The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Musa

  • Musa ready for Man City

    Musa ready for Man City

    By Julius Okorie

    Visiting Manchester City will have the fast Super Eagles and CSKA Moskva striker Ahmed Musa to contend with when both sides file out in today’s champions league clash in Arena Khimki in Russia

    Moskva who ran away with a 3-2 win over Viktoria Plzen October 2nd are hoping to again smile at the expense of another visitor when they welcome Manchester City. Although Musa who saw 89 minutes action in the tie against Plezen did not score, his super form and confidence especially after Eagles successfully earned a 1-2 win against Wayla of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa in the World Cup qualifier, is bound to rub off on his team’s desire to consolidate in the champions league.

    Unlike Moskva who are going into today’s tie in high spirit, Manchester City head into the tie coming from a shock 1-3 defeat to by German side Bayern München. While the English Premier campaigners will be hoping to remedy their run in the Champions league, losing sight of Musa known for his pace when it matters could signal back to back defeat for the Manuel Pellegrini’s tutored side.

  • Musa thanks Eagles for birthday gift

    Musa thanks Eagles for birthday gift

    Ahmed Musa has said he is grateful to the Eagles for giving him a perfect 21st birthday gift with victory in Ethiopia on Sunday.

    CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa clocked 21 on Monday, October 14, a day after the Eagles beat Ethiopia 2-1 in a World Cup final playoff and he told MTNFootball.com it was a befitting birthday gift from the Eagles.

    Musa, who had a great game against Ethiopia expressed his appreciation to his fellow Eagles stars.

    “Today is my birthday and we won a crucial game a day before, that was a great birthday gift from my Eagles team mates. I thank them a lot for this gift. I am very happy to see another new year in my life, the victory has added to my happiness,” Musa told MTNFootball.com

    He will throw a victory and birthday party at his house in Jos.

    “I am going to have a party in my house in Jos. It will be a gathering of friends and family to thank God for everything he has done for me,” he disclosed.

    Interestingly, two other Eagles stars celebrated their birthdays leading up to the match in Ethiopia – Brown Ideye and Shola Ameobi.

  • Ahmed Musa: We showed character

    Ahmed Musa: We showed character

    Ahmed Musa has disclosed that Nigeria showed strenght of character to win a Brazil 2014 World Cup playoff in Ethiopia on Sunday.

    The African champions fought back from a goal down to beat a determined Ethiopia 2-1 with the return leg clash fixed for November 16 in Calabar.

    A delighted Musa told MTNFootball.com the game was tough, but they showed the character of true Africa champion to win.

    “The game was a very tough and hard one. The Ethiopians played well, but we are more exposed and experienced than them, that won the match for us. We showed them that we are the Africa champions,” Musa said.

    Musa came close to getting on the scoresheet in the 77th minute, but his powerful shot from inside the box crashed against the right post.

    “I really thought the ball had gone in, but it hit the post. All the same, the eventual victory made me to forget the miss and I am sure we are in Brazil already because we can’t lose to them in Calabar, but we will still take them seriously,” he vowed.

    Sporting Braga defender Elderson Echiejile tweeted his appreciation to Nigerians for their support, saying there is still another match to be played next month.

    “First half played, remaining second half…Nigeria thank you for the support,” he tweeted.

  • CSKA will bounce back from Bayern defeat – Musa

    CSKA will bounce back from Bayern defeat – Musa

    •Hails Eagles’ match up with Ethiopia

    CSKA Moscow striker, Ahmed Musa has told SportingLife that the Russian side has taken the defeat against the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, Bayern Munich in good fate and will concentrate on the next tie against Viktoria Plzen at home.

    Musa said there was nothing wrong with his club’s approach to the game admitting that they lost to a better side but they would pick up their pieces when the Czech Republic champions visit Moscow.

    “It was a game of football and the better side won. I don’t have much to say on that. We must forget about this loss and concentrate on the league tie we have on Sunday and the next round of the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen.

    “We still have everything going well for us and we shouldn’t because of a loss throw away all that we have achieved together,” Musa told SportingLife.

    The Super Eagles forward also stated that it would be awesome if he is picked to face the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia for the final round of the World Cup qualifiers having played against them at the AFCON early this year which Nigeria won 2-0. He also confirmed he featured for the Eagles against the same Eastern African country during the qualifier for AFCON 2012 in Addis Ababa which the Eagles got a 2-2 draw. Captain Joseph Yobo’s late minute goal forced a draw under then Eagles’ boss Samson Siasia.

    He warned against complacency. He said though CAF has given the country a favourable draw but that the country’s football administrators, players and coaches all have their role to play to ensure that the nation’s flag is hoisted in Brazil next year.

     

  • Flight delays Moses, Musa in Abuja

    Flight delays Moses, Musa in Abuja

     •Igiebor, Ambrose, Nsofor, Mba too

    •Six stars miss Tuesday evening training

     

    Newly recruited Liverpool FC of England’s attacking right winger Victor Moses, Nosa Igiebor, Efe Ambrose, Obinna Nsofor, Sunday Mba and Ahmed Musa were stuck at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for hours due to flight delays.

    The delay of the connecting flight from Abuja to Calabar on Tuesday evening forced the six stars who arrived the country from Europe to miss Super Eagles Tuesday evening training session in which 12 players were drilled by the chief coach Stephen Keshi.

    They are, however, expected to train with the rest of the squad this morning and later in the evening having arrived Calabar late on Tuesday night. The arrival of the six stars swelled the list of players in the camp as at midnight on Tuesday to 18.

  • Hot Musa sizzles for CSKA

    Hot Musa sizzles for CSKA

    Nigerian winger, Ahmed Musa is currently at the peak of his powers in the Russian Premier League after scoring his 5th goal of the season for PCF CSKA Moscow on match day seven.

