The Nation Newspaper

Tag: keshi

  • Keshi eyes Ethiopia with caution

    Keshi eyes Ethiopia with caution

    Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi has refused to wave off the threat of Ethiopia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The Ethiopians with 10 men forced African champions, Zambia to a stunning 1-1 in Group C’s opening game on Monday and Keshi believes that it will be wrong to brand Sewnet Bishaw’s men as a “weak” team.

    He stated that the Walyans of Ethiopia showed why they qualified for the Afcon this year with their performance against Zambia’s Chipolopolo.

    The former Mali and Togo manager also made it clear that Monday’s results in Group C underscore that his team are up against strong opponents.

    “There are no weak teams here, and Ethiopia showed that they deserve to be at the competition. The group is a strong one,” said Keshi.

    However, Keshi is mindful of the pressure of progressing to the last eight after Monday’s results and is focused on the game against Zambia.

    “The next game against Zambia is very important. We will put behind us the Burkina Faso game,” said the Nigerian coach.

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held to 1-1 draw by the Stallions of Burkina Faso in Nelspruit on Monday.

    The Nigerians will go up against their Zambian counterparts this Friday.

     

  • Keshi has his money — NFF

    Keshi has his money — NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied reports that head coach of the national team, Stephen Keshi is owed salaries and other financial entitlements.

    Executive committee member of the NFF, Barrister Chris Green also revealed that the Federation had never owed Keshi or any of its coaches salaries.

    “The NFF is not owing Keshi salaries and we have never owed him in the past. We have seen reports in some sections of the media claiming we owe the coach salaries but these stories lack facts and substance,” Green told supersport.com.

    The NFF chief also revealed that issues of discontent between players and the NFF which have severally threatened to rock the Super Eagles in the past will not be experienced in South Africa.

    “As I speak to you, we have paid all camp allowances and other financial entitlements to all the players in Faro, Portugal. Morale has never been higher among the players and we are confident they will recompense our efforts with a good showing at the AFCON,” he said.

    Nigeria is in group C of the 2013 AFCON alongside Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and the reigning champions, Zambia.

  • Keshi: My strikers must copy Rooney

    Keshi: My strikers must copy Rooney

    • Wants them to fight for balls

    National team handler, Stephen Keshi, who is looking forward to an excellent outing at the African Cup of Nations which gets underway this weekend, has challenged his strikers to emulate the fighting spirit of Manchester United forward, Wayne Rooney

    SportingLife gathered from a close ally that Keshi is a die-hard fan of the England international.

    Some of Rooney’s qualities which the Eagles coach admires are the way he contests for balls and falls back to defend even as a striker.

    SportingLife’s source conveyed Keshi’s expectations from the team’s Faro camp in Portugal on Tuesday.

    ‘He wants them to fight for the balls and not just wait for passes to come their way. That is how Rooney does it with United,’ said the source.

    ‘This is the passion, Keshi believes strikers Emmanuel Emenike, Ikechukwu Uche and Victor Moses can display as long as the commitment is there.’

    Also, fond memories of the Nigeria side to the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations which they won were evoked.

    ‘Do you know why it will be difficult for Keshi to forget Daniel Amokachi so easily? It has to do with Dan’s tenacious spirit as a member of the team. Prior to a particular match, Keshi as captain laid the jerseys on the ground and challenged his colleagues who were ready to spill blood for the country to pick up the first shirt.

    ‘Amokachi was the first to pick up a shirt, while the late Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amuneke followed suit. That is the spirit Keshi desires from his attackers. They must be everywhere on the pitch fighting for the ball,’ he added.

    Nigeria, who are expected to arrive in South Africa Thursday, tackle Burkina Faso in their opening match on January 21 in Nelspruit.

     

  • KESHI BOASTS My Eagles can be better than 94 squad

    KESHI BOASTS My Eagles can be better than 94 squad

    THE LAST time Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations was back in 1994 and they also wowed the world at the World cup same year. The team’s captain was Stephen Keshi and he is now in charge of the Super Eagles at South Africa 2013 In an exclusive chat with supersport.com at the team’s Faro, Portugal camp Keshi believes that the potential in this team is good enough to match that of the country’s last winners of the competition.

    “Many Nigerians don’t know how good this team is, I see great potentials in them and they can go places.” He then added with a clear glint in his eyes that: “In Emenike I see a player who can be like Rashidi Yekini and Godfrey Obaobona will grow in his position”.

    Stephen Keshi as a player and captain of Nigeria played in five tournaments reaching the finals in three of them.

    These experiences should come in handy. “Maybe I might be able to help them handle the expectations. My playing will give me the insight in how to handle the younger players – those just starting out and making their way in the national team.”

    In the build-up to the camping and even during it Nigerians have been quite critical, as usual and in their views on the team and the squad make up. You wonder how Keshi handles the pressure of coaching a country where millions feel they can do a better job than the man employed for it.

