The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Emenike

  • Emenike, Haruna battling to be fit

    Emenike, Haruna battling to be fit

    Two out of the 18 foreign based players that were invited by coach Sunday Oliseh ahead of next month to the AFCON 2017 qualifiers, Emmanuel Emenike and Lukman Haruna are in a race to be fit for the game against Tanzania.

    Although Anzhi Makhachkala Lukman Haruna claimed the thigh injury that lead to his substitution in his team 3- 2 loss to Dinamo Moscow, in the Premier League on August 8 isn’t as bad as initially feared and he is already back in training, but reports coming out of Russia suggest he might spend a week or two on the sidelines, if the fitness test before this weekend game proved otherwise.

    On his part Emmanuel Emenike who scored twice for Al-Ain in last week’s UAE Super Cup 4-2 victory over Al-Nasr, pulled a muscle in training that has now made him a doubt for his loan side opening game of the league.

    Emenike has had a long battle with his muscle in his past seasons in Turkey with Fenerbache, although this time around initial reports indicate he might be out for five or six days although no test have been done yet.

    Both players are expected to be in the Nigeria camp four days before the September 8 game against Tanzania in Dar Es Salam.

  • Emenike brace gives Al Ain Super Cup

    Emenike brace gives Al Ain Super Cup

    EMMANUEL Emenike scored twice as Al Ain beat Al Nasr 4-2 to win this year’s UAE Super Cup.

    Nigeria striker Emenike, who is on loan from Turkish club Fenerbache, was on target in the fourth minute for the opening goal and he completed his brace in the 72nd minute.

    Al Nasr drew level in the 50th minute through Jamal Ibrahim Moroof and scored a late goal in stoppage time to put some respectability in the scoreline.

    Last week, Emenike helped his team clinch another trophy in Morocco.

    It is now left to be seen if new Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh will pick Emenike for next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania.

    The Nigeria International joined the United Arab Emirate side on loan from his Turkish side, Fenerbahce.

  • Emenike wins first trophy with Al Ain

    Emenike wins first trophy with Al Ain

    Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike has won his first trophy with his United Arab Emirates club Al Ain.

    The Fenerbahce of Turkey forward, who is on a year loan deal at Al Ain, was on parade as they won the Champions Trophy by defeating Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 5-4 on penalty on Saturday after the game ended 3-3 in regulation time.

    Emenike scored one of the penalties for Al Ain.

    It is a competition played between UAE league winners and Morocco champions.

    A delaying Nouseer gave Wydad Casablanca the lead in the fifth minute, before Omar Abdulrahman equalised for Al Ain 10 minutes later.

    Farlbrice Ondama restored the hosts’ lead in the 22nd minute, before Lee Myung-Joo levelled for Al Ain three minutes to end of the first half.

    Al Ain then led for the first time when Amine Attouchi scored in the 56th minute, but Salaheddine equalised 3-3 to drag the game to penalties.

  • AGALI REVEALS: Don’t drop Emenike

    AGALI REVEALS: Don’t drop Emenike

    Ex-international Victor Agali says Emmanuel Emenike is still reliable, insisting he should not be thrown out of the senior national team.

    The 28-year-old forward was shipped to United Arab Emirates’ Pro League side Al-Ain on loan until the end of the season by Fenerbahçe.

    With new Eagles’ handler, Sunday Oliseh hoping to rebuild the national team to a formidable force again, the striker famous for his aerial prowess noted that the ex-Spartak Moscow man still has a lot to offer the national team despite barrage of criticisms that greeted his transfer to Al Zaeem.

    “He has made a move which is best to him, and if he still has the interest of playing for the Super Eagles, I think he should be given a chance because he has done tremendously well for [Nigeria] in the past,” Agali told Goal.

    “Aside from this, he is still within the age range and his football is still okay, so I don’t see any reason why he should be shut out of the senior national team despite his move to the Emirates.

    “Ghana for instance boasts of Asamoah Gyan who played at the Emirates for over two years and still an active member of the Black Stars.”

    However, he noted that the move would not help improve his game owing to the kind of teams he would be playing against.

     “Individually, we have our style and target,” he continued.

    “I don’t know what he is aiming at. In my playing days, my target was to build on my profile and to play regularly in a competitive league. Maybe he has chosen otherwise and I know that will definitely affect his football because he would not be playing against quality oppositions and that won’t improve his game,” he concluded.

    Emenike made 27 appearances with four goals for the Yellow Canaries last season but is now looking for more first-team experience with the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium lords.

  • Oliseh faces selection dilemma over Emenike

    Oliseh faces selection dilemma over Emenike

    Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh’s first major selection dilemma would be whether or not to invite striker Emmanuel Emenike for an African Nations Cup qualifier in Tanzania in September, africanFootball.com reports.

    Oliseh is a long-term admirer of Emenike, but the striker’s recent switch to the United Arab Emirate on loan from Fenerbache may now go contrary to his recent declaration that he will only pick players from credible leagues for his new Eagles.

    The report says Emenike is on Oliseh’s provisional list of foreign-based stars for the match against Tanzania.

    Oliseh was a pundit for pay television station SuperSport when Nigeria against all odds won a third AFCON crown in 2013 courtesy of Emenike’s goals.

