The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Emenike

  • Emenike earns rave reviews

    Emenike earns rave reviews

    Emmanuel Emenike has won rave reviews for his performance and goal against Burkina Faso in Nigeria’s 1-1 drawn opening game at AFCON 2013.

    The burly Super Eagles forward, who played in South Africa’s First Division with FC Cape Town before moving to Europe, got the highest rating from fans on MTNFootball.com’s Rate the Player platform.

    The Spartak Moscow man got 29 likes and zero negative ratings. He was the only Nigerian on the night not to get any negative ratings. The closest player to Emenike was Mikel Obi who got 27 likes.

    Emenike was also at the top of another list recently. The story about ‘Emenike leads Eagles’ attack’ was this morning’s most popular story across the entire MTNFootball website.

    Errol Dicks, the chairman of FC Cape Town and the man who took Enmenike to trials in Turkey, said he is thrilled to see his progress.

    “You know, he phoned me before the game and said ‘Chairman, I am going to score today and kiss the badge’. Well, he did just that. I am so proud of him,” Dicks told MTNFootball from Cape Town.

    “We have walked a long road together and he is like a son to me. I remember when nobody wanted to look at Emmanuel. No teams at all. So to see how he has developed and where he is today is such a wonderful story.”

  • AFCON: Emenike leads Eagles’ attack against Burkina Faso

    AFCON: Emenike leads Eagles’ attack against Burkina Faso

    Russia-based striker Emmanuel Emenike is set to lead the Super Eagles charge for goals against Burkina Faso Monday night in Nelspruit, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Emenike is preferred to the prolific Ikechukwu Uche, who was the top scorer for Nigeria with three goals in the qualifying tournament for the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

    The Spartak Moscow centre forward has struggled to fire the goals in a green-and-white shirt since he made his long-awaited debut against Sierra Leone in Lagos in February 2011.

    However, Coach Stephen Keshi rates him very highly, even tipping him to match the exploits of the country’s most prolific international striker the late Rashidi Yekini.

    His power will stand him in good stead against the very physical Burkinabes.

    He is expected to profit from the quality wing play of Chelsea star Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa, while Mikel marshals a midfield that also includes Fegor Ogude and Nosa Igiebor.

    Vincent Enyeama will man the goal, while the defensive line up of Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, skipper Joseph Yobo and Godfrey Oboabona will strive to prevent the Burkinabes from hitting the Eagles’ net.

     

  • Barca must fall —Emenike

    Barca must fall —Emenike

    EMMANUEL EMENIKE has said home team Spartak Moscow must beat Barcelona on today to stay alive in the Champions League.

    Spartak are bottom of Group G with three points from four matches, but they could improve their chances of going past the group stage with a win over the Catalan giants Barcelona who they almost upset at Camp Nou in September before they lost 3-2.

    “Our game at home on Tuesday against Barcelona is a must-win game for us to boost our chances. I will do my best to get in the goals that will help us beat Barcelona,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com

    “We lost to them at Camp Nou narrowly. I am sure we can beat them.

    “The home loss to Celtic was a big setback for us, but that’s in the past and getting past Barca is my target.”

    He added: “Beating Celtic and Barcelona are the only remedies for us to be part of the next round. We can do it for the fact that Celtic beat Barca, we also can beat both of them.

    “We can’t be written off, this is football and anything can happen in our next two games. And we just need to stay positive and give our best.”

    Spartak final group game will be on December 5 away at second-placed Celtic, who shocked the top Russia club 3-2 in the reverse fixture early last month.

  • SHOCKER! Waist pain stops Emenike again

    SHOCKER! Waist pain stops Emenike again

    SPARTAK Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike is out of Tuesday’s Champions League tie at Benfica in Portugal as a result of recurring waist pain. The injury, which he sustained during the 2013 AFCON qualifier against Liberia in Calabar, also cost him to miss the first clash against the Portuguese team recently.

    The former Fenerbahce of Turkey forward who lasted for 46 minutes in his team’s 5-0 away win over Krylya Sovetov in a league game told MTNFootball.com that he was substituted due to waist pain and so will miss the Champions League clash in Portugal.

    “I started feeling the pains on my waist again in the course of the game. I started the game with confidence to finish the game, but as the game progressed, I began to feel the pain, which worsened and I could not take it any longer and I was replaced,” Emenike informed MTNFootball.com

    “As it is now, I will be going to Germany for a further check-up after which we will know what next.” Emenike added: “It is a pity I will miss our Champions League game against Benfica. My team are not happy with the situation because they need me, but that is football for you.”

    The Super Eagles striker also thanked coach Stephen Keshi for checking up on him over his injury. “Coach Stephen Keshi called me to know how I am doing and coping with the injury, even when some people wrote that I feigned it. I appreciate the coach for showing me love,” Emenike revealed.

  • ANZHI 2-1 SPARTAK MOSCOW Back pain stops Emenike

    ANZHI 2-1 SPARTAK MOSCOW Back pain stops Emenike

    SUPER EAGLES forward, Emmanuel Emenike, was missing in action for Spartak Moscow’s game with table toppers Anzhi Makhachkala on Saturday.

    According to the official website of the red and white, the Nigeria international forward suffered a back pain on his return from international duties with Nigeria. Thus, he did not travel with the 18 – man squad to the capital of Dagestan.

    Emenike, it would be recalled, has bagged in four goals in eleven appearances in the Russian topflight this term.

