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Tag: Emenike

  • Emenike pledges N8m to Eagles

    Emenike pledges N8m to Eagles

    Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike has promised a $50,000 (about 8million Naira) reward to the Super Eagles if they qualify to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    Nigeria leads a qualifying group for Brazil 2014 which includes Malawi, Kenya and Namibia with five points from three matches.

    Emenike, who is out of next month’s World Cup qualifiers in Kenya and Namibia due to a recent knee injury, said he had been a Super Eagles’ fan long before he debuted for Nigeria in 2011 against Sierra Leone in Lagos.

    “I promise the whole team $50,000 if they qualify for the World Cup in Brazil,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com.

    “Like I said before that we have a team that can make this country proud, and I am doing this from the bottom of my heart just to motivate the team. I am not doing this to intimidate anybody but just to show my total support to the team because I grew up supporting the Super Eagles.”

    He added: “I am really behind the team. I don’t want them to miss me because there are other players who can get them the goals.

    “Before I decided to play for Nigeria, even before I dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, which I am today by God’s grace, I have been a passionate fan of the Super Eagles.

    “I could remember when I used to watch the team way back at the 1994 Nations Cup and World Cup, and I am speaking today as a Super Eagles’ player, it is a great honour, so the team means a lot to me and that is why I deem it fit to support the team in my little way.

    “I never knew I would play for Nigeria. This is a reward for what I have done in Europe and it is time I supported my country even more.”

    The big striker is following the path set by the likes of his friend Samuel Eto’o, George Weah and Mohammed Kallon, who have personally financed their various national teams.

    Emenike, who is recuperating from injury after a successful operation in Italy, will be 26 on Friday, and he thanked God for keeping him and also expressed his gratitude to his parents for supporting his career choice.

    “I thank God that I am adding another year. I live today by the grace of God, I am nothing without Him,” Emenike said.

    “When I look back at the beginning of my journey way back in Nigeria, I discover that I have every reason to be grateful to God because he has been wonderful in my life. I count myself lucky to be where I am today.

    “I must also give kudos to my parents who brought me to this world; they are great parents for life. I thank them for giving me all the necessary backing in my career.”

  • Emenike backs Eagles for glory

    Emenike backs Eagles for glory

    Emmanuel Emenike has said Nigeria will shine at next month’s FIFA Confederations Cup as well as 2014 World Cup qualifiers even without him.

    Emenike has been ruled out of a hectic summer schedule that will see the Eagles play two 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Kenya and Malawi as well as feature in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    The Spartak Moscow striker has not played for Nigeria since he suffered a hamstring injury in the semi-final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations against Mali. He has now suffered a knee injury which will keep him out for at least six weeks.

    “I have missed Eagles and I will miss the team the more with this latest injury, but I believe nothing good comes easy, I believe in the team, there are lots of good players who can really do the job and make me and the country proud in Brazil 2013 Confederation Cup and Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifiers,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com.

    “But I don’t think they will miss me because of the talent in the team. They are very much capable to put smiles on our faces as Nigerians. Above all, I will be their number one fan in the games I am going to miss while recuperating.”

    When asked who he would tip to deliver the goals in his absence, the Spartak Moscow striker said any of the players could get the goals for the Eagles.

    “Anybody can get the goals for the team, (Nnamdi) Oduamadi did it against Kenya in Calabar. Super Eagles is a big team where every players can deliver than tipping any particular player for glory, but with my experience in the team, everybody is capable of lifting the team,” Emenike concluded.

  • EMENIKE’S REPLACEMENT: Keshi picks Akpala

    EMENIKE’S REPLACEMENT: Keshi picks Akpala

    Werder Bremen of Germany forward, Joseph Akpala has been picked to replace Super Eagles top striker Emmanuel Emenike who is recovering from a knee surgery.

    Interestingly, the former Brugges of Belgium player who is making his return to the national team after being shut out since 2010 got the nod ahead of Michael Eneramo.

    SportingLife gathered from an impeccable source that Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi has considered the player as the perfect choice even though statistics this season does not favour him unlike Eneramo. Eneramo has more goals to his credit.

    Just last month, precisely April 22, Akpala returned to training for Bremen after suffering a knee ligament tear in March.

