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Tag: Yobo

  • Yobo always in Eagles plan, says Keshi

    Yobo always in Eagles plan, says Keshi

    Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (CFR), has debunked claims making the rounds that he has foreclosed the issue of team skipper, Joseph Tambarin Yobo, returning to the team, insisting that Yobo will sooner than later be back in the squad.

    Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes the coach as saying he never spoke to any media organisation regarding the return to the national team or otherwise of Yobo in Abidjan during the Eagles CHAN qualifier against the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

    “He is like a younger brother to me and I want the best for him but there seems to be a desperate bid to create a war between me and my captain and I will always reject that because he remains one of Nigeria’s big football players and we cannot rush him out just like that”, Keshi said

    The Eagles boss declared that there are issues he is always misquoted out of context about. “When I speak about the NFF, it’s convenient for people to misquote me, to create crisis between me and my employers but I had never had any problem with them and they have said so.

    “The Aminu Maigari-led NFF board has been more than supportive of the team that we have on ground and nobody should say otherwise just to create sensation. There are channels of communications in the NFF and the Super Eagles and if information do not come though those channels they should be disregarded.”

     

  • Eagles Shirt: Nothing for Yobo -Keshi

    Eagles Shirt: Nothing for Yobo -Keshi

    Super Eagles manager Stephen Keshi has dismissed Joseph Yobo as a talking point, as the countdown to the crunch World Cup qualifier against Malawi begins.

    The Super Eagles coach, who spoke with futaa.com on the eve of the triumphant qualification for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, insists that Yobo is not an issue with the Super Eagles.

    Some publications have insinuated that the presence of the former Everton defender may have averted the crisis in Namibia, when the Eagles refused to board the plane for Brazil.

    Keshi strongly disagreed: “I really don’t think the presence of Yobo has anything to do with what happened out there in Namibia,” the Big Boss said.

    “Anyone who has followed the history of Nigerian football will know that players and administrators disagree at times. And that happens sometimes in spite of the presence of the leader.

    “I am also sure that some of the players were probably in contact with him, as the captain. There is every likelihood that he is aware of what was going on, I am not saying he is, but it’s likely.”

    Keshi continues to insist that Yobo remains his skipper despite the continuos absence of the Fenerbahce man from the Eagles.

  • Yobo remains my Captain-Keshi

    Yobo remains my Captain-Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said Fernabahce of Turkey star defender, Joseph Tambarin Yobo, remains the national team skipper, even if he has not been in constant contact with him recently.

    Speaking at a media interraction at the team’s camp in Abuja on Wednesday, Keshi said he has a lot of respect for Yobo because of what he has done for the nation and cannot invite him to the team only to put him on the bench. “It will not be fair to invite Yobo to the national team and asked him to be on the bench, it will be a huge disgrace and I won’t be part of that. When the team needs him he will be recalled and will definitely start as captain even if along the line we substitute him”.

    Keshi used the opportunity of the media parley to praise the proactive manner the Nigeria Football Federation have been handling affairs of the national players despite its lean financial situiation and thanked the Aminu Maigari led board for their hardwork.

    He called for more support for the NFF so that they can meet their obligations to all the national teams and declared that all the players who have not been invited in the current squad still have an opportunity to be part of the team in nearest future, provided they keep their form. “For the captain of the team, he has to work extra hard to remain so because he is leader of the team and that has been the philosophy of the team since we took over, that was the way we were brought up to captain the national team”, declared the longest serving Eagles captain.

  • Yobo may go on loan

    Yobo may go on loan

    Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo may be sent on loan to another Turkish club Gaziantepspor following a new rule on foreign players.

    Yobo’s club Fenerbahce have 11 foreigners and are looking for a way to cut it to the allowed 10. The Turkish cup winners have just secured Alves Bruno, who plays the same role as Yobo and the Nigeria defender is being rumoured to be the one to give way.

    Foreigners at Fenerbahce include Christian Baroni, Milos Krasic, Raul Meireles, Pierre Webo and Miroslav Stoch.

    The 32-year-old Yobo has spent a season and a half at the top Istanbul outfit after he moved there on loan from English Premier League side Everton.

  • Yobo calm over omission

    Yobo calm over omission

    Captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo appears to have accepted his fate as head coach of the national team, Stephen Keshi continues to overlook him in his selection.

    Yobo, Nigeria’s most capped footballer has not played for the Super Eagles since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    The Fenerbahce defender initially reacted in anger at his continued exclusion when he criticised Keshi in a radio interview; accusing the national trainer of “disrespecting him.”

    The 32-year-old now appears resigned towards accepting his fate and claims he’s “not disappointed about being left out” of the squad for the busy programme in June that will see Nigeria face Namibia and Kenya in 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers as well as compete at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    Yobo was not included in the Nigeria squad that drew 2-2 against Mexico in an international friendly in Houston on Saturday.

    “Whatever happened has happened and that’s behind me now. When I look at the whole season, I’m very grateful to God because this could have been my worst season. I’m not disappointed about being left out. I’m very happy and supportive for those who have been called in to the team,” Yobo said.

    Yobo, a veteran of 12 years of international experience under his belt then advised the current generation of players in the Nigeria squad to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

    “It’s their time. They should take it, they should enjoy it. I’ll definitely be watching and I’ll give them my support. I’ll speak to some of the players and encourage them. I was a Super Eagles fan before I became a Super Eagles player and I will remain a fan after I stop playing, so I will always support the team whether I am there or not.

    Yobo almost missed the 2013 Afcon, a tournament where he claimed his only piece of international silverware, as a result of an injury but expressed gratitude that he recovered in time to play in the competition.

    “I sustained a very nasty injury and wasn’t even sure I would make it to the Nations Cup. I had already ruled myself out of the tournament, but God saw me through and I came back early and made it.

