Nigerian international Obafemi Martins bounced back to scoring form Saturday as he grabbed a 37th minute goal to hand his Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua a 0-2 away victory over Guizhou Zhicheng.
Martins who enjoyed full 90 minutes action however saw yellow in the 76th minute of the match.
It was teammate and Colombian import Fredy Guarín that opened scoring in the 14th minute after an assist from Cao Yunding while Martins also got an assist from Bai Jiagun. Big money man Carlos Tevez was however not listed.
Interestingly Martins was equally in action when Shenhua faced Odion Ighalo’s Changchun Yatai last week, it was however Odion Ighalo that emerged the hero on the day scoring a brace despite losing 2-3 loss
Martins was however not the only Eagle that sang victory song in China on Saturday. Brown Ideye was also on target for Tianjin Teda who ran away with a 3-1 victory over visiting Yanbian Funde.
Home boys Qiu Tianyi and Hu Rentian had shot the team into the lead in the 58th and 62nd minutes respectively before Ideye put icing on the cake in the 10 minutes later.
Yanbian Funde’s consolation goal came via a penalty in six minutes to the end of the match. Tianjin Teda who played without Captain and birth day boy John Obi Mikel were apparently the better side on the day with 54% possession with three goals to show for their effort.
Ex-internationals, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Vincent Enyeama, Super Eagles players including Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Odion Ighalo, Kenneth Omeruo, Elderson Echiejile, Ogenyi Onazi, Kelechi Iheanacho and the Nigeria Football Federation joined the rest of the world to express their condolences to the families of players and officials of Brazilian club Chapecoense, who were killed in the tragic Colombian plane crash on Monday night.
At least 75 people died after a plane carrying members of the first team and coaching staff, as well as a number of journalists, came down in Cerro Gordo in Colombia.
The plane – a British Aerospace 146 short-haul aircraft – was carrying a total of 72 passengers and nine crew members, including a total of 22 Chapecoense players, according to reports in Colombia.
Pictures from the scene show the crumpled remains of the aircraft after it crashed down in Colombia.
While leading other national team mates in delivering a heartfelt tribute to the players, Captain of the Super Eagles, Mikel Obi said, “Thoughts are with @ChapecoenseReal right now … Stay strong, the football family is with you ??.”
Leicester City forward, Ahmed Musa said via @ahmedmusa718, “My thoughts and prayers go out to all the players’ families and everyone associated with @chapecoenseReal football club???????.”
Ogu who plies his trade in Israel with Hapoel Be’er Sheva, posted a logo of the club on his Twitter account with a message, “A very sad day for me ??. RIP to everyone involved.
Watford striker, Ighalo said via @Ighalojude, “Sad News. Thoughts are with @chapecoensereal and their family?.”
“My thoughts and prayers go out to all the players families and everyone associated with @ChapecoenseReal football club??,” Olympiacos forward, Ideye posted via @Ideyebrown.
Alanyaspor defender, Kenneth Omeruo posted on Instagram, “This is a sad day for football.. ???. Let’s all please pray for the families of the deceased.”
Standard Liege left-back, Echiejile said via his Twitter account @EldersonEch, “I mourn with the #Chapecoense football team, families and friends of those involved in the crash #Sad #EUE3.”
Trabzonspor midfield marshal, Onazi simply posted on his Instagram page @onaziogenyi, “Lord have mercy. RIP.”
Manchester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho also posted on his Instagram page @kelechi72, “This is a sad news for football nations and the families involved, pray that they all RIP.”
Okocha, a former national team captain posted on his Instagram page, official_jj10, “#Horrible news# my condolences to the families, fans and club members, sad day.” While Vincent Enyeama said via @vinpee, “RIP to the dead. Healing to the wounded and broken. Fortitude to bear the lost to the families, fans friends and loved ones.”
The Nigeria Football Federation commented on social media: “Our thoughts are with @CBF_Futebol and Mgt. of Brazilian club @ChapecoenseReal following their loss in a plane crash #ForcaChape.”
.Kayode, Ndidi, Simon, Lawal, Balogun on parade .Echiejile missing
Olympiacos striker, Brown Ideye has expressed gratitude to the club fans after the team secured a place in the next round of the Europa League despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Young Boys.
The Super Eagles forward who has scored seven goals for the Greek side was in action for 90 minutes at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki.
Olympiacos are 2nd in Group B with 8 points and will move to the next round with leaders APOEL on 9 points.
