The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ike Shorunmu

  • Super Eagles Int’l friendly crucial says Disu

    Tajudeen Disu, a member of the 1983 Mexico FIFA World Youth Championship, says Super Eagles friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Senegal will be crucial in testing the fitness of the players.

    Disu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, advised the players to take the matches seriously.

    He added that the players’ fitness and current form should be well assessed.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles will be up against Senegal’s Teranga Lions on March 23 before taking on the Etalons of Burkina Faso four days later.

    Both matches will be played at The Hive, home ground of Barnet Football Club.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had said that the friendly was scheduled in preparation for the World Cup qualifier against the current AFCON champion, Cameroon in August.

    Disu said: “We have so much to gain in these friendly matches, it’s not particularly about winning, but to be assured that we have a capable team come August’’.

    When asked if the friendly was not too far from when the qualifiers would kick off in August, he said that the timeliness of the friendly matches was fair enough.

    “I believe the timing is okay as long as they can schedule another friendly match by June,’’ he said.

    Similarly, ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, advised handlers of the team to use the international friendly matches to test more players.

    Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr had listed goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and forwards Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho for the friendly matches.

    Also included are home-based goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.

    Experienced left back Elderson Echiejile, Portugal-based Chidozie Awaziem, Israel-based John Ogu and Watford FC of England forward Isaac Success are also called.

    Germany-based forward Noah Joel Bazee and Holland-based defender Tyronne Ebuehi will join up with the squad for the first time, while youngster Victor Osimhen, record top scorer at the FIFA U17 World Cup, returns.

    Shorunmu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the players should be assessed based on their performance during the friendly matches.

    The Super Eagles are ranked 41st in the world, 10 places below Senegal’s Teranga Lions and three places below the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

  • Photo: Anambra warriors unveil new coaching crew

    Photo: Anambra warriors unveil new coaching crew

  • Shorunmu doubts Enyeama’s chances

    Shorunmu doubts Enyeama’s chances

    Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu has  expressed doubts over the possibility of Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama to be crowned the 2014 CAF African player of the year.

    Enyeama, alongside Gabon’s Pierre Emerrick-Aubameyang and current holder Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast are the three finalists for the 2014 edition of the awards which will hold in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 8.

    But Shorunmu, Enyeama’s former Super Eagles teammate and current coach in the national team, said he wants the Lille of France goalkeeper to win it, but admits it will be difficult with Yaya Toure in the picture.

    “Of course I want Vincent (Enyeama) to win it but it’s going to be difficult, especially with Yaya Toure in there too. He is the current holder of the award and it will be difficult to beat him to it because he has done well for his club and country.

    “But that is not to say Vincent (Enyeama) hasn’t done well, because he has and it will be great if he wins it,” Shorunmu stated on Hot FM.

    Yaya Toure is strongly tipped to win the award again, having won it in 2013 but it is believed in some quarters that Enyeama had a better calendar year for both club and country in 2014.

    The 32-year old Nigerian was recently named the best goalkeeper in France for 2014. But it is also believed that being a goalkeeper may play to Enyeama’s advantage.

  • Downpour made Calabar treacherous

    Downpour made Calabar treacherous

    Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu says he was worried Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game between Nigeria and Malawi may not be played after heavy rain erupted just two hours to the game.

    The rain eventually subsided as the African champions romped to a comfortable 2-0 win over the Flames on a soggy pitch at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    The former national team goalkeeper said all Nigerian players who competed against the Malawians deserve commendation as the surface was “treacherous” as a result of the downpour.

    “It was not easy and we praise the boys. The pitch was in treacherous conditions and you could see that sometimes, it wasn’t easy to maintain balance or even control the ball. Before the game, we were even worried the game might be called off because of the rain,” he exclusively told supersport.com after the game.

    Rizespor defender, Godfrey Oboabona who played all 90 minutes of the contest also agreed with Shorunmu but expressed delight at the win.

    “It was not easy to play on the pitch at all but as professionals, we have to adapt. We give thanks to Almighty God. It’s not easy to come out victorious like this but we thank God for making it possible,” he said.

  • Asaba Stadium named after Keshi

    Asaba Stadium named after Keshi

    Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has named the Asaba Stadium after Stephen Keshi, who led Nigeria to win a third African Cup of Nations title last weekend.

    At a reception held at the Asaba International Event Centre, Uduaghan also rewarded Keshi with a sum of 8 million Naira as well as a duplex in the state capital.

    Keshi’s assistants, Daniel Amokachi, Sylavnus Okpalla, and Ike Shorunmu got 4m Naira each, while each player got 2.5m naira.

    Members of the team who were old and present players of Warri Wolves got N5million. They are AFCON final hero Sunday Mba, Chigozie Agbim, Azuibike Egwekwe, and Nosa Igiebor.

    MTNFootball.com reports that more state governments are in line to fete the team.