The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Celtic

  • Rabiu Ibrahim quits Celtic

    Rabiu Ibrahim quits Celtic

    … Joins Kilmarnock

    Kilmarnock has completed the signing of Nigeria midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim from Celtic on a permanent basis.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the 21-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Rugby Park club after Celtic allowed him to move on in search of regular first-team football.

    Ibrahim had an offer from abroad and was also believed to be a loan target for other Scottish sides.

    “He’s signed a two year deal with us,” Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels told STV.

    “I believe it’s quite a coup for Kilmarnock and we are a good fit for him.

    “Rabiu had an offer from a club in Russia but he and his advisors thought it would be better for his career development to stay in Scotland and they were equally as keen as we were for the deal to go through.

    “We signed him on a free transfer.”

    Ibrahim will not join up with his new team-mates immediately as he is currently with the Super Eagles ahead of the team’s friendly with Catalonia on Wednesday night.

    The player, who has been capped at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels by his country, has also been included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    “He’s away with the Nigeria squad for the AFCON at the moment,” Shiels said.

    “I believe January 9 is the deadline for them to name their final squad. I would quite like him to be name in the squad for his confidence.

    “If he is named then as soon as they go out of the competition he will join up with us,” the Kilmarnock boss added.

     

  • Lennon: Celtic still have a lot to do

    Lennon: Celtic still have a lot to do

    Celtic manager Neil Lennon has told his players that their UEFA Champions League campaign is not about to get any easier as they look to tie up qualification for the last 16.

    The Scottish champions have enhanced their reputation in home and away games against Barcelona, narrowly losing at Camp Nou before claiming a famous victory in Glasgow.

    They are second in Group G and in control of their own destiny, but Lennon does not want complacency to creep in ahead of tough clashes with Benfica and Spartak Moscow.

    He said: “I really enjoyed the first game against Benfica and qualifying against Helsingborgs was a tremendous night for the players and the supporters. The win in Moscow was a huge psychological lift and it broke the hoodoo.

    “Benfica away is as difficult as Barcelona away. Spartak at home will be very dangerous because they might just come here with nothing to lose.”

    Celtic drew 0-0 at home to Benfica in a tight opening fixture which was the debut Champions League group game for the vast majority of their team.

    But they have grown in confidence since then with a 3-2 win over Spartak showing they could take the game to teams away from home, before they defied the odds with their performances against Barcelona.

    Ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Portugal, Lennon said: “So far the players have given us a hell of a ride. I don’t think anyone would have expected us to be where we are now.

    “We have given ourselves a good foothold in the group and the players are developing very well.

    “The expectation after the Barcelona game is that ‘you are going through to the last 16, it’s going to be comfortable for you’. But we still have a lot to do.”