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Tag: MUSA Muhammed

  • Calabar House Gifts: Eaglets skipper Muhammed appeals to Cross River Gov’t

    Calabar House Gifts: Eaglets skipper Muhammed appeals to Cross River Gov’t

    Former Golden Eaglets skipper, Musa Muhammed, has for the umpteenth time  pleaded to with the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu to redeem the house pledge made to the players and officials of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team by his processor.

    Today, Friday, November 8, 2024 marks the 11th  anniversary when the Coach Manu Garba-led side extended the country’s grip on the cadet trophy with her fourth title following 3-0 obliteration of Mexico in the final in Abu Dhabi.

    The then Cross River State Governor  Senator Liyel Imoke on behalf of the people  and the  state,  promised the Golden Eaglets team  including 21 players  and 10 officials, houses when he hosted the squad for doing the country proud in the  United Arab Emirates  at the Government House in Calabar 11 years ago

    “They should help us plead with the Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Edet Otu to help us fulfil the promise made by the previous administration since 2013. We hope and pray that the current Governor can help us and fulfil the promise made by the administration of former Governor, Liyel Imoke,” Muhammed  said.

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    “We are hopeful the present Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu is going to help do that. The state government promised all the players and officials houses in Calabar but up till now, we have not heard anything from them.

    “We have tried everything possible to reach out to the state government for them to know our plights.”

    Muhammed noted that the house gift pledge made by the then Governor, Imoke was not misplaced because the Golden Eaglets spent about one and a half years altogether in Calabar preparing for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup which they won in the United Arab Emirates.

    The defender opined that they would be more than delighted if the promised house gifts become a reality to the members of that Golden Eaglets team and the officials that toiled to ensure Nigeria won the cadet World Cup in 2013 despite all the odds.

    “We are children of Cross River too because we had all our preparations and camping for the FIFA Under 17 World Cup there. If I am asked where I can leave besides Kano I will choose Cross River because it is very peaceful and filled with lovely people.

    “I really enjoyed staying there because we stayed for almost a year and a half there camping. We have about three of our players from there. It was very exciting to us to win the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and we would be happier if this promise is fulfilled,” he said.

  • MUSA MUHAMMED : I smile when things don’t even make sense to me

    Attitude makes a difference in life and erstwhile Golden Eaglets’ captain, Musa Muhammed, reckons smiling is restorative to withstand the vagaries of life, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    He wears his smiles like a tooth paste and even when under backbreaking pains, rest assured that erstwhile captain of national U-17 team, Musa Muhammed, would still offer his trademark golden smile.

    Laughter, noted Mohammed, is a good medicine; no wonder a Bible proverb states: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit saps one’s strength.”

    “Everywhere people ask ‘why are you so soft?’  They say I smile too much but I’m just a happy person,” the inspirational 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning captain told The Nation.  “I smile even when things don’t make sense to me.

    “This is my life; I don’t know what can make me angry that I won’t be able to smile.  I’m always happy even when bad things happen.”

    You don’t have to look further for a youngster adroit with challenges of life than Muhammed who has earned the respect of everyone with his puritanical devotion to his chosen career.

    Foremost youth coach, Manu Garba (OON), who initially picked Muhammed as captain of the Golden Eaglets and later retained him in similar position for the Flying Eagles, waxed candidly about the lad.

    “I picked Musa as captain for the Under-17 team based on a personal conviction that he has the quality to lead the team and also because he combines names of two inspired prophets – Musa (Moses in Christian) and Muhammed,” Garba said in his typical philosophical hue.

    Musa would turn out to be a leader in the true sense of the word by leading Nigeria to glories in 2013 and 2015.

    A dead ball specialist, Muhammed tellingly showed how good he can be by curling a sublime free-kick into the top corner for Nigeria’s third and last goal of the tournament in the 3-0 thrashing of Mexico in the final match of 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

    He was the top scorer with four goals at the U-20 African Cup of nations held in Senegal in 2015 where he led the Flying Eagles to conquer the continent in a blistering fashion in March.

    “It’s my belief that whatever happens to me is the wish of Almighty Allah (God). Nothing can happen to me without the knowledge of God. God knows the best for all of us. Seriously, I don’t get too worried; this is all about my character.”

