The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stephen Keshi

  • NFF assures Keshi of non-interference

    NFF assures Keshi of non-interference

    An executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has assured that Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi will have the sole discretion to select players of his choice for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    Emeka Inyama, who is the head of the NFF’s Media and Publicity Committee, disclosed that the Federation has no plans to interfere with the players’ selection process.

    “Stephen Keshi is in charge. So he decides who to take to the World Cup,” the chairman of Abia Warriors said.

    Inyama, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), went on to congratulate the Super Eagles for their achievements in the just concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN)

  • Ogbonaya predicts Chan impact on league

    Ogbonaya predicts Chan impact on league

    El-Kanemi Warriors central defender Reuben Ogbonaya believes there will be an improvement in the standard of the Glo Premier League considering the performance of the league stars at the just concluded Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

    Ogbonnaya was part of the build-up, but was unable to make the grade for the competition.

    “The desire of every player in the league will be to improve their performance because there’s something to achieve in the national team.

    “I’m confident the league will be more interesting than it used to be. All aspects of the game will experience changes,” Ogbonaya said to supersport.com.

    The defender applauded the players who appeared at the competition for their heroic feat.

    “It was an interesting competition and I was always in contact with the players. We shared jokes together and I’m proud they represented us well,” he told supersport.com.

    Ogbonaya expressed gratitude to the gaffer, Stephen Keshi, for giving him a chance to be in the team before their departure for the CHAN.

  • Annual Vacation: Keshi hits California weekend

    Annual Vacation: Keshi hits California weekend

    By Ejiro Femi-Babafemi

     

    NFF chiefs have approved the vacation of Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi to the United States of America saying it is in order.

    A top source at the Federation’s Glasshouse told SportingLife that Keshi who led the home-based Eagles to a third place finish at the Africa Nations Championship deserves to see his family.

    “Haba! if it is you, would you not want to travel. The young man even though is in his fifties has a family who have really missed him. So when he told us that he was travelling, there was no way we could have stopped him,” said the source.

    “By the time he returns, it is the World Cup that we would be planning for,” he said.

    Keshi who is already in Abuja to meet with his employer to submit his post-CHAN report is expected to fly to California before the weekend.

    The coach’s last visit was in September before Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia.

    He should return before the team regroups in three weeks time for the international friendly against Mexico.

    The match is scheduled for Miami, USA.

  • CHAN Eagles disbanded

    CHAN Eagles disbanded

    Players hopeful of Presidential largesse

    By Ejiro Femi-Babafemi

    After returning to the country with a bronze medal from the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) on Sunday evening, Nigeria’s home-based Eagles have been officially disbanded.

    A competent source, however, downplayed insinuations that the team has been shunned by the Presidency since it failed to lift the trophy.

    “Yes we have not heard anything from the Presidency but at the same time, it is wrong for people to think that the team has been forgotten. We all know that the president appreciates the team for its feat considering the fact that this was our first outing after failing to qualify for the last two editons. l am very sure that at the right time the team will be invited to the villa,” said our source.

    Jonathan it will be recalled congratulated the team after its 4-3 dramatic victory over Morocco in the quarter final.

    SportingLife gathered that with no further directive from Abuja several of the players traveled to their various bases through Lagos on Monday morning, some however left for Abuja with chief coach, Stephen Keshi and his assistants at the same time.

    Keshi is meeting with his employers this week to review the team’s performance.

    “Some of the players that left for Abuja are those who still have some of their personal belongings back at the team’s hotel. Besides, they do not have any other business there. It is the only the chief coach who is needed in Abuja to submit his report and discuss the upcoming friendly match against Mexico for next month,” added our source.

    Nigeria defeated Zimbabwe by a lone goal in the third place match.

  • Erico: Keshi has no business handling CHAN Eagles

    Erico: Keshi has no business handling CHAN Eagles

    By Julius Okorie

    Former Super Eagles goalie Joe Erico says Coach Stephen Keshi has no business handling the CHAN Eagles, insisting that one of his assistants should have been given the assignment.

    “Keshi has no business being there in the first place. He has assistants and indeed other coaches who should have been saddled with that job so that he should focus on grooming the senior national team,” he said in a chat with SportingLife on Monday.

    The former NEPA safehand, who downplayed Eagles inability to play in the finals of the championship which ended on Saturday in South Africa, opined that Nigeria cannot be said to have done badly considering that the Black Stars who have been part of all the editions equally failed to lift the trophy.

    He expressed hope that the lessons learnt in the championship would be put to good use ahead of the subsequent editions and the preparations for the World Cup in Brazil.

    He called on Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to ensure that players who proved themselves in the championship are taken to the World Cup to serve as a morale booster and for career growth.

    “I am happy that a number of players gave a good account of themselves what the coach needs to do is to ensure that they make the World Cup so that they can learn more. There is no rule that says they must play, but they will surely learn one or two things by being in the World Cup squad,” he submitted.

  • CHAN Eagles have grown – Keshi

    CHAN Eagles have grown – Keshi

    From Rasaq Oboirien in Cape Town

     

    AFTER claiming the CHAN 2014 bronze medal, Stephen Keshi has expressed delight to his Home-Based players saying they have grown in leaps and bounds .

