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Tag: keshi

  • KESHI SURE OF VICTORY

    KESHI SURE OF VICTORY

    Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi has assured that the international friendly match against Mexico will be approached with all seriousness to ensure victory.

    Speaking to SportingLife in a telephone chat from America, Keshi said: “My boys are in high spirit and I have told them we need to win the game to serve as a tonic towards the two World Cup qualifiers against Kenya June 5 and Namibia June 12 and I have equally told them to play with caution to avoid injuries,” said the gaffer.

    Keshi also revealed that the injured Victor Moses has been in constant touch with him on telephone updating him on his state of health. Uche Kalu called to wish the team success against Mexica and regretted his inability to be part of the team due to injury.

    “I will use the friendly match also to try new players in order to put them in a competitive mood. My brother, I owe Nigerians World Cup ticket,” Keshi concluded.

  • KESHI BOASTS: World Cup is the real deal for Eagles

    KESHI BOASTS: World Cup is the real deal for Eagles

    •Says team not a closed shop

    The Nigerian Super Eagles are currently in camp in Nuremberg, Germany as they prepare for the challenges of World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia and the Confederation Cup in Brazil all in the month of June. The team leave Germany today, May 28, for Houston were they take on Mexico in a friendly this Friday,May 31 before the big ones against Kenya and Namibia. This is a huge month of June coming up for one of Nigeria’s most popular football men. Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi spoke exclusively to SUPERSPORT.COM’S CALVIN EMEKA ONWUKA on a number of issues.

     

    DO YOU have all the Players you need in Camp now?

    There are 20 players in camp and we are expecting more to join us in Houston before the friendly with Mexico”.

    What do you expect to get from that match?

    It is a fantastic opportunity for us to try new systems, integrate new players and get everyone into the right match mentality just before we face Kenya.

    Nigerians and indeed most of Africa was surprised that the Kenya match ended with Eagles salvaging a draw in the last minute. What have you learnt from that game or what exactly went wrong?

    Oh! There were too many distractions before the game. Also the home-based players were not fit and a lot of outside influence but that will not happen again.

    A lot of people did worry that the host state government turned that match into some carnival to welcome the newly crowned African champions. Too many people forgot that there was indeed a match to be played? After that draw the Kenyans have been bullish in their hopes for the return. So what surprises do you have in mind.

    I am not saying anything except to say that God is working with us and that we will be prepared for this match. The focus is there and we have the determination to get a good result.

    The Super Eagles will be competing in the Confederation Cup a fore runner for the World Cup in Brazil. A prestigious tournament for sure but a friendly one in every way. So, if you are asked to choose now – win the FIFA Confederations Cup or Qualify for World Cup 2014 with the Super Eagles?

    I will choose qualifying for the World Cup each time. Yes, the FIFA Confederations Cup is also good but nothing beats or compares to FIFA World Cup, that is the real deal. That is where I aim to be and where I want my players to be playing”.

    “Make no mistake we will give the tournament our best shot but it is really to come back next year as one of Africa’s representatives at the World Cup that we are working towards”

    There seems to be a clamour for new blood to be added to the Nigerian squad with a lot of players born and bred in Europe but of Nigerian descent about. Is there a plan to try and look for or any hope for these players?

    For sure. I am always looking at ways and players who will improve this team; so if I see any player or players who I believe can improve on what we have currently I shall get them in and have a look at them closely.

    It is not always about playing ability, it is also about the player or players fitting into the team ethics we are building here. The Super Eagles team is not a closed shop.

  • Keshi gives up on Mikel

    Keshi gives up on Mikel

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has expressed serious doubts about the availability of Chelsea ace Mikel Obi for a friendly against Mexico.

    The African champions face Mexico in Houston, Texas, on May 31 to prepare for a hectic schedule in June when they will play two World Cup qualifiers as well as feature in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

    Mikel is in England to process an entry visa to Brazil in time for the Confederations Cup.

    “I’m not sure he’s coming,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com from the Eagles training camp in Germany.