    The defender who is currently with Croatian side, HNK Gorica, is not distracted that coach Gernot Rohr is yet to give him the carte blanche to play for the Super Eagles, and was only listed on the supplementary list during the last double header against Seychelles in October.

    “I’m just happy to be here now with HNK Gorica and this transfer is good for my career,” Muhammed said about his move from Bulgarian side, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, where he was a loanee the last term.  “People here really like me and I love to work with this kind of people.

    “I can only do well if I’m happy on the field and outside the field. I’m thanking God for this new opportunity. Everybody at the club is serious and ambitious and I hope we can achieve something great together. Honestly, I’m just happy to be here.”

    Significantly, there are other reasons for Muhammed to be happy as he savours the joy of marriage with his beloved wife. “My wife is a wonderful person. She has almost the same qualities like my mom. She has all the qualities I was looking for and the good thing about her is that she always wants to learn new things.

    “She’s beautiful and I’m so proud to have her as my wife; and I also think she’s proud of me too. Our relationship is getting better and better since we met and here we are today as married partners.  “She’s a very calm and kind person; and I just love her.  Of course, she smiles but not as much as I do. She respects people even when she doesn’t know you.”

    Known for his burst-of-energy and defensive qualities, Muhammed made his international debut for Nigeria under Rohr against Mali in an international friendly in 2016 and was a sight to behold in that thrilling exhibition match between selected Super Eagles and Atletico Madrid last June at the Uyo International Stadium.

    “I know how it feels to play for Nigeria,” noted the 22-yer-old Mohammed who is the second born of his parents along with four other brothers. “I was privileged to captain the national U-17 and U-20 before and it’s always my joy to be called up to play for Nigeria. It something I’m looking forward to.”

  • Rohr enlists Musa Muhammed

    HNK Gorica of Croatia full-back Musa Muhammed has been handed a route back into international football with Nigeria as Coach Gernot Rohr has included him in his list of players for the upcoming games against South Africa and Uganda.

    ” It was an error from the people who typed the list. Musa Muhammed is on standby as well. I included him on the list. He is on the list”, Rohr exclusively told Owngoalnigeria.com in a chat from his base in France.

    The former captain of the Nigeria U17 and 20 teams last played for the B team of Nigeria in the 2-3 loss to Spanish side Atletico Madrid before Nigeria’s participation at the World Cup in Russia.

    Prior to that time, he has made three senior appearances for the main team of Nigeria but his unstable club career cost him his spot in the team, but since moving to Croatia he has found his rhythm.

    So far he has played in nine league games in Croatia for high flying Gorica and although he started out as a left fullback, he has since moved to the position of right full-back where he has posted commanding performances the past few weeks.

  • PSC promotes three AIGs to DIGs, four CPs to AIGs

    The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of three Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), to the next rank of Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs.)

    The Commission also approved the promotion of four Commissioners of Police (CPs) to AIGs of Police.

    The promotions were one of the highlights of the first plenary meeting of the newly inaugurated management of the Commission held in Abuja on the 26th of September 2018 and between the 9th and 11th of October, 2018.

    Details of the promotion is contained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the Commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

    The new DIGs are Musa Katsina Muhammed, mni, presently at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos; Mohammed Sani Usman, Commandant Police Academy, Wudil, Kano and Peace Ibekwe Abdallah, Office of the National Security Adviser.

    The new AIG’s are: Godwin C. Nwobodo currently, CP Courses at the Police Academy Wudil, Kano; Adeyemi O. Samuel Ogunjemilusi CP, Akwa Ibom State Command; Augustine Iornongu Iwar, CP, Bayelsa State Command and Adekunle J. Oladunjoye, CP Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    The Chairman of the Commission Alhaji Musiliu Smith urged the newly promoted Officers to rededicate themselves to the service of their fatherland.

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    Alhaji Smith said their new ranks impose on them more challenging responsibilities which calls for more hard work.

    He pledged the commitment of the Commission to ensure that promotions in the Nigeria Police Force will henceforth be based on seniority, merit and passing the relevant official courses.

    The Chairman charged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by making a success of their new offices.

    The Commission also said the approval has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris for implementation in a letter signed by Mr. Musa Istifanus, Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Commission.

