MOSES: Why I dumped England for Eagles

Former England youth - teamer Victor Moses has no regrets choosing to play for the Super Eagles over the The Three Lions. The exciting winger made his debut for Nigeria against Rwanda on February 29.

Moses told Emeka Nwani of goal.com: ''Yes the opportunity beckoned me to play for England, but I chose Nigeria because it has always been my ambition to play for the Super Eagles,.

"I don't regret turning out in the colours of Super Eagles. I love Nigeria and I was prepared to come and play for the nation.

"I have enjoyed every minute of my stay with the team. Coaches in England should not blame themselves that they could not convince me to wear the jersey of the (Three Lions, ed) after playing for the junior side.''

Moses has since played 6 games for the West African powerhouse, scoring a brace in the 6-1 hammering of Liberia last October in an African Cup of Nations qualifying fixture.

IGHALO to lead GRANADA's attack

Granada will play their next league games starting from this weekend's clash against Valencia with Odion Ighalo as the only striker available for selection.

After a disappointing half season, Italian forward Antonio Floro Flores has left the Andalusian club to sign for Genoa. Youssef El Arabi (Morocco) and Darwin Machis (Venezuela) have both been called up by their respective countries for the African Cup of Nations and the South American Under 20 qualifying tournament.

Granada are unlikely to buy new players to act as cover in the winter transfer market. Thus, former Flying Eagles skipper Odion Ighalo is the only front-man available to coach

Juan Antonio Anquela.

Ighalo, who was Granada's top scorer last season, is still searching for his first goal this campaign after 8 matches.

However, Ighalo scored the historic goal that catapulted Granada back to the Spanish top flight after an absence of 35 years.

The former Julius Berger of Lagos star captained Nigeria at the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt.

He is a fast, technically gifted striker, who can also play on the wings.
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OBOABONA vows to sanitise Eagles defense

Super Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona has declares his readiness to sanitise the shaky Super Eagles defence in South Africa if he make the final squad.

 

Super Eagles defence has been the most talk about position in the team preparations for 2013 Nations Cup, especially the right and left-full back but the Sunhine Stars of Akure skipper has remain confidence with pairing of Joseph Yobo and others, disclosing that there are better understanding among the defenders and with that, the team defence is no shaking.

 

“Our defense is on course, we have been able to work as a team but we can always improve on our individual games,”said Oboabona in an exclusive interview.

 

“I have nothing to promise than to keep the focus and be determined for success in South Africa.”

 

“My games have improved a lot in the Super Eagles and I want to keep it up, I want to keep giving my best for the team anytime I get the chance.”

“Myself as well as my colleagues are ready to mount a rock in the defense line and sanitise the defense

EMENIKE ready to restore ‘HOT’ form

Super Eagles bully striker, Emmanuel Emenike is determined to recover his hot form that made him the “the ultimate finisher” in the last two years after he was included in the 32 man list team released by Stephen Keshi to camp.

Huge things were expected of Emenike when he made the breakthrough at Turkish side Karabukspor three seasons ago. After earning rave reviews through his goalscoring exploits in Turkey, soon after his spell with Karabukspor, he painted Russian league with goals that lifted Spartak Moscow to UEFA Champions League and with an instant reward of bumper four years deal that made him the highest paid player in the Spartak team.

He scored famous goals against Locomotive Moscow and Dynamo Moscow during his first season in Russia.

The former FC Cape Town of South Africa player still made headlines at the beginning of this season, scored the second fastest goal in the history of the Premier League, to help Spartak Moscow won their opening game in the Russian championship for the first time in five seasons.

But ultimately failed to continue the blistering form due to back pains injury he sustained during national duties for Nigeria against Liberia but managed to register his name into the prestigious UEFA Champions League tournament with two goals against Celtic despite their early crashed out.

"I don’t need to look back, but rather be focus and determined to restore my best form,” said Emenike.

“I started well the season, I aimed higher for my club and myself, I was confident of breaking into the categories of world best striker but sometimes you just have to accept the chances of injury in the game, the back pains injury set me back but I don’t need to look back, the ones in the past are in the past. All I need is to be determine and work harder and be at the right direction for goals.

“I am currently working harder to get the best out of myself, I want to bounce back for good, I want 2013 to be a greater breakthrough for me. I am poise to restore the hot form.”

The Russian based ace further spoke on his inclusion in the provisional 32 man list for the 2013 Nations cup camping.

"We're looking forward to bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians who have been passionate about the team for years."

"I think everyone's looking forward to it, everyone's been talking about it. It's a pretty important for us to make the country proud in South Africa.”

Don't write us off, says IDEYE

Dynamo Kiev goal poacher Brown Ideye has urges Nigerians to rally round supports for the Super Eagles when they take on the opponents in South Africa 2013 Nations cup staring on January 19, 2013.

Ideye banged 13 goals in 17 games to remain the second highest goal scorer in the Ukrainian League championship, five goals behind Shakhtar Donetsk's Henrikh Mkhitaryan. 

 

The talented striker was part of the 32 man provisional list, but the former Ocean Boys of Bayelsa ace confident of contributing his quota if he makes the final team to the tournament.

 

“Nobody should be write us off,” warned Ideye.

“We are not favourite but we can be a shocker, we are going South Africa with full concentration and commitment mind set.”

 

“We have a lot to prove to our fans home and away, and that is why we should not be written off.”

 

Ideye further spoke on the Super Eagles opponents, stressing that every country will be treated equally irrespective of their qualities.

 

“We don’t need to underrate anybody; we have seen in the past that there are no smaller teams in Africa continent again. We will treat everybody equally.

“Of course I will contribute my quota, I will give my best for the team even in the friendly games to ensure I make the final squad.”

Babangida tips EMENIKE to explode

Former Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida has tipped Emmanuel Emenike to end his goal drought and become a threat to Super Eagles opponents at 2013 nations cup in South Africa.

Babangida, who shot into the limelight at the 1991 All Africa Games Football Tournament in Cairo, remain confidence on the Spartak Moscow bully striker to shine in South Africa despite his recent goal droughts.

"Keshi has surplus of strikers but he can only use two at a time, he is the coach, he knows who is capable at every point in time and I believe he will get out the best of the players," said Tijani.

"I am not setting any target for them but I am so optmistic in the team that they can be a shocker. We have good players in the striking role but my major concern still in the defensive line of the midfield and the back four but I believe Keshi has a lot to prove in South Africa."

When asked on whom he tips to shine for the team among the top strikers in the team, he said: "All of them are very deadly but Emenike will be more exploded if he keeps his head straight like he did against Barcelona and Liberia. No doubt about his talent, no doubt about his ability, he posses everything needed to tackle opponent defenders but he need to calm down a lot. I think Keshi knows how he use him, he played well against Liberia and created our most chances, that is the quality of a good player.

"He is consistent in his club, though I understand he is yet to score the goals he scores for his club but never can say if he will be much better in focus to shine in South Africa."

Babangida further canvass for Sanni Kaita whom he believe can anchor the defensive midefield of the team.

"I think a player like Sani Kaita is much needed in the team. we are lacking some defensive tackles in the midfield and only experience player like Kaita can do that." I don't know if he will be call for the tournament but he still have a lot to do in the team."