The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogu

  • Hapeol Be’er Sheva debut thrills Ogu

    Hapeol Be’er Sheva debut thrills Ogu

    Nigeria international John Ogu has said he is delighted with his display on his league debut for Israeli club Hapeol Be’er Sheva.

    Ogu said he posted a man-of-the-match display in the  1-1 draw with Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday

    “It was a fair display for me. I was given the best mark 6/10 ahead of others by the fans. I am not 100% fit, but working gradually to be fully ready and do better in subsequent games,” Ogu told AfricanFootball.com.

    The former Academica de Coimbra of Portugal midfielder added: “I felt great to be part of the squad, starting and finishing the game was great for me too.

    “We played against a very good side, Beitar Jerusalem, we scored early and they equalised with a penalty kick in the second half. Above all, it was a fair result.”

  • Ogu gutted over Eagles exclusion

    Ogu gutted over Eagles exclusion

    Academica de Coimbra midfielder, John Ogu was surprisingly left out of the provisional list but he adopted a philosophical approach when he took to Twitter to discuss the development.

    “Gutted I didn’t make the preliminary Squad. Nigeria is blessed with a lot of players. We all can’t make (the) list. Every player wants to be at the World Cup.

    “I want to thank Coach Keshi for the opportunities he gave me. I remain grateful for all, for he made my dream come true as a player to serve my great nation, which I’m always proud of. Thanks everyone for your support. Please let’s pray for the lads. Let’s support the team as much as we can because I believe in the managers and the squad selected. We are family. I’ll come back stronger. And also thanks to the Football Federation NFF for their support to the Countries Football..God Bless the Super Eagles.

    “God Bless Nigeria #UpSuperEagles!!!! #upKeshi !!!#KeshiIsBoss,” Ogu tweeted via @ogojohnugo.

  • Ogu free to leave Club Academica Coimbra

    Ogu free to leave Club Academica Coimbra

    Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu has been given permission by his club Academica Coimbra to pursue first-team football elsewhere, Portuguese media have informed.

    Portuguese website maisfutebol.iol.pt reported that officials of Portuguese club have allowed Ogu to leave the club either on loan or permanent move, following player’s inquiry.

    Ogu is another player who is looking to change club in order to start playing football regularly and be included in Stephen Keshi’s national team for the World Cup in Brazil. The 25-year-old is one of Keshi’s first-choice midfielders, but it may change soon if he continues to be ignored by Academica coach Sergio Conceicao.

    Ogu has made just six appearances off the bench in Portuguese Liga Sagres this season and played for a little more than two hours and is determined to start playing regularly elsewhere as he has contract with Academica valid until 2015.

  • Ogu hopes for a great World Cup

    Ogu hopes for a great World Cup

    Reactions from the recent FIFA 2014 World Cup draw have continued to pour in from different quarters as well as the major actors themselves.

    Nigeria and Academica de Coimbra midfielder John Ogu, says he is happy with the draw and hopes Nigeria will have a decent outing at the World Cup next June.

    The former Uniao Lleria midfielder told supersport.com that the draw was kind to Nigeria and it’s a good opportunity for the country to better their previous records at the global tourney.

    “It’s a good draw I must admit, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy by any means. We will have to work our socks off to scale out of our group as no country can be considered minnows any more,” he said.

    Ogu, 25, who was part of the team that beat Ethiopia 4-1 on aggregate to qualify for the football showpiece event, feels all the teams in the group are capable of advancing as well as causing problems for Nigeria.

    “I won’t dwell on only Argentina as the main threat in the group, that will only spell doom. We can’t afford to underrate Bosnia or Iran. Every team in the group has the potential to qualify from the group.”

    When asked about how the other African teams will fare in their own groups, the tall midfielder said: “To be frank, I haven’t even thought in that direction since the draw came out. I’m only thinking about our own group and Nigeria and how we can have a great tournament. Those are the thoughts that have been on my mind,” Ogu revealed.

    Nigeria have been drawn in Group F of the 2014 World Cup alongside Argentina, Iran and Bosnia- Herzegovina.

  • Ogu: Eagles not in Brazil to make up number

    Ogu: Eagles not in Brazil to make up number

    MTNFootball.com: How would you describe the game against Italy?

    John Ogu: It was a great match, we did well. It was fantastic to play against Italy. We all gave our best in the match.

