The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Europa League

  • Pogba battle brother in Europa clash

    Pogba battle brother in Europa clash

     

    This week looks set to be one which could split the Pogba family down the middle, as brother prepares to battle brother on the football pitch.

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is preparing to take on his brother Florentin, who plays for French side Saint-Etienne, in the Europa League on Thursday.

    Perhaps knowing how divisive the game could be, the world’s most expensive player has displayed a show of family unity in a social media video with his mum, Yeo.

    Pogba is known for coming up with a series of elaborate handshakes as celebrations, choreographing them along with United team mates such as Jesse Lingard, Eric Bailly and Antonio Valencia.

    However this video is the first one he has devised with a member of his family, captioned ‘When Ma’s in town’.

    The experienced handshaker has come up with a simple, entry-level version for his mum – after some limbering up and finger waggling, they go in for an upward handshake, with the momentum seeing both Paul and Yeo ending up with fingers and arms pointed skywards.

    There are unlikely to be any handshakes between Pogbas on Thursday however, except for the pre- and post-match courtesies between Paul and Florentin.

    The Pogbas will be the first siblings to face each other at Old Trafford since Rio and Anton Ferdinand met in 2012.

    Florentin 26 , the older sibling by three years – plays at centre or left back for the Ligue 1 side, who are enjoying a strong season and currently sit fifth in the table.

    He has been able to enjoy his football under much less pressure than Paul, who moved in a £89million transfer from Juventus to Old Trafford last summer, returning for a second spell in Manchester.

  • AZ keep their Europa League hopes alive with draw in Israel

    AZ Alkmaar have kept their chances of Europa League progression alive after a 0-0 draw in Israel over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

    az-jjjJohn van den Brom’s side headed into the game bottom of the group and desperately needing to avoid a second straight defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv if they were to have any chance of reaching the next round.

    The home side started brightly but AZ’s defence held firm and on 26 minutes they got a good chance to take the lead but Ben Rienstra shot wide after being picked out by Illias Bel Hassani.

    In the second half, Robert Muhren and Dabney Dos Santos came off the bench and both had great chances to open the scoring but Maccabi tel Aviv goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic denied the attackers. At the other end a defensive error nearly gifted Maccabi Tel Aviv a goal with Sergio Rochet misjudging Wout Weghorst’s pass, but the home side couldn’t benefit.

    The draw moves AZ onto two points, but they are still in contention to overtake both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dundalk, who lost in Russia against Zenit st Petersburg, who have been confirmed as group winners.

  • Akpala set for second spell at Karabukspor

    Akpala set for second spell at Karabukspor

    German Bundesliga side, Werder Bremen have told Nigerian striker, Joseph Akpala that he has no future at the club, despite still under contract for the next two seasons. The Nigeria international arrived the Bundesliga side in the summer of 2012 from Club Brugge, but failed to replicate his performance in the Jupiler League during his debut season.

    Growing impatient, the leadership of the Green – Whites farmed him out on loan to Karabukspor just before the close of the Turkish transfer window last summer.

    However, the Europa League campaigners parted company with the ex Bendel Insurance ace less than five months into his season – long loan deal after he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon against Sivasspor late December.

    According to press reports in Turkey and Germany, Joseph Akpala will be announced as a player of Karabükspor in the next few days.

    Before injury ruled him out for the rest of the season, the Nigerian impressed the coaching staff of Karabukspor, scoring 4 goals in 11 matches.

  • Europa League: Kehinde Fatai in, Chima Chukwu out

    Europa League: Kehinde Fatai in, Chima Chukwu out

    It was contrasting fortunes for Nigeria’s Kehinde Fatai and Daniel Chima Chukwu in the UEFA Europa League last night.

    Former Nigeria youth international Kehinde Fatai was on parade for his Romanian club Astra Giurgiu, who progressed to the next stage of the second-tier club competition after they beat Liberec 3-1 away in the second leg.

    Astra Giurgiu thus go through on a 6-2 aggregate.

    The Jos-born striker scored a hat-trick in the first leg last week. He saw 78 minutes of action in the second leg when he was replaced by Sadat Bukari.

    In Norway, Daniel Chima Chukwu could not rescue Molde from crashing out of the competition yesterday night as they lost 2-1 at home to Ukrainian side Zorya.

    Chima was on from start to finish, but could not find the goals needed to scale through as they were sent packing 3-2 on aggregate.

    The Nigerian forward scored the lone goal that earned them a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Ukraine last week.

  • Hull eye Omeruo for Europa League

    Hull eye Omeruo for Europa League

    English Premier League side, Hull City are interested in signing Kenneth Omeruo as they expand their squad ahead of participation in the Europa League.

    A report by hulldailymail.co.uk wrote the following about the club’s interest in Oneruo: Kenneth Omeruo may be an unfamiliar name to many but his stock is slowly but surely rising, both on the club and international front.

    At just 20 years old, Omeruo was one of the stars of Nigeria’s World Cup campaign and he has gained plaudits for his strong performances.

