The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Musa Mohammed

  • Ighalo lands in France for Eagles’ friendlies

    Ighalo lands in France for Eagles’ friendlies

    Watford striker, Odion Ighalo, has arrived the Super Eagles’ camp ahead of friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg, making him the first player to hit the team’s hotel in Rouen, France.

    Ighalo, who travelled to the French city from London, arrived in the evening and was received by the Super Eagles Team Secretary, Dayo Enebi, africanFootball.com reports.

    Other members of the team led by interim head coach, Salisu Yusuf, left Nigeria on Tuesday night.

    The team included Ogenyi Onazi, Etebo Oghenekaro, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Elderson Echiejile, Umar Aminu, Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu, Musa Mohammed and Brown Ideye.

  • Musa Mohammed set for league debut in Turkey

    Musa Mohammed set for league debut in Turkey

    Flying Eagles skipper Musa Mohammed is set to make his league debut for Turkish club Basaksehir soon after a superb showing in a friendly against another Turkish Super League side Kasimpasa.

    Musa gave an assist for his club’s goal in a game they lost 3-1 through two goalkeeping errors.

    The right full-back played for 77 minutes.

    “It was a good performance, which should fetch him his first start in the league very soon,” a source close to the player informed AfricanFootball.com.

    Last month, Musa was involved in his team’s pre-season training in Holland.

    Basaksehir finished fourth last season and are currently 12th on the table with three points from as many matches.

  • Turkish club hooks Flying Eagles skipper

    Turkish club hooks Flying Eagles skipper

    Flying Eagles skipper, Musa Mohammed, has signed a three-year contract with an ambitious Turkish club, Istanbul Basaksehir FK, africanFootball.com reports.

    The team affectionately called IBB finished fourth in the Turkish Super League last season and will feature in the UEFA Europa League in the 2015/16 season.

    The Istanbul based club has built a spanking new stadium and enjoy massive support from the Turkish government.

    Mohammed almost joined another Turkish club Besiktas after training for several months with the team last year, but the top Istanbul giants officials failed to meet their obligations.

    He has already arrived Istanbul after he took permission from Dream Team coach, Samson Siasia, not to be part of the team’s training camp in Abuja so that he could sort out his future.

     

  • More U-20 stars set for Eagles

    More U-20 stars set for Eagles

    Flying Eagles skipper Musa Mohamed and Musa Yahaya are most likely to be considered for the new Super Eagles under caretaker coach Shuaibu Amodu, africanFootball.com reports.

    The  Most Valuable Player of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup Kelechi Iheanacho has already been mentioned as one of those to be listed for the full international team after former coach Stephen Keshi said he was “too young” for his team.

    The new national selectors are spreading their dragnet wide to ensure that the country’s best players feature for the Eagles.

    Muhammed is on the books of Turkish club Besiktas and he is widely seen as a player who could finally solve the country’s problematic right back position which had been manned in the last three years by a central defender – Efe Ambrose.

    He is likely to be included in the home-based Eagles training camp which opens in Uyo early next month.

    Muhammed is energetic, good defensively and loves to join the attack.

    Yahaya, on the other hand, has been training with the Tottenham Hotspur academy team in the last few months.

    The left winger was impressive at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirate. He has vision and weighs in with his fair share of goals.

     

  • Coalition warns against military deployment

    A COALITION, the International Network Against Corruption and Coalition for Civil Society Groups, yesterday cautioned the Federal Government against deploying Army in Osun State for the August 9 governorship election.

    The National Coordinator, International Network Against Corruption, Alhaji Musa Mohammed and the Chairman, Coalition for Civil Society Groups, Mr. David Ikem, at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, said: “Nigeria Army should rather dissipate their energy in the fight against terrorism and ensuring the release of our kidnapped Chibok girls that have remained in the terrorist den for over 75 days.”

    They urged the Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, to warn his men to stay clear from the affairs of Osun State, especially against harassing the people.

    Mohammed and Ikem critisised those linking Governor Rauf Aregbesola with Boko Haram, saying that “the allegation is untrue and should be disregarded.”

    According to the groups, “the allegation is an outright expression of hatred and malign envy by the state’s enemies.

    “His Excellency is a noble and patriotic Nigerian who has shown genuine commitment against insurgency in every part of this country. He also believes in the indivisibility of Nigeria.

    “While His Excellency is receiving commendation from the masses in the state because of his huge achievements, he is receiving condemnation from political elite who only believe in sharing the resources among themselves to the detriment of the masses.

    “This His Excellency has vehemently stopped, hence the allegations against his personality and administration as a way of painting him black before his loving and cheering supporters.