    “Our agreement before with Chelsea was for them to drop off both Mikel and Victor Moses after their own game. But now he is pursuing a visa to Brazil. We’re also not sure about his condition, if he is fit or not. And so, Mikel might not be there with us.”

    The Eagles have been seriously depleted by the withdrawal of several players because of injury as well as club engagements.

    Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Kalu Uche, Gabriel Reuben have already been ruled out because of injury, while Ahmed Musa, Fegor Ogude and Efe Ambrose are involved in cup finals at their various European clubs.

    The Eagles fly out of Frankfurt, Germany, to the US on Tuesday morning.

  • Mikel may not make World Cup qualifiers – Keshi

    Mikel may not make World Cup qualifiers – Keshi

    … Rules out replacements for injured players

    Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed doubt about the availability of John Mikel Obi for the two World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia in June.

    Speaking exclusively with The Nationsport from Nuremberg, Germany, on Thursday, the “Big Boss” said although the Chelsea midfielder has asked to be excused for the friendly match against Mexico in the United States, he would stay back in England to process his visa to Brazil.

    Nigeria will participate in the FIFA Confederations Cup starting June 15 in Brazil.

    “Mikel has asked that he be excused for the friendly match against Mexico, but he would travel with his team for their pre season tour. But he would later return back to England to process his Brazilian visa. The implication of that is that he may not be available for the two World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia. So we would have to make do with the players in camp.”

    On Victor Moses, the former International said, “Victor sent me a text message that he would not be available until July 6 when he is expected to begin training. He said that he played the final phases of Chelsea’s league matches with recurring injury, and would need to use this period to treat it properly. We have to excuse him, because this is his career, and he needs to be fit to play for his club and the country. We are not thinking of replacing any of the injured players,” Keshi said.

    The former Togo and Mali National team coach expressed optimism that the players in camp would surely put smiles on the faces of all Nigerians in the forthcoming matches.

     

  • Euro stars storm Eagles’ camp today

    Euro stars storm Eagles’ camp today

    A fuller Super Eagles camp in Germany will be the hallmark of activities today with the expected arrival of Europe-based stars after the camp opened on Thursday, May 16.

    Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi led 12 home based players and team officials to Germany last Thursday to kick-start final preparations for the loaded fixture next month.

    The Eagles have a date with Mexico in a friendly battle in the United States of America after which the Nigerian senior national team would slug it out with Kenya on June 5th, 2013 and Namibia on June 12th, 2013. As from 15th of June, the Keshi-tutored side will also participate in the FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil where they will be representing Africa.

    SportingLife gathered from top team sources in Germany that the Europe stars are not yet in camp but a large number is expected today.

    “A large number of the Europe based players are expected in camp tomorrow (today).

    “You know that some of them played their club’s last league match today (Sunday), so we expect them to join us here in Germany tomorrow (today)”, the source told SportingLife from Germany yesterday.

    The source also added that “the team (11 home-based) trained Saturday morning and Sunday too. We expect a full house to train in the evening tomorrow (today)”, he disclosed.

    The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari has directed protocol officers of the federation to be at the airport to receieve the players as they arrive in Germany.

  • Keshi frees Mikel, Moses for Everton

    Keshi frees Mikel, Moses for Everton

    Super Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi has told SportingLife that Chelsea players Mikel Obi and Victor Moses will be the last set of players to join the Nigerian national team in Germany.

    The home based Eagles, their coaches and officials left Nigeria for Germany aboard a Lufthansa Air flight at exactly 10.30pm yesterday, to begin preparations for the Mexico friendly fixed for the end of the month in the United States of America, and the two 2014 World Cup qualifying matches away to Kenya on June 5th and Namibia on June 12th, 2013, as well as the Confederation Cup holding in Brazil next month.

    Keshi told SportingLife before his departure from Abuja yesterday that he had given the Chelsea duo permission to stay behind to help their club pick an automatic ticket for the UEFA Champions League.

    “Yes, I have permitted Mikel and Victor Moses to stay behind and help Chelsea in their last but important Premier League match. The match is very important to their club and I cannot stop them from helping their club because we need to maintain a very cordial relationship with the players’ clubs.

