The Nation Newspaper

Tag: keshi

  • Keshi defends Omeruo’s return

    Keshi defends Omeruo’s return

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has defended his inclusion of Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo in last Saturday’s World Cup play-off against Ethiopia.

    Kenneth, who was just returning from a shoulder injury, did not complete the game after he suffered a muscle strain.

    “Kenneth has played competitive matches with his team before joining up with the Eagles. And I think he did very well in the game,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com.

    “It was only wise of him to have asked to be changed after suffering a muscle strain.”

    Omeruo is available for selection in Monday night’s friendly against Italy at Craven Cottage in London.

     

  • Ghana coach applauds Keshi

    Ghana coach applauds Keshi

    Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has sent a congratulatory message to Stephen Keshi for qualifying Nigeria to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals.

    The Super Eagles beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Calabar on Saturday to seal a 4-1 aggregate win in the playoffs.

    Nigeria became the first African country to confirm their ticket for Brazil 2014.

    Keshi has become the first African coach to send two countries to the FIFA World Cup finals after masterminding Togo’s historic qualification in 2006.

    “Congratulations to them [Nigeria]. They have done well. He’s my friend, [Stephen] Keshi. We have always been in touch and I am really happy for them. We have become very close friends and we talk on so many issues,” Appiah said.

    Appiah will be seeking to emulate Keshi’s feat when he leads the Black Stars to face Egypt on Tuesday in Cairo with a 6-1 win from the first leg.

  • 2014 World Cup programme: Keshi to submit plans soon

    2014 World Cup programme: Keshi to submit plans soon

    • Says CHAN competition is immediate target.

    Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has promised to submit a workable programme to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the next few days ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals.

    Nigeria booked a flight to Brazil on Saturday at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, by defeating the Walya Antelopes 4-1 on aggregate. The Eagles had earlier beaten them 2-1 in Addis Ababa before completing a double with a 2-0 win in Calabar on Saturday.

    Speaking with journalists during the post-match press conference, Keshi told Nigerians that he and his technical crew would soon have a discussion to draft how the programme for the Eagles would look like ahead of the Mundial.

    The Big Boss explained that the African Nations Championship (CHAN) slated for South Africa in January remained his priority before delving into the World Cup programme.

    He reckoned that raising a formidable team that would compete favourably with other countries in Africa would be his immediate headache before any talk about the World Cup.

    “We just finished a game and I don’t have anything on paper right now. Maybe in the next couple of days or weeks I will establish something better. But my most important competition now is CHAN. It is around the corner in the month of January.

    “Getting beyond the quarter-final stage at the World Cup finals and other things will follow one after the other. It is turn by turn and game by game until we get to the last game.”

    Speaking on the hope for some players that have not been considered during the qualifiers to the World Cup, Keshi told journalists: “Starting from the month of March next year, we should be having some friendly matches. Some of them that are here might get the the opportunity to showcase themselves.

    “Bringing in players is not only about the football side of it, it is about the complete players that we need. You can be an excellent player but you can still divide the house.

    “I will not invite a player that might break the unity in the team when I know that it is the ingredient we need to have a solid national team. I don’t care if such player scores 20 goals; If he could cause confusion in my team, I will take such player out. We need a team in and out of the field.

    “We only have 23 players going to the World Cup, we cannot exceed that because we are not the only country going to the World Cup.”

     

  • Nigerian Sports Award: Organisers hail Keshi

    The organisers of the Nigerian Sports Award (NSA) have commended Super Eagles head Coach Stephen Keshi, who is one of the nominees for the Coach of the Year category of the award, for leading Nigeria to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Nigeria defeated Ethiopia 2-0 at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, on Saturday to book its fifth World Cup ticket on a 4-1 aggregate, having won the first leg by 2-1 in Addis Ababa.

    The organisers of the award were part of the spectators that cheered Eagles to victory on Saturday.

    According to Kayode Idowu, General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, organisers of the award commended Keshi and his squad for their brilliant performance in ensuring that the country’s flag will be hoisted in Brazil next year.

    “Football is one of the unifying factors in the country and Keshi and his boys have united the country with this World Cup qualification. The team started well and ended well. Keshi has not only demonstrated the quality of a good coach but a good leader as well,” Idowu said.

    “As a body, the Nigerian Sports Award is very proud of the performance of the team and indeed the coach who is one of the nominees for the 2013 edition of the awards. Keshi and his team gave us the Nations Cup trophy in February and now crowned it with the World Cup ticket. We have no doubt that Nigeria will do well in the World Cup in Brazil.”

