Tag: Ameobi

Super Eagles forward Shola Ameobi has paid tribute to Newcastle and his supporters after ending a 14-year-old romance with the club he joined as a youth back in 1995.

The Nigerian international, who is among the players expected to do Nigeria proud at the World Cup in Brazil, opined that it would not have been possible for him to achieve all he did at Newcastle without the support of club management on one hand and faithful supporters on the other.

The 32-year-old, who made appreciable impact in Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup, showed that his love for the club remains unflinching, revealing that he would love to return to St James Park in future on a managerial capacity.

“I will like to say, a big thank you to the supporters who have always been fantastic. I hope to come back to Newcastle United one day in some capacity to help repay some of the faith and loyalty that everybody connected to the club has shown me during my time here,” he enthused.

For those who have been following proceedings at the St James Park closely, Ameobi’s possible return to the club in a managerial capacity will not come as a surprise, especially after coach Alan Pardew on several occasions talked about his qualities, describing him as a good material capable of making a huge impact when it matters most.

Ameobi , who has recently been linked with a move to Hull City, scored 79 goals in 397 appearances for the Magpies.  He maintained that leaving the club was done in good fate.

“Following discussions with Newcastle United, both parties felt it was the right time for us to part company,” he told the club’s official website Friday. “I’ve been at Newcastle United all my career and I’ve enjoyed every moment and always worn the famous shirt with pride. I am now looking forward to starting a new chapter in my career,” he said.

Super Eagles and Newcastle forward, Shola Ameobi was in action for 76 minutes but failed to lift the Magpies past the Baggies with Saido Berahino’s 87th-minute penalty ensuring West Brom ended the resistance of 10-man Newcastle to secure a 1-0 victory.

The Burundi international kept his nerve from 12 yards to slot beyond Tim Krul and spare the Baggies’ blushes after Mathieu Debuchy had been sent off mid-way through the second half.

It was the Magpies who had fashioned the game’s first opportunity but Yohan Cabaye volleyed narrowly wide of Ben Foster’s post on 27 minutes.

Shortly after Chris Brunt was guilty of spurning a goalscoring chance, with the Northern Irishman planting a tame header past the post after Morgan Amalfitano’s teasing cross.

However, both opportunities were paled into insignificance by Nicolas Anelka’s miss, as the Frenchman fired over the bar from close range following Amalfitano’s clever cut-back.

Debuchy was given his marching orders on 63 minutes for a two-footed lunge on Claudio Yacob, but despite the numerical advantage, Keith Downing’s men struggled to capitalise.

However, with three minutes remaining Krul was adjudged to have fouled Matej Vydra, before Berahino stepped up and fired beyond the Dutchman to seal Albion’s first victory in 10 games.

Ameobi was later replaced by M. Haïdara on the 76 minutes mark as the Magpies searched for the equaliser.

Super Eagles forward, Shola Ameobi was in action for 44 minutes as Newcastle United thrashed a nine-man Stoke City side 5-1 in their Premier League clash on Thursday at St James’ Park.

The Nigeria international was introduced by Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew for V. Anita on the 46th minute mark but could not find the net in the encounter.

The day had started badly for Newcastle as Liverpool loanee Oussama Assaidi had put Stoke ahead in the north-east, before a bizarre sequence of events destroyed their hopes. First Glenn Whelan was sent off for chopping down Yohan Cabaye, his second bookable offence.

Manager Mark Hughes exploded on the sidelines and was sent to the stand, and his mood would only get darker as Marc Wilson was next to get sent off as he brought down Loic Remy in the area. The Frenchman then saw his weak penalty saved by Thomas Sorensen, however, Stoke’s lead lasted only a few moments more, and it was Remy who finally converted when set up by Hatem Ben Arfa, albeit with the aid of a deflection.

It took just three minutes of the second half for Newcastle to take the lead. Ben Arfa provided the cross, Sorensen managed to get a fist to it but only as far as Yoann Gouffran who drove the ball home.

Remy then claimed his second of the match on 56 minutes as Newcastle began to overwhelm their short-handed opponents, and Cabaye made it 4-1 with a beautifully placed shot from 20 yards.

The torment was not over for the visitors, however, as Ben Arfa was tripped in the box by Erik Pieters for another penalty on 79 minutes, with Papiss Cisse making no mistake from the spot.

Super Eagles forward Shola Ameobi made an impressive contribution to help Newcastle United to a hard fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a Barclays Premier league fixture at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

The Nigerian international was on parade for 60 minutes to help his side to their second successive victory after last weekend’s thrashing of Chelsea before making way for Vurnon Anita while his younger brother Sammy Ameobi sat out the encounter.

Loic Remy’s seventh goal of the season separated the sides after 45 minutes and was all the Magpies needed to hand Spurs a home defeat.

Newcastle looked good for an opener inside the 11th minute but Brad Friedel had to make multiple saves to deny the visitors the lead.

Two minutes later Newcastle went ahead as Loic Remy got on to a Gouffran pass, raced through and rounded Friedel before slotting home for 1-0.

Tottenham came close to an equaliser in the final three minutes of the first half but Krul did well to tip Paulinho’s curling effort from the edge of the box out of the top corner to keep the score line at 1-0 after 45 minutes.

