The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ahmed Musa

  • Champions League: Musa dreams action against Athletico

    Champions League: Musa dreams action against Athletico

    Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa will be hoping to taste action when Leicester City faces Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final of the Champions League on Wednesday. The Nigerian international who has missed a number of matches in recent times was handed a 29 minutes playing time against Everton on Sunday. Although the foxes lost the match 4-2 it was a good platform for the former CSKA Moscow ace to get back into action.

    Leicester City head to the Spanish capital for the first leg of their quarter-final tie aiming to keep alive their latest fairytale adventure, which has seen them, become the first Champions League debutants to reach the last eight since 2013.

    Standing in their way is an Atletico Madrid side that has become specialists in this competition in recent years, reaching two of the last three finals and looking good value of late to improve on that record further.

    Shakespeare’s magic has not only paid off domestically but also in Europe, as he masterminded a 2-0 second-leg win over Sevilla in the previous round three weeks on from the 2-1 reverse in the opening 90-minute tussle  to ensure that

    Leicester became the eighth side from England to make it this far.

    Leicester have been dealt a big blow in the build-up to the match with the news that influential skipper Wes Morgan, so important in their run to the last eight, will almost certainly miss out with a back injury.

    Yohan Benalouane will therefore continue to partner Robert Huth, aiming to improve on a shaky performance produced at Goodison Park on Sunday when being left exposed a number of times.

    Danny Simpson, Christian Fuchs, Wilfred Ndidi and Riyad Mahrez were among those to be rested from the off in that defeat on Merseyside last time out, all of whom are expected to now be restored to the starting lineup on Wednesday.

    Atletico have Filipe Luis and Gabi back in their ranks after sitting out their last European outing through suspension.

    Leicester and Atletico are not exactly strangers, having met in a European tie on four previous occasions – the first round of the 1961-62 Cup Winners’ Cup and then in the 1997-98 UEFA Cup.

  • Musa will still play for Leicester, says Shakespeare

    Musa will still play for Leicester, says Shakespeare

    Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare says Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa is still in his plans despite the Nigerian’s limited playing time.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Musa has made only 13 starts for Leicester all season, just seven of which have come in the Premier League.

    He has scored four goals in all competitions for Leicester this season; two in the league and two in the FA Cup,scoring a brace in a 2-1 win against Everton at Goodison Park.

    Ahead of Sunday’s trip away to Everton in the Premier League, Shakespeare played down recent reports of Musa’s domestic row with his wife.

    “I have spoken to him and he assured me there wasn’t a lot in it. It was a police matter that has been cleared up,” Shakespeare said on the club’s website on Saturday.

    “He has been fine in training. We are there to support him if he needs anything, but he has also been reminded of his conduct within the club.

    “They’re all in my thoughts, Musa being one of them. He’s trained very well in the last couple of days.

    “Players will tell you they want a run of games. When you come on this side it’s very hard to give them a run of games because sometimes there are other people in front of them.

    “He’s shown glimpses and we have to make sure they’re all ready.”

    Shakespeare went on to praise Wilfred Ndidi for coming out to debunk claims that he was targeting a move to Manchester United.

    “He was proactive in terms of how he approached it,” said Shakespeare.

    “He showed maturity to quash the rumours straight away.

    “I think it is important you speak to players and they understand how important they are to our club.

    “We have done that with Wilf and to be fair to him he has come out and said how happy he is and how much he wants to stay here.”

  • FA Cup: Musa plays for 90 minutes as Leicester crash out

    FA Cup: Musa plays for 90 minutes as Leicester crash out

     

     

     

     

    Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa was on duty for 90 minutes Saturday as Leicester Crashed out of the FA cup after losing by a lone goal to League one side Millwall.

    Despite enjoying 65% possession, Musa and his teammates failed to checkmate Millwall who ran away with a lone victory playing with one man out thanks to red card.

    The League One side had defender Jake Cooper sent off in the 52nd minute for two bookable offences.

    It was Shaun Cummings 90th minute goal that sealed the day for Millwall.

    Millwall, 33 places behind Leicester in the English football system, have reached the last eight of the competition for only the third time in 32 seasons.

    Millwall were playing their fifth match of this year’s competition and had defeated Premier League sides Bournemouth and Watford in the last two rounds.

    The Lions’ last appearance in the last eight came in 2012-13 and they will now be waiting to see who they get in the quarter-final draw

    Embattled Leicester who are racing towards relegation in the Premier league, went into the match fresh from a 2-0 defeat by

    Swansea last Sunday. The premier league defending champions have lost as many as six matches recently even as they prepare to face Sevilla away in the Uefa Champions league on Wednesday. Despite the unfavorable result however the Nigerian international still got a four star performance rating alongside teammates Demarai Gray and Molla Wague.

