Everton boss, David Moyes has indirectly told Super Eagles coach he would be making a big mistake if he expects Yakubu Aiyegbeni to rescue him and the Eagles in their remaining 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique in Abuja on October 11 and Kenya in Nairobi in November because the striker would need about six months to regain his goalscoring touch and sharpness as well as regaining full fitness from his serious Achilles injury.
The Nigerian returned to goalscoring form on Wednesday with the opener in Everton’s 4-0 Carling Cup victory at Hull City.
It was the striker’s first start since rupturing his Achilles at Tottenham Hotspur last November having previously made three substitute appearances after making his comeback to the first-team fold last month.
Yakubu was substituted at half-time in midweek after complaining of a slight thigh strain that kept him out the Toffees visit to Portsmouth last Saturday.
And Moyes believes it will take time for the Nigeria international to get back to peak condition after such a major injury.
“Yak is fit, but not back to the level where he was before the injury,” said the Everton manager. “When you have had a ruptured Achilles, a serious injury, the nine months out was the healing part of it.
“It might take five or six months for Yak to get back to his where he wants to be. If you’ve had a serious injury like he has, then it takes a lot longer to get over it.
“Is he back in and around the squad and bale to do bits of games? Yes, he is.
“If you can get the ball to Yak in the box we know his history of scoring goals. But maybe the team at the moment is not ready for that, we need a centre forward to contribute more in other ways.
“That’s why we need Yak to get more games and more playing time. But if there’s somebody you want the ball to fall to in the box, it’s Yak.”
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
STRIKERS CRISIS HITS FLYING EAGLES
Challenges keep mounting for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup as the team’s attacking personnel has been striped to its barest minimum.
Despite losing its second match in the tournament 0-2 to Spain on Monday, the Eagles still have an outside chance to make it into the second round as one of the four best third-place finishers from the competition’s six groups if they run up a cricket score victory over Tahiti on Thursday.
But prospects of that happening seem to be dimming after Complete Sports found out that there could just be only one striker available to the Eagles for the encounter.
Team captain, Odion Ighalo, who has led the front line for the Eagles since EGYPT 2009 got under way, talked himself out of contention against Tahiti when he bagged a second yellow card in successive matches for persistent harassment of the referee.
The Udinese of Italy marksman had got his name in the arbiter’s book for the same offence against Venezuela.
Gbolahan Salami, a winger who has played as a central striker for the Eagles in the past, is also forced out of the game after he was shown a straight red card against Spain.
The probable absence of the Nigerian junior national team’s other forward liners on Thursday is on medical grounds.
Romania-based Kehinde Fatai, who came into the tournament as the Eagles best goals prospect following his net-shaking exploits during the team’s preparation, went down to sickness even before the end of the Spain tie.
Fatai, it was revealed to Complete Sports, had complained of headache even before the match, which he started, and could not return for the second half after he started vomiting in the dressing room during the interval.
It remains to be seen how well he will recover in the next two days before the game against Tahiti as he is expected to sit out Tuesday morning’s training.
Stanley Ohawuchi, who took Fatai’s central attacking place on Monday, will himself not finish the game after he was elbowed in an off-the-ball incident in the 62nd minute.
The Bayelsa United forward, who finished the last season in Nigeria as one of the top scorers before his transfer to Atletico Baleares of Spain, would be taken to hospital and only joined the rest of the team at their hotel two and half hours after the game.
Despite being discharged from hospital, Ohawuchi was still not fully okay as he told Complete Sports that he could not stand straight and was also having problems walking, making him a big doubt for the October 1 match.
With the likely absence of four players in the Eagles attack, Nigeria could be going into their last Group B game with only one recognisable striker in Daniel Chima Uchechi.
Despite losing its second match in the tournament 0-2 to Spain on Monday, the Eagles still have an outside chance to make it into the second round as one of the four best third-place finishers from the competition’s six groups if they run up a cricket score victory over Tahiti on Thursday.
But prospects of that happening seem to be dimming after Complete Sports found out that there could just be only one striker available to the Eagles for the encounter.
Team captain, Odion Ighalo, who has led the front line for the Eagles since EGYPT 2009 got under way, talked himself out of contention against Tahiti when he bagged a second yellow card in successive matches for persistent harassment of the referee.
