Oboabona snubbed again

Super Eagles defender Godfery Oboabona will again have to wait for another chance to make his long awaited competitive debut for Turkish side Rizespor as he was again left on the bench in his team’s 1-1 draw away to Galatasary on Saturday.
While Nigeria football fans are worried and the media awash with different explanations on why the Eagles defender is constantly denied any playing time, Oboabona has come out to clear the air that there is no cause for alarm and that his time will ‘soon’ come.
Meanwhile the vital away point secured against Didier Drogba’s Galatasary has temporarily taken Rizespor to the top of the log in the Turkish Super Lig.
Rizespor now have 13 points from six matches while Michael Eneramo’s Besiktas who are second have 12 points albeit from four games.
Source:THE NATION

Obiefule’s Hibernians win heavy to stay top

Obinna Obiefule’s Hibernians ensured they will stay top for of the Malta Premier League for another week with a 4-1 victory over Alfred Effiong’s Qormi on Saturday to record their sixth successive win.
Obiefule, who is yet to get a premier league goal this season, came on as a second half substitute to replace Edison Luis Dos Santos in the 61 minute while his compatriot on the opposite team Effiong was not listed for the encounter.
The Paolites moved six points clear on top the BOV Premier League table ahead of second-placed Valletta and Mosta with an emphatic win that handed Qormi their fifth defeat in six matches.
Hibernians had a perfect start taking the lead after just 35 seconds through Andrew Cohen’s header. Three minutes later, Hibs doubled the score with a low diagonal shot from outside the penalty area by Clayton Failla.
Edison Luis dos Santos increased the lead on 27 minutes with a good header off a cross by Cohen which beat the Qormi goalkeeper.
Hibs made it 4-0 on 67 minutes, thanks to a Rodolfo Soares header off a cross from the right by Clayton Failla.
Substitute Obinna Obiefule was denied by the sticks when he hit the upright with a header off a cross by Marcelo Dias from the right in the 74th minute but the visitors Qormi scored a consolation four minutes from time when Leighton Grech released Jorge Pereira da Silva inside.
Source:THE NATION

Ramon Azeez impresses against Barcelona

Nigeria Youth International Ramon Azeez gave a commendable performance against La
Liga giants Barcelona even though his team, Almeria ended losing 0-2 at home on Saturday.
The 20-year old Nigerian who was brought in just after the hour mark to replace Soriano Marco was impressive in the midfield and even going forward as he did add some bite to the Almeria side that was looking so ordinary before he stepped in.
Defeat for UD Almería on Saturday means they are winless in their last eight matches in La Liga and Braca have now extended their unbeaten run in Spain’s top flight to 19 matches.

Ambrose’s manager fears Barca revenge

Efe Ambrose was in action when Celtic emerged victorious over Barcelona in last year’s UEFA Champions League,but manager Neil Lennon is aware the Spanish giants will be out for revenge when both sides meet again on Tuesday.
The thought that Barca could achieve what eluded them last time,when they could not capitalise on a three-quarter share of possession, has absorbed much of the manager’s thoughts in the build-up to the second Group H match.
“Yes, that goes through my mind 100 per cent.That’s why Fraser Forster is so important.He made some big saves in the game last year,like the one he tipped over from Messi. He made some great saves in the Nou Camp as well”said Lennon on the Telegraph.
“If we go a goal down,can we stay in the game and force them into making a mistake?
What you don’t want is a spanking, and they will come aiming to rectify what went on last year so, yes, I’m very mindful of that as well.
“We’re playing them a little bit earlier this season, but last year they were unbeaten in all competitions.They’re unbeaten this season again.
On Saturday night Barcelona recorded a seventh straight win with a 2-0 victory over Almeria, but the result was overshadowed by an injury to goalscorer Lionel Messi, who held his thigh when he was substituted in the 29th minute.
Celtic too were 5-2 victors over Kilmarnock in a Scottish league game played on Saturday.

Nigeria zoom into U-17 World Cup final

Nigeria whipped Sweden 3-0 in Dubai on Tuesday to reach the final game of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

Sweden coach, Roland Larsson told the media shortly after the match that his team was outplayed. He then, in a subtle way, backed Nigeria for the trophy on Friday.

He said, “We lost to the champions.”

Nigeria took a 1-0 lead into the break through Taiwo Awoniyi at the 21st minute but had to wait late into the second half for the second goal. Samuel Okon and Chidera Ezeh scored the second and third goals respectively. And the third was scored within two minutes after the second as the Swedes struggled to regain their rhythm. It was a change of situation as Nigeria had rallied thrice to pull a 3-3 with the same team in their earlier Group F clash on October 22.

But it was not all smooth sailing for Nigeria even after hitting the opening goal. In the 76th minute, Sweden almost levelled after Gentrit Citaku supplied a cross that was met with precision and power by Carlos Strandberg only for Alampasu in goal for Nigeria to deny the substitute with a fine reflex save from point blank range.

From the resultant corner, Alampasu was called into action and his handling was exemplary again.

The resistance from Sweden eventually broke down in the 80th minute when Awoniyi fed Okon in the Sweden penalty area. The left-back showed great composure to curl home past a despairing Mohlin and effectively seal Nigeria’s place in the final.

Ezeh eventually made up for his missed chances earlier in the game with a simple third in the 81st minute as the three-time champions closed out the game at a canter.

The Nigerians will now meet defending champions, Mexico in the final on Friday in Abu Dhabi. Both sides met in the group stages with Nigeria running away with a 6-1 victory in Al Ain. Before Nigeria and Sweden stepped out, the Mexicans had shocked the Argentineans with the same 3-0 scoreline. Many fans of the game of football had backed Argentina to win given the unsteady start of the Mexicans in the tournament.

The semi final battles were indeed victory for Group F teams as Nigeria, Sweden and Mexico emerged from that group.

Meanwhile, Sweden will face Argentina for bronze in the curtain-raiser on Friday.