The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Shola Ameobi

  • Shola Ameobi proffers solution to Arsenal’s poor run 

     

    Former Super Eagles forward Shola Ameobi is not likely to turn down any coaching opportunity if it comes his way.

    Indicators to this effect emerged Wednesday when the former Newcastle legend identified what he believes is responsible for the dwindling fortune of Arsenal, submitting that playing Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Centre-forward will help the Gunners halt their recent poor form.

    Ameobi who last played for league two side Notts County, stopped short of telling current Arsenal coach Unai Emery how to go about his job, opined that operating from the wings is not the best for Aubameyang.

    The 37 year old believes the best can only come from the former Borussia Dortmund if he is drafted as centre-forward.

    “It’s gonna be very hard for Aubameyang because he’s a number nine,” Ameobi said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast

    “He wants to be on the end like Aguero and when he’s pushed to the side, pushed to the wing, I don’t think he’s as comfortable out there as maybe [Alexandre] Lacazette.

    “So it’s very hard for Arsenal to maintain any type of pressure when you’re playing a certain number nine out on the wing.”

    The Gunners have lost three of their last five games, including Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium which saw them drop off the top-five spot.

    The Gabon international has failed to make significant impact from the wings this season under manager Unai Emery, scoring three of his 18 goals from the position.

    Both Aubameyang and Nigerian international Alex Iwobi who was scored low in the loss to Manchester city, will hope to get their side back to winning ways when they travel to the John Smith’s Stadium to take on Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

    Ameobi who made Super Eagles 23-man squad to the 2014 World cup in Brazil a total of 10 appearances for the national team, scoring twice in friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Italy respectively

  • Bolton sign Shola Ameobi

    Bolton sign Shola Ameobi

    Championship side Bolton Wanderers have signed Nigeria striker Shola Ameobi on a short-term deal.

    The ex-England Under-21 international had impressed on trial at the club. The 34-year-old has spent the majority of his career at Newcastle after progressing through their academy and spent time on loan at Stoke in 2008.

    After leaving the Magpies he moved to Turkish side Gaziantep BB and spent the final six months of last season at Crystal Palace. He scored 11 goals in 21 games during Newcastle United’s season in the Championship in 2009-10.

    Ameobi, who has 10 Nigeria caps, joins a Bolton side currently bottom of the table with just one win in all competitions so far this season.

  • Wolves ‘want’ Shola Ameobi

    Wolves ‘want’ Shola Ameobi

    Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Kenny Jackett, has confirmed that the club is interested in signing free agent Shola Ameobi.

    Ameobi recently trained with fellow Championship side Huddersfield Town, but it appears the club officials are still unsure of what to do with the ex-Newcastle United striker, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    Speaking to journalists after Saturday afternoon’s 0-0 draw with Brighton at Molineux, Jackett said he will start running the rule over the former Nigeria international in the coming days.

    “He is going to train with us, but it is early in the process,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Jackett as saying on the club’s official Twitter page.

    Ameobi scored 79 goals for Newcastle United before departing Tyneside after the 2014 World Cup.

     

  • Wolves confirm Shola Ameobi interest

    Wolves confirm Shola Ameobi interest

    Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Kenny Jackett has confirmed that the club are interested in signing free agent Shola Ameobi.

    The 33 – year – old Ameobi recently trained with fellow Championship side Huddersfield Town but it appears the John Smith’s Stadium outfit are dilly – dallying on offering him a contract.

    Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Brighton at Molineux, Jackett said that he will start running the rule over the former Nigeria international in the coming days.

    “He is going to train with us but it is early in the process, ” Kenny Jackett stated, according to Wolves’ official Twitter page.

    Shola Ameobi scored 79 goals for Newcastle United before departing Tyneside after the 2014 World Cup.

