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Shola Ameobi delighted with Nigeria debut

Shola Ameobi is still celebrating his international debut for Nigeria in the 3-1 win against Venezuela in Florida on Thursday.

The player who was thrown into the fray in the second-half by Coach Stephen was pleased to have made the step up to international football.

"It's my first game, I just feel honoured to play international football."

Ameobi earned special praises from fans and officials after helping set-up the third goal. He calmly held-up play before finding Lazio youngster Onazi Ogenyi, who completed the scoring in stoppage time.

The 31-year-old insists he has nothing but respect for his team-mates.

“This game will prepare us for what to expect at the Nations Cup. We played good and made life hard for them," he said.

"It was nothing personal, we fought hard and gave our everything.

"They had great support here but we took the game to them. The lads were superb and I'm delighted to have contributed to a good win." He also said.

Martins Vows To Up His Game, Onazi Vows Afcon Spot

Levante of Spain striker, Obafemi Martins may not have impressed or even scored in the friendly against Venezuela, but he’s thinking of doing that when he returns to the team soonest, even as Head Coach Stephen Keshi assured that he would be given a second chance when camp opens for the Afcon 2013 preparations.

Martins said after the game that he wanted to score on the night but the goals simply did not come.

“But I will be back and better when we return to camp, I know what I can do and I’m sure the coach will give me the opportunity to prove myself.’’

Also speaking, Lazio of Italy midfield sensation Ogenyi Onazi, who scored the team’s third goal, has vowed to grab a shirt ahead of the Nations Cup.

“I’m happy at the manner the coach has been given me opportunity and I can assure Nigerians that I will be part of the team that will bring the Nations Cup to the country next year”, the former My People FC star declared.

Eagles Nations Cup Camp Open Dec 17, Pros Get January 4 Deadline

December 17, has tentatively been chosen as the day camp will open in Abuja to kick-start preparations for the Nations Cup in South Africa. Keshi said in Miami, that the camp will open with home based professional players, while their foreign based counterparts are expected to join up with the rest of the squad in Faro, Portugal between January 3 -4.

“We need to work together for at least two weeks and after that we should have a strong squad that can challenge any team in the world that is why we want everybody in camp by January 4th at the latest.”

Keshi is presently holidaying with his family in the United States and returns to the country in the second week of December.  Meanwhile the Super Eagles are scheduled to return to the country on Friday evening through the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos via Delta Airlines

Igiebor’s Wonder Goal Excites Keshi

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi was in his boisterous best at the end of the friendly encounter between his team and the Venezuelan national team, which was won 3-1, by the Nigerians.

Speaking at the post match conference, Keshi said he was simply excited by the performance of his players especially the newcomers to the team.

“But look at that goal by Nosa Igiebor, it was a television goal and I was excited when it came, it shows we can do great things if we psyche ourselves up very well.”

At half time, I told them, put the ball on the ground and play quick and the goals will come and I was not surprised that once they did that the goals started to come. Like I will always say, its still work in progress and we can only get better”, he said.

Keshi warns Martins

Obafemi Martins’ Africa Nations Cup hopes may end up as a dream if he doesn’t step up his game, Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi has told him.

The Levante striker Martins made a long-awaited return to the national team on Thursday in the Super Eagles 3-1 win over Venezuela in an AFCON warm-up in Miami, Florida, USA but the tactician wasn’t impressed with his form and charged him to improve as he did not see his full potentials in the match.

The below par Martins and was replaced on the hour by his former Newcastle teammate Shola Ameobi, who was making his debut for Nigeria.

“He needs to step up his game because I know he can do better than he did because he has the potentials but I did not see much of him,” said Keshi after the game.

‘Obagoal’ shone in training in the USA, but had at least two chances to make hay against Venezuela so as to stake a strong claim for a place in the Eagles squad to next year’s Nations Cup in South Africa. 

Keshi praise for Ameobi

The Chief Coach of the Super Eagles has showered glowing tributes to the sterling performance of Shola Ameobi who made his debut for Nigeria in an international friendly against Venezuela in Miami, Florida Wednesday night.

The Newcastle forward who came on as a second half substitute was a handful for the opponents’ defence as he was kicked repeatedly because of his tenacity, which later paid off at stoppage time, when he held unto the ball, warded off a challenge in the Venezuelan vital area before finding Ogayi Onazi who coolly slotted home Nigerians third on the night.

An ecstatic Keshi said that the towering forward impressed him and can only improve.

“I am totally happy with Shola Ameobi. He showed good spirits and composure all through his stay on the pitch and I know that he will improve as he gets to play more games for us. He was a true professional on the night.”

Ideye happy to break goal-duck

One of the two Super Eagles players who scored their first senior goals for Nigeria, Brown Ideye is very excited ending his goal drought as the team hit Venezuela 3-1 in Miami, Florida Wednesday night in an international friendly match.

