Agbim: Eagles’ll Rule Africa Again

Super Eagles reserve goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim believes that with the rate at which Coach Stephen Keshi is handling the senior national team, the Super Eagles will soon reclaim its lost glory on the continent.

The Warri Wolves goalkeeper who said playing under the former Mali national team handler has improved his game, strongly believes that Nigeria will excel at the Nations Cup holding in South Africa next year.

“I am happy to be given the opportunity to play under Coach Stephen Keshi and I can confidently tell you that my game has really improved since I started playing for the national team,” begins the goalie.

“With the way the coach is handling the Super Eagles, I am sure that in the nearest future the Super Eagles will be a team to watch. I am also sure that we are going to do well at the coming Nations Cup".

Agbim who could not feature in last Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Calabar said he believes that his time will soon come.

“I don’t feel pained not playing in that match because I know that my time will soon come".

Swiss Embassy Frustrates Peter Edibe

Nigeria’s joy at having one of its referees being in consideration for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil may be punctured following the continued frustration of Peter Elgam Edibe by the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria.

Despite a valid letter from world football-governing body,FIFA, among other relevant documents that have been provided by the well-travelled and highly-respected Assistant Referee, the Swiss Embassy is insisting that his application for entry visa into that country for an official FIFA Assistant Referee Course and Fitness Test has come too late.

“I have all the necessary documents and even a letter from FIFA saying they will take care of my cost of travel, accommodation and insurance in Zurich. But the Swiss Embassy is proving difficult. I have the note verbale and everything that is necessary to convince them.

“I don’t want to miss this Course because it will determine those who will be considered for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals,” said Edibe.

The letter from FIFA, dated 3rd October 2012 and addressed to the Visa Section of Switzerland Embassy on Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Abuja was signed by Christina Collenberg, Director of Human Resources and Services.

It reads in part: “Mr. Peter Elgam Edibe... a FIFA Assistant Referee will be required to travel to Switzerland for an official FIFA Assistant Referee Course and Fitness Test in the period of 24 October to 3 November 2012.
“FIFA will cover the cost of travel arrangements and insurance for his stay in Zurich.

“We would be grateful if you could be of assistance in issuing a single entry visa for Mr. Peter Elgam Edibe so that there will be no impediment for him attending the Course.”

FIFA has already sent Peter Edibe a valid return ticket to travel to Zurich through Frankfurt, Germany Wednesday, 24 October 2012.

Kanu: Eagles Can Win Nations Cup

Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu says he has strong belief that the senior national team can win the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa but was quick to advice coach Stephen Keshi to prepare very well.

The former Inter Milan of Italy striker who was at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar last Saturday to support the Super Eagles beat the Lone Star of Liberia 6-1 to qualify for the Nations Cup, said he was impressed with the result.

“It was a good result and we need to maintain it because I have seen some talented players in the team and I am sure that with time, this team will be great in Africa,” says Kanu.

“Going by what the coach, I mean Stephen Keshi has done so far, we have a team that can win the Nations Cup. All we need to do is to make sure that we prepare very well for the Nations Cup.

While praising the senior national team for erasing the memory of missing out from the last edition of the Nations Cup, he said he will continue to support the team.

“I have been there before and I did my best for the country.

I got all the support I needed and now that I am not playing again, I will do my best to support the team.
Kanu said the Super Eagles should also have it at the back of their mind that Nigerian will be waiting to receive the Nations Cup trophy.

It would be recalled that the former Arsenal FC of England striker was part of the country’s Atlanta ‘96 Olympic Games winning team in the USA.

Wilshere Plays For 90 Minutes!

Arsenal get fresh midfielder boost


Jack Wilshere played 90 minutes for the first time since his return to action as he closes in on an Arsenal comeback.

The midfielder has been sidelined for 17 months with knee, ankle and foot problems but took part in a friendly defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday afternoon.

Wilshere had already featured for the Under 21s, playing 63 minutes against West Brom at the start of October and getting a 74-minute run against Reading.

He is due to play another game for the youngsters against Everton next week with the Capital One clash against Reading pencilled in for his return for Arsene Wenger's side.

