The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Igiebor

  • Igiebor stars as Betis earn first point

    Igiebor stars as Betis earn first point

    Nosa Igiebor was on full 90 minutes action in the Spanish La Liga yesterday, as Real Betis earned the first point of the season in a 0-0 draw against Espanyol

    Espanyol came out with the typical intensity you would expect from a team managed by Mexican coach Javier Aguirre.

    They came close to opening the scoring in the third minute, when Pizzi fired at goal, but flight of the ball was blocked by a Real Betis body and denied.

    Betis almost pressed the self destruct button in the 7th minute, when a back-pass from Torres was too short and Sara had to rush out of goal, clearing just before Sergio García could steal it for Espanyol.

    The game was evenly matched, with most of the play disputed in midfield at the game passed the half-hour mark, before both sides had chances.

    Igiebor and Javi López required treatment late on, following a forceful clash of heads. Both looked a little shaken, but were soon back on their feet.

  • Igiebor targets Finidi’s record at Betis

    Igiebor targets Finidi’s record at Betis

    Real Madrid will host Real Betis in the La Liga 2013/14 season opener on Sunday with Super Eagles midfielder Nosa Igiebor targeting the record of former Nigeria international Finidi George.

    Betis last won a game at the Bernabéu in October 1998 with Finidi scoring the only goal in the encounter to give his team a 1-0 victory, according to futaa.com checks.

    With that on record, Igiebor is not only expected to make the final squad for the game, he will also be setting his eyes on helping his side beat Real Madrid and possibly getting on the scoresheet at the Bernabéu.

    But it may not be an easy task as Real Madrid have won 36 of the 48 Liga home matches against Real Betis, losing just five. Real are unbeaten in their last 11 Liga home matches against Betis, winning eight and drawing three.

    Madrid have won two of their last five opening matches of the season. They drew 1-1 vs Valencia in 2012/13, and their last home defeat in a season opener was against Barcelona in 1984 (0-3).

    Betis striker Rubén Castro scored 18 Liga goals last season and 34 for Betis since their return in La Liga July 2011). Of all current players in La Liga only Messi (96) and Ronaldo (80) have more goals in the last two seasons.

  • Cold keeps Igiebor from training

    Cold keeps Igiebor from training

    Super Eagles midfielder Nosa Igiebor was conspicuously missing in Real Betis’ Friday morning training session as he was said to be suffering from cold.

    The midfielder was the biggest absentee though Antonio Amaya was also not part of the morning session owing to a muscle strain and was thus advised by Betis medics to take a rest, even as assurances were given on his quick return to action.

    Alfinaldelapalmera.com reported that Nono was made to replace Igiebor in Coach Pepe Mel’s experimental starting line-up.

    Meanwhile, other Betis players like Braian Lolo Rodriguez, Reyes and Juan Carlos have continued their rehabilitation which is well being supervised by Fran Molano. The returning players have been doing various exercises on the lawn.

  • Keshi to recall Igiebor

    Keshi to recall Igiebor

    Super Eagles gaffer has promised to give Real Betis of Spain midfielder, Mosa Igiebor the chance to return to the Eagles but he must work hard and lift his game whenever he returns.

    The Eagles gaffer disclosed that Igiebor is a gifted player who could be an important player in his team but he must learn to work hard for the team on the pitch whenever he is on duty for his fatherland.

    Keshi disclosed that the midfielder’s none inclusion in the team for the FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil was as a result of the injury he sustained prior to the FIFA organised competition.

    “Nosa Igiebor was not invited for the last FIFA Confederation Cup held in Brazil because he was injured.

    “He is a good player and very creative. But now I have to bring him back. But he has to also elevate his game in the national team.

    “The national team is not a club team, you know. We don’t have time for every day training. At times we can get three to four training session (before a major game) and that is it. So the players must be up and doing every time and also work hard to improve their performances in matches”, Keshi advised.

     

  • Igiebor to play Madrid in La Liga opener

    Igiebor to play Madrid in La Liga opener

    SUPER EAGLES’ midfielder Nosa Igiebor has been handed a tough start to the 2013/14 La Liga season having been pitched alongside Real Madrid in one of the opening day fixtures released on Tuesday, July 9, 2013.

    Igiebor who was fingered as the major culprit as his team lost 1-3 in their last visit to the Santiago Bernabeu now have another chance to right the wrong allegedly committed on that occasion. Igiebor’s Coach Pepe Mel had boasted that his Betis side, which won the first meeting 1-0 in Sevilla, has a master plan they will deploy to get a result in Madrid, but it all fell apart at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Mesut Ozil scoring a brace.

    The August meeting is expected to be no stroll in the park for Betis as new Madrid manager Carlo Ancelloti will be out to record a flying start in the League with the Spanish giants after coming in as a replacement for the controversial Jose Mourinho.

  • Igiebor relishes display against Barca

    Igiebor relishes display against Barca

    Swaps jersey with Alex Song after game

     

    Real Betis’ Nosa Igiebor believes he is heading in the right direction, after he put up a man of the match display in his Spanish La Liga side 2-4 loss to champions-elect Barcelona last Sunday.

    Igiebor switched to Spain from Israeli side, Hapoel Tel Aviv barely a season after joining the club but he has endured a torrid time with the Beticos just in his first season of moving to the La Liga side.

    The Edo born midfielder told SportingLife Monday that he was happy with his display against Barca despite playing against the acclaimed best team in the world.

    He stressed that he has blended with the toughness of the La Liga matches and that he will rank his input versus Barcelona same as that of games against Valencia, Getafe and Sevilla where he was adjudged to have got rave review.

    Igiebor predicts a bright future for himself in the La Liga and he has implored those that spread negative information about him to desist from doing so in the interest of peace.

