The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yobo

  • Nigeria, Zambia will be like Cup final-Yobo

    Nigeria, Zambia will be like Cup final-Yobo

    Nigeria’s Captain Joseph Yobo has vowed that the Super Eagles will approach their next match against champions Zambia with more determination.

    Yobo told newsmen shortly after a last-minute loss of concentration at the Nations Cup in South Africa, had caused his team to fritter away aone-goal lead gainst Burkina Faso with just three minutes left for play.

    Nigeria led all the way from the 23rd minute, when Emmanuel Emenike scored, only to concede a goal in the last seconds of the match against Burkina Faso in group C of the tournament.

    The draw has put Nigeria in a tight corner, especially in its next match against Zambia on Friday.

    Zambia drew its opening match with Ethiopia, meaning it will also be desperate for a victory in its next match, a situation that will make Nigeria to work extra hard.

    “The match against Zambia is going to be like a Cup final because we want to make sure that we qualify for the next stage,’’ Yobo said after the Burkina debacle.

    He conceded that the 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso was far from what Nigeria had expected, adding: “as far as the result is concerned it wasn’t the best start for us. We were supposed to win this game; it is like a lost game to me.’’

    Yobo, however, praised Burkina Faso, saying the team deserves credit for finding the equaliser.

  • AFCON: Eagles won’t underrate Burkina Faso – Yobo

    AFCON: Eagles won’t underrate Burkina Faso – Yobo

    Captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, has warned Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia to expect tough confrontation, as the team will not underrate any team at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Nigeria will play its first game against Burkina Faso, and Yobo said he knows there are no more minnows in football, and will lead the squad out in full strength on Monday.

    “There are no more minnows in football.

    “We won’t underrate any team, but we will respect all teams and take one game at a time.

    “We have to take the game against Burkina faso and Ethiopia as serious as the final,” futaa.com quoted Yobo as saying on Wednesday.

    Nigeria will take on defending champions Zambia, before playing Ethiopia in the last group game.

     

  • YOBO SCREAMS Eagles tired of bronze

    YOBO SCREAMS Eagles tired of bronze

    • Says players ready to improve on status
    • Rues trophy-less past with teams

    Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo has revealed that his mates have resolved to play in the finals of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in order to improve on the team’s previous third-place finish in the competition.

    Disclosing this in an exclusive interview he had with Channels Teelvision Sports on Tuesday, Yobo rued the fact that he had in his wardrobe four bronze medals from the competition where he will be making his sixth appearance for the Super Eagles.

    “I can tell you that my colleagues and I have resolved to improve on our bronze medals feats. I have four and like most of us with more than two appearances, we have told others that we will give our matches our best performance, if we must prove our mettle in the competition.”

    Asked how he felt with the presence of many players who wil be making their debut in the African Cup of Nations, Yobo said: “the coaches have picked the best players. What I have seen in training convinces me that they can hold their own against any oppososition. We will guide them through the matches. Football is about team work and not individual performances.

    Asked if the South Africa 2013 African Cup of Nations will be his last, Yobo would rather look at how well he plays in the competition than considering this edition as his last. He however promised to give his best during Nigeria’s matchees stressing that what the team needs from Nigerians is suppport and their prayers.

  • YOBO WON’T PREDICT EAGLES’ TIES

    YOBO WON’T PREDICT EAGLES’ TIES

    •Says ‘it’s one game at a time’

    NIGERIA captain Joseph Yobo has refused to make any Nations Cup predictions and says their immediate focus is to get out of the tough group they are in.

    The Super Eagles are in Group C with Zambia, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.

    Yobo believes that Nigeria can reach the AFCON final, but adds that it all depends on taking one game at a time. “Let us not get beyond ourselves, though. The focus for now is one getting past the group stage and only then should we think about the quarter-finals and, hopefully, the semi-finals and final.

    “Winning the trophy is not going to be easy, but I promise we will give it our best shot. I urge Nigerians to keep praying for us and to believe in this team,” Yobo said on cafonline.com.