    “The gap between the time they will play the match and the time we will play the friendly against Mexico is not too much for them to cope and gel with their teammates in the Eagles”, Keshi disclosed.

    He also totally ruled out Kano Pillars midfielder, Reuben Gabriel from the camping in Germany as well as participating in the friendly match against Mexico as well as all the matches in June 2013.

    “Reuben is not going with us to Germany because he was injured and will be out for six weeks. By this time we would have wrapped up the FIFA Confederation Cup tournament and the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. So Reuben is out of it”, Keshi declared.

  • BATTLE OF MEXICO:Enyeama, Moses, Mikel picked

    BATTLE OF MEXICO:Enyeama, Moses, Mikel picked

    Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has invited Maccabi Tel Aviv’s stopper Vincent Enyeama and Chelsea’s Victor Moses to lead 23 others for an international friendly match against Mexico.

    The Media Officer, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said that the friendly would hold on May 31 in Houston, Texas, U.S. The statement said that the friendly was to prepare the Eagles for its 2014 FIFA World Cup two qualifying matches in June.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles will play against Kenya on June 5 and Namibia on June 12 before proceeding to Brazil for the FIFA Confederations Cup from June 15 to June 30.

    According to the statement, the invited goalkeepers alongside Enyeama were Chigozie Agbim of Warri Wolves and Austin Ejide of Hapoel FC.

    The defenders included Efe Ambrose of Celtic, Elderson Echiejile of Sporting de Braga, Kenneth Omeruo of ADO Den Haag and Godfrey Oboabona of Sunshine Stars.

    Other defenders were Solomon Kwambe of Sunshine Stars, Francis Benjamin from Heartland, Odunlami Kunle of Sunshine Stars and Azubuike Egwuekwe from Warri Wolves.

    Included on the midfielders list alongside Moses were Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi of Lazio, Sunday Mba of Enugu Rangers, and Reuben Gabriel from Kilmarnock. John Ogu of Academia de Coimbra and Obinna Nwachukwu from Heartland and Michael Babatunde of Kryvbas Kryvyi are the other invited midfielders.

    The strikers, the statement said, included Joseph Akpala of SV Werder Bremen, Brown Ideye from FC Dynamo Kyiv, Kalu Uche of Kasimpasa Spor Kulübü and Anthony Ujah of FC Koln.

    The others were Nnamdi Oduamadi from Varese, Italy and Gambo Muhammad of Kano Pillars.

  • CHUKWU TELLS KESHI Push for assistants

    CHUKWU TELLS KESHI Push for assistants

    FORMER Nigeria captain, Christian Chukwu, has called on Stephen Keshi to press further for the reinstatement of his assistants, Sylvanus Okpala and Valere Houandinou.

    Okpala and Houandinou were relieved of their positions as Super Eagles assistant coaches last month by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Chukwu, a member of the football federation’s technical committee, believes Keshi can still impress it on his employer to recall his assistants even in the face of financial constraints.

    “It’s unfortunate that the federation had to lay off some of the team’s backroom staff including Keshi’s assistant coaches due to lack of funds. The coaches did well with Keshi when they won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa this year.

    “Keshi can still make a cogent reason on why he needs the coaches in the team and I believe himself and the federation can iron that out amicably,” advised Chukwu.

    “Personally I like the coaches to be back in the team after their achievement at the AFCON. But it is the federation’s call and I quite understand the dilemma in which they find themselves when you talk in terms of finance.”

    Last week, reports suggested that Keshi is willing to pay one of his assistants, Houandinou, who is his most trusted backroom staff having worked with him while as Mali and Togo head coach.

    The coach of the African champions is currently in Egypt attending a CAF symposium for analysis on the last two editions of the Afcon in 2012 and 2013.

    He is expected back in Nigeria this week after the symposium ends on Monday.

  • Any national team should have home-based players—Keshi

    Any national team should have home-based players—Keshi

    Stephen Keshi led Nigeria to its third Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year in South Africa. He is in Cairo to attend the symposium for the analysis if the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2012 and 2013. Cafonline.com had a short talk with Mr Keshi.

    How do you see this symposium?

