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Tag: Imama Amapakabo

  • Abia Warriors will make impact in Africa, says Imama

    Abia Warriors will make impact in Africa, says Imama

    Abia Warriors head coach Imama Amapakabo has revealed that the club will not disappoint Nigerians on the continent as they have outlined steps to ensure a strong performance in next season’s CAF Inter-club competitions.

    The Umuahia-based side will be representing Nigeria on the continental stage either in the CAF Champions League or the CAF Confederation Cup and Amapakabo emphasized the importance of strengthening the squad for optimum performance in Africa.

    Read Also: AFCON U20 : NFF submits final 23-man squad  as Flying Eagles  off to Cairo weekend

    “No team is ever truly complete—every team needs reinforcements,” Amapakabo told Abia Warriors media. “We’ll be competing at a level different from what we’re used to, so it’s essential to bolster the team with new players.”

    He added: “We’ll make key additions, plan ambitiously, and begin preparations immediately. There’s no time to rest—it’s time to get serious. We’ve worked hard to get to this point, and now we must build on it.”

  • Imama predicts tough preps for Super Eagles after CHAN postponement

    Imama predicts tough preps for Super Eagles after CHAN postponement

    Abia Warriors head coach, Imama Amapakabo, has stated that Super Eagles B handlers would sweat over the availability of their current crop of players who may be lost to overseas clubs before the start of the African Nations Championship slated for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in August this year.

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announced the postponement of the competition meant for players plying their trade in their nations’ football leagues due to logistics reasons.

    in a chat with Brila FM, Amapakabo said the Home based Eagles would face a lot of challenges including the team losing some of its best legs to lucrative deals abroad.

    Read Also: Ex-NFF protocol officer decorated  with new NIS rank

    Amapakabo, the coach of Abia Warriors, expressed concerns that some of the players who had initially qualified for the competition may no longer be available.

    “It’s a tough situation, but it’s one that other countries will also have to deal with,” he revealed. “The key is how we can bring our players together. What causes our players to leave are better working conditions and improved remuneration. If they are leaving for these reasons, can we stop them?”

    He also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing challenge with continuity: “A major problem for us is continuity. Many of these players may leave, and then we’ll have to start from scratch again.”

  • Amapakabo: I’ll restore Nigeria’s pride with WAFU tourney

    HEAD coach of the Super Eagles Team B, Imama Amapakabo has expressed confidence that good  outing  at  the West Africa Football Union (WAFU ) tournament in Senegal will  change the loss image of the team among Nigerians having been humiliated 4 – 1 in the last CHAN encounter with Sparrow Hawks of Togo.

    Apakamabo who made this known at the point of departure to Senegal for the competition , said meeting Togo again in the WAFU tournament is the best time to avenge the defeat suffered in Lome.

    “You know that match in Togo was a big blow to me having taking the lead with few minutes of play.

    The Hawks are good and physical but my boys will surprise them in this  tournament having corrected our mistakes and knowing their style of play. Beating us twice within a space of two weeks will be a double image dent which Nigerians will not accept. We must avoid failure”. Amapakabo concluded.

    Former Enugu Rangers tactician revealed that winning the WAFU tournament will restore absolute confidence on the team ahead of return leg, second round of Africa Championship qualifier bill for Asaba,Delta on October 19th.

    He also thanked his employer(NFF) for providing the team and technical crew with the needed logistics for this tournament.

  • Amapakabo picks Okechukwu, Odey, 16 others for Sudan tie

    HEAD Coach Imama Amapakabo has picked team captain Azubuike Okechukwu, forwards Stephen Odey and Taiwo Awoniyi and 15 other players for Thursday’s U23 AFCON final-round qualifying, first leg battle against Sudan in Omdurman.

    The delegation of 18 players and 12 officials departed Nigeria aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight on Tuesday afternoon.

    Africa’s first-ever winners of the Olympic men’s football gold, the Olympic Eagles are scheduled to play their first leg of the final round of the U23 AFCON qualifiers against the Sudanese on Thursday at the Al Merriekh Stadium in Omdurman.

    Amapakabo and his assistants have been taking the team through training sessions and general build-up programme for several weeks at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The return leg is billed for the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Tuesday next week.

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked officials from Djibouti to take charge of proceedings on Thursday, with Souleiman Ahmad Djama as the referee. His compatriots Farhan Bogoreh Salime, Rachid Waiss Bouraleh and Saddam Houssein Mansour will serve as assistant referee 1, an assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

    Mr Herbert George Mwachiro from Kenya will be the match commissioner.

