Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa and his Leicester teammates have been told to double effort if they are to return to winning ways in the EPL on one hand and come close to re-enacting the super performance the achieved last season on the other.
Coach of the side Claudio Ranieri who gave the charge sounded more like a medical doctor when he submitted that the only medicine available for the defending champions is to work harder and become a more compact team. He reminded the players that the time to fight against relegation is not at the tail end of the season but as early as possible.
“The relegation is very close to us and we have to react.
“I expected difficulties [this season], but not so strong. I expected some more points.
“That’s normal after a team like Leicester win the title. Now we have to be compact, continue to work hard, because there is only one medicine – work hard and be together,” he said
Leicester have only managed to garner 12 points in 12 matches and last recorded victory October 22nd thanks to a 3-1 defeat of Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium with the Nigerian international grabbing the first goal in the 42nd minute.
Ranieri will be hoping to sing victory song as his side hosts Club Brugge in Tuesday’s Champions League clash. Champions League tie away to København a fortnight ago ended goalless. The former Chelsea and Athletico Madrid coach will no doubt be praying for mother luck to shine on Musa and his teammates to give him something to cheer about.
Tag: EPL
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Champions League: *Ranieri banks on Musa against Brugge
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SUCCESS FIRES FIRST EPL GOAL
…as Moses shines for Chelsea
ISAAC Success scored his first goal in England on Saturday as he helped Watford rescue a point in the 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League.
The Nigeria striker who has yet to start a league game for the Hornets since his move from Spanish club, Granada CF was again overlooked from the get go with the Watford manager, Walter Mazzari electing to go with Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney as his preferred choices upfront.
Mazzari eventually withdrew Ighalo and threw Success into the fray just before the hour and the young Nigerian forward did not disappoint. He struck in the 65th minute, seven minutes after his introduction to tie the scores at 2-2 and eventually help his side claim a share of the spoils.
Success’ finish was down to pure predatory instincts and clever movement as he headed home Jose Holebas’ excellent delivery from a free kick.
It was only Success’s fourth league appearance of the season which has seen him rack up a measly 66 minutes under his belt.
The 20-year-old was only recently called up by Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr for this month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola.
Meanwhile, Victor Moses scooped the man of the match award in his first start for Chelsea in three years and he said afterwards he wanted more action with ‘The Blues’. I hope there will be more games for me to play in the future for Chelsea because they are a huge club, one of the best in the world,” said the Nigeria forward after Chelsea won 2-0 at Hull City.
The arrival of Italian manager Antonio Conte this season has given Victor Moses a new lease of life Stamford Bridge after he has been shipped out on loan to Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United in the last three seasons.
The Nigeria star also said the win at Hull City was very satisfying for all those involved with Chelsea: “We are delighted with the three points, the club as well as the fans. We are pleased,” he said.
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Swansea are Iheanacho’s favourite EPL opponents
Swansea City are Kelechi Iheanacho’s favourite opponents in the English Premier League, ahead of their meeting with Manchester City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Last weekend, the Nigeria international notched his 10th goal since his debut in the English top-flight when he hit target in the 25th minute against Bournemouth.
Iheanacho has managed to find the back of the net against seven Premier League teams : Bournemouth, Manchester United, Swansea City, Southampton, Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
The attacker claimed two goals each against Stoke City (April 23) and Southampton (May 1), and was on target at the Etihad and Liberty Stadium against Swansea City last season.
Teams in England and Europe have conceded 17 goals from the Nigerian wonderkid in competitive fixtures alone.
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EPL, La liga fans to get authentic jerseys in Lagos – adidas
- 2016/2017 adidas Original EPL, La Liga Jerseys in Stores for Nigerian Fans
Europe’s largest sportswear manufacturer, adidas has disclosed its intentions to present a unique experience for its Lagos based fans by hosting its inaugural Fan day.
According to the German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures sports shoes, clothing and accessories in a statement, it will be an opportunity for football fans of the world’s leading clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea FC and Real Madrid to purchase authentic home and away jerseys for the 2016/2017 season.
The statement reads: “Following the launch of the new kit in July 2016, there has been widespread anticipation on the arrival of the authentic products to Nigeria, where these international football giants enjoy massive support from fans in their millions.
