base his decisions on players’ recent performances.

Known as “The Super Eagles”, the Nigerian football team has been one of Africa’s most successful over the past few decades. With a rich history of world class footballers, such as Patrick “Segun” Odegbemi, JayJay Okocha, and Kanu Nwankwo, combined with a number of exciting young players on the horizon, the impact which the Nigerian team has had on football in Africa and beyond should continue for many years to come.

Formed in 1949, the Nigerian football team had already been in existence unofficially since the 1930s. The development of the game in Nigeria finally bore fruit in 1976 and 1978[2] when the national team finished third out of all teams competing in the renowned African Cup of Nations. In 1980 the Nigerian national football team which was comprised of such legendary players as Tunji Banjo, Christian Chukwu, and Muda Lawal, went on to win the competition out right, cementing themselves in football history.

These successes were added to in 1994 when the team first reached the World Cup. The Super Eagles made an explosive immediate impact on the international game immediately, by topping their initial group which included well-known and established international football teams such as Argentina, Bulgaria, and Greece. They went on to the next round where they led a famous Italian side by 1-0 until the last two minutes of the game when Roberto Baggio scored a goal to take the game to extra time, scoring another via a penalty kick during extra time which ended Nigeria’s excellent and impressive run in the competition that year. This accomplishment was equalled in the next World Cup in 1998 when the team reached the second round of the competition, doing the same again in 2014. In the years between, the Nigerian national football team also qualified for the 2002 and 2010 World Cup competitions, further solidifying their reputation as a successful and admired international football team.

Building on the achievements of previous players, Nigeria continues to produce young footballers ready to make their mark on the international stage. In 2014 the Nigerian under 17s team won the FIFA World Cup for their age category for a staggering 4th time. Their coach, Many Garba, continues to develop these players attracting attention from some of the world’s most prestigious football clubs including Arsenal. This most recent victory, which took place over a highly skilled Mexico team, is the latest example of why the Nigerian football team will continue to contribute to the football community in a positive way, as it has done over the past few decades.

With a number of high profile supporters such as Tunde Folawiyo (for more information read this blog article on Tunde Folawiyo), the Nigerian football team will continue its high profile work as one of Africa’s most successful footballing nations.

After several weeks of negotiating, Stephen Keshi has officially agreed to continue serving as the coach of the Super Eagles. He sent his formal letter of acceptance to the Nigerian Football Federation last week. The news of the coach’s contract renewal will no doubt come as a relief to Tunde Folawiyo, and other Super Eagles fans, as it means that the team now have the leadership they need to prepare for the first of their AFCON qualifying matches, which is to be held on the 7th of September.

The team are set to face Rwanda, Sudan and South Africa in the Group A matches next month. Rwanda was named as one of their opponents after their outstanding penalty shootout against Congo resulted in a 4-3 victory. They will be travelling to Nigeria to play the Eagles. Although the Wasps performance against Congo was impressive, Eagles’ fans like Tunde Folawiyo are probably not too concerned, given how well their team played at AFCON last year.

More upheaval may be on the cards for the Super Eagles in the near future, as Sammy Amoebi, who currently plays for Newcastle, has expressed a desire to devote his senior career to Nigeria, much like his brother Shola has. In an interview, Sammy said that it would be a great honour to join the Eagles, adding that after seeing how happy his older sibling was with the club, he is sure that he too, would fit in well.

There have also been rumours that Kelechi Iheanacho, a player who rose to fame during his time with the ‘Super Eaglets’ last year, might be joining Nigeria’s senior team in the very near future. His performance at the U-17 World Cup 2013 was outstanding; the seven assists and six goals which he provided were instrumental in helping his team to win this title. His efforts did not go unnoticed, with the committee awarding him both the Golden Ball and the Silver Boot for his hard work on the pitch. During the same year, he was given the title of ‘Most Promising Youngster’ by the CAF.

However, opinions are divided on whether Iheanacho would do well if he joined the Super Eagles. Sports journalist Solace Chukwu contends that integrating into the senior Nigerian team might be too overwhelming for the young man, but James Ezimoha believes that the Eagles need some fresh faces, and that Iheanacho could provide the commitment, passion and zeal that the existing squad so desperately need.

Although football is something which interests Folawiyo greatly, he also has many other passions, including entrepreneurialism. Those who want to learn more can read about the Tunde Folawiyo success story on Frontiers.

With the first of their AFCON qualifying matches looming, the Super Eagles are now working hard to ready themselves for this event. Nigeria have been named as the favourites to win in Group A; however, many say that the Eagles should not underestimate the abilities of their opponents, as to do so could deal a fatal blow to their progress in this important tournament.

