The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oboabona

  • Sunshine to Lille Pay N416m, get Oboabona

    Sunshine to Lille Pay N416m, get Oboabona

    •French club’s 208m bid rejected 

    Sunshine Stars have asked Lille to pay two million Euros (about N416m ) for Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona after the French club tabled half that sum.

    MTNFootball.com can specially reveal that Lille have put on the table a million Euros (about N208m ) for 22-year-old Oboabona, who shone at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Lille thus met the million Euros valuation of the Nigeria club for the player, but Sunshine have now demanded double that amount.

    “Lille have through an agent made a bid of a million Euros for Oboabona, but Sunshine Stars say they now want them to double that figure. Sunshine through a top official wrote directly to Lille and not through the agents demanding for two million Euros,” a top source informed MTNFootball.com.

    Efforts to reach Sunshine Stars general manager Mike Idoko were not successful.

    The versatile Oboabona, who could play as a right back, central defender or defensive midfielder, has attracted a rash of interests from across the big leagues in Europe after he shone at the 2013 AFCON, which Nigeria won.

    He was recently reported to be on his way to trials with top English Premier League side Arsenal, but Sunshine officials have since dismissed this. The player himself has said God will decide where he moves to in the summer.

    He told MTNFootball.com: “There are speculations and inquiries from many clubs, but I don’t know where I will end up. God will decide and chose the best for me.”

  • GUNNING FOR ARSENAL: Wenger hands Oboabona trial

    GUNNING FOR ARSENAL: Wenger hands Oboabona trial

    Arsenal look set to hand a trial to Nigerian international Godfrey Oboabona and would be prepared to cough up £1million (about N240 million) if he passes the screening exercise, reports The Sun.

    Despite success in his homeland, Oboabona appears keen to complete the switch to North London in a deal which could be worth around £1m.

    The 22-year-old was instrumental in his national team’s performance at the African Cup of Nations, and his impressive displays have brought him to the attention of Gunners gaffer Arsene Wenger.

    Oboabona currently plies his trade in defence for hometown club Sunshine Stars, an Akure-based football club who finished last season second in the Nigerian Premier League. His time at the club has also seen him win 18 caps so far for his native Nigeria.

    He said: “Arsenal are my favourite club from childhood. It is the club I want to play for.”

    The news furthers the growing feeling that Wenger has a desire to shake-up various aspects of his squad in the summer, and with a new keeper also appearing top priority it is clear that the Frenchman wishes to strengthen his lot at the back.

  • 3 EPL clubs track Oboabona

    3 EPL clubs track Oboabona

    As at the last count, three English Premier League

    teams and other clubs from more than 6 countries have made enquiries about the availability of Super Eagles’ defender Godfrey Oboabona (MON).

    Other countries such as Russia, Croatia, France,Turkey, Italy,Ukraine and Belgium have added to the long list of suitors who want to lure the defender from his boyhood club, Sunshine Stars.

    Oboabona grew through the ranks before becoming a star player of Sunshine from where he was spotted by the Eagles’ selectors in one of the then Nigeria Premier League matches and he has made progress since the day he debuted for the senior national team.

    The Director,Technical and Management of the Ondo State Football Agency, Mike Idoko in a chat with SportingLife opined that the towering defender would not be forced to take a decision he would later regret. Hence, Oboabona’s move to a foreign club would not be motivated by money but by the seriousness of the club, assurances on sufficient playing time and the desire of the player in question to lace his boots for the team.

    He said he was not surprised at the rise of the Akure Gunners’ skipper stating that with his humility and calmness, Oboabona would have the world at his feet for lots of years to come.

    “Sunshine is not a club that stand between a player and his dream to move overseas. We will support such player and even guide him against making wrong choice.

    “Oboabona will not be any exception. It may interest you that many clubs have contacted Sunshine on his transfer negotiations. Three clubs from the EPL and other clubs from Russia, Croatia,France,Turkey,Italy,Ukraine and Belgium have all approached us concerning him.

    “We won’t be in a haste to jump to a conclusion. We shall scrutinise them all to see which one is worthy of Oboabona. It is not about money alone. The player must be willing to play for the club and other factors,” Idoko stressed.

    Oboabona a relatively unknown quantity before the advent of Eagles’ boss Stephen Keshi now has a national honour and was a member of the senior national team that excelled at the recently held AFCON in South Africa.

  • Emenike, Uche to start against Ethiopia

    Emenike, Uche to start against Ethiopia

    … Yobo out again

    Super Eagles officials have again left out injury-hit skipper Joseph Yobo, while Emmanuel Emenike and Ike Uche lead the attack against Ethiopia.

    MTNFootball.com gathered that Yobo has not fully recovered from an ankle injury, which he picked up in the match against Burkina Faso, and so he will miss his second straight match of the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

    The vastly experienced Fenerbache defender returned to full training this week, but officials said he is not yet 100 percent fit for the crucial encounter.

    Stephen Keshi will therefore stick with the central defence pairing of Godfrey Oboabona and youngster Kenneth Omeruo.

    Celtic defender Efe Ambrose will regain his place at right back after he served out one-match ban for receiving a red card against Burkina Faso.

    Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi was the makeshift right back against Zambia on Friday.

    In midfield, Enugu Rangers new signing Sunday Mba will make his AFCON debut ahead of Real Betis ace Nosa Igiebor, who has struggled to impress in South Africa.

    The Eagles will parade a fast and daring strike force of Emmanuel Emenike, Ikechukwu Uche and Victor Moses.

    MTNFootball.com reported on Monday that Villarreal striker Uche will make his first start at this tournament on Tuesday.

    It means CSKA Moscow’s Ahmed Musa will start from the bench in this clash.