The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amuneke

  • Iheanacho transfer saga: Amuneke keeps mum

    Iheanacho transfer saga: Amuneke keeps mum

    GOLDEN Eaglets’ assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has declined to comment on the drama sorrounding Kelechi Iheanacho’s proposed move to Manchester City, as well as his missing out on Nigeria’s Championship of African Nations’ (CHAN) team.

    UAE 2013 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kelechi, who is said to now be in Nigeria, is allegedly reluctant to join the Etihad outfit as he now favours a move to Portugal with FC Porto his likely destination. When asked about the new development in a chat with brilafm.net, Amuneke refused to comment.

    “I really don’t know, I am not an agent, I am a coach. This kind of questions can only be directed to his agent.”

    Iheanacho, who left the Abuja camp of the Super Eagles camp a week ago with the hopes of sealing a deal with the former champions of the English Premier League, has now been ruled out of the CHAN billed to start on the 11th of January by head coach Stephen Keshi.

  • EAGLETS’ TRANSFER WAHALA: Amuneke denies assault

    Normer African footballer of the year, Emmanuel Amuneke has denied assaulting the agent of Golden Eaglets midfielder, Kelechi Iheanacho.

    Reports in certain sections of the media claim that Amuneke slapped Henry Galliano, the American agent of the star midfielder in Owerri this week. Amuneke has now denied the reports and insists he never slapped Galliano.

    “I neither assaulted nor slapped Galliano. We had a heated argument over the future of Iheanacho and that was it. He (Galliano) was insulting my nation, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and our philosophies in Nigeria,”Amuneke told supersport.com.

    It is believed that the furor between Amuneke and Galliano was generated over Iheanacho’s choice of agent which would eventually decide his future as a professional footballer but the former Super Eagles attacker extricated himself of blame.

    “I have no business with whoever Kelechi (Iheanacho) picks as his agent. It’s not my job. I am a national team coach. Galliano was insulting me so I went up to him, pushed him away and told him to stop harassing me.

    “He was shouting that he will give me money. He is a corrupt man and I do not want to have anything to do with him. If Kelechi wants my advice on how to shape his career, I will be here as a father to help him but that is where it ends,” he said.

    Amuneke who was one of the coaches of the Nigeria team at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates scored nine goals in 27 games for the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2001.

  • Amuneke leads new Golden Eaglets

    Top officials have revealed that Golden Eaglets coach Manu Garba will be elevated to lead the country’s U20 team, the Flying Eagles.

    Second assistant coach Nduka Ugbade will also join Manu on the bench of the Flying Eagles. The new Flying Eagles are due to set up training camp by March at the latest, officials disclosed.

    Coach Emmanuel Amuneke will then be elevated to head coach of the U17 with two new assistants named, while Emeka Amadi remains as goalkeeper trainer.

    “We want to ensure that this present U17 team grow with their coach. So, as we are elevating the players, we are also elevating the coaches,” a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) informed MTNFootball.com.

    “However, we have ensured continuity by keeping Emmanuel Amuneke, so we can sustain the style, character of the Golden Eaglets.”

    “However, there are some who believe that Ugbade will make a better head coach of the new Eaglets than Amuneke because he is much more open and he is ready to listen and learn.”

  • Amuneke to Eagles: Don’t disappoint Nigerians

    Amuneke to Eagles: Don’t disappoint Nigerians

    • Says players should count  themselves lucky to represent nation

    Ex-international Emmanuel Amuneke has urged the Super Eagles to make Nigerians proud with empathic victory against Malawi in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the U.J.Esuene Stadium, Calabar, today.

    Amuneke, who was part of the ’94 squad that got the first ever World Cup tickets for the nation at the USA 94, advised the Eagles not to underrate their opponents.

    ‘For Malawi to be at this stage, it means they are as good as the Eagles too. We should not neglect them. We should respect them and be prepared for the game. The most important thing is to get the draw or win the game. Qualifying to the next stage of the competition is very important.

    ‘’At this stage of our football, the boys must be more serious in what they are doing. They must know why they are here. They must count themselves lucky to wear the Green and White jersey. Out of over 150 million Nigerians, you are called to represent your count; it is a pride and they should honour that pride and make people proud. A lot of people will come to the stadium on Saturday and they should not disappoint them.’’

    The Golden Eaglets assistant coach also admonished the team not to drag themselves with mind games with the Malawians.

    ‘For me, Eagles should not drag themselves in the mind games with Malawi. Malawi are trying to unsettle the Eagles with their mind game. Every coach, every team always come up with mind games to distract their opponents. It now depends on how prepared the team is ahead of the game. The Eagles should be ready for the game.

    ‘There have been lots of words between Keshi and the Malawi coach. It is Saturday’s results that will determine the best side.’’

