USWNT coach speaks on what he expects to get from playing Nigeria

 

I asked USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski what he expects to take away from playing Nigeria, a team that the USA have never lost to and beat 4-0 just recently 

BALOGUN: BEATING CAMEROON MAKES UP FOR MADAGASCAR LOSS

WE MOVED MOUNTAINS, SAYS MADAGASCAR PLAYER

ROHR SAYS MADAGASCAR HAS TAUGHT SUPER EAGLES HUMILITY

ONE GAME AT A TIME, SAYS ROHR

For Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, it is always one game at a time

AFCON 2019: IHEANACHO, SUCCESS TOP NIGERIA’S MISSING XI

Isaac Success, left,is on the outside looking in as Nigeria head to Afcon

Gernot Rohr’s picked his squad and the Super Eagles are already in Egypt enjoying sunshine, water and beach while going through their paces as they prepare to make a run for a fourth African title.

For the second tournament in a row, there has been next to no complaint about the German’s squad selection, a far departure from what used to happen in the past. Is that due to a dearth of quality talents, or simply a consequence of Rohr’s consistency in squad selection?

No matter. There are still naturally some players who missed out of the 23 and we decided to draw up a sit of the Nigeria Best XI who did not take it into the squad.

Would any of these have made a significant difference? Is the squad poorer for the absence of any one of them? Who would they have replaced?

This list is limited to players who have been called up by Rohr, but feel free to suggest any outside of that

The Missing XI

GK: Theophilus Afelokhai

Enyimba’s first choice goalkeeper just edges Dele Ajiboye here. His firm grip on the top spot forced Ikechukwu Ezenwa to look elsewhere for first team football and he has just helped Enyimba to another title but failed to make it past Rohr’s standby list

RB Tyronne Ebuehi

Tyronne would arguably have been in the squad were it not for the ACL injury that he suffered at the World Cup in Russia. 

LB Bryan Idowu

Starting left back at the World Cup, Idowu has disappeared from the national team in just the same way as he dropped in, with little fanfare. His stock dropped gradually to the point where he was no longer a factor for Rohr.

CB: Stephen Eze

Title winner with Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Eze has been called up by Rohr but there was little chance he was going to dislodge any of the current centrebacks. At least, not at this time

CB: Valentine Ozornwafor

One of the more recent call-ups to the Super Eagles, and an under 20 international from the recent World Cup, Ozornwafor like Eze stood next to no chance of dislodging the current group of centrebacks

MF: Mikel Agu

Long touted as one who could possibly claim one o the midfield roles as his own, Agu disappointed when he came on as an early sub prior to the World Cup His chances do not seem to have recovered. He was also named on the standby squad.

MF: Ogenyi Onazi

Onazi used to be one of the first Ames on the team sheet until a disastrous game against England in a pre-World Cup friendly. That cost him his starting place and he did not see action at all a the world Cup. There were reports of a falling out with Rohr, but his absence is mostly down to a long term injury that is currently recuperating from.

MF: Junior Ajayi

The Al Ahly star has only been called up a couple of times but was on the standby squad named by Rohr. 

FW: Kelechi Iheanacho

By far the biggest name on the list. A year ago, few would have dreamed this. But it is a sign of how low his stock has fallen that Iheanacho’s place in the squad has been taken up by two players whose combined senior caps can be counted on the fingers of one hand

Kelechi Iheanacho, right

FW: Simy Nwankwo

Nwankwo was expected to be the next great striker after his performances at Crotone, but he never quite hit it off with the Super Eagles despite making it to the World Cup.

FW: Isaac Success

England appears to be the grave of talented Nigeria junior internationals. Along with Iheanacho, Success was in that under 17 team which conquered the world and between them they were expected to rule the Eagles roost for a long time to come. 

Instead, both players find themselves out in the cold

Must be something in the water. . .

