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Tag: Kenneth Omeruo

  • Boro clear Omeruo for Man City tie

    Boro clear Omeruo for Man City tie

    SuperEagles’ defender, Kenneth Omeruo, who was rested in the Middlesbrough 2-1 home win over Cardiff in a Championship tie on Tuesday night will be back among the first 11 against Manchester City in Saturday’s English FA Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium, SportingLife has reliably gathered.

    Boro, who were demoted to the lower league some seasons ago, are angling for a return to the premier league at the end of the season and they are presently second on the log with 50 points from 27 matches and a point behind league leaders, AFC Bournemouth.

    Omeruo has been an integral part of that project after the club renegotiated his loan return from his parent club, Chelsea for the entire season and has featured more in the defence even though Boro head coach, Aitor Karanka has a policy of rotating his squad to make all the players happy.

    The former schoolboy international played 90 minutes in Middlesbrough’s 2-0 home win over Huddersfield Town last Saturday in a Matchday 25 encounter but he was told to relax to make way for another player because of the crucial FA Cup tie with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

    Boro were unlucky to lose to Liverpool in a marathon penalty shootout after the tie had ended 2-2 at regulation time at the Anfield Stadium in the earlier round of the Capital One Cup and they do not want a repeat of that when they tackle Man City .

    A close source of the Nigerian and his advisor, Chika Akujobi, told SportingLife that Omeruo is expected to make a return to the team for the tough FA Cup tie and that he travelled to England from his base to confirm the development.

    He said Omeruo was not injured for the Tuesday game but was only omitted because of the pressing FA Cup tie against Manchester City adding that the Eagles’ defender has promised to put City’s strikers at bay in order to ensure that Boro qualify for the next round.

    “Kenneth is okay and was only rested against Cardiff. The team still won in spite of his absence which means that Boro’s coach Karanka has enough players in the squad and the fight for shirt is very fierce.

    “But I can confirm to you that Kenneth will travel with the team to  Manchester and he will play against the hosts. Boro are looking at shocking Manchester City and they are not taking the game lightly,” Akujobi told SportingLife.

  • Eagles sweat on Omeruo’s fitness

    Eagles sweat on Omeruo’s fitness

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo has started training with the rest of the squad as he battle fitness race for  tomorrow’s African Cup of Nations qualifying match against South Africa .

    The Middlesbrough of England defender suffered a knock in the team’s final training session before last Saturday’s all important match against Congo Brazzaville in Pointe Noire.

    The former youth international participated in the training session on Sunday at the Uyo Township stadium.

    Omeruo only lasted for few minutes when he involved in the jogging exercise before he was asked to go back to his seat by the technical crew led by Stephen Keshi.

    It is yet to be cleared if Omeruo would be available for the match against South Africa .

    Warri Wolves captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe replaced Omeruo in the match against Congo.

    The central defender sufferd the injury in fourth minute of the match, but managed to play the game till the end with a bandaged head.

  • AFCON: Omeruo limps out of Eagles’ final training

    AFCON: Omeruo limps out of Eagles’ final training

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, is a major injury doubt for Nigeria after he limped out of the team’s training in Pointe-Noire on Friday, africanFootball.com reports.

    Eagles’ spokesman, Ben Alaiya, said the Middlesbrough central defender did not complete the training in Congo.

    “I hope he is fit for this game. The doctor is working on him,” africanFootball.com quoted Alaiya as saying on Saturday.

    Should Omeruo fail to recover in time for this crunch African Nations Cup qualifier, his place in the team would be taken by Warri Wolves skipper, Azubuike Egwuekwe.

    The Eagles had received an expected hostile welcome in Congo with open intimidation by angry local fans who chanted “Nigeria Ebola!” as the team made its way for a final training session on Friday afternoon.

     

  • ‘Eagles targeting 12 maximum points in AFCON qualifiers’

    ‘Eagles targeting 12 maximum points in AFCON qualifiers’

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has said the team is targeting a maximum 12 points in the remaining four qualifiers to secure a berth in next year’s African Nations Cup in Morocco.

    The African champions, who failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON, currently lies third in Group A with a point after losing 2-3 at home to Congo and held hosts South Africa to a goalless draw last month, africanFootball.com reports.

    Congo leads the standings with six points, while South Africa follows with four points.

    The Super Eagles tackle Sudan on Saturday in continuation of the qualifying tournament before hosting the same team in a reverse clash next Wednesday.

    Nigeria’s other qualifiers are away to Congo in Pointe-Noire and a final group game against South Africa all in November.