    “Then I won the Nations Cup and now won the Turkish Cup, then got to the semifinals of the Europa League, something that was a bit of history because it was the first time for the club to get to that level,” he said.

    Yobo has scored seven goals in 95 appearances for Nigeria.

  • Yobo retains Turkey Cup

    Yobo retains Turkey Cup

    Joseph Yobo’s club Fenerbache retained the Turkey Cup after a 1-0 win in the final against rivals Trabzonspor on Wednesday.

    Nigeria skipper Yobo was a Trojan in the defence as he thwarted most of Trabzonspor attacks.

    Emre Belözoglu split the Trabzonspor midfield and defence in half with a pinpoint through ball into the path of Moussa Sow and the Senegal international gave Tolga Zengin no chance to put the Yellow Canaries in front in the ninth minute.

    The final was played at a high tempo with both sides creating a number of great chances – Cristian Baroni hit the post for Fenerbahçe and Olcan Adin struck the woodwork for Trabzonspor.

    Trabzonspor pushed forward in search of an equaliser and came close on a number of occasions but could not find the back of the net.

  • YOBO HOLDS GALATASARAY FOR 90MINS

    YOBO HOLDS GALATASARAY FOR 90MINS

    EMBATTLED Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo was in full action for league runners up Fernabahce Sunday in Instanbul. The most capped Eagles ace who for sometime has been at cross-roads with Coach Stephen Keshi over his non invitation for the last World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar, was so impressive that Coach Aykut Kocaman thought it wise to leave him on the pitch for the entire duration.

    Galatasaray who gannered 68 points in 33 matches posting seven points above Fernabahce shot into the lead via penalty that was converted by Burak Yilmaz in the 25th minute. Yobo and his mates however rallied back with Cameroonian import Pierre Achille Webó scoring two goals in four minutes.

    The former Everton strongman’s performance appears to underline his recent submission that he is currently on top of his game Yobo who initially joined the Turkish side on loan from Everton in 2010, eventually sealed a 3-year permanent deal on August 4th 2012 even as he recently celebrated his 100th appearance for the side.

  • EUROPA LEAGUE OUSTER YOBO BEGS FANS ON TWITTER

    EUROPA LEAGUE OUSTER YOBO BEGS FANS ON TWITTER

    SUPER EAGLES skipper, Joseph Yobo has apologised to his fans on social media after Fenerbache crashed out of the Europa League following their 3-2 loss to Benfica last Thursday night.

    The Nigerian, whose twitter home page is @YoboOfficial, tweeted on Sunday when he said: “We failed. I apologize to all the FB fans.

    “We are very bad psychologically. Benfica match too, deeply impressed.”

  • YOBO EXPLODES! I won’t beg Keshi

    YOBO EXPLODES! I won’t beg Keshi

    Says no big deal playing for Eagles lWants to face  club career lDenies targeting 100 caps for Nigeria

     

    Fenerbache of Turkey’s reliable defender Joseph yobo has vowed not to apologise to Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi over his ourburst insisting that: “I did nothing worng in telling the coach how I felt about being dropped without notice.”

    Disclosing this to SportingLife from his base in Turkey on Monday evening, Yobo stated that he stood by all that he said about the coach pointing out that Keshi is at liberty to invite him or not to the team.

    “I have seen it all in the Super Eagles. 96 caps is not a child’s play. I have played under different coaches and not one of them has tagged me as an undisciplined player. Keshi knows why he dropped me. It is certainly not because of my form. At the appropriate time, I will let Nigerians know the truth. Trust me.

    “For anyone to say that I am ready to beg Keshi, is a lie from the pit of hell. I kept quiet because the honourable Sports Minister intervened and the NFF president and Barrister Chris Green called me to a ceasefire. What I did in South Africa brought peace among us. We were united in the team after I intervened. We played badly in our first two matches and I told the coaches so. I made suggestions and got the players to queue behind me. Today, we are all celebrating. Is it not good? Yet, I am being made to pay the price. It is okay by me. I will never apologise to Keshi because I didn’t insult him. I only said that it was disrespectful that he could not call me to say that I won’t be part of the game against Kenya.

    “It is also not true that Keshi and I discussed anything about my future in the Eagles. How many times did we talk abut the team? He didn’t say anyhting to me during the competition. Is it after the compettiion that he would talk to me? Who does he talk to about the team? I must state here that God has beeen very kind to me by allowing me to reach the 96 caps point. I’m grateful. I’m not targting any record. If it is God’s wish that I reach the 100 caps, it would be done by his grace.

    “At the moment, I am focusing on my club. I do not want to be a distraction to the Eagles. I called the boys before the Kenya game to wish them well. I’m stil their captain. they know why I was dropped. I wish Nigeria well all the time because I owe whatever I’m today to playing for Nigeria across the age grade teams,” Yobo said.

  • Yobo to offer Keshi apology

    Yobo to offer Keshi apology

    Joseph Yobo may soon be on the way back into the good books of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, because the Fenerbahce defender will apologise to Keshi over his recent outburst.

    The Super Eagles skipper had complained on a Lagos radio station that he is disappointed at Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) becuase neither considered it correct to notify him of his non-inclusion in the team that took on Kenya. However, in a twist to the tale, it has emerged that Keshi actually called Yobo, but the defender did not take the call.

    “We now know for certain that Keshi called Yobo, but because he was either not paying attention, or it was a number he was not familiar it, he did not take the call,” a source in the NFF tolf futaa.com.

    “It was when the matter blew up, and Keshi insisted that he called Yobo, and he checked to verify that he saw the missed call. He now discovered that indeed, the coach had tried to reach him.”

    NFF president Aminu Maigari had already started a reconciliatory process, before it was discored that Keshi did make the call.