  • Ameobi plays for 20 minutes

    Ameobi plays for 20 minutes

    Super Eagles forward and Crystal Palace new import Shola Ameobi had a fun filled day  as Crystal Palace beat West Ham 1-3  away in the English Premiership on Saturday. It was his second outing for the club after joining them from Turkish club Gaziantep Büyüksehir Belediyespor in January.  His debut was against Arsenal on February 21 after coming in as late substitute for Joe Ledley in the 80th minute in a tie that ended  2-1 in favour of the Gunners.

    Ameobi was introduced in the 72nd minute by Coach Allan Pardew in place of Wilfried Zaha. Palace had earlier flagged off scoring in the 41st minute through Glenn Murray; Scott Dann increased the tally in the 51st minute with Murray grabbing his second goal of the match 12 minutes later. Introduction of Ameobi saw Palace intensify their desire and hunger for more goals.  West Ham ,however, increased the tempo in the last 10 minutes determined to turn the table, an effort that yielded a consolation goal in the 76th minute. Although both teams continued to pile up pressure, none of the moves produced the needed late goals.

    Incidentally West Ham dominated possession with 62% as opposed to Crystal Palace’s 38%. Crystal Palace coach Allan Pardew who dumped Newcastle recently is sure to continue his blend with Ameobi who spent 14 years (2000-2014) making 312 appearances and scoring 53 goals.

  • Shola Ameobi: I won’t persuade Sammy

    Super Eagles forward at the 2014 World Cup Shola Amoebi has said he won’t persuade his younger brother Sammy Amoebi to play senior international football for Nigeria.

    The 22-year-old Newcastle forward had talks with outgoing Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi during the World Cup in Brazil where reports has it that he has opted to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria at senior level not the Three Lions of England after representing both nations at youth level.

    But with news of Keshi’s impending departure from his role as coach of the Eagles his international future has been thrown into doubt.

    However big brother Shola, who campaigned for Nigeria at the World Cup, has revealed he will not try to sway the mind of his younger brother when it comes to playing for Nigeria.

    “Sammy is his own man and knows what is good for him,he has been asking me about the team and what it takes to be there,” he told Chronicle live.

    “I let him know what a great nation Nigeria are to play for.

    “If he decides to play for Nigeria then I am going to give him all my support.”

    Sammy is due to return to training this week with Newcastle United after spending the last month of last season on loan to Middlesbrough.

    Shola Amoebi also spoke on his World Cup appearance calling it a dream come true.

    “Playing at the World Cup is a dream come true, for any football player, playing at the World Cup is the ultimate and it is what I have longed for a long time.”

    “For it to happen at the tail end of my career is incredible, being with the Nigerian team has been a wonderful experience for me.”

    “We did not do anything wrong against France, we gave the match everything we had.”

    Shola Amoebi is yet to get a new club after being released by Newcastle at the end of last season.

     

  • Ameobi wins from the bench

    Ameobi wins from the bench

    • Newcastle hit Hull 4-1

    • Aluko fires blank

    Super Eagles forward Shola Ameobi was an unused substitute as Newcastle clinched a 1-4 victory away against Hull City Saturday. While Ameobi watched proceedings from the substiture bench however, same cannot be said of compatriots Sone Aluko who was in action for the Kingston Communications stadium landlords for 28 minutes but failed to remedy the situation for his side who only succeeded in getting a consolation goal thanks to Curtis Davies.

    Moussa Sissoko’s brace helped Newcastle run out 4-1 winners, but the game was overshadowed by a second-half flashpoint which could well result in the Football Association coming down hard on Magpies boss Alan Pardew.

    Sissoko opened his account after just 10 minutes, sweeping home first time after a counter-attack, and then took the game away from the Tigers with his second, minutes after Curtis Davies’ header had given the hosts hope at 2-1.

    Newcastle’s second was a gift from Maynor Figueroa, the defender’s criminally under-hit back-pass allowing Loic Remy to gallop clear to score into an empty net after rounding Allan McGregor, while Vurnon Anita made it four in injury time.