“Focusing on the need to ensure that Nigerian supporters of these clubs, and fans of the brand enjoy the latest season’s kit, adidas recently shipped in its latest stock to meet the growing demand for the product in Nigeria.
“In addition to the football jerseys, some of the latest adidas products available in Nigeria include PureBOOST X running shoes for women, UltraBOOST in new color ways for women, Superstar Originals footwear and adidas Stan Smith footwear, to name a few.”
The German company further noted that the limited 2016/17 season football jerseys are available in various sizes only at adidas franchise stores at Lekki 12E Admiralty way, Lekki Phase 1, and Ikeja City Mall in Lagos.
Commenting on this development, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mopheth Sports and adidas retail partner in Nigeria, Kunle Oyegade said: “Fan day is a great opportunity for Nigerian superfans of the game to secure their authentic football jerseys, at the beginning of the season. We are excited to offer the fan what they want, be it football or the latest style product.”
“Fans of Manchester United, Chelsea FC and Real Madrid will get exclusive invites for a one-time opportunity to shop limited home and away kits of their favorite at designated adidas stores from Saturday, September 3, 2016. Fans will also go home with special gifts on purchase made. To get invite, interested fans are to Register Here
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EPL, British Council back Headmasters’ Cup Football Tourney
As a way of developing football at the grassroots, the English Premier League (EPL) and the British Council have thrown their weight behind the Headmasters’ Cup football Tournament, which will begin on Friday.
The tournament, which is organised by 3WM Sports Consulting International Limited in conjunction with Youth Sports Initiative and Simbrex Consult, Canada Ltd; will have private schools within Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and environs taking part.
According to the organisers, the tournament, the first of its kind in Nigeria, is aimed at developing the primary and junior secondary schools’ sports from the grassroots, providing opportunities for the youths to discover and direct their talent towards the development of sports in our Nation as well as make them useful to themselves and to the society.
The tournament is also aimed at discovering talented players at a young age, training and monitoring them until they become stars, while outstanding athletes of the tournament will get free scholarships to study and further their career abroad.
Highlighting the benefits of the competition to Lagos State, the organizers noted that talents, which were hitherto hidden, would be discovered, while the outstanding ones will be trained to become stars.
Also, the competition is aimed at promoting gender equality in sports, while it will also be a veritable ground for the recruitment of athletes for the National Sports Festival (NSF) by Lagos State as well as opportunity to further market Lagos to international investors.
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EPL Award: Mikel battles Jordan Ayew
Aston Villa’s summer signing, Ghanaian Jordan Ayew, Chelsea’s Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi and Senegalese star Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham are the final three in the shortlist for the African Player in the English Premier League of January.
The statement signed by awards director, Tunde Adelakun explained that the month showed signs of a long and hard season for the Premier League players so far with players like Odion Ighalo and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez still proving doubters wrong as they continued sparkling form.
But, according to Adelakun, this month is ‘a tribute to the Africans who are making their own contribution in their own way, in their clubs’ trying times’.
Apart from Kouyate, whose West Ham are certainly riding high, getting impressive results against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, and an impressive away win at Bournemouth, the other two nominees are having a season to forget in their respective clubs.
Chelsea, champions of England only last season, are not having the best of times. But, as Adelakun pointed out, ‘things have taken a turn for the champions, unbeaten in eight games since the departure of former manager Mourinho, but more importantly, a restore to starting 11 duties for Nigerian John Obi Mikel.
“Mikel has put an air of settlement in the Chelsea midfield and we thought we should recognise his input by shortlisting him for January’s award”.
The same can be said of Ghanaian Jordan Ayew, who is having a torrid season with Aston Villa, seemingly unable to pick points to take them off the bottom of the table.
However, Ayew has been playing really well, showing signs of why he was highly rated and picked up by Villa in the summer.
In the statement, Adelakun was quoted as saying “the quality of Ayew’s skill, ability and work rate belies the position his team is on the table, but that is football”, he said.
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Ighalo wins EPL December award
Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has been named the English Premier League player for December after he scored five goals for Watford during the period.
His manager at Watford, Quique Sanchez Flores, was also voted the top manager for the month, africanFootball.com reports.
