The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Onazi

  • Onazi’s advice helps Lazio to victory

    Onazi’s advice helps Lazio to victory

    Nigeria international Eddy Onazi was an unused substitute in Lazio’s 2 – 0 victory over Livorno on Sunday in the 16th round of games, but the Super Eagles ace had another way to help the team, even from the bench.

    It would have been his 14th Serie A game had he been fielded by manager Vladimir Petkovic, nevertheless Onazi’s teammates put the Nigerian’s advice into good use during the encounter.

    Before the game at the Olympic Stadium, Eddy Onazi had urged his teammates to remain calm.

    “We have to play with the right head and calmly.

    “We all have to stay together, and score more points against Livorno,”said the 20 – year – old midfielder to Sky Sport Italia before the match.

    His mates appeared to have heeded his advice, as Lazio won the vital match thanks to a brace from Germany international Miroslav Klose.

  • Uefa Europa League: Onazi sails through

    Uefa Europa League: Onazi sails through

    Ogenyi Onazi was on duty for only 17 minutes on Thursday, as Lazio trampled over Polish side, Legia Warsaw to secure a 2-0 victory in Poland, and secure their place in the knock out round of the Europa Cup.

    Lazio will now go head-to-head with Trabzonspor for the top place in Group J on the group on the final day, when they meet at the Stadio Olimpico.

    The Rome side broke through with a fine goal from Colombian youngster Brayan Perea in the 24th minute.

    He used one header to get a Lucas Biglia cross under control and, with his back to goal leaning into the defender, flicked the second header into the far top corner.

    Lazio doubled their lead in the 56th minute, when Hernanes found Anderson with an inspired pass across the edge of the box, which the Brazilian fired low into the far bottom corner.

    Onazi then came off the bench, his shot was charged down and Senad Lulic flashed an effort across the face of goal, but Legia Warsaw continued their dire record in the group of no points and no goals scored.

     

  • Onazi plays for 90mins

    Onazi plays for 90mins

    Ogenyi Onazi was on full 90 minutes action for Lazio as the Rome team forced Sampdoria to a 1-1 draw in a Serie A game played at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris on Sunday.

    Roberto Soriano opened scoring for the hosts in the 67th minute after a goalless first half.

    But Lorik Cana fed off good work by Sergio Floccari to grab the equaliser for the visitors deep into stoppage time,to salvage a point.

    This is the second draw on the bounce for Lazio, following the 1-1 tie with Parma just before the international break.

    Sampdoria earned the first point in the Serie A, after losing their last three games.

    Lazio now move 8th with 17 points, while Sampdoria dropped to 18th with 10 points.

  • Onazi plays down Liverpool switch

    Onazi plays down Liverpool switch

    Nigeria international Ogenyi Onazi has played down reports linking him with a switch to Liverpool, insisting he is happy at Lazio.

    The Jos-born star told Lazio Style Radio that he was surprised to hear of rumours linking him with a move to Liverpool.

    Onazi has hinted that an interview he granted in London may have been taken out of context, and he insists he is happy with his current club Lazio.

    “I came back from London yesterday morning (Wednesday), some people have told me (about) this interview.

    “I did one interview in London, but I was asked this question on Liverpool. This is very strange. I’m under contract with Lazio, and I’m fine here,” Onazi said.

    The Lazio midfielder has been linked to a move to Everton following his impressive displays in the Italian Serie A and the national team.

  • Onazi dismisses Liverpool switch

    Onazi dismisses Liverpool switch

    Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi , has played down reports linking him with a switch to Liverpool, insisting he is happy at Lazio.

    The Jos-born star told Lazio Style Radio that he was surprised to hear of rumours linking him with a move to Liverpool.

    Onazi has hinted that an interview he granted in London may have been taken out of context, and he insists he is happy with his current club.

    “I came back from London yesterday morning, some people have told me (about) this interview.

    “I did one interview in London, but I was asked this question on Liverpool. This is very strange. I’m under contract with Lazio, and I’m fine here,” MTNFootball.com quoted Onazi as saying during the interview.

    The Lazio midfielder has been linked with a move to Everton following his impressive displays in the Italian Serie A and the national team.

     

  • Onazi lauds TomTom as brand salutes Eagles

    Onazi lauds TomTom as brand salutes Eagles

    Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, who was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the FIFA Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ethiopia on Saturday in Calabar, has heaped praises on TomTom, the Official Candy of the Nigerian national football teams, for its unflinching support and commitment towards ensuring the team wins its matches at all times.

    Onazi, who was rewarded with $5,000 courtesy of TomTom for his outstanding performance shortly after the match, said the TomTom Most Valuable Player award goes a long way in motivating the national team players to put in their best during matches. He maintained that efforts of corporate organisations like Cadbury Nigeria Plc have always been sources of encouragement to players who are encouraged to reach for their innermost strength and give all while on assignment for their country.

    “I want to say a big thank you to TomTom for the award and its support. When a company like Cadbury encourages the team with the award, you would want to do more and play with passion. This invariably would make you raise your game,” Onazi explained, saying further that the award would spur him to always be at his best for the team.

    For picking one of Africa’s five tickets to the FIFA Brazil 2014 World Cup, TomTom has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria. In a statement by Bala Yesufu, Head, Corporate and Government Affairs, Cadbury West Africa, TomTom commended the players’ tenacity and individual brilliance that made them fly over the Walya Antelopes and secure a place for Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup.

