Keshi names Alampasu, 22 others for CHAN 2014

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, on Tuesday named youthful goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu among the home-based Super Eagles who will represent Nigeria at the third African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.
Alampasu who inspired Nigeria to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup, UAE 2013 and also capped it all with the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper of the championship impressed the technical crew with his performance during the week-long camping in Abuja hence; his inclusion in the team.
Alampasu is the only successful players among the three UAE 2013 World Cup winners invited to the camp as Kelechi Iheanacho and striker Taiwo Awoniyi could not make the team at the end.
Keshi also named 'Balotelli' of Nigerian football, Gbolahan Salami in the 23-man squad which also has three members of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning team, goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim who is the team's captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Ejike Uzoenyi.
Two former Flying Eagles players at the African Youth Championship, Algeria 2013 and the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Turkey in 2013, Christian Pyagbara and Abdullahi Shehu are also included in the CHAN team.
Nigeria will begin their campaign in the competition on January 11 against Mali with hosts, South Africa and Mozambique as other opponents in group A.

The full list:

GOALKEEPERS: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC); Dele Alampasu (Abuja Football College)
DEFENDERS: Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Ikechukwu Gabriel (Bayelsa United); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Bright Esieme (Enyimba FC); Erhun Obanor (Insurance FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Ugonna Uzochukwu (Enugu Rangers); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC); Ikenna Hilary (Sunshine Stars); Abdullahi Shehu (Kano Pillars); Joshua Obaje (Warri Wolves)
FORWARDS: Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers); Gbolahan Salami (Shooting Stars); Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars); Aliyu Ibrahim (Nasarawa United); Christian Obiozor (Enugu Rangers); Ifeanyi Ede (Enyimba FC)

Caption: Dele Alampasu.

ABS open medical bay for players, officials

Nigeria National League side Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC of Ilorin have commissioned a medical bay for its players and officials ahead of the new football season.
The Bay which is located at the secretariat of the club at the Kwara Stadium complex, Ilorin is designed to take care of quick medical needs of the team in case of injuries that requires emergencies.
General Manager of the club, Alloy Chukwuemeka said that the new Medical Bay is part of management’s determination to structure the club in line with FIFA standards, as well as adherence to international best practices and professionalism.
He said that despite the club's relegation to the lower division, the management would continue to pursue the vision of the owner of the club, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON) by making it a model for other clubs to emulate.
Chukwuemeka, who is the Acting Secretary of the Club Owners Association in Nigeria, added that the location of the Bay, which is close to the stadium, is strategic in order to respond to emergencies during trainings and matches.
He restated the club management’s resolve to put the interest and welfare of its players and officials as top most priority just as he assured that the Bay will be well equipped with first-aid and dispensing materials and to be manned by a qualified team doctor, nurses and physiotherapist.
He disclosed that the club already had an existing partnership with Olalomi Hospital, Ilorin for referral cases.
ABS FC will play its first match of the season with Abia Comet FC in Ilorin to commence the 2013/2014 NNL season.

