Super Eagles defender, Juwon Oshaniwa, got his first career red card while in action for his Scottish Premier League club, Hearts, on Friday.
He will now miss the next two games for Hearts on account of his dismissal, africanFootball.com reports.
The 2013 African Nations Cup winner was given the marching order by the referee in the 87th minute.
An apparent scuffle on the goal-line between Oshaniwa and Tobi Sho-Silva saw the left-back given a straight red.
Celtic defender Efe Ambrose has said Scottish Premier League newcomers Hearts, who parade compatriot Juwon Oshaniwa, will compete with Celtic in this season title race.
Hearts is leading the table after remaining unbeaten in five games this season, africanFootball.com reports.
“I think Hearts will challenge for the league title. The club deserves its current position, but Celtic will always fight and will be ready to fight for the title till the end of the season,” Ambrose told africanFootball.com
The Super Eagles defender added that he was not surprised Oshaniwa has fitted in so well at Hearts.
“I am happy for him (Juwon) and I thank God for making him sign for Hearts. He is a friend and a brother. I am not surprised that he has fitted in well because he has all the qualities to be one of the best here,” Ambrose remarked.
THE Super Eagles defender has been handed jersey No. 78 in Robbie Neilson’s team having completing his move to the Scottish giants
Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa has signed a three-year contract with Hearts after passing his medicals on Friday.
The 24-year-old, capped 17 times by the Super Eagles, left Ironi Ashdod after a disappointing season in the Israeli topflight where they got relegated to the second division.
The Tynecastle club have had to be patient as the dealings became twisted up in administration but Hearts manager Robbie Neilson believes the wait for the Nigerian international will be vindicated when he eventually plays his way into the team.
“It has been difficult because we had hoped to get him for pre-season so we could build through there with him but hopefully it will be worth the wait,” says Robbie Neilson.
“We did it last season with [Adam] Eckersley and [Miguel] Pallardo. They were guys who came in after we had started and it’s just part of football and you just have to deal with it.
Super Eagles defender, Juwon Oshaniwa, has signed a three-year contract with Scottish side, Hearts, after passing his medicals on Friday.
The 24-year-old, capped 17 times by the three-time African champions, left Ironi Ashdod after the team was relegated to the second division, Goal reports.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson believes the wait for the Nigerian international will be vindicated when he eventually plays his way into the team.
“It has been difficult because we had hoped to get him for pre-season so we could build through there with him but hopefully it will be worth the wait,” Goal quoted Neilson as saying after the deal was concluded.
“We did it last season with [Adam] Eckersley and [Miguel] Pallardo. They were guys who came in after we had started and it’s just part of football and you just have to deal with it.
“Everyone wants to get their full squad in for the first day of pre-season but it never happens like that.
“We are expecting him to do really well for us and it’s usually worth the wait when guys like this come in.
“It has been the longest transfer saga ever. He needs to come in and he needs to train and get to know the players, with a view of next weekend or possibly the midweek game against Motherwell,” he concluded.
Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, arrived the team training camp in Calabar armed with several hand gloves.
He arrived the Eagles camp as scheduled and told Stephen Keshi he has at least four hand gloves as part of his own personal fight against Ebola, africanFootball.com reports.
“Coach I have up to four hand gloves and if you don’t mind, I can hand one pair to you,” Mikel told Keshi with the rest of the squad reeling with laughter.
Nigeria has recorded five deaths since the Ebola outbreak last month.
However, the spirit in camp is very buoyant with the arrival of the superstars and Keshi said he expects the best from the players against Congo on Saturday.
Meanwhile, 17 players have reported to camp with more players expected before the evening training after only nine players trained in the morning.
Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Sone Aluko, and stand-in captain Austin Ejide have all arrived the team camp.
Super Eagles defender, Juwon Oshaniwa, has revealed that his impressive performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup was in response to the barrage of criticism that trailed his inclusion in the 23-man list.
Oshaniwa eventually became the Super Eagles’ first choice in the left-back position in Brazil following Elderson Echiejile’s injury enforced absence at the tournament.
The 23-year-old played all four matches as Nigeria reached the World Cup second round for the first time in 16 years.
He stated that self-belief was responsible for his commendable performance as responsibility beckoned on him following Echiejile’s blackout.
“It feels good and also a great achievement putting smiles on the faces of critics. Well, I felt so bad that my friend [Echiejile] was ruled out of the competition despite his contributions to the team’s qualification for the tournament,” Oshaniwa told Goal.
“Knowing that responsibility of replacing him beckoned on me, I had to put myself together, take charge to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”
The Ashdod of Israel star also revealed that he is not in a hurry to move to another club not unmindful of several offers coming from other European clubs.
“For every player on earth, there is always a desire for a greener pasture and I can tell you that mine is not an exception.
“I have set some targets for myself which I am working towards achieving because I’m sure the future is very bright for me.
“Sure, I have received some offers from other clubs and that I won’t disclose until everything materializes.
“Right now, I’m with my parents to share some moments with them and also to receive their blessings before preparing for the new league season,” he concluded.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa, few days after it was revealed that he was not taking his training sessions seriously.
MS Ashdod defeated Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday, with the fullback watching the game from the podium after being axed from the roster.
Juwon Oshaniwa, 23, was not authorised by the leadership of MS Ashdod to attend the match, and he has now gotten himself in more hot water.
According to reports in Israel, the African Cup of Nations winner will face a Disciplinary Committee in the coming days and might be slapped with a fine.
Oshaniwa, who is represented by Dudu Dahan, the same agent that brokered the deal that took Ambrose to Celtic, has a contract with Ashdod until June 2016.
Juwon Oshaniwa has told MTNFootball.com he is excited to feature in FC Ashdod’s upset win against league leaders Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli State Cup.
Ashdod beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 after extra-time on Tuesday. The AFCON 2013 winner, who was solid in FC Ashdod’s left back, said the victory was a huge boost for his club.
“I thank God for giving us victory over a bigger team like Maccabi Tel Aviv. It was not an easy game, a big task but God was on our side and he crowned our determination, dedication and collective effort to win. I am looking forward to the round of 16 game and as well doing great things in the league,” Oshaniwa told MTNFootball.com.
FC Ashdod are seventh on the league table with 26 points from 19 games.
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.