The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sokari

  • CS Sfaxien president rewards Sokari with gold watch

    Kingsley Sokari has won himself a gold watch from an impressed CS Sfaxien president after the Tunisian club beat Club Africain 3-1 in a league game on Wednesday.

    Business magnate Lofti Abdennadher presented the watch to redeem a promise he made to the midfielder when he signed for the ambitious Tunisian club.

    The CSS club boss personally congratulated Sokari immediately after the game against Club Africain before he handed him the gold watch as a Christmas gift.

    Sokari has played three straight games since his transfer papers from Enyimba came through, winning two and losing the game at Esperance.

  • Sokari, Junior Ajayi go down at Esperance

    Sokari, Junior Ajayi go down at Esperance

    Nigeria U-23 stars, Kingsley Sokari and Junior Ajayi started and finished for CS Sfaxien as they lost 2-1 at Esperance in a Tunisian league clash on Sunday.

    Sokari and Junior Ajayi were transfer targets for Esperance this year before they eventually signed for Sfaxien.

    Nigeria U-20 star Bernard Bulbwa was a 70th minute substitute for Esperance. He was lively because at that point CS Sfaxien were playing a man short after one of their players was sent off.

    His mazy dribble run from 30 yards split open the Sfaxien defence, but his teammate crashed the final shot across the post for the last kick of the encounter.

    It was a scrappy first half between the league contenders with long balls and flying tackles.

    Junior Ajayi played from the left of attack and when Chad international Ezequil Ndoussel  led the attack he was a lot more effective.

    Sokari got into the game in the second half when the game was a lot more coordinated. He was fouled in the 80th minute on his way to goal.

  • Esperance: Why Sokari transfer crashed

    Esperance: Why Sokari transfer crashed

    Tunisia giants Esperance have said they pulled out of a move for Nigeria midfielder Kingsley Sokari because they have more than enough foreign players and their new coach did not want any more signings.

    The Enyimba midfielder was in Tunis to negotiate a deal and probably do the medical upon agreed of term but the reverse is the case as he returned to Nigeria.

    Enyimba said they put the plug on the transfer after Esperance failed to come up with the transfer fee agreed between the two clubs.

    Esperance claimed the transfer of the player was dropped by the club due to large number of foreigners in the team and the coach Jose Anigo did not more signings.

    “Esperance Sportive de Tunis manager waived the recruitment of Nigerian Kingsley Sokari after consultation with the coach Jose Anigo,” explained the club.

    “Indeed, given the number of foreigners already present, our club would rather enlist a foreign player more in line with the needs of the team.”

  • Sokari talks down Congo’s secret 6 weapons

    Sokari talks down Congo’s secret 6 weapons

    Nigeria’s U-23 midfielder, Bobby Sokari says the final Championship qualification match against Congo is a do-or-die affair for the Dream Team VI. Sokari who was with the Flying Eagles at the World Cup in New Zealand was invited late on to the team after the 2-1 win in Port Harcourt.

    “I believe in our Coaches and the team, we are going with everything we have,because the game is a matter of do or die. We must qualify,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Samson Siasia’s team expects a stern fight in Pointe Noire especially with the call up of 6 foreign based players by Claude Leroy. Sokari however dismissed any serious threat from Sunday’s hosts.

    “Despite the team invite 6 professionals, we are not scare because we also have a strong squad. It would take some time for those newly invited players to blend and this will prove difficult,” the player told www.footballlive.ng.

  • Esperance to pay $400,000 for Sokari

    Esperance to pay $400,000 for Sokari

    AfricanFootball.com has scooped that Tunisian club are ready to pay $400,000 for Nigeria international midfielder Kingsley Sokari.

    This is about twice what the club paid to the Lagos academy of Flying Eagles forward Bernard Bulbwa.

    The 20-year-old Sokari is expected to return to Tunis this week after Enyimba officials said they have reached “an understanding” with the Tunisian club over the signing of the player.

    Esperance are yet to register Sokari, who has been capped at U20, U23 and full international levels by Nigeria, as they are yet to pay the agreed sum after they failed to meet several deadlines for this payment.

    The Tunisian club are also behind in their payments to Dolphins over the sale of Nigeria striker Emem Eduok.

    “They have only paid half of what they agreed to pay for Emem,” a source informed AfricanFootball.com.

    There are also unconfirmed reports that they have paid the academy of Bulbwa for the player’s recent switch.

  • Siasia sends SOS to Sokari, 4 others

    Siasia sends SOS to Sokari, 4 others

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, has called-up five players to beef up his squad of the crucial 2nd leg African Under-23 Championship qualifier against Congo in the first week of August.

    The Olympic National Team have their back against the wall after managing a slender 2-1 win against the opponents last Sunday.