YOUNG GUNS SHOW UP BUT OLD MISTAKES CONTINUE AS NIGERIA STAY ALIVE WORLD CUP

Captain Desire Oparanozie celebrates a first win for Nigeria at the IFA Women's world Cup since 2011

On Wednesday, Nigeria’s Super Falcons gave themselves a lifeline in their quest to break free of the first round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in 20 years with a 2-0 victory over South Korea.

The win revived flagging spirits, and there is now more positivity about the final group game against France.

As always, there were a few things to unpack from the victory, so here goes 

YOUNG GUNS SHOW UP

By the end of the game, the Super Falcons had three 18-year-olds and one 21-year old on the pitch, and they all came to the party. In their own big ways.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie started ahead of the more experienced Tochi Oluehi and one would have been hard-pressed to believe it was her first World Cup. Confident, nimble, aware and boasting reflexes sharp as a razor, not to mention her good hands. She made save after save al game, including on 87 minutes when Yeo Minji turned inside three Nigeria defenders and shot low and hard. Nnadozie was quick to get down and smother the shot.

Her one mistake was parrying the ball into the path of Lee Geummin to slot home. Thankfully, the Korean was offside and the goal was chalked off.

Chidinma Okeke, the other starting 18 year old, has turned heads since coming in as replacement for the injured Faith Michael. She was solid against Norway, and took it up a notch against Korea, battling hard, bombing forward and providing the perfect weighted pass for Asisat Oshoala to round the keeper and give Nigeria a second goal. There are still rough edges around her game, but the tools are there and improvements will come with more games and more exposure.

Substitue Anam Imo replaced Francesca Ordega and brought all the energy of an 18 year old to the pitch, chasing lost causes and tracking like her life depended on it.

The oldest of the young guns was 21-year-old Uchenna Kanu, on for Oshoala late in the game and her contribution to keeping the Koreans honest quelled any ambitions the Asians had of mounting a late siege.

OLD MISTAKES CONTINUE

It was a win, right? Yes. We take it and move on to the next. But to watch the game the first time and then again gives cause for pause as all the troubling old errors continue to peek out.

When Thomas Dennerby reviews the game tape, his first thought has definitely go to be “Where the h**l do I start from??!!”

However, reading his quotes (see below) from the post match conference has got to be cause for worry. Serious worry.

The mistakes were so many that they need to be broken down into different subheadings

Panicked clearances

In defence, continuous panicked clearances and a shocking reluctance, or just plain inability to play the ball out of defence led to the Koreans winning the ball back almost instantly each time. 

That the Falcons did not concede was mostly down to Nnadozie’s heroics and desperate, last ditch body-on-the-line blocks. After all those shots, these ladies need to go check up on their wombs post tournament. 

There are times when it is just safer to make a short pass away from danger rather than trying to blast it, straight into the body of an opposition player. There needs to be more intelligence about the defending. Seriously.

Passing breakdowns

There is nothing more painful to watch than a team that cannot pass the football. And the super Falcons cannot. For most of the game, they could not string three passes together. I kid you not.

By the time they got to the third pass, the play either broke down, or they launched a long ball forward to the strikers which ended up with the opposition. It was pathetic. And that is being charitable.

Blind shooting

Time after time, the players kept shooting without looking, especially the midfielders. The moment they got anywhere around the box, the first instinct was always to shoot, even if there was forest of bodies in front and teammates in space. Credit to Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie, they always peeled wide whenever the other players got into those positions but hardly ever got service. One particular moment stood out. Ngozi Okobi arrived at the top of the box around the hour mark, the two forwards immediately drifted wide and unmarked. But rather than pass to them, she shot into a posse of Korean defenders. Naturally, the shots either ended up blocked or off on a trip to Mars.

Uncoordinated pressing

Pressing is as much a skill as any other in football. And if a team must press, they have to do so well and as a unit. The Super Falcons did not do either. They pressed on the wrong side, timed their approach wrong, and allowed the Koreans to simply pass their way around them, leaving the Nigerian girls chasing after them and expending more energy than they should. And they did not do it as a team, which made life a tin easier for the opposition. 

