The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agbim

  • Dosu okays Agbim for Zimbabwe

    Dosu okays Agbim for Zimbabwe

    Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu has queued behind Super Eagles goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim to be in the post against the Warriors of Zimbabwe in the losers final at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

    After losing in Wednesday’s semifinal clash in Bloemfontein, Nigeria and Zimbabwe will fight for the bronze today at the Cape Town Stadium.

    Dosu said since Agbim is not under suspension or injured it makes a whole lot of sense to encourage him to finish what he started against the Southern African opponents today.

    “Agbim is still alive not suspended or injured, I think he should be in the post against Zimbabwe. Agbim has done well in the championship. This is not to take anything away from the other goalkeepers, Daniel Akpeyi and Dele Alampasu.

    “However, I’m not the coach who may have a different view entirely on who keeps against Zimbabwe, but I would have loved to see Agbim finish what he started. I’m sure if you interview Alampasu right now even on the bench, he’s certain to tell you he has learnt a lot from the older goalkeepers.

    “It’s a big plus to the coaches taking him to the championship as he has years ahead of himself,” said the 1996 Olympic gold medallist to supersport.com.

    Dosu said the third place game against Zimbabwe is worth winning by Nigeria.

    “The semifinal performance is a huge plus for the debutants and finishing the championship as third best won’t be a poor outing by any standard. The bronze medal will mean a lot to the crop of players for a long time to come, if not cherished for life.

    “Of course, we won’t go to South Africa and come back home empty-handed, the Eagles must try their very best to win the third place game. It will compensate for the semifinal defeat to Ghana’s Black Stars,” Dosu said.

  • Agbim screams It’s the trophy or nothing

    Agbim screams It’s the trophy or nothing

    Super Eagles’ skipper Chigozie Agbim said their sights remain fixed on the trophy on February 1.

    “We played against a good Moroccan team, who had the first half, while we had the second half and God gave us the victory,” said the Enugu Rangers shot stopper.

    “We now hope to go on and reach the final and get the trophy after we have qualified for the semi-final.”

    On Wednesday, Nigeria will now face the winners of the quarterfinal between Ghana and DR Congo, which will be played today.

    Agbim says he knew Eagles could come back against Morocco despite going three goals down in the first-half, but couldn’t believe the performance that the players in front of him put up to come back from the deficit.

    “I knew we would come back because I know the kind of players we had,” he told KickOffNigeria.com after the game.

    “I kept telling them we could do it and we had to push but I didn’t believe what I saw because they fought like wounded lions.”

    Agbim himself came up with two big saves to deny the Moroccans and said he was just as determined to advance.

    “I told myself after the first half that I must not concede another goal because I knew that the only way to keep the morale of the players high to score more goals is not to allow another goal.

    “And I thank God that I was able to do that.”

    Agbim was gracious enough to give credit to the opposition.

    “I want to congratulate Morocco. They are a very good team, but they played the first-half, we played the second and God gave us the victory,” he added.

  • MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION: Agbim banned from Facebook

    MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION: Agbim banned from Facebook

    • Keshi stops goalkeeper from receiving calls

    The Super Eagles’ technical crew has banned goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim from going online to update his Facebook page or receive calls for the duration of the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), where Nigeria is expected to beat Morocco today at 4pm.

    Super Eagles Team Psychologist, Robinson Okosun, on Thursday said Agbim was restrained from taking many calls and visiting the social media to avoid distractions capable of lowering his morale.

    “By and large, I think he is coping so well. Also, like I said, I still maintain my restriction on him from visiting Facebook. And, of course, to also reduce the level of calls he takes. The calls I expect him to take are the ones from his parents and his friends, and not the ones that will discourage him.

    “But, by and large, I think he is coping fine, he is responding very well to the psychological tuning given to him. For the general team, after the South Africa game, I had a session with them, to appraise, tell individual players what I discovered in the match.

    “But having said that, I am going to have the last and final session with the team on Friday (yesterday) and they are ready to go.’’

    He also said other members of the Super Eagles were also responding to confidence-building. Okosun said the players were told that the task ahead would not be easy.

  • Agbim thanks Enyeama, Ejide

    Agbim thanks Enyeama, Ejide

    The skipper of the Nigeria home-based national team side, and the third choice goal tender of the senior national team, Chigozie Agbim, has thanked Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide for helping his game grow.

    Agbim, who spoke to Futaa.com in Calabar where the Eagles secured their passage to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, insisted that he was not envying their place ahead of him in the team

    “I have learned a lot from Vincent and Austin. They are great keepers and have been in the team long before me so I respect them, humble myself and just learn.

    “I do not feel bad that I am third choice because my time will come,” he added.

