The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nsofor

  • Nsofor starts individual training with MSV Duisburg

    Nsofor starts individual training with MSV Duisburg

    Nigeria international Victor Obinna Nsofor is on the road to recovery after missing the last two months due to knee injury.

    The attacker had an individual session with the MSV Duisburg physiotherapists on Tuesday and there are indications he will be fully fit before the resumption of Bundesliga 2 in the first week of February, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    The 28 – year – old was one of the standout players at MSV Duisburg before his injury.

    The former Inter Milan and West Ham star made six appearances in the second – tier and scored once against Union Berlin on September 26.

  • Nsofor close to agreeing Konyaspor move

    Nsofor close to agreeing Konyaspor move

    Out of favour Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Obinna Nsofor, is close to ending his stay at Lokomotive Moscow as he is set to join Turkish side Konyaspor.

    The former Inter Milan man is already in Turkey and the move is expected to go through before the close of the European transfer window.

    Nsofor was deemed surplus to requirements by Lokomotive Moscow and they omitted him from their team for this season, despite still having a year left on his contract.

    Since the start of the 2014/2015 season he is yet to kick a ball in anger for any team, as Lokomotive also frustrated his efforts to move away from the team in the summer by demanding outrageous fee from interested teams.

    His move to the Turkish side is expected to be a full transfer and they will hope his wealth of experience of playing in major European leagues and top teams can aid their quest to avoid relegation.

    Already he has played in Italy, Spain, England and Russia making Turkey the fourth country he will be moving to since his move to Europe in 2005.

    Nsofor has somehow become a journeyman since failing to make the grade Inter-Milan after his transfer from Chievo in the summer of 2008/2009 season.

    He had loan spell at La-Liga side Malaga and Premiership side West Ham, before securing a permanent transfer to Lokomotive Moscow in Russia where in two and a half years he only scored three goals from 45 games.

    His poor goals return led to him being loaned out to Serie A side Chievo during the second part of last season, his two goals in 10 games played a role in helping Flying Donkeys beat the drop to Serie B.

  • Nsofor declares: Chievo No.10 jersey a surprise

    Nsofor declares: Chievo No.10 jersey a surprise

    Super Eagles ace, Victor Obinna Nsofor has said he was surprised that Italian Serie A side, Chievo Verona handed him the No.10 jersey.

    The Nigerian who returned to his former club on a season long loan from Locomotiv Moscow, said on Chievo TV.

    “It was a surprise for me to be given the Number 10 jersey. I tell the fans to continue giving us their strength.

    “We are all grateful for their constant support in difficult moments, as we need them. In turn, we players always try to give our all with the right determination to get the three points.”

    Meanwhile, Nsofor also stated that his spells abroad will aid him in the Serie A game against leaders, Juventus.

    “My experiences abroad allowed me to grow professionally and personally,” said.

    Recall the 26-year-old has also played in Spain with Malaga and England for West Ham United.

  • Nsofor tells Chievo: I’m more mature

    Nsofor tells Chievo: I’m more mature

    Victor Obinna returned to Chievo from Lokomotiv Moscow, and promptly declared that he is more matured and has brought more experience from his sojourns.

    The 26-year-old Nigeria international joined on loan on transfer deadline day, but is very familiar with the Stadio Bentegodi.

    He played for the Flying Donkeys in 2008-09 before going on to Inter, Malaga, West Ham and Lokomotiv Moscow.

    “I am very happy to be back playing for Chievo Verona,” said Obinna in his presentation Press conference.

    “I am here to challenge myself again and to be a protagonist with the Chievo jersey, especially now at a moment when the club needs new players.

    “I want to give my contribution and give my all, as I always did in the past with the Gialloblu. I have matured and bring more experience.”

    Obinna was on target for the Super Eagles as they saw off the spirited challenge of the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

  • Nsofor rejoins Chievo on loan

    Nsofor rejoins Chievo on loan

    Obinna Nsofor has returned to Italian club Chievo Verona on loan from Lokomotiv Moscow of Russia till the end of the season.

    Nsofor, 26, featured for Chievo five years ago during which he scored 20 goals in 86 games.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Lokomotiv is equal on points with leaders Zenit Saint Petersburg half way through the season.

    Both clubs are on 40 points apiece.

    Nsofor, who joined the Russian club in June 2011, has only managed a handful of games this season for “The Railway Men.”

    He rejoins a Chievo team who are just a point above the relegation pack and in dire need of firepower having scored only 16 goals in 21 league matches.

     

  • Nsofor still on Parma radar

    Nsofor still on Parma radar

    Italian side A side, Parma FC are reportedly preparing an offer for Super Eagles forward Victor Obinna Nsofor, who has still not changed club despite being linked with Italian and Spanish clubs since the beginning of January transfer window.

    According to La Gazzetta dello Sport Parma are waiting for the news from their striker Jonathan Biabany, who is being lured to Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande by Italian coach Marcelo Lippi. If the 25-year-old Frenchman decides to leave Italy, Parma are expected to make an official offer for Obinna, who is out of favour in Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow. According to the newspaper, Parma will try to sign Obinna of permanent transfer, or try to loan him out offering in exchange Stefano Okaka.

