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Tag: Ahmed Musa

  • Saudi Arabia League: Ahmed Musa guides Al-Nassr to 17th title

    Super Eagles stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa claimed his 4th career league title with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr following their 2-1 win at home to Al-Batin to end Al-Hilal two-year reign as league champions, AOIFootball.com reports.

    Just one point ahead of Al-Hilal going into the final game of the campaign, Musa and his teammates were backed by a record crowd at the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium with Musa starting his 22nd game of the season.

    Moroccan forward and league top scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah put the host ahead from 12 yards halfway through the first half to send the host into an early jubilation mood.

    Their joy was however cut short eight minutes into the second half when Zied Ounalli equalised for the visitors for 1-1 but Abderrazak was on hand to make it 2-1 four minutes later, netting his 34th goal of the campaign to hand the host all three points.

    Having scored seven goals and contributing another seven assists, Musa 26, will now switch his attention to next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt as he aims to win his second AFCON following the triumph in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi.

  • Ahmed Musa ends 13-game goal drought with brace

    The Super Eagles forward found the back of the net for the first time in the Saudi top-flight since November 2018

    Ahmed Musa ended his 13-game goal drought in the Saudi Professional League with his brace in Al Nassr’s 5-0 thrashing of Al Fateh.

    After enduring a frustrating spell in front of goal since his last strike against Al Shabab in November 2018, Musa is finally relieved to help Rui Vitoria’s men bag their 20th league win of the season with his efforts.

    The Nigeria international doubled the lead in the 38th minute after Morocco’s Abderrazak Hamdallah opened the scoring at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.

    After providing an assist for Hamdallah’s brace, the ex-Leicester City forward then wrapped up the emphatic win with his second goal in the 78th minute.

    Read Also: Ahmed Musa congratulates Buhari

    These goals took Musa’s tally to seven in 22 league outings while Morocco’s Hamdallah maintains his dominance as the leading scorer in the Saudi Professional League with 29 goals in 24 matches.

    The victory moved Al Nassr to the summit of the Saudi top-flight with 64 points from 28 matches.

    They will continue their AFC Champions League campaign with a fixture against Iraqi top-flight side Al Zawra’a on Tuesday before their King’s Cup clash against Al Ittihad on Saturday.

    Musa’s Nigeria has been drawn in Group B of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi.

    The Super Eagles will begin their campaign in Egypt with a fixture against Burundi on June 22 before taking on Guinea and Madagascar on June 26 and 30 respectively.

    Goal

  • AFCON 2019: It won’t be easy for us, says Rohr, Musa

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

     

    The Super Eagles will not have an easy ride to the knock-out rounds of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, going by the draws conducted in Cairo Egypt, on Friday night.

    This is according to coach, Gernot Rohr and skipper, Ahmed Musa.

    The Super Eagles, making a first appearance at the AFCON for the first time since winning it in 2013, have been drawn in Group B alongside Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi.

    Rohr, responding to questions in Cairo, immediately after the draws, said that what is most important right now is for his players to finish the season in their various clubs healthy, in order to prepare adequately for the Nations Cup.

    Read Also: [UPDATED] AFCON 2019: Nigeria draw Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    “It is not an easy group because Guinea is a good and young team, Madagascar was the first to qualify for AFCON and Burundi eliminated Gabon en-route to the Nations Cup. So it is not going to be as easy as everyone thinks.

    My players will just have to finish well and healthy in their various clubs and then prepare for our friendly matches against Ghana, at home in Nigeria and against Senegal before the start of the tournament in Egypt

    Captain Ahmed Musa promised that the players will be ready well ahead of the competition.

    “We will prepare well for the Nations Cup. With hard work, we will qualify from this group. I wish my colleagues the best of luck in their various clubs, as they round off the season, and prepare for the AFCON.

    Asked if there was any team he wanted to avoid before the draws, Musa said “I am a football player and I am ready for any country. I am not afraid of anyone.”

    For former Super Eagles player and the 1997 African footballer of the year, Victor Ikpeba, the Nigerian group is decent enough; the players only need to be business-minded, going into the competition.

    “We have a decent group, but we should not look down on any team.  If the Super Eagles players will go to Egypt with a business-mindset to get the job done, we will qualify from the group with ease.

    The Super Eagles will begin her quest for AFCON glory on 22nd June against Burundi at the Alexandria Stadium, Egypt. They will next face Guinea on 26th June, before rounding off the group matches against Madagascar on 30th June.

  • Champions League: Ahmed Musa’s Al-Nassr hopeful against Al Zawra’a

     

    Super Eagles Ahmed Musa and his Al-Nassr teammates will be hoping to pick vital points when they face Al Zawra’a in the Asian Champions league on Monday.

    Al-Nassr occupy the last place in Group A with no points in the two matches played so far. There Monday opponents Al Zawra’a lead the group with four points followed by Zob Ahan in the second position with same four points but inferior goal difference to Al Zawra’a.