Thomas Dennerby has got to sort this side out out, and quickly.

Failed Tackles

One can almost count the number of successful tackles the Falcons made on one hand. A leprous hand, that is. It was worse for second balls. Because they were always so badly positioned and missed their timings, getting to the ball was always a problem. The Koreans were quicker to those balls, judged them better and moved them around faster. No surprise that the match stats weighed heavily in favour of the losers. They had 58 percent ball possession, 82 percent pass accuracy in their favour and 518 total passes to the Nigerians 271!

Constructing plays

There was no evidence that the Nigerians were constructing plays that would lead to goalscoring opportunities. The idea seemed to be to simply launch it forward and allow Asisat and Oparanozie to use their strength and pace to get in behind and shoot. It worked twice. They won. So there’s that.

However, this team is much too talented for such basic, easily countered tactics. They need to move the ball around, spread the play, cut back, whip in crosses, heck, even try to play combinations in the box!

Route one worked against an inferior opposition. Won’t be quite so successful against top sides.

“Today our discipline was better than against Norway – no mistakes at all. If we can be as compact as we were today, don’t let teams overplay us in midfield and find passes through, we know we’ll get opportunities for players like Asisat. The players followed our match plan and that’s all you can really ask. Now we go to play France, a really good team. If we can come out with a point everyone would be extremely happy. But you can’t just go to defend – you need to know what to do when you win the ball back. And hopefully we can have a little bit of success.” - Thomas Dennerby, Nigeria coach

GOOD THINGS TOO

It was not all bad. Honest.

There were many good thing the ladies did. 

For all the problems with the defence, one of the major reasons for the clean sheet was the centre backs’ positional play. Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale were always quick to read the play and get in position to make key blocks and interceptions. They will need some serious massage to get through the pain of taking all those shots to the body.

Then there was the aforementioned Okeke. For a youngster, her ability and reading of the play are excellent as are her defensive strengths. Only minus would be her distribution but the kid is 18, so she gets a pass. Especially after that perfect weighted ball for Oshoala.

The breakaways were also - for the most part - executed quite well. If not for a heavy second touch from Oshoala (and the way she covered her face after, says it all) Nigeria would have had a third goal after Halimatu Ayinde picked her out with another perfect ball, this time on the opposite channel.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN

Holding midfielders must “hold”

First things first. Someone needs to take responsibility for keeping the ball, even if the tactic is to cede possession. At least when they have the ball. Not giving it away cheaply.

The major reason for those embarrassing possession and passing (in)accuracy numbers was because the two holding midfielders (Rita Chikwelu and Chinaza Uchendu) were not exactly “holding”.

They constantly strayed too far away from the play and kept trying ambitious balls upfront.

This has to stop. One or both of them need to play the Mikel Obi role, maintaining ball circulation by dropping back to pick it up, and very importantly, be constantly available as an outlet for every player who has the ball. The other should also be close by in support on the other side.

An example of this gap was around the 80th minute, just before she was subbed when Oshoala intercepted a ball in the middle, held it up waiting for support. When none came, she passed blindly and it went straight to a Korean.

When the midfielders get the ball, they also need to keep it simple with short passes to the nearest person and leave the ambitious balls to the more advanced midfielder, Ngozi Okobi.

At 31, Chikwelu may not quite have the legs to do all that running, but she can pass a football. It might be a good idea for Dennerby to switch her up with Okobi.

Construct plays upfront that play to the strengths of the forwards

Play to the strengths of our forwards! 

Oparanozie is a great attacker of crossed balls. Deliver good, whipped crosses to the box for her to get her head onto. She is clinically accurate and also has the strength and skill to hold up defenders and link up play.  

