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Tag: Ambrose

  • Efe Ambrose happy

    Efe Ambrose happy

    Following the huge support they received from Nigerian fans since their 2-0 win over Congo in Pointe Noire on Saturday which almost secured qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Super Eagles’ defender Efe Ambrose has thanked the fans for their support to the team.

    Speaking to SL10.ng, Ambrose acknowledged that the fans were not so supportive before the game, but remains thankful to them, and says he understands how they feel sometimes.

    “We are all professionals and we understand how the fans feel because they are there for us but sometimes they are not pleased with what they see, or what has happened. It’s not that they don’t love you, but just a few seconds of reaction and it’s normal with human beings,” he said to SL10.ng.

    The Glasgow Celtic defender however submits that contrary to what the fans may think, they always want to put smiles on their faces, but admits they sometimes leave them disappointed.

    “For us it’s just to keep working hard and don’t really bother about that. We want to put smiles on their faces but sometimes we disappoint them and it brings the ugly side of them and that is part of football but I believe all that will change very soon,” he added.

  • Ambrose no longer first choice for Celtic

    Ambrose no longer first choice for Celtic

    Efe Ambrose is losing his spot as a regular for Glasgow Celtic, after failing to get into the team since the last International break.

    Last season Ambrose and Virgil Van Dijk lead a Celtic defence line that set a new record of clean sheets in the Scottish Premier League.

    Ambrose returned from World Cup duties to team up with new manager, Ronny Delia, following the resignation of Neil Lennon who signed him from Ashdod in Israel.

    He found favour with Delia in his early days as manager but Celtic’s stuttering start to the defence of their domestic title, meant the manager had to ring changes and Ambrose was cut from the defense line.

    Ironically his omission from the team has brought about a change in the team’s fortune, as they have picked up five wins from the period to which he last played.

    On Saturday was no different, as he was an unused substitute as Celtic pipped Inverness 1-0.

    His last appearance for Celtic was the 1-0 loss to Hamilton Thistle on the 5th of October 2014 and since then he has been snubbed from their last five games in both cup and league games.

    Manager Ronny Delia appears to have settled for a back four of Mikael Lustig,Emilio Izaguirre,Virgil Van Dijk and Jason Denayer.

  • Ambrose happy to master new tactics at Celtic

    Ambrose happy to master new tactics at Celtic

    Super Eagles defender Efe  Ambrose can now sleep with both eyes closed after mastering the best way to play to the satisfaction of Celtic new coach Ronny Deila.

    Deila replaced Neil Lennon in the summer and brought in fresh tactics which Ambrose and his teammates considered different from the pattern established by Lennon. Ambrose, who is expected to hit Eagles camp any moment from now ahead of Nations Cup qualifier against Falcons of Sunday October 10, confessed that it was difficult initially keying into the new coach’s tactics and expressed delight that the initial hurdles have been crossed to make way for era of positive harvest.  If there is one thing the new manager has brought to Scottish side according to Ambrose, it is a fresh never-say die spirit.

     “From the start it was a hard change because it’s not been easy playing the way he wants us to play.

    “But hard work pays at the end, so we are working hard and I believe we will soon start to reap the reward of what he is trying to bring into Celtic.

    “I think we are getting used to it and getting better. The level he wants us to play is very high but I feel in a few months we will be there. If you are not fit you cannot play at the level he wants us to play at.

    “You know you can press but when it gets to 80, 90 minutes, it tells. But that is when you show the extra spirit and everything you have got to keep on fighting.

    “We never give up. That is what he has brought into us. We will make sure we fight on for 90 minutes the way he wants us to play,” he said even as he called on his teammates to offer the new manager maximum support.

    “As players we just have to give him maximum co-operation, work hard in training and improve on every section of training, because that is where you learn and that is what you put into the game,” he added

  • Ambrose: We Committed Too Many Errors

    Ambrose: We Committed Too Many Errors

    The man who opened scoring for the Super Eagles in their shock 2-3 loss to Congo in Saturday’s Africa Nations Cup qualifiers, Efe Ambrose, has said too many errors cost Nigeria the game.

    “We were not up to our standard and we committed too many errors that Congo profited from.” he told SL10.ng.

    “I won’t point accusing fingers at anybody as the reason why we lost because my philosophy is we win as a team and we lose as a team.”

    The Glasgow Celtic defender offered his apology to Nigerians who were hurt by the loss to Congo.

    “We disappointed a lot of people and ourselves as well,and I apologise to anybody who came to the stadium, watched on television,online or by whatever means,we are sorry.”

    Ambrose revealed that they had talks among themselves as players to prevent such kind of humiliation from happening again.

    “We as players have resolved to put in our best to make sure it doesn’t happen again and by the grace of God,it won’t happen again,we are committed to ensuring our fans smile and not cry,” he added.

    Despite his assuring words he refused to stick his neck out for an outright victory over South Africa in Wednesday’s game.

    “I won’t say we are going there to win or draw but we will approach the game with a mindset to do well and by the grace of God we won’t be disappointed at the end.”

  • UEFA Champions League exit: Ambrose shocked

    UEFA Champions League exit: Ambrose shocked

    Glasgow Celtic defender Efe Ambrose was speechless when SL10 sought to know his reaction to his team’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage.

    “I don’t know what to say, I’m so shocked to say a word, please let’s talk about something else,” he told SL10.

    After drawing 1-1 away in Slovenia, Celtic couldn’t hang on to their first leg advantage and conceded in the second half to crash out 2-1 on aggregate to Slovenia’s NK Maribor.