“Thank you everyone for all the support? #nextround #olympiacos #wekeepondreaming #believe,” he said via @Ideyebrown.
Nigerian forward Olanrewaju Kayode however failed to hit target as Austria Wien lost 1-2 at home to AFC Astra in their Europa League clash on Thursday night.
Kayode who is expected to be called up by Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr for January’s international friendly against Egypt in Dubai, could not replicate his Austrian Bundesliga form where he has so far scored five goals this term against the Romanian side, leaving Austria Wien on third position with just five points in Group E, two points behind the Romanian side and six point adrift leaders, Roma.
Super Eagles left-back, Elderson Echiejile was missing as Standard de Liège record a 1-1 away draw to Celta de Vigo in their Europa League clash at the Estadio de Balaídos. The Nigeria defender has made just three appearances for the Belgian side since joining on loan from Monaco.
Wilfred Ndidi (top) celebrating the goal with his teammates
Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi tasted 90 minute of action as he helped Genk secure a place in the next round following a 1-0 victory over Rapid Wien at the Luminus Arena. Ndidi’s superb form this season has seen him become a £16m transfer target for Premier League side, Leicester City.
Moses Simon in action against Sporting Braga
Defender, Leon Balogun was in action as Mainz 05 held Saint-Étienne to a goalless draw at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. The 28 year old was however booked in the 16th minute of encounter.
Anderson Esiti taking on a Sporting Braga player
Moses Simon and Anderson Esiti helped Genk through to the next round after recording a 2-2 draw with Sporting Braga to top Group F with nine points. While Simon was substituted in the 70 minutes for Brecht Dejaegere, Esiti was replaced in the 85th minute by Jérémy Perbet.
Raheem Lawal featured for Osmanlıspor against Steaua Bucureşti on Thursday night
Raheem Lawal featured for 29 minutes as his Turkish side, Osmanlıspor lost 2-1 at Steaua Bucureşti. The Nigeria international replaced Adam Maher in the 61 minute as a precaution after the Netherland star was yellow carded. Despite the loss, Osmanlıspor sit on top Group L with seven points.
“Thank God and my fans for their prayers ?I’m back fully but unfortunately we lost the game last night and we’re still on the top of the table….We promise to get 3points next Europa League game to proceed to the knockout stage INSHA ALLAH ??⚽️… Jumat Mubarak,” Lawal posted on his Instagram page @raheem_lawal on Friday.
Super Eagles trio of Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye and Kenneth Omeruo enjoyed a great time as they relaxed in the pool at the Bolton White Hotels & Apartments, Zone 7 in Abuja on Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Algeria.
Nigeria will take on the Fennec Foxes in the match-day two of the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday and the trio who are best of friends in the national team camp showed no sign on being under any pressure ahead the important encounter.
Ighalo uploaded a picture of the trio in a relaxed mood on his Instagram page while joking that he is teaching his national team mates how to swim.
“Teaching @omeruo and @ideyebrown how to swim????”, he said via @ighalojude
Ideye, who also uploaded the same picture on his Twitter account, @OfficialIdeye simply wrote, “Recovery!! #supereagles #camp #Thankful #Believe”.
The 28 year old scored his 7th goal in the Greek Super League for Olympiacos in a 3-0 victory over Panathinaikos in an Athens derby last Sunday, Ighalo featured for Watford in 6-1 loss to Liverpool in the Premier League, while Omeruo had a mixed emotion as he scored an own goal as his Turkish side Alanyaspor defeated Gaziantepspor 4-3 last Saturday.
Ideye who is said to be nursing minor knocks engaged in light ball work, while Ighalo and Omeruo took part in Tuesday morning’s training with other players at the National Stadium, Abuja under the watchful eyes of Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr and Coach Salisu Yusuf.
Super Eagles forwards, Moses Simon and Brown Ideye scored for their respective clubs in Friday’s pre-season friendly in Europe.
Gent and Olympiacos played out a 2-2 draw in the match played on Friday night.
Simon opened the scoring in the 32nd minute to give Belgian club Gent a 1-0 lead, before Ideye equalised for the Greek champions six minutes later, africanFootball.com reports.
In another pre-season game, Nigeria-born Karim Onisiwo hit target for German Bundesliga side, Mainz 05, in the club 7-0 thrashing of FV Biebrich 02.
Onisiwo scored Mainz’ seventh goal in the 64th minute.
Football lovers, fans and umpires around the world on Wednesday mourn the shocking death of former Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, popularly known as the Big Boss.