Asisat Oshoala scores for Nigeria

Oshoala is quick and strong. She showed it in scoring that second goal. Play good balls in behind the defence for her to chase. But not all the time. Mostly when she can isolate a defender or two. Or play her balls out wide where she can deliver whipped balls to Oparanozie.

Tackle and win second balls

Players need to learn how to tackle, improve their timing and get goal side of the opposition. Running after balls when the players have turned and long gone is mostly expending energy.

To be clear, while he still has a lot to answer for, these issues go beyond Dennerby. Some of these are things that need to be taught over and over from a young age until they become ingrained muscle memory.

These were the same issues with u20 and u17. Even the Super Eagles are no exception and are sometimes guilty of the same troubles, but theirs is masked by the combination of outstanding individual talent and years of playing at a high level in Europe.

In the meantime, enjoy a first World Cup victory since 2011.

ROHR’S AXE, IHEANACHO AND OTHER MATTERS

Kelechi Iheanacho has been shut out of the Super Eagles

Such has been the consistency of Gernot Rohr’s squad and team selection that there was next to no surprise when his final 23-man squad list for the African Cup of Nations was released.

And while Semi Ajayi’s cut may have stirred a flutter of emotion from fans, the axing of Kelechi Iheanacho, expected as it was, cut to the quick.

It has been less than four years ago since the forward made a blistering start to his senior international career. Since then, his club fortunes have taken a nosedive. Offloaded by Manchester City, Iheanacho’s career at Leicester City has stalled to the point of stagnation.

For the first time ever, he was left out of the Nigeria squad for games last March, and suffered a public chiding by the Nigeria manager.

Even when he was called up to the current squad it was little more than a token recognition, and after he failed to feature in the friendly against Zimbabwe, it was clear that the deed was done.

From the high of being one of the most talented players of his generation, perhaps a future leader around which the team could be built, Iheanacho finds himself cut from the Nations Cup squad, and replaced by Paul Onuachu and Victor Osimhen.

It is a rude awakening for the forward, if he will take the lessons. Rohr agreed that he spoke to the striker, but declined to say what was discussed

“I speak to the players but our conversations are confidential,” he told me.

It is clear however, that whatever the conversation was, it would have involved pulling up his socks and knuckling down for next season. Moving clubs, if necessary and possible.

For a player of his talent and potential to fall so low in such a short time is as shocking as it is unacceptable.

Kelechi’s failure is not his alone. It is also Nigeria’s failure. To put it in perspective, Christian Pulisic is the poster boy for the future of the US national team. After a successful spell at Borussia Dortmund, he will now join Chelsea where his growth trajectory is projected to continue to stay on the upward curve.

While it can be a dangerous pastime trying to predict the future (Freddy Adu, anyone?), Pulisic’s foundational grounding and management means he is more likely to hit his expected heights than Iheanacho or most other African talent.

Looking at the bigger picture, the same basic foundational issues that afflict the likes of Iheanacho (a leaden first touch, amongst other things) was also on exhibition when the Flying Eagles stank up the joint at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Poland, and when the Super Falcons let in three goals against Norway at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

These are all symptoms of a much bigger malaise, one that needs immediate surgery and reconstruction. 

At the moment, there is too much of a dependence on the hit or miss approach. It is time to start taking a more structured approach to both identifying, developing and grooming talent for the long haul.

It is the only way we can avoid seeing a major talent gradually slink into oblivion, or two (and more) national teams display disgraceful performances at the international stage.

Otherwise, the only way is down.

ZONAL MARKING FAILURES AND OTHER TAKEAWAYS FROM NORWAY’S LASHING OF SUPER FALCONS

Norway handed Nigeria a 17th Women’s World Cup LOS on the back of three quickfire first half goals on Saturday.

Guro Reiten scored in the 17th minute as the Super Falcons failed to deal with a corner kick, and Lisa-Marie Utland made it two 17 minutes later when she flashed a fierce shot past goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi from close range.