Ighalo scored in a 2-0 win over Norwich City. He was the match winner at Sunderland, before he netted a brace in a big win over Liverpool at Vicarage Road.
His goal against Chelsea was chalked off by the Dubious Goal committee, but he returned to score against Tottenham Hotspur on December 28.
Nigerian-born England international, Dele Alli, Mezut Ozil (Arsenal), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) and Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) were also nominated for the award.
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Tottenham crush Man City at White Heart Lane
Tottenham Hotspurs crushed Manchester City 4-1 in one of the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Although Mauricio Pochettino’s men benefitted from some questionable decisions by match officials, they were deserved winners on Saturday.
Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring for City midway through the first half and there were suggestions that he was marginally in front of the last Spurs defender when Yaya Toure played him through, Goal reports.
Eric Dier pulled the hosts level in first half added time, although Kyle Walker was clearly in offside position before firing the cross that led to the equalizer.
Toby Alderweireld shot Tottenham ahead with a header from a looped free kick, before Harry Kane opened his goalscoring account for the season – although replays suggested he was also in offside position when he connected Christian Eriksen’s free kick which hit the crossbar and fell into his path.
Eric Lamela scored Tottenham’s fourth goal in the 79th minute to complete a torrid afternoon for the favourites.
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Chelsea defeat Arsenal at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea returned to winning ways in the English Premier League by defeating nine-man Arsenal 2-0 in a feisty encounter at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Blues rarely troubled the Gunners during a tame opening first half but the game was sparked into life just before the break when Gabriel saw red for allegedly kicking out at Diego Costa, Goal reports.
Kurt Zouma broke the deadlock eight minutes after the interval with a header from a Cesc Fabregas freekick and, after Santi Cazorla picked up his second booking of the afternoon, Eden Hazard’s deflected strike put an added gloss on Chelsea’s first home win of the season.
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Winning consumers via EPL
PZ is to take consumers to watch live matches in England, in partnership with Manchester City through a new promo, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.
As Nigerian football followers continue to show growing emotion for English Premiership League (EPL), more brands have continued to sort for partnership with EPL clubs to engage Nigerian consumers.
Brands such as Heineken, Guinness, Chivita, among others have launched various promos and partnership with English premiership clubs with promises to take winners to England to watch lives matches.While growing fan base of EPL clubs in Nigeria has become a point of engagement with consumers, more brands now design various promos to tap into sales enhancing bond to grow market share and increase share of voice.
Clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona have found one brand or the other in Nigeria signing a partnership deal with them to kick-start consumer promo. On the other hand, many consumers, who have won promo from such deals, have been given all expense paid trips to watch some of the live matches in Europe.
In a latest effort, PZ Cussons has sealed a three-year partnership deal with Manchester City Football Club to kickstart a promo and as a result four journalists have won free ticket to watch live matches in London at the unveiling of the promo in Lagos last weekend.While the deal is beneficial to the club, the brand and consumers, PZ will drive the partnership deal through three of its leading brands – Premier, Olympic and Robb.
As a result, PZ Cussons’ customers will by this partnership be given the opportunity to win a number of the exclusive VIP match day experiences at the Etihad Stadium and opportunities to meet the players and watch private training sessions.The Group Category & Brand Director, PZ Cussons Plc, Mr. Tim Perman noted that the company’s commitment to Africa goes beyond the provision of quality products, but also has a focus at bringing real consumer value through relevant content and services by igniting exceptional experiences to consumers.
He noted: “As a critical part of this strategy, we are pleased to be working closely with Manchester City Football Club in Nigeria to deliver on our consumer promise. There is a great fit between our brands in terms of heritage, values and a desire to win. We look forward to delighting our consumers with unique experiences from brands that they trust and a sport that they love,”
Perman also hinted that: “The region’s growing Manchester City football club’s fan base will be propositioned with a number of experiences and prizes to get them closer to the club. VIP tickets and meet-and-greets will be made available to competition entrants in the coming months.”
The Commercial Director of Manchester City Football Marketing, Omar Berrada, who brokered Manchester City’s commercial partnerships, said Nigeria, and Africa more broadly, are extremely important markets where its fan base is continuing to grow. “We will continue to build a strong relationship with PZ Cussons and are looking forward to providing fantastic experiences for their customers and our fans.”