The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Echiejile

  • Echiejile must fight for his place – Monaco coach

    Echiejile must fight for his place – Monaco coach

    Elderson Echiejile will not walk into Monaco first team as he will have to fight for his place against France youth international Layvin Kurzawa.

    Super Eagles defender Echiejile, 26, signed a four and a half year contract with the club from The Principality on Friday.

    However, Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri said the 21-year Kurzawa remains his first-choice at left back, but he has bought Echiejile as a cover for him.

    “We were missing a player on the left (of defence),” said Ranieri at a press conference on Friday. “Kurzawa remains number one in that position and I have told him so. But I want to have a cover for all the positions. ”

    Incidentally, Kurzawa has been in tremendous form lately and was picked as Monaco’s best player for their last league game against Montpellier.

    In the meantime, Monaco technical director Ricardo Pecini has said Echiejile is a major acquisition for the club.

    “He is a very good player who we have been following for some time now and we have been impressed with his progress,” MTNFootball.com quoted Monaco technical director Pecini as saying on the club’s official website.

    “He already knows what is expected of him in the French Ligue 1, this was very crucial for us. His signing is further evidence we wish to get players with enormous potentials.”

    Echiejile made 29 appearances for Stade Rennes in his first spell in France between 2007 and 2010.

     

  • Echiejile joins Monaco

    Echiejile joins Monaco

    •Gets jersey No. 21

    Elderson Echiejile has said he is delighted to join a “great” AS Monaco on a four- and-a-half year contract from Portuguese club Sporting Braga.

    “I have signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Monaco. I’m really delighted to join such a great and distinguished club like Monaco. I give God the glory and count on the support and prayers of everyone as I hope for bigger things now back in France, which has remained my second home even after I left in 2010,” Elderson told his official website www.elderson3.com.”

    He praised the Braga fans for making him feel at home in Portugal in the three-and-a-half years he was there.

    “The fans were great for me and the club when I was there. I will miss them,” he said. He tweeted that he is already at home in Monaco.

    “Feeling at home already, good to be back in France. Thank you everyone for the reception#Grateful”, he said on handle @eldersonech.

    The swash-buckling fullback will wear jersey number 21 at Monaco. Elderson, who has won 40 caps and scored two goals for Nigeria, has returned to France, where he began his professional career with Stade Rennes in 2007.

    He has a contract with Sporting Braga till June 2014. He made 108 appearances for Braga and scored eight goals at the Portuguese outfit. He won the Portuguese League Cup with the club last season and also featured in both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

    He joins a star-studded Monaco, who have Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, James Rodriquez and Eric Abidal. Monaco are second on the French Ligue 1 with 42 points from 20 matches, five points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

  • Echiejile joins Monaco

    Echiejile joins Monaco

    Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile, has joined top French club AS Monaco from Portuguese club Sporting Braga.

    The contract of the 25-year-old left back at Braga was due to run out at the end of this season, according to Abola.

    MTNFootball.com reports that it’s a return to France for Elderson, who started out at another French club Stade Rennes in 2007.

    He made 108 appearances for Braga and scored eight goals in his four years at the Portuguese outfit.

    This move finally ends many months of speculations about the future of the player, who has been linked with several clubs including some from the English Premier League.

    Elderson star is set for his second World Cup with Nigeria in June after he established himself in his country’s first-team last year by winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for Brazil 2014.

    Big-spending Monaco, who parade the likes of Colombia superstar Radamel Falcao and ex-Barcelona star Eric Abidal, is currently second on the French Ligue 1 table with 42 points from 20 matches, five points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

    Several Nigeria stars have already played for the club from the Principality including Victor Ikpeba, Lukman Haruna, Sani Keita and Rabiu Afolabi.

     

     

  • Echiejile rues club’s defeat

    Echiejile rues club’s defeat

    Super Eagles and Sporting Braga’s defender Elderson Echiejile is gutted by his side’s 2-1 home loss to Sporting Lisbon in a Portuguese Primeira Liga week six encounter at the Estádio AXA on Saturday.

    Echiejile, who featured for the entire duration of the game, was dealt a humiliating blow in front of their fans by a strong Lisbon side on Saturday to record their second home loss of the season.