     

    How was it like battling with Andrea Pirlo in the midfield?

    Playing against an experienced midfielder can only improve me as a player.It was a great experience playing against Pirlo, a true legend.

     

    How has it been playing for the Super Eagles?

    It has been great playing for my country and it’s an honour. I am enjoying it.

     

    You were on the squad who secured Nigeria another World Cup ticket, how does it feel to be involved?

    I feel blessed and grateful to God for his favour being a member of the team who qualified Nigeria for the World Cup, it is a great feeling for me.

     

    Which nation do you think Nigeria should avoid at the World Cup group stage?

    We are not afraid of facing any team, we are equal to the task. We are African champion and can face any opposition.

     

    What are your dreams as the World Cup main draw comes closer?

    My dream is to be part of the squad to the World Cup in Brazil and also to make Nigeria and my family proud.

     

    Among the players you have played against who has influenced you the most?

    I will say Andrea Pirlo and Montolivo. I watch them a lot whenever they play for their clubs and I have learnt from them.

     

    Did you interact with them in any way after the match?

    Not really,I only had the chance to exchange my jersey with Pirlo.

     

    What has been the driving force in your career?

    It has been God all the way. My dedication and hard work as well as the support from my family have also helped me a lot.

     

    Your club Academica de Coimbra have not been doing well, what do have to say about that?

    Yes, that is football for you,we have the squad to get the needed results,I think we will start getting that to climb up the ladder.

     

    What are your targets with Academica this term?

    Just to help my team get some good results and finish well on the table.

     

    Do you see an African nation winning the World Cup in Brazil?

    Anything can happen in football. Ghana got far at the last World Cup, hopefully one African team will get far. Every African team that has qualified could win the trophy, we are not going there to make up the numbers.

  • Ogu reveals accident scare

    Ogu reveals accident scare

    Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu has revealed that he was involved in an accident on his way to the Nigeria camp ahead of today’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

    Ogu, who was among the last batch of Eagles to land in Calabar for the crucial clash, said that the unfortunate incident forced him to miss his flight to Nigeria, hence his late arrival.

    “I was actually given permission by the coach (Stephen Keshi) to arrive on Tuesday because my club (Academica do Coimbra) was involved in a league match on Monday. However, on my way to the airport, the car I was travelling in was involved in an accident so this made me to miss my flight,” Ogu told supersport.com on Friday.

    The midfielder, who trained for the first time with the rest of the squad on Thursday, further revealed that he has now firmly put the sad incident behind him and will instead focus on helping Nigeria get a win against Malawi today.

    “To be honest it wasn’t easy. I was supposed to connect a flight from Madrid in Spain but I missed that flight. The flight was a direct one from Madrid to Lagos. When that failed, the only option I had was to connect another flight from Portugal to Istanbul. I then connected another flight to Lagos from Istanbul after spending the entire day at the airport. However, all that is in the past now, I am now ready to face Malawi today,” he revealed.

    Ogu has been capped seven times by Nigeria and has one goal to his name at international level.

  • Keshi favours Ogu, Eze

    Keshi favours Ogu, Eze

    Super Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi has showered praises on Academia de Coimbra of Portugal right wing attacker John Ogu and Rangers International Football Club midfielder Emeka Eze as his best performers against Mexico in the international friendly that ended 2-2 between Nigeria and Mexico at Huston, United States of America on the wee hours of Saturday.

    The two players are now in contention for shirts against Kenya in the 2014 World Cup qualifier slated for Nairobi this Wednesday.

    In a chat with SportingLife on Saturday before leading the Eagles back To Germany camp, Keshi disclosed from America that the two players really surprised him with their wonderful performance in the friendly tie.

    “I would say I am very impressed with the output of John Ogu and the Rangers midfielder (Emeka) Eze match. They were in their best element during match and I think they gave their all. I am actually more surprised with Emeka the way he quickly settled down with the rest of players in the match when he was introduced. I believe the two players will continue to gel with the team. In general all the boys played well and we only continue to improve”, Keshi disclosed.

    According to the Coach fondly called The Big Boss, his players gave him what he wanted and did not fizzled out in the match despite the vociferous fans that supported the Mexican team all the way throughout the duration of the match.

    Keshi also disagree with some people that nurse the believe that the idea that the team could have played better if players like Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa had played the match.

