Comment on Sainfeit: I was defending my country - Keshi

Calabar - The Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, says his players are not under any pressure in their final Group F African qualifier for Brazil 2014 World Cup match in Calabar on Saturday.

Keshi said this in Calabar on Wednesday at a media briefing on the team’s preparations for the crucial encounter.

He said that the team and the coaching crew believed in hard work to get the maximum points.

''I have always believed in hard work. I do not believe in anything that is do or die. I am not under any pressure. We are only going to give our best on Saturday.''

The chief coach also said that the team had started training, adding that he was encouraged by the spirit of the players in training.

He further said that the controversy over his comment on the Malawian coach was meant to defend Nigeria and the Super Eagles.
[caption id="attachment_411481" align="alignnone" width="412"] Sainfeit and Keshi[/caption]
''I was defending my country and my team. Whatever I said was not directly to him personally,'' he said.

Keshi also said that Ikechukwu Uche of Villariel of Spain was still part of the team, adding that he had nothing against any player.

He said that Nigeria had a lot of players but not all of them would play at the same time.

''Ikechukwu is part of this team. There is nothing against any player. Only 11 players are needed in any match, so it is not possible to call everybody at the same time,'' he said.

He described Calabar as the home of the team and thanked the people and Government of Cross River for their reception.

Also speaking, the stand-in Captain of the team, Vincent Enyeama, said he was not in any competition with any player in the team, adding that all the goalkeepers in the team were equally good.

Enyeama, who said that he would soon leave the stage for the younger goalkeepers, however, did not specify on the time to quit nation's football team.

''The camp is amazing and I thank God for that. The first training was great with 12 players but I am optimistic that come Saturday we will win. Almost everybody is in camp.

''Calabar is one of the most secured places in Nigeria. I do not really know from where they got the information that Calabar is not secure.

''Calabar is also quiet. But I want the Flames to come out and play their game, have fun and be happy.

''We are professionals we know what is at stake and what is expected of us. We are not under any pressure, we are going out there to dorn the colour of Nigeria which we are also proud of,'' he said.

Chigozie Agbim, one of the three Super Eagles’ goalkeeper in camp for Saturday’s crunch Brazil 2014 World cup qualifier against the Flames of Malawi, also spoke with NAN.

''The spirit is high, the players’ spirit is high for Saturday’s match. Personally, I am 100 per cent ready. Our team don’t make noise.

''We will talk on the pitch on Saturday. But I can assure you that we will win them very well,'' he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 20 players have so far reported to the Metropolitan Hotel camp of the Eagles while three players were being expected.

Some of the players in camp include Vincent Enyeama, Chigozie Agbim, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor, Ahmed Musa, Godffrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba and Azubuike Egwueke.

In a related development, the State Police Command says it is ready for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Hogan Bassey, gave the assurance in a telephone interview with NAN in Calabar on Wednesday.

Bassey said that the command was putting measures in place to ensure that adequate security was provided before, during and after the match.

''It is not in our character to disclose our strategies but I can assure you that the police are ready to provide adequate security,'' he said.

He called for full and relentless cooperation from the government and people of the state by reporting any suspicious character to the command.(NAN)

We were jittery, Keshi admits

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has described Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire in the second leg of the final round of the CHAN qualifier as a good experience for the national team.

“We thank God we qualified at the end of the day but my boys did not pick up till the second half and I must say to you that I am happy and this is a great experience for a young side like the home based side”.

The former Stade D Abidjan libero admitted that his players were jittery at the start of the match which led to them conceding two quick goals in the first half but they woke up and gave a good account of themselves in the second.

[caption id="attachment_406337" align="alignright" width="302"] RESILIENCE: Super Eagles Oladapo Olufemi (C) vies for the ball with Ivory Coast’s players during the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying match on July 27, 2013 at the Robert-Champroux Stadium in Abidjan. Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2 - 0. Nigeria qualify on 4-3 aggregate. PHOTO AFP[/caption]

“If you say it was a game of two halves I may tend to agree with you because we started poorly largely due to inexperience and then when we came into the game they struggled against us. But that is football, we are just grateful to God, the NFF and Nigerians that we made it for the first time to the CHAN tournament”.

Ivorian Coach, Saraka Norbert, who also spoke at the post match conference admitted that the Nigerian side were slightly more experienced than his side, even as he refused to blame the two red cards the team received in the first leg in Kaduna for his side’s ouster.

“Nigeria is a great country economically, socially and even in football and we must admit that when we get to their heights in the near future, Ivorian football will be great again”, he said.

Keshi reveals Mikel Obi’s secret

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has revealed the secret of the recent scintillating performances of Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, for the national team.

Mikel, who was named 2nd best player at the FIFA U20 World Cup behind Lionel Messi, had seen his stock drop since those days.

[caption id="attachment_399805" align="alignnone" width="412"] Mikel celebrates his goal with teammates[/caption]

At one point, Nigerian football fans questioned his loyalty and commitment to the Super Eagles cause, but all that changed at the 2013 Nations Cup, when Mikel turned out five star performances, and he has been on the upward spiral since.

The turn-around came as a result of frank talk between the midfielder and the coach.

Keshi told Mikel to buckle up and show Nigerians that he really is a patriot, and not the I-don’t-care character the press portrays, a source in the NFF said.

Keshi had called him and asked why he is not giving his all to the team. It was a discussion, as Mikel reiterated his patriotism and commitment.

The coach then discussed tactics with Mikel, who is quite intelligent. It was about how the team could get the best out of his game. And the result has been there for all to see.