  • Musa Muhammed begs Siasia, returns to Dream Team

    Musa Muhammed begs Siasia, returns to Dream Team

    The Chief Coach of the Dream Team VI Samson Siasia has disclosed that former Flying Eagles Captain Musa Muhammed, who unceremoniously left the team for trials in Germany, has come back to apologise and has returned to the U- 23 national team.

    Muhammed, who recently signed for a Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir FK, has made the list of players that will do battle against Congo in Port Harcourt for the ticket of the 2016 Olympic qualifying tournament.

    Siasia said he forgave Muhammed based on his resolve to humble himself and ask for forgiveness

    “God Almighty forgives so who am I not to do so? Musa Mohammed believed he was wrong the way he left the team when he was invited and came back to apologise. He said ‘coach, forgive me, I got carried away.’ I know, told him, come back.

    “Musa is a useful player from the national U-17 to U-20. We have invited him before even if he had not played for us. So he is back and everybody is happy. It is one big family.

    “He is part of this team and he came to tell me that he was going to sign for a club in Turkey. I said that was nice, go and come back to join the team. He actually beat the deadline, so he is part of us.

    The player’s manager Adam Abah Muhammed also told SportingLife in Abuja at the weekend that he and the player came to see the coach and everything was resolved.

  • Musa Muhammed: We’re not worried about Brazil

    Musa Muhammed: We’re not worried about Brazil

    Captain of the Flying Eagles team, Musa Muhammed has stated that they will not be at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand just to make up the numbers.

    The team are presently in Germany, having a final preparation ahead of their participation at the tournament, and the Nigeria skipper says they won’t be in Oceania just to make up the 24 teams participating.

    “Some people, especially outside of Nigeria might probably think we’ll go there to make up the numbers,” he told sl10.ng.

    “But we have a different plan because we are African champions and we are going there as such and the dream is to win the World Cup as well. This is something my teammates and I have collectively agreed to work toward and we are not just talking about it, we are working towards it,” he stated.

    The 18-year also spoke about their group, which has Hungary, North Korea and favourites, Brazil. But he says he’s less concerned about facing the Brazilians than he is facing any other team in the competition.

    “People talk about Brazil all the time but we also have other countries in our group. So for us it’s not just about Brazil, it’s about playing each game as they come and taking it from there.”

  • U-20 foreign- based players get January 15 deadline

    U-20 foreign- based players get January 15 deadline

    Foreign based players invited by Flying Eagles handlers for preparation towards next year’s African Youth Championship have been given a January 15 deadline to report to camp.

    “All the invitations have been sent out to the foreign based players we need for the AYC and we have given them a deadline of January 15 to join us in Kaduna,” Flying Eagles secretary, Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim, told africanFootball.com.

    “So far we have received assurances from their various clubs that they will be available for the tournament in Senegal.”

    The invited foreign based players are – Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali, Isaac Success, Chidera Eze, Musa Muhammed, Kingsley Madu, Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi and Musa Yahaya.

    The Flying Eagles training camp in Kaduna will reopen on Saturday after a week’s break for the Christmas holidays.

     

  • Hausa community tackles insecurity

    Hausa community tackles insecurity

    The Sarkin Hausawa in Agege, a Lagos suburb, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, yesterday said a census had been conducted to ascertain the number of Hausa people resident in the area.

    The development, he said, is aimed at ensuring that insurgents are not living among them, adding that his domain, which is predominantly inhabited by northerners, is safe.

    The dreaded Boko Haram sect had, a fortnight ago, claimed responsibility for an explosion that rocked the Apapa area of the state and threatened to attack unidentified part of the state again soon.

    However, the community leader said there was no cause for alarm, adding that adequate security measures had been taken to prevent such an occurence in his domain.

    “We have just concluded headcount of our people in Agege”, he said.

    Speaking after a prayer for peace in Nigeria, Muhammed said: “We know ourself here in Agege. Nobody comes here and claimed to be Hausa that we would not know his root. You don’t just come and settle here simple because you are a Northerner, no, you must have an established link with an existing resident, which we must know well.”

    The prayer, which was organised by the Abnaul Faidha Islamic Society of Nigeria, took place at the Agege Central Mosque yesterday.

    Chairman of the society, and the Majidadin of Agege, Alhaji Alli Abubakar, said the organisation’s tenets include the propagation of the real teaching of Islamic religion and urged all Muslims to embrace the concept.

