The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Onazi

  • Keshi won’t replace Onazi

    Keshi won’t replace Onazi

    Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has refused to replace Ogenyi Onazi.

    Keshi has left the space for Onazi, who may return to the team. The Big Boss according to commentaries on television on Monday, believes that Onazi can recover to join the team at any stage of the competition.

    Nigeria was told by FIFA that they had 24 hours to replace Ogenyi Onazi with another player in the squad currently in Brazil for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

    The Lazio midfielder picked up a knee injury during the 2014 World Cup qualifying game against Namibia last Wednesday in Windhoek, and he returned to Nigeria on Saturday.

    Doctors initially said that the midfielder could be out for about two weeks, but the Onazi told team officials that he could make the tournament and was given the benefit of the doubt.

  • Onazi may be out for 8 weeks

    Onazi may be out for 8 weeks

    Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi could be out for at least eight weeks after he injured his right knee in a World Cup qualifier in Namibia.

    Officials told MTNFootball.com disclosed that Onazi would undergo a scan. Eagles team doctor Ibrahim Gyaran would rather not speculate on how long the player will be sidelined.

    He told MTNFootball.com: “I cannot confirm how long he will be out because in modern sports medicine we must carry out some tests on the right knee. In that case, I will not speculate until after the tests, but he is certainly ruled out of the Tahiti game.”

  • Onazi guns for cup glory

    Onazi guns for cup glory

    Nigeria international Ogenyi Onazi has told MTNFootball.com he hopes to win the cup in Italy on Sunday at the expense of local rivals Roma.

    Lazio will tackle Roma on Sunday and Onazi, who has shrugged off an injury to be in the squad for the final, said the target will be the cup.

    “I am looking forward to the cup final against Roma on Sunday. My target is to win the trophy,” AFCON 2013 champion Onazi told MTNFootball.com

    On Wednesday, players and officials from both Roma and Lazio met with Pope Francis at the St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in a peace initiative ahead of the cup final between the two bitter rivals.

    The occasion happened during the general audience before the match to be played at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

    “We decided to participate in a public way and not privately because of the need to be among the people to show the fans a sign of humility and a message of calm and respect for your opponents,” Lazio president Claudio Lotito said.

     

  • Onazi declares self fit for Cagliari, Roma games

    Onazi declares self fit for Cagliari, Roma games

    Nigeria’s Ogenyi Onazi who has enjoyed a thrilling season with his Serie A side SS Lazio has stated his readiness to finish strongly in the two games left for him this season.

    A league clash away to Cagliari and the ‘historic’ Cup final against City rivals Roma would go a long way in shaping what the season will look like for Onazi’s Rome based club and the young Nigerian says he is ready to go while also appreciate his growing number of fans on social media network, twitter.

    “Am good, ready for the last two important games. With God all things are possible I strongly believe. Thank you all for your concern,” Onazi wrote via his twitter handle on Thursday morning.

    After helping the national team to the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, Onazi will hope he can get some club success by beating rivals Roma to the Copa Italia and also get the needed result against Cagliari to help Lazio make it back to the Europa league next season.

  • Lazio unleashes Onazi on Yobo’s Fenerbahce

    Lazio unleashes Onazi on Yobo’s Fenerbahce

    It will be brothers at war in today’s Europa League meeting between Nigeria’s Super Eagles stars in Turkey after Lazio boss, Vladimir Petkovic named Ogenyi Onazi in his 19-man squad that will lock horns against Joseph Yobo’s Fenerbahce.

    Onazi and Biancocelesti mates got to Turkey later Wednesday as they look to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

    Those who made the list were Goalkeepers: Marchetti, Bizzarri, Guerrieri.

    Defenders: Biava, Radu, Ciani, Cana.

    Midfielders: Ledesma, Onazi, Mauri, Ederson, Candreva, Lulic, Gonzalez, Hernanes, Crecco.

    Forwards: Kozak, Rozzi, Klose.

    Meanwhile, Scottish referee William Collum has been assigned for Lazio’s Europa League quarter-final with Fenerbahce.

  • AFCON final: Moses, Uche start

    AFCON final: Moses, Uche start

    Victor Moses will start for Nigeria versus Burkina Faso in the African Nations Cup final, but injured Emmanuel Emenike is out for Ikechukwu Uche.

    MTNFootball.com has again specially gathered that Chelsea winger Moses has overcome a left ankle injury he picked up against Mali in Wednesday’s semi-final in Durban and so will be in action from the start.

    However, the same cannot be said of four-goal striker Emmanuel Emenike as he suffered a more serious hamstring injury, which officials informed MTNFootball.com will sideline the Spartak Moscow striker for at least two weeks.

    The 25-year-old Emenike has not trained since the injury leading up to Sunday’s final.

    His place will now be taken by Uche, who was top scorer in the qualifying tournament with three goals.

    The Villarreal striker lost his first-team place to Emenike during the tournament, but he returned for the crucial group game against Ethiopia with very little effect.

    He will now lead the attack along with the lively Ukraine-based striker Brown Ideye.

    Interestingly, Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi will also keep his place in the first XI ahead of Norway-based Fegor Ogude, who has not featured for the team since he returned from a one-match suspension for the Cote d’Ivoire clash.

     

    Eagles starting XI vs Burkina Faso

     

    Vincent Enyeama – Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo – Ogenyi Onazi, Mikel Obi, Sunday Mba – Victor Moses, Ikechukwu Uche, Brown Ideye.

  • Onazi retains place in Eagles starting XI

    Onazi retains place in Eagles starting XI

    Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi will keep his place in Nigeria starting XI against Mali in Wednesday’s African Nations Cup semi final.

    Onazi was expected to give way for returnee Fengor Ogude who served a one-match suspension in the quarter final duel against Cote d’Ivoire.

    But Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has lined up an unchanged team for the match against the fellow West African nation in Durban.

    The versatile Onazi stood in for Ogude on Sunday to earn praise from Keshi for his energetic display in defensive midfield.

    “Onazi did a wonderful job (vs Cote d’Ivoire),” saluted Keshi.

    He also filled in at right back for suspended Efe Ambrose for a group game against Zambia.

    Onazi told MTNFootball.com he is driven for glory.

    “Well, it is not by my power that I did well against Yaya Toure and (Cheick) Tiote in the midfield, but the special grace of God that gave me the strength to be able to play my game,” he said.

    “Motivation is by the grace of God in my life. Step by step I am achieving my heart desire and my long time dream to not only line up among the best, but to always come out tops. That in itself is a lot of motivation.

    “Don’t also forget that we play for our country knowing the name of our family is at stake. Motivation is never missing when you are a Nigerian.”

    He also told MTNFootball.com that Prophet T.B.Joshua’s prayer has propelled him in South Africa.

    “Prophet T.B Joshua is not only my Father in the Lord, he is also a figure I look up to as well as respect a lot,” he revealed.

    “He has always been praying for me and the team, and he always gives advice which has been the key to my success and that of the team.”