Mba: Rangers lose benefits

Afcon 2013 hero, Sunday Mba has finally returned to Warri Wolves. In a landmark meeting between the player and representatives of the Warri-based club in Lagos yesterday, the following terms were reached.

[caption id="attachment_358082" align="alignnone" width="412"] Nigeria's forward Sunday Mba . AFP PHOTO[/caption]

1) MBA accepts fully the ruling of the NFF and that Warri Wolves have full control of his contractual rights.

2) Despite the NFF ruling over two months ago Rangers international FC have not been unable to meet the terms of transfer requested by Warri Wolves.

3) Realising that the player needs to continue to play at the highest possible level and in the highest profile competitions and in keeping with Warri Wolves policy to encourage to the best of their ability the career paths of their players and in order not to jeopardize the international career of the player the club have agreed to allow the player to continue to play for Rangers pending his inevitable move to a club abroad.

The loan move to Rangers International does not have any financial obligation attached to it.

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);