The Udinese of Italy marksman had got his name in the arbiter’s book for the same offence against Venezuela.
Gbolahan Salami, a winger who has played as a central striker for the Eagles in the past, is also forced out of the game after he was shown a straight red card against Spain.
The probable absence of the Nigerian junior national team’s other forward liners on Thursday is on medical grounds.
Romania-based Kehinde Fatai, who came into the tournament as the Eagles best goals prospect following his net-shaking exploits during the team’s preparation, went down to sickness even before the end of the Spain tie.
Fatai, it was revealed to Complete Sports, had complained of headache even before the match, which he started, and could not return for the second half after he started vomiting in the dressing room during the interval.
It remains to be seen how well he will recover in the next two days before the game against Tahiti as he is expected to sit out Tuesday morning’s training.
Stanley Ohawuchi, who took Fatai’s central attacking place on Monday, will himself not finish the game after he was elbowed in an off-the-ball incident in the 62nd minute.
The Bayelsa United forward, who finished the last season in Nigeria as one of the top scorers before his transfer to Atletico Baleares of Spain, would be taken to hospital and only joined the rest of the team at their hotel two and half hours after the game.
Despite being discharged from hospital, Ohawuchi was still not fully okay as he told Complete Sports that he could not stand straight and was also having problems walking, making him a big doubt for the October 1 match.
With the likely absence of four players in the Eagles attack, Nigeria could be going into their last Group B game with only one recognisable striker in Daniel Chima Uchechi.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Orelesi Goofs On Club Status
The status of Flying Eagles left back, Nurudeen Orelesi, keeps been mired in comical controversy after another mix up has seen him identified as a player of a club he left two years ago.
Orelesi, who has been impressive for the team since Coach Samson Siasia converted him from his original midfield position, had been displeased after the official squad list of teams participating at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on the FIFA website indicated that he was without a club.
It was an error of omission as the player’s club was not written against his name when the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, sent the 30-man provisional squad list of the Nigerian team to the world football governing body even before the team left Nigeria on August 29.
Secretary of the Eagles, Abdullahi Magaji, had explained to Complete Sports on Monday after the anomaly was noticed on the FIFA website:
“It was a minor error which can be rectified because there is still going to be an accreditation of the whole members of the team tomorrow (Tuesday) by FIFA where the final data of everybody will be compiled.
“So, really there isn’t much for him to worry about.”
However, during the accreditation of the team there was another blunder, but this time it was by the player himself.
When asked by the FIFA officials the club he plays for Orelesi gave FC Bonifika, the Slovenian team he left two years ago.
After featuring for First Bank of Lagos , Orelesi moved to ECO F.C of Lagos from where he went on loan to Bonifika of the Slovenian second division. Following pay disputes, the enterprising left-footed ace ended his brief spell and returned to his last Nigerian club.
In finding out that he had goofed during the short interview by the FIFA accreditation team, Orelesi said he was confused by the question that he thought he was asked to give his last club in Europe .
How comical.
Orelesi, who has been impressive for the team since Coach Samson Siasia converted him from his original midfield position, had been displeased after the official squad list of teams participating at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on the FIFA website indicated that he was without a club.
It was an error of omission as the player’s club was not written against his name when the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, sent the 30-man provisional squad list of the Nigerian team to the world football governing body even before the team left Nigeria on August 29.
Secretary of the Eagles, Abdullahi Magaji, had explained to Complete Sports on Monday after the anomaly was noticed on the FIFA website:
“It was a minor error which can be rectified because there is still going to be an accreditation of the whole members of the team tomorrow (Tuesday) by FIFA where the final data of everybody will be compiled.
“So, really there isn’t much for him to worry about.”
However, during the accreditation of the team there was another blunder, but this time it was by the player himself.
When asked by the FIFA officials the club he plays for Orelesi gave FC Bonifika, the Slovenian team he left two years ago.
After featuring for First Bank of Lagos , Orelesi moved to ECO F.C of Lagos from where he went on loan to Bonifika of the Slovenian second division. Following pay disputes, the enterprising left-footed ace ended his brief spell and returned to his last Nigerian club.
In finding out that he had goofed during the short interview by the FIFA accreditation team, Orelesi said he was confused by the question that he thought he was asked to give his last club in Europe .
