The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mfon Udoh

  • Mfon Udoh predicts tough NPFL season

    Mfon Udoh predicts tough NPFL season

    Enyimba striker  Mfon Udoh has predicted that the current campaign will be a very tough and interesting one after helping the People’s Elephants to a hard earned 1-0 win over Bayelsa United.

    The game which took place at the Enyimba stadium enabled Udoh to open his goal accounts and the club’s first win of the season after three rounds of matches.

    Mfon told footballlive.ng in Aba that he is delighted to have gotten his first goal of the season for the club but hopes to do more.

    “I am so happy and I want to give God all the glory. No game is a small team and no game is a small game; all the teams have stepped up their game and that is what we face in the Nigeria premier league,” he said.

    The Aba outfit remains sixth on the log of the NPFL having gathered just five points so far. Enyimba will not be downcast with their slow start to the season but will look to improve until things work out.

     

  • Mfon denies Belarus move

    Mfon denies Belarus move

    Enyimba forward Mfon Udoh has   categorically denied claims that he has joined a Belarusian side.

    The player, who finished last season with an outstanding 23 goals tally to become the highest goalscorer in Nigeria professional football league history was said to have missed the Super Six tournament because he travelled to Belarus to sign a deal with an undisclosed club.

    Reports in several sections of the media claimed that the club does not know the whereabouts of the player and quoted the manager of the People’s Elephant, Kadiri Ikhana as saying: “He (Udoh) has left for Belarus. He has joined a club in Belarus, he has gone.”

    However, in an exclusive chat with SportingLife, Mfon revealed: “Ikhana is the technical adviser of the team and I am a player of Enyimba.

    “He is like a father to me. I told him something about a deal in Belarus but I didn’t tell him I’ve signed,” he explained.

    The former Akwa United star, informed that he had planned to play in the Super Six tournament but fell ill and duly informed the club.

    “After the Yemen friendly, I was looking forward to the Super Six but I fell ill and disappointingly didn’t make it.  I told the club and they were fully aware I wasn’t healthy enough to play.”

    He also went on to reiterate his ambition to play abroad, he said: “I wish to play in a better league than the Nigerian league.”

    Mfon scored his first International goal for Nigeria in last month’s 2-0 friendly win against Yemen.

  • Udoh eager to score for Eagles

    Udoh eager to score for Eagles

    Top scorer in the history of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Mfon Udoh says he is  hoping to open his goals account for the Super Eagles when they play Mali and Ivory Coast in two international friendly matches in January.

    The home based Eagles player will prosecute the games against the Malians and the Ivoirians in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Udo, who usurped Jude Aneke’s previous record of 20 goals in a single season in the Nigerian league, says having scored 23 goals in the league last season, he would like to start scoring for the Super Eagles.

    “It is my dream to score for the Super Eagles and also help to win games,” Udoh said.

    “As a striker, it is always my dream to put the ball in the back of the net and playing for the Super Eagles will be no different.”

    The 22-year-old almost got on the score sheet in November when the home based Eagles defeated Ghana’s Black Meteors 1-0 in Uyo and he says he would like to register his first goal for Nigeria, but admits that the most important thing is for the team to win.

    “I will always want to score goals and it will give me great joy to score for my country. But I know the most important thing is for us to win whether I score or not and I hope we win the games,” Udoh concluded.

  • Udoh happy with 23 goals’ feat

    Udoh happy with 23 goals’ feat

    Enyimbastriker, Mfon Udoh, set a   new record for the highest number of goals in a single season, beating his own landmark, after notching up a brace against champions Kano Pillars at the wekend.

    To earn his place in the history books, Mfon Udoh scored 23 goals for the Glo Premier League runners up, which erased the previous record set by Jude Aneke during the 2011 season, with three goals now separating the two forwards.

    “Before the season started, my target was 20 goals. I’m so glad breaking Jude Aneke’s record. I’m so glad to have set this new record and writing my name in the history books of Nigeria,” Udoh told SL10.ng.

    “I would pick my goal against Warri Wolves in Aba as the best goal I scored this season. The second best was the one I scored against Gombe United at Gombe.”

    It is thought that several teams overseas are monitoring the transfer situation of the leading marksman in the domestic championship, but he has made it clear that there have been no concrete offers from interested clubs.

    According to the 22-year-old, himself, his contract with Enyimba will run out at the end of this season.

    If that is the case, Udoh’s final game in Enyimba colours would be against Dolphins this weekend in the Federation Cup, assuming he does not extend his stay in Aba.

  • Nwanna’s experience delights Udoh

    Nwanna’s experience delights Udoh

    Enyimba’s leading scorer, Mfon Udoh, believes the experience of inspirational striker, Emeka Nwanna, cannot be over-emphasized.