    “I just make sure I concentrate on the players and make sure they understand and buy into what we want to do. Nigeria is a place that you can never satisfy every person so we just make sure we do our best.”

    However, it would appear that the team is better prepared unlike previous tournaments lately, and Keshi agrees, “we have had no distractions.

    “The NFF have been very supportive and we are just focused on the job at hand.” Since that famous 1994 victory, the team then lost on penalties to Cameroon in the 2000 finals at home, Nigeria has really not come close to winning the competition again. Is there pressure from within the group on the players to win this competition? “I would not put any pressure on my players; my duty is to make them relaxed but with high concentration levels so that they can carry out the tactical plans we have during matches.”

    As a player Keshi exhibited high levels of patriotism when it came to playing for Nigeria but he is aware that things have changed amongst the players who play for Nigeria. “I loved the attitude of the late Rashidi Yekini when it came to playing for Nigeria – he was always the first to arrive and was willing to do anything for the National team, I loved the man.” The current players are different and it is also the fault of the media who hype players to all levels because of what they do at their clubs when they have played probably four or five matches for Nigeria. You need to have played consistently for the national team for at least five years before you can be called a star.”

     

  • Ballon D’Or: Yobo votes Messi, Keshi picks Toure

    Ballon D’Or: Yobo votes Messi, Keshi picks Toure

    Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo picked Lionel Messi as his world player of 2012, while coach Stephen Keshi voted Cote d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure.

    Representing the Nigeria media, top journalist Samm Audu went for Messi, who on Monday won his fourth straight FIFA Ballon D’Or.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Messi has also won world football’s foremost individual accolade in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Yobo’s two other nominees were Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil’s Neymar, while Keshi went for another Ivorian star Didier Drogba and then Netherlands striker Robin van Persie.

    Samm Audu’s other picks were Ronaldo and Colombia star Radamel Falcao.

    Messi was again a runaway winner for the best player in the world as he polled 41.60 per cent of the total votes, far ahead of second-placed Ronaldo, who recorded 23.68 per cent. Iniesta was third on 10.91 per cent.

    The three sections of the eligible voters – national team captains, national coaches and media – all placed the 25-year-old Argentina superstar top of a 23-man strong field.

     

  • Keshi cancels Eagles’ Monday training

    Keshi cancels Eagles’ Monday training

    SUPER EAGLES players did not train Monday morning as the Technical crew led by Coach Stephen Keshi decided to give them a breather after the rigours of Sunday’s training.

    Players however had sessions in the gymnasium on Monday morning and trained later on Monday evening at 4.45pm.

    Team Media officer, Ben Alaiya enthused that all is well in camp as the players are giving in their best to make the final cut that would be on the plane to South Africa on January 16.

    “On Sunday we had one training session in the morning and in the evening and it was supposed to be the same today but the Technical crew decided to call off the one for this morning. After breakfast the players will be in the Gym for a workout session,” Alaiya stated.

    At the evening session only 27 players will be on the pitch following the dropping of four players.

  • AFCON: Keshi ‘growing grey hairs’ over final squad

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi , is “growing grey hairs” over the selection of his final 23-man squad for the African Nations Cup, officials told MTNFootball.com.

    Nigeria team spokesman, Ben Alaiya, disclosed that the performance of the players in a training camp in Faro, Portugal, has made Keshi’s job of selecting the best players for the tournament difficult.

    “The competition here is very tough. Coach Keshi is growing grey hairs over who to drop because all the players are on top of their game as they all want to be at Nations Cup,” Alaiya MTNFootball.com.

    “In fact Keshi at the training on Thursday did not know when he voiced out that he is in trouble as he doesn’t know who to drop.”

    Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, is also satisfied with the showing of the home-based goalkeepers, Daniel Akpeyi and Chigozie Agbim.

    “Ike Shorunmu is happy with the form of Akpeyi and Agbim, who we all saw what he could do against Catalonia. Ike confirmed that any of these goalkeepers could be in goal and he won’t panic if Enyeama and Ejide decided to stay away,” Alaiya added.

    Valenrenga of Norway midfielder, Fegor Ogude admitted to MTNFootball.com that the fight for places in the Eagles midfield will be fierce.

    Fegor returned to the Super Eagles line up during Wednesday’s friendly after he was sidelined by injury for the better part of last year.

    With the emergence of Ogenyi Onazi, Rabiu Ibrahim, Nosa Igiebor, Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Raheem Lawal, Obiora Nwankwo and Mikel Obi, Fegor told MTNFootball.com: “The battle for a shirt in the midfield would be tensed. We have great players who are skilful and can handle the ball very well.

    “But I am not afraid because this is my job, it’s what I do everyday and as such I am battle ready for the challenge.”