  • EMENIKE, AHMED MUSA STORM EAGLES CAMP TODAY

    EMENIKE, AHMED MUSA STORM EAGLES CAMP TODAY

    NIGERIA strikers Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa have confirmed their today’s arrival at Super Eagles camp ahead of this weekend’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in Calabar.

    CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa revealed he reached that decision with Emenike after scoring once to help his Russian club to a 2-0 derby victory over Emenike’s Spartak Moscow at the weekend.

    “After the game, I went to Emenike and we both agreed to reach camp on Tuesday (today). We hope to the part of the team’s Tuesday evening’s training session,” said Musa, whose birthday comes 24 hours after the October 13th crucial battle against Lone Star.

    “Liberia cannot stop us from playing at the Nations Cup finals in South Africa next year. We would do our best to win well. My birthday is October 14, celebration will start on October 13 and a victory will serve as a perfect birthday present,” he added.

    None of the invited foreign-based players had reached the team’s camp by Monday morning. But the seven local players who made the cut Monday departed Abuja for Calabar, where they will be joined by the 15 foreign counterparts.

    However, Super Eagles and Maccabi Tel Aviv first choice Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Real Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor, who scored in the first leg in Monrovia, were expected at the team’s Calabar camp on later on Monday.

    All invited 15 foreign-based players have been given today as deadline to report in camp by Stephen Keshi, who said he has not given any player permission to report a day later.

    Super Eagles rounded off preparations at Abuja with a stalemated 1-1 friendly with FC Abuja at the weekend. Apparently trying to avoid injury, the home-based Eagles team took the lead before FC Abuja restored parity.

    Speaking after the encounter, head coach of FC Abuja, Friday Christopher said Super Eagles should not be judged by the result of the match, explaining the Stephen Keshi’s charges tried to avert injury that could mar their performance against Liberia.

    Meanwhile, Liberia are expected to arrive the country on Wednesday from Ghana, where they have been training intensively for the duel.

     

  • SPARTAK MOSCOW 3-1 ROSTOV: Emenike hits brace

    Super Eagles forward and Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike was the toast of fans as he fired the side to an emphatic 3-1 home victory over visiting Rostov on Sunday

    The former Fernabahce ace left no one in doubt that he had overcome the recent 3-2 defeat to Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the Champions League when he shot Spartak into the lead in the 27th minute. Teammate and Brazilian import Ari Da Silva Ferreira increased the tally in the 64th minute. Emenike then returned with a bang in the 71st minute for the third goal before Rostov got a consolation goal in barely two minutes to the end of the encounter through Florent Sinama Pongolle.

    Spatark Moscow are currently on the 6th position in the 16-team Russia Premier League with 16 points in nine matches, five points away from league leaders CSKA moscow with 21 points in nine matches. Rostov’s defeat Sunday further compound the side’s woes on 12th position with nine points in nine matches.

    Emenike, who saw 90 minutes of action, enjoyed assists from teammates José Manuel and home boy Pavel Yakovlev respectively to achieve Sunday’s feat.

    Compatriot and former Super Eagles defender Isaac Okoronkwo, who recently returned from injury, was in full action for Rostov putting up a good show, but his effort could not prevent the side from defeat.

  • UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE fallout: We almost punished Barca, says Emenike

    Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike has said Barcelona came very close to paying a big price for underrating his Russian club.

    Spartak fell 3-2 to hosts Barcelona in a Champions League group game on Wednesday at the Camp Nou after they took a 2-1 lead late in the game.

    Emenike told MTNFootball.com that he was disappointed that they left Camp Nou empty-handed as it was his dream to beat Barcelona right in front of their home fans.

    “I said before the game that we would shock Barcelona, which we almost did. Let me say we lost the game because we were unlucky; we were not completely overrun by Barcelona as we made them know we were equal to the task,” he said.

    “We were determined to beat them and we almost did it. They are the best team in the world no doubt, they underrated us in the early minutes of the game and we punished them.”

    He continued: “I am not satisfied with the result because my dream was not fulfilled. It was a victory I wanted, but I was pleased with our confidence, self believe and composure on the pitch. I am very sure Barcelona will be beaten in the return leg but Celtic are our next opponent, that’s our target now.”

    On his cross that was turned in by Dani Alves for an own goal, Emenike was delighted with his contribution, but would have loved to have recorded a goal to his name.

    He said: “I was happy that I was involved somehow in that goal. I would have loved to have scored, but will do that in return leg.”

  • Emenike: We will shock Barcelona•

    Emenike: We will shock Barcelona•

    • Predictions favour Barca 87%

    uper Eagles ace and Spartak Moscow forward Emmanuel Emenike for the side ahead of today’s Champions league cracker against Spanish giants Barcelona

    Emenike, who was active upfront in the Super Eagles’ battle of Monrovia against the Lone Stars recently in an AFCON 2013 tie, has been tipped among players that will shine in today’s showdown at the Camp Nou.

    The curent form of the former Fenerbahce ace who moved to Spartak Moscow for 10million Euros in July 2011 has been a source of delight to the team’s coaching crew led by Unai Emery.

    Emenike, who replaced Artem Dzyuba against Kuban, scoring to help the team run away with a 2-2 draw away, looks good to get starting a shirt as Emery has declared his desire to achieve a good result playing away not withstanding, revealing that he will stick to his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Although Moscow are considered formidable, fans and readers who predicted possible scores ahead of the match gave Barca an 87% chance of wining by goal margins ranging from 4-0 to 8-0. Spartak Moscow, according to the prediction, have an 11.8% chance of winning while only 1.2% voted for a draw.