Following the announcement of Keshi’s death, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) said: “His influence on the pitch cannot be underestimated. He enjoyed a successful club career in his home continent before exporting his talents to Europe, starring in cup and league-winning Anderlecht sides and endearing himself to Strasbourg fans in France with a stunning long range goal against Rennes that helped promote Le Racing to Ligue 1.
Throughout his stellar playing and managerial career, ‘Big Boss’ certainly allowed fans, team-mates and his own players themselves to dream. Tributes from around the footballing world have poured in for Keshi, after his tragic and sudden passing at the age of 54.
Chelsea Football Club of England acknowledged the coaching impact of late Keshi in making great players like Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel, both football players at Chelsea FC. The English club took to its social media platform to say: “All at CFC are saddened to hear of former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi’s death. He worked with Mikel & Victor Moses
Similarly, Fatima Samoura, first female FIFA’s Secretary General appointed on 13 May 2016, expressed her great shock at the news when she posted on her social media handle saying:
Brown Ideye, Nigeria’s central striker who plays his football with Greek club Olympiacos FC was not left out as he laments the tragic departure of Big Boss from planet earth. Ideye in his social media post said: “This is one of the saddest days of my life?. I will never forget the happy days, you coached me. RIP Big boss?? pic.twitter.com/mqNhFhFzK3
FIFA further said in its article that it is Keshi’s international career that will perhaps evoke the strongest memories though. As well as playing his part in that memorable AFCON title in 1994, he helped guide the Super Eagles to their first FIFA World Cup™, playing five games on the road to the USA before featuring just once at the finals (as captain) due to injury.
“With many African countries looking for coaching experience from outside the continent to lead their countries at major tournaments, Keshi was a beacon of hope for coaches from the mother continent. Not only was he the first Nigerian to lead his country to the AFCON title, he was the first African coach to lead a team to the Round of 16 at a World Cup, achieving that feat at Brazil 2014,” the world football governing body noted.
The social media is agog with messages of condolence after news of Keshi’s death stunned the global footballing community.
Nigeria on Tuesday evening defeated Luxembourg 3-1 in an international friendly played at the Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg City.
Olympiakos striker, Brown Ideye, opened the scoring for the Super Eagles in the 36th minute, before Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, doubled the advantage for the three-time African champions mid- way into the second half.
Substitute Odion Ighalo scored Nigeria’s third goal in the 89th minute.
Vincent Thill’s late goal was not enough for the European side who struggled to match the superior West Africans throughout the encounter.
Olympiakos striker Brown Ideye has admitted that he had a difficult childhood and was often in trouble with the Nigerian Police in his teenage years.
Ideye and his friends that he played soccer with engaged themselves in vices just to earn some extra money and his parents never wanted him to become a footballer due to his bad boy ways.
“It was my friends from school. I played football with them, played cards and gambled with them. It was very common in the neighborhood where I grew up, to do anything to earn money ,” Ideye was quoted as saying by gazzetta.gr.
“I played poker, gambled, played various games with these groups, which were my same friends with whom I played football.
“Overall, we were the bad boys of the neighborhood and that is why my parents did not want me to play football.
“One day, we played cards the police came and arrested us and of course my parents were furious.”
In his own right, the former Dynamo Kiev and Sochaux attacker can now claim to be a successful footballer, having played in the Fifa Under 20 World Cup, Confederations Cup, Champions League and African Cup of Nations.
Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, was delighted after Olympiakos won 11th consecutive matches in the Greece Super League in the ongoing campaign, thanks to a 3 – 1 success over Asteras Tripolis.
Ideye, who played the full game at the at Karaiskakis Stadium, took to Instagram to share his joy.
“11/11 #thankful, #wekeepondreaming @olympiacos_org,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted the striker as saying on his Instagram page.
The ex-West Bromwich Albion front man has been impressive for the Greek champions since arriving from England in the summer transfer market, involving in 10 goals in 15 matches across all competitions.
Olympiakos striker, Brown Ideye has been named the Player of the Week in the Greek Super League for week seven.
Eight players, including the Nigeria international, were in the running for the accolade but the former Sochaux ace picked up the award after securing 29.31 percent of the votes cast, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.
Anastasios Bakasetas (Panionios), Luka Milunoviä (Platanias), Anthony Le Tallec (Atromitos) and Dušan Perniš (Iraklis 1908) filled the top five positions in that order.
Ideye scooped the award after scoring a goal and notching an assist in his club’s 4 – 0 thrashing of AEK Athens last weekend.