    Following the statistics, Akpala has made only 19 appearances for Bremen this season and has scored just once. He has also scored twice for Nigeria after making his debut for the senior team on September 6, 2008 against South Africa.

    His first goal for Nigeria was against France which Nigeria won 0-1 in Saint Etienne.

    Nigeria has a busy schedule in June which begins with the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Kenya and ending with the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    “Yes it may come as a surprise to those who have been monitoring the performances of the players this season, but something that we must understand is that the coach looks at other qualities beyond the player’s ability to score,” our source stated.

    In the case of Eneramo who plays for Turkish club, Sivasspor and has made 77 appearances scoring 29 goals since joining in 2011, his last appearance for Eagles was under Austin Eguavoen on October 10, 2010 against Guinea. He has scored only once.

  • EMENIKE RETURNS TO MOSCOW

    EMENIKE RETURNS TO MOSCOW

    •Begins rehabilitation course 

    SUPER EAGLES ace, Emmanuel Emenike last weekend returned to Moscow after he had gone on doctors knives in Italy.

    The Spartak Moscow striker, two weeks ago, injured his meniscus on his knee after he collided with Anji Makhachkala’s on rushing goalkeeper.

    Emenike who is expected to be out for four to six weeks, on Monday, arrived in Tarasovku where he’s to begin his rehabilitation and also carry out various physiotherapeutic procedures under close supervision from Spartak Moscow’s medical staff.

    Emenike, who finished as joint top scorer at February’s African Nations Cup, won by Nigeria, will miss his country’s World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia next month.

    Nigeria and Malawi top Africa’s Group F with five points each from three matches.

    Emenike, who turns 26 next week, will also miss the end of the Russian league season, with just four matches remaining.

  • Eto’o, Joel Obi’s visits lift Emenike

    Eto’o, Joel Obi’s visits lift Emenike

    INJURED Emmanuel Emenike has told MTNFootball.com he has been lifted by the visits of Africa superstar Samuel Eto’o and compatriot Joel Obi.

    AFCON Goal King Emenike, who underwent operation on his knee in Italy, will be sidelined for several weeks just after he has recovered from a long-term hamstring injury.

    “Eto’o is my very good friend, we relate well on and off the pitch and he is one of the stars I look up to while aiming to be at the top of the world. He came to visit me in my house in Russia, when I got injured against his team Anzhi,” Emenike revealed. “He spent a lot of time with me, telling me how I can get over the injury with the good games I have played in the past. I call him ‘Baba Eto’o’ because he is a player I respect a lot.

    “He wished me quick recovery. This really lifted my soul.”

    Emenike also informed MTNFootball.com that fellow Eagles star Joel Obi, who is also sidelined by injury, was on hand to receive him in Italy, where he went for the surgery, and was with him at the hospital as well as his hotel.

    “Joel (Obi) is a brother, he was on hand to receive me when I arrived in Italy. For my surgery, he was with me at the hospital and came to my hotel with his friend Benny to show me some love and wish me quick recovery,” he reported.

    “It means a lot to me when you see people caring about you and your career. I am so happy because such things will also motivate you to do more for your country and also shows how people love you and what you are doing.

    “I really missed Joel at the Nations Cup because of his injury, but I believe he will be back the national team soon because he’s a strong and technically gifted player. You can count on his strength anytime.”

  • SPARTAK MOSCOW INJURY EMENIKE RULED OUT OF THE SEASON

    SPARTAK MOSCOW INJURY EMENIKE RULED OUT OF THE SEASON

    •Eagles star to miss FIFA World/Cup qualifiers/Confederations Cup
    •To undergo surgery; faces two to three months out

     

    SUPER EAGLES and FC Spartak Moscow forward, Emmanuel Emenike has been ruled out of the season by club medics following the injury he sustained in Sunday’s Russian Premier League fixture against Anzhi.

    Reports coming out of Moscow on Monday revealed that the Nigerian international suffered internal meniscus and ligament partial damage to

    The inner side of the knee joint which according to medical experts, requires arthroscopic surgery to correct.

    Speaking on the incident, FC Spartak Moscow doctor Mikhail Vartapetov noted he cannot say the number of days Emenike will be ruled out of action.