    Well, it’s very nice to be here. I received an invitation while I was in the United States and thought I wouldn’t be able to do it but I managed to join. It’s so good to meet all these coaches. While I was in South Africa for the Cup of Nations I didn’t have the chance to meet this big number of friends and fellow coaches. It’s very good to have this chance.

    Would you like to have such symposia often?

    Definitely. This is very helpful for me and for the coaches in Africa and we thank CAF for organising such an event. I’d like to have like three symposiums every year to discuss football matters in Africa, which would be amazing.

    You will face Spain next month in the FIFA Confederations Cup, and you know Spain coach Del Bosque is coming to attend this symposium. What will you tell him?

    That would be very good to meet a great coach like Mr. Del Bosque. He is a master, I’m still learning and I want to learn from him. I’ll ask him to give me some of his blessings (smiling).

    Next month you’re going to Brazil to represent Africa in the FIFA Confederations Cup. How do you see that?

    It’s a great chance for Nigeria o play in such an important competition. We’ll do our best there to give a good image for the African football.

    Do you believe it’s a good omen to go to Brazil a year before the 2014 World Cup?

    Yes, maybe. We’ll do our best in the World Cup qualifications and we hope to qualify and go to Brazil once again.

    This year you won the Orange Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria despite not being title favorites. You had a young team with a number of local players, yet you managed to win the cup.

    I always believe in locally based players. I think national teams should basically have local players with 4 or 5 abroad based ones. We had a good team and Thank God we managed to win the Africa Cup of Nations, and we deserved that.

    You became the second African to win the Cup of Nations as a player and coach. How did you see that?

    I didn’t know it until after the final. Some journalists told me that after the game and that Egypt’s late Mahmoud El Gohary was the first one to do it. I think It’s a grace from God and I’m happy to achieve that feat as Nigeria’s captain in 1994 and coach in 2013.

  • AHEAD OF FIFA CONFED CUP: I want to learn from Del Bosque -Keshi

    AHEAD OF FIFA CONFED CUP: I want to learn from Del Bosque -Keshi

    Stephen Keshi led Nigeria to their third Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year in South Africa. He is in Cairo to attend the symposium for the analysis of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2012 and 2013. Cafonline.com had a short talk with Mr Keshi.

    How do you see this symposium?

    Well, it’s very nice to be here. I received an invitation while I was in the United States and thought I wouldn’t be able to do it but I managed to join. It’s so good to meet all these coaches. While I was in South Africa for the Cup of Nations I didn’t have the chance to meet this big number of friends and fellow coaches. It’s very good to have this chance.

    Would you like to have such symposiums often?

    Definitely. This is very helpful for me and for the coaches in Africa and we thank CAF for organising such an event. I’d like to have like three symposiums every year to discuss football matters in Africa, which would be amazing.

    You will face Spain next month in the FIFA Confederations Cup, and you know Spain coach Del Bosque is coming to attend this symposium. What will you tell him?

    That would be very good to meet a great coach like Mr. Del Bosque. He is a master, I’m still learning and I want to learn from him. I’ll ask him to give me some of his blessings (smiling).

    Next month you’re going to Brazil to represent Africa in the FIFA Confederations Cup. How do you see that?

    It’s a great chance for Nigeria to play in such an important competition. We’ll do our best there to give a good image for African football.

    Do you believe it’s a good omen to go to Brazil a year before the 2014 World Cup?

    Yes, maybe. We’ll do our best in the World Cup qualifications and we hope to qualify and go to Brazil once again.

    This year you won the Orange Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria despite not being title favorites. You had a young team with a number of local players, yet you managed to win the cup?

    I always believe in locally based players. I think national teams should basically have local players with four or five abroad based ones. We had a good team and thank God we managed to win the Africa Cup of Nations; we deserved that.

    You became the second African to win the Cup of Nations as a player and coach. How did you see that?

    I didn’t know it until after the final. Some journalists told me that after the game and that Egypt’s late Mahmoud El Gohary was the first one to do it. I think It’s a grace from God and I’m happy to achieve that feat as Nigeria captain in 1994 and coach in 2013.