News
AFCON: Super Eagles Or Super Chickens?
By Augustine Akhilomen
Nigeria’s Super Eagles may be considered as one of the favourites to lift the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt going by the caliber of players within the disposal of team manager, Gernot Rohr.
Having commenced their AFCON campaign with a slim 1-0 victory over Burundi in the opening fixture before defeating Guinea with the same margin in the second group B fixture, to grab six points and become the first team to qualify for the round of 16, it seemed the team had their eyes gazed on the trophy.
However, the two matches the team played may be considered not too convincing for a team blessed with foreign based players plying their football in some of the best teams in Europe.
There is no doubt that victory is victory regardless of the margin of the score-line for as long as the team picks the maximum points. However, when most Nigerians thought the Super Eagles would smashed the Barea of Madagascar in their last group B fixture regardless of who coach Rohr parades, the team fell like a pack of cards to the fire powers of Madagascar, to eventually top the group.
Former Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof has attributed the team defeat to Madagascar to complacency and wrong formation from team manager, Rohr.
“I’m surprised; it’s a shame that Super Eagles, with big and experienced players, disappointed us.”
“The tactics was wrong, the changes were many from the players that played against Burundi and Guinea,” Westerhof remarked.
In the same vein, former Super Eagles player Barnabas Imenger has criticised Rohr’s decision to rotate players and complacency from the players.
“It was wrong for our coach to change the team that beat Burundi and Guinea in the two earlier matches that we had played. We knew we were already through to the next round but playing with our best 11 would have allowed the players to understand themselves more before the second round game. What was his reasons for the obstruction to the squad that started against Guinea?
“I want to also say that the Eagles were complacent against Madagascar. They need to play better than they are doing if they want to go far in Egypt. We cannot accept the display like the one with Madagascar again.”
Madagascar showed class and determination just like the Super Eagles of 1994 to defeat a star-studded Nigerian side that couldn’t withstand the physicality, pace and trickery of a team ranked 108 in the current FIFA rankings.
Perhaps, the defeat may serve as a wakeup call for Rohr and some of the players who never saw this coming but then, there the coaching crew must have to take the hard decision by sitting big players such as Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo, Chidozie Awaziem, Samuel Kalu, to mention a few, if the team must qualify to the quarter final of the bi-annual tournament.
Way Forward
There is no doubt that when the chips are down that’s when the Super Eagles raise the standard of their game to the next level. Having received unpleasant criticisms from football loving Nigerians, it is believed that the team would approach their round of 16 match with all sense of seriousness and hunger.
To achieve this, Rohr must settle with enterprising players such as Samuel Chukwueze, who had a very descent game against Burundi in place of Ahmed Musa, Paul Onuachu or Henry Onyekuru should replace Ighalo in the attack, decide on who pairs Kenneth Omeruo between Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong in the defence and Shehu Abdullahi (if fit) should replace Awaziem in the right back.
Except the unimaginable happens, Mikel Obi may have played his last game for the Super Eagles going by his lackluster performance against Madagascar, while players like Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo must remain in the heart of the midfield.
Despite the fact that the Super Eagles have been pitched to face Cameroon in the round of 16, if Rohr keeps to a solid formation and players mentioned above, there is no doubt that the team would conquer the Indomitable Lions and zoom into the quarter final stage.
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Headline
Tinubu Hails Super Eagles For Winning Bronze At AFCON
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles, for Saturday’s bronze medal victory at the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles overpowered Egypt, defeating the seven-time AFCON winner 4-2, in a penalty shootout after the regular time, in which the Nigerian team dominated.
The President, in a statement issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended the Super Eagles for putting behind them the disappointment of the semi-final loss to host nation, Morocco last Wednesday.
Tinubu stated that the Super Eagles players, through their victory, have once again demonstrated the determination, persistence, and can-do spirit associated with our country.
According to the President: “Despite their good run during the tournament, the Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco during the penalty shootout last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed.
“However, our players remained undaunted, and exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, their efforts have now paid off.
“We will all be proud of them as they receive their hard-earned bronze medal on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco.
“Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold.”
