Tunde Folawiyo

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.

In the streets and neighbourhoods across Nigeria, school boys mimic the moves of their favourite football players and this was no exception in the 1990’s for one such lad, Augustine Azuka Okocha, who would one day be regarded as the best Nigerian player of his generation.

Augustine Azuka Okocha, known throughout his life as Jay-Jay, would show potential and promise in the game of football with his many displays of athletic dexterity as a young member of the Unugu Rangers. One memorable display was the extraordinary goal he scored against the experienced Nigerian goalkeeper, William Okpara of the BCC Lions.

Jay-Jay Okocha, a midfielder, gained the notice of Eintracht Franfurt in 1992, where he soon joined their ranks along with Tony Yeboah, the international Ghana striker. In 1993, Jay-Jay awed fans with a spectacular display of moving the ball past the penalty box, going by some players twice, in a drive to complete the goal over attempts to block it by Oliver Kahn. This move helped earn Jay-Jay the 1993 Goal of the Year by Sportschau and voted Goal of the Season by many popular soccer magazines. In 1996, Jay-Jay joined the Fenerbahçe Turkish club, where he would amass 30 goals during his 60 appearances in just two seasons. While there, Jay-Jay would develop his trademark “free kick” goals.

But, it was his four years as a player for the Bolton Wanderers that would convert Jay-Jay Okocha into the superstar he is still considered today. He became an instant favourite with the Bolton fans in his premier season of 2002, when they dubbed him “so good they named him twice.” By 2004, Jay-Jay was the captain and steered the team to their first Football League Cup final in nine years. Jay-Jay became the favourite player of Tunde Folawiyo and remains so to this day. On the profile of Tunde Folawiyo there are many examples of the remarkable and breathtaking moments with which Tunde Folawiyo and many Nigerians experienced while watching this remarkable player.

He made his international debut on the Nigerian National Football team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier. He would help the team reach 5^th rank status that year, which was the highest ranking an African football team had ever achieved. During the 1996 Olympic Games, Jay-Jay would join the Nigerian “Dream Team.” By 2002, he was Captain of the Super Eagles, taking the team to third place at the 2004 African Nations Cup, where he would score four goals including the 1000^th goal in Nations Cup history and be awarded the Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot.

Whilst the official departure of Stephen Keshi has not yet been confirmed, rumours of his replacement continue to circulate. With a recent period of great success for the Nigerian squad, a successor who will further guide the team on its path to victory may prove a difficult decision for NFF officials. Tunde Folawiyo and other Super Eagles fans may be eager for true word of Keshi’s fate and that of the Nigerian squad as a whole.

Since his debut with the team, Keshi has contributed a great deal to the Super Eagles on their road to success. Leading them to a Cup of Nations victory and a thrilling qualification for the World Cup, the “Big Boss” has paved the way for momentum for the newly confident Nigerian team. Thus, a replacement will indeed be considered thoroughly. With so much at stake, the NFF must carefully weigh their options.

Amongst the frontrunners to replace Keshi is Sunday Oliseh, a star in the eyes of many Super Eagles fans. A former midfielder, Oliseh once played alongside the coach and if selected, would carry on a recent trend for hiring former players to team management. Whilst Oliseh lacks the managerial experience of other prospective candidates, he carries with him an impressive 63 appearances for Nigeria – a testament to his outstanding playing career. He was seriously considered for the job more than five years ago but was ruled unfit due to a lack of experience. Although his coaching experience remains minimal, rumours place the talent as the frontrunner to replace Keshi. Nigerian football fans would undoubtedly be thrilled if he is chosen for the role.

56-year-old Shaibu Amodu is another coach rumoured to be up for Keshi’s job. With four stints as Nigeria’s manager in the past, he does possess ample coaching experience, but was sacked four years ago just before the 2010 World Cup. Whilst his knowledge of Nigerian football is well recognised, he has been criticized in the past for his in-game approaches and poor decision-making. During his time with the team, he led them to dual third-place finishes during Africa’s Cup of Nations and two World Cup qualifications.

Other coaches in the running to replace Keshi include Herve Renard, who has coached for several African teams including Zambia and Ghana. His extensive experience in African football makes him a prime candidate to take the reins of the Super Eagles. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of Nigerian football fans are surely awaiting news of the NFF’s final decision. For more information about his close ties to Nigeria, read Tunde Folawiyo About Me information.

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.

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.

Eagles supporters such as Tunde Folawiyo will probably be relieved to learn that the NFF (Nigerian Football Federation) is now close to establishing the terms of a new contract with Stephen Keshi, which will result in the coach returning to his former role as the Super Eagles coach. Keshi was appointed to this position in late 2011; since then, he has helped the team to achieve some outstanding results at both CHAN and AFCON.