    Making his feeling known on his official twitter handle, the Nigerian left full-back expressed his disappointment at the result after 90 minutes.

    “Hugely disappointed to lose 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon” Echiejile stated.

    Montero had given the visitors an early lead inside the opening five minutes but Braga restored parity 23 minutes later to end the first half at 1-1.

    However, the coach Jesualdo Ferreira led Braga team failed to keep out the rampaging Lisbon side as Cedric latched on to the ball in the closing stages to slot home the winner and hand the visitors maximum points and a third away victory in the current campaign season.

  • Echiejile stars as Braga hold 10-man Maritimo

    Echiejile stars as Braga hold 10-man Maritimo

    Super Eagles full back Elderson Echiejile bagged 90 minutes of action as his Portuguese side Sporting Braga came from behind to earn a 2-2 against Maritimo on Thursday night, denying the hosts their first victory over Braga since 2008.

    The hosts, who saw Derley sent off late on, have now gone 11 consecutive matches without beating Braga but did at least break an eight-game losing streak against their visitors.

    First-half goals from Danilo Pereira and Derley appeared to put Maritimo on course for a long overdue triumph, but Alan bit back for Braga before the interval for a 2-1 score line, setting up a tense second half. With just nine minutes to go, Pardo broke Maritimo hearts to deny them the victory.

    After a cagey opening, it was the hosts who sparked the game into life with two goals in three minutes as Pereira turned home a 35th-minute corner for his first Maritimo goal before Derley headed in Artur’s superb delivery for his ninth league strike of the campaign to hand the home side a comfortable 2-0 lead

    Alan pulled one back for the visitors two minutes before the break with a measured finish to give Braga some hope.

    Heldon, who could have given Maritimo breathing space midway through the second half but was denied by the visiting goalkeeper Eduardo, was made to rue that missed chance when 56th minute substitute Pardo converted a simple close-range finish before Derley was given his marching orders for an elbow soon after.

    Despite the loss, the home side are now unbeaten in five league games and they are currently placed ninth on the league table with 16 points from 14 matches while Echiejile and his gang are two places above their host in seventh spot, bettering their Thursday opponent by three points from the same number of games.

  • World Cup: Nigeria shouldn’t expect easy draw – Echiejile

    World Cup: Nigeria shouldn’t expect easy draw – Echiejile

    Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile, has warned that Nigeria should not expect an easy 2014 World Cup draw on Friday.

    The 32 World Cup finalists will know their first round opponents at the draw in Brazil from 4pm Nigerian time and Sporting Braga star Elderson said Nigeria will most likely to get a tough group because of the quality of teams going to Brazil 2014.

    Elderson told MTNFootball.com: “We should not expect the best draw because there are a lot of great teams going to the World Cup, we would just wait to see what happens on Friday.

    “Whatever team we would be paired against in the draw would be a difficult team because they all went through the qualifiers before getting there, so they would be tough to play against.”

    However, Elderson maintained that as African champions the Super Eagles will be in Brazil to compete and not to complete the numbers.

    “As African champions, I can confidently say we have a good team right now. We have more confidence as a team and that is what I think is going for us right now and that would really help us at the World Cup,” reasoned the ex-Flying Eagles defender, who made his World Cup debut in South Africa three years ago.

    Nigeria last went past the group stage in 1998, but the Portugal-based star said he expects the Eagles to make an impact in Brazil.

    “You know football is not predictable. And you know in football a lot of changes come in. But personally, I believe so much in this team to shock the world in Brazil. I know we would pull a lot of surprises in Brazil,” he predicted.

     

  • Dike, Echiejile ready for Azzurri

    Dike, Echiejile ready for Azzurri

    •Kanu, Oliseh hail Eagles’ World Cup spot

    Toronto FC striker, Bright Dike and S.C. Braga defender, Elderson Echiejile have expressed their readiness for tonight’s international friendly against Italy.

    The Super Eagles duo were part of the Nigeria team that defeated the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia 2-0 on a 4-1 aggregate on Saturday, to book their place in next year’s edition of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. While Echiejile was in action for the full 90 minutes against the Ethiopians, Dike was on unused sub.

    However, both players who are expected to be on parade against the Azzurri tonight at the Craven Cottage, expressed confidence ahead of the game via their Twitter handles.

