The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Moses

  • Moses plays at last

    Moses plays at last

    • Introduced as 79th min sub

    After enduring weeks of sitting on the bench, Super Eagles’ star Victor Moses eventually tasted action for Liverpool as the Reds laboured to a 4-3 victory over Swansea City at the Anfield yesterday.

    It was indeed huge relief for the Nigerian midfielder who came in for two goals hero Daniel Sturridge in the 79th minute of the encounter which ended in a seven goal thriller.

    That Moses even played for that number of minutes was a gradual improvement for the former Wigan player whose inactivity at Liverpool has already sparked debates that he may seek to continue his career where he would be guaranteed regular playing time next summer.

    The 23-year-old winger has struggled to settle since joining Liverpool on a season-long loan from Chelsea and he has not started a league game since the 3-1 defeat at Hull City on December 1,2013.

    Moses’ form has dwindled so drastically that his days at Anfield looked numbered at the start of January after he was substituted at half-time in the 2-0 win over Oldham Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup.

    On January 25,2014,his goal in the 26th minute, his first since his debut last September, came at an important time for Liverpool, alleviating concerns about the way they were being outplayed by Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.

  • Liverpool 2-0 Oldham: Moses plays for 45 mins

    Liverpool 2-0 Oldham: Moses plays for 45 mins

    • Progresses with Reds 

    Super Eagles striker Victor Moses was in action for 45 minutes in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over a resilient Oldham side at Anfield in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

    Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers made changes at the interval with Lucas replacing Moses and and Philippe Coutinho came in for Luis Alberto. The League One side applied themselves well in the first half and they pressed the home side hard, putting in some crunching challenges, which was evident from the first minute when skipper Korey Smith was booked for a tackle on his opposite number Steven Gerrard.

    Brendan Rodgers’ side were rather poor in the first period and lacked a cutting edge, their best chance of the first period was a Luis Alberto effort that was saved by Oldham goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

    The breakthrough came not long after when Raheem Sterling found Aspas 12 yards out and the Spaniard slotted the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal for the club.

    Aspas came close to getting his second when he hit the post with a header, but Oldham created a couple of chances themselves and Brad Jones had to save well from Michael Petrasso and Danny Philliskirk crashed a shot just over the crossbar from distance.

    The home side brought on Luis Suarez for Gerrard late on and they made the game safe eight minutes from time, when James Tarkowski diverted a Sterling shot past his own goalkeeper.

  • Moses shines in Liverpool away win

    Moses shines in Liverpool away win

    Victor Moses played his part to ensure Liverpool record a 3-1 victory over Sunderland in an English Premier League game on Sunday September.

    Luis Suarez hit a brace and Daniel Sturridge got one to secure maximum points for the Reds.

    Daniel Sturridge opened scoring in the 28th minute to silence the home fans at the Stadium of Light before Luis Suarez doubled the score eight minutes later to ensure a 2-0 first half lead.

    Giaccherini pulled one back for Sunderland just seven minutes after the break to give the boost the morale of the team and possibly get a draw.

    Liverpool, who prior to the game have not scored a second half goal in the EPL, gained much of the possession with Moses forcing some saves.

    The Nigeria international was however substituted for Raheem Sterling in the 74th minutes, before Suarez completed his brace in the 89th minute and record Liverpool’s first second half goal after six games.

     

  • BBC Africa Player of the Year: I want to emulate Okocha -Moses

    BBC Africa Player of the Year: I want to emulate Okocha -Moses

    For along time, no Nigerian player has experienced the kind of good fortunes that Victor Moses has enjoyed since he took that crucial decision to pledge his allegiance to the Super Eagles.

    Barely a year after making his full debut for the senior national team, the skillful playmaker, who could also operate from the wings, played a pivotal role as the Eagles won the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa last February.

    Few months later, Moses won the Europa League with Chelsea in his very first season with the Stamford Bridge side after moving from another Premier League side, Wigan Atletic.

    Just last week, the Nigerian international who cut his footballing teeth at Crystal Place was listed among the five nominees for the prestigious BBC Africa Player of the Year award alongside his close pal, John Mikel Obi.

    Speaking for the first time on his nomination for the award, Moses did not hide his excitement on his inclusion in the exclusive list for the award.