Caption: Alloy Chukwuemeka, 

Glo-CAF award: Mikel battles Toure, Drogba for Player of the Year award

THE coast is becoming clearer for Nigerian international John  Mikel Obi to become the 2013 African Player of the Year but with Ivorien duo of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba to contend with.
The  Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday announced the final three nominees for the prestigious award billed for January 9 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Both Drogba and Toure have won the trophy twice while Mikel is being shortlisted among the Top Three for the first time.
Analysts however, believe that it is going to be a straight battle between Mikel and reigning African king, Toure who plays for Manchester City as Drogba could only have less to prove in terms of achievements in the outgoing year in the colours of Galatasary of Turkey. Though Drogba singlehandedly delivered the Emirate Cup for his Turkish side with two late strikes against Arsenal; after a disappointing quarter-final finish of Cote d'Ivoire in the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.
Mikel on the other hand helped Chelsea to win the 2013 Europa Cup while he played a key role in the Super Eagles' victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He also proved his mettle during the FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil which he capped with a spectacular goal in the 1-2 loss to Uruguay.
The former Lyn Oslo of Norway player was also instrumental to Nigeria's qualification for the 2014 World Cup with his sheer brilliance.
Given the voting pattern that is synonymous with the CAF Player of the Year award, the Francophone influence remains the fear of many soccer-loving Nigerians as Mikel is the only ambassador from the Anglophone zone left in the race.
However, Nigeria's Sunday Mba looks highly placed to win the Player of the Year award, Africa based as CAF named him alongside  Mohamed Aboutreika and Ahmed Fathy also of Al-Ahly of Egypt for the coveted award.
Mba also shortlisted among the 25 footballers for the 2013 Player of the Year award it will be recalled emerged the 24th best in the 'Goal 50 award' for the best 50 players in the world won by Lionel Messi.
Mba's goal in the final of the 2013 AFCON against Burkina Faso was also rated by the world soccer-governing body (FIFA) on its website as one of the unforgettable and memorable moments of 2013.

Caption: Mikel Obi
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Nigerian media always put Super Eagles under pressure-Keshi

HEAD Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi is not happy with the mentality of the Nigerian sporting press saying that their focus is always negative.
Keshi, who captained Nigeria to win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia said in Lagos that reports from the local media that could relieve the players of burden ahead of crucial games were missing after all.
"I am sorry to say this, most of the reports we get from the Nigerian media are not helpful to the team. It always indicated that we were not strong enough against our opponents. Imagine When we played against Rwanda, there was so much pressure on us. When we played against Namibia, there was no positive things about our team but about the opposing team, it is not a good feeling," said Keshi who coached Nigeria to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) early this year in South Africa.
The man who coached Togo to the 2006 World Cup in Germany however, stated that he has since got an antidote to the local media's style.
"My players are mostly affected by these negative reports, they are thinking all the time that are these people (Nigerian media) with us or against us? but I had to do the damage.
"I used to tell my players not to be bothered. 'Don't be disturbed, it is 'we we here' that will do the job and not the press. Let us concentrate and do the right thing to win," said Keshi, who emerged the second man to win the Nations Cup as a player and coach.

Enyeama concedes goal at last in France after 1062 mins

VINCENT Enyeama's dream of becoming a record holder in the Ligue 1 in France ended on Sunday as his team Lille lost 0-1 to Bordeaux in an away fixture.
The Super Eagles goalkeeper had maintained a clean slate for 1034 minutes before the game against Bordeaux where he conceded an own goal in the 28th minute through teammate, Simon Kjaer.  
The Danish defender deflected a harmless shot by Bordeaux' Landry N'Guemo which first hit the post before entering the net  to the chagrin of Enyeama who needed 43 more minutes in the game to enter all-time record in the French league.
Enyeama shortlisted among the 25 players for the 2013 Glo CAF award last picked the ball out of his net on September 15 in the 0-2 loss to Nice.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gold medallist was chasing the record held by Gaetan Huard for Bordeaux who maintained a clean slate during the 1992-93 campaign for  1176 minutes.
Interestingly, as Enyeama is nursing the agony that befell him in Bordeaux, it turned out to be a good Sunday for Huard as he rejoiced that his record remains intact saying that "I cannot hide my relief because I was worried the record would go".