    “We are aware of the task ahead and so we have resolved to work hard to pick the available 12 points in our remaining qualifiers,” Omeruo, who was among the 17 players that trained in Abuja Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash in Sudan, told africanFootball.com.

    “You can see the boys’ response in the first day of training. It speaks loud of our intention ahead of the games. All we ask of Nigerians is their support and confidence in the team.

    “We know there are no minnows anymore in African football.”

  • Omeruo limps off against Charlton

    Omeruo limps off against Charlton

    Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo has played down the injury he suffered yesterday while playing for Middlesbrough in an English Championship game against Charlton Athletic.

    The defender limped off the pitch in his team’s goalless draw in the 70th minute and was replaced by Ben Gibson.

    He has been called up by Nigeria for next month’s double header against Sudan in 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

    The AFCON 2013 winner had been treated for knocks at a point during the game, but the Chelsea player said he will be back for the next game on Tuesday against Blackpool.

    “I will be fine for Tuesday.. Great fight guys #UTB,” Omeruo tweeted.

  • Ebola: Mikel arrives Eagles’ camp, armed with gloves

    Ebola: Mikel arrives Eagles’ camp, armed with gloves

    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.

  • Omeruo: The Chelsea youngster who could mark Messi

    Omeruo: The Chelsea youngster who could mark Messi

    The main worry for Nigeria  over the past week has not been how on earth they’re going to deal with Lionel Messi and Co in Group F, but that Kenneth Omeruo might succumb to a knee injury.

    A collective sigh of relief was breathed all round when the 20-year-old Chelsea youngster was confirmed fit to start for the Super Eagles in their World Cup opener against Iran.

    Although won his 18th cap for Nigeria on Monday evening, Omeruo’s assured performances at in the middle of defence have seen him emerge as a crucial element to their plans.

    Only ten days after his international debut last year, Omeruo made his name by performing admirably in every match in Nigeria’s acclaimed run to winning the African Nations Cup.

    Since then, he’s been a mainstay in the side, helped immeasurably by his loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, able to operate at centre-half or right-back.

    Far from being forgotten about while in the north east, parent club Chelsea awarded him a new contract last month to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2018.

    Plucked from Standard Liege by the Blues in January 2012, Omeruo had to wait until two years – via a loan spell at Dutch side ADO Den Haag – for his debut in English football.

    Boro used manager Aitor Karanka’s Real Madrid connection with Jose Mourinho to secure the services of Omeruo on loan until the end of the season.

    Once the Nigerian got his chance, he became a regular fixture for the mid-table side, often featuring alongside fellow Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah.

    His uncomplicated style, strength and a level composure belying his lack of experience make him a solid presence at the back, particularly when dealing with the rigours of Championship forwards.

    These qualities are underpinned by a great pace, leading many to think he has what it takes to step up to a higher level.

    The World Cup will test that on the biggest stage imaginable. With the Iran clash the least troubling of the opening matches, few expect Nigeria to reach the last-16 at the expense of Bosnia or Argentina.

    In players like Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic, Omeruo will face the biggest test of his career on Saturday, at least until Wednesday week, when he’ll be tasked with keeping the world’s best attacking talent at bay.

    Even if Nigeria don’t make it through, Omeruo’s performances will be watched carefully by club boss Jose Mourinho.

    With Tomas Kalas – so assured in his Premier League debut at Anfield – joining the hordes of Chelsea players on loan by signing up with Bundesliga new boys Cologne, there is a place at centre-half available in Chelsea’s squad for next season.

    If Omeruo continues his rise in Brazil, Mourinho will find his designs on the spot hard to ignore.

     

    • Culled from Dailymail.

     

  • Omeruo targets glory with Boro

    Omeruo targets glory with Boro

    • Eagles star happy to play in any position

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo is looking forward to a glorious stint with Middlesbrough after his first game for the English Champion side against Doncaster Rovers last weekend.

    “I wish we had won the game, it would have been better but it was a difficult game. I am disappointed with the result but happy with my performance,” he told the Boro Plus.

    Omeruo has never hidden his desire to play as a centre-back for club and country but was saddled with the responsibility of playing at right-back on Saturday against Doncaster.

    He assessed the tactical switch employed by the club’s Spanish manager, Aitor Karanka and hinted that he will be happy to play in any position as long as it serves the best interests of the club.

    “The trainer (Karanka) asked me if I could play at right-back and I said, ‘yes.’ It was the decision of the manager to play me where he wants.

    “It’s about the team. I know I can play better,” he said.

