The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Didier Drogba

  • Bad officiating denied Eagles’ victory – Drogba

    Phoenix Rising and former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba has said bad officiating led to Nigeria’s ouster against Argentina at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia on Tuesday.

    The former Chelsea striker who spoke on BBC One said the referee favoured Argentina unjustly with the decision not to award the second penalty.

    He said, “I think it’s a bad decision from the referee not to give Nigeria a second penalty]. It’s the defender’s mistake – he didn’t read the ball well.

    “It’s difficult to give the penalty because it would take Argentina out of the competition.”

    Recall that the South Americans maintained the lone goal lead to the end of first half.  On resumption of the second half, the Eagles however came out smoking to earn a penalty in the 51st minute that was effectively converted by Victor Moses.

    Eagles had every opportunity to maintain the draw to the end but failed to do so.  An opportunity for Eagles to even shoot into a lead was bungled by Odion Ighalo who shot wide from the post at the edge of the 18 yard box and called for penalty following a handball by an Argentine defender.

    The Referee however turned down the call after the VAR confirmed a no penalty verdict.  It was however the 86th minute of the match that Argentina turned the table after Marcos Rojo converted a well taken corner kick.

    Efforts by the Eagles to seek a remedy for the unfortunate scenario failed to yield any result.  The defeat marks a continuation of wins by Argentina over Nigeria at competitive level.

    Nigeria had before the world cup, beaten Argentina 4-2.

    The group stage exit by the Super Eagles is short fall from the usual round of 16 for which Nigeria has been known.

    While Nigeria joins other African countries, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia who have since exited the world cup, Argentina will face France in the round of 16.

  • Drogba dumps flowing locks for new look

    Drogba dumps flowing locks for new look

     

    Didier Drogba may have been hailed across the world for his scoring exploits in two spells at Chelsea across nine exceptional seasons — but he has also been known for his long, flowing locks — until now.

    The man who gave Premier League defenders sleepless nights at the thought of facing him for nearly a decade has now decided to shave his head.

    The former Blues marksman scored 164 goals in 381 games during a hugely successful period for the club while winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and one Champions League.

    But it looks as if the 39-year-old Ivorian legend decided to take the clippers to his distinctive hairstyle that served him so well in West London.

    He posted a picture of his hairless dome on his personal Twitter account to his 1.52 million followers, stating: ‘Born is the new me.’

    Eschewing the traditional ‘short, back and sides’, the midfielder opted for a ‘number one’ all-over after he chose to lop-off his long, dark locks for a back-to-basics look.

    Following a short spell at Montreal Impact after departing Stamford Bridge for a second time Drogba signed for USL side Phoenix Rising — also becoming the owner of the club, making him the first player-owner in football history.

    It is unsure what his team-mates will make of the look, but the Chelsea legend is following in the footsteps of other big football names by opting for a ‘number one’ all over.

    David Beckham famously unveiled a trend-setting trim in 2000 when he took the clippers to his long blond locks and Freddie Ljungberg got rid of his red-dyed messy hair in favour of a buzzcut in 2002.

  • Drogba quits international football

    Drogba quits international football

    Côte d’Ivoire’s skipper, Didier Drogba , on Friday announced his retirement from international football, africanFootball.com reports.

    The 36-year-old Drogba made his international debut for the Elephants in September 2002, scoring 65 goals in 104 appearances.

    The two-time African Player of the year and Côte d’Ivoire all-time top scorer competed in three consecutive World Cup finals and five Africa Cups of Nations but failed to win any silverware with his country despite leading a golden generation of Ivoirian players.

    “It is a good time to quit, make space for the youngsters and build a team for the future,” africanFootball.com quoted the Chelsea striker as saying during interview with Canal +.

    “It is a difficult decision to take because I know well what I am still capable of, but as I can feel there is not the same trust in me than before I think this is a wise decision. I remain available to my country but not for playing. It is over.”

     

  • Drogba returns to Chelsea

    Drogba returns to Chelsea

    Chelsea has completed the signing of Didier Drogba on a one-year contract, Goal reports.

    The 36-year-old returns to Stamford Bridge having left in 2012 after winning the Champions League.

    Drogba, who featured for Cote d’Ivoire at the World Cup earlier this summer, scored 157 goals in 341 appearances for Chelsea and also won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups during his first stint with the club.

    “It was an easy decision,” Goal quoted Drogba as saying on club’s official website.

    “I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again. Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.

    “My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career.”