    But the game’s main talking point arrived on 72 minutes when Hull midfielder David Meyler barged into Pardew as he looked to retrieve the ball for a throw-in.

    The Newcastle manager, no stranger to touchline altercations, squared up to Meyler before appearing to move his head in the direction of the Irishman. Referee Kevin Friend certainly viewed it as a serious incident and sent Pardew to the stands, with the FA sure to take a close look at the altercation in the coming days.

  • Newcastle´s off-field changes will not distract me — Ameobi

    Newcastle´s off-field changes will not distract me — Ameobi

    Newcastle United’s players are not letting off-field changes distract them from their preparations to face Chelsea, says Super Eagles ace, Shola Ameobi.

    After their derby defeat to Sunderland last weekend, Joe Kinnear resigned as the club’s director of football, but Ameobi insists the players are focused on bouncing back in the Premier League.

    They travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday – where Chelsea have never lost a league game under Jose Mourinho.

    Defeat at St James’ Park to their fierce rivals left Alan Pardew’s side eighth in the table, but with only one league win in their last six matches Ameobi wants the squad to concentrate.

    “As players, you just concentrate on your job,” he told Sky Sports.

    “In football, there are a lot of different aspects to it. As players, ultimately what we have got to do is concentrate on what we do as a group of guys on the pitch and try and implement what the coaching staff want us to do.

    “That’s our focus, that’s always been the player’s focus.

    “Obviously, a lot of things have been said outside of that, but you just have to remember what we are here for and that’s to win games of football, and that’s what we’ll do this week.”

  • Shola Ameobi’s younger brother backs him to ‘break duck’

    Shola Ameobi’s younger brother backs him to ‘break duck’

    Newcastle United youngster, Sammy Ameobi has thrown his weight behind big brother Shola Ameobi to soon end his goal drought in the English Premier League.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the Nigeria international striker’s only goal this season was against Morecambe in the Capital One Cup.

    Ameobi – who has been keeping Papiss Demba Cisse out of the starting XI in recent weeks – has ably supported leading scorer Loic Remy up front.

    But the long-serving player has admitted to “frustration” at his lack of goals.

    And his younger brother Sammy – who is patiently waiting for his chance – doesn’t think it will be long before the Nigeria international is among the goals.

    “Everyone here knows he’s a top professional,” Sammy said.

    “He’s going to keep striving. He’s playing well at the moment. I’m very proud of him.

    “Hopefully, he can get some goals into his game.”

    Sixth-placed Newcastle, held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at the weekend, face third-from-bottom Crystal Palace on Saturday.

    The Palace has won two home games under new manager Tony Pulis, and Ameobi Jnr is adamant that there will be no complacency in the United dressing room at Selhurst Park.

    “We’re not going to under-estimate anyone,” said the 21-year-old.

    “Hopefully, we can go and get some good results leading up to Christmas.”

     

  • Ameobi looking for a fresh start in Brazil

    Ameobi looking for a fresh start in Brazil

    Super Eagles and Newcastle United forward Shola Ameobi has said that he intends to use the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a shop window to secure an ‘exciting’ move away from Tyneside in the summer.

    The 32-year-old, whose current contract at St James’ Park is due to expire in June, hopes to represent Nigeria during the forthcoming Mundial after the Eagles grabbed one of Africa’s five spots on Saturday.

    “I am not one to look too far ahead. But I know it is a big year for me. I have been at Newcastle almost all of my career and it could be a fresh start, a change, which I am excited about. If I can go to the World Cup and do well, anything could happen.

    “It is a big season before that though, there are a lot of good players Nigeria can pick from so the priority is to play well for Newcastle, get in the team and play well. If I can do that, I have a better chance of being in the Nigeria squad,” Ameobi was quoted as saying by U.K based Northern Echo.

    Ameobi made his debut for Nigeria, the country of his birth, last year. He has since been capped four times, scoring one goal.