    A Christain Obiozor’s header in the closing minutes of the 3rd place game against the Brave Warriors of Zimbabwe was all what Nigeria needed to win the game.

    The Big Boss, while speaking in a post-match chat at the Cape Town Stadium venue of CHAN 2014 finals said: “I’m so happy with my kids in the past three weeks, they have grown, as they began to understand the things I wanted from them. Losing the semi-final is normal for anyone who had hoped to play in the final.

    “However, my major goal for me here (CHAN 2014) was to expose the players and get one or two players that could make the World Cup in Brazil. So am good.”

  • Eagles W/C squad to emerge after Mexico friendly

    Eagles W/C squad to emerge after Mexico friendly

    From Rasaq Oboirien in Cape Town

    SUPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has stated that he would use the international friendly game against Mexico in Atlanta, United States of America to get part of the team that would make it to the World Cup in June.

    When asked about his plan from here to Brazil, he said: “In three weeks time, we should be preparing for the game against Mexico in Atlanta in March. I think that’s the only FIFA free day we might have before the mundial kicks off, and any other game that comes after then is secondary.

    “So the game in Atlanta, I intend using to know the players that would make my World Cup team and also give others the opportunity to express themselves or match the standard I intend taking to Brazil. And thereafter, we would have a couple of weeks to rest for the professionals to finish their league and then join the team before we now then go back to Houston, Texas for camping.”

  • EAGLES’ EXPLOITS IN CHAN NO FLUKE – FESTUS ALLEN

    Former 3SC Coach, Festus Allen has described the exploits of the home-based Eagles in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) as no fluke but a true reflection of our League.

    Allen who has just been announced as new Technical Director of a Nationwide side, Juvenile FC of Ota Ogun State said Nigeria is in the class of Brazil that capable of producing three solid national teams considering the volume of talents abounds in the country.

    He however, urged the Stephen Keshi tutored side to rise up to the challenge by raising their game when facing Ghana in the semi-final cracker slated for this Wednesday.

    Meanwhile, the management of Juvenile FC, while unveiling Allen as their new Technical Director, expressed high optimism that the caliber of the coach would surely give them the much desired promotion at the end of the season.

    Allen, while reacting on his new mission, assured all teeming fans of the Ogun State side of good outing at the end of the season.

    The former ABS gaffer, however, thanked the management of the team for the huge confidence and faith they have in him, while praying God to crown the team’s efforts with a resounding success.

    Juvenile FC would be vying for one of the two promotion tickets up for grabs in group that has FC Ebiede, Gray FC, Ila FC, Ajiroba-Oni of Ife, Police Machine Lagos, Rising Stars Akure, Fountain FC Ado-Ekiti, Afijio and Atiba United both from Oyo.

     

  • Uzoenyi better than Ahmed Musa – Akpoborie

    Uzoenyi better than Ahmed Musa – Akpoborie

    Former Nigeria striker Jonathan Akpoborie has advised coach Stephen Keshi to consider Ejike Uzoenyi ahead of CSKA Moscow forward, Ahmed Musa in his squad to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

    Uzoenyi has been the arrowhead of the Super Eagles attack at the ongoing African Nations Championship scoring three goals in four matches and winning the Man of the Match award thrice.

    In a chat with Goal, Akpoborie made a case for the Enugu Rangers player to spearhead the Super Eagles attack ahead of the Russia-based forward.

    “Ejike Uzoenyi has played well so far in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship and most especially in the quarter-final battle against Morocco which Nigeria won. This definitely throws a lot of question as regards why Ahmed Musa has been playing ahead of him in the Super Eagles,” Akpoborie told Goal in Abuja.

    “Uzoenyi is a more creative player and a more sensible player. Musa is faster but Keshi has a lot of job on his hands to decide who makes the plane to Brazil.

    “Musa creates goals but his finishing has been poor. Before the last Africa Cup of Nations and even the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Musa had many chances but rarely buried them as expected of a player like him,” he said.

    On why he thinks Uzoenyi is ahead of Musa, Akpoborie said the latter is guilty of losing possession.

    “Musa concedes the ball to the opponent and in modern football you need somebody who is economical with the ball and makes his passes to his teammates most of the time, not every time,” he concluded.

  • Keshi salutes Eagles fighting spirit

    Keshi salutes Eagles fighting spirit

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has praised his team’s character and fighting spirit after they staged a stirring comeback against Morocco to reach the semi-final of CHAN.

    Nigeria fell 3-0 behind after the first half only to fight back and draw level 3-3 in the second half before they grabbed the winner in extra time.

    “It was tough but we used our strength and character to do damage in the second half against Morocco,” said Keshi.

    “I salute the boys for fighting back, they should work hard to get to the final.

    “I told them at half time that we were giving Morocco too much respect and we needed to be ourselves and play better, like we did against Bafana Bafana.

    “Morocco are good when they have the ball, but not good when they do not have the ball.”

    Keshi was also involved in another sensational comeback when his previous team Mali fought back from four goals down to hold hosts Angola to a 4-4 draw at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.