    Drogba is reunited with Jose Mourinho after working with the Portuguese for three years before his departure in September 2007.

    “He’s coming because he’s one of the best strikers in Europe,” the former Real Madrid and Inter coach said.

    “I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he’s not protected by history or what he’s done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history.”

     

     

  • Man City plots shock bid for Drogba

    Man City plots shock bid for Drogba

    Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, is searching for a new striker after losing Alvaro Negredo to a broken foot, Daily Star reports.

    Spanish star Negredo broke his metatarsal and will be sidelined for up to four months, leaving the ex-Real Madrid manager short on attacking options as his champions get set to defend the English Premier League title.

    It is understood Pellegrini could turn to former Chelsea star Didier Drogba as he looks to lure a top class hitman to the Etihad Stadium.

    Drogba is considering a return to Stamford Bridge after leaving Galatasaray at the end of last season.

    He is understood to have a number of options on the table and will make a decision on his future this week.

    But Pellegrini believes the 36-year-old could be a viable option on a 12-month contract to improve his striking options now that Negredo is sidelined.

    Drogba is a cult-hero at the Blues, but the chance to land a lucrative short-term deal with the reigning champions could tempt the Ivory Coast captain to pick City instead of his old hunting ground.

     

  • Showemimo: I’m a die-hard Chelsea fan

    Showemimo: I’m a die-hard Chelsea fan

    Abdulwasiu Showemimo, Kano Pillars’ defender, has stated his love for the English Premiership side, Chelsea, revealing that the pivotal role played by Didier Drogba as well as Mikel Obi cemented his relationship with the Stamford Bridge giants.

    “I’m a Blues for life,” stated Showemimo, who made his Super Eagles’ debut and only international cap yet as a substitute in a friendly match against Sierra Leone in February 2011. “How can I support Everton when Chelsea is the team with the real blue colours?”

    Showemimo began his career in 2005 on the youth side for Zamfara United F.C. and signed in the spring of 2006 for team Gateway F.C. He played 38 games in two seasons for Gateway and signed in summer of 2008 for Kano Pillars FC. He transferred to Dolphins before the 2012 season.

    He was called up to the national team camp prior to the November 2010 friendly against Iran but had to drop out due to an injury. He made his Eagles’ debut as a substitute in the February 2011 friendly against Sierra Leone. He featured previously for the Nigeria beach football team in an International tournament in South Africa.

    He continued: “I am a diehard Chelsea fan and nothing can change it. I love the team; I love the club and everything in the club.

    “Football has gone beyond history. If you like win 20 trophies in the 1980s. People don’t reckon with that again, we are much interested in the recent ones, so please don’t go into history book, Chelsea is always a reliable team in England.

    “Sincerely, Mikel and Drogba made me to like Chelsea more and more because they contributed a lot to the team as African players and you know what it takes for an African player to be commanding first team shirt in such a great club?

    “Most players like to play for Chelsea and God willing, I want to be play for the club but everything is in the hand of God.

    “It is not that my style does not meet the demands of the European game, but at times you need to be careful in moving so that you will not move into the wilderness. I keep praying to God to give me the best offer in Europe,” said the player who has moved in and out of Kano Pillars and Dolphins in recent years.

    My time at Dolphins

    I left Dolphins for Kano Pillars and I was really happy when I played for them. They had a good project then and I think I did my best there too. I thought my experience at Kano Pillars would help Dolphins too. It is always the objective of any player to win trophies and I was with Dolphins after they won the league title.

    My first experience in Pillars

    It was a wonderful one because I was able to prove myself. I built my confidence and everybody in the team loved what I did for the team. I cannot forget Kano Pillars in as much I still see my medals. We fought to win the title and that was the spirit in the Dolphins team last season. They never lost their dream of winning the title. But we lost a semi-final ticket in the CAF Champions League. That was a bad day for us in the city. We were tipped as the potential winner but I think that is football for you. At times, things could not work out the way you thought but I thank God for everything. Kano Pillars is always a club dear to my heart since I was given a chance to prove myself.

    Days with Super Eagles

    Life is all about opportunity, I had wonderful games at my cub and the national team coaches discovered that I would be useful and I also got my chance. It is not about being in the local league but what you can offer the game. That was why Coach Samson Siasia offered me the chance when he was the national team coach. I am a kind of player who loves to make use of every chance given to him. I have a good rapport with my senior colleagues in the national team because we were like a family. Super Eagles camp is a good one for local league stars because you will have the opportunity to mingle with foreign based players, whereby when you get the chance, you will not be like a novice. I tried as much as I can because once people see you put on the Nigerian jersey, you are more or less like a celebrity. I have been mobbed several times just because they have seen me in the jersey.

