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Tag: keshi

  • Keshi calm over FIFA query

    Keshi calm over FIFA query

    World football governing body, FIFA has officially written to Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi over his outburst directed at former Malawi coach, Tom Saintfiet.

    FIFA’s correspondence comes on the heels of a complaint from the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) after Keshi was accused of a racist slur.

    FIFA has finally reacted by dispatching a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) requesting for an explanation from the Nigeria coach.

    Spokesman of the NFF, Ademola Olajire who confirmed the receipt of the correspondence from the world football governing body, revealed that Keshi’s response is expected to reach FIFA on Monday, September 16.

    Meanwhile, Keshi has reacted calmly to the development insisting that his outburst was inspired by the love of his country.

    Keshi was responding to remarks made by Saintfiet who labelled Calabar unsafe to host last Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Malawi.

    “What I said wasn’t directly to him (Saintfiet). I was merely defending my team and defending my country and that was it,” Keshi told supersport.com.

    FAM, however, does not believe Keshi’s explanations hold any water with general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda describing his outburst as a “personal attack on our coach.”

    “We thought it was a personal attack on our coach and we had to defend him regardless of skin. We felt we should help our coach and at the same time put a stop to the racist remarks from Mr Keshi. We have sent evidence of what Keshi said and we hope FIFA will come up with some measures to control Mr Keshi,” said Nyirenda.

    It is believed that Keshi could miss as many as five FIFA sanctioned matches if he is found guilty of racially abusing Saintfiet.

  • Emenike wants Yobo in Eagles

    Emenike wants Yobo in Eagles

    Emmanuel Emenike has asked that Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo be recalled to the national team because of his experience.

    Yobo has not played for the Eagles since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Emenike, who netted two goals on his return to the team after a long injury lay off, told MTNFootball.com that Yobo’s experience is still very crucial for the Eagles.

    Youngster Kenneth Omeruo benched the 95-cap former Everton defender at the AFCON and in the absence of the injured Omeruo, Warri Wolves skipper Azubuike Egwuekwe has been considered ahead of the Eagles skipper, who clocked 33 recently.

    “Even though it is the decision of the coach on who he invites to the national team, personally I think we still need Yobo in the team,” Emenike said.

    “I play with him every week and sincerely we need his wealth of experience in the Eagles.

    “I am in the Eagles doing well today is partly because of the encouragement I get from Yobo and the coach.”

    The Fenerbache striker, who described Yobo as “a senior brother,” equally lauded the former Flying Eagles star for scouting him out for the Eagles.

    “He brought me to the Super Eagles after we played against each other in a match in Turkey, before Samson Siasia came over to convince me to play for the country,” he added.

     

  • Brazil 2014 fifa World Cup: NFF expects Keshi’s play-off programme

    Brazil 2014 fifa World Cup: NFF expects Keshi’s play-off programme

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expecting the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi to submit his programme for the final play-off for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

    The Football body has given the coach the time after the Tuesday’s friendly game against Burkina Faso in Kaduna to submit his programme on time for the play-off that is expected to come up between October and November this year.

    ‘’Now that the team has qualified for the last lap of qualifiers and awaits the next opponent, adequate preparation is important. Report reaching shows that Ivory Coast, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Algeria, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso Ethiopia, and Senegal have qualified for the run-off and you know it is going to be a two –legged affairs and on knock-out bases. So we expect at the end of the day Keshi to submit his programmes because we do not know our next opponent yet,” Ikpeme said.

    ‘’The fact that the team is going to have the next match in October, to me it is not really an issue because we expect at the end of the day Keshi is going to submit his programmes for the next run-off which is going to come up after the draws Monday next week.’’

    Ikpeme is also confident on the chances of the Nigerian team to pick the World Cup ticket. ‘’We in the Federation are not worried because the Nigeria Premier League is on and the players, those of them playing locally and their colleagues in Europe play everyday and they will be fit. We have the players and what it takes to qualify for Brazil 2014,” he disclosed.