However, after guiding the Eagles to the final 16 at the 2014 World Cup, his contract with the NFF was allowed to expire, and it seemed as though he would be forced to bid farewell to the team which he had been coaching for close to three years. Both the Sports Ministry and the NFF were initially reluctant to renew his contract, perhaps due in part to Keshi’s insistence on better terms. However, recent reports indicate that the coach and the NFF have been able to compromise and reach an agreement which suits both parties.

Despite the fact that the salary offered is less than what the coach had originally asked for, he is believed to be willing to accept it, and stay with the team for at least another three years. In a press conference, Keshi explained that overall, he was pleased with the improvements to his contract, adding that he is now ‘ready to serve’, and is looking forward to finishing what he started.

With this matter now settled, Eagles’ fans like Tunde Folawiyo are no doubt eager to see the team begin their preparations for AFCON. Tijani Babangida, a former winger for Nigeria, has advised Keshi and the players to concentrate all of their efforts on readying themselves for this tournament. With less than a month to go until they meet Rwanda for the qualifying match, the pressure is on.

Babangida has said that whilst the Super Eagles are unarguably a strong team, and have the ability to defeat their opponents in upcoming games, they will not do so unless they train intensively over the next few weeks. He noted that the first match of any major tournament is always important, and cautioned the Eagles against taking their game against Rwanda too lightly.

Whilst Folawiyo takes an interest in the world of football, he also has many other passions; for instance, he is fascinated by the lives of important, inspirational figures. To find out more about his thoughts on this subject, read the influential icons blog of Tunde Folawiyo.

For his efforts in leading the Super Eagles to the final 16 of this year’s World Cup, Stephen Keshi earned a sum of $300,000. In addition to this, the team’s victory over Bosnia earned the coach another $40,000. However, whilst helping the players to reach this stage of the tournament was certainly a great achievement, Keshi’s critics contend that he did not do his job as well as he should have, thereby implying that perhaps this large payment was not deserved.

In a recent report, a sports commentator argued that there were obvious weaknesses within the squad, which could have been addressed through the inclusion of players such as Reuben Gabriel. It was also asserted that there were several team members who should not have made the squad, including John Obi Mikel.

Those who support the Eagles, like Tunde Folawiyo, may know that Chief Michael Ajayi had much to say on this subject as well; in a press conference in Lagos, the retired referee criticised Keshi for selecting what he described as a ‘structurally defective’ group of players. He said that, when one looked closely at who had been chosen for the squad, it was clear that they could not possibly make it past the round of 16.

Shortly after Nigeria was eliminated from the World Cup, rumours began to fly regarding Keshi’s future with the Super Eagles. It was suggested that he would almost certainly be leaving, and that SAFA (the South African Football Association) were going to offer him the job of head coach of Bafana Bafana. However, whilst SAFA did acknowledge that Keshi was in the running for this position, they later announced that they would be hiring Ephraim Masaba instead.

In light of this information, fans such as Tunde Folawiyo are no doubt wondering what Keshi’s next move will be. The coach has admitted that he would be very happy to remain in his current role, provided there were some improvements to his contractual conditions, as there have been some issues regarding delays with his salary in the past. Immediately after the World Cup, the NFF refused to comment on the matter; however, they have since released a statement, explaining that they are now in talks with Keshi, and are hoping to extend his contract, although they cannot guarantee that this will happen.

The above-mentioned Eagles’ supporter Folawiyo is a well-known entrepreneur. If you would like to learn more about him, read the Frontiers success story on Tunde Folawiyo.

Now that the Super Eagles’ World Cup venture has come to an end, the future of one of the team’s most beloved players remains uncertain. Peter Odemwingie has stated he is currently unsure of a future with Nigeria upon an early exit at this year’s World Cup. The forward secured the team’s only win with a goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina, demonstrating his great talents on the field. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of Super Eagles fans throughout Africa and beyond may be saddened to see the skilled player part ways with the Nigerian squad as his contributions have proved vastly significant in the recent success of the team.

Whilst the Nigerian squad indeed looked promising ahead of the World Cup in Brazil, advancing past the first round, the team sadly came up short –  Stephen Keshi’s team failed to triumph over France during the last16 knockout period, putting an end to Nigeria’s World Cup hopes. Whilst his future remains uncertain, ‘Osaze’ regards wearing the green jersey as one of the proudest accomplishments of his career. ‘Osaze’ made his Super Eagles debut during 2002, where he has since represented the team more than 60 times, twice at the World Cup and through four Cups of Nations included. He was also part of the team that went on to win a silver medal during the Olympics of 2008.