Spurs made two changes at half-time, with Sandro replacing Mousa Dembele and Younes Kaboul coming on for Vlad Chiriches.

The home side resumed the second half on the front foot and should have levelled scores when Eriksen almost poked home from close range only to be denied by Krul’s legs, leaving Williamson to hack clear five minutes after the interval.

Krul was again called into action in the 82nd minute for his 12th save of the day as his legs denied Paulinho who tried to finish from close range before Vertonghen’s header met the wood works two minutes later.

Despite the threats and pressure from the Spurs front line, Alan Pardew’s men stood firm to see out the encounter at 1-0, returning home with maximum points that has moved them into ninth spot.

Newcastle head coach Alan Pardew has asked that his side respond in a positive manner against John Obi Mikel’s Chelsea today at St James’ Park following back-to-back defeats.

Pardew’s men followed a 2-1 Premier League defeat against local rivals Sunderland on Sunday with a Capital One Cup home loss to Manchester City on Wednesday evening.

And the manager understands the importance of the next fixture when the Magpies entertain Jose Mourinho’s title challengers which he also understands is a tough demand.

“It can transform your season, a win against Chelsea or Spurs, and that’s what we have got to look for. It is frustrating because it’s difficult when there’s such emotion riding after the Sunderland game, and I understand that.

“But we are hurt as well. When you have played your heart out and in the 85th minute the opposition smash it in the top corner. We are down and we need a lift and I hope our fans give us a lift against Chelsea.

“I think we have got an even chance against Chelsea, I genuinely do, as well as they are playing because I think my team is playing well but you need those breaks and things to go your way and the first goal will be important in this fixture.

“To beat one of the top teams you need to be at your very best. You cannot win a game in the Premier League, when they have got the resources they have got, unless you are at your very best” Pardew is quoted as saying on teamtalk.com.

Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi will only join the Super Eagles on Wednesday after he suffered a flight hitch, officials said.

Team official Dayo Enebi Achor said Shola Ameobi had a slight flight hitch and was expected Wednesday morning.

Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike was expected before dinner on Tuesday, same for Victor Moses and Brown Ideye, officials added.

The training was very exciting as fans clapped for every move of the players and wished them well in Sunday’s encounter against Ethiopia.

Skipper Vincent Enyeama, while noting that the Ethiopians will be no pushovers promised that he and his teammates will not let the nation down.

Nigeria celebrates the Centenary of the country’s Amalgamation in 2014, and striker Shola Ameobi says a World Cup ticket would be the ‘perfect present’.

“For us to qualify for the World Cup, that would be the perfect present to give to the fans and the country,” Ameobi told KickOffNigeria.com.

The Super Eagles play Ethiopia over two legs in October and November for one of five tickets to the 2014 World Cup and Ameobi says it is important for the Super Eagles to show why they are African champions when they meet the Walyas.

“They should be worried about us. We are champions of Africa and it’s important that we go out there and prove that again,” Ameobi told KickOffNigeria.com.

But the Newcastle striker, who made his home debut in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Malawi and scored his first international goal in the very next game, wants the Super Eagles to go prepared.

“At the end of the day, we just have to make sure we are prepared as a team and as a squad, mentally and physically and go into those games knowing we have to give our maximum efforts to get through to the World Cup.”

The first-leg is scheduled for October 13 in Addis Ababa with the return leg on November 16 in Calabar. The winner of the two-legged tie advance to the World Cup. Both games will be live on SuperSport.

Super Eagles and Newcastle United Striker Shola Ameobi has declared that Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi is the perfect man to take the team to the next level. Ameobi, who narrowly missed playing at the last African Cup of Nations, also explained why he could not participate in the tournament.

Shola Ameobi came on few minutes to the end of the 2-0 win over Malawi and says: “This is the first competitive game I have played. Though, I played just for five minutes but I enjoyed it. Thankfully, we won. It’s been a good experience for me so far. ”

On how he was able to switch to play for Nigeria rather than England, Shola informs that: “The rules changed, I think three or four years ago. Then I played for England at an early age but I couldn’t just switch like that. You know that it took a while before FIFA could revert the rules. It just didn’t happen at that time. And now that it happened, I am available at anytime and happy to be with the National team.

“Yes, of course. I played for the U-21. So, when I was younger but that didn’t work out. So, I wanted to play for England but that never worked out.”

On why he missed playing at the 2013 AFCON Shola explains that he had to keep to his contract:

“It was in the contract and I couldn’t play then. When I signed my contract and I am a man of my words. God knows I really wanted to play at the AFCON but just had to stick by my words. There was never a fact that I never wanted to play.”

On the possibility of leaving Newcastle for now Shola states:

“Definately, NOT! Hopefully, I’ll be moving on. Newcastle is my home. I have been there most of my life. I’ll explore the World in the near future.”

Finally Shola Ameobi, who Stephen Keshi openly praises for Team leadership has this to say about Keshi:

“The coach is an experienced player. He’s taken us to where we are now. He understands the game. He is a coach who will never field a player who is not ready to give his best. He understands the players. He talks to his players. He is a coach who understands what he is doing and I respect him a lot.”