Guardian

The Super Eagles:

FOLLOWING defeats of Rwanda by the Super Eagles in the first round and Liberia in the final round of qualification campaign for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the team qualified to play at the 16-nation continental championship, which will take place in South Africa between January 19 and  February 10, 2013.  Already, the Super Eagles have been drawn in the same first round group (Group C) against Cup holders Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

Eagles’ First Round Matches in South Africa:

January 21: Vs Burkina Faso in Nelspruit

January 25: Vs Zambia in Nelspruit

January 29: Vs Ethiopia in Rustenburg

Super Eagles’ other matches in 2012

Jan 11–Nigeria Vs Angola: International Friendly (Abuja) (0-0).

Feb 15 - Liberia Vs Nigeria (International Friendly) (Monrovia) (0-2).

Feb 29- Rwanda Vs Nigeria:  2013 African Nations Cup Qualifier (Kigali) (0-0).

April 12 - Egypt Vs Nigeria: International Friendly (Abu Dhabi) (3-2).

May 23 - Peru Vs Nigeria: International Friendly (Lima) (1-0)

June 3– Nigeria Vs Namibia: 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (Calabar) (1-0).

June 9– Malawi Vs Nigeria: 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (Blantyre) (1-1)

June 17-Nigeria Vs Rwanda: 2013 African Nations Cup Qualifier (Kigali) (2-0).

Aug 15 - Niger Vs Nigeria: International Friendly (Senior Men) (Niamey)  (0-0).

Sept 8 - 2013 African Nations Cup Qual: Liberia Vs Nigeria (Monrovia) (2-2).

Oct 13 - 2013 African Nations Cup Qual: Nigeria Vs Liberia (Calabar) (6-1).

Nov 14 - Nigeria Vs Venezuela: International Friendly (Miami, USA) (3-1).

The Flying Eagles

The National U-20 team defeated Tanzania in the first round and South Africa in the final round of the 2013 African Youth Championship to qualify for the continental competition, which will take place in Algeria between March 16 – 30, 2013.  The draw for this competition will take place in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday, December 9, 2012.

Summary of Flying Eagles Exploits in 2012

May 25 - Ghana Vs Nigeria: Cape Town U-20 Tournament (3-2).

May 27- Nigeria Vs Argentina: Cape Town U-20 Tournament (0-1).

May 29-South Africa Vs Nigeria: Cape Town U-20 Tournament (1-0).

July 29- Tanzania Vs Nigeria: African U-20 Champ Qual. (Dar es Salaam) (1-2).

Aug 11-Nigeria Vs Tanzania: African U-20 Champ Qual. (Ilorin) (2-0).

Sept 16-Benin Rep Vs Nigeria: International Friendly (Cotonou) (1-1).

Sept 21–South Africa Vs Nigeria: African U-20 Championship Qual. (Nelspruit) (1-1).

Oct 7  - Nigeria Vs South Africa: African U-20 Championship Qual. (Ilorin) (3-1).

The Golden Eaglets

After defeating Niger Republic in the first round, Guinea in the second round and Mali in the third and final round, the Golden Eaglets have qualified for the 2013 African U-17 Championship, to be staged by Morocco between 13 – 27 April, 2013. The draw for this tournament will also take place in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday, 9th December, 2012.

How the team fared in 2012

Aug 31-Nigeria Vs Rwanda–U-17 International Friendly (Calabar) (5-0).

Sept 2-NigeriaVs Rwanda–U-17 International Friendly (Calabar) (3-0).

Sept 8-Niger Vs Nigeria: African U-17 Champ Qual. (Niamey) (1-4).

Sept 22– Nigeria Vs Niger:African U-17 Champ Qual. (Calabar) (6-0)

Oct 14 - Nigeria Vs Guinea:African U-17 Champ Qual. (Calabar) (3-0).

Oct  28 - Guinea Vs Nigeria: African U-17 Champ Qual. (0-4).

Nov  18 – Nigeria Vs Mali: African U-17 Champ Qual. (2-0).

Dec  2 – Mali Vs Nigeria: African U-17 Champ Qual. (0-2).

The Super Falcons

The Falcons defeated Zimbabwe home and away to qualify for the 8th African Women Championship in Equatorial Guinea (28 October – 11 November, 2012), but faltered, losing 0-1 to South Africa in the semi final and by the same scoreline to Cameroon in the bronze medal match. It was the first time in eight editions that Nigeria would finish without a medal in the competition, having won six titles and one bronze medal previously.

Super Falcons’ scorecard in 2012

May 27–Zimbabwe Vs Nigeria: 2012 African Women Championship Qual. (Harare) (0-3).

June 3 - South Africa Vs Nigeria: International Friendly (Senior Women) (Rustenburg) (1-1).

June 16–Nigeria Vs Zimbabwe: 2012 African Women Championship Qual. (Lagos) (4-0).

June 23- Nigeria Vs South Africa: International Friendly (Senior Women) (Lagos)  (0-0).