The Stoke City footballer was raised in both Nigeria and Russia, beginning his professional career in Nigeria’s Premiere League. The forward went on to play European football for La Louviere of Belgium, where he played three seasons ahead of a move to Lille. He scored an impressive 26 goals for the team, prompting Moscow’s Lokomotiv to extend an offer of £10 million in exchange for his services during July of 2007. Scoring 23 times for the team, during a three-and-a-half year period, ‘Osaze’ moved to West Bromwich Albion during August of 2010. Thirty Premiere League points later, he was awarded among the Premiere League’s Players of the Month three times. Later, he was acquired by Cardiff City during August of 2013 before ultimately joining the Stoke City team in exchange for Kenwyne Jones during January of 2014.

As one of Africa’s most popular soccer stars, Odemwingie’s fate will undoubtedly be a topic of conversation for Super Eagles fans across Africa and beyond. His contributions to Stoke City and the Nigerian national team alike may continue to regard him as an inspiration to African citizens like Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others around the world.

As the Super Eagles of Nigeria recover from a short-lived World Cup venture, rumours of Coach Stephen Keshi’s fate with the team continue to swirl. Nigeria’s head coach has announced South Africa as one of the countries who have approached him to manage their teams upon the conclusion of the Super Eagles World Cup trek. Now that that time has come, fans of the Super Eagles may await news of the coach’s future with breath that is baited. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others with a passion for Nigerian football may find the coming months to prove significant to the club’s future.

South Africa is seeking new leadership upon its national team’s failure to qualify for participation in the 2014 World Cup. With Gordon Igesund’s contract set to expire in July, the head coach position is up for grabs, prompting the interest in Keshi. Whilst South Africa carries the largest league revenue of any team in the continent, Bafana Bafana has won Africa’s CON only once, also failing to regularly qualify for World Cup treks.

Dubbed “Big Boss” by fans, Keshi has captained the Super Eagles for over a decade. Throughout his playing career, he lent his talents to Nigeria, Belgium, Ivory Coast and France. During 2002, he served as assistant coach for the national team, the same year the team was a World Cup qualifier. He later serves as coach for Togolese’s national team, assisting them to qualify before being let go just before their World Cup venture began. He went on to manage Mali’s team before taking over as head coach for the Super Eagles during 2012. He led them to a Cup of Nations victory last year.

South Africa’s Football Association recently stated that no coach had yet been appointed, also mentioning a July decision. Spokesman Dominic Chimhavi declined to further comment.

According to a list provided by the spokesman, a number of prominent coaches are interested in South Africa’s vacancy. The list includes Manchester United’s recently sacked coach David Moyes and Iran’s current coach, Carlos Queiroz, along with Keshi. France’s former captain Marcel Desailly sits on the list, as well, as do Chelsea’s Jimmy Hasselbaink and former Chelsea coach Avram Grant. French Coach Herve Renard, Italy’s Giovanni Trapattoni and the Netherlands’ Patrick Kluivert are all other names competing for the coveted title of South Africa’s head coach. Tunde Folawiyo and millions of devoted Nigeria fans may wish to hold on to Keshi, given the Super Eagles’ great success in recent seasons. Regardless of South Africa’s decision, Keshi’s contributions to Nigeria are undisputable.

After losing their match against France, the Super Eagles were eliminated from the World Cup; this development has no doubt disappointed fans of the team, such as Tunde Folawiyo. It has also given rise to some criticism of the players’ performances, and there have been suggestions that there needs to be a complete overhaul of the current squad. However, Christian Chukwu, who once served as the coach of the Eagles, has said that such drastic measures are unnecessary.

In an interview with the press, he argued that the team had actually done quite well at the tournament, and that it was simply bad fortune, rather than a lack of skill, which led to their defeat. He did however, admit that some of the players’ needed further training.  Ejike Asiegbu, the Nigerian actor, also had his say regarding the Eagles’ elimination; he described it as a ‘wake-up call’, but added that Keshi could create a stronger team, if given the opportunity to do so.

He went on to say that the Nigerian Football Association should extend the coach’s contract, as Keshi’s management of the team has already resulted in a vast improvement in its skill level. Whether or not the NFA will heed Asiegbu’s advice remains to be seen. Keshi himself has publically stated that he would be quite happy to remain in his current role, if the NFA wanted him too. Speaking to a journalist in Abuja, he explained that he believed the Super Eagles could become an incredible team over the next couple of years, if provided with the right guidance.

Despite Keshi’s obvious attachment to the Eagles, it looks as though he will be moving on. This will no doubt sadden Eagles’ supporters like Tunde Folawiyo. Although news of his possible departure only broke a few days ago, reports indicate that there are several people already vying for his position. Rumour has it that the Argentine coach Rodolfo Zapata may be a potential candidate.

Many spectators noticed Nigeria’s lack of technical finesse during the World Cup, and this is something which Zapata has been encouraging the team to work on for several months now. His astute observations of the player’s weaknesses suggest that he may be a wise choice. An NFA official refused to comment on whether or not they were considering Zapata for the position, explaining that they could not disclose this information before Keshi officially resigns.