  • CAN Under-17 Championship Amuneke: no retreat, no surrender against Tunisia

    CAN Under-17 Championship Amuneke: no retreat, no surrender against Tunisia

    Golden Eaglets have described their semi final match against Tunisia as a tantalising offer to show what they are capable of achieving on the big stage on yet again, even as Assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke (MON) has tipped the team to go all the way.

    The Nigerian youngsters would meet their North African counterparts at 4pm Nigerian time in the second semis of the 2013 CAN Under-17 Championship at the Grande Stade Marrakech on Wednesday, with the winner guaranteed a place in the final on Saturday.

    “I think the boys have now seen the big difference between losing and winning a match,” Amuneke, the 1994 African Footballer of the Year, said in reference to the 0-1 loss to Cote d’Ivoire last week.

    “Losing to Cote d’Ivoire was a blessing in disguise because it shook the confidence of the players but we are happy they have responded well.”

    The Golden Eaglets secured a date with the Young Carthage Eagles after topping Group B following their 6-1 and 7-0 wins over Ghana and Congo respectively in the other matches. The Tunisians are yet to be beaten at this tournament-they beat Botswana (3-1); Gabon (4-2) and drew (1-1) with Morocco.

    “Of course, we know how the North African teams play and we have seen the Tunisians and we have told the players to be at their best because our opponents are also good,” said Amuneke who had a successful stint with North African giants, Zamalek of Egypt.

    Similarly, soft-spoken Golden Eaglets’ captain, Musa Mohammed, has again affirmed the commitment of the team towards their quest to be African champions at the cadet level.

    “We want to thank Nigerians for their prayers for this team and by the grace of God, we shall not disappoint them,” he said. “Though I can’t predict the result of the match but by the grace of Almighty Allah, we are going to beat Tunisia tomorrow.”

  • African Youth Championship (AYC) Manu, Amuneke tip Flying Eagles

    African Youth Championship (AYC) Manu, Amuneke tip Flying Eagles

    The Golden Eaglets are solidly behind the Flying Eagles as they begin the defence of their Under-20 African Youth Championship title against Mali in Algiers today.

    Speaking from the team’s camp at the Aspire Centre in Doha, Golden Eaglets’ head coach Manu Garba (MFR) is confident that Nigeria will record another crucial win against their West African rivals. The Golden Eaglets as well as the Super Eagles respectively battered their Malian counterparts in recent fixtures and Manu believes the Flying Eagles can take a cue from it.

    “We have absolute confidence in the ability of the Flying Eagles to defend their title,” said Garba, 2007 Under-17 World Cup winner. “This is going to be an interesting match because of recent results between the two countries.

    ” The Super Eagles beat the Eagles of Mali 4-1 on their way to winning the African Cup of Nations and don’t forget that the Golden Eaglets stopped Mali from qualifying for the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco when we beat them on a 4-0 aggregate win.

    “I believe Flying Eagles will continue the winning streak for Nigeria against Mali and that would boost their chances of retaining the trophy,” he added.

    Speaking in similar vein, assistant coach Emmanuel Amuneke (MON) said the Flying Eagles have capable hands to guide the team to glory, adding that the Super Eagles have set a standard for other national teams to emulate.

    “From here we send our best wishes to the Flying Eagles and we know they are capable of going all the way to defend the title they won in South Africa two years ago,” said the former African Footballer of the Year who incidentally made his breakthrough as a youth international at Cairo’91 All-Africa Games Football Tournament.

    Nigeria hold the best record at this level having won the championship on six previous occasions and the rank and file of the Golden Eaglets is backing the present team all the way.

    “Our prayers are with our brothers in Algeria,” added Golden Eaglets’ captain, Musa Mohammed.” We beat Mali last year to qualify for our tournament in Morocco and we pray for the Flying Eagles to do well in Algiers.”

  • Amuneke pleased with Eaglets’ progress

    Amuneke pleased with Eaglets’ progress

    Assistant coach of Nigeria’s under 17 team, Emmanuel Amuneke has heaped the praise on his charges following their 3-0 win over Botswana’s Under-17s on Saturday.

    A brace from Taiwo Awoniyi and a well-taken free kick from Ifeanyi Matthew gave the Golden Eaglets an emphatic win over the Diamond Zebras at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    Amuneke, who won 27 caps for Nigeria’s Super Eagles between 1993 and 2001, expressed satisfaction with the showing against the Botswana side.

    “We did well in the game and I was reasonably impressed with the performance of the boys,” Amuneke said.

    The former FC Barcelona winger however took the time to highlight “mistakes” spotted during the encounter.

    “We have been on break for the past two months and this is our first game since then. There will always be some mistakes but we are in the period of preparation so we have the time to correct the mistakes before the championship in Morocco,” he said.

    Nigeria will face Congo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast in Group B of the 2013 Africa Under-17 championship in Morocco from April 14.