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Tag: Ameobi

  • ‘Boro welcome Sammy Ameobi

    ‘Boro welcome Sammy Ameobi

    Middlesbrough boss Tony Malloway has welcomed Sammy Ameobi on loan from Newcastle till the end of the season.

    The 20-year-old Ameobi, who has made 14 appearances for Newcastle this season, is expected to help Middlesbrough secure promotion ticket.

    “He gives us a different option. He’s an out and out attacking wide player who can operate on either side, and will be ideal when we want to play with two wingers. He will hopefully give some players a lift and create some competitio,” an excited Malloway told the Shields Gazette.

    Ameobi though is cup-tied having played for Newcastle United in the third round at Brighton and so won’t debut against Chelsea today.

    Ameobi is contracted to Newcastle till the summer of 2015.

  • ‘Ameobi will be sorry for AFCON snub’

    ‘Ameobi will be sorry for AFCON snub’

    EX-NIGERIA World Cup star Tijjani Babangida has blasted Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi for opting out of the AFCON.

    On Sunday, Nigeria authorities announced that the team have put behind them the club versus country row involving Ameobi and will move on without the striker for the Nations Cup in South Africa. Ameobi made an encouraging Eagles debut in November against Venezuela after he completed his international change from England whom he featured for at age-grade levels. Former Ajax Amsterdam winger Babangida has told MTNFootball.com Ameobi should have considered himself lucky to play for Nigeria and should therefore not have put his club before his country.

    “Nigeria is too big for Ameobi or any player for that matter. He should know that he is lucky to represent this country. I am sure he will later regret this. One other thing is clear – his absence won’t affect Eagles at the Nations Cup,” said Babangida, an international for a decade.

  • NIGERIA/NEWCASTLE SAGA KESHI WARNS GLASSHOUSE OVER AMEOBI

    NIGERIA/NEWCASTLE SAGA KESHI WARNS GLASSHOUSE OVER AMEOBI

    •Says Toons star has not kept in touch

    SUPER EAGLES coach Stephen Keshi has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) not to draw daggers over the release of Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi.

    The NFF are irked with the moves by the Magpies Boss Alan Pardew to deny the Kogi State born striker an opportunity to feature for his country at Africa’s biggest football tournament on a supposed clause in his latest contract.

    Ben Alaiya Media Officer for the Eagles Saturday morning said the Big Boss wants Ameobi to come out himself to state if he really wants to play for Nigeria in South Africa and not the NFF forcing his release by evoking the relevant FIFA articles on players release. “The Big Boss does not want the NFF to go to war with Newcastle, like he always says, the ball is in Ameobi’s court, let him come out to say he wants to play first then we can take it up from there, if he does not show he is really hungry for the Eagles shirt there might not be the need to start fighting for his release,” Alaiya said Saturday morning from Portugal.

    Meanwhile, the Big Boss further noted that Shola Ameobi has not been in contact with him, despite the controversy his selection has generated both at Newcastle and Nigeria.

    “Ameobi has not spoken to me since the game against Manchester United as he promised,” Keshi said adding that the matter is wholly in the strikers’ hands.

    The Edo born coach believes that Ameobi has the final say regarding whether he wants to be part of the Nigerian setup in South Africa.

    “I believe he has the final say because the Manager, Allan Pardew cannot hold him down going by FIFA rules, but we must be sure that he is ready to play for us before we apply the rules,” he said in Faro, Portugal.

  • No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    • Hails Gaya for support 

    Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has declared that there is no deal with English Premier League side Newcastle United over the release of Shola Ameobi for the Nations Cup, neither is there such an arrangement with English Championship side Millwall on the release of towering defence ace, Daniel Shittu.

    Super Eagles spokesman, Ben Alaiya, quotes Keshi as saying; “I never entered into any deal with any manager and will not because the two players in question are international stars and the rules are very clear about when they should be released for international assignments if their country so desires them”.

    There were wild speculations in the Nigerian media over the two players’ release for the championship with the respective managers claiming to have had an agreement with an unnamed Nigerian official over when to release them. Keshi’s declaration has now put all speculations to rest with National Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor, declaring that the two club sides were written to on time and the onus is now on them to release the players as and when due.

  • AFCON: NFF dismisses Newcastle’s claim on Ameobi

    AFCON: NFF dismisses Newcastle’s claim on Ameobi

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation has debunked a claim by Newcastle that Shola Ameobi will skip next month’s African Cup of Nations and that coach Stephen Keshi is aware of this.

    “We are not aware of such a thing about Shola (Ameobi), he is a FIFA-listed player for us. The federation is not aware, the head coach is not aware of this and that was why Shola was called up for the competition.

    “We will do all within us to see that Shola or any player picked by the coach for the Nations Cup is released to us,” spokesman for the NFF, Ademola Olajire, told MTNFootball.com.

    Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, said Shola Ameobi will not be going to the Nations Cup with Nigeria, according to BBC sports.

    The Kogi State indigene is on the 32-man provisional squad released by Keshi last week.

    Pardew said: “Shola won’t be going. The national team manager knows the reasons, which I am keeping to myself.”

    Ameobi made an encouraging debut in a 3-1 friendly win over Venezuela last month, setting up the third goal in Miami.