    Idowu further stressed that the voting phase of the award is still ongoing and called on Nigerian sports enthusiasts to vote for their nominees of choice via SMS by sending the abbreviation SMOTY (nominees -Mikel, Moses & Mba) or SWOTY (nominees -Okagbare, Cecelia & Orji) and the name of the preferred nominee to 33140 for the Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year award respectively.

    He revealed that five lucky members of the public were rewarded with 3 NOKIA ASHA 501 phones & 2 VIP passes weekly through an electronic draw for their participation.

    He also assured on the preparedness and readiness of the organisers to hold the event on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at the Muson Centre, Lagos. Idowu added that the party began from Calabar on November 16 when the Super Eagles beat Ethiopia in the last Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying match.

  • EAGLES’ POOR PLAY: My boys were anxious to score — Keshi

    EAGLES’ POOR PLAY: My boys were anxious to score — Keshi

    Super Eagles handler Stephen Keshi has given reasons for his players’ scrappy performance in last Saturday’s World Cup play-off game against Ethiopia.

    “Not that my boys didn’t play, they were just anxious to score. We wanted to show that we were African champions by playing our own kind of football but the Walya Antelopes came with a plan, that’s to sit in their own half, and they were smart about it. Soon after we got our first goal, they came out and that profited us as we then got the second goal,” the Big Boss stated.

    “The first thing was to make sure we qualified,” Keshi said.

    “In today’s (Saturday’s) game I don’t mind that we played badly as long as we qualified. We have other games where we can play beautiful football. There was a lot of anxiety around the players, because it was the last game and they wanted to qualify.

    “I had to calm them down and make sure their state of mind was intact, but I knew it was going to be a little difficult for them to focus. I remember the same thing happened to us in Algeria in 1993 with players not being able to eat because they were anxious. But we had to try to make sure we got them to calm down a bit.”

    “Tactically, we are there. After the first goal we told them to take it easy, slow down and allow them (the Ethiopians) to come out. But their coach was smart; they refused to come out. But whatever came out today, as long as we qualified, and our flag is flying in Brazil, I will take it.”

    The likes of Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye and Ahmed Musa were unable to add their names to the scoresheet as they failed to convert their chances in the game.

     

  • Keshi must go to Brazil — Kalu

    Keshi must go to Brazil — Kalu

    For earning yet another Mundial ticket, Big Boss Stephen Okechukwu Keshi got maximum backing from former Abia State governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

    “Keshi has done a noble job. Kudos to the Eagles. The labourer deserves his wages. I will pray for Keshi to lead us to Brazil,” Kalu said.

    The coach was unlucky in the past as twice he was dropped after grabbing World Cup slots.

    “It must not happen again,” Kalu pointed out. “In 2001, Keshi was sacked alongside Shaibu Amodu and Joe Erico after moving Nigeria to Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup. Again he was fired in 2005 by Togo after giving them a first Mundial ticket. Keshi was replaced by German Otto Pfister who offered nothing.”

    The ex-governor praised Keshi for taking his game to a higher dimension.

    “Give it to him. Only Nigerian to lead three different countries to the Nations Cup. First Nigerian to qualify two nations for the World Cup.”

  • 1994 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: Why I cried in Algeria — Keshi

    1994 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: Why I cried in Algeria — Keshi

    Stephen Keshi has given reasons why he cried after the Super Eagles qualified Nigeria for her debut senior World Cup in the United States of America (USA) in 1994.

    The Big Boss after guiding the AFCON 2013 kings to qualification for Brazil 2014, their fifth Mundial, stated in Calabar that: “The emotions then as captain of the national male team that qualified Nigeria to her debut World Cup were very high when compared to last Sunday’s, as a coach that did same 20 years after. We were made to pick the ticket away from home.

    “So we had history to make for ourselves unlike the Algerians, who had noting to play for. That last game, I recall, was played under closed doors and we needed a draw. We were a young side, so the pressure was on us. But at the end we got a draw.

    “I guess after the match all of you know what happened as the emotions were too much for me hide. But as one who qualified Nigeria to Brazil, there isn’t much emotions as the job had been done 70%, when we defeated the Ethiopians in the first leg in Addis Ababa. So the second leg was just for us to seal it and that’s what we have done today (Saturday).”

  • Keshi preaches total concentration

    Keshi preaches total concentration

    • Enyeama: We are 100% fit

    Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has again said there is need for first grade professionalism, total concentration and presence of mind at all times, as the national team takes on their Ethiopian counterparts in the second leg, final round qualifier this afternoon in Calabar.

