The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Omeruo

  • LaLiga: Omeruo set for 10th start against Espanyol

    Super Eagles’ defender, Kenneth Omeruo is expected to make his 10th league start of the season for Leganes when they travel to the RCDE Stadium to tackle Espanyol on matchday 18 of the Spanish LaLiga, AOIFootball.com reports.

    Having bagged a Man of the Match performance in his side’s last outing, Omeruo will most definitely keep his place in the heart of the five-man defence alongside Dimitrios Silva and Unai Busting, whilst the duo of Jonathan Silva and Allan Nyon continue their roles from the full-back position.

    Having kept five league clean sheets in his last 10 league games with Leganes, the Nigerian will be hoping the club extends its impressive nine-match unbeaten streak which has seen them move four points off the relegation zone.

    In contrast, Espanyol is going into Friday night’s clash with an abysmal run of form, having lost all six of its last league fixtures since its 1-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao in November.

    A win for Leganes will see them jump to 12th as they continue their quest for a top half finish.

  • Omeruo: My injury not serious

    Kenneth Omeruo has told SCORENigeria he would be available for CD Leganes next La Liga game even though an injury forced him out of a 1-1 draw at Valencia at the weekend.

    The Chelsea loanee started the game at Valencia but was replaced in the 70th minute with Leganes still winning 1-0.

    “I got injured and I had to be replaced, but the injury is not serious, it was just a cramp and soon I will be back playing again,” central defender Omeruo assured.

    “We almost ran away with the victory, but unfortunately we conceded a late goal.  A point is better than nothing,” he reasoned. It is a good thing that I am getting playing time. I was eager to start playing and when the opportunity came I took it before the international break,” he told SCORENigeria.

    Leganes are 18th on the table with eight points from nine matches.

  • Leganes to unveil Omeruo on Friday

    Super Eagles’ defender, Kenneth Omeruo will spend the 2018/19 season on loan at Leganes in the Spanish top flight after becoming the latest Blues’ player to be loaned out of the club ahead of the new campaign, AOIFootball.com reports.

    Omeruo, who completed his loan switch to Spain on Wednesday morning has been handed the number 24 jersey ahead of his unveiling to the fans at ID Butarque on  Friday, a club statement confirmed.

    The 24-year-old central defender, who could also play at right-back, moved to Stamford Bridge from Standard Liege in 2012 but has failed to establish himself with the London club, joining the likes of Ado Den Haag, Middlesbrough, and Alanyaspor on loan in the past.

    Omeruo spent last season on loan at Turkish side Kasimpasa, where he made 28 appearances and was named in the Nigeria squad for this summer’s World Cup.

  • Omeruo, Eze outshine Iwobi, Iheanacho in training game

    Team A wore orange bibs on top of the green sleeveless tops and had Oghenekaro Etebo, Junior Lokosa, Tyronne Ebuehi, Ola Aina, Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong.

    Team B with just the green sleeveless tops contained: Alex Iwobi, Stephen Eze, Eddy Onazi, Elderson Echiejile, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidozie Awaziem.

    At 1118 hours, both teams went against each other in a six-a-side game using ‘monkey posts’, as they are known in these parts.

    Twenty-two minutes later, both teams went into a match of seven-a-side with the goalkeepers joining in the session and goalposts being used this time, about one-quarter of the training pitch was used for the game.

    Deportivo de La Coruña youngster Francis Uzoho joined the Team A as the keeper, while Enyimba’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa was selected for the Team B.

    After ten minutes, Ajiboye replaced Uzoho and Ezenwa subbed out for Daniel Akpeyi.

    The match ended 3-2 in favour of Team A, with Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo scoring a brace and Etebo with the other goal for the side.

    Lokomotiv Plovdiv defender Stephen Eze outshone his teammates Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho after scoring two goals for the Team B.

    Alex Iwobi’s dad, Chuka Iwobi, attended the training session which ended at 1210 hours.

  • Zenit table £5m bid for Omeruo

    Zenit table £5m bid for Omeruo

    Kenneth Omeruo is set for a permanent departure from English Premier League side Chelsea in the summer at the end of his current loan deal with Turkish top flight side Kasimpasa.

    Zenit St. Petersburg were close to signing the 24-year-old in February, but their proposal to have him on an initial loan deal was knocked back by Chelsea, who were only keen on an outright transfer.

    Omeruo has endured six different loan spells since moving to Chelsea in 2013, and with no first team appearance to his team, the club have decided to let go of him for a fee in the region of £5m.

    With 20 appearances to his name in the Turkish top flight for Kasimpasa and a goal as well, his form has helped put him in the shop window as well as a spot in the Nigeria national team ahead of the World Cup in Russia later this year.

    Spartak Moscow were also close to signing him in February, but there’s no report of them returning back for him in the summer unlike Zenit who are hoping to snare him in the summer on a permanent basis.

  • Super Eagles will tame Lewandowski — Omeruo

    Super Eagles will tame Lewandowski — Omeruo

    Kasimpasa of Turkey defender, Kenneth Omeruo is positive the Super Eagles’ defence has what it takes to tame Bayern Munich and Poland striker, Robert Lewandowski when both sides clash in Wroclaw on the 23rd of this month.