    The Chelsea youngster, whose preferred position is centre back, played every minute of the Super Eagles’ four games at the tournament.

    “His partnership with the now-retired Joseph Yobo proved to have the perfect blend of youthfulness and experience. With those two at the heart of the defence, Nigeria didn’t concede in their first two matches.

    Omeruo would definitely be a handy addition to a squad that will surely be rotated next season, particularly if City progress to the group stages of the Europa League.

    Despite this interest though, Omeruo is expected to return to Middlesbrough, as arrangements have been concluded to that effect.

  • Europa League: Mikel hails Chelsea triumph

    Europa League: Mikel hails Chelsea triumph

    Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi,said  he is excited to win Europa League title and make history with Chelsea.

    Mikel, who was an unused substitute in Wednesday night’s final, said it was a wonderful way to end the season, while also dreaming of more titles next season.

    “I am very happy to have lifted the Europa League title, it was a wonderful way to end the season,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com

    “Though I would have loved to play in the final, what mattered the most was the victory and those who played did well.

    “This is another history here, I am savouring this moment.”

    Fernando Torres opened scoring in the 60th minute before Oscar Cardozo equalised few minutes later.

    Branislav Ivanovic’s superb header in stoppage time secured victory for “The Blues.”

     

  • Chelsea wins Europa Cup

    Chelsea wins Europa Cup

    Chelsea on Wednesday defeated Benfica 2-1 to win the 2013 Europa League Cup.

    In a dramatic finish to a thrilling final played at the Amsterdam Arena in Holland, Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic scored the decisive goal in the 93rd minute. Ivanovic’s header from a corner kick left the Benfica goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

    Fernando Torres put Chelsea in front with a cool finish in the 56th minute while Oscar Cardoso drew the Portuguese side level from the spot in the 62nd minute.

    The Paraguayan forward also forced an acrobatic save from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, before Ivanovic’s late winner for the English men.

    Chelsea with this victory became the fourth team after Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam and Juventus to lift the three European trophies – Champions League, Winners Cup and the Europa Cup.

    The Blues had lifted the now rested European Cup Winners Cup twice and last season won the European Champions League after beating Bayern Munich on penalties in the final played at the Alianz Arena in Munich.

     

  • Mikel fit for Europa League final

    Mikel fit for Europa League final

     

    Mikel Obi said he has regained full fitness from hip injury ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final.

    Last season’s UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea face Portuguese giants Benfica on Wednesday night in this season’s Europa League final at the Amsterdam Arena.

    “It is not always good feeling when one is out of action but I am good now. I returned to full training on Friday,” Mikel informed MTNFootball.com

    “I am set for Europa league final and I am looking forward to it as well as the last game of the season.”

    Mikel last featured for Chelsea in a 2-0 win over Swansea on April 28.

    Meanwhile, Victor Moses passed a late fitness test to start for Chelsea in the all-important clash with Aston Villa on Saturday, which ended 2-1 at Villa Park in favour of Chelsea courtesy of a Frank Lampard brace.

    Moses had picked up a knock in a 2-2 draw at home with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

     

  • Mikel, Moses return for Europa League

    Mikel, Moses return for Europa League

    Super Eagles duo of John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses will on Thursday return to the Europa League stage for Chelsea in the round of 32 second leg encounter against Czech Republic side, Sparta Prague.

    Futaa.com reports that both players were left out of the squad that executed the first leg encounter away from home having just returned from a victorious outing at the 2013 African Nations Cup with Nigeria.

    While Moses was recalled into the squad that defeated Brentford in the FA Cup last Sunday, Mikel missed the tie but both players are fully rested and are available for selection on Thursday.

    Prague players arrive in London knowing they face a difficult task overcoming the 1-0 first-leg lead earned by Oscar’s clever strike a week ago.

    The Londoners has not lost at Stamford Bridge in UEFA tournaments since losing 1-0 to Manchester United in 2011.

     

  • • Gets N1bn buy-out clause • Out of Europa League

    • Gets N1bn buy-out clause • Out of Europa League

    Spanish La Liga side, Levante have completed the signing of Super Eagles outcast, Obafemi Martins – 12 days after the transfer window shut.

    The former Inter and Newcastle forward has been the Primera Division side’s number one transfer target for some time, as they sought to find someone who could replace Wigan’s Arouna Kone and act as a reference point up front.

    Despite the fact Martins has been out of favour and made to train with the reserves at Russian club, Rubin Kazan, negotiations have proved difficult.

    But according top Spanish sports dailies, Marca and Abola a deal has finally been struck.

    Martins’ contract with Rubin will be terminated and he will sign on at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia on a two-year deal worth about N385m with an option for a third. He will thus receive between 600,000 and 750,000 Euros (about N154m) a season – making him the highest paid player in Juan Ignacio Martinez’s squad – and a 5m Euros (about N1bn) buy-out clause will be written into his contract.

    The Nigeria international will not be permitted to feature in the Valencia-based club’s Europa League campaign due to UEFA guidelines except they progress to the second round of the competition. Levante are in group L alongside Hanover, Twente and Helsingborgs.