The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Onazi

  • Onazi eager for World Cup debut

    Onazi eager for World Cup debut

    Nigeria Central midfielder Onazi Ogenyi is looking forward to play in his maiden World Cup.

    The youthful player who has been dubbed as the engine of Super Eagles style of play by bookmakers intimated to supersport.com of his thoughts ahead of Brazil.

    “We have Iran, Bosnia and Argentina to play in that order. You don’t become the best tournament in the World Cup with any less expectation than to square up against the best. All the qualified teams will come in with their reputations; this is a pool of the best 32 teams in the world.

    “This is some sort of confidence for us.We know we are the African champions and we know we have to work hard. By the Grace of God we know we can go all the way.

    “The World Cup is regarded as the biggest football tournament.This is my first time, although I played in the U-17 World Cup, this is obviously going to be a different experience. I want to make the best of it.”

    He also commented on what he makes of his team and evaluated his expected performance.

    “We have a pool of young, hungry and talented players.We all know we still have to make the list of 23 first, and you can see the hunger. Cap that off with the experience of our Coach in these stage. We are working to get the best out of ourselves.

    “I try to do what I have to do. Don’t forget football is my profession. I get into the pitch like a surgeon gets into the theater; focused, hungry, hopeful and positive. It has been down to the Grace of God in my life.”

    With the side having an envious 12th man travelling party, the Lazio-based player lauded their efforts.

    “As a Nigerian footballer, I can beat my chest and say I know we will get the very best support from the fans.We all love this game. We are also fans as well. I’d say to the fans: drum up the support, the Super Eagles are coming.”

  • LAZIO PRESIDENT REVEALS Fans want Onazi out

    LAZIO PRESIDENT REVEALS Fans want Onazi out

    Lazio President Claudio Lotito has said some Lazio players, probably including Ogenyi Onazi, want to leave the club, strongly hinting that it is the club’s fans’ fault.

    Large sections of Biancocelesti supporters have boycotted recent home matches in protest at the way Lotito is running the club and the 56-year-old thinks it is affecting the team.

    “The league isn’t finished, there are still some possibilities for us. At the moment what we need to do is concentrate, even if the current atmosphere is affecting the team, Lotito is quoted as saying by Lalaziosiamonoi.it following the defeat to Genoa.

    “Some players can’t do it anymore though. It’s not that players don’t want to come to Lazio, it’s that they want to leave. It’s not because they have a bad relationship with the club, far from it. One of the players said to me, ‘President, I’m not enjoying it here anymore and it is becoming a problem. Imagine them going through what is going on, it’s not nice.”

    Onazi has been the subject of transfer rumours in the past following his exploits in the Europa Cup, with English side Tottenham Hotspurs reportedly interested in his services.

  • JANUARY 2014 TRANSFER: Onazi gets N1.18bn tag

    JANUARY 2014 TRANSFER: Onazi gets N1.18bn tag

    • Everton contact Lazio in Italy

    Sportinglife can reveal that Super Eagles defensive midfielder Ogenyi Onazi will join any club willing to cough out €9m (about N1.814 million) for the services of the Nigerian star according to Lazio FC of Italy’s President Claudio Lotito.

    Onazi is likely to play for Barclays English Premier League (EPL) side Everton FC this January, if a deal is sturck between the Nigerian star’s Italian side Lazio and the English side.

    Reports have it in the Italian press that Everton have contacted Lazio over midfielder Ogenyi Onazi. If it happens, Onazi will join the legion of Eagles stars who have played for the Merseyside club such as Daniel Amokachi, Joseph Yobo and lately Victor Anichebe, who now plies his trade for another English side West Bromwich Albion.

    Eddy, to his mates, plays in the middle of the park for Lazio and is starting to make an impression.

    Still only 21, he has with 18 Nigerian appearances. Eddy was linked with the redshirt in the summer, but Everton may beat the dark side to his signature.