    “We hear back here (in Portugal) that many Nigerians are beginning to have doubts over the team. There is no cause for alarm. The essence of these friendly games is to test players’ pairings, team formation and make corrections,” he said.

    “Personally, I think we have achieved a lot already because the team is bonding real fast. Remember we have not lost a game from our last three friendlies and we won the last one. We have like eight days before our first game and I think that is enough time for us to put finishing touches to our preparation.” He therefore said the team’s dream to win a third AFCON crown is still very much intact. “I think everything is possible by the grace of God. I have been opportuned to be at the last five AFCONs and we only missed out at the last one due to luck or our mistake which ever one you want to call it,” he said. “But you know you can’t predict what is going to happen in a football game, that is why we have been playing friendly matches. There may be surprises at the Nations Cup, but I believe that if we pull through from the group, we will go all the way to the final.” Nigeria face Burkina Faso in their opening game on January 21.

  • NIGERIA VS CAPE VERDE: Judgment day for Yobo

    NIGERIA VS CAPE VERDE: Judgment day for Yobo

    • Eagles’captain must perform or…

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that the Super Eagles’ AFCON list will be released today in Faro, Portugal.

    The list will, however, only be made public after the Nigeria versus Cape Verde friendly later tonight, which is the last game that the Stephen Keshi-led technical crew will use to make up its mind on the fitness level of some players.

    One such player who is under close scrutiny is Joseph Yobo.

    Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo recently suffered a knee injury which kept him out of Nigeria’s final 2013 Africa Cup of Nation’s qualifier against Liberia on October 13, 2012.

    Executive committee member of the NFF, Barrister Chris Green revealed that Keshi would be closely monitoring the fitness of the Fenerbahce defender in the game against the Blue Sharks on Wednesday.

    “I can confirm to you that Joseph Yobo will play in Wednesday’s game against Cape Verde and the coach (Keshi) will use that game to ascertain his (Yobo’s) fitness level as well as the other hopefuls in the list. The good news is that so far, there are no injury worries in the team,” he stated.

    Three players, Rabiu Ibrahim, Henry Uche and Papa Idris were dropped by Keshi on Monday while striker, Kalu Uche pulled out of the squad after failing to recover from a groin injury.

    Keshi will drop four more players when he announces the final 23-man list today. The deadline for the submission of team sheets of participating teams for the 2013 AFCON is today.

    The NFF also had to clarify the situation about the final 23-man list of the national team, the Super Eagles, for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    Media chief of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya had announced this week that the final list would be released yesterday by head coach, Stephen Keshi.

    Green explained that the date was chosen “so as to make clarifications about several issues.”

    “We need to make clarifications about several issues. The Super Eagles have a game against Cape Verde on Wednesday and it is only after that game that the list will be announced,” Green exclusively told supersport.com.

    The competition gets underway on January 19.

  • Ballon D’Or: Yobo votes Messi, Keshi picks Toure

    Ballon D’Or: Yobo votes Messi, Keshi picks Toure

    Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo picked Lionel Messi as his world player of 2012, while coach Stephen Keshi voted Cote d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure.

    Representing the Nigeria media, top journalist Samm Audu went for Messi, who on Monday won his fourth straight FIFA Ballon D’Or.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Messi has also won world football’s foremost individual accolade in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Yobo’s two other nominees were Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil’s Neymar, while Keshi went for another Ivorian star Didier Drogba and then Netherlands striker Robin van Persie.

    Samm Audu’s other picks were Ronaldo and Colombia star Radamel Falcao.

    Messi was again a runaway winner for the best player in the world as he polled 41.60 per cent of the total votes, far ahead of second-placed Ronaldo, who recorded 23.68 per cent. Iniesta was third on 10.91 per cent.

    The three sections of the eligible voters – national team captains, national coaches and media – all placed the 25-year-old Argentina superstar top of a 23-man strong field.

     

  • Yobo set to equal Kanu’s AFCON record

    Yobo set to equal Kanu’s AFCON record

    EAGLES captain Joseph Yobo is set to equal a six-AFCON finals appearance record held by Nwankwo Kanu. Yobo has already eclipsed Kanu’s record as the most capped Nigeria star with 89 caps and he could add to this tally on Wednesday night against fellow 2013 Nations Cup finalists Cape Verde in an AFCON warm-up game.

