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Tag: Onazi

  • Supercoppa Italiana final: Onazi falls with Lazio

    Supercoppa Italiana final: Onazi falls with Lazio

    • Eagles star in action for 90 minutes

    Desire of Super Eagles midfielder Oguenyi Onazi to claim this year’s Supercoppa Italiana hit the rocks Saturday after Lazio lost 2-0 to rampaging Juventus at the Shanghai Stadium in China.  Onazi who was in action for the entire duration of the match posted an impressive run even as Lazio held on to 53% possession against Juve’s 47%.  It was however Juve that converted few scoring chances that came calling in the match in which players played with utmost caution apparently trying to avoid any form of injury ahead of the new season which kicks off August 22.

    Centre Referee Luca Banti had no cause to have migraine as players on both sides played by the rules thus having a no-booking match.

    Interestingly, it was Juve’s debutants Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala that grabbed the goals in the 69th and 73rd minutes respectively. Despite going two goals down Onazi and his teammates fought to the end of the final whistle but failed to turn the table.

    Onazi who has made over 61 appearances for Super Eagles is likely to feature in the final list of new coach Sunday Olise ahead of the Afcon 2017 qualifiers against Tanzania September 4.  Olise, only a few days ago, named 23 home-based players to begin the process of shaping up ahead of his debut match as coach of the National team in Dar es Salaam.

  • Super Cup: Onazi to start against Juventus

    Super Cup: Onazi to start against Juventus

    According to projections by the Italian media, Eddy Onazi will be named in the starting line – up when Lazio tackle Juventus in the Super Cup on Saturday.

    Tuttomercatoweb.com says the Biancocelesti manager, Stefano Pioli, is planning to deploy a 4 – 3 – 3 formation, with Onazi handed one of the spots in midfield alongside Biglia and Cataldi.

    Over the course of last season, the Nigeria international started only nine games out of a possible 45, and was an unused substitute in Lazio’s 2 – 1 loss to Juventus in the final of the Italian Cup.

    The 22-year-old has racked up 88 appearances for Lazio across all competitions since he made his debut.

    The central midfielder will not be called – up for the Super Eagle AFCON qualifying tie with Tanzania after he was red – carded against Tanzania in June.

  • Onazi assures fans

    Onazi assures fans

    Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi has turned in his message of appreciation to the fans for saving him from the hangman’s noose after having his fine and any further punishment waived by the Nff’s O&D committee for the sending off in the Afcon qualifier against Chad.

    ”I want to thank them for their support and contribution. I followed the situation, all the fans that pleaded on my behalf about the fine.

    ”I want to assure them that I would never fail them and I’d make them proud for their support,” Onazi told www.footballlive.ng.

    Onazi was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball incident in Nigeria’s first group game in the AFCON qualifiers against Chad in Kaduna.

    He will serve a three-match ban.

  • Onazi, Ogu, Elderson congratulate Oliseh

    Onazi, Ogu, Elderson congratulate Oliseh

    Super Eagles players  are beginning to send their congratulatory messages to Sunday Oliseh who has been appointed as the new head coach of Nigeria.

    Former Nigeria captain Oliseh, who won 63 caps for his country and played his part in the Africa Cup of Nations success in 1994, was confirmed as Stephen Keshi’s replacement on Wednesday.

    Players such as Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, Hapoel Be’er Sheva central midfielder, John Ogu, AS Monaco FC left back, Elderson Echiejile and Ex-Gronigen defender William Troost-Ekong all took to the social media to welcome the new national team boss and wished him a successful spell.

    They played under Keshi who was fired this month for breaching his contract by applying to be Ivory Coast coach.

     “Congratulations @SundayOOliseh on your new job. Thanks to the @thenff we didn’t have to wait for too long. #SuperNaijaFans,” Onazi twitted on his official handle @OnaziOgenyi.

    “Congrats to the new @NGSuperEagles gaffer @SundayOOliseh .God bless Nigeria”, Ogu said on his official Tweeter handle @ogujohnugo.

    Echeijine said on his Twitter handle @EldersonEch: “Congratulations @SundayOOliseh on your new job. Wishing you the best in this new era.”

    “Congratulations to @SundayOOliseh the new headcoach of @NGSuperEagles  @thenff! And ofcourse @PinnickAmaju”, Troost-Ekong posted.

    Also, ex international, George Abbey believes Oliseh is the right man for job and commended the President Amaju Pinnick led NFF board for the choosing his former team mate.