    It is unclear how much Everton have bid for the powerful Nigerian, but president Claudio Lotito has gone on record to say that the player will not be leaving for a fee of less than €9m.

    Everton were linked with Onazi throughout 2013 and a cash move would seem strange now as they are desperately in need of a new striker. Rumours across the internet seem to be certain that Lacina Traore has joined on a loan deal but the Blues are still short upfront.

    It is unclear how much Everton have bid for the powerful Nigerian, but president Claudio Lotito has gone on record to say that the player will not be leaving for a fee of less than €9m.

  • Onazi sees red in Lazio’s win

    Onazi sees red in Lazio’s win

    Ogenyi Onazi was sent off in the 52nd minute after receiving successive cautions, as Lazio fought back twice to win 3-2 away to Udinese after some bizarre goals.

    Udinese took the lead after just eight minutes through a penalty, as Pedro Luis Cavanda tripped Maicosuel when he burst into the box down the left flank.

    Antonio Di Natale converted coolly low at the near post for his first Serie A goal since October and he was visibly moved at breaking this drought.

    Then,Onazi and Senad Lulic had shots desperately charged down in the box in quick succession, and Floccari couldn’t quite get his audacious back-heel flick volley under control.

    The home team led 1-0 at the interval, then Lazio went down to 10 men, as Eddy Onazi received a second yellow card in quick succession for a late challenge on Roberto Pereyra at the touchline.

    But it was Lazio that got the next goal, as Miroslav Klose fell under the combined pressure of Brkic and Maurizio Domizzi, to earn a 63rd minute penalty. Ex-Udinese midfielder Candreva converted a powerful spot-kick to equalise.

    Five minutes later, Badu chested down the ball on the edge of the box and smashed a superb volley with the outside of the right boot that flew into the far top corner, leaving Berisha with no chance.

    Udinese goalkeeper handed Lazio their equaliser with eight minutes left to play. He came out to punch a cross into the crowd and it bounced into the net off Andrea Lazzari’s shin.

    Then, Lazio managed to turn the game around completely to win 3-2 in the final minute. Substitute Hernanes had a point to prove and blasted under the bar from the edge of the penalty area to put the 10-man Biancocelesti in front for the first time.

  • JANUARY TRANSFERS Liverpool, Everton battle for Onazi

    JANUARY TRANSFERS Liverpool, Everton battle for Onazi

    SUPER Eagles and Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi is reportedly being targeted by both Merseyside derby teams of Everton and Liverpool, reports in Italy suggest.

    The 20-year-old has attracted the interest of the the English rivals after a series of excellent displays for the Biancocelesti this season.

    SportingLife gathered from an Italian daily based in Rome, Il Tempo, the midfielder is also said to be keen on a move to the Premier League and both Merseyside clubs are considering a bid for the player in January as they look to qualify for the Champions League.

    Onazi has made 14 Serie A appearances for Lazio this season.

  • Onazi gets new coach

    Onazi gets new coach

    Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi now has a new coach at Lazio,after the Italian side, confirmed Edy Reja as the manager of the club.

    The Serie A side were forced to dismiss Petkovic after he refused to agree to a mutual termination.

    The club had been trying to get rid of their tactician before Christmas,when Petkovic announced he had already signed with the Swiss Federation to take over the national team in July 2014.

    The matter has now degenerated into a legal battle with both sides making claims and counter claims.

    However, it will likely end in one side paying compensation to the other,but that may not affect the appointment of Reja.

  • Everton shows interest in Onazi

    Everton shows interest in Onazi

    According to reporting by Tuttomercatoweb.com, English Premier League club Everton will make an audacious bid to try and capture the signature of Nigeria international Eddy Onazi.

    But the leadership of the Biancocelesti do not intend to lose their Nigerian import in the January transfer widow.

    In the light of the foregoing, Lazio will reject the proposal from England.

    Clubs in Germany and Turkey have also expressed interest in signing the experienced youngster.

