The Nation Newspaper

Tag: league

  • EUFA Europa League: Kehinde Fatai scores hat trick

    EUFA Europa League: Kehinde Fatai scores hat trick

    Nigeria striker Kehinde Fatai continued his red-hot form with a hat-trick for Romanian club Astra Giurgiu in a Europa League qualifying match against Slovan Liberec of Czech Republic on Thursday.

    Astra Giurgiu trounced their visitors 3-0 in third round qualifying game with the former Nigeria U20 striker, who scored the first goal in the new Romanian league season last week, opening scoring for his club after just four minutes.

    He doubled his club’s lead on 74 minutes, before he completed his superb hat-trick in the 81st minute.

    Ex-JUTH FC star Fatai is back in Romania after a loan spell at Club Brugge of Belgium.

  • UEFA Champions League: Ogbuke gets quarter-final target

    Super Eagles and Schalke 04 forward Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke and his club team mates have been handed at least a quarter-final finish in the 2014/15 UEFA CL campaign and Germany Bundesliga top four finish.

    Club director of sport Horst Heldt challenged the Nigerian star and his mates to ensure the team goes as far as reaching the quarter-finals of the competition this season, as well as ensuring they qualify for the competition again next season.

    Heldt in a statement on Sport1.de believes only last season champions Bayern Munich are out of his side’s reach and as such has set his club’s sights very high for the 2014-15 campaign.

    “Of course when you have qualified for the Champions League three times in a row, then you are not going to settle for finishing fifth or sixth.

    “It’s going to be an interesting season and we want to get the most out of it. What that will be, I cannot say.

    “We want to contend for the leading positions. We want to go further than the last 16 in the Champions League and we want to go further in the DFB-Pokal too,” Heldt stated.

    Despite seeing league holders Bayern as the team to beat again this season, Heldt declared his side are not merely focusing on trying to get the better of Pep Guardiola’s side.

    ”We’re following our own goals. It’s a mistake always to compare yourselves with the others and orientate yourself around them. Many clubs are trying to send good teams into the season and it’s going to be exciting,even if Bayern are of course leading the way.

    “They are the favourites, but we have a good team too which has improved,and we are ready for our tasks.

    “We have kept our team intact and the younger player are now more mature.We’ve also got our long-term injured back,so we’ve not needed to spend money really,” Heldt added.

    The Nigerian star and his German side finished in third place last season behind title favorites Bayern and local rivals Borussia Dortmund.

  • Champions League defeat: Celtic boss blasts Efe Ambrose, teammates

    Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose and his Celtic teammates have been heavily criticised by manager Ronny Deila following their embarrassing 4-1 loss to Polish side Legia Warsaw in a UEFA champions league qualifying match on Wednesday night.

    The Super Eagles defender got the marching order just before half time in Poland, as his teammates failed to get anything from the game despite opening scoring in the eighth minute and Deila hasn’t hidden his disappointment at his team’s display on the night.

    “It was a very poor performance and worst of all was the commitment, the energy, I need much more energy in the game.We didn’t stay together for 90 minutes.

    “We started well and got the first goal but then gave way to pressure and we lost our heads and started giving the ball away in midfield so many times and mistakes in the back four, some were high, some were low, instead of being together.

    “But what is done is done, we have to learn from this very quick, we got the away goal and we still have a chance,” he told the Scottish media after the game.

    Deila however remained confident the Hoops can still progress to the group stages of the Champions League.

    “It is possible to win 3-0 again – like we did last year in the play-off – with the help of the supporters and we will do everything we can to do that. But we have to learn from this week.We need a whole different attitude and discipline in our play.”

    Ambrose has hardly had a rest since helping Nigeria to a round of 16 finish at the World Cup in Brazil, where they lost 2-0 to France. He will miss the return leg against the Poles, but should be available for the start of the group stages, should Celtic progress.

  • Europa League tie: Ejide warned not to repeat mistakes

    Europa League tie: Ejide warned not to repeat mistakes

    Hapoel Beer Sheva goalie Austin Ejide was heavily criticized for his blunder which led to the winning goal scored from the penalty spot by Split’s Mate Bilic in the second qualifying round of the Europa League last Wednesday.