    Ambrose was a 75th minute substitute in the first leg but played the entire duration of the return leg and twice kept his team alive with two last ditch tackles before they conceded.

    However, he took time to welcome Ghana’s Mubarak Wakaso who joined Celtic on loan from Rubin Kazan, describing him as a quality pacy and crafty forward.

    “It’s nice to have another pal from my continent after Wanyama’s departure to Southampton, but for Wakaso he isn’t one I will love to play against.

    “I’m happy he came to us, I watched him during the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa, and he is pacy, skillful and has qualities that will make us better as a team,” he added.

  • Ambrose benched in Celtic’s season opener

    Ambrose benched in Celtic’s season opener

    Nigeria International defender Efe Ambrose was yesterday left on the bench for the entire duration of Glasgow Celtic’s 3-0 victory over St. Johnstone as they begin the defence of their SPL title.

    Ambrose had a fortnight to forget getting sent off in the Champions League against Legia Warsaw and in a friendly against Spurs, within a space of five days.

    In Wednesday’s game, Celtic manager Ronny Delia opted for Ivan Lustig and Van Dijk in central defence leaving Ambrose on the bench.

    Celtic won courtesy of goals from Anthony Stokes, Nir Birton and Callum McGregory.

    Last season,Efe Ambrose was ever present in a Celtic back four that set a new clean sheet record in the SPL. He played in all of Celtic 38 games, starting 37 and only appearing as a substitutes once with two goals to show for his efforts.

    The 25-year-old Nigerian recently signed a new contract with the Bhoys at the end of last season shortly before the arrival of new manager Ronny Delia, after Neil Lennon resigned from his role as coach.

  • Uefa confirms Ambrose UCL appearance

    Uefa confirms Ambrose UCL appearance

    • As Legia Warsaw lose appeal

    Efe Ambrose’s Celtic will remain in the Champions League after Legia Warsaw lost their appeal to have their ban overturned on Thursday.

    The Polish side had hoped UEFA’s appeals body would reinstate them after they were demoted to the Europa League for fielding an ineligible player during the second leg of their Champions League qualifying game against the Scottish champions.

    But Legia co-owner Dariusz Mioduski has confirmed that the club will now take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, tweeting: ‘Unfortunately for now football is not winning… We are going to CAS.’

    Legia president Boguslaw Lesnodorski echoed Mioduski’s pledge to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

    He wrote on Twitter: ‘Negative decision, it’s hard even to comment, we are using the CAS (we plan to tomorrow) and otherwise we are focused only on the games.’

    Legia believed Bartosz Bereszynski suspension had been served after he missed both legs of the previous qualifier against St Patrick’s Athletic as well as the first leg against Celtic, but their failure to register him for the game against St Patrick’s proved costly.

    Mioduski released a statement through the club’s official website which stressed Legia’s determination to keep fighting for Champions League reinstatement.

  • Ambrose may get Champions League reprieve

    Ambrose may get Champions League reprieve

    Efe Ambrose’s Celtic could be handed a sensational Champions League reprieve after UEFA launched an investigation into the eligibility of one of Legia Warsaw’s players during their 6-1 aggregate win over the Scottish champions.

    The Polish side confirmed that they had been asked for information from the European governing body.

    A statement on Legia’s official website read: “The club announces that in connection with the Celtic FC-Legia Warsaw match in the second leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League, UEFA opened an investigation into the participation of Bartosz Bereszynskiego.

    “The club is preparing the relevant information and explanations, which will be sent to UEFA today.

    “The result of the investigation will be announced immediately after its completion.”

  • Rematch: Ambrose ready for Messi

    Rematch: Ambrose ready for Messi

    Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose has said that he is ready to stop Argentine superstar Lionel Messi at the ongoing Brazil 2014 World Cup when both Group F teams meet on June 25.

    Ambrose, 25, said the Super Eagles have the players that can keep a tight rein on the four-time World Footballer of the Year and he will make sure his team-mates are provided with a first hand briefing on how best to tackle the Barcelona ace.

    “I played against Messi with Celtic and there is no doubt that he is a special player. But, just like any other player, he can be stopped. It’s not just about me but about all the other good defenders we have in the squad,” Ambrose told Daily Record.

    He continued: “We are very strong defensively and believe we will be able to stop Messi and all the other exceptional players that Argentina have.”

     “I have experience of playing against Messi and if I can use that in any way to help prepare my team-mates then I will. With players of that quality there is very little you can do to prepare – you just have to make sure you are at your best on the day,” he added.

    Iran and Bosnia&Herzegovina make up Group F with the Super Eagles facing both sides next week before a June 25 meeting with the South Americans that could become the make-or-break contest in their quest to make an impact at Brazil 2014.

  • Ambrose gets new boss at Celtic

    Ambrose gets new boss at Celtic

    Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose will return for pre season training with his Scottish side Glasgow Celtic to work under a new coach in Stromsgodset manager Ronny Deila.

    Delia was confirmed as the new Celtic boss replacing the now departed Neil Lennon the coach who signed Efe Ambrose from Ashdod of Israel in the summer of 2013.

    Under Lennon,Ambrose became a regular player for Celtic in domestic and continental games earning a new two year deal in the process.

    However, it is yet to be known if Ambrose will remain a regular under the new boss.

    His new manager, Deila was appointed coach of Stromsgodset in 2008 after formerly working as both a player and coach at the club.

    He led them to the Norwegian Cup two years later and, after finishing runners-up in the title race in 2012, lifted the championship in December last year.