The Nation Newspaper

Tag: more goals

  • Ali promises more goals for Kano Pillars

    Ali promises more goals for Kano Pillars

    Kano Pillars climbed to second spot in the NPFL table after securing a 3-2 win over Akwa United thanks to a hat-trick from Rabiu Ali.

    Ali, who boasts of eight caps for Nigeria was in splendid form as Pillars came from behind to secure a win over Akwa.

    According to him, Pillars approached the game positively against the Promise Keepers and thus deserved the win.

    “We approach every match with a positive mindset and that match against Akwa United wasn’t an exception,” Ali told Goal.

    “The continuous cheer from our fans is enough reason to give one’s best at all times. I’m really glad that I got those goals but I must thank my team mates for those opportunities they created for me.

    “Sincerely I’m just privileged to be at the right place at the right time. Goal is the name of the game so I pray that we shall score goals aplenty insha Allah.”

    Kano Pillars visit Lobi Stars in the next Nigeria topflight outfit.

  • Ubong targets more goals

    Ubong targets more goals

    Ubong Friday is the leading scorer in this year’s Men’s Federation Cup competition, and his target is to take over proceedings at the Teslim Balgoun Stadium today when Akwa United confront 2003 champions Lobi Stars in this year’s final.

    Akwa United’s precocious marksman Friday has netted six times since the Round of 64 of the national competition, and is the man the boys from Uyo will expect to do great things against the more experienced Lobi Stars.

    Friday netted three goals in his team’s 6-0 demolition of Dallatu United in the Round of 64, earned a brace against Peacemakers in the Round of 32 and was on song against Niger Tornadoes in a 2-2 draw in the quarter finals before Akwa United won through to the semi finals on penalty shoot-out.

    A large delegation from Akwa Ibom State is expected to be led by Governor Udom Emmanuel, with host Governor Akinwunmi Ambode also certain to be at the State Box.

    Word was rife on Saturday evening that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State might also hit Lagos. NFF President Amaju Pinnick, Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, Members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, Members of the NFF Congress and a number of ex –internationals will grace the occasion.

    The Lagos State Government has also concluded arrangements for honouring a dozen former heroes of the Federation Cup, five of them posthumously. Those to be represented are former goalkeeper Inua Lawal Rigogo, former defender Okey Isima and former marksman Rashidi Yekini.

    Still alive are former striker Dejo Fayemi, veteran journalist Segun Adenuga, former goalkeeper Amusa Adisa, former midfielder Friday Ekpo, former FIFA referee Linus Mba, former midfielder Dahiru Sadi and former strikers Baba Out Mohammed, Yisa Alabi and Ifeanyi Onyedika.

  • Ejike wants to score more goals

    Ejike wants to score more goals

    • Nets 9th goal
    of the season
    in Kaduna

    Heartland’s Bright Ejike has stressed his conviction that baring injuries he hopes to score as many goals as possible before the season draws to its end.

    The Naze Millionaires striker scored his ninth goal of the season in Kaduna in his side’s 1-2 loss to Giwa FC at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium last Sunday.

    The former Flying Eagles’ player has exuded confidence that he still has lots of goals more to plunder this season.

    Ejike’s goal initially silent the home crowd in the ninth minutes of the encounter before goals from Ibrahim Shuaibu and Amos Gyan in the 22nd and 69th minutes cancelled out his early minute effort.

    Speaking with SportingLife, the former Sharks of Port-Harcourt forward said that with the way his rivals are scoring with fun, it would be a fierce battle for the league’s highest goals scorer.

    “I am thrilled to score again but not happy that we lost despite the fact that we started the game well. I am not bothered that I scored because I would have preferred that we secured a point than what we got.

    “The race for the highest goals scorer will be fierce and I thank God that I am still with a big chance to win it, Ejike told SportingLife.