The African champions were overwhelmed in the encounter and this showed as defender Osinachi Ohale put the ball into her own net in an attempt to steer the ball away as the Scandinavians again threatened from the left side of the Nigerian defence.

Asisat Oshoala rounded the goalkeeper late in the second half but with no support, skewed her shot into the side netting.

Here are some takeaways from the game

ZONAL MARKING DOESN'T WORK

First, let’s get the obvious out of the way. Whoever told Thomas Dennerby to plump for zonal marking at cornerkicks needs to un-tell him.

It is a difficult tactical plan to execute even under the best of circumstances, and with players who have spent months coming to grips with it. Our girls simply did not look not equipped to do the thinking on the fly that comes with trying to deal with that approach and it showed in the first goal.

Because everyone was so focused on staying in their zones, no one stepped up to challenge the short corner kick. By the time they realized the danger, it was too late and a crowded box makes for some unpleasant outcomes, as it happened.

They didn’t give up anything, at least not much in the second half, but it was still touch and go. And against France, who have the tallest defender in the tournament, that would be courting disaster.

It can’t be too far fetched to imagine the French looking at the game and rubbing their hands in glee.

BASICS LACKING

With that said, it is easier to list to a serial criminal’s rap sheet than the amount of things wrong with the Super Falcons play, especially in that first half.

Their passing was so tawdry, one can count how many times they completed three passes in a row on one hand.

Their touch, for the most part was about as good as Godzilla trying to control a felele ball. And they kept turning the ball over, especially in dangerous areas because they could not live with the high press from the Norwegians. When they did get forward, service to Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala was criminally inadequate. As for the crossed balls, the least said about those the better. 

Leaves one wondering what exactly Dennerby was working on all those days in training camp.

Admittedly, the basics should not be taught at national camp, but at least dealing with pressing is as much tactical as foundational. And delivering decent crossed balls should not be rocket science?

Dennerby has a lot of work to do. It is doubtful if a few days will be enough to resolve them. The good news however, must be that second half performance, which provided both positive and negative takeaways. 

On the one hand, restricting Norway to virtually nothing in 45 minutes is a good look. On the flip side, the fact that failed to create anything of note of their own is a monumental worry.

INDIVIDUAL ERRORS

As much as the coach needs to take the blame for much of the issues that afflicted the team, the players also have to take responsibility. They committed kindergarten errors all over the park. Faith Michael was too easily beaten for the cornerkick leading to the first goal. A failure to track back and contest balls, not to mention defenders being hopelessly out of position led to the second and Tochi Oluehi’s poor clearout to the opposition saw the ball come back to her for the third goal.

The midfield of Rita Chikwelu and Ngozi Okobi practically ghosted their way through the entire game and just could not maintain possession. Michael had to be subbed off injured after her second collision with goalkeeper Oluehi. That was just horribly poor positioning and lack of communication. And her replacement, the youngster Okeke could defend, but her passing was all o er the place. Francisca Ordega towered over everyone else in effort and application. But she was a lone wolf. Dennerby has a lot of work to do to fix his squad.

MIKEL INTEGRATION AND OTHER THINGS ROHR WILL BE LOOKING FOR AGAINST ZIMBABWE

On Saturday, Gernot Rohr will lead his Super Eagles team out against Zimbabwe in the first of two friendly games before the Nations Cup.

While the game will be largely preparatory, it affords the German a first opportunity to look at the bulk of his squad and also confirm the decision of which player to drop before CAF’s June 11 deadline.

What exactly will the coach be looking for 

RETURN OF THE MIK

Captain John Mikel Obi has been out of the squad since the World Cup in 2018. That would be nearly 11 months since he last kicked a ball in the green and white strip.

In his absence, the team have qualified for the Nations Cup with a game to spare, but he still remains a vital piece of the puzzle, both for his status and the control he brings to the midfield and team as a whole.

Mikel starting is a no-brainer. But Rohr will be keeping an eye on him to see how seamlessly he re-integrates himself into the side. 