    My football career

    It started long ago when I was still a boy. Then I used to dodge school because of football matches. Even I used to leave my school for matches and my parents do not actually like this. You know there are lots of parents who do not want their children to choose football as a career. One of the reasons is that they always believe that it is only illiterates that play football, but today the story has changed. You see a lot of players pursing football before education because it is still going to be the same thing at the end. But football has brought me a lot. I cannot even count. I had much recognition especially when I played for Super Eagles. Though I have not been part of the recent call up, but I still believe my time will come again. I have the joy and the experience is there for me to prove in Europe when the doors open.

     

  • Hayatou and CAF 2013 Awards

    Hayatou and CAF 2013 Awards

    SIR: The Confederation of African Football (CAF), last week in Lagos, honoured lovers of football and the men and women that exhibited sterling performance in the round leather game in the year 2013. It was a well attended event. It brought together the movers and shakers of the nation of Nigeria. The political lords, business moguls, sports administrators, entertainers and host of others greeted the event. The ceremony honoured those that the Issa Hayatou-led CAF asserted were distinguished personalities for their exploits for the year 2013.

    Prior to the event, billboards, posters and flyers all battle for space around the city of Lagos, adorning messages related to the event. The award dominated the pages of newspapers and programmes both on radio and television. The event was popular in Nigeria for one reason: Chelsea FC of England and Super Eagles of Nigeria mercurial midfielder, John Obi Mikel was amongst the three nominees for the exalted price of the African Player of the Year. Affirmatively, Mikel’s achievements in the year 2013 placed him above other nominees such as the Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City FC of England midfielder, Yaya Toure and Galatasaray of Turkey Striker, Didier Drogba.

    In 2013, Mikel won the African Cup of Nations’ trophy with Nigeria, defeating Cote d’Ivoire in quarter final and also winning UEFA Europa League trophy with Chelsea. Both Toure and Drogba thus ended the year 2013 without wining a trophy.

    Alas, CAF, to the surprise of all, announced Toure as the African Player of the Year, placing Mikel as the runner up. Most lovers of football in Nigeria were shocked by the action of CAF. The graveyard silence that greeted the announcement of Toure as the winner was a testimony to the dissatisfaction of bigwigs that graced the occasion. To many opinion shapers, CAF was partial.

    Curiously, the shameful, partial CAF claimed that Ivorian Didier Drogba was the third African Best Player for the year 2013. Shockingly, the third best African player was not considered fit enough to be amongst the 11 African Best Players for the year 2013. Didier Drogba’s name was not mentioned by CAF amongst the line up of the 11 African players for the year 2013 that had the Nigerian Stephen Keshi as coach.

    As a striker, Drogba, the third African Best was not amongst the two strikers in the 11 African finest players for the year 2013. Nigeria’s Emenike and the Burkinabe, Pitopria, according to CAF, were the two best African strikers for the year 2013. Wasn’t that a big international shame exhibited by CAF?

    It is time for Hayatou to quit as CAF helmsman; he has out-lived his usefulness.

    • Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye,

    Magodo, Lagos.

  • 2013 Glo CAF Awards Meet the top 10

    The list of top 10 players competing for the 2013 African Footballer of the year Award was recently released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The list and the possible winner has been the subject of passionate discussion among football fans and youth across Africa.

    Expectations are high on who should be the next King of African Football; with clear-cut justifications on who deserves to wear the crown. Will it be Mikel Obi or the reigning African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure? Will it be Asamoah Gyan or Didier Drogba? Who out of the ten will be unveiled as the African Footballer of the Year at the 2014 Glo CAF Awards Gala Night?

    All roads lead to the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos on 9th January, 2014. We hereby present the top 10 as released by CAF. What are their pedigrees?

    Reigning African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure is from Cote d’Ivoire. He was born on May 13, 1983. The Manchester City of England Player won the last two editions of the African Player of the Year Award and he is still at his peak. He scored two goals including a spectacular free-kick against Tunisia at the group stage. Though the Elephants failed to go past the quarter-final, he was the pillar of the Ivorian team in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, netting four goals in the process. At Manchester City, he is a cult figure and has been the driving force for the club. For the current 2013-14 season, the midfielder has found the back of the net five times in 11 games.