    Nwanna’s experience has boosted Kadiri Ikhana’s options in the attack and the two-time Caf Champions League winner, has equally contributed goals and assists to the revival of the team.

    “I’ll describe him as a prolific striker with lots of strength and it’s a great opportunity to play with him in the same team.

    “I remember his contributions to Enyimba’s success in the CAF Champions League”, Udoh said to Supersport.com.

    Nwanna has scored two goals against FC Taraba and Bayelsa United, respectively, in Enyimba’s campaign this term.

  • Elephants’ stars admit to poor showing

    Elephants’ stars admit to poor showing

    Enyimba pair Abdulrahman Bashir and Mfon Udoh have conceded the team disappointed in their 1-2 loss to AS Real Bamako of Mali in the CAF Champions League on Sunday.

    Bashir said: “I don’t really know what I will say caused the loss, but I know we didn’t play well. We didn’t create many chances so it was not that we lost several scoring chances. Now we will just have to brace up for the second leg.”

    Fellow striker Udoh feels his side may have been guilty of complacency.

    “I am confused right now because I can’t say what went wrong and why we couldn’t win the game. Whether we were tired or looked down on the Malians,” he added.

    “I think we underrated them because we allowed them to play better than us and they won the game. We have no choice than to work harder for the second leg and prepare for war on the pitch over there in Mali. I believe if they could win here, we can equally do the same in Bamako.”

  • Joining Enyimba won’t affect my education -Udoh

    Joining Enyimba won’t affect my education -Udoh

    Akwa United top scorer last season, Mfon Udoh, has stated that his recent switch to two-time African champions, Enyimba, won’t affect his programme at the University of Uyo.

    Udoh is one of the few undergraduates in the Glo Premier League, who have since become role models for their colleagues.

    “It won’t be different from my two-year spell at Akwa United. Football takes a lot of time, but it also mean I’ll devote more time to my books,” Udoh, who was dropped from Nigeria’s CHAN 2014 bound squad, told supersport.com.

    Udoh earned a place in the history books at Akwa United when he scored 16 goals during the 2012/13 season to finish as club top scorer.

    Although he lost the golden boot to Nasarawa United’s Victor Namo, Udoh turned out as the only player to score five goals during road trips last term.

    It would be recalled that Super Eagles number one goalkeeper,Vincent Enyeama did the same successfully when he was at Enyimba by combining his education at the University of Uyo and playing for the Aba Elephants.

    Udoh is studying Guidance and Counselling at the University of Uyo.

  • CHAN: Dropped Eagles vow to ‘fight back’

    CHAN: Dropped Eagles vow to ‘fight back’

    Gambo Mohammed, Yinka Adedeji and Mfon Udoh have vowed to fight their way back to the Eagles after they were dropped ahead of CHAN.

    Adedeji, who was axed following a hamstring injury, said he was disappointed to miss out but hopes to soon return to the team.

    “It’s sad that I have to drop out due to injury but I am happy that I never allowed the past to dwell in my heart and soon I will return,” he told MTNFootball.com.

    “I thank Coach Stephen Keshi and other members of the technical crew for giving me this opportunity and I assure them that when next I am called, I won’t fail the team and the nation.”

    Pillars striker Gambo also missed the final cut as a result of injury and said he has taken his exclusion in good faith.

    “These things do happen and I take it in good faith and I will soon be back. I wish my teammates the best of luck in CHAN,” the Kano Pillars forward declared.

    “I have taken my exclusion from CHAN final squad in good faith,” added Mfon Udoh.

    “I did my best, but maybe it is not yet my time to represent Nigeria at a tournament.”

    The other players dropped were Ikechukwu Azubuike, Ibrahim Pius and Eaglets striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

     

  • Mfon Udoh quits Akwa United for Enyimba

    Prolific Akwa United forward Mfon Udoh has ended his romance with Akwa United to sign for nearby neighbours Enyimba international of Aba.

    The 20-year old pacey forward, who played a vital role in Akwa United’s survival in the Glo Premier League last season, has put pen to paper on a one year deal with the People’s Elephant.

    He will hope to bring his impressive performance for Akwa last season into the Zacary Baraje-led side as they aim for honours both in the domestic front and on the continent.

    Udo, who is currently in the Super Eagles camp in preparation for the 2014 CHAN competition in South Africa next year, scored 16 league goals to finish second on the Glo League top scorers’ chart last season.

    The forward becomes the recent audition made by Baraje after the signing of Niger Republic defender Bashir Mohammed last week.

    Meanwhile, the Aba Landlords are reportedly hot on the heels of home-based Eagle and Lobi defender Ezekiel Bassey as the club continue to strengthen for the tough season ahead.

    Ezekiel, who has been one of the mainstays in the back four of Lobi Stars, can also fill in comfortably in the heart of defence if there is a vacuum.