Rwanda, whom the Eagles are due to play in Group-A, have been doing well under the guidance of their new manager, Stephen Constantine. Their recent victory over Libya, the 2014 CHAN champions, serves as a testament to how far they have come over the past few months. Coupled with their impressive performance against Congo this month, there is little doubt that they are now capable of giving Nigeria a run for their money. Tunde Folawiyo, and other Eagles’ fans, are probably not too concerned however, given that Nigeria defeated Rwanda quite easily at the 2014 AFCON tournament, finishing with a result of 2-0.

Nigeria will also have to face Sudan and South Africa. The latter are due to play the Eagles at the Cape Town Stadium on the 10th of September. Danny Jordan, the president of the SA Football Association, acknowledged that playing against the reigning AFCON champions at such a huge stadium would be a daunting task for Bafana Bafana. He added that for Shakes Masaba, who has just joined the club as head coach, this would be an especially gruelling experience.

Whilst there is no question that Nigeria have a tough road ahead of them, Olakunle Fayiga, a sports journalist, believes that with Keshi at the helm, they will have little difficulty in retaining their title. Discussing the coach’s many achievements during the past three years – from helping them to win CHAN in 2013, to leading them to their best World Cup performance in almost two decades in 2014 – Fayiga praised the dedication and discipline which Keshi has instilled into the team during his time as coach.

The journalist noted that, due to the respect which Keshi commands, there are now no longer any issues with players failing to honour call-ups, or showing up late to training camps. Fayiga finished by describing the Nigerian as being superior, in terms of his coaching skills, even to Clemens Westerhof, a man widely considered to be the greatest coach the Eagles has ever had. This is a bold statement, but it is one which many fans, including Tunde Folawiyo, might agree with.

As an Eagles supporter, Folawiyo likes to use social media to keep up to date with events in the world of football. To read about his thoughts on this subject, follow Tunde Folawiyo on Twitter.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have seen a variety of rumours thrust their way in recent weeks, with the fate of Stephen Keshi not yet solidified. One thing is for certain, at least for now – Vincent Enyeama is here to stay. The goalkeeper has recently announced that he will not yet part ways with the team. After the team’s failure to advance during the 2014 World Cup, Enyeama had reportedly suggested he may quit the international team. Tunde Folawiyo and fans of the Nigerian team may be pleased with the goalkeeper’s decision to stand by the team for yet another distinguished season.

The clarifications by the 31-year-old came moments after receiving an excellence award from Guvaps Management in southern Nigeria. He began his football education with Ibom Stars during 1999 before making a move to Enyimba, a two-time club champion. From 2001 to 2004, Enyeama made a total of 100 appearances for the team, resulting in 10 goals overall. After three seasons playing for the club, followed by a season played with Heartland F.C., formerly known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Enyeama went on to play for Israel’s Bnei Yehuda. He showcased great skill during his debut season playing for the team, one in which they reached the final qualification for Israel’s State Cup. That same year, they went on to earn fourth place for Israel’s Premier League, an honour that qualified them for 2006’s UEFA Cup. The following year, he signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv, playing for three seasons before ultimately joining the ranks of Lille during 2011. It was his time with Hapoel that solidified his spot as one of Africa’s finest athletes.

During the 2009/10 season, Enyeama scored a Cup Final advantage goal that led to Hapoel winning the league. Later, during August of 2010, he scored the first goal of his 2010-2011 season, nailing a penalty kick against Red Bull Salzburg to qualify for that year’s Champions League. His team won the Israeli cup again during that year.

Enyeama made his first game appearance with Lille on 18 of October in 2011 during the 2012 Champions League. In August of the next year, playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv under a year-long loan agreement, Enyeama made 27 appearances for the team in Israel’s Premiere League where they won the championship. With these career successes, Enyeama’s announcement may be of comfort to Tunde Folawiyo and millions of Super Eagles fans throughout Africa who wish to see the power player remain loyal to his team. Follow Tunde Folawiyo on Twitter for more on Nigerian football and other events in the country.

Ademola Olajire, a spokesperson from the NFF (Nigerian Football Federation), has confirmed that Nigeria will be playing against Rwanda at the U.J Esuene Stadium, on the 6th of September. Whilst it had been previously reported that the match would be held at Abuja National Stadium, the conditions of this pitch have since been deemed unsuitable.

Olajire also added that the federation were working hard to make sure that the Super Eagles are ready for the qualifying stage. As a football fanatic, Tunde Folawiyo probably knows that of the four clubs which will be playing in the Group-A matches (Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan and South Africa), only the teams who finish in first and second place will progress to the tournament in Morocco next year.

Keshi, having returned after a long absence, is focusing his attention on preparing the team for their qualifying matches, which are now just a few weeks away. He has said that he is pleased with the general levels of fitness displayed by the players, and is particularly impressed with how quickly certain injured team members have recovered.

