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By John EGBOKHAN Tomorrow in Abidjan, the Super Eagles home-based team will attempt to break the jinx that has prevented Nigeria from qualifying for the last two editions of the  African Nations Championship (CHAN), when they confront Cote d’ Ivoire in a second leg final round match at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium. Since the competition, meant for players playing their professional football in Africa, made its debut in 2009, Nigeria, which boast of some of the best talents on the continent, are yet to make the grades, making mockery of the often-touted developmental strides in the local league. The Democratic Republic of Congo won the maiden edition, courtesy of a 2-0 defeat of the Black Stars of Ghana in Abidjan. In the 2011 edition hosted by Sudan, it was Tunisia’s turn to taste the sweet taste of victory, as they ran away with a 3-0 spanking of the Palancas Negras of Angola in  Merreikh. Remarkably and sadly too, in those two editions, Nigeria, the most populated country in s...

The Super Eagles on Thursday afternoon landed safely in Abidjan, the Ivoirien capital ahead of the final leg, CHAN qualifier against host the Elephants scheduled for Saturday in the Ivoirien commercial capital. The team of 18 playersand officials was led by NFF Vice President, Chief Mike Okeke Umeh and had on board, NFF Head, Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, President General of the Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, Dr Rauf Ladipo and several other actors in the football fraternity. [caption id="attachment_358140" align="alignnone" width="412"] Nigeria's national football team players hold the trophy as they celebrate winning the 2013 African Cup of Nations final against Burkina Faso on February 10, 2013 at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. AFP PHOTO[/caption] The Air Afrique flight which conveyed the team from Lagos to Abidjan took about one hour, thirty minutes to land in smooth condition with showers of rain welcoming the team t...

JOHANNESBURG  (AFP) - Nigeria are set to end five years of African Nations Championship (CHAN) failure by reaching the finals for the first time this weekend. Ousted by Ghana and minnows Niger in previous qualifying competitions, the 'Super Eagles' defend a 4-1 lead away to Ivory Coast Saturday. [caption id="attachment_399805" align="alignnone" width="412"] Mikel celebrates his goal with teammates[/caption] While coach Stephen Keshi preaches caution, it would be the biggest shock of the six-year Championship for home-based stars if they fail to make the 2014 finals in South Africa. "We cannot afford to take our feet off the pedal because we won the first match," said the coach who led the full senior team to the Africa Cup of Nations title in Soweto last February. "The Ivorians are a very good side and we must prepare thoroughly for the second leg or face the prospect of losing out on Nations Championship qualification again." ...

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are expected to jet out for Abidjan on Thursday through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, team scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor has confirmed. The Eagles will be tak ing on the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday in the return leg of the African Nations Championship, CHAN. The Eagles have a 4-1 advantage from the first leg played in Kaduna penultimate Saturday. “All logistics have been perfected by the NFF leadership, he said, adding, “hopefully, by Thursday the team should be off to Abidjan to complete the process of qualifying for the first time for CHAN after two near misses”, he said. [caption id="attachment_404858" align="alignnone" width="412"] Ready for Abidjan Showdown … [/caption] Meanwhile, the team will from today alter their training schedule to evening time to coincide with the time the CHAN qualifier final round qualifier game will be played on Saturday in Abidjan, Head Coach Stephen Keshi has direct...