    “Oliseh is a big fan of Emenike and has not wasted any time in picking the striker for the AFCON qualifier in Tanzania, but he will most certainly be grilled by the media if he goes ahead and invites the striker who will in the new season play in the UAE, which is not by any definition ‘a credible league,” a top source told africanFootball.com.

    However, another top official has already jumped in defence of the new Eagles coach, saying he will be on track to call up Emenike because his declaration excluded players who have already established themselves in the national team as well as players from the age-group teams.

    “Oliseh when he made his declaration of his yardsticks for selection, he also made a caveat to exclude players who have already established themselves in the Eagles as well as those who are in the various junior national teams.

    “That should cover a player like Emenike, who has done so much for Nigeria within a short time.”

    Oliseh will announce his list of foreign-based players for the Tanzania trip by the third week of August.

  • GYAN’S REPLACEMENT: I’m up to the task, says Emenike

    GYAN’S REPLACEMENT: I’m up to the task, says Emenike

    AFCON 2013 top scorer Emanuel Emenike has declared he is up to the challenge of replacing Ghana star Asamoah Gyan at Dubai club Al Ain.

    Gyan was a legend at Al Ain, scoring 95 goals in 81 matches and winning several major trophies with the Dubai club before his move to China. And Emenike has now said he hopes to do same while on a season-long loan from Turkish club Fenerbache.

    “I’m happy to be here and in a great club like this. I also like to be in a club that wins title and I’m here to win more trophies,” said the powerful Nigeria striker.

    “I have scored goals starting from when I was with Karabükspor and then Fenerbahçe. I have won trophies in Turkey, but last season wasn’t that great for me even though I made an impact as I got a lot of assists.”

    He praised Gyan’s achievements in Dubai.

    “Gyan is a very good player and I’m here to replace him and I hope I do well. He has achieved a lot in his career and so have I,” he said.

    “I have won the African Cup. It doesn’t worry me that I’m replacing Gyan as my plan is to work as a team-man and then do well as a player.” Emenike also said he was looking forward to play alongside Al Ain’s ace midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman.

    “To play with a player like Omar is great and I have seen a few of his videos. He is special and gave some good passes to Gyan. I think I will work well with him and I’m looking forward to training with him,” said the 28-year-old striker.

  • Al-Ain expects ‘positives’ from Emenike

    Al-Ain expects ‘positives’ from Emenike

    THE Arabian Gulf League champions Al-Ain have confessed that they have great expectation in their new acquisition Emmanuel Emenike who has been brought in as direct replacement for Asamoah Gyan’s who has sought to continue his career in China with Shanghai SIPG.

    Mohammed bin Bdoua, an Al Ain board member, said they believe Emenike will bring same quality on the table as the departing Ghana captain who spent four hugely successful seasons at Al Ain, helping the club win three Arabian Gulf League titles in four years.

    “The only thing I’m certain about is that Gyan’s alternative will be a great player who will have just as much quality. We’re always confident in whomever we choose. But for the foreign players to be successful it’s essential they have good local players to complement them. And Al Ain have a good quality of locals,” Bin Bdoua told The National.

    Emenike is on a season long loan move from Fenerbahce to the UAE where he will be hoping to rediscover himself after a torrid season in Istanbul.

  • Emenike on Olympiakos’ radar

    Emenike on Olympiakos’ radar

    Greek Super League side, Olympiakos, is interested in recruiting Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, from Fenerbahce in the new season, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    Representatives of the Greek champions held talks with Fenerbahce officials last weekend on the possibility of signing the ex-Spartak Moscow forward.

    Emenike has a valid agreement with Fenerbahce until June 30, 2017

  • Emenike may stay at Fernebache

    Emenike may stay at Fernebache

    Fenerbahçe attacker Emmanuel Emenike, 28, could stay put at the Istanbul club this coming season.

    The Nigeria international resumed pre – season training with the Yellow Canaries earlier this week but remains unsure of his future.

    Turkish sports daily Fanatik has reported that he has received concrete offers from teams based in United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia but a move to the Middle East does not appeal to him.

    Emenike’s dream is to play for a club in the English Premier League next season but no official approach has been made for the former Spartak Moscow striker from the Channel.

    The 2013 African Cup of Nations top scorer has netted 67 goals in the league alone since he moved to Europe from FC Cape Town six years ago.

  • Emenike set to light up Imo State with top stars

    Emenike set to light up Imo State with top stars

    …bury late dad on Friday

    SuperEagles striker Emmanuel Emenike will test his popularity come this friday as his late father will be buried in his multi million apartment at Umuaka Amakor in Imo State on Friday 19th June, 2015, according to statement released by his elder brother Ebuka Emenike.

    The 28-year-old striker is a man of everybody, not only in soccer industry but among Nigeria hip-hop stars as well as Nollywood stars. Imo State will experience a busy day on Friday while tight security has been produced by the state government for the former Spartak Moscow ace.

    Late Felix Ndukwu Emenike died on 27th May, 2015 after a brief illness. All arrangement has been made to give him a befitting funeral burial.

    Expected are former Super Eagles stars like Austin Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Joseph Yobo, popular Nigeria hip hop star KCee, Samuel Eto’o is most likely expected at the event.