Nigeria Vs Malawi On Saturday 7th September By 4pm

Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama on Wednesday said the Eagles need nothing less than a victory as they take on Malawi in a Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Enyeama told sportswriters in Calabar that the Super Eagles would settle for nothing less than a win.
The Lille of France goalkeeper also  stressed that there had never been a time he lobbied or mounted pressure to remain as the Super Eagles goal keeper but that he seems to have luck with the team of coaches that handle the senior national football team.
He said: "I am not under any pressure to be number one goalkeeper for the Super Eagles. I have never lobbied to remain so.  Nigeria has abundance of talented goalkeepers.  But you see, it depends on the coaches.  Somehow, they seem to have confidence in me.  I think that is why they continue to retain me."

Meanwhile, almost all the players of the Super Eagles have similarly expressed confidence that they would scale through the Malawi challenge.
One of the key players, James Okwuosa said it is normal for opposing team to display psychological antics aimed at upsetting their opponents but that in the case of Malawi they have the belief that victory would be on their side.
He said, "The issue is not to lose concentration while playing, and I believe that with the intensive training and experience we have gotten in the camp, I do not see those threats from Malawi as anything to go by.  However, such would ensure that we double up our focus."

Asked if Nigerians should be rest assured of victory on Saturday, James said victory belongs to God, and to Him all Nigerians should beseech to see the Super Eagles through.
Uche Nwafor also expressed confidence that with God on the sides of the Super Eagles, Nigeria would be able to defeat the Malawians but the country should continue to pray for them.

Ogbosa said even though many of the players that won the last African Nations Cup in South Africa are not going to play but that the players available have the stuff to deliver.
He said the players have confidence in the coaching crew and that Skipper Vincent Enyeama is an affable guy who enjoys much support and cooperation from all the players.


Guinness promises $2,000 for each goal

Guinness, official sponsor of the Super Eagles has once again thrown its weight behind the Super Eagles as it announced a $2,000 reward for each goal scored by the national team against Malawi in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game scheduled for Calabar on Saturday.
Reassuring the team of its unwavering support, Guinness urges the African champions to go for goals and qualify for the 10-team final elimination round, where a two-leg knock-out fixture will determine Africa's five standard-bearers at the tournament to be hosted by Brazil in 2014.
According to Mr. Austin Ufomba, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Guinness believes strongly in the ability and determination of the Super Eagles to qualify for the next round of the qualifiers.
"The Super Eagles have the potential to defeat the Flames of Malawi and progress to the next round in this qualifier because a team hinging on the massive support of millions of Nigerians behind them is truly a team  Made of More. Since the team won the AFCON, they have shown tremendous progress that leaves no one in doubt of their capabilities. We are enthusiastic that with team work, technical and tactical discipline, the Super Eagles will fly," Ufomba said.

He continued: "We want the Eagles to make Nigerians proud once again by scoring enough goals to qualify for the next round and eventually the grand finale in Brazil next year.  We threw our weight behind the team during AFCON 2013 and we were not disappointed as the team delivered the AFCON to the delight of millions of Nigerians. This time around, we are again giving them our massive support and we hope we will all sing the same song of victory".

As a way of galvanizing support for the team, Guinness will be giving out free tickets to fans to watch the match live at the U.J Esuene Stadium. Also, fans can visit the Guinness Facebook page at facebook.com/guinnessvip or m.guinnessvip.com to predict scores for the match and win fantastic prizes.

Mr. Obinna Anyalebechi, Marketing Manager, Guinness further added that, "Aside winning fantastic prizes, the Guinness fan park located within U.J Esuene stadium will provide our consumers and fans of the Super Eagles unforgettable experiences worthy of a match of this magnitude. So, we urge all fans of the Super Eagles to show their love for the team by coming out massively to the stadium to watch the match hoping for the best. We also encourage all our consumers to enjoy their Guinness responsibly at all times".

Extinguish Malawi's flames -Glo charges Eagles


Leading telecommunications company, Globacom has advised the Super Eagles to go for outright victory when they confront the Flames of Malawi in their Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier scheduled for the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday.
Nigeria top Group F that also comprises Namibia and Kenya on nine points from five games, trailed by Malawi on seven points, and only need to avoid defeat to the Flames to qualify for the next round.
"The Eagles should beat the Flames to put the World Cup ticket beyond the Southern African nation ahead of the qualifiers' final round taking place next month," Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.
"We are also aware of the mind games that the Malawians have played in the build-up to this encounter and we urge the Eagles and their technical crew not to be distracted but rather field a crack squad in the Calabar game to win the group's ticket in style.
"We therefore urge the Eagles to play the visitors as true African champions, with determination," said the telecom firm.

Globacom is the official telecommunications partner of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the major sponsor of the Nigerian national teams.


Eagles' trio in flight hitch


Two separate Calabar bound aircraft conveying Super Eagles stars Elderson Echiejile and Shola Ameobi and the other with Nnamdi Oduamadi on board from Lagos avoided disaster on Wednesday 4 August 2013.
The Eagles trio who ply their trade in Europe were enroute Calabar for Saturday's World Cup qualifiers against Malawi had to change destination as the plane was unable to land the Calabar airport due to a heavy storm. Oduamadi has reportedly opted to go by road
The flights were however redirected to Port Harcourt where it landed safely after two failed attempts in Calabar.
The players then set for a four hour journey by road to the Cross River state capital to link up with their team-mates for the crunch tie at the U J Esuene stadium on Saturday.
Calabar is very safe –Maigari
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari has insisted that the city of Calabar, capital of Cross River State is indeed very safe, and has always been very safe for international matches of all the various national teams.

Speaking at a brief interactive session with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, FCT chapter on Wednesday afternoon, Maigari applauded the efforts of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and his administration in hosting the Super Eagles and the U-17 national team, Golden Eaglets in their various competitive international matches for the past one-and-half years.
"The government and people of Cross River State deserve nothing but high commendation for their generosity and hospitality. They have continued to be good and great hosts for the
Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets.
"On our part, the NFF has perfected all arrangements to host a hitch-free World Cup qualifying match, and we are assuring the government and people of Nigeria that our Super Eagles are adequately prepared to achieve victory against Malawi on Saturday," said Maigari.

Nigeria need only a draw in Saturday's clash at the U.J. Esuene Stadium to progress into the 10-team final elimination round of the African series for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

Malawi delegation arrived on Tuesday and are lodged at Dannic Hotel


Already, General Secretary of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), Mr Suzgo Nyirenda is on ground, having arrived in Nigeria on Monday, and is now in Calabar to see facilities for himself ahead of his team's arrival.
Nyirenda, who fired a letter to world-football governing body, FIFA last month suggesting that Calabar is not safe for the qualifying cracker, has turned around to praise the NFF for its professionalism, maturity and hospitality.
"On behalf of the Football Association of Malawi, I would like to thank you and the entire Nigeria Football Federation for the warm welcome that you accorded me and my accountant (advance party) both in Abuja as well as in Calabar. We are now in Calabar where your Director of Technical (Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme) gave us a fantastic reception.
Thank you for welcoming us at your offices in Abuja and football is a unifying factor and we are indeed brothers.
"We will be accommodated at DANNIC Hotel which is generally very good.
We will inspect the training pitch and the venue of the actual match...," Nyirenda wrote in a mail to NFF's Head of International, Mr. Bola Oyeyode.
The Nigeria Football Federation has already guaranteed visa-on-arrival for the delegation, which will be flown to Calabar aboard Arik Air's morning flight from Abuja to Calabar on Thursday.


Source: Nigerian Tribune