Mikel has been outstanding for the Eagles, and the good form continued to the Confederations Cup in Brazil, where the Chelsea man stood his ground, especially in the games against  Uruguay

 

 

Eagles camp resumes today

The home-based Super Eagles are expected to resume camp today ahead of the all-important clash against the Elephants at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny

Already, head coach Stephen Keshi has called 24 players to camp for the return leg of their 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying game in Abidjan on July 27. The Super Eagles lead 4-1 from the first leg last weekend.

[caption id="attachment_320145" align="alignnone" width="412"] File Photo: JOGGING ••• Super Eagles players loosening up before training.[/caption]

All the players are expected to report in Abuja today. Keshi has invited four new players, including one defender, one midfielder and two strikers, in line with a pledge to inject a few new faces following the first leg win at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

The new faces are Kwara United defender Ganiyu Ogungbe, Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Mohammed, and strikers Abdullahi Gero of Enugu Rangers and Osadinye Joseph of Warri Wolves.

Only 20 players will make the trip on July 24.

Cote d’Ivoire: Keshi invites Mba, Oboabona, 22 others

Abuja -  Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, on Thursday, called 24 players to camp to play at the final qualifying match against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan on July 27.

Ademola Olajire, the Assistant Director (Media) of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said in a statement in Abuja that the match was to qualify the team for the 2014 African Nations Championship.

He said the 24 players are expected to report in Abuja on July 15, where 20 players would be selected for the trip to Cote d’Ivoire on July 24, for the July 27 encounter.

The statement noted that ``Keshi has invited four new players, including one defender, one midfielder and two strikers, in line with a pledge to inject a few new faces, following last Saturday’s opening leg win at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

``They are Kwara United’s former junior international defender Ganiyu Ogungbe, Kano Pillar’s midfielder Rabiu Mohammed, junior international striker Abdullahi Gero of Enugu Rangers and Osadinye Joseph of Warri Wolves.’’

[caption id="attachment_358082" align="alignnone" width="412"] Nigeria's forward Sunday Mba (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal against Burkina Faso during the 2013 African Cup of Nations final football match between Burkina Faso and Nigeria on February 10, 2013 at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. AFP PHOTO [/caption]

It added that Sunday Mba, who scored two goals and made two others in the commanding 4-1 win, topped the list that also includes goalkeeper and skipper Chigozie Agbim.

Also on the list are defenders: Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Chibuzor Okonkwo, as well as midfielders Olufemi Oladapo and Ayo Saka, and forwards Muhammad Gambo, Ifeanyi Edeh and Dele Olorundare.

``Nigeria has a firm leg in next year’s finals in South Africa and Coach Keshi has promised that there will be no room for the Ivorians to attempt a spectacular come-back in the return leg at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny’’, the statement added.

THE FULL LIST

GOALKEEPERS: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC)

DEFENDERS: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars FC); Ganiyu Ogungbe (Kwara United FC); Kwambe Solomon (Sunshine Stars FC); Chibuzor Okonkwo (Enugu Rangers FC); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars FC); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars FC).

MIDFIELDERS: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers FC); Rabiu Mohammed (Kano Pillars FC);  Oladapo (Shooting Stars FC); Ayo Saka (Enyimba FC); Mohammed Jiya (Bayelsa United FC).

STRIKERS: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Gomo Onduku (Bayelsa United FC); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC); Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United FC); Abdullahi Gero (Enugu Rangers FC); Osadinye Joseph (Warri Wolves FC);

We miss Okpala, says Keshi

BY JACOB AJOM
Last week, speculations were rife that the Nigeria Football Federation had sanctioned the return of some members of Super Eagles technical crew, assistant coaches Sylvanus Okpala and Valere Houndenou  who were laid off by the football house in an unprecedented down-sizing exercise.

[caption id="attachment_377965" align="alignright" width="151"] Okpala[/caption]

A day after the team handed a 4-1 defeat to the Elephants of Ivory Coast in Kaduna, Sports Vanguard inquired from the Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi whether the expected return of his sacked assistants would materialise soon.

“I do not know when they will be recalled,” Keshi said. “As I speak, I do not know the thinking of the NFF regarding this issue. We only hope they will be recalled soon so we can continue with the project we started.”

When asked whether he was missing Okpala, Keshi chipped in, “yes we miss him. Each time we sit together or in our technical meetings, we remember him. In fact, we are missing all of them that are not here and  we hope that they will rejoin us soon.

“You know your country, they behave weirdly. We always talk about Okpala and hopefully, he will be back.”  Valere is still in the team but  Stephen Keshi pays his allowances.

 

Keshi invites 24 players for Bafana friendly

Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation Barrister Musa Ahmadu has hinted that Coach Stephen Keshi will be inviting 24 players for the August 14th friendly against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

[caption id="attachment_402610" align="alignleft" width="352"] Coach Stephen Keshi[/caption]

According to the Federation scribe, a full squad with a healthy mix of tested professionals and their local-based counterparts will be rolled out for the Mandela Challenge in South Africa.

The full squad will play.  Coach Keshi will invite 24 players; tested both home and abroad for the Mandela Challenge in Durban, South Africa and of course you know that game is coming three weeks before the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Malawi so it’s not a game he is going to toy with.  Ahmadu told futaa.com

Bafana Bafana will take on reigning African Champions Nigeria in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday, 14 August 2013 while they will also clash against Burkina Faso (who placed 2nd in the 2013 AFCON)  at the FNB Stadium on Saturday 17 August 2013.