Tag: rues

Dream Team VI Chief Coach Samson Siasia is pained that he has only 18 players in camp instead of the 20 approved for the competition.

The Coach was not happy that he had to stress the players by playing some of them out of position in order to beat Ghana in the opening match since the players that supposed to play the match namely Usman Mohammed Nand Chima Akas were drafted to the Super Eagles team but did not even taste a minute action in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nation qualifier between host Taifa Stars of Tanzania and visiting Super Eagles that ended in a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam last Saturday.

He has vowed to continue to charge the boys positively until they eventually win the competition. He recalled same incident that happened in 2004 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin when Mikel Obi and Bernard Okorowanta absconded from the Flying Eagles class of 2005 on the excuse that they went for trials in Manchester United and promise that they will rejoin the team in Cotonou but they never did. Siasia, however, led the 16 players that prosecuted the 2004 Africa Youth Championship instead of 18 then to win the competition.

Siasia, according to a close source in Congo Brazzaville venue of the ongoing All Africa Games, when he remembered this incident is encouraged to carry on in the task of emerging 2015 All Africa Games football tournament gold winner.

“Siasia is not happy that these players did not come for the completion here in Congo Brazzaville since they did not play any significant part in the Tanzania match although they were fully involved in a mere friendly match against the visiting Niger Republic which the Super Eagles won 2-0 on Tuesday.

“But he has vowed to psyche the remaining players up to deliver by winning the competition,” the source disclosed.

Siasia also commended his players for putting up a commendable performance against the All Africa Games defending Champion Ghana and specially hailed the contribution of Kingsley Sokari, Aminu Umar and Ndifreke Effiong in the match against Ghana which the Dream Team VI won 2-0 via goals from in-form striker Junior Ajayi in the 55th minute and Sokari in the 87th minute.

The Nigerian team’s Coach also believed that there was room for improvement and that his strikers could have scored more goals against the Ghanaians if they had played according to instructions. He also promised to continue to work hard on the team’s strikers so that they would be able to convert a meaningful percentage of the chances created in every match.

Warri Wolves attacking midfielder Ikechukwu Ibenegbu is unhappy that his opening goal counted for nothing against leaders Sunshine Stars.

The Seasiders were caged 1-2 by the Akure Gunners in Thursday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match-day 12 clash at the Akure Township Stadium.

Ibenegbu said his side have no business forfeiting the three maximum points in a game they dominated.

“I’m completely down over the painful defeat at Sunshine Stars and even more pained that my match opener counted for nothing at the end of the day. It’s a game we should not have lost as we acquitted ourselves creditably in the encounter.

“A unexplainable moments just killed our chance of going home with at least a point in a match we dominated and worked so hard in. We played six minutes of added time, I don’t know as I’m still at a loss at what happened leading to the last-second goal.

“I won’t say we lost concentration, we didn’t lose even a second worth of concentration, maybe I’ll wake up to discover an answer to the last goal.

“I’m down and unhappy with the defeat as there is no reason whatsoever for it,” lamented the former Heartland playmaker to supersport.com.

The loss to Sunshine Stars leaves Warri Wolves’ points haul at 16 from a possible 36 though with three matches in hand.

Heartlandtechnical adviser Erasmus Onuh Olotah has said the side’s top striker,Emeka Ogbugh will be missed against Nigerian champions Kano Pillars.

The Naze Millionaires will square up against the Pyramid City side in Saturday’s 2014/15 Glo Premier League season opener at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

Ogbugh suffered a hamstring injury in the friendly match against Gabros FC (Ifeanyi Uba United) in Nnewi on Sunday after grabbing a brace for his side and will be out of competitive league action for at least 15 days.

Onuh said he was not happy missing his marksman in the crucial opening season clash against Pillars.

“I’m not happy making my debut without the service of attacking pearl Emeka Ogbugh against Kano Pillars on Saturday. We’ll certainly miss him though I’ve already assigned a perfect replacement,” said the former Sunshine Star gaffer to supersport.com.

Onuh, however, assured the side’s supporters that the Owerri outfit will not disappoint against Pillars.

“My wards are in a good mood to tackle the Nigerian champions Kano Pillars. I think we’ve prepared adequately for the clash even though the preparations were quite short. I believe we’ve covered enough ground to warrant optimism against Pillars.

“Pillars won’t be pushovers as they’ve been involved in the continent and that must have toughened them.

“I think the recent friendly matches we embarked upon, including the 2-2 draw against newcomers Gabros FC, have been helpful to assess the players we’ve for the campaign. I believe we’re on the right track for a successful campaign this term,” said Onuh Olotah.

The Kogi-born tactician replaces Kelechi Emeteole, who is now in charge of neighbours Enugu Rangers.

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has said Nigerian football will return to its glory days, despite seeing the country fail to make the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as African champions.

Adepoju, who represented Nigeria at three World Cups believes Nigerian football has just gone through a phase and will return to winning ways in the nearest future. He added that it feels bad not being in Equatorial Guinea, but remained upbeat the glory days will return.

“What saddens my heart is that we will not be at the Africa Cup of Nations because I would have loved a situation where we are there as participants, and not tourists.

“But when you fall, you just have to rise and ensure you don’t make same mistakes that made you fall in the first place.

“I believe we will get back to winning ways, it’s just a matter of time and patience and I hope those in charge can really do what is necessary to ensure we get back up,” Adepoju told SL10.ng.

The Africa Cup of Nations started yesterday in Equatorial Guinea, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria missing out, after failing to qualify from a group that had South Africa, Congo and Sudan.

Gombe United coach Maurice Cooreman admits his side face a tough challenge in the second-half of the Nigerian Premier League season after losing key members of their squad.

The United tactician had built a strong team during the opening half of the campaign, but after losing some star players, including top-scorer Bishop Onyeudo, during the mid-season transfer period, Cooreman knows the enormity of the task they now face.

“It has not been an easy start to the second round of the league because four players I expected to play a crucial role in my team have left,” he told SuperSport.

“We had built this team from the start of the season, so it is a bit disappointing the way things have turned out. We are working hard with the players we have and I’ll do my best to manage the situation.

“In our last game, our opponents, 3SC, played very well, but we fought hard to overcome them. This sort of spirit is good for the team. However, when there is no money then there would be problems. Four of my regular players have quit the team because there is no money.”