    “For me, that I was even considered for this prestigious award is a privilege,” the Liverpool star began in an interview with the BBC.

    Moses said the thought of following in the footstep of the mercurial Austin Jay Jay Okocha who was a past winner of the award would be awesome if he is eventually crowned as the 2013 BBC Africa Player of the Year.

    “When I was growing up, every player wanted to be like Okocha, Didier Drogba and George Weah. These players were not just idolised in the African continent but in the whole world.

    “So, to be able to join them as past winners is an achievement I would cherish for the rest of my life,” he said.

  • Moses to Nigerians: Believe in me

    Moses to Nigerians: Believe in me

    Liverpool of England forward Victor Moses has called on Nigerians to believe in him and his teammates as they battle Ethiopia for a Brazil 2014 ticket in today`s World Cup return leg playoff in Calabar.

    The Nigeria international, who is one of the players nominated for the BBC African Player of the Year award, also confirmed that the team was in top shape despite the flight hitches most of them faced while coming to Calabar.

    “I am always ready to give my best any time for my country, no matter the challenges. We are in top shape and qualifying for the World Cup will be terrific,” he told SportingLife.

    Although looking forward to scoring against the Ethiopians, Moses was, however, not sure how many goals the team would score.

    “I will be delighted to get on the score sheet because such goals are really special,” he said.

    Moses scored one of the goals that sent Ethiopia out of the Africa Cup of Nations in January in the group stage.

  • Keshi happy with BBC award nominations

    Keshi happy with BBC award nominations

    Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed his excitement about John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses nomination for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.

    On Monday, the BBC revealed the shortlist for this year via its Newsday programme.

    The three other shortlisted players are – Jonathan Pitroipa of Burkina Faso, Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ivory Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure, who made the shortlist for the fifth successive year.

    Keshi, 51, said the nomination of Mikel and Moses shows that the African champions are now competing with the best on the continent.

    He revealed how he spoke to Super Eagles members on resumption as head coach of the team two years ago on worming their ways into winning individual honours while balancing their ethics as team players at the same time.

    “I’m hearing this for the first time. I’ve been busy preparing for the World Cup game against Ethiopia. But I’m happy to hear this and it is pleasant news for the players, the team and the nation. I hope one of them can win it.

    “I must say this is a result of hard work, commitment and open-mindedness to learn and make sacrifices as individuals and as a team. When I became coach of the team I sat down with the boys and made it clear that they have the ability to be rated among the best players in not just Africa but the world.

    “These boys already know much about the game and I’m sure I can’t start teaching like small boys. I try as much as possible to make them feel like they are in a family which is important and it has worked well for us and that’s why we have players being nominated for awards now. But it’s down to the good work of the players, coaches and officials.

    “Now I am confident that we are on the verge of good things to come once we continue with this same pace and I am happy that what we started two years ago is bearing fruits. I hope one of them will win the award this year,” Keshi told supersport.com.

    The 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year “winner will be decided by African football fans” through a voting process that will run till November 25, according to the BBC.

    Austin Okocha was the last Nigerian to win the BBC award in 2004 after he had won it the previous year.

     

     

  • Mikel, Moses, Toure listed for BBC award

    Mikel, Moses, Toure listed for BBC award

    The five candidates for the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award have been revealed on the BBC’s Newsday programme.

    Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure has made the shortlist for the fifth consecutive year and is joined by Nigerians Victor Moses and John Mikel Obi, Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon.

    The winner will be decided by African football fans, who have until 18:00 GMT on November 25 to vote for their choice.

    The winner will be announced on Monday, December 2 at 17:35 GMT on the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio and television programmes.

    No player on this year’s shortlist, drawn up from votes by 44 journalists across Africa, has won the BBC award before and two – Pitroipa and Aubameyang – are the first nominees from their respective countries.

    Aubameyang, 24, has been in prolific form over the past year – ending the 2012-13 season with 19 goals for St-Etienne, which put him second in the list of top scorers in the French Ligue 1, while he also helped the club win the French Cup to claim his first trophy as a professional.

    Those performances earned him a summer transfer to Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund, and he has already scored seven goals in 11 games for the German side.