    Keshi has said he will make public his final squad on Tuesday, a day before the Confederation of African Football deadline.

    The Eagles will take on giant killers Cape Verde in another AFCON warm-up game on Wednesday in Faro.

    The team will fly out to South Africa on January 16.

     

  • NIGERIA/NEWCASTLE SAGA KESHI WARNS GLASSHOUSE OVER AMEOBI

    NIGERIA/NEWCASTLE SAGA KESHI WARNS GLASSHOUSE OVER AMEOBI

    •Says Toons star has not kept in touch

    SUPER EAGLES coach Stephen Keshi has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) not to draw daggers over the release of Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi.

    The NFF are irked with the moves by the Magpies Boss Alan Pardew to deny the Kogi State born striker an opportunity to feature for his country at Africa’s biggest football tournament on a supposed clause in his latest contract.

    Ben Alaiya Media Officer for the Eagles Saturday morning said the Big Boss wants Ameobi to come out himself to state if he really wants to play for Nigeria in South Africa and not the NFF forcing his release by evoking the relevant FIFA articles on players release. “The Big Boss does not want the NFF to go to war with Newcastle, like he always says, the ball is in Ameobi’s court, let him come out to say he wants to play first then we can take it up from there, if he does not show he is really hungry for the Eagles shirt there might not be the need to start fighting for his release,” Alaiya said Saturday morning from Portugal.

    Meanwhile, the Big Boss further noted that Shola Ameobi has not been in contact with him, despite the controversy his selection has generated both at Newcastle and Nigeria.

    “Ameobi has not spoken to me since the game against Manchester United as he promised,” Keshi said adding that the matter is wholly in the strikers’ hands.

    The Edo born coach believes that Ameobi has the final say regarding whether he wants to be part of the Nigerian setup in South Africa.

    “I believe he has the final say because the Manager, Allan Pardew cannot hold him down going by FIFA rules, but we must be sure that he is ready to play for us before we apply the rules,” he said in Faro, Portugal.

  • No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    No English deal on Ameobi, Shittu — Keshi

    • Hails Gaya for support 

    Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has declared that there is no deal with English Premier League side Newcastle United over the release of Shola Ameobi for the Nations Cup, neither is there such an arrangement with English Championship side Millwall on the release of towering defence ace, Daniel Shittu.

    Super Eagles spokesman, Ben Alaiya, quotes Keshi as saying; “I never entered into any deal with any manager and will not because the two players in question are international stars and the rules are very clear about when they should be released for international assignments if their country so desires them”.

    There were wild speculations in the Nigerian media over the two players’ release for the championship with the respective managers claiming to have had an agreement with an unnamed Nigerian official over when to release them. Keshi’s declaration has now put all speculations to rest with National Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor, declaring that the two club sides were written to on time and the onus is now on them to release the players as and when due.

  • Keshi: Osaze’s outburst doesn’t bother me

    Keshi: Osaze’s outburst doesn’t bother me

    I can still play for nigeria says baggy star

    NIGERIA coach Stephen Keshi says there is “nothing personal” about his decision to leave Peter Odemwingie out of his Africa Cup of Nations squad.

    The West Brom striker reacted angrily to being omitted from the provisional 32-man squad announced on Saturday.

    Odemwingie last played for the Super Eagles in February’s goalless draw with Rwanda in a Cup of Nations qualifier.

    In angry outburst on Twitter, the 31-year-old claimed he was dropped because he often speaks his mind.

    But Keshi told the BBC World Service on Monday that he is not bothered by Odemwingie’s reaction.

    “I don’t even have a Facebook or Twitter account so it doesn’t bother me at all,” said the former Nigeria international.

    “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of good players and we cannot invite every player”

    “There’s nothing personal about this stuff. Odemwingie is a very good player but right now I don’t need him.

    “He’s a professional and he should be able to accept that.

    “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of good players and we cannot invite every player.

    “We’re not in a war with anybody; we’re just trying to do our job.”

    Odemwingie, who played at the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Nations Cups, had accused Keshi of disrespect by not informing him personally of his decision.

    “Every manager has got his own plans and tactics – if I don’t figure in your plans, please be honest to tell me directly.

    “For 10 years I gave my all to the country as a player on the pitch, played for the nation and fans, not individuals.

    Odemwingie, who was born in Uzbekistan where his Nigerian father was based, said that he was a marked man in Keshi and the federation’s eyes because he was too blunt in what he said about the state of Nigerian football.

    “Because I speak out when things are not right, I guess some people are not just comfortable with that openness.”

    But he added that he will not completely shut the door on his international career.

    “If the chance to play for my country presents itself, then I will speak to my dad and those close to me – then we’ll see.”

    The Super Eagles begin their Cup of Nations campaign against Burkina Faso on 21 January and before facing Zambia and Ethiopia in Group C.