    “The allegations were from some frustrated politicians that have rigmaroled the state in the past in the name of governance, now looking for ways of reconciling with the people by engaging in unwarranted utterances and negative criticisms against the governor as a way of scoring cheap points.”

    They added that Aregbesola “remains a visionary leader who is reliable, responsible and responsive to the aspiration of the common man.”

    Mohammed and Ikem said: “But we want to remind these political rumour-mongers that performance is the determinant factor for the roadmap to the governorship seat.”

     

  • Musa Mohammed joins Besiktas

    Musa Mohammed joins Besiktas

    According to leaks gathered by allnigeriasoccer.com’s editorial staff, Nigeria Under-17 skipper Musa Mohammed will travel to Istanbul this week to formalise his switch to Super League campaigners Besiktas.

    The right back displayed his wares at the 2013 FIFA Under 17 World Cup staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    Though Musa Mohammed did not win any individual award, Besiktas chiefs were impressed with the modern day full back and his leadership skills. The likes of Udinese and Monaco had been on the trail of the FC Heart Academy, Kano youngster.

    However, Besiktas have pulled off one of the major transfer coups of the winter transfer market by luring him to Istanbul.

    Musa Mohammed has been offered a multi – year contract by BJK. The only missing detail – his signature – and that should be settled in the coming days.

  • Man Utd rival Chelsea, Liverpool for Musa Mohammed

    Manchester United have joined the battle for Nigeria U-17 World Cup winning captain Musa Mohammed.

    The Daily Star says United are hoping to win the race to sign Nigerian starlet Mohammed ahead of Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona.

    Chelsea and Liverpool have been keeping tabs on the young starlet and were weighing up whether to make a January bid for FC Heart Academy star.

    However, United are now ready to trump their Premier League rivals by attempting to secure Mohammed, who has also attracted the interest of Spanish giants Barcelona.

    United are also interested in Mohammed’s Nigeria teammate Kelechi Iheanacho.

  • Golden Eaglets’ victory: What next?

    SIR: Give it to them; the Nigeria U-17 team are the champions of the world. What a sight to behold inUnited Arab Emirates. They took the world to the cleaners in spectacular and enviable manner. This is what makes a champion.

    The revelation of the 2013 U-17 World Cup is the Nigerian team. They are now the most successful team in the age grade competition (winning four times-1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013), one more than Brazil.

    This is a tournament Nigerians would not want to forget in a hurry. Talk of the defence splitting passes of Musa Yahaya. What of the power packed crosses from the boots of the captain-Musa Mohammed? Or his curling free kick which only Messi , Ronaldo, Okocha and Ronaldinho display on the field of play.

    How about the player of the tournament? Good passer and goal poacher; the revelation of the tournament-Kelechi Iheanacho. Not forgetting Isaac Success. If not for injuries, we all know what he can do. Not to forget the lanky striker, Taiwo Awoniyi and his good positioning. The safe hands Dele, the son of Alampasu. What of the promising lad, Chidera Ezeh or the rock of Gibraltar Zaharadden Bello? What of the individual brilliance of Akinjide Idowu in the midfield and the hardworking Chidebere Nwakili?

    They all in unity took down their opponents to the cleaners. They spanked the Mexicans 6-1 in the opening game. They equalised late in the match to share points with the Swedes in the second fixture. The team cruised to the Round of 16 after spanking Iran 5-0 in the last group match and emerging winners of the group. They didn’t spare their Iranian counterparts in the Round of 16 winning 4-1. Then the quarterfinal match with the Uruguayans. The final score was 2-0. Once more, a rematch it was for the Nigerians against the hard fighting Swedes in the semis. Coolly and calmly, the Nigerians slotted three goals in their net to set a date with the Mexicans. With three goals, Nigerians emerged victors of the competition.

    What’s next for these eaglets? I remember the 2007 invincible team of the late Coach Yemi Tella. Six years gone by and we are yet to see them play for Nigeria. I remember the cerebral Toni Kroos who featured in 2007 for Germany and how he commands a regular shirt in Bayern Munich-reigning UEFA Champions league winner. But our Nigerian folks do not play top flight football. Iker Casillas and Xavi-two revered footballers in the world today were but discovered at this same competition in 1999.

    Four times we have won this competition but yet waited for 19 years to win the Nations Cup, wobbled and fumbled in South Africa 2010 World Cup, and missed Germany 2006 World Cup. This ought not to be, lest we become the laughing stock of the world. The only reward that will favour both these eaglets and the nation is to see them graduate through the ranks-U20, U23, and the Super Eagles.

     

    • Kelechi Amakoh

    University of Lagos