    Musa curled in a spectacular effort from the edge of the area, leaving goalkeeper, Roman Gerus embarrassed on his goal line as CSKA Moscow came from a goal down to beat Amkar Perm 2-1at the Arena Khimki.

    The dashing winger has now scored 5 league goals this season and is now second in the league’s top scorers chat with only Rostov’s Artem Dzyuba (7 goals) netting more than the former VVV Venlo forward.

    Victory over Amkar put CSKA firmly on top of the league standings with 17 points from 7 games and Musa, who has been instrumental to the club’s progress this season, took the time to discuss his performance with the club’s official television station; CSKA TV.

    “It was a difficult match (vs Amkar Perm) but we showed a lot of character and deserved the win in the end. I have been working on my goal scoring and the results have been good. I will continue working hard,” he said.

    The 20-year-old, who has spent 621 minutes on the pitch for CSKA in the league this term, now sets his sights on a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game with Nigeria against Malawi in Calabar on September 7.

    “It’s an honour for every footballer to play for his country and I am no exception. People expect us to win easily (against Malawi) but there are no small teams anymore.

    “We will not underrate them but will instead give our best to see that Nigeria qualifies for the World Cup in 2014,” he stated.

    Musa made his Nigeria debut in 2010 and has scored 5 goals 31 outings with the Super Eagles.

  • Musa: I want to be Russia goal king

    Musa: I want to be Russia goal king

    Nigeria striker Ahmed Musa has said he hopes to be the Russian league top scorer this season after he scored his fourth goal on Saturday.

    Ahmed Musa was again on target as CSKA Moscow won 2-0 at Tom Tomsk Saturday and they now lead the standings on 14 points from six games.

    The striker fired a canon from inside the 18-yard box in the 58th minute to double his club’s advantage.

    He told MTNFootball.com: “I can’t really predict or say the number of goals I want to score this season, but I will be glad to end the season as top scorer.”

    Three seasons ago, Musa broke a long-time record to finish as Goal King of the Nigeria league with 18 goals for Kano Pillars.

    Last season, he won a league and cup double with CSKA and began the new campaign on a winning note again when his army club clinched the Russian Super Cup.

    He scored 11 goals in the league with the joint top scorers being on 13 goals last season. He also netted four in the cup.

    Meanwhile in Spain, former Nigeria youth international Macaulay Chrisantus ensured Las Palmas secured a point with a 1-1 draw at Deportivo La Alaves.

    Macaulay gave his side the lead in the 29th minute.

    The former U17 star striker told MTNFootball.com he was disappointed Las Palmas did not win.

    “I was not happy that we lost the game because we went for victory and could not get it,” Macaulay said.

  • Ahmed Musa shoots CSKA top

    Ahmed Musa shoots CSKA top

    Ahmed Musa scored the winner for CSKA Moscow to beat visiting Kuban Krasnodar on Sunday and take them to the top of the Russian league.

    CSKA Moscow led the table with 11 points from five matches pending the outcome of other games.

    Former JUTH FC and Kano Pillars star Ahmed Musa told MTNFootball.com he was delighted with his match winner.

    “I am excited with the goal, it was an important one for us as we won the game. I will keep doing my best for my club to see that we win our games. I am just doing my job to the best of my ability. It was not an easy match,” he said.

    Ahmed Musa returned to Russia to join his team on Friday night after helping Nigeria beat South Africa in a friendly on Wednesday.

    He grabbed the match winner in the 11th minute for his third goal in five games this season.

    Last season, Ahmed Musa’s CSKA won the league and cup double.

  • Musa, Omeruo battle ready for Spain

    Musa, Omeruo battle ready for Spain

    … Oduamadi almost  

    AHMED Musa and Kenneth Omeruo, were back fully in training on Saturday afternoon, after initial fears about their possible readiness for the game against Spain Sunday afternoon. The third player who was on the injury list, Nnamdi Oduamadi, was already 60 per cent ready as at press time.

    He is expected to have a late fitness test on Sunday morning ahead of the game and indications are that he would be ready for the match.

    Head Coach Stephen Keshi who happy with the cheery news thanked the medical crew for a job well done. He told the world media that he expects all his 22 players will be fit, while regretting the absence of Lazio midfield man, Ogenyi Onazi, who was out to injury prior to the tournament.

    The Eagles last training session at the venue of the game was mild and easy as the coaching crew decided to take it easy with the players to avoid any knocks from any quarters.

    Speaking after training, Keshi said the game is like a World Cup final to the Eagles, as he expects his boys to take the fight to the World and European champions. “We respect Spain but we don’t fear them and I think as African champions we deserve some respect ourselves, but we will give the game our all and hope it would be enough to take us to the next stage of the tournament.

  • Russia double spurs Musa

    Russia double spurs Musa

    Russia double champion Ahmed Musa has said his exploits with CSKA Moscow will fire him up for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier in Kenya.

    Ahmed Musa, who scored CSKA Moscow’s goal during the regulation period to end Saturday’s Russia Cup final against Anzhi 1-1 before it was decided by penalties, said he is now galvanised to shine for Nigeria.

    “I am in a very good mood and form now, winning the Russia Cup has lifted me. It is a big morale booster for me as I join the Super Eagles for the World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia. I am leaving for Germany in the morning (Sunday, June 2) to join the national team,” Musa told MTFootball.com.

    His involvement with CSKA this past weekend meant he missed a 2-2 draw with Mexico in a friendly played in Houston, Texas, on Saturday.

    Nigeria face the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday and a week later they will be hosted by Namibia in the World Cup qualifying tournament.

    The Eagles are top of Group F with five points from three matches, but they are closely followed by Malawi, who also have five points.

    Namibia have three points and Kenya are bottom of the group on two points.