Oct 29 –- Cameroon Vs Nigeria: 2012 African Women Champ (Eq. Guinea) (1-2).

Nov  1–-Ethiopia Vs Nigeria: 2012 African Women Champ (Eq. Guinea) (0-3).

Nov 4–- Nigeria Vs Cote d’Ivoire: 2012 African Women Champ (Eq. Guinea) (3-1).

Nov 7 –- South Africa Vs Nigeria: 2012 African Women Champ (Eq. Guinea) (1-0).

Nov 11  –- Cameroon Vs Nigeria: 2012 African Women Champ (Eq. Guinea) (1-0).

The Falconets

The Women U-20 team defeated Zimbabwe and DR Congo home and away to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (19 August – 8 September, 2012), and reached the semi finals at the tournament in Japan. The girls were highly commended by FIFA President Sepp Blatter for their excellent ball skills and fighting spirit. They lost 0-2 to eventual champions USA in the semi finals and 1-2 to host Japan in the bronze medal match.

Falconets scorecard in 2012

Mar 30 – Nigeria Vs Zim: 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Abeokuta) (3-0).

Apr 14 - Zim Vs Nigeria: 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Harare) (0-3).

May 5 – Nig Vs DR Congo: 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Abeokuta) (4-0).

May 20– DR Congo Vs Nig: 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Kinshasa) (0-3).

July 24 – Ghana Vs Nig: International Friendly – U-20 Women (Accra) (3-2).

July 26 – Ghana Vs Nig: International Friendly – U-20 Women (Accra) (1-2).

Aug 19 – Nigeria Vs Korea Rep – FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals (Japan) (2-0).

Aug 22 – Nigeria Vs Brazil – FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals (Japan) (1-1).

Aug 26 – Nigeria Vs Italy – FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals (Japan) (4-0).

Aug  31 - Mexico Vs Nigeria – FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals (Japan) (0-1).

Sept 4  - USA Vs Nigeria – FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals (Japan) (2-0).

Sept 8 - Japan Vs Nigeria – FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals (Japan) (2-1)

The Flamingos

The Flamingos defeated Kenya and Zambia home and away to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that took place in Azerbaijan (22 September – 13 October, 2012). The girls equalled the tournament record of 11-0 when defeating the host nation in a group phase match, but lost 3-5 penalties to France in the quarter finals.

How the team fared in 2012

Jan 21–Kenya Vs Nigeria: 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Nairobi) (0-2).

Feb 4 - Nigeria Vs Kenya:  2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Abeokuta) (3-0).

Mar 10– Zambia Vs Nigeria:  2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Lusaka) (1-2).

Mar 24 –Nig Vs Zambia:  2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s W/Cup Qual. (Abeokuta) (5-0).

Sept 22 – Nigeria Vs Canada: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals (Azerbaijan) (1-1).

Sept 25 – Azerbaijan Vs Nigeria: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals (Azerbaijan) (0-11).

Sept 29–Nigeria Vs Colombia: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals (Azerbaijan) (3-0).

Oct 4–Nigeria Vs France: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals (Azerbaijan) (3-5pen).

The Supersand Eagles

The Supersand team took part in the Eight-Nation Samsung Invitational Tournament in Dubai, winning two matches and losing to four-time world champions Brazil to reach the semi finals, where they lost to reigning world champions Russia. The team narrowly lost the third place match to host UAE, but surged back commendably to successfully defend their COPA Lagos Invitational Beach Soccer title in December, by beating Lebanon, Argentina and Portugal.

How the Beach Soccer Team Fared in 2012

Oct 30 –Brazil Vs Nigeria: Samsung Intercontinental Beach Soccer Tour (Dubai) (6-3)

Oct 31–Nigeria Vs Switzerland: Samsung Intercontinental Beach Soccer Tour (Dubai) (7-6).

Nov 1–Japan Vs Nigeria: Samsung Intercontinental Beach Soccer Tour (Dubai) (5-6).

Nov 2–Russia Vs Nigeria: Samsung Intercontinental Beach Soccer Tour (Dubai) (9-4).

Dec 14 - Nigeria Vs Lebanon: COPA Lagos Invitational Beach Soccer (Lagos) (7-6).

Dec 15 - Nigeria Vs Argentina: COPA Lagos Invitational Beach Soccer (Lagos) (5-0).

Dec 16  - Nigeria Vs Portugal: COPA Lagos Invitational Beach Soccer (Lagos) (8-7).

Analysis of 2012 national team matches

The Super Eagles - Played 12: Won 5; Drew 5; Lost 2

Flying Eagles - Played 8: Won 3; Drew 2; Lost 3

Golden Eaglets - Played 8: Won 8!

Super Falcons - Played 9: Won 5; Drew 2; Lost 2

Falconets - Played 12: Won 8; Drew 1; Lost 3

Flamingos - Played 8: Won 6; Drew 1; Lost 1

Supersand Eagles – Played 7: Won 5; Lost 2

Aggregate of matches played by all national teams

Matches Played: 64

Matches Won: 40

Matches Drawn: 11

Matches Lost: 13