  • Keshi thrilled with Burkinabes’ bashing

    Keshi thrilled with Burkinabes’ bashing

     •Unhappy Eagles conceded a goal

    Nigeria Coach Stephen Keshi says he is happy with his wards after the Super Eagles defeated visiting Burkina Faso team 4-1 in an international friendly played on Tuesday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

    Keshi, was full of praise for his team even as he chided the defenders for the goal that was conceded.

    “It was a good game. We needed a match like this to try new things out. Overall I must say I’m satisfied, the team is taking shape and we can only get better.” he said at a press conference after the game.

    Kaduna fans were treated to a football fest as the full capacity Stadium saw Brown Ideye grab a brace and further goals from Newcastle United’s Shola Ameobi and Emmanuel Emenike ensured Nigeria got an emphatic win.

    Stephen Keshi was however not happy his team couldn’t keep a clean sheet in the encounter, but he said this anomalies will be rectified.

    “Everyone wants a clean sheet especially if he is four nil up. I wasn’t happy we conceded that goal, but we will try and fix that area up. We are ready for the next round of the African World Cup qualifiers. I don’t have any preferences. You have to face what is in front of you. Any country that we draw is good enough for me.”

    “There were a lot of positives from this game, we’ve learnt a lot and while moving forward, we’ll take care of areas we feel should be taken care of.” he added.

    Nigeria will know their foes for the next round of the Africa zone of the FIFA 2014 World Cup when the draws are conducted on 16th September.

     

  • Mikel has been top class – Keshi

    Mikel has been top class – Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has heaped praise on Mikel Obi, saying the Chelsea midfielder has been at his best under him.

    “Mikel has been excellent for Nigeria playing under me,” MTNFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying to a close confidant after Nigeria beat Malawi at the weekend to advance to the final playoffs for the 2014 World Cup.

    “He has really impressed me and has never let me down.”

    Mikel was voted the Most Valuable Player against Malawi as he imposed himself in the midfield alongside Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi.

    He also impressed at the recent FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil and played a key role as Nigeria won a third Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg, South Africa, in February.

    He has played a more attacking position from midfield than the defensive role he plays for Chelsea that he is now being touted as a future Eagles captain.

    Interestingly, Mikel had first seemed to be heading on a collision course with Keshi when he first took charge of the Eagles in November 2011.

    The star midfielder, who for long was accused of lacking enough commitment for the national team, stayed away from the friendlies against Botswana and Zambia due to injury and it was not until several months later that he finally played for the Eagles under Keshi.

    And Keshi’s praise now come at a time when there are insinuations that the Chelsea star feigned a calf injury after the Malawi match so as to be excused from Tuesday’s friendly against Burkina Faso in Kaduna.

     

  • Keshi highlights Oduamadi’s qualities

    Keshi highlights Oduamadi’s qualities

    Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has taken time to highlight the qualities of one his players, Nnamdi Oduamadi, even as the Eagles get set for today’s high profile friendly against the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

    The Big Boss reeled out the endearing qualities of the Brescia midfielder when asked what informed his choice for the starting XI in last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over the Flames of Malawi in a World Cup qualifying match in Calabar.

    “The reason we brought Oduamadi in is that, he is very quick on his feet, he is a good dribbler, he can provoke to cause penalty or free kicks in the 18yard box and he is works very hard too and he is team player,” the Big Boss told futaa.com in Calabar.

    Though Oduamadi did not find the back of the net like he did in the last game against Kenya in which he rescued a vital point for Nigeria, he exhibited the qualities highlighted by Coach Keshi as he gifted the Eagles the penalty kick which effectively sealed Malawi’s fate on Saturday.

  • Your shirt is not safe

    Your shirt is not safe

    Super Eagles’ head coach Stephen Keshi has warned his players to sit tight if they want to retain their place in the senior national team.

    Keshi, in a post match press conference, assured that no sentiments would come into play whenever he is pondering over whom to invite to the Eagles.

    He said he would only invite players on current form and their commitment to the national team cause.

    The Big Boss asserted that he won’t hesitate to bench misfiring players if he sees others better than them.

    He confirmed that no player can lay claim to any jersey in the senior national team since his rebuilding process will come with substituting weaker players for vibrant ones.