    THE FULL LIST:

    Abubakar Adamu, Agbor Ekoi, Nda Olisa, Stephen Manyo, John Lazarus, Ebube Duru, Collins Ogbodo, Azubuike Okechukwu, Fatai Gbadamosi, Sunday Adetunji, Blessing Muyiwa, Ndifreke Effiong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Onyeka Ogochukwu, Sunusi Ibrahim, Sunday Faleye, Stephen Odey, Etboy Akpan.

  • Olympic Qualifier: Imama begins preparation, invites 33 players

     

    National U-23 coach Imama Amapakabo, has flagged off his preparation for qualifiers leading to the 2020 Olympics in Japan with invitation of 33 players to Abuja camp on Wednesday.

    The Under 23 side, have a date with their Libyan counterparts in Tunisia between March 20 and 22 with a return leg in Nigeria scheduled for 25th/26th March.

    Nigeria are the defending champions of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, having defeated Algeria in the final of the second edition of the championship staged by Senegal in December 2015. The feat saw Nigeria pick a ticket to the 2016 Olympics in Rio where she won Bronze.

    Egypt hosts of the African cup of Nations incidentally will also host the 3rd Africa U23 Cup of Nations, 8 November and 22 November, 2019.

    Amapakabo who led Rangers international to their last league title is being assisted in his new assignment by Kennedy Boboye (Assistant Coach), Fidelis Ilechukwu (Assistant Coach) and Etta Egbe (Goalkeepers’ Trainer).

    Below is the list of players invited to camp:

    Goalkeepers: Amos Benjamin (Bayelsa United); Makanjuola Adewale (Ekiti United); Anozie Chinedu (FC IfeanyiUbah); Stanley Nwabili (Enyimba FC)

    Defenders: John Lazarus (Lobi Stars); Chidera Eze (Rangers International); Anumudu Udochukwu (Lobi Stars); Austin Ugochukwu (Kano Pillars); Chinedu Ajana (Katsina United); Kehinde Adeyemi (Sunshine Stars); Ndah Olisah (Remo Stars); Chinwendu Ali (Yobe Stars); Ebube Duru (Lobi Stars)

    Midfielders: Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars); Isah Ndala (Nasarawa United); William Ukeme (Wikki Tourists); Olatunji Matthew (Enyimba FC); Seth Mayi (Plateau United); Yusuf Maigoro (Kano Pillars); Iwuala Anayo (Kada City); Cletus Emotan (Rivers United); Chigozie Obasi (Sunshine Stars); Chukwudi Agor (ASJ, Owerri)

    Forwards: Etiboy Akpan (Akwa United); Anas Mohammed (Shooting Stars); Chijoke Alaekwe (FC IfeanyiUbah); Shamman Tanze (Kano Pillars); Agboola Joshua (Katsina United); Wari Williams (Nasarawa United); Ebuka Okeke (Lamray United); Tolu Ojo (Remo Stars); Wasiu Alalade (Enyimba FC); Solomon Nsude (FC IfeanyiUbah)

     

     

     

  • Amapakabo confirms sack by email

    Amapakabo confirms sack by email

    • Thanks God for journey so far

    Coach Imama Amapakabo who narrowly missed being manhandled by some fans following Rangers 2-2 draw with Zesco United on

    Sunday, has confirmed receiving termination of his contract by Rangers international by email

    Amakapabo who left his foot print on the sand of history by leading the Flying Antelopes to clinch the Nigerian Premier league title for the first time in 32 years did not only confirm his sack but also thanked God for the journey so far.

    “Its official, I received a termination of my contract with Rangers international football club  by email by 5.35pm.  Thank you lord for everything,” he submitted vide his twitter handle @amapakabo.

    Rangers who crashed out the CAF Champions league forcing a play-off in the Confederation Cup, played out a 2-2 draw with the visiting Zambians in the first leg, a result which makes it very dicey for the Coal City side to turn the table int he return leg billed for Ndola later in the week.

    Amapakabo’s  confirmation generated chains of reaction on social media as of those who believe in him insisted that he should not have been sacked while others prayed and assured him that better things are sure to come his way in future.

    One of the fans who responded to the confirmation Sleen Vique said, “Thank you for all the memories coach, I started loving and following Rangers because of you. God bless you real good,” Another reaction came from Alexander Ezeanyi who said Rangers have made a big mistake, Imama can’t be the problem why Rangers  have  not  been winning matches , adding “Oga  you have made history,”

    Amapakabo signed a two-year contract with the Flying Antelopes last season, but went through about a year of the contract. His assistant Chukwuma Agbo will take charge of the team in an interim capacity until a new head coach is appointed.

