The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ejike Uzoenyi

  • CHAN Fall out: League players measuring up – Anyansi

    By Julius Okorie

    Enyimba Chairman Felix Anyansi Agwu has given league players in the country a pat on the back for rising to the occasion despite constraints. He made his feelings known while assessing the player’s performance at the just ended African Nations Championship in South Africa.

    Anyansi, who described the home Eagles achievement in the championship as good enough, said the result achieved is an indication that the team has the potentials to perform better. He however expressed desire that the home based Eagles be handled by Nigerian league coach.

    “I would love to see a current league coach handle the home based Eagles so that the Chief Coach can focus on his job of handling the national team,” he noted.

    Just like Sunday Mba made a huge impact at the Nations Cup in South Africa last year, Ejike Uzoenyi also proved a point at the CHAN level with Stephen Keshi confirming his readiness to take him and three others to the World Cup in Brazil in June.

  • Top scorers’ award: Uzoenyi in contention

    Top scorers’ award: Uzoenyi in contention

    Home-Based Eagles top scorer, Ejike Uzoenyi is in line to claim the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) golden shoe.

    The Rangers International of Enugu, would be living the dream of his life if he leapfrogs

    South Africa Bafana Bafana’s ace, Bernard Parker was the first to score four goals in this championship.

    Uzoenyi, just needs to score a goal today against the Zimbabwe Brave Warriors to claim the top prize.

     

  • UZOENYI VOWS: We will fight for bronze

    UZOENYI VOWS: We will fight for bronze

    Ejike Uzoenyi has vowed that disappointed Nigeria will still fight to win the third-place at CHAN against Zimbabwe today.

    Uzoenyi, who said he was disappointed the Eagles lost to rivals Ghana on penalties in Wednesday’s semi-final, has promised that the team will fight to win the bronze to make up for not reaching the final.

    “It’s the only thing we have to leave here with and we are determined to compensate Nigerians with a third-place finish,” the Enugu Rangers winger said.

    Uzoenyi almost passed out when Ghanaian defender Kwabina Adusei, elbowed him around his neck leading to a minor concoction mid-way into the first half of the CHAN semi-final in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

    The medical staff described Uzoenyi’s condition at the time as Cortica Artery seizure, noting that it took quite a while to get his pulse back from the leg region.

    “It was scary but we thank God, it didn’t degenerate more than that and the player’s recovery rate was phenomenal”, one of the medical official attached to the team noted.

    Uzoenyi said: “That player wanted to kill me with that vicious elbow and I was blank and did not know where I was until I started hearing noises, but I was determined to continue that was why I was rushing back to the pitch. But I think it was God that saved my life because some lesser cases have resulted in fatalities.”

  • CHAN: Eagles will fight for bronze – Uzoenyi

    CHAN: Eagles will fight for bronze – Uzoenyi

    Ejike Uzoenyi has vowed that disappointed Nigeria will still fight to win the third-place at CHAN against Zimbabwe on Saturday.
    Uzoenyi, who said he was disappointed the Eagles lost to rivals Ghana on penalties in Wednesday’s semi-final, promised that the team will fight to win the bronze to make up for not reaching the final.
    “It’s the only thing we have to leave here with and we are determined to compensate Nigerians with a third-place finish,” MTNFootball.com quoted the Enugu Rangers winger as saying ahead of the classification match.
    Uzoenyi almost passed out when Ghanaian defender Kwabina Adusei, elbowed him around his neck leading to a minor concoction mid-way into the first half of the CHAN semi-final in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
    The medical staff described Uzoenyi’s condition at the time as Cortica Artery seizure, noting that it took quite a while to get his pulse back from the leg region.
    “It was scary but we thank God, it didn’t degenerate more than that and the player’s recovery rate was phenomenal,” one of the medical official attached to the team noted.
    He said: “That player wanted to kill me with that vicious elbow and I was blank and did not know where I was until I started hearing noises, but I was determined to continue that was why I was rushing back to the pitch.
    “But I think it was God that saved my life because some lesser cases have resulted in fatalities.”
    Meanwhile, Nigeria sports minister Bolaji Abdulahi has fulfilled his cash promise to the team by doling out the sum of $200,000 for their victory against Morocco and the loss to Ghana.

  • Uzoenyi CHAN MVP-in-waiting

    Uzoenyi CHAN MVP-in-waiting

    Ejike Uzoenyi is closing in on being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after he scooped his third man of the match award Saturday.

    Like Nigeria, the Enugu Rangers left winger got off to a slow start, but he has now proved that form may be temporary, but class is permanent.

    While Sunday Mba opted to take the Euro deal on the table and so skipped CHAN, the 21-year-old Uzoenyi may have taken the wiser decision to showcase his talents that will now most certainly get him another shot at football in Europe.

    He and Kano Pillars playmaker Rabiu Ali have carried this team to the last four of the tournament.

    His trickery on the left wing and his goals have seen him shine against Mozambique and South Africa, where he was only denied a hat-trick by the crossbar.

