Tag: Ambrose

Out of favour Celtic defender Efe Ambrose has confirmed a report by the electronic version of Daily Mail that he is on the wish list of Olympique Marseille of France when the January transfer window reopens.

Ambrose has been frozen out of the first team set up by coach Brendan Rodgers, no thanks to his blunders during the early days of the manager’s reign as coach of the Scottish side.

” Yes I have contact with Marseille but nothing concrete yet, we will know more in the coming days but for now am still at Celtic where am hoping to give my best to force my way back into the plans of the manager”, Ambrose told Owngoalnigeria.com.

He also cleared the air on talks about a possible trial with English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in January as reported by Owngoalnigeria.com.

” I have been linked with a host of English Championship teams and they are one of them, but like I said am under contract with Celtic for the next six months. I can’t really say much about other teams that have made move for me.

” The idea is to get back playing, be it with Celtic or any other club. I just want to play football, I still have dreams of representing Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup and playing regularly will boost my chances”.

Kaduna United have confirmed that they have got the cash of €88,705 (N18,894,165) being the amount due to them from Ashdod SC of Israel over the sale of Efe Ambrose to Celtic of Scotland.

Super Eagles’ defender, Ambrose played for the Crocodile Boys between 2006 and 2010 before the club sanctioned his sale to Ashdod in 2010 but Kaduna United inserted a 20% stake in the sale of the player to another club.

When Celtic came calling for the signature of Ambrose on the transfer deadline day in 2012 the clause was activated but Ashdod SC refused to pay what was documented in the paper signed when they bought the defender from Kaduna United.

Speaking with SportingLife, the General Manager of Kaduna United, Garuba Lawal said they received the money just before the 2015 Governorship elections and it has been deposited in the club’s accounts.

He said Kaduna United had to seek redress with FIFA when they explored all possibilities to make Ashdod SC pay the agreed fees on his future sale and also to pay the $70,000 pegged as his transfer fees when he completed his switch to Ashdod SC in 2010.

“I can tell you that we have received the cash. The money was paid at two instalments. They paid €43,705 (N9,309,165) initially and added another €45,000 (N9,585,000) on April 8, 2015. We are happy with the payment and it is lodged in the club’s account as we await further directives on how the money will be spent.

“The players are owed 13 months salaries and some other bonuses. We shall look inwardly too and look at what we can do with the cash that came in,” Lawal told SportingLife.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker Edward Ofere has spoken of his joy after scoring against Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Celtic in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

And The Caley Thistle front man has revealed that Nigeria international Efe Ambrose wished him the best of luck before his club’s 3-2 win at Hampden Park.

“We went into the game believing anything is possible. Ambrose and I didn’t chat about anything but best wishes for the game,” said Eddie Ofere to SL10.ng.

“The goal goes out to the fans for believing in the team, two goals against Celtic in a week, that’s fantastic.

“They’re a very good team in European football but we stood up strong and utilised our chances.”

Ofere’s arrival at the Caledonian Stadium in February is beginning to pay dividends, having scored three times across all competitions including his 96th minute strike against Celtic on Sunday.

The May 30 final will be the first time the 29-year-old will feature in a Cup final since moving to Europe if he gets playing time against Falkirk.

Super Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose has accepted life on the bench following his relegation to the reserves by his Scottish club, Celtic.

Despite dropping out of the starting XI since Belgian Jason Denayer’s return from injury, Ambrose insists he is happy in Glasgow.

The former Kaduna United skipper was quoted as saying earlier this month: “I am still a Celtic player and I will respect my contract. If an offer comes and Celtic accepts, fine. But otherwise, I will keep doing my best for Celtic and hopefully we will win the league again.

Ambrose, like his Super Eagles counterpart, Mikel Obi, has not tried to force a move to seek first team football despite losing their starting places.

The defender has been the subject of transfer enquiry by some clubs, including Greek Giants, Olympiakos.

However, faced with a League Cup semi-final against Rangers and a Europa League last-32 clash with Inter Milan, team coach, Ronnie Deila has set his sights on a domestic clean sweep and has asked the Celtic board to repel all moves for his top players.

Fellow defender Virgil van Dijk is also wanted by Sunderland and Southampton, while Leeds have been eyeing a move for striker Anthony Stokes.

Following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for AFCON 2015, Glasgow Celtic defender Efe Ambrose has said he is focused on helping the side do well in Europe and in the Scottish Premier League.

Ambrose, back into the first team of the Scottish Champions following the injury to defender Jason Denayer, is hoping to play a big role in Celtic’s January and February fixtures.

“Nigeria didn’t qualify for the African Nations Cup so now I have to concentrate on Celtic, I’m back to what I know best, to train hard and to be at my best every time,” he said.

“To me international football is a bonus, it’s bad we failed to qualify but with so many big games for Celtic in January and February, it’s a bonus for me to be here then as I am not usually around.”

The former Kaduna United captain also took the opportunity to apologise to fans of the Super Eagles over their failure to qualify for the defence of their AFCON 2013, title urging them to forgive them as they hope to bounce back better following the disappointment.

Nigeria defender Efe  Ambrose has described former world footballer of the year and Barcelona star, Lionel Messi as the easiest player he’s had to mark in his professional career.

In what could be a shocking revelation, Ambrose claims that the Argentine superstar who only yesterday became the top goalscorer of all time in the Spanish La Liga with 253 goals, is very predictable to play against.

And speaking to SL10.ng, the Celtic of Scotland defender – who has played against Messi on several occasions both for Nigeria and Celtic – said it’s ‘easy’ playing against the Argentina captain.

“You cannot call Messi a number 9 because he roves, so it’s easy playing against him. The easiest player to play against is the one that doesn’t come to bully you and it’s Messi of course,” he told SL10.ng.

“Messi doesn’t come to you, he makes his move from afar and for me if you play against someone like Messi, you’ll have time to see what he wants to do and you have time to read his plan because he doesn’t come to the center half, he plays from far away with his ability and dribbling skills.

“So that’s why for me I would say Messi is easier because Barcelona just pass and pass the ball. So you as a centre half you just have to keep to your zone. So for me, I think Messi is easy,” Ambrose said further.

The 26-year- old Nigerian defender has been in an indifferent form this season, and has recently lost his place in the Celtic first team. He has also been hugely criticised in Nigeria as one of the players who let the country down with below par performances as they failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) to be held in Equatorial Guinea.

But in a more shocking revelation, Ambrose rated West Bromwich Albion striker and compatriot, Victor Anichebe as the toughest player he’s played against, and said Swedish superstar and PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another player that could be difficult to play against even though he’s yet to face the big Swede.

“I have played against some very good players but I will pick Victor Anichebe because he’s a number 9 that is very strong and he gives the centre half lots of problems.

“But another player that I think will be very tough to play against will be Zlatan Ibrahimovic because of his height and size, and his ability and he’s very strong. But I’ve not played against him, but I think he will be a very difficult person to play against,” he added.