Brazil 2014: Argentina are familiar foes-Keshi

SUPER Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi is on cloud nine over the 2014 FIFA World Cup draws which pitched Nigeria in the same group with Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran saying that playing Argentina is a good one.
“The Argentina/Nigeria fixture is becoming a recurring decimal because we are meeting at every World Cup. It’s good. We will see how it goes this time,” the man who coached Togo to the 2006 World Cup in Germany said immediately after the ceremony in Salvador.
The former coach of Mali however, said the two other group opponents  Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran are not known but admitted that their qualification for the World Cup is a pointer to the fact that they are good sides. 
“Not knowing Bosnia is a difficult thing but they are a good side. I think I’ve seen them once or twice on television. Iran? I’ve never seen them (play). For them to be here means they are a good team,” said
Keshi who captained Nigeria to the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Nigeria will begin their campaign at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil on June 16 against Iran at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba.
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CHAN 2014: Keshi invites Iheanacho, Awoniyi, Alampasu, 27 others

Coach Stephen Keshi has invited three members of the Golden Eaglets who won the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup, UAE 2013 and 27 others to begin preparation for the 3rd African Nations Championship in South Africa.
The trio are Kelechi Iheanacho who won the adidas Golden Ball as the Most Valuable Player at UAE 2013 as well as adidas Silver Shoe; Sunday Alampasu won the Best goalkeeper's award and striker Taiwo Awoniyi who finished the competition with three goals.
The list has some of the Super Eagles top home-based stars and Africa Cup of Nationas (AFCON 2013) heroes in Warri Wolves defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Rangers forward Sunday Mba and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim also of Rangers, among others to jostle for shirts in the squad to South Africa 2014.
All the invited players are expected to report to the Bolton White Apartments in Abuja on Monday, December 9.
Speaking on the list, Keshi said that the nation will give CHAN the best shot adding that “We are going to the CHAN for the first time but we want to be the best at our very first outing”.
Nigeria drawn in group A will open their campaign on January 11 against Mali shortly after the opening group A game between the hosts, South Africa and Mozambique.
Meanwhile, a release by Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director (Media) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stated that seven other players have been placed on standby.
The full list:

Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC); Isah Danladi (Sharks FC); Sunday Alampasu (Abuja Football College).

Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Ebenezer Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Bright Esieme (Enyimba FC); Yinka Adedeji (Sharks FC); Reuben Ogbonnaya (El-Kanemi Warriors); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars);
Chibuzor Madu (Enugu Rangers).

Midfielders: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers); Etebo Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Ogonna Osuchukwu (Enugu Rangers); Achiv Douglas (Lobi Stars); Kelechi Iheanacho (Taiye Academy, Owerri); Mohammed Ajia (Bayelsa United); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC)

Forwards: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC); Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers); Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United); Obiozor Christian (Enugu Rangers); Abubakar Aliyu (Nasarawa United); Gbolahan Salami (3SC); Taiwo Awoniyi (Imperial Academy, Ilorin)

Standby: Happy Okuoka (Heartland FC); Bello Ikeleji (Insurance FC); Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland FC); Izuegbu Abonima (Enugu Rangers); Paul Ikenna (Sunshine Stars); John Austin Igenepo.
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Caption: Kelechi Iheanacho in a world of his own.

ABS set to name new coach, cancel Xmas break for players

ABUBAKAR Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC have concluded arrangements to name a new coach who will tinker the team in the 2014 Nigeria National League (NNL) season scheduled to begin in January.
General Manager of the Ilorin-based side, Alloy Chukwuemeka told harmonysport.blogspot.com that this followed the departure of coach Kabir Dogo to Nasarawa United.
"We will soon name a new coach, everything is in place," Chukwuemeka said just as he extolled the virtues of Dogo saying that "he is such a humble, hardworking and honest coach and we wish him luck in his new job".
ACC as he is fondly called said the management of the club has also cancelled the Christmas break for the players and officials as a result of time frame before the league kick off.
"There is not going to be Christmas break for the team because we need to do thorough screening to replace 13 of our old players who have left for bigger clubs. We have to screen the invited players more so that the coach who will handle the team must be on the ground as well. So we just have to forgo Xmas break this time and face the business at hand," said the acting Secretary of the Club Owners Association of Nigeria.
ABS relegated alongside Kwara United, Wikki Tourists and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) from the Globacom Premier League last season will open their campaign in the Nigeria National League on January 25 against Abia Comets in Ilorin.

Caption: General Manager of ABS, Alloy Chukwuemeka.