    And he crowned another sterling display at the CHAN with a master-class showing against Morocco on Saturday.

    Several other players have caught the eye at this championship reserved for players featuring in their respective domestic leagues.

    They include Bernard Parker (South Africa), El Ouadi, Mouhssine Iajour and Abdessamad Rafik of Morocco, Kuda Mahachi (Zimbabwe) and Yahaya Mohammed (Ghana).

    The Enugu Rangers left winger, who was on the squad to the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, is also a goal away from equalling the four-goal tally of leading scorer Bernard Parker of South Africa.

    Tresor Mputu of DR Congo and Zouheir Dhaouadi from Tunisia won the CHAN MVP in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

  • Ejike Uzoenyi wins third MVP Award

    Ejike Uzoenyi wins third MVP Award

    Enugu Rangers’ winger, Ejike Uzoenyi was again rewarded for another sterling display when he emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) as the Super Eagles cruised to the semi-final of the ongoing African Nations Championship CHAN, courtesy of a 4-3 win over the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the quarter-final decided in Cape Town Saturday.

    The dimunitive star who had already won the MVP awards in group matches against Mozambique and Mali, grabbed the crucial goal that made it 3-3 on the stroke of full-time to help Nigeria complete one of the most fascinating comebacks in modern times to send the match into extra time.

    Uzoenyi did not only score the important equaliser that turned the game around in favour of the Eagles, he also provided the cross which Morocco goalkeeper and captain, Nadir Lamyaghri spilled for Aliyu Ibrahim of Nasarawa United to slot home the rebound to send the Eagles into the last four.

    “It was a tough game. I think we are getting better and better as the tournament progresses.

    “ I am so happy we are still in this competition but we still need to work harder because the semi-finals will not be easy. Thank God for the qualification,” an elated Uzoenyi said after Saturday’s game.

    The former Rennes of France player was in the Nigeria roster which won the African Nations Cup in South Africa last year, making an appearance in the semi-finals against Mali.

  • Uzoenyi eyes fresh Euro move

    Uzoenyi eyes fresh Euro move

    Ejike Uzoenyi has said he hopes to again move to Europe after his short-lived stint at French club Rennes last year.

    Uzoenyi was on a short six-month loan deal with Rennes, which was not extended after it ran out.

    “God knows why things went that way (with Rennes) but with the experience I got from the Rennes move, I am better now and I have learnt a lot,” said the Enugu Rangers left winger, who has attracted a lot of interests after he bagged two goals and two Man of the Match Awards at the competition thus far.

    “I know better offers would come, but right now I am concentrating on helping my country win the Africa Nations Championship.”

    He further revealed to MTNFootball.com that the cold weather in France adversely affected him at Rennes.

    “I don’t like talking about my move to Rennes, but sincerely many things did not go well, the cold was unbearable for me because I had never seen that kind of cold in my life before,” he revealed.

     

  • 2014 CHAN: Malaria stops Uzoenyi

    2014 CHAN: Malaria stops Uzoenyi

    Ejike Uzoenyi was the only player who did not train when Nigeria began their preparations for the 2014 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) because he had malaria.

    The Enugu Rangers winger, who had a brief stint at French club Rennes recently, was excused from training as a result of his illness.

    Meanwhile, assistant coach Daniel Amokachi, who took charge of Tuesday’s training session in the absence of Stephen Keshi, told the players that only the best will be selected for the tournament that starts from January 11 in South Africa, as there will be no sentiments in selection between the old and the new players in camp.

    Incidentally, new invitees and members of the Golden Eaglets team who won the U17 World Cup recently in the UAE, goalkeeper Sunday Alampasu and teammate Taiwo Awoniyi, were the first to arrive in camp on Monday, before skipper of the side, Chigozie Agbim, arrived.

    Agbim had been the first of all the players to arrive at previous training camps.

    Tuesday’s morning training was very tactical and spartan, as the coaches tried to assess the quality of players invited.

    It lasted a little over two hours and at the end of the session, Amokachi expressed joy at the players’ output.

  • Uzoenyi banks on Apam ‘for success’ at Rennes

    Uzoenyi banks on Apam ‘for success’ at Rennes

    Super Eagles winger, Ejike Uzoenyi, has said he hopes to make a success of his stint at Rennes with the help of compatriot Onyekachi Apam.

    “I am very happy to be here and I hope to do well,” MTNFootball.com quoted Uzoenyi as saying on Rennes official website.

    “Having Apam, this is an opportunity. I knew him before. He is a big player in Nigeria and this will facilitate my adaptation.

    “Stade Rennes club is very well structured. I feel I can grow here. I would first like to show what I can do and then why not win a trophy!”

    Courted by several Ligue 1 clubs including Marseille, the exciting 21-year-old left winger opted for the Brittany-based outfit.

    He has signed a six-month loan deal at the French Ligue 1 outfit with an option for a permanent move should he impress.

    It was the same arrangement that ex-Enugu Rangers defender Apam used to make his breakthrough in France first with OGC Nice.