The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Solomon Kwambe

  • AFCON qualifier: 21 players attend Eagles’ training

    AFCON qualifier: 21 players attend Eagles’ training

    21 Super Eagles players participated in the first full training session supervised by coach Sunday Oliseh on Tuesday morning.

    Only Captain Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa are yet arrive. But team coordinator, Patrick Pascal, confirmed that both players will arrive Abuja before the end of the day.

    The team arrived the Abuja National Stadium at 9:43am, with Oliseh ordering the security personnel at the stadium to walk out all journalists and fans that came to watch the training at expiration of the 15 minutes grace that had been granted.

    During the 15 minutes training the team Goalkeeper Coach, Aloy Agu concentrated on the two goalkeepers in camp – Carl Ikeme of Wolverhampton Wanderers of England and Ikechukwu Ezenwa of Sunshine stars, while Oliseh handled the 19 outfield players to ascertain their level of fitness.

    In Tuesday’s training session were – Leon Balogun, Kingsley Madu, Godfrey Oboabona, William Troost Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Solomon Kwambe, Mohammed Usman, Chima Akas, Austin Obarokpo, Prince Aggrey, Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu, Obiora Nwankwo, Lukman Haruna, Rabiu Ibrahim,  Emem Eduok, Emmanuel Emenike, Anthony Ujah, Sylvester Igboun and Moses Simon.

     

  • Eagles did not deserve to lose, says Kwambe

    Solomon Kwambe has told AfricanFootball.com Nigeria ‘B’ team did not deserve to lose to star-studded Cote d’Ivoire in a friendly on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

    AFCON-bound Cote d’ivoire needed an 84th minute goal by Salomon Kalou to beat the Nigeria second-string side.

    Kwambe, who will feature for Warri Wolves on loan from Sunshine Stars in the new season, said they played according to instructions and gave a good account of themselves and would not have lost the game but for a defensive error.

    “It was a good and tough game for us, though we lost. We did not deserve to lose the game because we played well according to instruction, but just a little bit of loss of concentration cost us the game,” said Kwambe.

    He assured Nigerians of better display against Sudan on Saturday in Dubai.

    “We have one more game here, that is against Sudan. We will give our best and do better than we did against Cote d’Ivoire and go for victory,” he promised.

  • Eagles didn’t deserve to lose against Ivory Coast – Kwambe

    Eagles didn’t deserve to lose against Ivory Coast – Kwambe

    Solomon Kwambe has said the Nigeria ‘B’ team did not deserve to lose to star-studded Cote d’Ivoire in Sunday’s friendly in Abu Dhabi.

    The African Nations Cup-bound Cote d’ivoire needed an 84th minute goal by Salomon Kalou to beat the Nigeria second-string side, africanFootball.com reports.

    Kwambe, who will feature for Warri Wolves on loan from Sunshine Stars in the new season, said the boys played according to instructions and gave a good account of themselves and would not have lost the game but for a defensive error.

    “It was a good and tough game for us, though we lost,” said Kwambe.

    “We did not deserve to lose the game because we played well according to instruction, but just a little bit of loss of concentration cost us the game.”

    He assured Nigerians of better display against Sudan on Saturday in Dubai.

    “We have one more game here, that is against Sudan. We will give our best and do better than we did against Cote d’Ivoire and go for victory,” he promised.

  • Kwambe seeks divine help

    Kwambe seeks divine help

    Super Eagles defender, Solomon Kwambe says he is hopeful that God will grant his teammates their heart’s desire which is to win their final group stage tie against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the on-going Championship for African Nations (CHAN).

    The Eagles were beaten 2-1 by Mali in the first game but managed to come back to winning ways with an emphatic 4-2 victory against the Mambas of Mozambique and must now endeavour to beat hosts, South Africa on Sunday to qualify for the quarter-final stages.

    “I don’t know much about the South Africans but we will continue to pray that God grants us our heart’s desire. I pray that God gives us the grace to play our game and gives us victory at the end.”

    Nigeria will play South Africa, while Mozambique and Mali will face each other on Sunday to determine which pair will qualify for the next round.

  • Kwambe confident of Nigeria’s chances

    Kwambe confident of Nigeria’s chances

    Nigeria defender Solomon Kwambe is confident Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles will all but book their place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil with a resounding victory over Ethiopia in Sunday’s play-off first leg.

    The African champions will be bidding to make their fifth World Cup finals when they take on Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, one of five two-legged ties to begin this weekend as the qualification process reaches the business end. “Victory is written on everybody’s faces, and all the players are smiling indicating that fortune will smile at us on Sunday,” Kwambe told cafonline.com.