    Eddy Onazi , 21, still has a contract with Lazio until June 2016.

  • PRIZE FOR FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: Onazi redeems boots pledge to Eaglets

    PRIZE FOR FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: Onazi redeems boots pledge to Eaglets

    • Shin guards too

    Super Eagles and SC Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Eddy Onazi, has redeemed his pledge of designing two pairs of customised boots each for members of the victorious Golden Eaglets squad for lifting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates(UAE).

    Onazi, a member of John Obuh’s silver-winning team at the FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria in 2009, took to his official twitter handle, @OnaziOgenyi on Christmas day to announce the arrival of the prestigious boots.

    “A few weeks back, in conjunction with Lotto Sports, I promised to give out a pair of football boots to the victorious Golden Eaglets.

    “I’m glad to inform you that the boots have been delivered to me.

    “The boots are all personalised with ‘Champions U-17’ with each one.

    “In addition, there’s also a pair of shin guards to go with the boots.

    “Last night, I presented the gifts to the U-17 boys. Two of them got theirs,” tweeted the SC Lazio midfielder who stressed that the idea behind the gift was aimed at encouraging the players to further aspire for more glory.

  • Onazi suffers heavy defeat with Lazio

    Onazi suffers heavy defeat with Lazio

    Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Verona yesterday in a Serie A away fixture.

    The Nigerian international, who was handed his 11th start of the season at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi on Sunday by coach Petkovic’ could do nothing to stop the rampaging Verona side despite playing the entire duration of the encounter.

    Luca Toni bagged a brace as Hellas Verona tore sorry Lazio apart to go nine points clear of their opponents.

    It was a battle of the veteran hit men and first blood went to Luca Toni, who was allowed a free header on Jorginho’s free kick, finding the top corner.

    Lucas Biglia did get Lazio level with a free header from a corner for his debut Serie A goal but Verona restored their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Iturbe’s free kick bounced right in front of Marchetti to beat the goalkeeper.

    Straight after the restart Lazio were very aggressive and Rafael was again called into action on Biglia from a dead ball situation.

    But it was Verona who made their chances count to earn a two-goal cushion when Toni sprung the offside trap on Gomez Taleb’s pass and drew defenders away, rolling across for the unmarked Romulo for an easy tap in.

    Klose went close to reducing the deficit and put Lazio back in it moments later, but the German international turned a Keita’s cross just wide from close range.

    Toni completed his brace thanks to a double defensive error, as Jorginho took advantage of slip-ups to roll across for his finish.

    The newly-promoted side will now finish 2013 ahead of Onazi and his team-mates in the Serie A table in fifth spot with 29 points while Lazio are placed tenth, nine points behind the Hellas after 17 league games.

  • Onazi, Ogu tip CHAN Eagles for trophy

    Onazi, Ogu tip CHAN Eagles for trophy

    • Keshi cagey about final list

    As preparations for the 2014 African Nations Championship, CHAN reaches the crucial bend, some members of the national team based abroad have been sending positives across to encourage the team ahead of the tourney which starts January 11, in South Africa.

    The latest to speak on the team’s chances are Lazio of Italy playmaker, Ogenyi Onazi and Academica Du Combra of Portugal combative midfielder, John Ogu. Eagles’ Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes the two players as saying that with the quality they have seen of the players each time they were in camp together, there is no team in Africa that will be good enough for the CHAN trophy in South Africa than the Super Eagles.

    Hear Onazi: “We are the African champions and we are sure that by the close of the competition, our brothers at home will not let us down because they will win the CHAN trophy to sustain what we have jointly achieved. Luckily for us we have the same coach for us and our brothers at home, I see no obstacle ahead”.

    On his part, Ogu praised the impact, Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has had in his career and said he believes that the same was being extended to players in the CHAN Eagles. “Just help me tell my teammates that I’m here rooting for them and very sure that by the end of the day they will be celebrating with the Cup back home in Nigeria. Greet Coach for me too..oooo”.