Tunde Folawiyo

With the World Cup upon us, fans of Nigeria’s Super Eagles like Tunde Folawiyo are no doubt wondering how well the team will perform at the tournament. A number of players and NFF officials have voiced their opinions on the subject; Vincent Enyeama, the Eagles’ goalkeeper, is optimistic about their chances, and has publically stated that he believes they will reach the semi-finals. However, he was quick to add that he and his teammates will be taking it step by step, and for now will only be focusing on reaching the second round.

Like Enyeama, Victor Moses is hoping that Nigeria will secure a spot at the semi-finals. Moses, who currently serves as a winger for Chelsea, is cautiously optimistic about the team’s ability to get ahead at the tournament, although he noted that this could only be achieved if they are willing to listen to the advice of their coach, Stephen Keshi. He finished by saying that there is a great deal of camaraderie between the players, and that this will be helpful when it comes to attempting to realise their ambitions at the event.

Gustavo Dzugala, who was recently appointed as Nigeria’s Argentina Ambassador, refused to comment on which team would emerge as the ultimate winner of the tournament; however, he did name Nigeria and Argentina as favourites in Group F. He predicted that these two clubs would manage to defeat Iran and Bosnia.

In terms of individual players, Peter Osaze Odemwingie has been named as someone who is likely to outshine his teammates at the tournament. Emmanuel Babayaro, who once served as Nigeria’s goalkeeper, noted that Odemwingie has a number of qualities that will help the Eagles to succeed in Brazil. He described the forward as dedicated, experienced and confident.

Odemwingie’s recall to the squad after a two-year absence is likely to have come as a surprise to Tunde Folawiyo, and other Eagles supporters. The forward has clashed not only with Keshi, but also with other Eagles coaches over the years. However, Odemwingie seems eager to put these tiffs behind him, and has spoken on Twitter of how happy he is to be back with the team. While some remain sceptical of Odemwingie’s humble words, and have argued that he is merely putting on a front in order to get a place in the World Cup squad, there’s no denying that he will be a valuable asset on the pitch.

While supporters of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, like Tunde Folawiyo, are probably looking forward to the team’s participation in the World Cup, some say that they are simply not ready for what lies ahead. Adokiye Amiesimaka, a former player who was a member of the team during the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, has argued that the NFF and the club’s coaches should have been focusing more on the technical crew, and less on the squad list.

Samson Siasia, a former coach of the team, has also expressed his views on Nigeria’s chances at the World Cup. He contends that in the group stages, Iran are likely to be the Eagles’ most challenging opponents. They will face them in their first game of the tournament. Like Amiesimaka, Siasia noted that the technical crew need to work harder to ensure that Nigeria defeat this team. He suggested that the crew obtain a compilation of Iran’s past matches, in order to formulate the right type of tactical plan.

However, it seems that for most people it is the squad list, rather than the technical crew’s strategies, which has been occupying their minds. As a fan of the club, Tunde Folawiyo may have heard that the NFF are said to have rejected coach Stephen Keshi’s original squad list, on the grounds that he failed to include several key players, notably Peter Osaze Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo. Keshi tried to explain the reasons behind his decision to exclude these men, stating that there were issues regarding their fitness, and their recent injuries. However, the NFF asserted that the experience of these players would make them valuable assets to the team at the tournament.

Joseph Yobo has also assured the public that he will be physically fit for the World Cup, despite having missed out on several matches in recent weeks due to a calf injury. Yobo, who currently serves as a defender for Norwich City, has said that he has returned to full training and will be healthy enough to participate in the tournament.

However, while this announcement may have allayed fears regarding the player’s physical fitness, some still have doubts about his ability to positively contribute to the squad; Kashimawo Laloko, who works as the NFF’s assistant technical director, seems to agree with Keshi’s initial decision to exclude Yobo; he has argued that the defender will weaken the team.

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.