    Nsofor’s chances to play for Lokomotiv are slim to none, and with the FIFA World Cup in Brazil on the horizon, the Nigerian forward and his agent have to hurry if they want to find a new club before the end of transfer window.

    Nsofor previously played for two Italian clubs – Chievo Verona and Inter Milan.

  • JANUARY TRANSFERS: Nsofor on Parma radar

    JANUARY TRANSFERS: Nsofor on Parma radar

    Super Eagles striker, Victor Obinna Nsofor is on the wish-list of Italy’s Serie A campaigners Parma, according to reports coming out of the European nation.

    The Nigeria international who was formerly on the pay-roll of Inter Milan is eager to leave Lokomotiv Moscow and is actively looking for a new club to guarantee more playing time. The former Enyimba forward has only stirred in four matches for Moscow outfit scoring no goals.

    According to Italian website tuttomercateweb.com the Crociati are willing to offer Nsofor an escape route. However, the club will not make any official bid for the Nigerian, unless they offload striker, Jonathan Biabiany .

    The 25-year-old Frenchman is on Juventus radar, and if the deal gets done, the money from transfer is expected to be used to buy Nsofor’s out from the Russian club.

    The 26-year-old Olympic sliver medalist has previously spent four seasons in Italy scoring 20 goals in 91 league matches for Chievo Verona and Inter Milan respectively.

  • Injured Nsofor out of Italy clash

    Obinna Nsofor, who scored one of the goals that sunk Ethiopia at the weekend, will miss today’s friendly against Italy due to injury.

    Nsofor came on as a late substitute to score a superb free-kick goal in the 83rd minute, but he later suffered a muscle strain on his thigh during the game.

    A source close to the Lokomotiv Moscow forward said the player will be out for at least a week as a result of this injury and so will miss the Italy friendly.

    “Nsofor is out of the Italy match because of the injury but he said he should be fit again within a week,” the source told MTNFootball.com

     

  • Eagles will qualify for World Cup in style – Nsofor

    Eagles will qualify for World Cup in style – Nsofor

    Super Eagles striker, Obinna Nsofor, has promised Nigeria will qualify for the 2014 World Cup in fine style next month.

    Nigeria will host Ethiopia on November 16 in Calabar after taking a 2-1 advantage from Addis Ababa at the weekend.

    “We are not under any pressure after our win in Ethiopia. They will be the ones under pressure. We will play good football and score loads of goals to qualify for the World Cup,” Nsofor told MTNFootball.com

    The Lokomotiv Moscow forward admitted the Eagles suffered from the effects of the high altitude especially in the first half.

    “The altitude affected most of us and we waited for them in the first half to give us what they have,” he said.

    Meanwhile, second-half substitute Nosa Igiebor has declared that his best is yet to come for the Super Eagles.

    Igiebor replaced Nnamdi Oduamadi in Addis Ababa to stabilise the midfield of the Eagles and allow Mikel Obi a free role behind the Eagles front men.

    “It was a difficult game for us all, but we fought as a team to get the needed result,” he said.

    “I was introduced to stabilise the midfield and I did it to the best of my ability but sincerely my best is yet to come for the Super Eagles.

    “One thing I can say for now is that I will continue to give my all for this team to ensure that we make our country proud, for sure.”

     

  • Mikel unfazed by Ethiopia’s ‘bumpy’ pitch

    Mikel unfazed by Ethiopia’s ‘bumpy’ pitch

    Chelsea star Mikel Obi has said he is unfazed by reports the Eagles will play on a “bumpy” pitch in Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup playoff.

    The Nigeria advance party to Ethiopia led by the Nigeria Football Federation technical committee chairman Chris Green has already warned the players that they will play on a bumpy pitch at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    However, Mikel has assured the Eagles will cope with the poor pitch.

    “We have heard about the poor pitch, but that should not stop us from qualifying for the World Cup because most of us started on such pitches,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com

    “Personally, I started my football on the streets of Jos, playing with stones and rocks, and I know the various injuries and problems we suffered doing that.

    “I don’t have a problem with such a pitch as long as it is not an artificial pitch.

    “Our focus is qualification for the World Cup and so we hope to win on Sunday.”

    Fellow Eagles star, Victor Obinna Nsofor, also told MTNFootball.com they are very much aware of the difficult local conditions in Ethiopia.

    The Lokomotiv Moscow striker, who was part of the team who played out a 2-2 draw with Ethiopia two years ago, insisted a sharp change in weather, bumpy pitch and a partisan home crowd will not affect them.

    “We are not taking the Ethiopians for granted, we are aware of what we are going there to face on Sunday. I played there in 2011 and I know how bad the pitch was, we expect same on Sunday,” Nsofor said.

    “The weather too wasn’t friendly and the fans will be there to support their team. But we know all these and they won’t affect us because they are not strange to us.

    “We have prepared well for the game. We believe in ourselves and God will crown our efforts.”