    Copmpatriot Winifred Ndidi was however an unused substitute in the encounter.

    Leicester Manager Claudio Ranieri expressed disappointment that the team put up good effort but failed to win, even as he admitted that Millwall deserved their victory” We are better than Millwall, but they deserved to win.”

  • Sevilla challenge for Ahmed Musa

    Sevilla challenge for Ahmed Musa

     

     

     

     

    Nigerian international Ahmed Musa will be hoping to get back to winning ways with his Leicester City teammates as they host Spanish side Sevilla Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions league.

    The Super Eagles forward who was an unused substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Swansea at the weekend has seen cumulatively about 154 minutes of action in four matches three of which had ended in defeats.

    The former CSKA forward who boasts of Champions League experience stands a chance of starting as the team attempts to record the first win in last seven games.

    While with CSKA, Musa scored consolation goal in a 5-1 Champions league away rout to AS Roma.

    Although under pressure Claudio Ranieri has declared that finding remedy to losing streak in the Premier league remains his priority now,  he is not likely to allow visiting Sevila have a tea party at the King Power Stadium.

    Defending champions Leicester City are just a step above relegation zone with 21 points in 25 matches.

  • Musa steps out in style

    Musa steps out in style

     

     

     

    Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri will be hoping to walk off the iPro Stadium tonight with his boys with victory over Derby County in the FA Cup clash.

    One player that he will be banking on to deliver is Nigerian international Ahmed Musa.

    Musa who has been effective for the foxes so far boasts of two goals from 16 appearances for the premier league defending champions.

    That perhaps is on a serious note, but some time it is good to step out in style off the pitch.

     

    That was what the 24 year old did in his latest instalgram post in a super traditional outfit that could make models green with envy.

    But who says the former CSKA Moscow ace cannot step into modelling after football or even combine it with other footballers that are combining the game with modelling.

  • AHMED MUSA INSISTS:Ndidi is like Kante

    AHMED MUSA INSISTS:Ndidi is like Kante

    Ahmed Musa has said that Leicester City’s new signing, Wilfred Ndidi and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante are a bit similar.
    “Definitely, in the two players, I think they are different, but I think Ndidi can do the same work that Kante can do. They are a little bit similar, yes,” Musa told Leicester Mercury.
    “He [Ndidi] is a very good player and I say my brother is here with me. I feel very happy for him and you could see he played very well. You can see he will work very hard for the team.
    “I am going to do my best to help him settle down. The fans can expect a lot from him and you can see what he can do.”
    While Musa grabbed the headlines, netting a brace – as a first half substitute – to help the Foxes to a FA Cup third round 2-1 victory at Everton, his compatriot was also one of the team’s top performers.
    The £15million January acquisition sat in front of Claudio Ranieri’s back four alongside summer arrival Papy Mendy and Danny Drinkwater. And the former CSKA man believes he can repeat what Kante achieved while at the King Power Stadium.

  • FA Cup: Musa brace Fires Leicester to victory

    FA Cup: Musa brace Fires Leicester to victory

    Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa struck twice as as Leicester City came from behind to edge Everton out of the FA Cup at Goodison Park.
    Romelu Lukaku had put the Toffees ahead on 63 minutes but Musa’s brace turned the game upside down and sees Claudio Ranieri’s men progress to the fourth round.
    First, the forward swept home from close range to draw the Foxes level before on 71 minutes Musa finished Danny Drinkwater’s centre clinically from the centre of the area.
    Try as they might, Ronald Koeman’s side couldn’t force a replay and Leicester, despite an awful defence of their Premier League crown, march on in another cup competition. League defending champions Leicester have been struggling to keep pace with the demands of title defence occupying 15th position on the log.
    It was equally sweet story for Odion Ighalo as Watford ran away with a 2-0 win over hard fighting Burton Albion
    It was Watford’s first win since December 10 to end a run of four defeats and a draw that has nudged them down the Premier League and the result provides a lift as they battle a host of injuries and the bug that swept through their squad last week.
    Burton, who are struggling at the wrong end of the Championship, barely fired a shot and were also troubled by the sight of Luke Varney being carried from the pitch on a stretcher after appearing to have been knocked out.
    Both teams have slid down their respective leagues in the past month and made a host of changes, Watford adjusting five of their starting line-up, including a debut for full-back Brandon Mason, and Burton bringing in six new faces.