    “No matter how long you have a team there may be one or two players that you might see and want to bring into the team. We will still continue building because there is no way I will use 11 or 18 players for two consecutive years without making some necessary changes. If I have one or two players coming in that are better than the ones I have here, I will definitely have to change them. It is part of building too because they have to learn our style of play and how we play our game.

    “If I have anybody that is much more better than the one I have at any position in the team, I won’t hesitate to make changes. It is not about me. It is about this country and the flag. It has nothing to do with an individual or person.

    “When Clemens Westerhof brought in Sunday Oliseh to replace Thompson Oliha in the midfield. Oliseh was midfield general for four years and only came in and replaced Oliha. It is not about sentiment. We need players that are going to give us result.

    The Big Boss also disclosed that it has never always been an easy decision naming the first 11 and the reserves among the technical crew but said he was happy that players are competing for every position.

    “Selection is what we are looking for. We need three players in each position. We need that competition in the team. We had it when I was playing for the national team. So why can’t we have it now? We have very good players both home and away waiting for their opportunity to be given a chance.

    “It was difficult naming the first eleven because all the players in the team can start without any problem.”

    On the country that Nigeria may likely face during the next stage, Keshi opined that he won’t pre-occupy himself with wishing for a particular country. He maintained that he has enough players to withstand any country in the universe.

    “I am confident with the players I have here today. I am confident against any team.”

  • WCQ: We will attack Malawi – Keshi

    WCQ: We will attack Malawi – Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi , has said his team will attack against Malawi in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.

    The Super Eagles lead Group F with nine points and need only a draw to advance to the final rounds of the qualifying tournament, but Keshi said they will still go for broke against the visiting Flames of Malawi.

    Speaking to MTNFootball.com in Calabar, Keshi said, “Nothing will change from how we use to play, we play attacking football and that is what we will play on Saturday.

    “What I want now is for my boys to remain in good health, which I am happy God has granted us. We are in high spirit and the boys are hungry.

    “Despite the short time for training, I must say I am impressed on how the boys have responded, no sign of tiredness or stress from long trip. Well we will see how it goes.”

    Although Keshi was not forthcoming on his starting XI, he said “The usual suspects will start – Mikel, Efe, Oboabona, Vincent, Elderson and that’s all.”

    The match kicks off by 4pm Nigeria time.

     

  • Keshi looks forward to Malawi challenge

    Keshi looks forward to Malawi challenge

    Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi has admitted that he expects Malawi to put up a good fight when they face the Super Eagles in Calabar today.

    The Big Boss noted that pressure will be on the Malawians to win, as they need nothing short of victory to advance to the next round, while Nigeria need just a draw to progress.

    “I’m expecting them to fight like they never did before, they need to win, while we’re okay with a draw,” Keshi said after Thursday’s training session.

    Keshi was, however, optimistic of his team’s chances, noting that the early arrival of the players has given him room to explore several tactical options.

    “I’m happy my players are eager to get the job done, this is the first time I’m having a full house and it has presented me several options on the tactics to adopt.”

  • Keshi: Three points better than goals margin

    Keshi: Three points better than goals margin

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi says he is not concerned about the number of goals his wards score against Flames of Malawi in today’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the U.J.Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

    Nigerians have been concerned about the limited number of goals by the national team under the Big Boss in recent outings but the former Togo manager stressed that he will be comfortable if the Eagles earn the qualification ticket than score goals that make no value to the team’s aspiration.

    “I am not worried with the number of goals scored by my boys. My objective is for the team to secure the qualification ticket to Brazil which I think is more important than scoring more goals. If we score one or two goals it is okay by me so far as it will give us the needed points to move to the final round of the qualification stage,’’ Keshi told SportingLife.

    The former Eagles captain also hinted that his boys have been adequately prepared for the game against Malawi.

    “We’ve been having a good preparation here and the boys are responding well to the training. We hope to go all out there and beat Malawi on Saturday. It is a very important game and we want to win it for Nigerians. We need the support and prayers of Nigerians.’’