The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MARTINS

  • AFCON 2013 SHOCKER Keshi drops Martins

    AFCON 2013 SHOCKER Keshi drops Martins

    LEVANTE of Spain striker Obafemi Martins may not be selected in the Super Eagles list for the African Cup of Nations next January. Close source to coach Stephen Keshi informed on Monday that the handler has completed his list of attackers, and Martins was not part of the list.

    “Martins may not make it to AFCON next year. Keshi has completed his list of attackers for the Nations Cup,” the source told futaa.com on Monday.

    Martins, however, has a slim chance of making the team if any of the listed attackers get injured.

    “Keshi has placed him on standby, just incase anything happens to the listed players,” the source added.

    Martin was among the players paraded in Miami USA in an international friendly against Venezuela on November 14. His performance was reportedly not convincing for Keshi, and that may have led to the latest development.

  • Martins, Igiebor crash out

    It was a sad night for Nigerians in Spain on Thursday as two of the country’s ambassadors saw their sides crash out of the Kings Cup otherwise known as the Copa del Rey.

    Obafemi Martins’ Levante surprisingly went down 0-1 to lower division side, UD Melilla with Velasco getting the winner after 38 minutes from the penalty spot.

    Obagoal, who has been in impressive form this season, failed to add to his four La Liga strikes as Levante bowed out with a whimper to unheralded opposition.

    Elsewhere, Nosa Igiebor and his Real Betis teammates failed to build on their La Liga victory over Valencia at the weekend as they lost 0-1 to Valladolid.

    Igiebor has been a regular for Betis this term but has yet to score for the La Liga club since completing a summer move from Israeli side, Hapoel Tel Aviv.

    The 21-year-old has played five games for Real Betis this season.

  • MARTINS SETS 15 GOALS MARK

    MARTINS SETS 15 GOALS MARK

    GINGERED by his fruitful debut Sunday against Real Sociedad, Nigeria international and Levante forward Obafemi Martins is optimistic he can supercede the contributions of Ivorien Intenational Arouna Kone who left the club for Wigan Athletic making way for him to fill the gap.

    Kone made 34 appearances for Levante scoring 15 goals for the side before heading for Wigan.

    Speaking in his post match comments to Spanish Media, the Nigeria international says he wants to better Koné’s record even as he dismissed insinuations in some quarters that Levante is a moderate club.

    “In the first practice I saw that the club Levante is not as small as some think and I’m very happy to be here,” Martins was quoted as saying by superdeporte.es.

    The former Inter Milan star who thanked his parents and brother who stood by him during the long period uncertainty just before landing levante deal, described the debut goal and the three points claimed in the bargain as a major boost. The 27 – year -old popularly called Obagoal by his fans is the 11th Levante player to score on his debut in the Spanish top flight.