The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oboabona

  • AFCON: Siasia replaces Iheanacho with Aminu

    AFCON: Siasia replaces Iheanacho with Aminu

    The acting Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia has made three changes to the Nigerian team that played 1-1 with Egypt at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna last Friday.

     

    On the new lists, West Ham United’s Victor Moses replaces Simon Moses as Daniel Akpeyi fills injured Carl Ikeme’s place while Aminu stands in for Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho.

     

    Similarly, Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, who is returning from a three match ban for a red card he got in the first game against Chad will start the game from the bench.

     

    Nigeria’s first eleven against Egypt include Akpeyi, Shehu, Amuzie, Ambrose, Oboabona, Mikel, Etebo, Aminu, Musa, Victor Moses, Ighalo.

     

    The on the bench are Echiejile, Iheanacho, Azubuike, Simon, Ezenwa, Onazi and Iwobi.

  • Oboabona on target for Rizespor

    Oboabona on target for Rizespor

    Super Eagles defender   Godfrey Oboabona  celebrated his belated 25th birthday by scoring his first goal this season in the Turkish Super Lig on game week five.

    The former Sunshine Stars skipper played the full 90 minutes of his club’s 5 – 1 thrashing of Samuel Eto’o’s Antalyaspor at the Yeni Rize Sehir Stadi (Rize).

    After opening the floodgates as early as the third minute, Oboabona was yellow – carded for the second time this term ten minutes after the interval.

    Rizespor’s other scorers were özek and Deniz Kadah, who bagged a hat t- trick while Emrah Bassan restored parity for the visitors five minutes after the Nigerian’s goal.

    Oboabona, who has been called up for the upcoming Super Eagles friendlies, last scored in the league last November.

  • Madu, Troost Ekong will cope -Oboabona

    Madu, Troost Ekong will cope -Oboabona

    Rizespor’s Godfrey Oboabona is confident that the defenders called up for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tie next month will hold their own against Tanzania despite their limited international caps and youthfulness.

    The average age of the four defenders that stepped out onto the Ahmadu Bello Stadium pitch in June when the Super Eagles took on Chad was 22 years, with former coach Stephen Keshi handing debuts to William Troost – Ekong and Kingsley Madu.

    “Firstly I have to give thanks to the Almighty God for getting me among the invited players, ” Godfrey Oboabona told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “All the players invited are from one country and we have to be together, we can cope with the pressure of playing away from home.

    “I have to see when my team is playing before I know the exact date I will report to camp.”

    Godfrey Oboabona has started nine games for the Super Eagles in AFCON qualifying since he made his international debut in 2012.

  • Oboabona eyes ‘best ever season’ in Turkey

    Oboabona eyes ‘best ever season’ in Turkey

    Nigeria international Godfrey Oboabona has told AfricanFootball.com he hopes the new season in Turkey will be his “best ever season”.

    The Rizespor defender said: “I thank God for the previous seasons I have played. Pre-season has been great as we get ready for the challenges ahead. And by the special grace of God I pray that the new season should be the best in my career so far. That is my target.”

    The 24-year-old former Sunshine Stars captain played 19 games for Rizespor last season with a goal to his credit.

    Rizespor open their new campaign at Genclerbirligi on  August 17.

    Oboabona said he is also pleased national teammate Kenneth Omeruo has moved to Kasimpasa in Turkey on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

    “It is a good deal for him. I am happy for him about it. I wish him a good season with Kasimpasa,” he said.

  • Oboabona: I will be thrilled if Eagles make 2017 AFCON

    Oboabona: I will be thrilled if Eagles make 2017 AFCON

    Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona says he would be more than elated to see the senior national team get one of the tickets to the 2017 AFCON after the country’s omission from the 2015 edition held in Equatorial Guinea.

    Nigeria started the Gabon 2017 AFCON qualifier with a 2-0 win over Chad in June and Oboabona who was in that game told SportingLife that he would love his team mates to take all the qualifying matches seriously so as not to miss out again.

    “It is our objective to qualify for AFCON before we talk about the World Cup qualification. We must take our games seriously and play as a team,” Oboabona told SportingLife.

    Oboabona has also tipped his Super Lig side, Rizespor for greatness in the league this season after they held Hellas Verona to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match on Saturday.

    Oboabona and his Turkish side narrowly escaped relegation by the whiskers last season but the Super Eagles’ defender has said that his club would aim at finishing very strongly at the end of the next soccer season.

  • No super star in Keshi’s team— Oboabona

    No super star in Keshi’s team— Oboabona

    • Says his performances with club has been good

    Super Eagles’ and Çaykur Rizespor of Turkey defender Godfrey Oboabona has revealed that the secret weapon used by the Chief Coach Stephen Keshi to hold together the players  as a united team has been his philosophy of not having a super star in his team.

    “If you are called to represent your country you have to be ready and prove to the world that you are good and that is why yon were called. Since I have been playing in the Super Eagles under the Coach Stephen Keshi I have not seen anybody treated like Super Star.

    Like the Coach keep saying there is no Super Star in my team.

    “That is why there is discipline in this team. So if you feel too big tomorrow you won’t be in the team working hard. So for me we are together and in the training we have been doing things together, eating together and doing everything together like we are from the same family.

    ‘I belief by the special grace of God our togetherness will take us far (in our quests for qualification for the 2017 Africa Nations Cup).

    Oboabona also used the opportunity to correct the impression that he has not been doing well in his club.

    “I am very happy with my performances so far with my club this season. I don’t have any problem in my team. My team loves me and respects me too. I just want to thank God for everything and keep working hard for the progress of my club”, Oboabona disclosed.