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, as the most populated country on a continent obsessed with football, has ever-high hopes for its national team. The “Super Eagles” saw a 2013 victory in the Africa Cup of Nations over Burkina Faso. Nigeria has appeared in the Africa Cup of Nations six times prior, and won twice previously, in 1980, and 1994. The 2013 victory spurred a strong team spirit approaching this summer’s World Cup, and coach Stephen Keshi, one of only two people to have one the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and then as a coach, headed into the contest confident in his team.

The Super Eagles first made the World Cup in 1994, and have returned every Cup since, except for 2006. Their 2014 showing began with a draw to Iran, and the next match, against Bosnia, saw Peter Odemwingie score a goal that secured the team’s first win in a FIFA World Cup since 1998. Odemwingie, who grew up in Russia and Nigeria, debuted with the Nigerian National Football team in 2002, after a promising start with Nigeria Premier League’s Bendel Insurance. The Nigerian National Team went on to lose to Argentina after holding strong until Marcos Rojo scoring a third for Argentina in the second half. Nigeria did qualify for the last 16, but was ultimately knocked out by France.

Despite this setback, the nation’s football fans have not turned their backs. The team, in fact, was recently described by BusinessWeek as a contender for the world’s “most crazed soccer nation.” A new poll showed that over eighty percent of Nigerians report being fans of the sport, a level of interest that dominates second-runner Indonesia (about seventy-seven percent). Nigeria scored top numbers among the thirty-three nations pooled in the percent of population who report that they play football–a whopping sixty-five percent of Nigerians regularly participate in the sport. The head of research on the survey postulates that Nigeria’s football obsession comes from the lack of competition–no other sport in Nigeria holds nearly the cultural sway.

In a country composed of hundreds of varied ethnic groups, love of the game brings citizens together despite their differences. Almost twenty-five percent of Nigerian adults tuned in to watch the World Cup. The team’s fan’s include Nigerian businessman Tunde Folawiyo, head of the Yinka Folawiyo group, who grew up cheering for Segun Odegbemi. Tunde Folawiyo joins the team’s many fans in Africa and around the world in looking forward to their continued success.

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.

In Nigeria, non-sport has gripped the national imagination the way that football has. It is the country’s most popular sport by a landslide. A larger percent of the country’s population are fans of the sport than in any other country in the world, a recent market poll has shown. The country’s national team, nicknamed the Super Eagles, received the highest ranking any African football team has earned in 1994, when the FIFA World Rankings showed the team in fifth world-wide. The team is currently ranked at fifth in the Confederation of African Football, and 39^th worldwide. Fans of football in Nigeria, including Tunde Folawiyo, are looking forward to seeing the team live up to its potential. For more information, please visit this Tunde Folawiyo blog.

Unofficial games among other African colonies start Nigeria’s national football history in the 1930s, and official records start in the late 1940s. The team’s history as champions began with a win at the second All-Africa games, where the team was awarded the gold medal in 1976. Strong showings at the African Cup of Nations followed, and the team took their first Cup in 1980, led by Muda Lawal. A treasured moment in Nigerian National Football history is the team’s Olympic gold in Atlantic in 1996. The team played its first World Cup in 1994. In this year’s Cup, Nigeria opened with a tie against Iran before a 0-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina showed the team their first World Cup victory since 1998. The winning goal was scored by Peter Odemwingie, who was born in the former Soviet Union and raised in Russia and Nigeria. Odemwingie has played for the Nigerian National Team since 2002.

The Nigerian women’s national team has also been a force in the sport. The team has never failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and won the CAF Women’s Championship every year it ran, until breaking their streak with a defeat by Equatorial Guinea in 2008. As with the men’s team, outstanding players for the women’s team have also had successful careers playing internationally. Mercy Akide went on to play for the San Diego Spirit and the Hampton Road Piranhas, and current team captain and CAF African Women Footballer of the Year in 2004 and 2005 Perpetua Nkwocha also plays for Swedish club Sunnana SK.

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.

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.

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.