  • Breaking: Rangers FC suspend coach Amapakabo

    Breaking: Rangers FC suspend coach Amapakabo

    Rangers Football Club of Enugu has suspended its Technical Adviser, Imama Amapakabo “for security reasons.’’

    Foster Chimem, spokesman for club, said the supporters were restless over the poor performance of the club.

    Chime told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Enugu on Monday that the decision was prompted by the supporter’s action toward the coach after the 2-2 draw with Zesco United of Zambia on April 9.

    “The supporters nearly beat him up after we conceded two goals advantage within four minutes to the Zambians.

    “Some supporters went after him, but for the security personnel that escorted him out, it would have been a calamity.

    “So, the management has no option than to ask him to step aside so that he will stop being a target of the fans’’, he said.

    He recalled that the management decided to continue with Amapakabo even as he could not deliver during his three-match ultimatum.

    The spokesman noted that the management refused to take any action on the coach as they believed that he could do better..

    “It is unfortunate that the supporters revolted over the club’s performance against Zesco Utd and Amapakabo happened to be their target’’, Chime said.

    Chime said the club had no intention of asking the coach to go because he still had the magic of champions in him.

  • Rangers FC suspends Coach Amapakabo

    Rangers FC suspends Coach Amapakabo

     

    Rangers Football Club of Enugu has suspended its Technical Adviser, Imama Amapakabo “for security reasons.’’

    Foster Chimem, spokesman for club, said the supporters were restless over the poor performance of the club.
    Chime told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Enugu on Monday that the decision was prompted by the supporter’s action toward the coach after the 2-2 draw with Zesco United of Zambia on April 9.
    “The supporters nearly beat him up after we conceded two goals advantage within four minutes to the Zambians.
    “Some supporters went after him, but for the security personnel that escorted him out, it would have been a calamity.
    “So, the management has no option than to ask him to step aside so that he will stop being a target of the fans’’, he said.
    He recalled that the management decided to continue with Amapakabo even as he could not deliver during his three-match ultimatum.
    The spokesman noted that the management refused to take any action on the coach as they believed that he could do better..
    “It is unfortunate that the supporters revolted over the club’s performance against Zesco Utd and Amapakabo happened to be their target’’, Chime said.
    Chime said the club had no intention of asking the coach to go because he still had the magic of champions in him.

     

  • Breaking news: Imama Amapakabo gets three-match ultimatum

    Breaking news: Imama Amapakabo gets three-match ultimatum

    The management of Rangers International FC of Enugu have handed a three-match ultimatum to its technical adviser, Imama Amapakabo and his technical crew to start winning matches or face sack.

    The must win matches starts from Sunday’s match day 15 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter against Katsina United.

    The club’s Director of Public Relations, Media and Publicity, Foster Chime said that the management, after an extra-ordinary emergency meeting on Friday, took the decision as a result of what it described as a persistent abysmal performances in the NPFL and the CAF Champions League competition.

    The decision compels Amapakabo and his technical crew to improve on their performance by wining Katsina United’s game and next two home matches or be ready to step aside.

    The meeting, which was chaired by the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Christian Chukwu equally urged the players to improve on their performances.

    He also advised them to be committed and dedicated to up their game in the next three matches as all eyes are on them to redeem the image of the club in the upcoming CAF Confederations Cup as well as the remaining NPFL matches.

  • Imama salutes Rangers after Champions League draw

    Imama salutes Rangers after Champions League draw

    RANGERS coach Imama Amapakabo has praised the tactical discipline and cool head of his team after they held JS Saoura of Algeria to a 1-1 draw in a CAF Champions League clash last night.

    Nigerian champions Rangers held hosts JSS to a 1-1 draw in Bechir Friday night with the return leg in Enugu next weekend.

    Imama hailed his team’s composure despite the tension surrounding the game.

    “I have a great feeling about the match. Tactically we were good and the boys gave a good account of themselves,” he praised.

    “Goalkeeper Nana Bonso was really lively throughout the tension-soaked match.

    “The most enchanting aspect of the match was my boys were disciplined all through the duration not minding the tricks of the North Africans.

    “We got a clear chance to wrap up the match late on, but our away goal is really an added advantage.

    “The Algerians were tactically good and that is more reason we need to prepare very well for the second leg, which is just in a week.”