    “I cannot say yet…we need more-accurate diagnosis. According to preliminary tapetov added, even as he was quick to add that he cannot blame the synthetic surfaces of the match venue.

    estimates, the striker, will miss the remainder of the season,” Vartapetov added, even as he was quick to add that he cannot blame the synthetic surfaces of the match venue.

    “It was purely an accident,” he added.

    With the latest injury, Emenike might not be fit enough to make Stephen Keshi’s final squad for June’s 2014 World Cup qualifying matches and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. Interestingly, Vartapetova, further disclosed that Emenike will have arthroscopic surgery in the next days which is a procedure in which the inside of the joint can be evaluated and treated using surgical instruments placed into the joint through small incisions (portals) measuring one centimeter or less (less than half an inch).

  • HAMSTRING INJURY UPDATE EMENIKE OUT OF MOSCOW DERBY

    HAMSTRING INJURY UPDATE EMENIKE OUT OF MOSCOW DERBY

    To follow game from the stands 

    SPARTAK MOSCOW’S Emmanuel Emenike will miss the eagerly anticipated Russian Premier League match against bitter rivals CSKA Moscow today the Nigeria international has told the official YouTube channel of the red and white.

    The 25-year-old striker has just resumed training with the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up at the African Cup of Nations back in February.

    ”Last week and this week, I trained very hard. I believe next week I will join the team.

    ”I will watch the derby from the stands and it is very sad because I like playing in big games like the derby against CSKA Moscow. Unfortunately, nothing can be done.

    ”Without a doubt, the game will be very interesting. I think that we are able to beat CSKA Moscow,” Emenike said.

    The derby between CSKA Moscow and Spartak at Metropolitan Arena, Luzhniki will be witnessed by more than 60,000 spectators.

  • Emenike fit for action again

    Emenike fit for action again

    REPORTS from Russia indicate that Spartak Moscow and Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has fully recovered from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for close to two months and now raring for action.

    A close associate of the Africa Cup of Nations top scorer said he was told by Emenike that he is fit and now ready for action.

    “Emenike is fit again; he told me ‘I’m back’”, the source simply offered.

    Emenike has been missing in action since cupping a hamstring injury during the Super Eagles semi final clash with the Eagles of Mali at the recently held AFCON in South Africa.

    The Spartak Moscow striker however felt down after claiming he was left in the lurch by the national team handlers in his trying times.

    Spartak Moscow will host Amkar Perm today in the next round of fixtures in the Russian Premier League it is left to see if Emenike will be handed some playing time.

  • Emenike trains with mates

    Emenike trains with mates

    According to the official website of Spartak Moscow, Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike is gradually recovering from the thigh injury he picked up at the African Cup of Nations semi – final clash against Mali.

    On Tuesday, the red and white started preparing for the 23rd round of matches in the Russian Premier League, which is an away tie against Isaac Okoronkwo’s Rostov.

    Emmanuel Emenike had a workout with his teammates and afterwards had an individual session with the fitness coach.

    If the attacker’s rehabilitation goes according to plan, he could be back on the pitch as early as next weekend against Amkar Perm. The 25 – year – old Super Eagle has scored 5 goals in 15 appearances in the RPL.

  • Emenike eyes quick return

    Emenike eyes quick return

    • EA SPORTS honours AFCON star 

    Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has been honoured by sports video games giants, EA Sports.

    The Spartak Moscow ace, who is recuperating after suffering a thigh injury in the AFCON 2013 semi-final 4-1 victory over Mali, was on Tuesday presented with the special award.

    The award had inscription of his overview on the EA Sports video game.

    Meanwhile, Emenike also spoke on youtube, a video social media site on his injury status.

    “I have not started training with the team as I have been having an individual training in the gym.

    “So far so good, there has been progress as I look forward to kicking the ball soon.”

    The Nigerian further said his Moscow team has quality players that help book a UEFA Champions League spot come next season.

    “I did watch the two games the team has played since the kick-off of the second phase of the season. The first we started well, while in the second which was a city derby, I expected a win but at the end the team drew. That’s football for you, Locomotiv is a big team too so I was not surprised.

    “Important games are yet to come as we still have to play other teams and so we now must begin to gather points.

    “So, if we play like we did last season, we can make it to the Champions League. I believe the team can do it as we have a lot of good players.”