    Pitroipa’s biggest highlights came on the international stage as the 27-year-old winger was named player of the tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, helping Burkina Faso to reach the final.

     

  • Wenger confesses: Moses is top class

    Wenger confesses: Moses is top class

    Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has taken the time to outline the qualities of Super Eagles’ star, Victor Moses following Saturday’s 2-0 success against Liverpool at the Emirates stadium.

    Saturday’s win gives Arsenal a five-point cushion over the chasing pack in the Barclays English Premier League but Wenger was complimentary about the opposition from Anfield and made special mention about the Nigerian on the books of Liverpool.

    “Victor Moses is top class and even after (the Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers) brought him on as a second half substitute along with Philippe Coutinho we kept them quiet and that was great credit to our defence,” Wenger told Itv.

    Moses has made six league appearances for Liverpool since completing his deadline day loan switch from Chelsea and scored on his debut against Swansea City on September 16.

    The 22-year-old has scored five times in 14 appearances for Nigeria.

    Nigeria goes into the second leg of the Africa zone of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia needing to avoid defeat by two clear goals,to earn a ticket for the global football fiesta.

  • Moses spotted in Lagos

    Moses spotted in Lagos

    •Glo to make player ambassador

    Liverpool forward, Victor Moses has been sighted in Lagos after contributing to Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday.

    The player, who arrived yesterday morning is in Lagos on the invitation of GSM provider, Globacom.

    SportingLife gathered from those privy to the invitation revealed that Globacom plans to make Moses one of its ambassadors today at a colourful ceremony expected to attract top dignitaries from all walks of life.

    “After the ceremony scheduled for 11am at Globacom’s corporate headquarters, the player should be on his way to Abuja to join his teammates for Sunday’s match,” said a source.

    In another vein, some of the players invited for the match have arrived Nigeria. They are still in Lagos. A top source revealed that the players have suddenly developed phobia for boarding domestic planes following last Thursday’s air crash involving Associated Airlines.

  • Moses: I want to score more goals

    Moses: I want to score more goals

    ictor Moses is determined to build on a promising start to his Anfield career by adding more assists and goals to his game as he continues to adapt to life on Merseyside.

    The Nigerian international arrived at Anfield on the final day of the summer transfer window, joining the Reds on a year-long loan switch from Chelsea.

    He’s hoping his debut goal at the Liberty Stadium against Swansea will be the first of many in a red shirt – and the forward has spoken of his desire to contribute more in the assists stakes.

    Moses told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’m very satisfied with my performances so far. It’s a great club to play for and I just want to keep playing football.

    “As long as I’m on the pitch, I just want to keep enjoying myself. The more games you play the more experience you get.

    “I’ve just got to keep on playing and keep on helping the team out. I want to try and score more goals.

    “I’ve played four games already and I want to create goals for my teammates and score myself.”

    The former Wigan man has had more than a month to settle into life at Melwood – and he insists it’s been something of a smooth transition owing to the friendly atmosphere within the squad.

    “I’m enjoying it. It’s a great club and I’m enjoying every single day,” said Moses. “Everyone has been great to me and I love it here. The history of the club is unbelievable and I’m just enjoying being here.

    “We’re doing really well. We’re second in the league and we need to keep that going and keep winning games.

    “Everyone has been friendly and we’ve been talking a lot. It was nice to see the lads and get on with them. Everyone has a great relationship and at the same time, out on the pitch, we’re enjoying it.

    “I talk to everyone and get on with all the players. I know Daniel Sturridge from my days at Chelsea and we’ve been talking a lot and doing things together.”

    Sturridge was in fine form as part of a Liverpool attacking triumvirate, including Luis Suarez and Moses, which pieced apart Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

    Moses felt that despite long periods of Black Cats pressure, the Reds turned in an accomplished performance to push themselves back to second place in the Barclays Premier League table.

    “We wanted to go to Sunderland and get the three points because we know the situation they are in at the moment,” said Moses. “They’d just lost the manager and they were keen to impress the manager who is coming in.

    “So we just wanted to try and get the three points. That’s what we did. I thought we did it the right way. We worked hard from the start to the end. They came at us and when time wore on in the game.”