     

  • FARO TRAINING CAMP Mikel, Moses, Ameobi due Jan 5

    FARO TRAINING CAMP Mikel, Moses, Ameobi due Jan 5

    CHELSEA stars Mikel Obi and Victor Moses as well as Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi will be the last arrivals at the Nigeria AFCON camp.

    The major leagues across Europe will be on Christmas break, but not so with the English Premier League.

    Both Chelsea and Newcastle will play their first match in the New Year on January 2.

    Chelsea host a London derby against strugglers Queens Park Rangers, while Newcastle are home to Everton.

    “The players from the EPL will be the last to arrive in Faro because they are still playing, while other leagues in Europe are on break. So, we hope to get Mikel, Victor Moses and Ameobi in latest January 5,” a top team official informed MTNFootball.com.

    “All the other players should be in Portugal by January 4, while the boys from the EPL we expect a day because that is 14 days before the first match at the Nations Cup.”

    Keshi will name his final 23-man squad on January 9 immediately after the warm-up game against Cape Verde in Portugal.

  • AFCON: Mikel, Moses, Ameobi join Eagles’ camp January 5

    AFCON: Mikel, Moses, Ameobi join Eagles’ camp January 5

    Chelsea stars Mikel Obi and Victor Moses as well as Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi will be the last arrivals at the Nigeria African Cup of Nations camp, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The major leagues across Europe will be on Christmas break, but not so with the English Premier League.

    Both Chelsea and Newcastle will play their first match in the New Year on January 2.

    Chelsea will host a London derby against strugglers Queens Park Rangers, while Newcastle is expected to play at home to Everton.

    “The players from the EPL will be the last to arrive in Faro because they are still playing, while other leagues in Europe are on break. So, we hope to get Mikel, Victor Moses and Ameobi in latest January 5.

    “All the other players should be in Portugal by January 4, while the boys from the EPL will arrive a day later because that is 14 days before the first match at the Nations Cup, ” a top team official informed MTNFootball.com.

    Keshi will name his final 23-man squad on January 9 immediately after the warm-up game against Cape Verde in Portugal.

     

  • Ameobi makes another EPL history

    Ameobi makes another EPL history

    SUPER EAGLES striker Shola Ameobi has acheived another Landmark as he became the second Nigerian player in the history of he English Premier League with the highest number of substitute appearances.

    The Nigerian player came in as a substitutes at the 79th minute of the week 17 encounter involving his English Premier League side Newcastle United and Champions Manchester City to make it his 115th substitute appearance.

    Ameobi could not savour the history as he would have loved to as he could not get a goal for Newcastle United as they were defeated right in front of their home fans at the Sport direct Arena.

    The record for the Super Eagles player with record of making the highest substitute appearance happens to be the former two time Afrcan player of the year and Portmouth striker Kanu Nwankwo with 118 substitute appearances.

    Papilo as he is popularly referred to has played for top fight Premier League teams such as the former English champions Arsenal, former FA Cup champions Portsmouth, and West Bromwich Albion.

    Kanu is also acclaimed to be the second most decorated player in Africa as he had won a couple of trophies and personal award such as the 1996 Atalanta Olympic gold amongst all a whole lot of other awards.

    Papilo has since retired from international football and the Super Eagles debutant Shola Ameobi will be looking to break the record and become the first Nigerian to make the highest number of substitute appearances as he is just three games away from doing so.

  • Ameobi set to profit from injury

    Nigerian player Shola Ameobi may profit from the injury suffered by Hartem Ben Arfa as he is likely to be handed a rare start to his team’s Newcastle United premier league fixture against defeding champions Manchester City.

    The French player is in doubt for Newcastle United’s home clash with Manchester City precisely on Saturday and Ameobi may get a chance to give a five star performance in the huge battle.

    The French dazzler only returned to the Magpies line-up on Monday night after a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem but is struggling to be fit for Saturday’s visit of reigning champions City.

    Toon boss Alan Pardew suggested that Ben Arfa, who scored a brilliant goal in the 2-1 defeat at Fulham, may not get up for this weekend.

    “For this game we have a bit of a concern over Hatem and whether he will be available. His hamstring has a little bit of a problem and we’re still trying to get to the bottom of that,” he said.

  • Ameobi dreaming of Nations Cup call-up

    Ameobi dreaming of Nations Cup call-up

    NEWCASTLE United striker Shola Ameobi says an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) call-up for Nigeria would be a dream come true.

    The 31-year-old made his long-awaited debut in the Super Eagles’ 3-1 friendly win against Venezuela last month.

    Ameobi earned praise for setting up the game’s winner, with assistant coach Daniel Amokachi saying he showed “needed class and experience”.

    “Every professional player loves to play at major tournaments and I’m no different,” Ameobi told BBC Sport.

    “You can call me a late bloomer at international level but I’m grateful to God for this big opportunity.”

    The former England U-21 was brought on as a second-half substitute by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi in the friendly tie in Florida.

    And he is now targeting a coveted place in Keshi’s Nations Cup squad in South Africa.

    “The African Cup of Nations is what the European Championship is to others – so it will be a dream come true to represent my motherland.

    “This is a big chance and I know this is the closest for me. Hopefully, I can live that dream when and if selected.

    “I need to earn it because the are several players out there equally deserving of that chance to represent a country like Nigeria.”

    Ameobi, who was born in Zaria, northern Nigeria, before moving to England with his parents at the age of five, has just returned from a groin injury.