  • Musa laments: My goal was good

    Musa laments: My goal was good

    Ahmed Musa has said his goal for CSKA Moscow against Manchester City in the Champions League should not have been disallowed.

    Musa scored a goal in the 80th minute when he unleashed an absolute screamer from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net after he received a ball from Japan star Honda.

    However, the referee overruled this effort because he believed a high foot had nearly connected with Yaya Toure’s head who tried to clear but missed it.

    “To me it was a good goal, I would have loved to see it stand because it would have given us a point from the game, but the referee felt otherwise, he has the final say,” Musa told MTNFootball.com.

    Sergio Aguero scored a brace for Manchester City, while Tosic scored CSKA Moscow’s consolation goal.

    CSKA are now third in the standings in Group D with three points behind Bayern Munich and Manchester City, who are on nine points and six points, respectively.

    Nigeria international Ahmed Musa, a 50th minute substitute for Steven Zuber, said he was disappointed with the 2-1 loss to City at home on Wednesday.

    “I was not happy that we lost the game, but that is football. We look forward to a positive result in the next game,” he told MTNFootball.com.

    CSKA Moscow next game in the competition is away to Manchester City on Tuesday, November 5.

  • FEDERATION CUP: Ogene targets more goals

    FEDERATION CUP: Ogene targets more goals

    Nembe City utility player Ogene Elijah is confident of scoring more goals in the Federation Cup as his side faces Sunshine Stars in a Round of 32 fixture in Rojenny.

    The former Akwa Starlet midfielder scored Nembe City’s lone goal against Igbo Ambassadors in a Round of 62 clash in Owerri.

    Elijah told SportingLife that he and his teammates have all it takes to advance to the next stage at the expense of Sunshine Stars.

    He added that their league victory over Heartland would boost their morale against the Akure Gunners.

    “I want to score more goals. I am not underrating Sunshine Stars but we have ability to beat them. We have defeated big clubs in the league, a clear example being our home and away victory over Heartland in the Globacom Premier League,” the Edo State-born player declared.

    “The spirit in the camp is high and with the inclusion of new players, we will do our best to get to the next stage. This is my first year in the Premier League and I want to register my presence; the only way to do that is to score more goals.

    “I am grateful to the Management of Nembe City for giving me the opportunity to play in the top flight. We will give Sunshine Stars a good fight. They are an old team but we have the team that can beat them.”

  • Carroll craves more goals

    Andy Carroll hopes he can follow up his long awaited first West Ham goal by finding the net against Manchester United and Chelsea.

    Carroll headed home Joey O’Brien’s cross in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham to end his 1,062-minute Barclays Premier League goal drought. The £35million man had been brought in on loan to provide the firepower for the Hammers, but manager Sam Allardyce has instead had to rely on Kevin Nolan for his goals this season.

    Carroll was relieved to finally get off the mark for his new club, saying: “It was about time (I scored), to be honest. I’m just grateful to have got off the mark and hopefully there will be more to come this week.”

    He added: “I think I’ve put myself about and been involved in our goals in previous matches. I think I’ve been doing well so it was about time one went in. It was a great ball in by Joey O’Brien and I just had to get up and head it across the keeper. That’s what I did and thankfully it went in.”

    Despite Carroll’s failure to find the net, West Ham have exceeded all expectations so far this season and currently sit eighth in the table. But they were easily outclassed by a rampant Spurs side, who coasted to victory thanks to a Gareth Bale strike and a brace from former Hammer Jermain Defoe.

    Carroll was unhappy with how his team wilted but insisted they should not dwell too much on the defeat.

    “It was disappointing as we made mistakes for all three of their goals, really,” Carroll told the club’s website. “We should have done better, but they have taken their chances and obviously beat us.

    “We have got a tough week with Manchester United and then Chelsea and Liverpool coming up. It’ll be tough so we just have to put this behind us now and focus on Wednesday. This game is all gone now so we’re going to have to concentrate 100% on Wednesday, which is going to be another tough game.”