The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lazio

  • UCL: Lazio strike 95th-minute winner to stun Celtic

    UCL: Lazio strike 95th-minute winner to stun Celtic

    Kyogo Furuhashi showed great composure to slide in his first goal in the competition to ignite a rowdy Celtic Park early on.

    However, indecision in the home defence was punished midway through the first half as Matias Vecino was afforded space to glance in a header.

    Read Also: Sarri wants Okereke in Lazio

    Brendan Rodgers’ side thought they’d snatched a late winner through Luis Palma only for VAR to intervene, however Celtic’s anguish would grow further as the Italians dramatically struck with just seconds left.

    With Atletico Madrid beating Feyenoord 3-2 in Spain, it means Celtic, who have now not won at home in the Champions League for 10 years, sit bottom of Group E with no points after two games ahead of a double header against the Spaniards.

  • Lazio get ultimatum to pay Onazi’s salaries

    Lazio get ultimatum to pay Onazi’s salaries

    World football’s governing body FIFA has handed Italian Serie A club Lazio a November 29 ultimatum to pay Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, his outstanding salaries or face sanction.

    A source close to Onazi told africanFootball.com that FIFA ordered Lazio to pay before end of this month.

    “FIFA have given Lazio till November 29 to pay Onazi or face sanction. He is being owed two months’ salary,” the source said.

  • Oduamadi eyes Lazio return

    Oduamadi eyes Lazio return

    Nigeria international Nnamdi Oduamadi is in discussions with Lazio – based Serie B club U.S. Latina Calcio.

    Tuttomercatoweb.com has reported that Latina are working on a deal to snap up the pacy winger, who was initially signed by the club in the winter transfer market of 2015.

    In practice, Nnamdi Oduamadi has been inactive since the start of this season after a proposed switch to Sanliurfaspor in Turkey fell through last summer.

    The 25 – year – old has been loaned out to Serie B teams Torino, Varese, Brescia and Crotone in the last few seasons by AC Milan due to his lack of first – team opportunities at the San Siro.

    He earlier spent six months with Latina , making 16 appearances in the second – tier and netting twice.

  • Supercoppa Italiana final: Onazi falls with Lazio

    Supercoppa Italiana final: Onazi falls with Lazio

    • Eagles star in action for 90 minutes

    Desire of Super Eagles midfielder Oguenyi Onazi to claim this year’s Supercoppa Italiana hit the rocks Saturday after Lazio lost 2-0 to rampaging Juventus at the Shanghai Stadium in China.  Onazi who was in action for the entire duration of the match posted an impressive run even as Lazio held on to 53% possession against Juve’s 47%.  It was however Juve that converted few scoring chances that came calling in the match in which players played with utmost caution apparently trying to avoid any form of injury ahead of the new season which kicks off August 22.

    Centre Referee Luca Banti had no cause to have migraine as players on both sides played by the rules thus having a no-booking match.

    Interestingly, it was Juve’s debutants Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala that grabbed the goals in the 69th and 73rd minutes respectively. Despite going two goals down Onazi and his teammates fought to the end of the final whistle but failed to turn the table.

    Onazi who has made over 61 appearances for Super Eagles is likely to feature in the final list of new coach Sunday Olise ahead of the Afcon 2017 qualifiers against Tanzania September 4.  Olise, only a few days ago, named 23 home-based players to begin the process of shaping up ahead of his debut match as coach of the National team in Dar es Salaam.

  • Onazi ecstatic as Lazio move fourth

    Onazi ecstatic as Lazio move fourth

    SS Lazio midfielder  Eddy Onazi says he is  thankful to God for his side’s 3-0 victory over Sassuolo over the weekend even though he wasn’t involved in the encounter.

    Felipe Anderson struck first just as the referee was about to signal the end of the first half. At the restart, veteran Miroslav Klose doubled the advantage in the 70th and Marco Parolo added the cherry on top seven minutes later.

    “We thank God for the goals; we thank God for every other thing that happened. The most important thing is that football is up and down but we thank God that we have been doing well this season,” he told footballlive.ng after the match.

    Coach Stefano Pioli celebrated Lazio’s deserved 3-0 win and said it signifies a good thing for the future of the side.

    Hear him: “We ran a few risks at the back, but should’ve already had the points wrapped up before half-time. Are we tempted to use three creative players behind a centre-forward? Of course, but the quality and spirit of the players make the difference and three in midfield provide solidity.”

  • Liverpool still wants Onazi

    Liverpool still wants Onazi

    … Offers Borini in exchange for Lazio midfielder

    Liverpool has offered Fabio Borini to Lazio in exchange for Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi.

    According to report in Italian and English media, Onazi is a January transfer target for the Anfield giants and the former European champions had made a bold step to get him in a swap deal plus £8 million.