Defender Bacary Sagna also played 90 minutes as he battles his way back to the first team while midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong got another game under his belt following his recent return in the League Cup.

But it was all about the progress of Wilshere for the north Londoners and he will have pleased manager Wenger with his performance, getting stuck in from the start and looking lively just behind the striker.

The 20-year-old England international almost scored in the second half, forcing Blues keeper Jamal Blackman into a save after surging into the box.

Chelsea, with John Terry in their ranks for the opening 45 minutes, won 2-0 thanks to goals from Billy Clifford and Islam Feruz. 

Keshi Plans Portugal Camp For Eagles

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed that he plans to stage a training camp for players from the NPL in Portugal ahead of the AFCON.

This will be in addition to the training camp most likely in Zimbabwe prior to the Nations Cup in South Africa.
"My plan is to have the home-based players for at least two weeks at the adidas training centre (in Portugal),” he told MTNFootball.com

“I have submitted my programme but we all know that time is not our friend.

“We have one friendly game against Venezuela in the US. And I am hoping that I should be able to have my foreign-based players for at least two weeks."

It is believed that 22 players from the domestic league will make the trip to Portugal with the hope that some overseas-based players will also join up.

Hosts South Africa, 2012 AFCON runners-up Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and defending champions Zambia are the seeded countries for Wednesday’s draw for the Nations Cup.

However, Keshi again maintained he is looking forward to facing any of them in the first round of the tournament.

"I am not scared of any country. Let's be put in any group," Keshi restated.

Keshi will be at the draw in Durban and will be accompanied by NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green and Eagles team secretary Dayo Enebi.

They will depart the country on Monday. They are due back in Nigeria on October 26 after attending a seminar, the draw as well as a stadium inspection.

The Eagles training camp for the November 14 friendly against Venezuela in Miami will open on November 4.

 

Martins Hails Keshi As The Special One

Levante of Spain striker Obafemi Martins has heaped plaudits on the Super Eagles for mauling Liberia 6-1 in Calabar last Saturday to qualify for next year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Martins is particularly pleased with the work the team's gaffer,Stephen Keshi has done in transforming the Eagles to a scintillating team Nigerians saw on Saturday.

“They deserve all the accolades they got from everybody and I want to add my voice to that.They did the unthinkable,scoring six times against a team that forced them to a 2-2 draw in the first leg.

“The result will not only bring confidence back to the fold but also shows that Stephen Keshi is really working hard to see that Nigeria reclaims her rightful position on the world map”,he said.

While optimistic of getting a recall to the Eagles,Martins says he still has plenty of room for improvement at his new club after scoring two goals in his first three games.

The 27-year-old striker who joined the La Liga side on a two-year deal on a free transfer after Rubin Kazan agreed to terminate his contract before its expiration date warned his side's rivals that they can expect plenty more fireworks once he reaches full fitness.

"I'm getting used to each player on a daily basis and I’m much quicker in front of goal now,” he began in a chat with Complete Sports.

"I'm very confident that I will score more goals with Levante this season and this could start against Getafe on Sunday".
 

Ik Uche: I'm Not Thinking About 2013 Nations Cup

Super Eagles striker,Ikechukwu Uche says club football is the priority for him now after helping Nigeria qualify for next year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

 Uche returned to his Spanish Segunda Liga side,Villarreal on Wednesday and was part of the team's training session yesterday ahead of this weekend's clash against one of his former clubs in Spain,Recreativo Huelva.The Nigerian told the club's official website hs focus is on the game against Recreativo Huelva and the club and not next month's African cup in South Africa.

''I'm not thinking about the Africa Cup of Nations for now.I think only about Villarealand give my 100% to the club as we fight to return to the Primera Liga.We will see what happens when the time for the Africa Cup of Nations comes and I get the invite from the coach (Stephen Keshi).Right now I am just thinking about playing well for the club'',he said.

 Uche also admits playing against Recreativo Huelva this weekend is special to him albeit he says he and his teammates will play for a win.

 'It is going to be a special feeling for me when I play against Recreativo Huelva.It is one of my former clubs and I always remember that whatever I have become today is partly due to the training I received while I was playing for the club'',he said. from cmp sports