    “We are excited about the fact that Nigeria will be in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. The Super Eagles maintained focus, team spirit and determination to clinch the ticket. We are proud of them. We say well done to the players and congratulations to all Nigerians,” Yesufu said, pledging that TomTom would “support the Super Eagles all through and through.”

    TomTom has been at the forefront of providing support for the various Nigerian teams through different initiatives. In addition to the Most Valuable Player Award, TomTom introduced Shots-on-Target award to spur the squads to produce goals and win matches. The brand has also motivated fans to cheer the teams by organising road shows in all the geo-political zones of Nigeria to support the national teams.

     

  • Onazi voted MVP, gets $5,000

    •Moses, Nsofor bag $2,000 each

    Lazio’s all-action midfielder was voted the most valuable player, MVP of yesterday’s World Cup play off tie between the Super Eagles and the Walyas Antelopes of Ethiopia.

    The decision to pick Onazi was tough because the Eagles were generally lacklustre despite their 2-0 win but the Italy based star stood out because of his overall work rate and even had a shot saved by the Ethiopian goalkeeper.

    For emerging the MVP of the game in Calabar, Onazi got $5,000.

    Meanwhile, the duo of Victor Moses and Victor Obinna Nsofor bagged $2,000 each for getting on the score sheet in the 2-0 victory over the Walya Antelopes.

    Moses scored a 20th minute penalty while Nsofor came off the bench to add a second via a free kick with eight minutes left.

  • Onazi: Eagles not yet in Brazil

    Onazi: Eagles not yet in Brazil

    Despite Nigeria’s 2-1 advantage, Ogenyi Onazi has insisted that the Super Eagles are not yet in Brazil until after today’s 2014 World Cup play-off win against Ethiopia.

    The S.S. Lazio midfielder said: “I don’t think we have qualified for Brazil (2014) as we need a victory against the Ethiopians today to be among the five African countries that will get the slot.”

    “We’re ready for the match. You can see from yesterday’s (Friday) morning session at the U.J. Esuene Stadium that every player wants a starting shirt against the Walya Antelopes.

    “So, by his grace, I see us going all out for a victory.”

    About the Ethiopians, Onazi stressed: “We are not taking them for granted as they too want to be in Brazil.

    “If really we want to be in the Mundial come 2014, we must all raise our games.”

     

    Likely Eagles’ squad against Ethiopia

    The players that Keshi drilled in his last training session on Friday morning.

    Vincent Enyeama

    Efe Ambrose

    Godfrey Oboabona

    Kenneth Omeruo

    Elderson Echiejile

    Ogenyi Onazi

    John Mikel Obi

    Victor Moses

    Ahmed Musa

    Brown Ideye

    Emmanuel Emenike

  • Onazi suffers home loss

    Onazi suffers home loss

    Ogenyi Onazi’s Lazio dominated the first half, but were punished by two Genoa goals for a shock 2-0 result in Rome yesterday.

    Genoa could have been a goal down early,but Daniele Portanova crucially charged down a Miroslav Klose effort in the opening five minutes.

    Moments later,Mattia Perin needed a sensational save to deny Klose’s curling header after great work down the left from Bruno Pereirinha.

    First Klose, and then Candreva also had chances to put the home side ahead, but couldn’t as the half ended goalless.

    Genoa had the chance to take the lead straight after the restart when Gilardino sprung the offside trap to chest down a Biondini cross, but Federico Marchetti was quick to close him down.

    It was still a surprise that Genoa broke the deadlock. Kucka burst past Pedro Cavanda on a Fetfatzidis through ball down the left and smashed his finish across Marchetti from a very tight angle after 59 minutes.

    Then with 70 minutes played, Ederson went on a mazy run until his shot was charged down at the near post, but Michael Ciani held out an arm to deflect away a pass in the box for an inevitable penalty.

    Gilardino fired his spot-kick into the roof of the net to double Genoa’s lead.

    Lazio poured forward, leaving gaps at the back and Fetfatzidis skimmed the upright from distance, as Genoa were entirely happy to sit on their lead and wait for counter-attacks.

  • Lazio manager blasts Onazi, others

    Lazio manager blasts Onazi, others

    Lazio manager Vladamir Petkovic has hit out on Ogenyi Onazi and his team-mates after a 1-1 draw with AC Milan on Wednesday, saying his side lacks determination.

    Onazi came on in the 46th minute for Hernanes de Carvalho Andrade and posted a super performance to help his side depart San Siro with a point.

    Michael Ciani restored parity for the visitors with 18 minutes remaining to cancel out Kaka’s stunning effort earlier in the second half but, despite bagging a point at San Siro, Petkovic admits he is unsatisfied at the result.

    “We deserved to win at the end” the 50-year-old told reporters.

    “I am not satisfied, as we need to face games with more determination. We allowed Milan the initiative in the first half, but the second was the complete opposite.

    “Milan have a lot of quality and when they are able to play to their strengths any team will struggle against them.

    “After the equaliser we improved and should’ve finished the evening with a victory. We lacked that extra 10 per cent of determination away from home to win.

    Petkovic’s men, who ascended to seventh in the Serie A standings following the result, host Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.