    Agbim will have the chance to be the lead keeper in his own right come January, when the home-based Eagles take on Africa at the African Nations Championship in South Africa.

  • TRANSFER DRAMA Rangers can’t use Agbim, Wolves insist

    TRANSFER DRAMA Rangers can’t use Agbim, Wolves insist

    The feud from transfer dealings between two Glo Premier League sides, Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves was yesterday reignited when Delta State Sports Commission Chairman, Amaju Pinnick, warned the Flying Antelopes not to field Super Eagles goalkeeper, Agbim until he is cleared by the Warri team.

    Three of the five players that were with Rangers at the beginning of the season from Warri Wolves have been recalled by the Delta State-owned team because of the Coal City sides’ inability to complete their transfer formalities.

    The three returnees, Lazarus Chukwu, Efe Yarhere and Michael Egbeta were all on the bench before the last two were later introduced in the second half when Warri Wolves hosted and beat Rangers 1-0 at the Warri City Stadium last Sunday.

    Out of the remaining two, controversy still surrounds the status of Eagles’ back up goalie, Agbim. Amaju however told SportingLife that the keeper belongs to Warri Wolves 100 per cent because of Rangers’ delay in properly clearing him from Wolves.

    He said Agbim would only be eligible to play for Rangers when the club wraps up the deal with Wolves.

    “We at Warri Wolves are very straight and honest people. I can tell you and I even want you to quote that Agbim is still a Warri Wolves player. He has not been cleared and he is ineligible to play for Rangers,” Amaju said.

    He also spoke on the fate of another Super Eagles player, Sunday Mba: “Mba is a Warri Wolves’ player 100 per cent due to the right exceeded (sic) to us through the LMC and the NFF.

    “But we decided out of courtesy and out of the fact that if Mba comes back to Warri Wolves, where can he fit in? He cannot even fit-in into the club and so we told him ‘Mba, you can now play for Rangers and play on loan until we want you to travel.’

    “The underlining factor between Warri Wolves, Rangers and all stakeholders regarding Sunday Mba is what they would gain when the boy travels.

    “Warri Wolves must be the major beneficiary because it was Warri Wolves that propelled him to greatness. Whatever Mba and Agbim are today is because of Warri Wolves, because those boys were harassed and chased out of Rangers some years ago.”

  • Keshi names Agbim, Oboabona, Mba, 21 others for CIV

    Keshi names Agbim, Oboabona, Mba, 21 others for CIV

    Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has swiftly turned his attention to the 2014 African Nations Championship qualifying match against Cote d’Ivoire, by calling up 24 home boys for the game billed for the end of next week.

    Even as the African champions were rueing several missed chances in the 3-0 defeat to World and European champions Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil, Keshi pencilled down goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Godfrey

    Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe and Benjamin Francis, midfielders Emeka Eze and Sunday Mba and forward Muhammad Gambo from the squad that were with him in Brazil, and added 14 more from Nigeria’s top flight and two from the lower division.

    Returning are goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defender Kunle Odunlami and striker Obinna Nwachukwu and Gomo Onduku who were part of the team’s training camp in Germany ahead of the international friendly with Mexico in Texas, USA.

    Defender Chibuzor Okonkwo, who is no stranger to the senior team camp, is joined by familiar faces Umar Zango and Ezekiel Bassey, Ayo Saka and Anthony Okputu.

    Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer Dele Olorundare of Sunshine Stars is joined by former junior international midfielder Olufemi Oladapo.

    New faces are Mohammed Ajia of Bayelsa United, Enyimba FC’s Ifeanyi Edeh, Pius Samson of Ranch Bees, Festus Ajah of Union Bank FC and Warri Wolves’ Etebo Oghene.

    The players are expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, 30th June, 2013.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the match will be played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Saturday, 6th July.

    “We are happy for the favourable response from the Kaduna State Government, and we have also approached the National Sports Commission for permission to use the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna for the encounter.

    “The grass is excellent and the entire facility is well maintained. The Super Eagles will find the place comfortable,” Barrister Musa Amadu, NFF General Secretary who was in Kaduna on Monday, said.

  • Agbim: Wolves give Rangers 2-weeks ultimatum

    Agbim: Wolves give Rangers 2-weeks ultimatum

    Warri Wolves have given Rangers two weeks to pay up Chigozie Agbim’s transfer fee or they would be forced to recall the goalkeeper. Both clubs agreed the international shot stopper could leave for eight million Naira.

    Media officer of Wolves Etu Moses in a statement described as sad that “since the agreed date of May 15 for payment expired we have not heard from Rangers”.

    Moses also spoke on Eagles forward Sunday Mba, who played a CAF Champions League match for Rangers at Recreativo Libolo of Angola, insisting the player remains their property.