Several players, including Elderson Echiejile, Leon Balogun and Bright Dike were all left out of the World Cup due to their injuries, and two squad members – Ogenyi Onazi and Michael Babatunde – were both hurt during the Eagles’ matches in Brazil. Luckily, they have all now recovered, and are back to training with the rest of the team.

It will doubtless come as a relief to Tunde Folawiyo to hear that Keshi is confident that all of the players are prepared for their upcoming matches. Having spoken to each of them individually, the coach is now satisfied that they will be able to meet the expectations of their fans. He noted that the team are now entering a new phase, during which they are going to build on the skills acquired over the last two years. The coach acknowledged that they still have a number of weak areas which need to be worked on, but added that he was certain that they can address these issues quite easily.

Whether or not he will invite some new players into the club to improve these weak spots is unclear. However, the manager Manu Garba has called on Keshi to at least consider giving Kelechi Iheanacho the opportunity to prove himself at senior level. The 17-year old has done exceptionally well with the Nigerian U-17 team, and is settling in well at Manchester City. Garba claims that Iheanacho has more talent than many of City’s top players, and that Keshi’s team would benefit greatly from bringing him on board.

Folawiyo has been a supporter of the Super Eagles for a considerable length of time, and enjoys keeping up to date with the team’s performances. However, he does also occasionally watch other major sporting events, such as the 2013 Lagos Polo International Tournament.

Manu Garba, coach of the Flying Eagles, has urged Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to give Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho a shot at playing for the Nigerian national team . The young super talent has demonstrated outstanding talent on the field in recent months, making waves throughout the sport as a force to be reckoned with. His performances for the Premier League have impressed both fans and coaching staff alike, prompting questions of the 17-year-old’s future with Nigeria. Tunde Folawiyo and others with a passion for Nigerian football may welcome the young player as a new, talented asset.

Although young, Iheanacho’s achievements on the field are undisputable. Mere months after aiding Nigeria to win to clinch FIFA’s U-17 World Cup, the player continued to display tremendous talent. Manu believes Iheanacho to be amongst Manchester City’s most talented players, capable of contributing much to the Super Eagles. He praised his goalscoring abilities and other unique qualities. He recalled the player scoring four or five goals during U17 training.

Iheanacho made his Manchester City debut during the team’s 2014 United States preseason tour, scoring twice during their first games. The team is currently exploring options to acquire a Great Britain work permit, though the permit may not be granted for a football player younger than age 18. Named CAF’s 2013 Most Promising Youngster, Iheanacho’s potential bares no end in sight. The striker won the distinguished Golden Ball for his performance during Nigeria’s victory at the U-17 Cup, further demonstrating his widely received reputation as one of the sports’ most promising young stars. With six goals and a thrilling seven assists during the series, Iheanacho would undoubtedly prove of great value to Nigeria.

The departure of beloved Super Eagles stars Jay-Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo has prompted a renewed necessity for talented players with staying power. Super Eagles fans may be delighted at the prospect of bringing the 17-year-old on board to breathe new life into the team who has both simultaneously impressed and disappointed fans in recent years. With the controversy surrounding the fate of Coach Stephen Keshi, recruiting the young talent may bring upon a new sense of hope for both fans and players alike. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of other Super Eagles fans throughout Nigeria and beyond may find great comfort in Keshi’s coaching decision if he does indeed decide to bring the player on board. Visit his site for more information about Tunde Folawiyo’s involvement with the 2013 Lagos Polo International Tournament.

Nigeria’s quest to defend their crown will begin in September with the qualifier for the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. With Super Eagles fans such as Tunde Folawiyo on the edge of their seats, the fixtures have now been revealed:

6th September 2014              Nigeria v Rwanda

10th September 2014           South Africa v Nigeria

11th October 2014                Sudan v Nigeria

15th October 2014                Nigeria v Sudan

15th November 2014            Rwanda v Nigeria

19th November 2014            Nigeria v South Africa

Rwanda

The Super Eagles’ first fixture will be against the Amavubi of Rwanda at a venue yet to be named. Under new coach Stephen Constantine, Rwanda have made impressive progress, eliminating Libya 3-0 on aggregate in the first qualifying round. Basking in confidence after their 2-0 win against Congo, they will surely be looking to add Nigeria to their list of wins.

South Africa

South Africa is rated as the weakest contender of the three, but with Serero’s flashes of brilliance and a few other good players amongst their ranks, Nigeria should be confident but never complacent.

Sudan

Sudan, under coach Mohammed Abdallah Mazdah, will be giving their all to qualify after bitterly missing out to Ethiopia in 2013.

The Africa Cup of Nations will be held from 17th January to 8th February 2015, with Morocco hosting the tournament for a second time. After a persuasive 1-0 victory against Burkina Faso in South Africa in 2013, the Super Eagles will be giving their all to hold onto the title.