     

     

    Asamoah Gyan, known for

    his hard tackles and deft

    passes, plays for Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Born in Ghana on November 22, 1985. Gyan currently captains the Black Stars and was the top marksman for the team in the World Cup qualifiers with six goals to his credit. He also scored once in the Black Stars campaign at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa where they placed fourth. Gyan has had a stellar year, emerging top scorer for the 2012-13 UAE Pro-League, firing in 30 goals and powering Al Ain to the title. He has also scored eight times in six appearances in the 2013-14 season.

     

     

     

    Ahmed Musa, born on

    October 14, 1992 is from

    Nigeria. He currently plays for CSKA Moscow (Russia). Musa was a member of the Nigerian Super Eagles squad that won the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. He also featured at the FIFA Confederations Cup later in Brazil. With CSKA Moscow, Musa won every title in Russia – League, League Cup and the Super Cup during the 2012/2013 season, scoring five times in the process. He has also scored five times for his club in the ongoing 2013/2014 season.

     

     

    Born in Cote d’Ivoire on

    March 11, 1978, Didier

    Drogba plies his trade in Turkey where he plays for Galatasaray. He earlier played for Olympic Marseilles in France and Chelsea FC of London where he won the Champions League in 2012. At 35, Drogba is yet to lose his football skills, scoring three goals as the Elephants reached a third successive World Cup appearance. The striker has bounced back from a disappointing spell in China and has been banging in the goals in Turkey. He scored five in 13 appearances during Galatasaray’s triumph in the 2012-13 season. In the current season, Drogba has scored nine times in all competitions for Galatasaray, including the UEFA Champions League.

     

    Nigerian Emmanuel

    Emenike plays for Fenerbache

    in Turkey. He was born on 10th May, 1987. He recently played for Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine before exploring his fortune in Fenerbache. Emenike is currently Nigeria’s most reliable attacker. He scored 4 goals at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa where the Super Eagles emerged champions. He sustained an injury that kept him out of the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil but has recovered and has helped Nigeria to book a place in next year’s World Cup, scoring thrice in the process. With Fenerbahce, he has scored three times in the 2013-14 “Turkish Super Lig.”

     

     

     

     

    Chelsea and Nigeria

    Midfielder, John Obi Mikel was

    born on April 22, 1987. Mikel is enjoying probably his best moment in football. A regular with the star-studded Chelsea, he played an influential role in the build-up to the 2012 UEFA Champions League crown. He also won the Europa Cup with Chelsea in 2013. In September 21 this year, he broke his goal duck in the English Premier League with his first goal in 185 matches in a 2-0 win over Fulham. Also, he netted a cracker against Uruguay at the FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil in July. His efforts in the season were crowned with a gold medal with the Super Eagles at the last Africa Cup of Nations. He was also instrumental to Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Indeed, football analysts say that it is only the current African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure that can stand between Mikel and the crown.

     

     

     

    Record breaking Nigerian

    goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama

    “can easily be dubbed the shot-stopper.” He was born on August 29, 1982 and currently plays for Lille FC in France. The achievement of Nigeria in football in the last decade cannot be complete without mentioning the name of Enyeama. The shot-stopper is arguably the finest on the continent after superb showings at the Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He was named the safest pair of hands as Nigeria won the continental crown in South Africa earlier in the year. He also made a name for himself with Lille in the French “Ligue 1” where they nick-named him “Jesus in goal” as he did not concede any goal from September 15 to December 7; maintaining an eye-popping 11 clean sheets from 16 games and 1035 minutes in total.

     

    Burkina Faso-born Jonathan

    Pitroipa is a regular member

    of Stade Rennes FC of France. He was the star of the Burkina Faso team that reached the finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. His red card against Ghana at the semis drew so much controversy before CAF eventually overturned it, making him eligible for the final. He was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He also scored three times in Burkina Faso’s run to the World Cup Playoffs and has made 10 appearances in the current season for Stade Rennes but yet to score.

     

     

    One outstanding accomplish

    ment of ageless Mohamed

    Aboutreika is that he is gunning for both the global African Player of the Year and the African-Based African Player of the Year Awards. He plays in Africa and has led his Club to win many continental laurels. He was born in Egypt in November 7, 1978 and plays for Egyptian top Club, Al Ahly. Aboutreika is at the twilight of his career, yet, he has proved again that he is nowhere near the finish line. He scored six goals for Egypt in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, including one on his centenary appearance for the Pharaohs against Guinea. With Ahly, he was the pivot as the Egyptian giants retained the CAF Champions League title, scoring in both legs in the final. He scored five times in the campaign as Ahly cruised to an unprecedented eighth title despite the absence of a football competition in Egypt in two years.