  • Oboabona happy with Rizespor’s performance

    Oboabona happy with Rizespor’s performance

    Super Eagles and Rizespor defender Godfrey Oboabona thinks fairly about his season’s exploit so far in Turkey.The bullish defender said his season has been a good one but wouldn’t have been without the help of his creator who he said is responsible for the eye-catching performances

    Though Oboabona may have given himself a pass mark, the club’s performance this season has been nothing short of disappointing with the Turkish outfit sitting just eight points from the drop zone.

    “I have to give thanks to almighty God for making it possible for me; I can’t imagine all the good things people keep saying about my performances in the league and because of that I am very happy and thank God that everything is fine with me,” the former Sunshine Stars FC of Akure defender told footballlive.ng.

    The 24-year-old Nigerian joined Rizespor in 2013 signing a four year deal after earlier reports had linked him with a move to Premier league side Arsenal.

    Since joining the Turkish outfit, the Akure-born defender has made well over 33 appearances scoring three goals in the process.

    “I am playing in every game and I am so much very happy with myself,” Oboabona said.

  • AFCON Elimination: Oboabona dismisses NFF crisis

    AFCON Elimination: Oboabona dismisses NFF crisis

    Super Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona has refused to accept that the current crisis in the NFF led to the elimination of the African champions from the 2015 African Nations Cup holding in Equatorial Guinea.

    According to the former Sunshine of Akure strongman, the elimination of the Eagles from the tournament remains one of mysteries of football. “It is wrong for anybody to attribute what happened to the crisis in NFF. We as players, our attention is fully on the pitch, we don’t have business with the administrative aspect. What happened is one of those things that happens in football. Today, you would be a shinning star, tomorrow, you would be struggling. It is very unfortunate, but am very optimistic that we would bounce back in a stronger way,” he opined.

    He confirmed that though, his defensive combination with Kenneth Omeruo may not the best for now, but in future, Nigerians would come to appreciate them.

  • No excuse against Sudan — Oboabona

    No excuse against Sudan — Oboabona

    Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona has thrown to the dustbin the excuse of weather and altitude as impediment to Nigeria beating Sudan today in 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier.

    “There is no hiding place for us now because anything beside a total victory and winning the three points at stake won’t do us any good. So the issue of weather or altitude is out of the question this time.

    “We need to beat Sudan in Khartoum or wherever the match will be played. I can assure all Eagles’ fans that we will win the match and come Back home to finish the job in the return leg so that we can bounce back in our quest to win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations’ ticket”, Oboabona assured.

    The Çaykur Rizespor of Turkey defender also reflected the mood in camp for today’s match. “Everybody in camp is singing beat Sudan at all cost. So there is no excuse for failure and by the special grace of God we will deliver”, he prayed.

  • Oboabona: Kill these devils with goals

    Turkey-based Godfrey Oboabona has challenged his team mates to go for broke when they face Congo’s Red Devils on Saturday, noting that a good win will be the perfect way to begin the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. The former Sunshine Stars’ captain spoke with SportingLife’s TUNDE LIADI in Calabar.

    EXCERPTS:

    Godfrey, how will you describe your Brazil 2014 World Cup experience?

    Firstly, I have to give thanks to the Almighty God for permitting me to go to the World Cup. Some great players would like to be there but they have not made it. I am grateful to God for making me a part of the Super Eagles’ team to Brazil. I learned a lot from the type of games we played, the kind of preparations we had and the opponents we faced too. These are my nice experiences about Brazil.

    You were injured in the Eagles’ first game against Iran. How did you feel when that happened?

    Yes, I got injured against Iran in our very first game and it was my worst nightmare because I never expected that in my debut World Cup match. Injuries are part of the game as footballers and it is not new to get injured. I have put that behind me and I will keep on being focused on working hard. I thank God that everything went well and I am back on my feet now.

    You couldn’t play any part in the World Cup after that. What was going through your mind as your team mates prosecuted other matches without you?

    I really wanted to play the game against France but the injury I sustained was so severe that I had to let go for the sake of my career. I really appreciated the fact that even when I recovered mildly before the game against France the coaches did not want to change a winning team and I had to abide by their decision. Generally speaking, I was very happy to make the team to Brazil and I am sure there are still good plans for me in the near future.

    The Eagles will kick off their campaign towards a defence of their AFCON crown against Congo on Saturday. What is the mood in the camp ahead of the clash?

    We have a very important game against the Red Devils and we must make every effort to ensure that we win well. The players are in the country and everything seems set for the clash. We thank God that the coaches have told us that no one is guaranteed a shirt and that we must all work hard. The head coach (Stephen Keshi) does not care who you are and wants everyone to prove himself on the field of play. We are doing our best to ensure that we come out in flying colours against Congo because we are African champions and we need to prove it again by the special grace of God by picking a ticket to the AFCON.

    Were you bothered about the Ebola Virus Disease when you received the call up to come home for the game against Congo?

    It is bad to hear such news about the scourge of Ebola in West Africa. It is also affecting Nigeria presently and it is even making me unhappy about the whole thing. I don’t want my people to suffer and what is going on in some West African nations and even the world is so pathetic and should be nipped in the bud so that it doesn’t destroy our existence. It was very sad when information reached us that something like that had found its way into Nigeria too. I want to thank God for curbing it and I am very assured that very soon we shall get the antidote to Ebola and it will leave us for good. Even though Ebola is deadly, Nigeria is my fatherland and I must do everything possible to always keep myself ready for my nation.