The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Godfrey Oboabona

  • Oboabona focuses on league title

    Oboabona focuses on league title

    Super Eagles and Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia defender, Godfrey Oboabona has targeted the Pro league title following series of superb performances in the Saudi Arabia league. 

    In a chat with SportingLife after helping his side to secure a 1-1 Pro league draw away to Al Taawon last weekend, the 2013 African Cup of Nations winner expressed the desire of his team to win the title at the end of the current season. 

    Oboabona who has featured in eight out of 10 matches for the Jeddah based team this season, said the team is not being carried away by its position at the top of the table.

    “It’s very nice to see us at the top of the table and we are enjoying every moment of the game, I missed the first two matches of the season due to malaria problem.

    “We are aware of what is at stake and the challenges ahead, we are experienced enough to know that nothing is won at this stage and that is why we are working hard to keep our focus,” the former Sunshine Stars defender told SportingLife.

    Al Ahli who are topping the table with 21 points from 10 matches will confront  Al Quadisiya in their next match.

  • Oboabona offers Scholarship to School Girls

    Oboabona offers Scholarship to School Girls

    Nigerian Super Eagles and Al Ahli defender, Godfrey Oboabona has extended his humanitarian gesture towards education by offering scholarship to three under priviledged girls in Nigeria.

    The 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, offered the full scholarship under the ongoing 1girl1pen awareness campaign for the girl-child education in Africa, pioneered by FAME Foundation Africa.
    In a press statement, founder of the Foundation, Ms Aderonke Bello expressed her gratitude to the player for supporting the girls who have been struggling to pay for school fees and other necessary school items.
    ‘On behalf of the entire team of FAME Africa, we are saying a huge thank you to Godfrey Oboabona for deeming it fit to support these under-priviledged girls, with his gesture.
    These girls can now progress/complete their education as a result of the scholarship he paid, covering their school fees and all necessary items to see them through their primary education.’
    The recipients of the scholarship will be unveiled at the official launching of the 1girl1pen campaign on the International day of the girl child – October 11, 2017 at Café De Vie, Maitama, Abuja.
  • Godfrey Oboabona joins Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli FC

    Godfrey Oboabona joins Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli FC

    Nigeria international Godfrey Oboabona has signed a one-year deal with Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al-Ahli Saudi FC.

    The centre-back moves to the Jeddah-based outfit on a one-year deal – with the option of a one-year extension – after leaving Caykur Rizespor, the Saudi side confirmed on their official Twitter handle.

    Oboabona had spent the last four years in Turkey after joining Rizespor in August 2013, but departed the club at the beginning of the month following the Black Sea Sparrowhawk’s relegation, having come to the end of his contract.

    The 26-year-old was a key figure in the Nigeria side that won the Africa Cup of Nations under the late Stephen Keshi in 2013, but has lost his place in the Super Eagles in recent months, following the appointment of Gernot Rohr.

    Prior falling into out of favour group, Oboabona made about 34 appearances for the national team.

    He represented Sunshine Stars in the NPFL before departing for Europe in 2013 and was once forced to deny speculation that he’d criticised Arsene Wenger after being offered a trial at Arsenal.

    His new club were one of the founding members of the Saudi Pro League and have never been relegated, having won three league titles, 13 King Cups and one Super Cup during their existence.

    Last season they finished second in the Pro League – 11 points behind rivals Al-Hilal – and will be hoping that the addition of Oboabona can help them win their first title since 2016.

    In what could pass for being his brother’s keeper Oboabona recently called for national prayer for health challenged number one goalkeeper Carl Ikeme. Oboabona who described Ikeme as a worthy ambassador and a dedicated Eagle expressed optimism that fervent prayer will join in fast tracking his return to perfect health.

    “This is the time for all us to be united in praying for the quick recovery of Carl, this is the time for us to raise our voice to heaven and seek divine intervention

    “We must try as much as possible to always remember Carl in our daily prayers and it is my believe that he will come out stronger,” he submitted

  • Oboabona yet to arrive Eagles’ camp

    Oboabona yet to arrive Eagles’ camp

    Godfrey Oboabona is yet to arrive the Belgium venue of Nigeria’s international friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon, Goal reports.

    Goal gathered that all the invited foreign-based players have reported at the Verviers camp of the team expect the former Sunshine Stars player who is facing travel document issues in Turkey and would join his colleagues on Wednesday.

    Captain Vincent Enyeama, who buried his late mother on Saturday, joined his colleagues on Tuesday afternoon and took part in the team’s evening training session at the Battice FC training ground.

    Meanwhile, the six home based players are still in Nigeria due to refusal of the Belgian embassy in Nigeria to give them entry visas.

    Nigeria faces Congo DR in Vise, Liege, on Thursday and confronts Cameroon three days later in Dendermonde.

     

  • AFCON qualifier: 21 players attend Eagles’ training

    AFCON qualifier: 21 players attend Eagles’ training

    21 Super Eagles players participated in the first full training session supervised by coach Sunday Oliseh on Tuesday morning.

    Only Captain Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa are yet arrive. But team coordinator, Patrick Pascal, confirmed that both players will arrive Abuja before the end of the day.

    The team arrived the Abuja National Stadium at 9:43am, with Oliseh ordering the security personnel at the stadium to walk out all journalists and fans that came to watch the training at expiration of the 15 minutes grace that had been granted.