    Karanka slowly eased Omeruo into the Boro first team and the Nigerian defender trained with the squad for three weeks before he made his competitive debut against Doncaster.

    He says he has settled in nicely and is looking forward to a happy future with the club.

    “It’s been very easy (for me to settle in). It’s not much different from what I have been used to at Chelsea (his parent club).

    “I just have to listen to the manager and how he wants me to play. There is unity in the team and I keep progressing striving to play each game better than I did the last,” he said

    Omeruo made 27 league appearances for Eredivisie club, ADO Den Haag in the 2012/13 season. He has also been capped 14 times by Nigeria.

  • ‘Boro guarantee Omeruo first-team action

    ‘Boro guarantee Omeruo first-team action

    Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo, who is on loan at Middlesbrough, has been guaranteed regular first-team football.

    It was understood that Chelsea were willing to allow the talented young defender to join Karanka’s improving outfit on the understanding that he would be a first team regular.

    And the bonus is that under the terms of his loan, Omeruo is eligible for the play-offs, should Boro finish in the top six.

    He said: “I want to help Middlesbrough achieve their ambitions.

    “The coach told me the club has gone from fighting relegation to six points from the play-offs, so that’s my aim, that’s why I am looking forward to my time here, I want to help Middlesbrough climb the table.”

    “I’m looking forward to playing in the Championship,” he added, “though I don’t know too much about the division yet. The fans should expect me to give my best, I’ll give everything while I’m here.

    “I have to put my best foot forward, impress the fans and impress the manager.”

    Hull City were one of the teams who hoped to sign Omeruo, who was linked with ‘Boro last summer.

    He hasn’t played first-team football in England, but impressed during an extended stint in the Eredivisie with Den Haag, which came to a halt at the end of last season.

    Ado Den Haag were keen to re-sign Omeruo ahead of the current season, but Chelsea wanted him to stay in England and, prior to joining Boro, he’s been limited to appearances in the FA Under-21 Premier League.

    “I’m pleased to be here, it’s been a while since my recovery from the operation,” said Omeruo, who did not make his debut at Blackpool on Saturday.

    “I’ve been trying to play as many games as possible and I think this is a great opportunity and I’m pleased about that.

    “Being at Middlesbrough and getting the chance to play in the national team all comes down to my time at Den Haag.

    “I was playing every week and I got the call to go to the training camp for the African Nations Cup.

    “I’ve been playing regularly for the national team and I want to keep it that way.

    “I thought it would be a good move to get some games.

    “I had a couple of Premier League offers but there wasn’t an assurance that I would be playing and if I was on the bench at a club I might as well have stayed at Chelsea.”

    Liverpool and Vitesse Arhmen were reported to have shown interest in having the Nigerian on loan.

  • Omeruo happy to be back playing

    Omeruo happy to be back playing

    New Middlesbrough on-loan defender, Kenneth Omeruo has described his switch to the Championship side as an amazing feeling after training with the Aitor Karanka-tutored team for the first time yesterday.

    Omeruo was released by Chelsea to remain with Middlesbrough till the end of the season because of his inability to break into the main team of the Stamford Bridge landlords. The player was poised to make a big leap with the former English Premier League (EPL) champions before he copped a shoulder injury on international duty with Nigeria during the Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup around the time Chelsea players were on pre-season activities.

    He never recovered until the start of the EPL current season and subsequently was made to train with the first team only because of lack of pre-season games.

    Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho sanctioned the loan deal to Middlesbrough so that Omeruo could reunite with the Portuguese coach’s former Assistant at Real Madrid, Aitor Karanka.

    Speaking with SportingLife from England, Omeruo said he was happy to get to a club that he would be well utilised and would get competitive games that would keep him busy and match fit ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    “I am happy to be playing again after a long while. I am also grateful to Jose Mourinho for approving the loan move. I want to start playing games again to ensure that I am match fit and ready for the World Cup preparations.

    “I don’t know what my future holds but I know that I will return to Chelsea at the end of the season a better player than I am presently. I am indeed thrilled to be here with Middlesbrough and with the coach (Aitor Karanka) and the players. They have shown the desire that they actually want me,” Omeruo told SportingLife.

    Eagles’ head coach, Stephen Keshi has alerted his players that regular playing time at their respective clubs would be the only prerequisite for their selection in the pre-World Cup programmes which SportingLife had exclusively reported would commence on May 26.

    Nigeria, in their fifth World Cup appearance in Brazil, are pooled against Argentina, Iran and Bosnia in Group F.