Emmanuel Emenike was a major contributor to the Super Eagles’ 2013 Africa Cup of Nations success, scoring a free kick from an astounding 30 yards and three other goals in the tournament, earning him a place in the team of African Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament and the Pepsi Tournament Top Scorer accolade.  Mba gave another impressive performance in the final, breaking the team out of deadlock against Burkina Faso just before the whistle. Once they had broken into the lead, the Nigerian team were unstoppable, running rings around their opponents, earning them a place at the Confederation Cup in Brazil.

The burning question of Super Eagles supporters like Tunde Folawiyo is whether the team can hold onto the top spot this year in Morocco and lift the Africa Cup again. To discover more about this Super Eagles enthusiast and award winning African businessman, visit the Tunde Folawiyo profile page.

Despite a showing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that some considered a bit disappointing, the Nigerian national football team is looking toward the future. Since their 1994 FIFA world ranking, a stunning 5^th place, the Super Eagles have been eager to fulfil their potential on an international stage. The team has a myriad of talented players and is excited for its next chance to return to glory.

John Obi Mikel is the team’s captain, following Joseph Yobo’s retirement in June 2014. Mikel, who also plays midfielder for Chelsea, was born in Nigeria and was picked up by a scout for the Pepsi Football Academy when he was twelve years old. He trailed at Ajax Capetown and later joined Lyn Oslo. He represented Nigeria in the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005—a year the team made it to the final before suffering a loss to Argentina. After some transfer confusion between Lyn Oslo and Manchester United, Mikel signed with Chelsea in 2006, and the team when on to win the Premier League and FA Cup in 2010. The 2014 World Cup was Mikel’s Cup debut with Nigeria, and he received special commendation for his efforts in the game against Iran.

Another young star on the Nigerian national team is Ahmed Musa. He was born in 1992 in Jos, Nigeria, and started his youth career at the Aminchi Football Academy. He nearly made his own World Cup debut at South Africa in 2010, until he was side-lined by an ankle injury. He was the top scoring player in the Nigeria Premier league in 2010. In 2014, Musa set a record as the first player from Nigeria to score twice in a match during the World Cup, netting two goals in the team’s ultimately losing contest against Argentina. Musa played for VVV-Venlo in the Netherlands from 2010 until 2012. Since then, he has been with CSKA Moscow, and was listed among the best players in the Russian championship in 2013.

Nigeria is considered one of the most enthusiastic nations in terms of football viewership as well as participation in the sport, and its fans remain deeply committed. Fans of the team continue to have high hopes for their future glory, including long-time fan Tunde Folawiyo. Those interested in this Nigerian entrepreneur can stay up to date with  Twitter updates from Tunde Folawiyo.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Nigeria would be facing Sudan and South Africa in the Group A matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. This announcement was welcomed by many Eagles supporters, as neither of these opponents are considered to be stronger than the Eagles, and as such, it should be relatively easy for Nigeria to qualify. The Group winner, along with the first runner up, will be joining Morocco – the host team – for the final tournament.

It’s safe to say that many fans, including Tunde Folawiyo, are probably quite anxious to see Nigeria retain the title, following their extraordinary performance last year. Whilst some may doubt their ability to win again, two Eagles defenders – namely, Juwon Oshaniwa and Kenneth Omeruo – are sure that Nigeria are capable of achieving this. Oshaniwa, who was a member of the squad at AFCON last year, contends that the Leagues will serve as the ideal form of preparation for the tournament, and will ensure that the entire team is fit and active when the time comes. He finished by saying that he himself is looking forward to defending the title in Morocco.

Omeruo seemed equally confident; in an interview, he stated that with the support of coaches, the Eagles will have no difficulty in holding on to the trophy. The defender, who also plays for Middlesbrough, explained that the team have an extremely skilled coaching crew, who will not only be able to guide them in their training, but who will also be able to select the most suitable players for the squad. It will probably come as a relief to Tunde Folawiyo, and other Eagles supporters, to hear that the team members are so certain that they will do well.

For others, their concerns lie not with the team’s ability to succeed at the event, but with whether or not they will actually be permitted to participate. Christian Chukwu, a former coach of the Eagles, has called on the Nigerian Football Federation and the Sports Minister to find a way to resolve their differences, and thus end the FIFA suspension which has been placed on all Nigerian teams. Chukwu, who worked with the Eagles throughout most of the seventies and eighties, has said that only when the NFF board is reinstated and the suit withdrawn will the players be able to focus on preparing for AFCON.

As a supporter of the Eagles, Folawiyo may sometimes express his thoughts on the team via social media. Those interested in reading about such subjects can follow Tunde Folawiyo on Twitter.