    The on-loan Chelsea defender, who spoke to AOIFootball.com from his base in Turkey, said he was honoured to be invited to the Eagles’ setup, saying the match against Poland will be a good test for the team.

    “First, it’s always an honour to be part of the team again. I am looking forward to the match and want to give my best to make sure we come out tops. Every match we play from now to the World Cup is like a final, because we (the players) have to be in our best form and make sure we represent the country well at the World Cup in Russia,” Omeruo said.

    Omeruo stated that facing Lewandowski won’t be a problem for the defence because he would be like other strikers the team has faced in the past.

    “I’m well prepared for the game. I am in good shape and it’s important for the team to prepare well. Stopping their danger man (Lewandowski) will not be a problem for us because I am very sure we can contain him. We just have to work as a team and most importantly, follow the manager’s tactics,” Omeruo noted.

    Nigeria will face Poland in an International friendly on March 23 in Wroclaw and then travel to London four days later to play Serbia at the Hive Stadium Stadium on March 27.

  • Chelsea demands N3.4b for Omeruo

    Chelsea demands N3.4b for Omeruo

    Aclutch of Turkish clubs including Kasimpasa and Alanyaspor are interested in signing Kenneth Omeruo in the summer, but it is left to be seen whether they could match a seven million pounds (N3.36 billion) valuation by Chelsea for the Nigeria defender.

    A top source informed SCORENigeria: “There are some clubs in Turkey who are interested in signing Kenneth at the end of the season.

    “They will include Kasimpasa, who he played for last season, and also his current club Alanyaspor.

    “But the snag will be if they could come up with the seven million pounds Chelsea want for the player.”

    Last summer, Besiktas were also keen to sign Omeruo, but they could not give a commitment to Chelsea that they will sign him on a permanent basis at the end of the loan.

    This season, the 23-year-old defender has made 24 appearances and scored a goal for Alanyaspor.

  • Premiership victory thrills Moses, Omeruo

    Premiership victory thrills Moses, Omeruo

    Nigerian trio Victor Moses, Kenneth Omeruo and Fikayo Tomori have reacted to the London club winning their fifth Premier League title on Friday night.

    The Super Eagle played a key role this season for the Blues, with the game against the Baggies his 33rd appearance of the season, while Tomori wasn’t involved and has returned to the club after spending the second half of the season on loan at Brighton.

    Moses tweeted, with an accompanying video of the squad celebrating in the dressing room : ”CHAMPIONS !!! Words can’t describe the emotions right now! We did this together! #CFC Family!”

    Tomori, who is in Japan with England U20 squad, added : ”Chelsea. CHAMPIONS!!!”

    Omeruo posted on Instagram : ”!!!STAND FOR THE CHAMPIONS  bravo @mbatshuayi bravo Chelsea fc.. what an achievement.”

    It was double delight for Chelsea last night, with their U18 team winning the title after thrashing Reading 3-0.

  • Omeruo involved in a relationship with Oshoala

    Omeruo involved in a relationship with Oshoala

    Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo is reportedly involved in a relationship with the golden girl of Nigerian football, Asisat Oshoala, but it appears there are no strings attached.
    Like most female footballers, Oshoala does not earn a crazy amount at her English club, and is profiting financially from her association with the Super Eagles star.
    “Oshoala feels she is a star, and wants to identify with fellow stars. Omeruo is spending his money on her, ” a top source told allnigeriasoccer.com.
    “They are “helping themselves romantically, they are more like friends with benefits.”
    Omeruo donated N2 million to the Super Falcons during their face-off with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the African Women Cup of Nations.

  • Omeruo: I’m ready to play right back for Eagles

    Omeruo: I’m ready to play right back for Eagles

    Kenneth Omeruo has rubbished claims that Leon Balogun and Troost-Ekong pairing in the Super Eagles defense will affect his position in the team.

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr faith in the duo paid off after an impressive display against Algeria where the Alanyaspor defender was drafted in the right back position.

    Omeruo, however, vowed to play in any position for the team to help in achieving their set goal of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia.

    “We all are playing as a team with one goal of making it to the World Cup, whoever the coach selects will definitely give his all.’ Omeruo disclosed exclusively to allnigeriasoccer.com at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

    “Whichever role the coach thinks I can play in the team I will definitely give my all.

    “Playing from the right back against Algeria is just like am playing at the heart of the defense.”

    He added : “As a Nigerian, I am ready to play anywhere and give my all to the team. As long as we get the results and we are able to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.”

    The Chelsea loanee has featured in all the World Cup qualifying games under coach Gernot Rohr and was substituted in the second half against Algeria after picking up a knock.

    Besides the problematic Eagles right fullback position, the left back occupied by Elderson Echiejile is also under threat, officials have hinted.

    “Rohr has admitted his fullbacks still lack the mental strength needed for tougher challenges and that perhaps explains the special drilling Elderson Echiejile got before the game with Algeria,” disclosed a team official.

    “The left back position is also under serious scrutiny, just like the right back.”

    The 28-year-old Elderson has manned the left back in Rohr’s first three matches.

    He has played three matches for Belgian club Standard Liege on loan from Monaco, but his last league game was in a 3-1 loss at KV Oostende on October 30.

    Rohr has already announced he is shopping for players for these positions.