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Showing posts from December, 2013

Chan team list released

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Keshi picks Agbim, Egwuekwe, 21 others for CHAN Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has picked first choice goalkeeper and skipper Chigozie Agbim, defender Azubuike Egwuekwe, midfielder Joshua Obaje and forward Gbolahan Salami among 23 players that will represent Nigeria at the 3rd African Nations Championship in South Africa. Usual suspects Solomon Kwambe, Francis Benjamin, Kunle Odunlami, Umar Zango, Barnabas Imenger, Daniel Akpeyi and Ifeanyi Ede also make the list, but former junior internationals Abdullahi Shehu and Christian Pyagbara also make the cut, with FIFA U-17 World Cup winner Dele Alampasu expectedly joining the big boys so early. Nigeria take on host South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in Group A of the championship reserved for senior players plying their trade in the domestic League of their countries. The competition runs from 11th January – 1st February, 2014 in three South African cities.

Family first for Onazi

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The Onazi's For the Onazi family, it was a case of double take during the Christmas yuletide, as their son Ogenyi Eddy also celebrated his birthday on Christmas Day, and it was a joyful reunion for the family. The SS Lazio and Nigeria midfielder made it in time to come see his family during the Christmas break as the Italian Serie A had already gone on winter break, which gave the former U17 star a much needed break to take his mind off football. Supersport.com was invited into the Onazi's home to celebrate the players' birthday and to have Christmas dinner with the family.

Keshi's Chan Challenge

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pic courtesy soccerpress.net   South Africa has always been a fertile hunting ground for Nigeria, and come January, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will attempt to add to Nigeria's laurels when they storm Mzansi to participate in the biennial Chan tournament. Nigeria will be making her debut in the tournament and is grouped alongside Mozambique, Mali and hosts South Africa in Group D. Stephen Keshi became a national hero when he lead the Super Eagles to claim Nigeria's third continental crown with a hard fought 1-0 win over Burkina Faso at the FNB Stadium on February 10, this time he is taking a relatively unknown crop of players who he hopes can add more positive vibes to his growing reputation.

OPEN LETTER TO STEPHEN KESHI

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pic courtesy 9jafooty Dear Stephen Keshi,  Compliments of the season, I hope this letter will meet you in good condition, as you go about tinkering the players preparatory to the Chan Championship due to take place in South Africa. I really appreciate your effort at this particular point in time.  While I am home tearing into chicken wings and downing bottles of wine and soft drinks, you're under the sun going about your business. I'm sure your family misses you at this period. I doff my hats to you. Coachi...errr...this letter is not about the Christmas season oh! I just wanted to put across somethings that have bothered me for bout three weeks now, and I feel as a big fan of yours, I should write you an open letter and ask that you please digest it's contents and see if i make any sense or not.

Chris Danjuma confident of Plateau United

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 Plateau United's gaffer, Chris Danjuma, is optimistic that the Jos-based side will do well in the forthcoming NNL season and will return to the top flight. The former Plateau United attacking midfielder told supersport.com in Jos that his wards are gradually getting to their peak as the new season looms. "We are in closed camping now and trying to get the boys in tip-top shape before the season starts.

Greek gifts for Nigerians

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 Greece is not your average favourite football destination for Nigerian footballers, even though Nigeria has had some good representation in the past. Michael Olaitan/ pic courtesy: http://www.olympiacos.org  Late Nigerian legend Rashidi Yekini and Haruna Babangida were once in the books of Olympiakos Piraeus and former Super Eagles left-back Ifeanyi Udeze enjoyed time at PAOK, where he was a fans favourite in his four-year stay with the Yellow and Black. Others like Babajide Ogunsoto and Benjamin Onwuachi also put Nigeria on the map in the land of the Euro 2006 winners as the physical nature of Nigerians were well appreciated by the Greeks.

Gabriel Reuben sees red as Kilmarnock lose

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pic: courtesy bbc.co.uk Gabriel Reuben's progress at Kilmarnock has been blighted after the hardworking midfielder was show a red card in the 4-1 loss to Dundee United in the Scottish Premier Leageu (SPL). The former Kano Pillars player had endured a torrid start to his Kilmarnock career due to injuries, but made his second start in the SPL as Dundee United visited the Killies. Kilmarnock were in the ascendancy in a rain soaked match at Rugby Park as Dundee looked to add to their five straight victories.

Keshi calls up 30 players for Chan

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Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi has invited 30 players to camp preparatory to the Chan championship taking lace in January in South Africa. Nigeria will be participating in the bi-annual event for the first time after eliminating Ivory Coast in the qualifiers. The 30-man squad include four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and nine strikers. Top among the called up players include Sunday Mba, Chigozie Agbim, Bright Esieme, Oghenekaro Etebo, Rabiu Ali and Gambo Muhammad among others. Six players have been put on stand-by by the Nigerian manager. Nigeria head coach, Keshi, in the wake of announcing the roster ahead the 2014 Chan is optimistic of leading his team to a fine outing in their maiden appearance at the tournament. “We are going to the Chan for the first time but we want to be the best at our very first outing,” he said in Salvador on Thursday morning. The players are expected to resume camping for the Chan on Decem

Evbounwan to swim with Dolphins

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A mass exodus has hit relegated Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club  of Ilorin, as one of their dependable midfielders has pitched his tent with another clubside in the Glo Premier League. Lanky midfielder Stone Evbounwam has signed the dotted lines for Dolphins FC of Port-Harcourt, as he has opted out of playing in the Nigeria National League with ABS. Evbounwam, who was a mainstay in ABS ill fated 2012/13 campaign in the Glo Premier League told 9 jafooty "I have just signed a years deal with Dolphins FC, I'm satisfied with what they offered me and I think it's the right step in the right direction for me. "Dolphins have also began negotiating with ABS and I believe they will reach an amicable agreement."he added. The former golden eaglets invitee revealed that a host of clubs wanted to sign him on, but Dolphins looks the best option for him now. "It's true there were a couple of clubs in for me, but what Dolphins had looked the bes