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News
Troops Foil Suspected Kidnapping, Robbery Attempt In Taraba
Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army / Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), said they foiled a suspected kidnapping and robbery incident along the Wukari–Ikyaior road in Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State.
A press statement issued by the 6 brigade public relations officer, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, noted that the feat was achieved when, acting on a distress call that criminals had blocked the road and were attacking civilians, troops deployed at FOB Wukari responded swiftly and decisively to the scene.
Upon arrival at the scene, he said the suspects fled into the surrounding bush on sighting the troops, abandoning their victims and escaping with their motorcycle.
According to him, the troops rescued two victims identified as Mr. Terso Kerso (48 years) and Mr. Udongu Terbo (42 years), both from Ikyaior Community in Wukari LGA.
The victims, who were unconscious at the time of rescue, were immediately evacuated to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari (FUTHW) for urgent medical attention.
In the aftermath of the incident, troops said they have intensified robust patrols and surveillance within the general area to forestall further criminal activities and reassure residents and road users of a sustained security presence.
Commending the troops for their swift response and professionalism, the Commander 6 Brigade Nigerian Army / Sector 3 OPWS, Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, praised their vigilance and commitment to duty, noting that their timely intervention prevented possible loss of lives.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to sustain proactive operations across the area of responsibility, and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies in support of ongoing security efforts.
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News
Trump Threatens Europe With Tariffs Over Greenland As Protesters Rally
US President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his quest to acquire Greenland, threatening multiple European nations with tariffs of up to 25 per cent until his purchase of the Danish territory is achieved.
Trump’s threats came as thousands of people protested in the capital of Greenland against his wish to acquire the mineral-rich island at the gateway to the Arctic.
Thousands more protested in Copenhagen and other Danish cities.
The US president aimed his ire at Denmark, a fellow NATO member, as well as several European countries that have deployed troops in recent days to the vast autonomous territory with a population of 57,000.
If realised, Trump’s threats against Washington’s NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the alliance.
From February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10-per cent tariff on all goods sent to the United States, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network.
“On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he wrote.
“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.
“Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation ends quickly and without question,” Trump said.
Trump added that he was “immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries.”
‘Make America Go Away’
In Nuuk, thousands of people, including the territory’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, waved Greenlandic flags, chanted slogans and sang traditional Inuit songs under light rain.
Many wore caps with the words “Make America Go Away”, a riff on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
“We don’t want Trump invading Greenland; that is the message,” 44-year-old nurse Paarniq Larsen Strum said at the Nuuk rally, calling the situation “nerve-wracking”.
“We demand respect for our country’s right to self-determination and for us as a people,” added protest organiser Avijaja Rosing-Olsen.
In Copenhagen, charity worker Kirsten Hjoernholm, 52, said it was important to show unity with Greenlanders.
“You cannot be bullied by an ally. It’s about international law,” she said.
Around her, demonstrators waved the flags of Denmark and Greenland while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat!” — the vast Arctic island’s name in Greenlandic.
Some also held placards saying “USA already has too much ICE,” referring to Trump’s deployment of federal immigration officers in US cities, while others chanted “Greenland is not for sale.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States needs Greenland for US “national security.” He also claims that Denmark is incapable of ensuring the territory’s security, notably from China and Russia.
France said the military exercise in Greenland was designed to show the world that they will defend the territory.
Denmark said the US had been invited to join the drill.
It was not immediately clear what authority the US president would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs of up to 25 per cent.
Since returning to the presidency, Trump has unleashed sweeping tariffs on goods from virtually all trading partners to address what Washington says are unfair trade practices and as a tool to press governments on US concerns.
Washington and the European Union struck a deal last summer to lower US tariffs on key European goods, with the deal currently being implemented.
Also on Saturday, a delegation of US lawmakers was wrapping up a visit to Copenhagen for talks with Greenlandic and Danish politicians.
The group, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, told reporters that Trump’s stance was misguided and not backed by the majority of Americans.
It is also roundly rejected by Greenlanders, 85 per cent of whom — according to the latest poll published in January 2025 — oppose the territory joining the United States. Only six per cent were in favour.
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