    “In as much as Mikel, Moses and Musa are quality players they are not indispensable in this team. You could see in the match that the team that played against Mexico proved that they are a quality side and did a good job against a strong side like Mexico.

    “One thing I want Nigerians to know is that any player who puts on the green-white-green jersey of Nigeria in a match merits the position and would always give his all to his nation in such matches.

    “It is not about names but the performance of players in match situations, dedication, patriotism and ability of such players to play to instructions when fielded. I would say the match has given us what we wanted and it will help us a great deal in our next match against the Harambee Stars of Kenya on Wednesday (June 5th, 2013) which is an important 2014 World Cup qualifier”, Keshi disclosed.

  • Ogu in starting XI for Mexico tie

    Ogu in starting XI for Mexico tie

    Portugal-based ace John Ogu is expected to start for Nigeria in a friendly against Mexico in Houston, Texas, in the early hours of Saturday.

    The high-profile match, designed to prepare both teams for the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, will kick off 8pm on Friday in Houston, which is 2am on Saturday in Nigeria, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The Academica de Coimbra midfielder managed only seven minutes on his Eagles debut against Kenya in Calabar in March.

    He is to play alongside Lazio ace Ogenyi Onazi and Sunday Mba in the Eagles midfield in a 4-3-3 formation.

    The attack will be led by Dynamo Kiev striker Brown Ideye and Nnamdi Oduamadi alongside Joseph Akpala, who was a late replacement for injured Emmanuel Emenike.

    Despite several withdrawals, stand-in skipper Vincent Enyeama will have the defence for the recent Africa cup of Nations – Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo.

     

    The Eagles starting XI vs Mexico

     

    Vincent Enyeama – Efe Ambrose, Elderson, Godfrey Oboabona, Omeruo – John Ogu, Ogenyi Onazi, Sunday Mba – Nnamdi Oduamadi, Brown ideye, Joseph Akpala

     

  • John Ogu Out

    John Ogu Out

    After several days of denial Académica de Coimbra midfielder John Ogu has finally admitted to being injured and may be ruled out of Nigeria’s matches at the 2013 confederations Cup competition in Brazil.

    The 24 – year – old Nigeria international claimed he had minor knee surgery on Thursday evening.

    His participation at the FIFA Confederations Cup in June is now hanging in the balance. It has been reported that Ogu will be out of action for a maximum of two weeks.

    Allnigeriasoccer.com interviewed some of Nigeria’s foreign-based professionals and they have suggested that it might take up to two months before a player operated on can regain full fitness.

    John Ogu is not new to controversies. About three years ago, he agreed to join Belgian club FC Eupen.

    After his unveiling he appeared to disappear into thin air. It took the intervention of football’s regulator FIFA before he could resume his career months later.

    Investigations revealed that John Ogu, who was then managed by ex Genoa striker Marshall Mbre, had allegedly been promised a better deal by another agent.

    Consequently, he allegedly reneged on the agreement he struck with Eupen and Union St Gillis.

    It was a big slap on the face of highly respected agent Marshall Mbre, who had spent his personal funds inviting European scouts to Slovenia to watch John Ogu in action for Drava Ptuj.

  • Moses, Ogu promise good outing against Kenya

    Moses, Ogu promise good outing against Kenya

    Chelsea star Victor Moses and new invitee John Ogu have said they are ready for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Kenya.

    Moses was a late arrival in training camp in Calabar because of flight connection problems, but he expressed confidence of a good outing against the Harambee Stars.

    “Training camp in Calabar getting ready for big game this weekend in Nigeria,” Moses tweeted.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the former Crystal Palace and Wigan winger saw action on Sunday in Chelsea 2-0 win over West Ham United.

    He was an impact player at South Africa 2013, where Nigeria won the African Cup of Nation after a 19-year wait.

    Academica de Coimbra of Portugal midfielder John Ogu, on the other hand, told MTNFootball.com that he was excited to undergo his first training with the Eagles on Tuesday in Calabar.

    Ogu, who arrived the training camp Tuesday to beat Coach Stephen Keshi’s deadline, told MTNFootball.com that he is delighted to be in company of great players.

    “‎Having my first training with the Super Eagles was a nice experience for me. Everything in camp is okay. Honestly, I feel good to be among these chosen ones. I will do my best in the game come Saturday if I get the coach’s nod,” said the former Almeria of Spain player, who was a surprise call-up for the Kenya game.