    During the 15 minutes training the team Goalkeeper Coach, Aloy Agu concentrated on the two goalkeepers in camp – Carl Ikeme of Wolverhampton Wanderers of England and Ikechukwu Ezenwa of Sunshine stars, while Oliseh handled the 19 outfield players to ascertain their level of fitness.

    In Tuesday’s training session were – Leon Balogun, Kingsley Madu, Godfrey Oboabona, William Troost Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Solomon Kwambe, Mohammed Usman, Chima Akas, Austin Obarokpo, Prince Aggrey, Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu, Obiora Nwankwo, Lukman Haruna, Rabiu Ibrahim,  Emem Eduok, Emmanuel Emenike, Anthony Ujah, Sylvester Igboun and Moses Simon.

     

  • Oboabona ready for Iran

    Oboabona ready for Iran

    Godfrey Oboabona believes Iran will provide the toughest test for the Super Eagles during the World Cup group phase.

    Powerhouse Argentina and European debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina are the other teams in the group, but the Nigeria defender says the unknown quantity of the Asians will make them difficult to figure out.

    “Iran will be the toughest match in our group,” Oboabona told KickOffNigeria.com, “because for me, I don’t know anything about them. I have never seen them play.

    “I was scanning channels last week to get their game but unfortunately, I could not.

    “It is better to know them because if you don’t know players you don’t know how they play. It will not be an easy game.”

    Nigeria failed to win any of the three warm-up games, drawing with Scotland and Greece before losing to the USA, but Oboabona is not troubled by the results, or talk of the Eagles’ frailties against non-African opposition.

    “I am a footballer, I don’t care what people say. I don’t want to know anything about that. When we win against Bosnia, people will know we are good at winning outside Africa and not just Venezuela and Tahiti.”

    The squad arrived in Brazil on Tuesday night, and the defender is confident the team is close to being ready.

    “We are getting closer to where we want to be, and I believe that by the time the competition starts, we will be a hundred percent ready.”

     

  • Oboabona, Babatunde vow to make list

    Oboabona, Babatunde vow to make list

    Godfrey Oboabona is determined to make the final 23-man World Cup squad for Nigeria and says he will do everything in his power to do so.

    The defender has been one of Stephen Keshi’s stalwarts, but is still taking nothing for granted.

    “The World Cup is a place to showcase true skills and I will do everything within my powers to be part of the final 23-man list,” Oboabona said on arrival in London as Nigeria opened their World Cup training camp.

    Michael Babatunde, who was the first player to arrive in camp, also spoke in a similar vein, assuring that he will give his all to be part of the Nigerian team to the World Cup.

    The team had its first training session for the friendly on Monday evening, with all the 30 players invited for the World Cup preparation expected to take part. The team are lodged at the Hilton Cobhams hotel in London.

  • Keshi ‘gingers’ new Eagles’ stars

    Keshi ‘gingers’ new Eagles’ stars

    The coach of the Nigeria Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, has revealed that the coaching crew have been trying to boost the confidence level of the new boys, ahead of the assignment in South Africa.

    The Big Boss is convinced that the players are naturally gifted, but only need a little bit of self confidence when on the pitch.

    “That is what we have been trying to do, so that when we come out fighting everything is possible and nothing will be impossible, the results we are getting are quite positive,” he said.

    Keshi has seen the exit of the likes of Godfrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Papa Idris, Juwon Oshaniwa and many others who started the battle with the national team as home based stars two years ago.

    Now,the former coach of the Hawks of Togo has been forced to rely on new stars on the bloc and he insists they will not disappoint.

    But the Big Boss was also quick to point out that the trophy should not be given to the Eagles just yet,because of lack of experience.

  • Sunshine to get .3m Euros from Oboabona’s transfer

    Sunshine to get .3m Euros from Oboabona’s transfer

    Sunshine Stars will earn 300,000 Euros from Godfrey Oboabona’s impending move to Turkish club Rizespor.

    The Super Eagles ace defender has agreed to join Rizespor on a four-year contract and he will fly in from Durban, venue of Wednesday’s international friendly between Nigeria and hosts South Africa, to complete the signing formality.

    Top Sunshine official, Mike Idoko, has confirmed to MTNFootball.com the player is set to join Rizespor.

    Sunshine will get at least 300,000 Euros from this transfer, according to fanatik.com

    Oboabona, who could play at right back, central defence or defensive midfield, will team up with his compatriot Uche Kalu, who returns for a second spell at the newly promoted club.

     

  • CHAN: Keshi ‘not satisfied’ with Eagles’ victory

    CHAN: Keshi ‘not satisfied’ with Eagles’ victory

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has said he expects improvements from his team after beating Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 in a CHAN qualifier on Saturday.

    And as such, Keshi revealed that he plans to call up at least new three players ahead of the return leg slated for Abidjan in a fortnight.

    The Eagles coach also told MTNFootball.com that it was difficult for the coaching staff to get the players to understand how they wanted them to play against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.

    Keshi equally expressed disappointment at the poor defending that led to the only goal scored by the Ivorians during the match.

    “We have practised how defenders close down attackers in the box area in training, but unfortunately the defenders didn’t do well to defend. It only means we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.

    “However I must confess that the experience of several players, Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubike Egwuekwe and even Gambo Mohammed who were at the Confederations Cup, paid off in this game.”

    Keshi also explained why he did not use Nigeria league leading scorer Dele Olorundare in the match.

    “I noticed that my two holding midfielder where becoming weak and Gambo Mohammed was still doing the job. So, I left him on the pitch because I needed to balance if I make any changes. That is why most of my changes came from the midfield,” he offered.