Tag: dedicates

Golden Eaglets’ striker Orji Okonkwo has described his 35-yard screamer which fetched the second goal for Nigeria in the 4-2 defeat of Mexico in the semi finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup as his best ever.

Okonkwo had played a minor part in the tournament until fate thrust him into the fray, as replacement for Funsho Bamgboye who was suspended after two yellow cards. The boy grabbed the bull by the horns to score what is known in Nigerian football parlance as ‘intercontinental ballistic missile.’

“I have never scored a goal like this before and you cannot practice this kind of goal,” admitted Okwonkwo, the first boy in a family with six other children. The goal I scored against Mexico today is a wonderful goal and I’m dedicating the goal to my mum who has been there for me; challenging me to be the best.

“My dad died last year; I remember him too but it is my mum that has been there for me all this while. I thank her so much,” he said.

Okonkwo, is one of the team’s pacesetter performers who scored thrice, including a goal against Mali on April 21, 2014, at the sub-regional West African Football Union (WAFU) B Tournament in Togo where the Golden Eaglets finished third behind Benin and Togo.

Over 21,000 spectators including NFF President Amaju Pinnick, saw Okonkwo’s top -of -the -drawer goal but there was another person on his mind when his lively shot sailed into the net.

“Today, I want to thank coach Emmanuel Amuneke for pushing me so hard,” said the player, who was sanctioned and kept out of the squad for months prior to the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic.

Ahmed Musa has told AfricanFootball.com his goal against Bafana on Sunday is for his son, who will be two years on Monday.

Musa was the Super Eagles stand-in-captain on Sunday when Nigeria drew 1-1 with South Africa in Nelspruit where he scored a fantastic goal.

“The goal is dedicated to my son, Musa Ahmed Musa who will be two years old tomorrow (Monday),” Ahmed Musa told AfricanFootball.com

“We wanted to win, Nigerians expected us to win but this is a new team, we have some new players in the team so we need time to understand ourselves. Nigerians should keep supporting us, with time we will get back to our highest level where we ought to be.”

CSKA Moscow hit-man Ahmed Musa also told AfricanFootball.com it was an honour for him to captain Nigeria.

“I feel very happy to lead the Eagles out in the game as the captain. It is a great honour for me to captain Nigeria’s Super Eagles and it is a dream come true, remember I stood in for skipper Enyeama who was not around for this game,” he said.

Heartland FC’s Bright Ejike has hailed the impact of his team mates after the Naze Millionaires humbled Nasarawa United FC 5-2 in a Glo Premier League Match Day 3 fixture at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri last weekend.

Ejike scored a brace while Ebere Odiche, Fred Okwara and Joseph Iniobong got a goal each but Nasarawa United replied with two goals through Leonard Ugochukwu and Musa Mustapha.

Speaking with SportingLife after the game in Owerri, the former junior

international disclosed that he was happy to score two goals but that he puts the interest of the entire team ahead of his own and will be happy to talk about their emphatic win over the Solid Miners.

“I am happy about the win and I am also delighted to score two goals but the emphasis should be on the team and not my goals. We will continue to strive harder as we target something greater this season in the league and the Federation Cup,” Ejike told SportingLife.

Heartland last home big win was  in 2011 when the Naze Millionaires defeated Ocean Boys 4-0 in a league match.

SUNSHINE Stars’ Tamen Medrano has dedicated his first league goal to his wife and daughter.

The former Tiko United of Cameroon stars scored the Akure Gunners’ winning goal against FC Taraba on Match Day 7.

An excited Medrano told SportingLife after the game that: “It was a fair penalty.

“Despite the FC Taraba goalkeeper’s antics, I took my time and I coolly tucked the ball into the net. So, I am happy that I got the three points for Sunshine Stars.

“I must also confess that FC Taraba gave us a good fight from the blast of the whistle to added time. They really are a god team.

“The match officials too were professional in their duties, and I wish we can see more of the good refereeing either at home and away games as it brings out the best from players and also the game’s quality.

“Even though I intend scoring more goals this season, I didn’t want my goals to be all penalties rather I hope to get more from open play.

“So, I am dedicating the goal to my wife and daughter who are in France, as they were delighted when I broke the news of my goal to them when I called after the game.”

Meanwhile, Chief Coach of FC Taraba, Ndubuisi Nduka has praised the performance of the match officials after his team’s lone goal defeat to Sunshine Stars of Akure on Match day 8.

According to him, “This type of officiating will improve the league as the referee was open to both teams.”

Olympic medalist, CSP Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara has dedicated her Centenary Award to the National Sports Commission (NSC), for the role it played in contributing to making her the champion, national figure and household name she is today, especially in the field of sports.

She made this dedication on Tuesday when she paid a courtesy call on the Director-General, Gbenga Elegbeleye and management staff of the Commission.

Receiving the award, Elegeleye praised her efforts for deeming it necessary to dedicate her award to the NSC for giving her an enabling environment to accomplish her feat, noting that the dedication was a spectacular honour done to the NSC and the sports family at large.

He noted that CSP Ajunwa is the first Nigerian to ever win a gold medal at the Olympics; an ambassador of sports; a pace setter who put the interest of the country above that of herself. He further said that CSP Choima went all out to do the nation proud at a time when monetary incentive was not in place. This selflessness, he added, truly qualifies her as a hero.

He maintained that the award was an honour well deserved stressing that it was indeed an attestation that the “labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain” just like the lyrics of the nation’s first national anthem at independence.

Elegbeleye used the occasion to call on all patriotic Nigerians to obey the nation’s call to duty to serve in various human endeavours saying that Chioma has laid the bedrock for Nigerian athletes to thrive.

Super Eagles two goals hero against Ethiopia, Victor Moses, came into the Afcon 2013 tournament in South Africa, thinking of the trophy, his son, Brentley and the Most Valuable Player award.

But the tourney started on a dull note for him until Tuesday’s game. He missed the first game against Burkina Faso due to knocks received in training and soon the rumour mills were awash with news that he was not fit for the championship.

The Chelsea star, was quoted by Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, as saying it will be terrific to be declared the Most Valuable Player of the AFCON tourney. “But, I prefer the team to win games than for me to be MVP, if both come to pass then all well and good”, he said at the start of the tourney.

Moses was also all the while thinking of his three months old son, Brentley, whom his girlfriend had during the countdown to the Nations Cup. He had said he wants to score goals for the new boy, for being so long away from him and his mother.

On Tuesday, he finally got the goals he wanted for the baby boy and when he was asked about it, he threw a bewitching smile and said ‘ofcourse for Brentley.

Moses also said he did not refuse to talk to the media at the end of the game against Ethiopia but was simply excited at scoring two goals in Africa’s show-piece tourney.

The Super Eagles resumed training on Wednesday evening at the Olympia Park in Rustenberg with many now looking up to Moses and his Chelsea teammate, John Mikel Obi as being among the players in the run-up to becoming the top players at the end of the tournament depending on how long Nigeria lasts at SA 2013.