    “@GeorgeAbbey15: @SundayOOliseh is the right man to transform Nigerian football… with the right support he will do a great job! #No15 #UpEagles. Well done @PinnickAmaju @thenff great choice”, Abbey said.

  • Onazi wants to make impact in UCL

    Onazi wants to make impact in UCL

    Nigeria midfielder Eddy Ogenyi Onazi is looking to make ‘some serious impact’ in the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League, he has told News24.

    The 22-year old was on the scoresheet on the last day of last season, as he helped SS Lazio return to the world’s biggest club competition, and ahead of the new season, he says he has already set his sights on featuring in the competition.

    “I’m really excited about the prospect to be honest, I’m really looking forward to making some serious impact when it begins.

    “It’s going to be another long season and I pray to stay injury free because I really want to play as much as possible.

    “I want to be there for my team when they need me and I pray we will have another successful season.”

    The Nigerian international has played in the Europa League with Lazio in previous seasons, but says the forthcoming season might be his biggest.

    “I think it could be my biggest season because we’re going to have the Champions League, the Serie A, and the Copa Italia.

    “It’s going to be a big season and it might be my biggest. I just have to work hard in training and keep proving myself to the manager and hopefully everything will go well,” Onazi added.

  • RED CARD ‘MADNESS’: Onazi apologises

    RED CARD ‘MADNESS’: Onazi apologises

    There was one sour point of Nigeria’s victory against Chad in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier – Ogenyi Onazi’s red card and the Lazio man has come out to apologise to fans and teammates for his ‘silly behaviour’ that forced the referee to send him off.

    The incident occurred in the 79th minute when players of the Chadian team were swooping around the referee protesting a penalty awarded against them after substitute Odion Ighalo went down inside the box under a clumsy challenge from a defender and like a train without breaks Onazi ran into one of the players of the away team –pushing him to the floor like it was a bull fight.

    That moment of madness prompted the referee to issue the former youth International a straight red inside the Ahmadu Bello stadium in Kaduna, meaning he will be out of Nigeria’s next three qualifying campaigns which includes the crucial double header against former African Champions Egypt.

    ‘I let my teammates and loyal fans down with my action on the pitch today. I apologise for my actions. Thank you for your usual support,’ Onazi posted on his official twitter handle.

    ‘Thank you all for your support and praises, even when I don’t deserve them. I don’t ever feel like I have the right to refuse the criticism of the same people who praise me even when I don’t deserve it.’

    The win against Chad represents Stephen Keshi’s first win after his reappointment as manager of the national team but he will have to do without the services of Onazi when the Super Eagles play their second Group G game against Tanzania in September.

  • Under-20 players good for Under-20 players —Onazi

    Under-20 players good for Under-20 players —Onazi

    Super Eagles’ midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has predicted that some of the players in the current Flying Eagles would soon rule the world because they are endowed with innate football talents and skills that are needed to succeed in the round leather game.

    In a chat with NationSport, the SS Lazio strong man in the midfield confessed his love and interest in the team and the abilities of the players to weather the storm when the chips are down.

    “The Flying Eagles team that is currently playing at the U- 20 World Cup in New Zealand is a very strong team. I am also a fan of Nigerian football and the national teams because I support them anywhere they go. Personally I speak to some of the players of the U- 20 national team and the ones I know are Taiwo Awoniyi, Dele Alampasu and the rest of them.

    “I speak to Awoniyi, Alampasu and others just to encourage them. They are bunch of young talents that the world needs to watch them. I am sure the guys will soon come and join us in the Super Eagles. They are very, very strong team.

    “My message to the players of the team is that they should take every game very serious. This is a FIFA World Cup and I strongly believe that it is not going to be easy at all. That is how the tournament used to be. I want to encourage them to put in their very best to make sure that they come out with victories in every game they play at the ongoing FIFA U- 20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Onazi was of the opinion that the World Cup will seal some of the players fate to feature for the senior national team, the Super Eagles.

    “Playing for the Super Eagles is all about being given opportunity and that is why I want the current Flying Eagles players to use this competition to prove a point that they can also play for the national team.

    “It is all about opportunity. I never knew I will be called up in the national team at a very young age and very fast (few years after playing for the Golden Eaglets) too. But it is because of the determination and zeal that I put into the football that has helped me to this stage. When the opportunity came I took it very serious and I never wanted to let it slip”, Onazi disclosed.