    Although Al-Nassr appear to be on the disadvantage going into Monday clash they nonetheless hope that a good outing could narrow the gap and perhaps turn the table especially if Zob Ahan who are facing third placed Al Wasl away falter in that encounter.

    Musa who has made over nine appearances for the Saudi Arabian side scoring five goals in the bargain look good to net more goals for the side.

    The former CSKA ace that only few days back emerged Player of the year in the AlteoNFF award remains quite formidable and has within a short time endeared himself to the hearts of Al-Nassr fans.

    Musa who joined the side shortly after the World Cup in Russia for a reported fee of £14.5 million over N6.7billion has contributed in no small measure to boosting the fan base of the club.

    Musa is one of the players Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is banking on to help him deliver in this year’s nations cup billed for Egypt.

    The German tactician is in a hurry to lay hands on a trophy after taking charge of Super Eagles since 2016.

    After qualifying for the Nations cup that will for the first time feature 24 teams, Rohr has moved to the next stage that of praying to have favorable draw to start with.

    “We have achieved one of our dreams which is to qualify for the Nations cup which we have achieved the next thing is to prepare well and be ready to compete with the bests since there are no pushovers anymore,” he said

  • Ahmed Musa congratulates Buhari

    Ahmed Musa has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election.

    On Wednesday morning, the 76-year-old politician was declared the winner of the February 23 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] after defeating his closest rival Atiku Abubakar. Buhari of All Progressives Congress polled 15,191,847 votes while Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party garnered 11,262,978 votes.

    Following the victory, the Super Eagles’ and Al Nassr forward has taken to the social media to felicitate with the President.

    “Congratulations to my president Muhammadu Buhari,” Musa posted on Instagram.

    Musa who joined the Global last summer from Premier League side Leicester City, has scored five goals in 15 league appearances for his Saudi Arabia side.

    The fleet-footed forward will hope to impress when Al Nassr takes on Al Shabab in their next league game on Thursday.

  • Ahmed Musa, Adesua Etomi, others make The Future Awards Africa 2018 nominees list

    The Central Working Committee (CWC) of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) has announced the nominees for the 13th edition of Africa’s biggest youth awards. The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on 16 December, 2018 at the Balmoral Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. The Future Awards Africa which has been called the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, and the ‘most important youth awards’ by Forbes is a set of prizes given annually to celebrate and accelerate innovation, creativity and enterprise amongst young Africans aged 18 – 31.

    The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on 16 December, 2018 at the Balmoral Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. With 20 award categories this year, the CWC unveiled one hundred (100) nominees which include artistes, Davido and Simi; footballer, Ahmed Musa; actor, Adesua Etomi; social media influencer and comedienne, Maraji; entrepreneur, Chidi Ajaere, scientist, Dr Mahmoud Maina and many more.

  • AHMED MUSA WARNS: We’re here to pick the AFCON ticket today

    Stand–in Captain Ahmed Musa, who is the last Nigerian player to score against South Africa at senior level, when both teams finished a friendly match 1-1 in Nelspruit in March 2015, told thenff.com that the Super Eagles are not thinking of simply gaining a point from the encounter.

    “They are a strong team and we will not underrate them. But we are here for the three points,” Musa emphasised.

    “Our determination is to win and pick our ticket to the AFCON ahead of the final matchday next year. South Africa came to Nigeria to beat us and we are here to return the compliment. We will not be playing for a draw. We won in Seychelles and against Libya in Tunisia and we are here to win as well.”

    Three-time African champions Nigeria flew into Johannesburg in the early hours of Friday with a commitment to picking all three points in tonight’s Group E top-of-the-table clash with South Africa at the FNB Stadium.

    The chartered MAX Air plane that flew the Nigeria delegation, led by NFF 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, landed at the Oliver R. Tambo International Airport around 3.30am South Africa time, with 23 players, team officials led by Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr, members of the NFF Executive Committee, some members of NFF Management and NFF Staff and a number of media representatives.

    The delegation was met on arrival by President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, who travelled 24 hours earlier for a meeting with a prospective commercial partner, as well as top officials of the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria and the Nigeria Consulate in Johannesburg.

    Ahmed Musa and teammates trained on the turf of the FNB Stadium (nicknamed Soccercity) at 3 pm on Friday.

    Musa admits that tonight’s encounter would not be for the faint-hearted. Nigeria has not beaten South Africa at senior men level in the last four encounters between both nations, though it was in South Africa that Nigeria won her third and last Africa Cup of Nations title in February 2013.

    A 2015 AFCON qualifier in Cape Town in September 2014 ended scoreless before the Bafana Bafana held their ground for a 2-2 draw in Uyo two months later to deny the Super Eagles a place at the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.

    Both teams tied 1-1 in a friendly in Nelspruit in March 2015 before Bafana shocked the Eagles in Uyo 2-0 on Matchday 1 of the current qualifying series.