    Esperance new signing Kingsley Sokari has returned to the squad, having missed the first leg after he returned late from Tunisia, where he went to formalise terms with the Tunisian side.

    Osmanlispor forward Umar Aminu has also been invited alongside Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira), Semiu Liadi (Warri Wolves) and Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors).

    The invited home-based players are to report to the Nigeria U-23s Port Harcourt camp immediately while the overseas-based contingent are expected this weekend.

  • Sokari, Matthew resume training

    Sokari, Matthew resume training

    Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Sokari and Ifeanyi Matthew from El Kanemi both trained with the Flying Eagles ahead of Thursday’s U20 World Cup Round of 16 clash against Germany in Christchurch.

    Sokari suffered a knock on his ankle in the team’s final group game against Hungary and was replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho in the 82nd minute.

    He did not show any ill effects from the knock as he took part in all the exercises.

    Matthew, on the other hand, has missed the last two games against North Korea and Hungary after he suffered a deep cut in the foot in the opening game against Brazil.

    The El Kanemi Warriors star trained with the rest of the squad as they prepare to take on Germany, who topped their first round group in style by posting a +14 goals difference.

    The squad rounded up their work out with all players taking part in the penalty shootout, which could well determine the team for the quarterfinals should a winner not be decided even after extra time.

    Goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo looked good at stopping and scoring from the penalty spot.

    Taiwo Awoniyi, Bernard Bulbwa, Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali easily put away their kicks.

     

  • Sokari pleased with Eagles’ outing

    Sokari pleased with Eagles’ outing

    Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Sokari has told supersport.com that he is satisfied with the Super Eagles’ run-out against Bafana Bafana on Sunday in Nelspruit and hopes it will be the beginning of new things for him.

    The talented midfielder feels the experience will make him a better player as he hopes for more chances to show what he can do for the national team.

    Sokari started the game, which ended 1-1, but was substituted at the start of the second half as Daniel Amokachi reshuffled his midfield.

    “It wasn’t an easy game for me because this was my first cap for the senior national team (Super Eagles) but I’m grateful for the opportunity to wear the national jersey.

    “I thank God for making it possible for me and also for the game itself. I tried my best and I believe that I’ll get better if I get more games. The more I play the more the confidence I will get,” he said to supersport.com.

    Sokari, who is also involved with the Under-23 team, feels he has more to offer to the national team and will relish another shot in the Super Eagles team.

    “I’m glad my dream has come true. It’s a start of good things for me as a person and a player. Considering it was my first cap for the main Super Eagles team, I couldn’t have been 100 percent, but I think I did well,” he enthused.

    Ahmed Musa’s superb curled effort gave Nigeria the lead in the 85th minute of an exciting encounter before Bongani Zungu equalised for the hosts in added time of the second half.

     

  • Aluko, Sokari arrive in Uyo

    Enyimba offensive players  Mfon Udoh and Kingsley  Sokari are in Uyo for the game against Uganda.

    As at 10:20 am on Tuesday, there were 10 players in camp including new invitees Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Akeem Latifu.

    Central defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo are in town as well as Ahmed Musa, Aaron Samuel and Chidiebere Eze.

    English – based duo Sone Aluko of Hull City and Reading midfielder Hope Akpan also arrived in camp on Tuesday.

    The Super Eagles squad had a feel of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium turf on Tuesday evening.

  • Nigeria vs Yemen (Saturday): Sokari, Aloma predict win

    Nigeria vs Yemen (Saturday): Sokari, Aloma predict win

    Super Eagles’ duo of Kingsley Sokari and Idris Aloma have assured Nigerians that the team won’t be complacent ahead of their Saturday friendly tie with Yemen national team.

    The Eagles, made up of mostly players in the Nigerian league, almost held the Ivory Coast senior national team to a standstill last Sunday before an 84th minute strike through Salomon Kalou after a gaffe in the defence gave the Ivoriens the day in Abu Dhabi.

    With Yemen a late replacement for Sudan who pulled out of the friendly

    match without any specific reasons, Sokari of Enyimba of Aba and Aloma who plays for El Kanemi Warriors both opined that the greetings and hailing that resulted from their gallant display against the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire won’t cause them any distraction against the Asian side on Saturday in Dubai.

    The Aba Millionaires’ midfielder told SportingLife from Dubai that: We are ready for Yemen. We won’t allow the praises we got against Cote D’Ivoire to get into our heads. We must ensure that we represent the image of our country well. We will fight until the last minute.

    “I am hoping to fit before then because I am presently down with an ankle injury that I got against the Ivory Coast. I will love to be part of the team only if I am certified fit by the Eagles’ doctors,” Sokari said.

    Aloma on his part asked Nigerians to remember them in their prayers as they hope to round off their trip to the United Arab Emirates with a victory.