    Onazi was however overlooked for selection for the 2011 FIFA U- 20 World Cup just two years after helping the Golden Eaglets to the final of the U- 17 world cup held in Nigeria then.

  • Onazi ecstatic as Lazio move fourth

    Onazi ecstatic as Lazio move fourth

    SS Lazio midfielder  Eddy Onazi says he is  thankful to God for his side’s 3-0 victory over Sassuolo over the weekend even though he wasn’t involved in the encounter.

    Felipe Anderson struck first just as the referee was about to signal the end of the first half. At the restart, veteran Miroslav Klose doubled the advantage in the 70th and Marco Parolo added the cherry on top seven minutes later.

    “We thank God for the goals; we thank God for every other thing that happened. The most important thing is that football is up and down but we thank God that we have been doing well this season,” he told footballlive.ng after the match.

    Coach Stefano Pioli celebrated Lazio’s deserved 3-0 win and said it signifies a good thing for the future of the side.

    Hear him: “We ran a few risks at the back, but should’ve already had the points wrapped up before half-time. Are we tempted to use three creative players behind a centre-forward? Of course, but the quality and spirit of the players make the difference and three in midfield provide solidity.”

  • Onazi: Eagles must win back the fans

    Onazi: Eagles must win back the fans

    Ogenyi Onazi has told AfricanFootball.com he hopes the Eagles soon win back the confidence of the fans after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 AFCON.
    The Lazio midfielder said the Eagles will work hard to regain the trust and support of Nigerians as they get set for friendly games and the qualifying tournament for the 2017 AFCON. The full interview:

    AFRICANFOOTBALL.COM: Super Eagles have a friendly game against Bolivia in March, how are you looking forward to the game?

    OGENYI ONAZI: Playing for Nigeria always comes with a unique feeling for me. Nothing beats wearing the green jersey and singing the national anthem once it comes on. So, I’m definitely looking forward to the game.

     

    Eagles missed the 2015 AFCON, what is your next target with the national team?

    We know we have to start off on a positive note and try to win back the support of our loyal fans. We let them down last time out by not making it to the AFCON 2015 to defend our title and we have to win back their trust and support starting with good results in friendly games. We also want to get the 2017 AFCON ticket followed by a World Cup ticket.

     

    What are your targets with Lazio this season?

    I know we may not be the best team in the league but we have shown with some of our performances that we are building something solid. Hopefully we can build some consistency and qualify for Europe, as well as win the Italian Cup for our lovely fans.

     

    You rewarded a lucky fan a cash prize and university education scholarship, what motivated you to do this?

    God has been great in my life and I don’t ever feel like I can do enough to thank him for his grace upon my life. I know where I started from, so I am always keen to make people happy. It’s all God.

     

    You are strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, what really happened?

    Well, I know I’ve been ‘strongly’ linked with a number of teams. I read and heard about them like you did so it doesn’t bother me one bit. I am happy with Lazio. I love Rome and the fans and they love me in return.

     

    When was your most memorable moment as a player?

    I have had some lovely moments in my career. The day I made my debut for Nigeria and Lazio were great days, when I won the AFCON and Coppa Italia as well as when I played at the World Cup were all memorable moments for me. These memories have stayed there and I want more.

     

    When was your darkest day as a national team player?

    That has to be the day we failed to qualify for the 2015 AFCON. I am also a football fan, so I know how it feels. Knowing how well Nigerians love football and the Eagles, I did feel very bad about it all. But we’ve got another opportunity to correct our failure, I hope we have all learnt valuable lessons from that sad experience.

     

    What do you do in your leisure time?

    I find nothing more enjoyable than resting and sleeping. Also, I am beginning to fancy photography lately. I have been using the ActiveOn action camera for a while and I could say I am hooked on it.

  • Onazi shows off new N9m 2015 BMW X4 SUV

    Onazi shows off new N9m 2015 BMW X4 SUV

    Super Eagles and Lazio of  Italy midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi  has acquired a brand new 2015 edition of BMW X4 SUV.

    The BMW X4, which runs on a six cylinder in-line engine that will be mated to an eight speed automatic transmission, will need only 5.5 seconds to go from 0-60mph with a top speed of 145mph.

    The X4 is a four-door “coupe,” with a low roof and a more intimate cabin, especially in the back seat, while the front end has a bit more aggression to match the sporting intent.

    The Nigerian international shared a picture of the ‘machine’ which cost about $45,650 (over N9m) on his instagram page on Monday with the message, “Set for morning training. #X42015tearrobberthankstoalmightGod#.”