    “I have been blessed. Words cannot quantify God’s blessings on me. Attending my sixth Nations Cup will be great and we will give it our best shot,” Yobo told MTNFootball.com

    The 32-year-old Fenerbache star defender has featured at the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Nations Cups, same as the legendary Musa Lawal now of blessed memory. He got a bronze medal at four of these appearances and now wants the top prize in South Africa which may possibly be his last outing. “It’s not going to be easy (to win the trophy). But we will give it our best shot. We therefore urge Nigerians to keep praying for us and believe in this team,” he said.

  • Yobo, Echiejile hit Faro camp

    Eagles captain Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile and several other foreign pros joined up with the Eagles in Faro yesterday.

    The Eagles captain, who was in Lagos last week on a charity drive, hit the Eagles’ training camp in Portugal Friday evening.

    Portugal-based defender Elderson Echiejile, who enjoyed a short break at his former base in France, was also expected to drive down to Faro from his Braga base. The left-back, who is set for his second AFCON, played a League cup game for Braga this week.

    Also expected to hit camp on Friday were Celtic defender Efe Ambrose and Padova of Italy midfielder Obiora Nwankwo.

    Chelsea stars Mikel Obi and Victor Moses as well Real Betis ace Nosa Igiebor are expected to join up today.

    Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche, who featured in the warm-up against Catalonia on Wednesday, Israel-based goalkeeper Austin Ejide and Juwon Oshaniwa are all expect on Sunday.

    The Eagles’ next warm-up game is against Cape Verde in Portugal on Wednesday.

  • Yobo happy to reach the needy

    Yobo happy to reach the needy

    NIGERIA captain Joseph Yobo has said he was delighted he gave hope to inmates at Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice, Surulere, Lagos.

    The former Everton star made various donations, from food stuff to a generating set, to the children as part of his giving back to the society through his charity organisation. He said he was touched seeing how the children were happy with the little he gave them. “I was touched with the conditions of the kids. It is sad to know that some of them will still have to die. I am happy to have put a smile on their faces and give them hope to survive. I could have been like any of them but for God’s mercy,” Yobo said. AFCON-bound Yobo also visited the House of Mercy, Ebute Metta, Yaba, which houses mainly Almajiris, and Fair Life Africa foundation Lekki, where he equally made donations.

  • Yobo slams Osaze’s Twitter rants

    Yobo slams Osaze’s Twitter rants

    Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, has slammed West Bromwich striker Osaze Odemwingie for being disrespectful, saying he must grow up.

    Odemwingie has on Twitter indirectly put down Yobo when he accused recent Eagles captains of looking out only for themselves.

    He added that the team lacks a “true leader. “

    Yobo will now have his say in the biggest drama in the Nigerian camp leading up to next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa

    “Osaze has been reckless, disrespectful to most people. He’s not a kid, he should grow up because we cannot continue to baby sit him,” MTNFootball.com quoted Yobo as saying on Brila FM Radio on Friday.

    “This is not the first time he has been disrespectful. He is fighting all the coaches and at the (2010) World Cup he also disrespected me. He could be saying the right thing but he is going about it the wrong way.

    “He is not the (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo of Nigeria.

    “He should look himself in the mirror,” he added.

    The Fenerbache star also gave credit to coach Stephen Keshi for the provisional squad he picked for the AFCON, while admitting that he was surprised Obafemi Martins, Osaze, Taye Taiwo and Kalu Uche were not considered.

    “I will give him credit for the squad. He will score 95 per cent even though one or two should have been there. I’m sure he would have had some sleepless nights in selecting his team. Kalu Uche, Martins, Taye and Osaze not being there was a surprise but the coach must have his reasons and he cannot call everybody,” he argued.

    Yobo also admitted that at 32 this is most likely his last AFCON.

    “I think I have to admit it that this may be my last Nations Cup. We have to allow younger players to get their chance,” said the central defender, who has featured in five Nations Cups.