  • Keep eagle eye on Musa others Jeanne warn Pirates

    Coach of the Pirates of Seychelles Gavin Jeanne has told his defenders to resist the temptation to blink against the likes of Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho,  Odion Ighalo and Henry Onyekwuru who will be on duty in the attack for the Super Eagles when both teams clash on Saturday in Victoria.

    Jeanne who insisted that his team has equal chance of winning the match despite permutations in some quarters that they are underdogs in the battle of Stad Linite, noted that both teams have a disadvantage having lost their opening matches, adding that the tie will not be a tea party.

    Speaking with Seychelles News Agency (SNA) Jeanne said a must use strategy is to avoid conceding early goals.

    “Although we expect a difficult match, we would also like to win the match like any team in a competition. Playing against Nigeria will be no different,” Seychelles’ Coach Gavin Jeanne told SNA on Tuesday.

    What is important is for us to use an effective strategy because with Nigeria not paying attention can cost us heavily. We will be trying to at least not concede any goals early in the match and keep ourselves in the game as much as possible,” he said

    Some analysts in the Indian Ocean state with a population of 92,228 people by the 2016 estimate have predicted that the homers will lose to visiting Eagles but Secretary General of the Seychelles Football Federation George Bibi refused to accept such prediction insisting that football is not mathematics and anything can happen.

    “We will show that we can also face some of the biggest names in football. Many people are expecting us to lose the match but I always have an optimistic mind and believe that nothing is impossible in football.

    Both teams are gunning for victory after losing their first AfCON 2019 qualifying tie against South Africa and Libya respectively.  While the pirates were walloped 5-1 by The Mediterranean Knights of Libya, the Eagles threw away an opportunity to call the shots in the group losing 2-0 at home to Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

    Some soccer fans who bared their minds in a chat with sportinglife.ng ahead of Saturday’s match, warned the Eagles not to underrate the Pirates but us the match to return to winning ways after what they dubbed below par performance at the World cup in Russia.

  • Ahmed Musa dedicates debut goal to baby

    Al Nassr new signing Ahmed Musa has said that his debut goal for his new Saudi Arabian club is for his new baby boy, Ibrahim Ahmed.

    Musa, who was a substitute for Al Nassr in an Arab Club Champions league game, scored the winner in the 75th minute to end the game 2-1 against Al Jazira of UAE.

    “The goal is dedicated to my son, Ibrahim Ahmed. His arrival gave me joy, this is my first game at my new club after his birth and I scored a goal, the match winner,” he told SCORENigeria.

    He also praised the fans of his new club. “I also thank Al Nassr fans for their love and support. Their love is overwhelming and I will always do my best to make them happy. I am looking forward to more goals and celebration at the club.  I also appreciate my fans all over the world for their love,” he said.

    The Jos born star was discovered by GBS Academy (Formerly Aminchi Academy), Bukuru Jos. He started his professional career with JUTH FC of Jos before he moved to Kano Pillars. He also played for VVV Venlo (Holland), CSKA Moscow (Russia) and Leicester City (England).

    The Nigeria international has played for all of the country’s teams except the U-17s.

  • Saudi Side Al-Nassr celebrates Ahmed Musa capture

     

    Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa has signed for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr FC. The 25 year old who was in superlative form at the World cup in Russia despite Eagles early exit from the championship became has been on the radar of the Saudi Club even before the World cup.

    His exploits at the Mundial further fired the desire to have him in the fold.  The club on Friday released a video welcoming the Nigerian international whose exploits with Russian side CSKA Moscow received a lot of the commendation from the club and its fans.

    Musa, who  was Leicester City’s  record signing when he moved to the King Power for £16.6million in 2016,  failed to hold down a place and was loaned back to his old club CSKA Moscow for part of last season.

    Interestingly former VVV Venlo and Kano Pillars ace found the net six times in 10 appearances at the Russian club, three times as many as he managed in his 21 Premier League appearances.

    Al-Nassr said he had signed a four-year contract but did not disclose the transfer fee. The announcement was also accompanied by a bizarre video that did not even feature their new signing — only highlights of his playing career to date.

    The clip consisted of a flight taking off from London directly to Al-Nassr, with an unidentified man making his way through security.

    On board, highlights of the striker playing for Leicester, Nigeria and CSKA Moscow could be seen out of the cabin

    windows, including on of his World Cup strikes, and his International Champions Cup goal for the Foxes against Barcelona.

    Rather than the video ending in the more traditional fashion, an image of the new signing in a shirt, or perhaps even just a scarf, the short feature ends with the plane flying perilously close to the main stand at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, the plane only just clearing it as the captain announced their arrival.

    Al-Nassr finished third in the Saudi-Arabian professional league last season, qualifying for the Asian Champions League play-offs in the process.

    A check conducted on the current squad of the club indicate that Musa has already been included an indication that the club is eager to have the Nigerian get into action in the new season. The way the Nigerian who only recently welcomed a baby boy is being celebrated and expected in the club, it is apparent that club management may be hoping to unleash him against Ohod on August 30 at the Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium  in Medina