    He affirmed that he is a crowd favourite and that the management of the Basque based club is solidly behind him and eager to see him start another season with Betis.

    “I was told I won the man of the match award and that a special wine will be given to me later. It was awesome claiming such accolade where Barcelona’s midfielders and other players were.

    “Though we lost to calamitous defending, I was impressed with the fact that we gave Barcelona a run for their money last Sunday,” the former U23 international noted.

    He also confirmed he swapped his jersey with Barcelona midfielder and fellow African, Alex Song after the game.

    Igiebor said Betis would go all out to get a spot in Europe after what he termed an impressive season by all standard for the club.

    Betis have 49 points from 34 games to stay in the 7th position.

  • SPANISH PERMIT VISA SAGA: It has been my craziest three weeks —Igiebor

    SPANISH PERMIT VISA SAGA: It has been my craziest three weeks —Igiebor

    Super Eagles midfeilder Nosa Igiebor has said that the past three weeks which saw him being repeatedly denied a Spanish permit visa has been the craziest in his football career.

    Nosa, who returned to his Spanish La Liga team, Real Betis on Friday, told Canal Sur Radio while explaining the reasons for the delay that: “I’m fine and really tired.

    “The past three weeks have been the craziest of my football career.

    “I decided to return to Betis after I helped my country, Nigeria win the African Nations Cup but enroute Germany, the Immigration officials told me that my papers had expired, and without the documents I could not go to Spain. ”

    He continued: “I know my club is not happy with this situation, neither am I because this has taken much time from me.

    “The error was not mine. I’m a football player, I went to the Spanish embassy in Nigeria seven times before I could be issued a new work permit visa. My mother did tell me to take it easy during the period, I did not rest in Nigeria”

  • Igiebor rejoins Eagles today

    REAL Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor has disclosed he will rejoin the Super Eagles in Faro today after a league game.

    Igiebor was with the Eagles in Barcelona but his club refused him to feature in Wednesday’s friendly against Catalonia.

    “I will join the team in Portugal on Saturday. Even though I would have loved to be in camp earlier, my club have a game on Friday, January 4 against Real Zaragoza and I will head to Portugal immediately that game is over,” Igiebor informed MTNFootball.com.

    Igiebor has admitted he cannot wait to make his AFCON debut in South Africa.

    “I can’t wait to be in South Africa for the Nations Cup. This will be my first appearance and I will work hard to make the final squad. As a young player, I am really looking forward to this competition. I believe we will put a smile on the faces of Nigerians with our performance in South Africa,” said the Olympic team star.

  • Igiebor rejoins Eagles Saturday

    Igiebor rejoins Eagles Saturday

    Real Betis midfielder, Nosa Igiebor, has disclosed he will rejoin the Super Eagles in Faro on Saturday.

    Igiebor was with the Eagles in Barcelona but his club stopped him from featuring in Wednesday’s friendly against Catalonia.

    “I will join the team in Portugal on Saturday. Even though I would have loved to be in camp earlier, my club has a game on Friday, January 4 against Real Zaragoza and I will head to Portugal immediately that game is over,” Igiebor told MTNFootball.com

    The former Warri Wolves midfielder said he cannot wait to make his African Nations Cup debut in South Africa.

    “I can’t wait to be in South Africa for the Nations Cup. This will be my first appearance and I will work hard to make the final squad,” said the Olympic team star.

     

     

  • Igiebor, Uche join Eagles in Barcelona

    Igiebor, Uche join Eagles in Barcelona

    • Bianca Ojukwu urges team to win

    Real Betis of Spain midfielder, Nosa Igiebor and Villareal striker, Ikechukwu Uche, on Tuesday joined the Super Eagles fold ahead of the international friendly against Catalonia selected tonight.

    Celtic’s Rabiu Ibrahim was also part of the party that joined the Eagles for the only training session that the team will have on Tuesday evening before the match.

    The fears that Igiebor, would not make the team, when he failed to arrive in Faro, Portugal as arranged with Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, immediately evaporated when he appeared in camp on Tuesday afternoon, as the team landed in Barcelona.

    The team departed their Browns Resort and Sports Centre camp on schedule at 4am, Portuguese time, which is 5am, Nigerian time, but experienced a little delay at the Faro Airport. They eventually arrived Lisbon at some minutes after 9am. The flight took just 35minutes. After immigration formalities the team set out for Barcelona and arrived in the city at about 11:20am Nigeria and Spanish time. The flight lasted 1 hour 30 minutes

    Officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Spain led by Head of Chancery, Mr Safiu Olaniyan, Deputy Consul General, Mr. Nze Nnadi, Curtis Aghedo, who is President Nigerian Union in Barcelona, Kingsley Lawal, President Nigerians in Valles and Gbenga Adegoke Scribe of Nigerians in Valles, were on hand to receive the team at the magnificent Barcelona International Airport. There were also about 20 Nigerian football supporters who were at the airport to bid the team welcome.

    The team was immediately moved to the equally eye-popping Hotel Fira Palace in the heart of Barcelona, where they were addressed by Mr Olaniyan on behalf of the Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Amb. Bianca Olivia Odimegwu Ojukwu, who was unavoidably absent due to other engagements.

    In her speech, Ambassador Ojukwu described the national team as the higher grade of ambassadors of Nigeria and urged the players to go all out and do the country proud in the friendly against Catalonia and at the upcoming Nations Cup in South Africa.

    She said she was aware that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan was solidly behind the team to achieve success at the AFCON tourney as football is a major unifying force in Nigeria.

    Head Coach Stephen Keshi, said he was humbled by the kind words of the ambassador and assured that the Super Eagles would do all within their powers to defend the green-white-green colours of the nation. “We promise never to let the confidence and trust of the nation down at all times”, he said.