    “Congrats Nigeria! We are off to the World Cup in the great home of football Brazil. #SuperEagles: Thank you all for your support, we made it together. #Brazil2014WorldCup.

    “Just arrived in London ahead of Monday night’s friendly vs Italy#SuperEagles #Nigeria #2014wcq” twitted Echiejile.

    Dike is however optimistic of playing today’s game after failing to feature against the Ethiopians.

    “We have beaten Ethiopia and now Nigeria has booked its place at the World Cup in Brazil!

    “Enjoying London, ready to play against Italy tomorrow”, he said.

    Meanwhile, ex-internationals, Sunday Oliseh and Kanu Nwankwo have hailed Super Eagles’ qualification to the 2014 World Cup.

    Former Super Eagles captain, Oliseh said Nigeria’s qualification to the World Cup has capped a glorious year for the country.

    “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s qualification to Brazil seals a glorious year for Nigeria’s football. Time to claim respect?” he twitted.

    Kanu, however, commended various stakeholders for the support given to the Super Eagles.

    “We thank President Jonathan, Your Excellency, Cross River Governor Imoke, Minister of Sports Bolaji, NFF President Maigari, all our fans and all Nigerians.

    “Thanks for all your support. It’s been a long journey but we made it to Brazil, we thank God. Coaches and players thank you all. We appreciate”, he said.

  • Echiejile plays down booking

    Echiejile plays down booking

    Elderson Echiejile has assured he will be at his best against Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup playoffs even though he is on a booking. The Sporting Braga star defender was booked when Nigeria forced Kenya to a 1-1 draw in Calabar in March.

    He therefore risks missing the return leg in Calabar on November 16 if he were booked on Sunday inside the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    “The booking will not affect me. I am a professional and I have the experience to deal with such a situation,” the 25-year-old left back said on his official website www.elderson3.com

    “It’s a very important game and at all times the team comes first.”

    The defender is one of four Nigeria stars on a booking heading to Sunday’s World Cup final playoff.

    The others are Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike, Ogenyi Onazi from Lazio and Turkey-based defender Godfrey Oboabona.

    Elderson was an unused substitute when both teams last clashed in Addis Ababa two years ago and played out a 2-2 draw in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    He featured for the entire duration when the Eagles flew past Ethiopia 2-0 in South Africa in January during the 2013 Nations Cup.

  • Echiejile rues club’s defeat

    Echiejile rues club’s defeat

    Super Eagles and Sporting Braga’s defender Elderson Echiejile is gutted by his side’s 2-1 home loss to Sporting Lisbon in a Portuguese Primeira Liga week six encounter at the Estádio AXA on Saturday.

    Echiejile, who featured for the entire duration of the game, was dealt a humiliating blow in front of their fans by a strong Lisbon side on Saturday to record their second home loss of the season.

    Making his feeling known on his official twitter handle, the Nigerian left full-back expressed his disappointment at the result after 90 minutes.

    “Hugely disappointed to lose 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon” Echiejile stated.

    Montero had given the visitors an early lead inside the opening five minutes but Braga restored parity 23 minutes later to end the first half at 1-1.

    However, the coach Jesualdo Ferreira led Braga team failed to keep out the rampaging Lisbon side as Cedric latched on to the ball in the closing stages to slot home the winner and hand the visitors maximum points and a third away victory in the current campaign season.

  • Echiejile makes Braga’s squad

    Echiejile makes Braga’s squad

    Sporting Braga have picked Elderson Echiejile in an 18-man squad for Saturday’s home game against Sporting Lisbon.

    The 25-year-old Nigeria international defender is now set to play his first match for Braga this season.

    He said on his official website www.elderson3.com he was enjoying the training leading up to Saturday’s clash: “I have trained very hard and I am looking forward to being in action very soon. The training has been competitive and the atmosphere is also good.”

    Last season, Elderson played 25 matches and scored a goal for his Portuguese club. But he has yet to appear for his club this season after he failed to move this summer.

    Braga are second on the Portuguese league table with 12 points from five matches, a point behind leaders FC Porto. They have won four and lost one of their matches thus far.

    Sporting Lisbon are third in the standings also with 11 points as they have won three and drew two of their games.

    Last season, Braga finished fourth and Sporting Lisbon were seventh.