    The game is scheduled for the ultra-modern, U.J. Esuene Stadium in the southern part of Nigeria and fans, supporters and administrators of the game have been trooping into Calabar City for the encounter.

    “We have never played Ethiopia before, in fact we don’t know them, but we want to win against them and win well”, Keshi said during a last-minute chat with the media in Calabar after the Eagles’ last training session in The Canaan City. He, however, expressed optimism that the team will not let the nation down in today’s game despite the fact that the Ethiopians have not lost any game away in the qualifiers.

    “We have also not lost any game away and we are the champions of Africa. We must be ready at all times for any opposition and I think that is what we are set to do on Saturday”, he said.

    Team skipper, Vincent Enyeama, was emphatic when he spoke to the media. “We are hundred per cent fit and there is no way any team can deny us the World Cup ticket at this point in time.

    “We may have made mistakes along the line but the focus is total and we will get what we and Nigerians desire against Ethiopia”.

  • Eaglets get plaudits from Keshi

    Eaglets get plaudits from Keshi

    Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, has praised the Golden Eaglets for emerging champions at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE.

    Keshi told supersport.com that the under-17s deserve commendation for the manner with which they emerged world champions.

    “I’m very impressed with the boys. It is a big achievement in their careers winning the Under-17 World Cup. They showed every ingredient to become champions and that’s why they deserve commendation,” said the Nigerian trainer.

    The former Mali and Togo manager, however refused to single out any particular player for individual praise.

    Keshi rather believes Manu Garba’s team played as a unit.

    “At this level of football you don’t want to single out one player over another. Yes if we say the midfielders or strikers did so well, we need to also remember that there are the goalkeeper and defenders who also kept their discipline to make sure the team didn’t concede during delicate periods in some of their matches.

    “So you’ll now understand that football is a team sport. I agree that a number of players distinguished themselves ahead of the others but we really cannot overlook the contribution of the others in the team,” said Keshi to supersport.com.

    After being prodded further on Kelechi Iheanacho, the tournament’s most valuable player, Keshi believes the Taye Football Academy attacking midfielder has the potentials to become a top player in future if properly managed.

    “He (Iheanacho) is a very talented player and we saw that during the games he played. But he must be properly managed as he grows through the ranks. His development should be the key factor in his career as well as that of others in the team,” said the Nigerian coach.

    Asked if he will consider any of the Golden Eaglets players for the Super Eagles in future, Keshi told supersport.com he will rather keep tabs on the development of the players.

    “We will see how that unfolds. But like I said my concern is to see the boys develop into top players as they have the potentials. I will be monitoring them as much as I can to know how they develop though I have learnt that one of them has signed for a club in Europe.

    But let’s see what happens,” said Keshi.

    Nigeria emerged champions of the Under-17 World Cup for the fourth time after defeating Mexico 3-0 in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

  • Manu to Keshi: My players are good enough for Brazil 2014

    Manu to Keshi: My players are good enough for Brazil 2014

    • Says Eaglets will learn more under the Big Boss

    Golden Eaglets’ head coach, Manu Garba has challenged the Super Eagles’ handler, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi to look in the direction of his players for next year’s senior FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    The Eaglets have been flawless since the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup began in the United Arab Emirates(UAE) and are only a game away from carting away a record fourth cadet title on Asian soil.

    Ahead of the final match in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, Manu told journalists in Sharjah that Keshi would do very well to invite some of the players to camp for them to gain additional knowledge and experience leading to the 2018 edition which he said they would be prepared for.

    The Eaglets gaffer said that securing spots in the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad may be a tall order for his boys because they still lack the necessary requisite experience to cope with the demands of the senior World Cup.

    But Manu noted that his boys would relish the opportunity for some of them to train with the Super Eagles and that it would remain indelible in their hearts till when they would have their own chance in the senior national team.

    “Yes, I believe that some of my players are good enough for the Super Eagles. They can play at next year’s World Cup though it may be too early for them. They can, however, gain experience from their stay in the Eagles’ camp that will be of help when they have the opportunity to represent their fatherland in 2018 World Cup.

    “I want to appeal to Keshi to give some of the Eaglets the chance to train with the senior national team because they will definitely have something to learn that will be of immense benefit to them in the future,” Manu told journalists after the Eaglets 2-0 win over Uruguay in Sharjah last Saturday.

    Two goals from Taiwo Awoniyi got the Eaglets a spot in the last four before another impressive 3-0 scoreline over Sweden in the semi final which secured their place in the final.