    “We would want to use this opportunity to tell the whole world that we only gave Sunday Mba to Rangers for the continental game,” Moses disclosed.

    “This clarification became necessary that because we have heard in some quarters that the player is being referred to as a Rangers player. We have not sold Sunday Mba and the player is available to any club who is interested in his services.”

    Wolves have demanded from Rangers 12 million Naira for Mba, who is best remembered for scoring two tournament-defining goals at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, where Nigeria won a third continental trophy.

     

  • Mba, Agbim out of Confederation Cup tie

    Mba, Agbim out of Confederation Cup tie

    Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim will miss Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup tie against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien as they are away with the Super Eagles.

    Both players were among the nine home-based players who flew into Germany Friday morning ahead of a training camp to prepare for a Super Eagles friendly against Mexico in the United States of America.

    Rangers coach Okey Emordi informed MTNFootball.com the team will cope in the absence of the duo.

    “It would have been lovely to have both Agbim and Mba in the team to tackle CS Sfaxien, but we have to make do with what we have. There are capable players to take their place and their absence will not be felt too much in the game,” he said.

    “I expect to see a very tactical game from the Tunisians but if we get it right from the blast of the referee’s whistle, victory is certain.”

    Media officer Foster Chime added:“With or without both players, Rangers will reign supreme over the Tunisians.

    “They are a tough side, but I strongly believe that we have all it takes to make victory a certainty so as to make the return leg a mere formality.”

    Rangers has been boosted by the return of defence strong man Cyril Oriaku, who has returned from an ankle sprain, while Ekene Iwuorie and Senegalese import Pape Ousmane Sane are all available for selection after injury lay-offs.

    Sunday’s third round, first leg match is slated for 3.30pm Nigerian time with Kenyan match officials handling proceedings inside the main bowl of the 18,000-capacity Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

     

  • Confed Cup: Rangers seek Mba, Agbim’s release

    Confed Cup: Rangers seek Mba, Agbim’s release

    Nigeria’s remaining representatives on the continent, Enugu Rangers are sweating over the inclusion of their players Sunday Mba and Chigozie Agbim in the Super Eagles’ squad currently camping in Abuja.

    Rangers need Mba and Agbim for their CAF Confederation Cup first leg 3rd Round tie against Tunisian CS Sfaxien on Sunday in Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes’ General Manager, Paul Chibuzor Ozor told SportingLife that the Enugu based club have made a passionate appeal to Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi to allow the players join the Rangers squad this weekend and then return to the senior national team in Germany on Monday.

    “This is also a national assignment like the Super Eagles’ game. We would like to have Agbim and Mba in the game against CS Sfaxien. We have appealed to coach Stephen Keshi but he is yet to answer us,” Ozor said.

    Meanwhile, Rangers have sent a letter to the handlers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to look into the match schedule of teams representing the country in continental competitions next season based on some lapses noticed this season.

    The Flying Antelopes opined that crowded league fixtures have not in any way helped their cause and that of others that were in Africa before they were eliminated.

    In a press statement by the club’s Media Officer, Foster Chime, the Rangers management also debunked the assertion that they requested for the rescheduling of their week 11 game against Bayelsa United to Monday 13 May 2013.

    The statement insisted that Rangers officially asked the NPFL to allow them play the Week 11 match against Bayelsa United on Sunday, 12 May 2013, while rescheduling their week 10 match against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi to another date due to their late arrival to Enugu, from their CAF champions League campaign.

    The request was not granted.

  • Agbim: We’ll do well against CS Sfaxien

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim has stated that Enugu Rangers will do well against CS Sfaxien in the last match before the group stage of the Confederation Cup.

    In the draw released on Tuesday, the Flying Antelopes will host their Tunisian opponents in the first leg next weekend and Agbim is confident they will qualify for the group stage of the competition.

    “Yes, we are going to have a tough game against the Tunisian side, but I am optimistic that we are going to come out tops in the two legs,” Agbim said.

    “I am sure because the players are ready to make this last match a good one for themselves and also play in the group stage of the Confederation Cup.

    “Nobody should write us off. We may have lost to Recreativo Libolo, but they will see an improved Rangers in this game against CS Sfaxien.

    “A lot of people have also said we should have played the first leg away. A good win at home settles the game. All we need to do is to win well in the first leg.

    “The fact that we did not win our first leg game against Recreativo Libolo affected us in the second leg. But it is going to be a different ball game against Sfaxien.

    “We will be ready for them and everything will work well for us. The mistakes noticed in the last game will not be repeated.

    “It will be a tough game, but we will come out victorious,” Agbim boasted.