    Allnigeriasoccer.com reports that Ahead of the reverse tie in Cyprus on Thursday evening, Roni Moskovitch, who won two championships with the Camels in the 1970s, has taken stock of the performance of the Nigeria international in the first leg.

    “I do not think he can be stable throughout the year but there is no doubt that Austin is among the best goalies that have been here.

    “Austin should have the peace he needs to not repeat the mistakes. He has a good team so his involvement is not so great in itself.

    “He should occupy himself mentally and physically so that he would not be surprised,” Roni Moskovitch was quoted as saying by one.co.il.

    Unarguably, last season was Ejide’s best since he arrived at the Israeli championship after helping Hapoel Beer Sheva finish second in the topflight.

    He has been on Nigeria’s rosters to the World Cup three times but never kept goal in any of the tournaments he attended.

  • US movie theaters to show Premier League games

    Movie theaters around the U.S. will show live English  soccer games on their big screens on Saturday mornings.

    The simulcasts will start with the opening of the Premier League season Aug. 16. Thirty-three theaters in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington are currently scheduled to take part.

    The deal was announced Wednesday by Fathom Events and NBC Sports Group, which broadcasts the Premier League in the U.S.

     

  • uefa CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Ambrose marches on with Celtic

    uefa CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Ambrose marches on with Celtic

    Nigeria international defender, Efe Ambrose was in action for all 90 minutes for Scottish Premiership club, Celtic on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League.

    Ambrose was a rock in defence as Celtic cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win against Icelandic champions, Knattspyrnufelagid-Reykjavik in a second leg, second round qualifying game.

    Celtic had won the first leg 1-0 in Reykjavik and thus completed a 5-0 aggregate success following the thumping victory at Murrayfield Stadium on Tuesday.

    The reward for Ambrose and his Celtic teammates for the crushing win over the Icelandic side is a third qualifying round tie against either St. Patricks (Republic of Ireland) or Polish champions, Legia Warsaw.

    Both sides go into their second leg, second qualifying round game on level pegging after a 1-1 draw in Poland last week.

  • DStv Premier Basketball League: Kano Pillars retain title

    DStv Premier Basketball League: Kano Pillars retain title

    • Mark Mentors cry foul • Usman wins MVP 

     

    KanoPillars exhibited the true hallmark of a champion when they edged out Mark Mentors 89-88 to retain the NBBF organised DStv Premier Basketball League at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos at the weekend.

    The victory makes the coach Sani Ahmed tutored Pillars the first team in the history of the competition with four titles out of the six-season-old league

    The thrilling final, which kept fans at the edge of their seats as the Abuja-based Mentors looked set to do the impossible leading by four points (88-84) with nine seconds left. But the coach Peter Ahmedu side allowed the euphoria of winning a first title become its greatest undoing, thus allowing Pillars energetic point guard Adeolu Olaiya to go on a fast-break for two points.

    A hasty ball-inbound finally cost Mentors the game as Olaiya’s steal  set-up Pillars hit-man Abubakar Usman who made a three-point with three seconds remaining.

    Efforts by Mentors to draw a foul or hit two-point did not yield result as the buzzer went off to signal the end of the game which Pillars won 89-88  (20-25, 21-19, 20-18 and 28-26).

    Mark Mentors coach, Peter Ahmedu, however, believes his team was robbed of victory. He revealed that an official protest will be filed to the relevant authority.

    “Definitely I’m going to make an official complaint. I want the federation to go back and play that tape and  to tell us why the referee stopped the game when it was four seconds left. Then we’ll accept our defeat”, a visible angry Ahmedu said.

    Kano Pillars went home with N1million  and Mark Mentors got N750,000 while both teams will now represent Nigeria at the upcoming Continental games.