Mikel has looked good on training, moving economically, releasing the ball quickly and linking up well with teammates as he works his way back to some rhythm.

Don’t expect him to last the 90 minutes though. Rohr will be looking to manage his captain’s minutes and exposure to injury.

STRIKERS’ AUDITION 

There are essentially two spots where Rohr has said he will be looking to make cuts, in midfield and attack.

Upfront, the battle for the second striker’s spot to join Odion Ighalo is between Paul Onuachu and Victor Osimhen. Both players will be making their final cases for inclusion. Onuachu currently holds a big edge over his younger rival, and Osimhen would need to play out if his skin to dislodge him.

Kelechi Iheanacho might also get minutes, but it may be academically as he looks a strong candidate for the chop after dwindled production at both Leicester and Nigeria.

Outside of that p, Rohr will also want to see some cohesion from his core team with only one other game before the Nations Cup kicks off.

GOALKEEPERS BATTLE

At Thursday’s press conference, Rohr told reporters he had not made up his mind about who will Be first choice goalkeeper at Afcon.

This suggests that at least two goalies will have be under observation against Zimbabwe. 

Francis Uzoho has his nose in front in this battle. But he also has the most to lose as any mistake, like the one which gifted Seychelles a goal in the last round of qualifying, could leave him in a hole he will find it tough to dig himself out of.

So a reasonable guess would be Uzoho and Ezenwa, and then depending on how things go in Saturday’s game, Uzoho and Akpeyi in the next Friendly.

The margin for error is slim to nonexistent.

MIKEL, CHUKWUEZE EXPECTED IN NIGERIA'S PROVISIONAL AFCON SQUAD

Samuel Chukwueze expected to be recalled to Nigeria squad ahead of Afcon 

Nigeria’s provisional 25-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will be announced over the next few days and coach Gernot Rohr says there will be a return for captain John Mikel Obi.

Also expected to be named in the squad is youngster Samuel Chukwueze, who was left out of the Flying Eagles squad to the FIFA Under 20 World Cup starting next week in Poland.

Mikel, 32, has not played for Nigeria since the 2018 World Cup in Russia but said via Ayo Olu Ibidapo that he would be in Egypt

“We had a very good meeting with Obi Mikel,” Rohr said. “Our list will be made and Chukwueze will be in our group of 25 players preparing for the AFCON.”

It will be a return to the senior squad for the Villareal teenager, who was left out of the squad for the last two games in March to help the under 23s overturn a two-goal deficit over Libya in the second round of Olympic qualifiers.

Nigeria will play Zimbabwe on June 8 in the first of their preparatory games for the Nations Cup.

FOUR REASONS NIGERIA SHOULD BE WARY OF EASY GROUP

Friday’s African Nations Cup Draw left many a Nigerian preening in satisfaction at the outcome.

Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi look at first glance to be easy pickings for the Super Eagles, offering little more than lubrication to the knockout phase of the tournament.

But should the Eagles have reason to worry? So it would seem 

GUINEA ELIMINATED NIGERIA FROM AFCON 2012

Despite the unbridled post-draw celebrations, many admit that Guinea will be the toughest cookies in the jar for the Eagles, and rightly so.

Even at the height of the Super Eagles powers, Aboubakar Titi Camara caused palpitations by scoring a stupendous goal in Lagos.

Of more immediate concern is their more recent meetings. During qualifying for the 2012 tournament, Guinea beat the Super Eagles 1-0 in the first leg, and drew 2-2 in Abuja. That draw cost Nigeria a place at the Nations Cup n Equatorial Guinea. Seven years after, it is payback time. This Syli National side are dangerous though. They finished the qualifying campaign unbeaten and could pose more than enough problems.

MADAGASCAR ENDED ANICHEBE’S CAREER

When Victor Anichebe was stretchered out of that 2-0 win against Madagascar in Antananarivo, not many would have thought it would be his last game for Nigeria.