     

     

    Gabonese Pierre-Emerick

    Aubameyang is currently

    playing for Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He was born on June 18, 1989. He was on target three times for Gabon (a hat-trick against Niger) during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as Les Panthers failed to reach the Playoffs. He has however been in superb form at club level. He emerged second top scorer in Ligue 1 with 19 goals during 2012-13 season, and also guided Saint Etienne to the Coupe de La Ligue (French League Cup). In July, he joined German side Borussia Dortmund and has scored eight times in all appearances. He also won the German Super Cup with Dortmund after a 4-2 win over Bayern Munich.

  • Drogba silences Arsenal again

    Drogba silences Arsenal again

    Didier Drogba returned to haunt Arsenal as the former Chelsea striker came off the bench to net a late double and win the Emirates Cup for Galatasaray.
    The Ivory Coast frontman — who left Chelsea after spearheading their 2012 Champions League final victory before a short stint with Shanghai Shenhua in China — converted a soft penalty on 78 minutes before  producing a crisp finish.
    The Turks secured their second victory of the weekend tournament, having fallen behind to Theo Walcott’s first-half curling effort.
    Arsenal, who are still chasing a deal for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, showed good form in patches, but again had no answer to the 35-year-old, who had been on Arsene Wenger’s radar as a youngster at Guingamp.
    Arsenal’s only summer signing Yaya Sanogo, a free transfer from Auxerre, was handed a start in attack, while Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla was back in action after extra time off following the Confederations Cup.
    Former Gunner Emmanuel Eboue captained Galatasaray. There was an early chance for France Under-21 striker Sanogo to become an instant cult hero when he collected a loose pass on the edge of the penalty area, but his angled shot was saved by Fernando Muslera.
    Arsenal, who came from 2-0 down to draw with Rafa Benitez’s Napoli Sunday , continued to press and had a penalty shout turned down after Aaron Ramsey tumbled. At 18 minutes, Walcott expertly took down a long ball from the Welshman into the Galatasaray box, but could then only flick it over the keeper and wide. Former Bolton forward Johan Elmander caused Arsenal some concern with his link-up play, but Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, making his first appearance of pre-season after injury, was not really tested.
    Arsenal took the lead five minutes before half-time when Walcott’s curling cross from the left bounced through the six-yard box and dropped into the far corner. Drogba was introduced for the second half — to some jeers from the home fans, who remembered him as so often
    Arsenal’s tormentor during his time with Chelsea Dutch international Wesley Sneijder also came on. Drogba was straight into the action, fashioning a chance when he turned Per Mertesacker just outside the Arsenal penalty area, but his shot was straight at Szczesny.
    The Gunners several expected substitutions, continued to look sharp, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looking to have been tripped in the penalty area before a downward header from Olivier Giroud was well saved.
    The Turks threatened also as Szczesny beat away a fierce drive from Sneijder, the former Inter Milan midfielder. Galatasaray were awarded a penalty on 78 minutes by referee Jon Moss when substitute Ignasi Miquel was adjudged to have pushed over Drogba, with contact looking minimal at best.
  • Nigeria hits AFCON semi finals

    Nigeria hits AFCON semi finals

    …Pips Cote d’Ivoire 2-1

    Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday defeated tournament favourites Cote d’ Ivoire 2-1 in the quarter final match of the ongoing African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    One goal in each sent the Ivoirians, widely tipped to win the tournament packing.

    The Nigerians clearly the underdogs in this match took the game to the Elephants from the blast of the whistle and deservedly took the lead in the 41st minute through Emmanuel Emenike whose unstoppable shot from the edge of the eighteen yard box flew past Boubakar Bary in goal for the Ivoirians.

    The Elephants came out smoking in the second half in search of the equalizer which duly arrived in the 55th minute through Cheik Tiote who took advantage of a mix-up in the Nigerian defence to power a header past Vincent Enyeama.

    With score standing at 1-1 the two teams went out in search of the winning goal and Enyeama’s superb double saves prevented the Ivoirians from going in front in the 73rd minute.

    Nigeria went ahead in the 76th minute through Sunday Mba who struck an unstoppable volley past Bary.

    From then it was a ding-dong affair and the Nigerians held on to secure a famous victory over the much heralded Didier Drogba- led Ivoirians.

    Nigeria will meet Mali in one of the semi final matches on Wednesday.