The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rated

  • Swansea target £3m-rated Ramon Azeez

    Swansea target £3m-rated Ramon Azeez

    Swansea are weighing up a move for Almeria’s £3million-rated midfielder and Nigeria international to the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Ramon Azeez.

    The 21-year-old was named Young Player of the Year at the La Liga club last term and capped a stellar season by being named in the Nigeria squad for the World Cup.

    Azeez is a dynamic midfielder that has been highly-rated within the Super Eagles camp for some time now. He began his career in the Almeria B team but after two terms of rapid improvement, he was promoted to the senior team.

    Indeed, his game continued to blossom as he featured in over 30 games for the team, drawing showers of praise for his all-round midfield game.

    Swansea are keen to inject some class and athleticism into their team, and with Azeez’s technical skills they know he will he fit seamlessly into their style.

    Almeria have inserted a release clause in the midfielder’s contract but the Swans see that as value for money for a player that was voted the third best at the Under-17 World Cup in 2007, and captained Nigeria to the quarter-finals of the Under-20 competition three years later.

  • Nigeria vs Uruguay: Mikel’s goal rated best

    Nigeria vs Uruguay: Mikel’s goal rated best

    Fortaleza, Brazil John Obi Mikel’s goal in Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Uruguay in Salvador during the Group B tie, has been listed among the best goal of the ongoing Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    According to renowed Brazil’s TV channel, TV Sports, the Nigerian international joins the exclusive list of goal scorers that have left their mark at the ongoing FIFA Confederations Cup in the South American nation, after the interesting team link up play exhibited by Mikel and Brown Ideye enroute to the goal.

    Interestingly, Spain’s Jordi Alba’s opener iagainst Nigeria on Sunday at the Estadio Castaelo, Fortaleza also made the list. Other goals nominated for the goal of the tournament includes Neymars wonderful free kick goal against Italy, Uruagyay’s winner against Nigeria by Diego Forlan ,are some of the goals still enjoying review on Brazil’s TV Sports channel.

  • How Eagles rated vs Kenya

    How Eagles rated vs Kenya

    MTNFootball.com rates the Super Eagles after a disappointing draw with visiting Kenya in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

    5 Vincent Enyeama

    He was practically on holiday but was completely beaten by Francis Nyambura’s 25-yard free kick. He made about two interventions to ensure he did not let in another goal.

    6 Solomon Kwambe

    He was okay at right back in place of the suspended Efe Ambrose. He did enough as a defender and also joined the attack to produce about four pullouts that were not connected.

    7 Elderson Echiejile

    He also did well. He was on top of his game and forced Kenya defence to make a couple of panicky clearances off his dangerous pullouts.

    7 Godfrey Oboabona

    He combined well with Omeruo again. He was calm and collected to keep the Harambee Stars strike force.

    8 Kenneth Omeruo

    The man of the match who did a great marking job on Kenya skipper Dennis Oliech. He again formed good partnership with Oboabona. Yet another solid showing in an Eagles shirt.

    4 Sunday Mba

    He was not in his usual self most probably he has yet to play again since the AFCON final as two league clubs row over his ownership. It is left to be seen if his lack of action will force Keshi to eventually drop him.

    6 Ogenyi Onazi

    He was good with his marking and always happy to be part of the attack where necessary. He had a busy day in the office and tried two shots at goal but to no effect.

    7 Brown Ideye

    Was always threat while attacking, but had two shots on target with one of these efforts cleared on goal line. He created chances for Martins and Victor Moses but was not able to really get behind the Kenya back four.

    5 Obafemi Martins

    He was full of running as usual but he didn’t have any clear-cut openings at goal. His positioning was bad. He was not convincing and this must have informed his substitution early in the second half by Ahmed Musa.

    6 Mikel Obi

    Another good display by the Chelsea man. He was Trojan in the midfield. He tried to set Ideye, Martins and Moses on several occasions with his trademark long passes. He was brought down twice for free kicks, one of which was inside box but a penalty appeal was turned down by the referee from Botswana. He had a goal-bound free kick saved by the impressive Origi in Kenya goal. But he was outclassed by Wanyama of Kenya in the engine room.

    7 Victor Moses

    He was as quick as silver, as it was at the AFCON. He made many incursions into the Kenya vital area but he came up against resolute defenders were determined to ensure he did not wreck any havoc.

    5 Ahmed Musa

    He added bite to the attack when he was introduced. His run down the flank had a hand in the last-gasp equaliser for Nigeria, but often his last ball let him down.

    7 Nnamdi Oduamadi

    A great showing by the substitute who rescued Nigeria from an embarrassing home loss with the stoppage time equaliser. His pace, skill and energy got the Eagles attack going again.

    John Ogu

    He was an 88th minute substitute for his debut and so not enough time to really rate his contributions. But his flick from a Solomon Kwambe throw-in would eventually lead to the Eagles all-important goal.

  • Next Rated to hold March 23

    Next Rated to hold March 23

    YOUNG up-coming artistes can now heave a sigh of relief as Campaign Hype Entertainment announces the date for its Next Rated…The Search concert. This event billed to hold at the MUSON Centre on Saturday March 23, 2013 is the brainchild of Mr. Von Styke.

    Speaking to a group of journalists recently, Mr. Styke said his passion for showing young talents the way to attaining the dream of making it big in entertainment necessitated the organisation of the Next Rated concert. According to him, Next Rated is the first ever talent hunts that gives young talents a platform to showcase their talents in front of record labels.

    “Over 150 companies are billed for the event, including record labels, music studios, music schools, movie and music producers, directors and music publishers who will initiate/sign new deals with artistes. Also excepted at the event are the nation’s leading radio and T.V presenters, DJs and VJs whose presence will add to creating the ambience of a well rounded music festival. The over 3000 guests and spectators expected at the event will also watch live performances and guest appearances by the nation’s top music artistes,” he said.

    Registration for Next Rated began on January 9 and ended on February 22. However, organisers say that the barrage of pleas from up-and-coming acts to extend the dates for registration is the reason for the next timeline of registration which will open March 8 and close immediately. Expected are 250 entries, but after the auditions 100 participants which will also go through an eviction process will emerge. Eventually, only 25 participants will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on the day of the grand finale come March 23.

    Organisers have said that the winner of 2013 Next Rated…The Search, will go home with a recording deal and one million naira. The first runner up shall get a recording deal and N500,000 while the second runner up will get a record deal and N300,000.

    Meanwhile, it has been revealed that for every up-coming artiste who registers for Next Rated, he or she stands the chance to win fantastic consolation prizes. They include like I-Pads, smart phones, laptops and other entertainment savvy devices.