    “The mood in camp and among the players is charged with anticipation of resounding victory against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. We’re the African champions and we must demonstrate the stuff that made us African kings in whatever and wherever we see ourselves, we’ll surely triumph against the Ethiopians.”

    Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw will be without striker Getaneh Kabede but he is confident his emerging squad will be able to recover from his loss. “We have lost a good player in Getaneh Kebede but as a team we have to move on,” Bishaw said. “I got the information he could not make it as the nagging injury failed to heal time. We wish him quick recovery and I will look for an alternative as we have plenty in the squad who are capable.”

  • Eagles won’t fail in Ethiopia – Kwambe

    Eagles won’t fail in Ethiopia – Kwambe

    Super Eagles defender, Solomon Kwambe, has assured the side will not disappoint against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia on Sunday.

    The African champions will confront the Ethiopians in the first fixture of the two-legged African World Cup play-offs at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

    Kwambe said victory is already assured in the crucial game given the winning aura his teammates are bringing into the match as shown in their smiles upon arrival at the camp.

    “The mood in camp and among the players is charged with anticipation of resounding victory against the Walya Antelopes in Sunday’s duel in Addis Ababa.

    “There is no iota of panic among the players in camp as the new arrivals wore broad smiles.

    “Victory is written on everybody’s faces, all the players are smiling indicating that fortune will smile at us on Sunday.

    “I don’t think there is any cause for alarm, we just need the support and prayers of every Nigerians to further soften the challenge.

    “It won’t be an easy game, it’s a match one can’t predict straight-forward the outcome as the Ethiopians are surely preparing and want to win the duel as well as ourselves.

    “I’ve heard a lot about the harsh weather over there in Ethiopia but that’s nothing compared with the winning mentality right now among the players.

    “Twice of the anticipated harsh weather nor the Ethiopians won’t stop us from winning the match right there in Addis Ababa.

    “We’re the African champions and we must demonstrate the stuff that made us African kings in whatever and wherever we see ourselves, we’ll surely triumph against the Ethiopians,” said the Sunshine Stars strongman to supersport.com.

     

  • WCQ: Kwambe replaces injured Ogude

    WCQ: Kwambe replaces injured Ogude

    Sunshine Stars defender, Solomon Kwambe, would replace injured Norway-based Fegor Ogude for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

    The African champions lead their qualifying group on nine points from five matches and would need only to avoid defeat against second-placed Malawi next week Saturday at home in Calabar to advance to final round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

    The Malawians are on seven points, while Namibia has five points and Kenya remains at the bottom with three points.

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, specially told MTNFootball.com that Fegor is out of the Calabar clash and would be replaced by Kwambe.

    “Fegor is out of the game against Malawi,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com

    “We were thinking that by now the injury which he sustained in South Africa would have healed, but unfortunately it hasn’t.

    “Sunshine Stars Solomon Kwambe has been drafted as a replacement for Fegor ahead of the Malawi game.”

    The inclusion of Kwambe takes the number of home-based players in the squad for the Malawi game to three following Godfrey Oboabona and Sunday Mba’s move to Turkey and France respectively.

    The players from the domestic league are goal keeper Chigozie Agbim, Azubike Egwuekwe and Solomon Kwambe.

    “You have all the names of the home-based players already, just add it to the invited foreign-based with the exemption Fegor and you have my list for the Malawi game,” Keshi said when asked about his final squad.

     

     

  • Argentina’s River Plate targets Kwambe

    Argentina’s River Plate targets Kwambe

    Top Argentine club River Plate has made inquiries about Nigeria defender Solomon Kwambe, MTNFootball.com reports.

    African representatives of the agent Ramone Remmie told MTNFootball.com the 19-year-old right fullback who has won four full caps for Nigeria and his club Sunshine Stars have been contacted on this interest.

    “River Plateis keen to sign Solomon Kwambe this summer. The club has requested for him and the discussions are going on,” Ramone disclosed to MTNFootball.com

    “The player is aware and his club Sunshine stars gave us go ahead to go on with the deal. After an agreement is reached, which I believe will happen soon, he will travel to Argentina for his medical and proper signing. It is going to be a big-money move, but I can’t disclose the financial aspects now.”

    Ex-Plateau United star Kwambe also confirmed he is aware of the interest from South America.

    “I am aware of the interest by River Plate. Their representative called me and I asked him to go ahead, but I don’t have the full details now,” Kwambe told MTNFootball.com

    Kwambe broke into the Eagles squad last year, but he failed to make the cut to 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    He was in the squad to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.