    Dodan Warriors won N500,000 after claiming the third spot with a over-time 81-71 points (08-16, 14-22, 18-15, 27-14 and 04-14) victory over Gombe Bulls.  Nigerian International Abubakar Usman of Kano Pillars won his second consecutive Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Final 8 award. Nda’ Abu as he is popularly called also won the Highest Scorer award having ended the tournament as the leading scorer with 138 points in five matches. While Mark Mentors forward Abdul Yahaya went home with the Highest Rebounder award.

  • UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER: Ambrose gets Legia Warsaw challenge

    UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER: Ambrose gets Legia Warsaw challenge

    Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose will be the guest of Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round with the first leg billed for July 29 and 30, while the second leg will take the centre stage on August 5th and 6th respectively.  The clash is, however, subject to Celtic sealing up a second round tie against Icelandic side KR Reykjavik

    Ambrose, who made Stephen Keshi’s squad to the just ended World Cup in Brazil, was in action for Celtic in the first leg of the second round played Tuesday with the Scottish side running away with a lone goal away victory.

    The second leg is on Tuesday, 24 hours before League of Ireland Premier Division champions, St Patrick’s, host Polish side Legia in the return leg of their tie, the opening encounter of which finished in a 1-1 draw.

    Tuesday’s victory, in which Ambrose gave a good account of himself, is new Celtic coach Ronny Deila’s first game in charge, a result which many fans of the club have described as a good omen.

    The new coach has noted with delight Ambrose’s contribution to Celtic’s exploits before his arrival and is hoping to enjoy the same cooperation during his reign.

  • LMC shifts League resumption to July 27

    LMC shifts League resumption to July 27

    The League Management Company (LMC) has made further adjustments to the fixtures of the remaining games of the 2013/14 Glo Premier League.

    The alterations, made in response to sudden changes in the Federation Cup fixtures and to stave off possible fixture congestion, provides for Match Day 20 games – originally scheduled for Sunday, July 20 – to be moved by one week to Sunday, July 27. Similarly, Match Day 21 games that would have been played on Sunday, July 27 will now be on the midweek of Wednesday, August 6.

    Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, who announced the new changes, also disclosed further adjustments to the fixture for the games of Match Day 22 and 23.

    “We have taken a second look at the changes in the Federation Cup fixtures and have taken steps to allow clubs participating in that competition to avoid future fixture pile up that may confer advantages to some clubs,” Abubakar explained.

    “These changes only affect the games of Match Day 20 to 24 and new dates for Match Day 23 and 24 are Sunday, August 10 and Wednesday, August 13. All other fixtures will remain as scheduled and announced,” the LMC official added.

    He advised stakeholders to take note of the changes and adjust their schedules accordingly.

  • GLO LEAGUE TITLE: Kwambe talks tough

    GLO LEAGUE TITLE: Kwambe talks tough

    Sunshine Stars  defender Solomon Kwambe has said his side will be a credible candidate for the Glo Premier League title.

    The Akure Gunners ended the first stanza in 11th position on 27 points and will restart their second round campaign on home ground against bottom placed side, Nembe City.

    The Akure-based side were dumped 0-1 by Bendel Insurance in the Federation Cup round of 64 tie.

    Kwambe said his side were prepared to win a continental ticket for their teeming supporters as compensation for the shocking ouster from the ongoing Federation Cup competition.

    “All I can say right now is that I’m ready and we as a team are prepared, anxiously waiting for the restart of the season so that we can achieve our aims.

    “You know quite well we’re no more taking any part in this year’s Federation Cup competition, so we have to concentrate 100% on the league.

    “Of course, the league title as well as continental ticket won’t be a bad idea to compensate our supporters for our failure to excel in the Federation Cup.

    “Despite finishing a distant 11th position at the close of first stanza, we remain strong contenders for the league shield.

    “The contest for the title will be challenging and stiff in the second term among the campaigners but I know we’ll be equal to the task.

    “We have quality players in our fold and have resolved to give our best to ensure we achieve the lofty dream,” said the Super Eagles strongman to supersport.com.

    Sunshine Stars are expected to commence the second round against Nembe City in Akure.