The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Efe Ambrose

  • Efe Ambrose up for repeat of Barca glory night

    Efe Ambrose up for repeat of Barca glory night

    Efe Ambrose is adamant Celtic can repeat their heroics against Barcelona when they meet the Catalan giants at Parkhead next month.

    One of the highlights of last season for Neil Lennon’s side was beating Barcelona as the club celebrated its 125th anniversary.

    And Ambrose has insisted that there is no reason to believe that Lennon’s men cannot do the same again.

    He said: “I believe we can still beat Barcelona and create the same history again.

    “It will be difficult because after losing our first game the pressure is on us because we have to win to keep ourselves in the group.

    “Barcelona are the best in the world and the fact we beat them here last year is going to make it even harder for us.

    “The most important thing is for us to believe we can do it again. Nothing is impossible in football.”

    Meanwhile, the defender has started to establish a central defensive partnership with Virgil van Dijk, a pairing that looks as though it could last the season since Steen Mouyokolo is out with a ruptured achilles.

    He said: “I think it’s a good partnership. We understand each other, and the most important thing is we both speak English.That helped a lot.”

  • Efe’s Celtic wins in Scotland

    Efe’s Celtic wins in Scotland

    Super Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose and his Celtic teammates got off their Scottish Premier League title defence to a perfect start with a 2-1 home win over Ross County on Saturday.

    The victory was hard earned as the Hoops had to come from behind to secure all three points at the Parkhead and stay in tune for the midweek UEFA Champions League clash, futaa.com reports.

    Graham Carey gave the visitors a dream start when he slotted in the first goal of the night with barely three minutes of action.

    Anthony Stokes then levelled up with a scrappy goal in the 27th minute and Celtic pounded the Dingwall team for most of the game thereafter, hitting woodwork twice amid a litany of missed chances before the Irishman grabbed his second in the 87th minute.

     

  • Ambrose upbeat on Scotland double

    Ambrose upbeat on Scotland double

    Efe Ambrose has said he hopes to clinch a league and cup double in Scotland today in his debut season at Celtic.

    The Nigeria international defender told MTNFootball.com he is confident he will add the Scottish Cup winners’ medal to his league championship when Celtic battle Hibernian in today’s cup final.

    “It is going to be a tough duel because both teams want to win. This double has been my target this season and I have a great chance to achieve that. I have the league winner medal and the cup will follow on Sunday (today),” he declared.

    “We have prepared well and we will go all out. We have a good record over our opponents, and I believe that will continue on Sunday (today).”

    Celtic have won the Scottish Cup 36 times and this will be the 10th time they face Hibernian in the final.

    Hibernian last won the Scottish Cup 111 years ago when they beat Celtic 1-0.

    Hibs were losing finalists last year when Hearts won 5-1.

  • Ambrose’s Celtic celebrate title in style

    Ambrose’s Celtic celebrate title in style

    Super Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose and his Celtic mates celebrated lifting the Scottish Premier League trophy in style as they eased to a 4-0 win over St Johnstone at Parkhead on Saturday.

    The Nigeria international played no part in the match as Joe Ledley had the Hoops in front with barely a minute on the clock and Charlie Mulgrew added a second direct from a free-kick in the 36th minute.

    St Johnstone hadn’t previously tasted defeat against Celtic in the league this season, having come from behind in their three previous meetings to win one and draw two.

    However, they never looked like maintaining their unbeaten record against the Hoops and James Forrest made it 3-0 with a fine strike in the 52nd minute before Frazer Wright scored an own-goal in stoppage time.

    It sealed Celtic’s 12th win in a row at home in the league, a run of form that helped propel Neil Lennon’s side to their second successive league title.

    There was further good news for the Hoops as captain Scott Brown returned from a three-month injury absence to collect the SPL championship trophy following what is their final home game of the season before next weekend’s finale away to Dundee United and then the Scottish Cup final against Hibernian.

    “It is a very significant day when you pick the championship trophy up. I put out a strong team in preparation for the Cup final and I thought we were fantastic,” Lennon said.

    “There was a flow and energy to us and there was a freshness about the team and that was the pleasing aspect of the day and then obviously there was the celebration afterwards.

    “These are days you want to cherish and it’s important for the players to appreciate what they’ve done as it goes very quickly.”