But the injury was more serious than first thought and the forward just could not recover on time. He never made it back to another Nigeria squad.

It was the same qualifying series where Guinea took four points out of Nigeria, but the Super Eagles won 2-0 over both legs for a 4-0 aggregate win. The only black Mark was the Anichebe injury and the Super Eagles might now be looking to provide some closure for their now retired striker.

BURUNDI HAVE LETHAL STRIKER 

Burundi, like Madagascar, may be debutants, but their qualifying run must give cause for pause.

Not only did they qualify unbeaten, they also did so with one of the more lethal forwards on the continent. 

Fiston Abdul Razak finished the series on 6 goals, one behind Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo. He has extensive experience in African football from playing in Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Angola and Algeria.

He will be a big threat for the Super Eagles defense.

EASY GROUP, YEAH RIGHT

The Super Eagles can get nine points out of nine, right? Not so fast.

Last time the Eagles had such an easy Group was in 2013 when Stephen Keshi’s wards were drawn against Burkina Faso, Zambia and Ethiopia.

They drew their first two games against Zambia and the Burkinabes and looked almost doomed, until a last day win against Ethiopia saw them squeak past Zambia on goal difference after both sides finished with 5 points.

Nigeria have always qualified from the group stage, but it has never been a walk in the park.

AITEO BOSS WINS AWARD

Benedict Peters, international business leader and founder of NFF sponsor Aiteo Group has been awarded the African Icon of the Year at the Foreign Investment Network (FIN) and Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources Honorary Patrons Dinner and Awards Night.

The award is an acknowledgement of Peters’ significant contribution to oil and gas development in Africa, his visionary leadership, distinguished service and transformational disruption of a sector dominated by international oil companies. 

The Aiteo Group’s 20 year evolution through Africa’s Oil and Gas sector has been exemplary as well as revolutionary – going from a downstream start-up to becoming a leading integrated energy conglomerate with strategic investments in hydrocarbon exploration and production.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Michael Dragoyevich, Chief Executive Officer of Foreign Investment Network remarked, “Mr Peters has earned a unique honour to stand out among his peers as winner of the coveted FIN African Icon of the Year Award.”

Peters, who has invested over N1 billion in sponsorship to Nigeria football, dedicated the award to all Aiteo employees

“The award by FIN as its African Icon of the Year is awe-inspiring. It’s an honour to receive this type of recognition. Our modest efforts to provide Africa’s market places with top-quality energy solutions while being a reference point for indigenous capacity in oil and gas have clearly paid off, and we are proud of the fact that we continue to receive such prestigious distinction.” 

Peters is passionate about youth empowerment and has donated generously to support football on the African continent. Through Aiteo, he sponsors the Nigerian Football Federation, Aiteo CAF Awards, Aiteo Cup (the Federation’s foremost Cup in Nigeria) and a team in his company’s host community. 

He has also assisted thousands of internally displaced persons in northern Nigeria while also supporting clean water sanitation initiatives in Africa in partnership with Face Africa, improving the lives of over 25,000 people in rural Liberia and more. 

Peters has a keen interest in social and environmental issues in the agricultural sector. He chairs the Joseph Agro Foundation, which seeks to tackle high levels of unemployment and water shortage by creating job opportunities for farmers in Africa.

In recognition of his ground-breaking contribution to development, Peters was one of four recipients of the Marquee Award for Global Business Excellence at the Africa-US Leadership Awards in 2014. 

In the same year, he won the "Leadership CEO of the Year” award.  In 2015, Peters received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award in the "Economic Empowerment” category. 

He was listed as one of the ‘50 Most Influential Nigerians in 2017’ by BusinessDay. Furthermore, he won ‘Oil and Gas Man of the Year’ at the prestigious Guardian Awards in 2018 as well as the prestigious Forbes Magazine Oil & Gas Leader of the year. 

In January 2019, The Vanguard Media Limited honoured him with the Businessman of the year award at a gala in Lagos.