The Nation Newspaper

Tag: teammates

  • Plateau Utd’s Danladi urges teammates to remain focused

    Plateau Utd’s Danladi urges teammates to remain focused

    Plateau United goalkeeper, Isa Danladi has disclosed that the Jos outfit will remain focused till the end of the season, otherwise risk falling down the table.

    Danladi, who has been an important part of Plateau United’s amazing form, said that the players have continued to motivate themselves.

    Currently placed 11th on the NPFL  log, Plateau United have recorded three successive wins, an achievement that  has not been seen in over a decade.

    “The competition in the Nigerian league is very tough. To survive you just have to remain focused all through the season else you may be found wanting at the base of the table,” Danladi told Goal.

    “We have consistently motivated ourselves as no player loves to play in a team that will go down to the lower division. We have had a super performance in recent times but the challenge now is to maintain that flow which i do admit is very tough.

    “God has been the reason why you saw that movement. We won three matches in a row which hasn’t happened in years at this club. It’s not easy but we just have to maintain this form till the end of the season.

    “We can’t afford to in any way lose concentration or get carried away because of what we have achieved lately.”

  • Teammates behind Adi’s Sparkling form

    Teammates behind Adi’s Sparkling form

    Portland Timbers striker Fanendo Adi has revealed that his teammates are behind his sparkling form in Major League Soccer in the 2015 season.

    The 25 – year – old has netted 19 goals in all competitions but did not make the scoresheet in the Timbers 3 – 1 defeat of Dallas in the first leg of the MLS Cup Playoffs last weekend.

    “The guys have been really fantastic because if they don’t give me the ball I won’t be able to put it in the back of the net,” Adi told timbers.com.

    “So the whole team have been amazing and that’s just what’s helping.”

    Adi scored the game-winner and series-clincher against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Western Conference Semifinals.

  • Mustapha Abdullahi dedicates goal to teammates

    Mustapha Abdullahi dedicates goal to teammates

    Nigeria Under 23 international Mustapha Abdullahi has dedicated his first – ever goal in the colours of the national team to his teammates, and has stressed that he would not have scored if his colleagues had not assisted him.

    Ibrahima Keita gave the Senegalese the lead seven minutes from time, barely three minutes after Mustapha Abdullahi replaced Enyimba star Kingsley Sokari, before the left back equalised for Nigeria in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

    “First of all thanks to the exalted mighty Allah for me to score a wonderful goal today against Senegal, I am very happy today, ” Mustapha Abdullahi told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “I dedicate this goal to my teammates who also worked with me to get the goal because one man can’t play against eleven men.”

    The Spotlight FC defender has admitted that coach Samson Siasia got him fired up before he stepped out onto the Stade Municipal de Kintélé, Brazzaville turf in the second half.

    “The coach is such a great man who always wants his players to play according to instructions, which is very good for the team.

    “So he told me to be calm and play nicely and if I get an opportunity I should use it, ” Mustapha Abdullahi said.

    Abdullahi joined the Dream Team from Portugal,where he went to discuss with an unnamed club, and he is expected to return to Europe to finalise talks with the team after the All Africa Games (AAG).

     

  • Uche hails teammates over draw

    Uche hails teammates over draw

    Super Eagles striker Ikechukwu Uche has hailed his Villareal teammates for getting a precious draw away to Champions League chasing Valencia.

    The former Getafe forward did not feature in the match as manager Marcelino Garcia preferred Luciano Dario Vietto and Jonathan dos Santos upfront. However, it was the home side that dominated proceedings as they had 51% of possession but were restricted to just three shots on target as the game ended 0-0.

    Uche tweeted after the game: ‘What an important point guys! Congratulation”!’

    The draw takes Villareal to 50 points on the La Liga log while Valencia occupies fourth spot with 61 points.

  • Oshoala dedicates award to fans, family and teammates

    Oshoala dedicates award to fans, family and teammates

    For the first time since the 9th African Women Championship started in Windhoek, Asisat Oshoala emerged as the Most Valuable Player of yesterday’s semi final tie between the Super Falcons of Nigeria and the Bayana Bayana of South Africa.

    Before yesterday, skillful Delta Queens forward, Ngozi Okobi was the first Nigerian player to win the award while Rivers Angels left back, Ngozi Ebere won the prize in Falcons’ game against Zambia.

    It appears the lanky Oshoala chose the most auspicious moments to shine as her two goals in yesterday’s semi final game orchestrated the elimination of arch rivals, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

    Apart from the goals she scored, Oshoala was a constant threat to the defence line of the South Africans with her pace and skill.The South Africans have their captain and defence strong woman, Janine Van Wyk to thank for checkmating Oshoala after she has done the damage.

    Speaking to SportingLife after the game, the Canada 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup star dedicated her award to her fans, family members and teammates for their unflinching support since she burst into global limelight last August.

    “I want to dedicate this award specially to my fans, family and my teammates who have shown tremendous support to me all these while even when I’m not playing well.

    “Their prayers and words of encouragement have kept me going in this tournament and I want to say a big thank you to them. I’ll continue to do my best in every match I have the opportunity to play”she added.

  • Champions League defeat: Celtic boss blasts Efe Ambrose, teammates

    Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose and his Celtic teammates have been heavily criticised by manager Ronny Deila following their embarrassing 4-1 loss to Polish side Legia Warsaw in a UEFA champions league qualifying match on Wednesday night.

    The Super Eagles defender got the marching order just before half time in Poland, as his teammates failed to get anything from the game despite opening scoring in the eighth minute and Deila hasn’t hidden his disappointment at his team’s display on the night.

    “It was a very poor performance and worst of all was the commitment, the energy, I need much more energy in the game.We didn’t stay together for 90 minutes.

    “We started well and got the first goal but then gave way to pressure and we lost our heads and started giving the ball away in midfield so many times and mistakes in the back four, some were high, some were low, instead of being together.

    “But what is done is done, we have to learn from this very quick, we got the away goal and we still have a chance,” he told the Scottish media after the game.

    Deila however remained confident the Hoops can still progress to the group stages of the Champions League.

    “It is possible to win 3-0 again – like we did last year in the play-off – with the help of the supporters and we will do everything we can to do that. But we have to learn from this week.We need a whole different attitude and discipline in our play.”

    Ambrose has hardly had a rest since helping Nigeria to a round of 16 finish at the World Cup in Brazil, where they lost 2-0 to France. He will miss the return leg against the Poles, but should be available for the start of the group stages, should Celtic progress.