  • Eagles at war! Ahmed Musa, Ihenacho clash at KP stadium

    Eagles at war! Ahmed Musa, Ihenacho clash at KP stadium

    Super Eagle duo of  will be singing discordant tunes as Leicester City and Manchester City lock horns Saturday in search of English premiership points. 
    The two strikers whose relevant to the National team today cannot be underrated have played themselves into the heart of their coaches making it necessary for them to feature in virtually all club matches.
    Ahmed Musa and his teammates are heading into the match fresh from the pains of 5-0 demolition by Porto in the Uefa Champions League just like Manchester City are still leaking the wounds of 3-1 defeat by Chelsea in an ill-tempered premier league clash that saw City dependable goal monger Sergio Aguero getting the marching orders.
    His four games ban many say will increase the pressure on Ihenacho who will be hoping to re-enact the magic he performed in the Champions League clash against visiting Celtic grabbing the equalizer to prevent what would have ended as a home defeat for the Pep Guardiola tutored side.
    Musa’s Leicester will be eager to record victory after three unimpressive runs that includes 2-2 home draw against Middlesborough, away loss to Sunderland before the mother of all losses against Porto.
  • PLANE CRASH: Okocha, Enyeama, Mikel others condole with Chapecoense

    PLANE CRASH: Okocha, Enyeama, Mikel others condole with Chapecoense

    Ex-internationals, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Vincent Enyeama, Super Eagles players including Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Odion Ighalo, Kenneth Omeruo, Elderson Echiejile, Ogenyi Onazi, Kelechi Iheanacho and the Nigeria Football Federation joined the rest of the world to express their condolences to the families of players and officials of Brazilian club Chapecoense, who were killed in the tragic Colombian plane crash on Monday night.

    At least 75 people died after a plane carrying members of the first team and coaching staff, as well as a number of journalists, came down in Cerro Gordo in Colombia.

    The plane – a British Aerospace 146 short-haul aircraft – was carrying a total of 72 passengers and nine crew members, including a total of 22 Chapecoense players, according to reports in Colombia.

    the-wreckage-of-the-plane-carrying-the-brazilian-first-division-team
    Pictures from the scene show the crumpled remains of the aircraft after it crashed down in Colombia.

    While leading other national team mates in delivering a heartfelt tribute to the players, Captain of the Super Eagles, Mikel Obi said, “Thoughts are with @ChapecoenseReal right now … Stay strong, the football family is with you ??.”

    Leicester City forward, Ahmed Musa said via @ahmedmusa718, “My thoughts and prayers go out to all the players’ families and everyone associated with @chapecoenseReal football club???????.”

    Ogu who plies his trade in Israel with Hapoel Be’er Sheva, posted a logo of the club on his Twitter account with a message, “A very sad day for me ??. RIP to everyone involved.

    Watford striker, Ighalo said via @Ighalojude, “Sad News. Thoughts are with @chapecoensereal and their family?.”

    “My thoughts and prayers go out to all the players families and everyone associated with @ChapecoenseReal football club??,” Olympiacos forward, Ideye posted via @Ideyebrown.

    Alanyaspor defender, Kenneth Omeruo posted on Instagram, “This is a sad day for football.. ???. Let’s all please pray for the families of the deceased.”

    Standard Liege left-back, Echiejile said via his Twitter account @EldersonEch, “I mourn with the #Chapecoense football team, families and friends of those involved in the crash #Sad #EUE3.”

    Trabzonspor midfield marshal, Onazi simply posted on his Instagram page @onaziogenyi, “Lord have mercy. RIP.”

    Manchester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho also posted on his Instagram page @kelechi72, “This is a sad news for football nations and the families involved, pray that they all RIP.”

    Okocha, a former national team captain posted on his Instagram page, official_jj10, “#Horrible news# my condolences to the families, fans and club members, sad day.” While Vincent Enyeama said via @vinpee, “RIP to the dead. Healing to the wounded and broken. Fortitude to bear the lost to the families, fans friends and loved ones.”

    The Nigeria Football Federation commented on social media: “Our thoughts are with @CBF_Futebol and Mgt. of Brazilian club @ChapecoenseReal following their loss in a plane crash #ForcaChape.”

     

  • Mikel, Musa, Iheanacho out of CAF Player of the Year race

    Mikel, Musa, Iheanacho out of CAF Player of the Year race

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the top five shortlists for the 2016 African Player of the Year award with the Super Eagles trio of Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho not making the cut.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Islam Slimani made the top five decided by votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical & Development Committee and half of the 20-member panel of experts, Goal reports.

    Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang won the 2015 award after a sizzling start to the previous season for the Bundesliga club.

    In the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) category, Dennis Onyango, Hlompho Kekana, Keegan Dolly and Khama Billiat from the 2016 African Champions League winning side, Mamelodi Sundowns, made the mark with T.P Mazembe’s Rainford Kabala completing the list.

    The winners will be decided by votes from the head coaches and Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF.

    The Glo/CAF awards gala night will take place on January 5, 2017 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.