    ‘The club is desperate for more strength in the midfield and Brendan Rodgers has identified 22-year-old Onazi as the man to help the Reds do well in the Premier League, africanFootball.com reports.

    The Nigeria international is a key man for the Serie A club, but Liverpool is looking to take advantage of Lazio’s long-term interest in Borini by offering the former Chelsea and Roma forward plus £8million for Onazi’s services.

    Borini has failed to impress this season alongside Liverpool’s other misfiring strikers, and Rodgers is ready to part ways with the Italian as he looks to engineer an early return for Lille loanee Divock Origi.

    Onazi, who has been linked to move to EPL sides Everton and Liverpool, only recently extended his contract at Lazio.

     

  • Onazi set for first Lazio game of season

    Onazi set for first Lazio game of season

    Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Serie A clash against Udinese today, Lazio coach Stefano Pioli has dropped a strong hint that Eddy Onazi is in line to play his first game for the club in the ongoing season.

    Despite not being 100 percent fit, the central midfielder was patched up for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with Congo and South Africa.

    But at club level, the Nigeria international has only made the substitutes bench on two occasions – against Genoa and Cesena – without tasting action.

    “Onazi may also be available almost 100%. He came from the World Cup with an injury and has not played much with us.

    “He’s getting in the mechanisms of the team and I think he’s ready to play with his qualities,” said Setafano Pioli.

    Eddy Onazi made 29 appearances in the Serie A last term, including 19 starts, while he clocked up 15 appearances in the 2012 – 2013 campaign.

  • Italian court investigating Onazi, Lazio

    Italian court investigating Onazi, Lazio

    Lazio and Eddy Onazi might be sanctioned by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following irregularities discovered in the contract the Nigerian signed with the capital outfit on November 7, 2012.

    The contract renewal signed by the Nigerian is currently being investigated by the Federal Court – National Disciplinary Section.

    And if there was a breach of the regulations, the midfielder, two Lazio officials and Onazi’s former agent, Kevin Fioranelli will face the music.

    The  Sporting Director of the Biancocelesti Igli Tare and Secretary General Armando Calveri have both violated Article 1, paragraph 1, of the CGS in conjunction with Art. 22, paragraph 2, of the rules of agents.

    On the other hand, Eddy Onazi might be punished for using Kevin Fioranelli as his agent when he renewed vows with the club despite the fact that he issued a mandate to another agent.

    Also, there was a breach of conflict of interest after Lazio failed to disclose that Jesse Fioranelli, Kevin’s brother, was an employee of the club when the new contract was signed.

    This is not the first time irregularities have been discovered in a contract that a Nigerian player has with the Serie A side.

    SL10.ng can exclusively report that Emmanuel Sani had earlier claimed that he was forced to join Salernitana and Biel-Bienne on loan after Armando Calveri forged his signature on the contracts.

    Retired Albania international forward, now Sporting Director of Lazio, Igli Tare, later tried to cut a deal with Partizani Tirana to have Emmanuel Sani play for the Albanian club, but he was smart to reject the offer.

  • Contract extension: Onazi in talks with Lazio

    Contract extension: Onazi in talks with Lazio

    According to reports , the agent of  21-year-old midfielder Ogenyi Onazi will be in Rome to talk with Lazio about his new contract.

    Onazi suffered a fractured leg in Nigeria’s defeat to France at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    The 21-year-old was stretchered off after a tackle from France’s Blaise Matuidi during Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat to Les Bleus in the last-16 tie in Brasilia.

    However, he recently resumed full training and played some friendly matches for the capital side.

    Onazi had confirmed his wishes to stay at the club this season despite being linked with a move to England.

    He has established himself as a key member of the Aquile, and impressed at the World Cup with the Super Eagles.

    As a result he was linked with a move to the Premier League with Liverpool, Everton and Southampton all thought to be keen on the midfielder, however he has downplayed these links.

    Onazi, who is under contract with Lazio until June 2016 , made 29 Serie A appearances for the Biancoceleste in the 2013-2014 season.

  • JANUARY TRANSFERS: Lazio place N2bn tag on Onazi

    JANUARY TRANSFERS: Lazio place N2bn tag on Onazi

    • Everton keep vigil

    Lazio president Claudio Lotito has stated that he will not sell Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi for nothing less than 9 million euros (about N2bn) according to reports coming out of Italy .

    Despite the price tag, English Premier League campaigners, Everton have made an undisclosed offer for the Nigeria international.

    According to La Gazetta dello Sport,the Toffees contacted the Italian club and made an undisclosed bid to sign the former Golden Eaglets ace.

    At the last count, apart from Everton, the likes of Liverpool and Fiorentina have also indicated interest in the talented player.

    The 21-year-old Onazi has played in 24 matches for Lazio in all competitions this season and scored once, in Europa League match against Trabzonspor.