The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • EPL: Arsenal’s top-four hopes dented by defeat at Wolves

    Arsenal’s fragility on the road returned as a 3-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday put a huge dent in their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League.

    Arsenal needed only a point to reclaim fourth spot from Chelsea but conceded three times before the break.

    Unai Emery’s side were stunned as Wolves recovered from a slow start to take the lead with a stunning Ruben Neves free kick before Matt Doherty headed a second in the 37th minute.

    It got even worse for Arsenal in first-half stoppage time as they carelessly gave the ball away in midfield and Diogo Jota surged through to fire a shot past Bernd Leno.

    Read also: Crystal Palace ends Arsenal’s home run

    A late Sokratis header from Granit Xhaka’s cross was scant consolation for the Gunners fans who had made the trip to the Midlands.

    With three games left, Arsenal remain in fifth place, a point behind Chelsea and four behind third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

    Wolves moved into seventh spot — a position that could offer a route into European football next season. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Wolves will be match for anyone, says Kompany

    The Manchester City Football Club Captain Vincent Kompany says Wolverhampton Wanderers played like a well-established Premier League team against Manchester City and should be able to take points off any side in the English top flight.

    Wolves, which finished top of the championship last season to earn promotion, drew 1-1 with the champions on Saturday.

    The club drew with Everton and was beaten by Leicester City in the other two league games to start the season.

    “They don’t behave or play like a championship team that has just been promoted. I’m confident that they will take points off our competitors,” Kompany told British media.

    Read Also: NFF Presidency: No Supreme Court order stopping Pinnick, says Keyamo

    “They’re the typical type of team who is geared up to get big scalps because they have enough quality to play themselves out of situations when they are under pressure ….

    “Their key players work hard and that’s always a good mix.”

    Wolves’ next league game is on Saturday at West Ham United, which have lost all three of their matches so far.

  • Ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikeme quits football

    Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has announced his retirement from football after a year-long battle with acute leukaemia, the English Premier League club said on Friday.

    The 32-year-old who was Super Eagles’ number one goalkeeper has been with Wolves for his entire career, making over 200 appearances for the club.

    Ikeme said his decision to retire comes on medical advice after “a tough year and intense chemotherapy’’.

    “I spoke with the doctor and he suggested I should retire, because of the toll the treatment has taken on my body,” Ikeme told the club website.

    “He thinks it’s what is best for me and I can’t really risk trying to come back. My health is the priority.

    “I want to be here for my children, family and friends. In the grand scheme of things with my life in danger, it’s the minimum price I have to pay to spend the rest of my time with my family.”

    Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July 2017 but entered into complete remission only last month.

    Last month, he had announced on his twitter handle: “After a tough year and intense chemotherapy treatment I would like to let everyone know I am in complete remission.

    Read also:

    “I still have hurdles to get over to be cured but I can hopefully now move forward with some normality.’’

    Ikeme was in goal for Nigeria’s first three matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series.

    These were the home and away ties against Swaziland in the preliminary stage, and away to Zambia in the opener to the group phase campaign before being diagnosed of acute leukaemia.

    His first cap was in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in September 2015.

  • Ikeme injured, Rohr names Okeowo as replacement

    Ikeme injured, Rohr names Okeowo as replacement

    Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has been ruled out of Thursday’s friendly against Senegal in London following an injury.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Wolverhampton Wanderers of England goalkeeper was missing in the team’s final training session due to a knock.

    With Ikeme out injured, the Super Eagles’ gaffer, Gernot Rohr, drafted in relatively unknown goalkeeper, Tope Okeowo of Peckham All Stars, as a replacement.

    It is very likely that Okeowo will man the goal for Nigeria as the other invited goalkeepers, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, were still being expected as at Wednesday night.

    NAN also reports that Okeowo, a former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper, is Peckham Town’s first choice.

    Okeowo had been at Peckham Town for many years, helping his team get promotion from Division Two to Division One in their first season in the Kent County League.

    He produced some outstanding performances in 2015/2016 season which saw him help his team win promotion into the Premier Division of the Kent County League.

    Nigeria will take on Senegal at the Hive Stadium, Barnet FC’s ground on Thursday from 8 p.m. before wrapping up their schedule against Burkina Faso next week Monday to round up their two-game international friendly.

     

  • Ikeme targets 2018 World Cup, EPL

    Ikeme targets 2018 World Cup, EPL

    Super Eagles goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has said his main targets are to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with Nigeria as well as get Wolverhampton Wanderers to play in the English Premier League (EPL).

    Ikeme this week extended his two and half-year contract with the Wolves.

    “My ambition is to play Premier League football with Wolves and that is what I am working towards,” africanFootball.com quoted Ikeme as saying on Wolves official website

    “And with Nigeria as well, I want to get to the World Cup in 2018.

    “Those are my main long-term aspirations.

    “But for me now the focus is on this season and pushing on.

    “I am still only 30 and have a lot more I want to achieve.

    “When the club was promoted last time from the Championship I didn’t really play that many games and then I didn’t play when we got there (Premier League).”

  • Carl Ikeme signs new contract till 2019

    Carl Ikeme signs new contract till 2019

    Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has signed a new contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers which will last until 2019.
    The Nigerian international has been a professional at Molineux since 2003 and he has gone to make 192 appearances in all competitions during that time.
    After being regarded as the club’s number-one stopper under both previous boss Walter Zenga and current manager Paul Lambert, Ikeme extended his long-term association with the Championship club.
    Lambert told the club’s official website: “I think it is important to get players like Carl Ikeme signed up to a new deal. As it was with Dave Edwards, he is an experienced member of the team. He knows exactly what the club is about and if you get a core of lads like that then they can look after the dressing room as well. Carl has been terrific since I arrived and I think this is a big signing for the club.
    “I remember coming here with Blackburn last season and he made some incredible saves. He is a big presence, a great lad and a top goalkeeper.”
    Ikeme is likely to be in the starting lineup when Wolves host Queens Park Rangers on New Year’s Eve.

  • 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.