‘I am so happy to finally score for my country. It’s no doubt a morale booster for me, having waited this long to register myself in the heart of Nigerians. Grateful for the pass from my team mates to.”

The Dinamo Kiev of Ukraine forward opened Nigeria’s floodgate in the 49th minute with a side-footed touch off a low cross from the right by debutant Solomon Kwambe after some good work by Nosa Igiebor.

“I will cherish this moment for a long time because it’s always special scoring your firs. I really waited for this to happen and now that it has, I can only get better with my positioning and accuracy which are most important for goal scoring.” Ideye added.

Ameobi dreams Nations Cup

New Eagles invitee, Shola Ameobi could be on the flight to next year’s AFCON on the back of a good outing against Venezuela on Wednesday.

Ameobi will be making his debut for the Eagles, while Martins is set for his 38th appearance.

The 31-year-old Ameobi has opted to feature for his country of birth after he represented England at U21 level.

The Newcastle United striker said it is a great honour to wear the Nigeria green and white shirt.

"This is the first opportunity to do something that I've always wanted to do. It's a great honour and I don't take it lightly,” said the Zaria-born striker.

 

"You'd be a fool if you didn't want to play at the very highest level and certainly I'm no fool. I want to play at the top as every other player does - that's what drives me and that's why I'm still here wanting to play in the Premier League.

"I want to do the best I can, I don't just want to be a local hero, I want to be an international one. That's what has driven the decision."

Chelsea boss backs Mikel over Clatten-bust

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says his club had no choice but to pursue a claim of racial abuse after he three times reportedly asked the players involved "if they might have heard 'Mikel' instead of 'monkey'" from referee Mark Clattenburg.

Buck told the London Evening Standard that Chelsea was obliged to report to the Football Association once that was denied. The players involved are believed to be black midfielders John Obi Mikel and Ramires.

Buck says "the reaction has been very unfair" as "I felt we had the moral high ground," adding if the club had done nothing then "if that had leaked out, we would've really been crucified."

Buck says Chelsea they are not being "hypocritical" despite backing captain John Terry when he served a ban for racially abusing an opponent.

CAF appoints Ivorian officials for Eaglets, Mali

Match referees for Sunday’s 2013 African U-17 Championship qualifying match between Nigeria and Mali at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar will come from Cote d’Ivoire.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Kouame Ndri as the centre referee, with his compatriots Cherif Mamadou Bogbe, Kouadio Oussou and Denis Dembele as 1st Assistant, 2nd Assistant and 4^th Official respectively.

CAF also appointed Benoit Zianga as the match commissioner.

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Football Federation formally requested the Federation Malienne de Football to furnish it with details of its delegation’s arrival date, time and vessel as well as size of delegation.

Sunday’s match is the first leg of a final qualifying fixture, after the Eaglets dismissed Niger Republic and Guinea in earlier rounds.

Martins Vow Afcon Place

Levante new sensation, Obafemi Martins, who is styled the Weapon of Mass Destruction, has vowed to get a shirt with his performance on the pitch on Wednesday and in subsequent camping of the team.

“My return is for real and Nigerians will see”, he said. Indeed, Martins looked the sharpest among attackers in camp as he banged in goal after goal in Monday evening training.

The game will be played at the Marlins Stadium in Miami 8pm Miami time and 2am Thursday Nigerian time.

Ameobi, Dike Celebrate Eagles Call

Newcastle United of England’s longest serving player and Nigeria’s latest acquisition, Shola Ameobi, has said he was simply delighted to be part of the Nigerian set up for the first time and hopes it turns out well on Wednesday (Thursday morning in Nigeria).

Ameobi spoke after dinner on Monday night on arrival from England.

“Its good to be here and I will learn to speak Pidgin English as the players have directed”, he joked after his former teammate at the Toons’, Obafemi Martins challenged him to start speaking in Pidgin English, which Keshi has adopted as the official language each time the team is in camp.

Also in ecstasy over his call up is Bright Dike of MLS side Portland Timbers of the United States, who was the last to join camp.

Dike said at breakfast on Tuesday morning that it was a dream come true for him to be part of the Nigerian set up, as Assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpala tries to size up abilities to speak the Ibo language. “I understand it but don’t speak fluently, it will get better now that I will start coming to Nigeria”, he said amidst smiles.

Ejide captains Eagles against Venezuela

Gangling Israeli based goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, will step out of the shadows of his national teammate, Vincent Enyeama, on Wednesday night in Miami, United States, when he leads the team out as skipper in the international friendly against Venezuela at the Marlins Stadium in the American city.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi said after critical consideration, he has decided to hand Ejide the armband for the match. Indeed, Ejide first joined the national team from Gabros of Nnewi, in the run-up to the Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup, alongside Enyeama and the likes of Justice Christopher.

The Eagles number one jersey has since been alternated between the duo, with Enyeama having the lion’s share, but Wednesday’s game will be another opportunity for Ejide to lay claim to the Eagles number one shirt.