    He added that the purpose of the prayer was also to sensitise youths in Agege and its environs of the need to embrace peace.

    The Chairma, Agege Local Government, Alhaji Jibrin Muhammed, said: “We have gone a step further to ensure that we have our people’s identities. We have been working together for peace and how it will continue to endure; even after my administration, peace will never elude Agege.”

  • Musa speaks about his adorable mother

    Musa speaks about his adorable mother

    Golden Eaglets’ inspirational captain, Musa Muhammed, has described his mum as ‘a jewel of inestimable value’ and the role she’s playing in his fledging career, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN

    MUSA Muhammed, Golden Eaglets’ captain, is a lad of little words but he found his voice speaking about two things dear to his heart: his mum and the magic of winning the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in UAE.

    “I love my mum so much because she has been so supportive of my career since the death of our father,” Muhammed said with glee as we rode on the bus to Dubai the day after the 3-0 thrashing of Mexico in Abu Dhabi.” My mum was the first person I called immediately we were given our phones after the final because she has been so nice to me.

    For anybody in the know about the workings of the Golden Eaglets, Muhammed has every reason to be happy for obvious reasons. Picked by head coach Manu Garba (MFR) without any debate ‘because he combines two prophetic names, Musa (Moses in Christian) and Prophet Muhammed’, this guy is a true leader of men through and through. He is one of the few players that were as constant as the northern star throughout the campaign having played virtually all the team’s cumulative 49 matches and scoring seven goals including that unforgettable textbook free kick-final goal of the World Cup final match against Mexico.

    “I’m so happy and I thank God that we won this trophy after a lot of hard work,” said Muhammed, as he reflected on some of the team’s difficult moments. “It was like a dream to me when I held the World Cup trophy after we beat Mexico because we actually missed some great players through the MRI and everybody thought we won’t be able to do it.

    “When I lifted the trophy, I was still thinking if it was a dream and I remembered all the prayers of my mother for me before we left Nigeria.

    “It was a great moment not only for me, my family but for all Nigerians and I’m so happy; happy that I was the captain when Nigeria won the World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

    “I was so happy because it was the first time I would be leading a team to win a trophy and it is special because it is the World Cup,” said a thrilled Musa, who giggled like a kid with a new toy.

    Of course, they said there is no pecan without pain and Musa recollected with some nostalgia after a photo shoot with the FIFA media team ahead of the final match along with his Mexican counterpart, Ulises Rivas, at the Marina overlooking the Abu Dhabi Intercontinental Hotel how the dreaded MRI Test nearly scuppered the chances of the Golden Eaglets even before the start of the tournament, with some of the mainstay of the silver-winning squad to the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco decimated by the machine.

    “We have suffered so much and we won’t let Mexico go away with this trophy because this is a special moment for me,” he said of the photo session. “I looked at that trophy and I was telling myself that ‘I would be the one to lift and not that boy from Mexico.’

    “ I told myself that ‘we have to win this trophy for so many of my friends who could not make it to the World Cup because of the MRI Test, but we really have to thank the coaches for believing in the rest of us.

    “We missed great players like Alhassan Ibrahim, Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Ifeanyi Matthew, Bernard Bulbwa, Izu Omego and so many others; and I felt we should win the trophy for them.”

    On match day inside the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Musa not only led the lads out but he would prove to be a captain fantastic when he curled a ‘sublime free-kick into the top corner’ for Nigeria’s third goal against the defending champions.

    “It’s not easy being the captain of this team because we have so many players with different characters,” he said as a matter of fact. “But I had to encourage them on and off the pitch and I’m glad it turned out well for us.

    “I was always telling my teammates, especially those who came in later, that ‘we can achieve so much if they play with their heart’ and I had to show it too by example.

    “Though I’m a defender, I had to join the attack too and that was why I overlapped most times to help the attackers and I want to thank the coaches for allowing me to do this.

    “People talk about my energy but it was not easy, it was just a matter of hard work and passion I put into this game.

    “Football is my life and I thank God for hearing my prayers and that of my mother by winning the trophy.

    “I really missed my mum because she cares a lot about our welfare. I’m the second born and I have a senior brother with three others; and our mum pray a lot for us.

    “I don’t have any immediate plans about a particular club I want to play for but I know that God will surely do the best for me,” he chuckled.