How comical.
Eagles List
Enyeama Vincent
Dele Aiyenugba
Greg Etafia
Joseph Yobo
Apam Onyekachi
Yusuf Mohammed
Adefemi Olubayo
Taiye Taiwo
Elderson Echijile
Nwaneri Obinna
Adeleye Dele
Kaita Sanni
Ayila Yusuf
Nwakwo Kanu
Mikel Obi John
Ajilore Femi
Olofinjana Seyi
Eneramo Mike
Obafemi Martins
Obinna Nsofor
Obasi Chinedu
Odemwingie Osaze
Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Akpala Joseph
Peter Utaka
Danny Shittu
Etuhu Dickson
Sodje Sam
Chibuzor Okonkwo
Ekwosa James
Dele Aiyenugba
Greg Etafia
Joseph Yobo
Apam Onyekachi
Yusuf Mohammed
Adefemi Olubayo
Taiye Taiwo
Elderson Echijile
Nwaneri Obinna
Adeleye Dele
Kaita Sanni
Ayila Yusuf
Nwakwo Kanu
Mikel Obi John
Ajilore Femi
Olofinjana Seyi
Eneramo Mike
Obafemi Martins
Obinna Nsofor
Obasi Chinedu
Odemwingie Osaze
Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Akpala Joseph
Peter Utaka
Danny Shittu
Etuhu Dickson
Sodje Sam
Chibuzor Okonkwo
Ekwosa James
AMODU UNVEILS 30-MAN LIST FOR MOZAMBIQUE
FOOTBALL:
In what appears to be a sign of confusion or outright desperation, Super Eagles chief coach Shaibu Amodu on Wednesday released a 30-man list of players to prosecute the World Cup qualifier against Mozambique but which is peopled by players of questionable credentials.
Top on the list of such players is Switzerland based Yusuf Mohammed who is on the books of FC Sion but who has made only three starts for the club since making a move from Sudan.
Complete Sports’ checks also revealed that Mohammed’s teammate Obinna Nwaneri has made two starts and played another two as a substitute.
Sam Sodje who is said to be on the books of Charlton Athletic has not featured for the Addicks this season though he made seven appearances for Leeds United before moving away from Ellands Road.
France based Elderson Echiejile is not listed by Stade Rennes for the current season while Taiye Taiwo is just returning from injury.
This development leaves Dele Adeleye, Olufemi Olubayo and Joseph Yobo as well as Apam Oyekachi the only active Super Eagles defenders with their respective clubs.
It is unknown why Amodu chose to ignore other players who have been posting impressive results with their clubs. Chidi Odiah with CSKA Moscow was voted man-of-the-match and rated highly in his club’s last two matches but apparently he is not good enough to make Amodu’s Super Eagles defence.
The game against the Mambas of Mozambique is a must-win if Nigeria must harbour any hope of reaching South Africa 2010.
In what appears to be a sign of confusion or outright desperation, Super Eagles chief coach Shaibu Amodu on Wednesday released a 30-man list of players to prosecute the World Cup qualifier against Mozambique but which is peopled by players of questionable credentials.
Top on the list of such players is Switzerland based Yusuf Mohammed who is on the books of FC Sion but who has made only three starts for the club since making a move from Sudan.
Complete Sports’ checks also revealed that Mohammed’s teammate Obinna Nwaneri has made two starts and played another two as a substitute.
Sam Sodje who is said to be on the books of Charlton Athletic has not featured for the Addicks this season though he made seven appearances for Leeds United before moving away from Ellands Road.
France based Elderson Echiejile is not listed by Stade Rennes for the current season while Taiye Taiwo is just returning from injury.
This development leaves Dele Adeleye, Olufemi Olubayo and Joseph Yobo as well as Apam Oyekachi the only active Super Eagles defenders with their respective clubs.
It is unknown why Amodu chose to ignore other players who have been posting impressive results with their clubs. Chidi Odiah with CSKA Moscow was voted man-of-the-match and rated highly in his club’s last two matches but apparently he is not good enough to make Amodu’s Super Eagles defence.
The game against the Mambas of Mozambique is a must-win if Nigeria must harbour any hope of reaching South Africa 2010.
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