Category: Football News

Victor Moses got into a bit of hot water back in his home country during the last international break, when a supposed injury kept him out of the national team squad but not out of any Chelsea matches before or after the international break.  There were even some reports that the Nigerian Football Federation would go after the player with a formal accusation of skipping out on international duty (which apparently could be punished by a ban from club football), but that seemed like a whole lot of nonsense at the time and, sure enough, nothing ever came of it.
Regardless, the 25-year-old is back in with the Super Eagles this time around and looking to continue his stellar form — even though he’s unlikely to be playing in the some position as he has been lately at Chelsea.
“I can’t say I’m not happy playing as a wing-back, I’m the type who gives his all to his team regardless of where I’m playing from. I’m a forward minded player but I don’t mind playing anywhere to help my team.”
“Club side and national team are not the same. I can’t say where the manager will play me but I’m ready to give my best in any role.”
Moses has been a revelation at wing-back and he’s spoken repeatedly about enjoying the new role, but of course he’s experienced plenty of success both at Chelsea and at the national team level while playing as a winger.  Nigeria will need him to be at his best as they take on fellow powerhouse Algeria in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.  The Super Eagles are off to a good start in the final round of qualifiers, winning 2-1 in Zambia in October, while Algeria and Cameroon both dropped points as they drew 1-1.  Only the winner of the four-nation group advances to Russia 2018.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles arrived Uyo Tow days ago brimming with confidence and ready to pick another vital win against Algeria this Saturday in Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
The Nigerian team will walk onto the refurbished pitch on superior ground against the Fennecs of Algeria, going by the statistics of their previous encounters.
Till date, there has been 17 clashes between both teams (all at competitive level), with Nigeria winning eight times, drawing three and losing six. And Nigeria captain Mikel John Obi was less than three years old the last time Algeria defeated Nigeria, in the final of the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations in Algiers.
Super Eagles’ current goalkeepers’ trainer Aloysius Agu was the Eagles’ goalkeeper and captain that day, 16th March 1990. It was a tough game at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers, but the Fennecs won their first (and still only) Africa title when Cherif Oudjani’s long range effort beat Agu for the only goal of the match.
At that same competition, Algeria had beaten the Eagles 5-1 in the opening match. But the Eagles would remember that and pay back the Fennecs when lashing their hosts 5-2 in Oran in a 2006 World Cup qualifier on 4th September 2005.
The first clash between both countries was on 10th January 1973, during the football event of the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted. The match ended 2-2. Seven years later, the Green Eagles would thrash the Algerians 3-0 to lift their first Africa Cup title.
In their last four confrontations, the Eagles have enjoyed a winning streak against the Algerians, which is more than the three consecutive wins Algeria had over Nigeria between October 1981 and March 1982. In the qualifying race for Espana ’82, Algeria beat Nigeria 2-0 in Lagos and 2-1 in Constantine, and the Fennecs then came from behind to edge the Eagles 2-1 at the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations in Libya.
This Saturday, Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho looks set to lead Nigeria’s charge for goals against the North Africans side with Victor Moses and Oghenekaro Etebo good to also start.
The 20-year-old Iheanacho has scored in the team’s last four matches and in yesterday’s morning training he led attack while Watford ace Odion Ighalo, back in the squad after he missed last month’s game in Zambia, featured for the second team.
Ighalo has failed to deliver in a green-white-green shirt of Nigeria and he is currently struggling to score goals in his second season in the Premier League.
In a related development, Napoli FC and Algeria defender, Faouzi Ghoulam has joined the list of players sidelined with injury he suffered a groin injury wednesday.
Twenty-five-year-old left back Ghoulam has been an injury concern and now it has been announced he is out of the clash in Uyo and will not be on the flight to Nigeria tonight.
Ghoulam’s withdrawal has made it increasingly difficult for coach Georges Leekens to line up a formidable after three top players were also lost to injuries earlier this week.
Midfielders Rachid Ghezzal and Ryad Boudebouz as well as striker Hilal Soudani opted out of the World Cup qualifier in Nigeria on account of injury.
Ghezzal and Boudebouz were examined by Algeria team doctors before they were excused from the training camp, while Dynamo Zagreb striker Soudani did not even fly down to Algiers.
They have since been replaced by Baghdad Bounedjah, Yassine Benzia and Ismael Bennacer.

Defending champions of the Owerri mock Nations football competition, Mozambique may have received an added incentive towards their quest to return the trophy they won during the last edition of the tournament in Orji primary school field, Owerri North L G A.
Sports Ambassador recently gathered that Mozambique and Good Soccer FC have signed a Memorandum of understanding MOU, to work together by sharing their potentials with the aim of providing a good and formidable platform to discover nature and expose raw football talents as well as guide them through their basic academic works.
President of Good Soccer FC, Okechukwu Benjamin Nwokorie who related this development to Sports Ambassador through Mozambique team chairman, Eneberi Ernest in chart during one of the mock Nations Cup encounter at the old township stadium, Owerri recently said some players of Good Soccer FC are equally among the those representing Mozambique in the tournament who have already secured three points in their first game against Tunisia.
Speaking further, Eneberi while assuring the readiness of his team to defend the mock Nations –cup trophy, revealed that the owner of Good Soccer FC Academy who is based in Lagos, admits every category of players with special emphasis are on teenagers, is planning to extend his branch down to his home state, especially in Owerri so that young and talented Imolites can also enjoy the good gesture Defending champions of the Owerri mock Nations football competition, Mozambique may have received an added incentive towards their quest to return the trophy they won during the last edition of the tournament in Orji primary school field, Owerri North L G A.
Sports Ambassador recently gathered that Mozambique and Good Soccer FC have signed a Memorandum of understanding MOU, to work together by sharing their potentials with the aim of providing a good and formidable platform to discover nature and expose raw football talents as well as guide them through their basic academic works.
President of Good Soccer FC, Okechukwu Benjamin Nwokorie who related this development to Sports Ambassador through Mozambique team chairman, Eneberi Ernest in chart during one of the mock Nations Cup encounter at the old township stadium, Owerri recently said some players of Good Soccer FC are equally among the those representing Mozambique in the tournament who have already secured three points in their first game against Tunisia.
Speaking further, Eneberi while assuring the readiness of his team to defend the mock Nations –cup trophy, revealed that the owner of Good Soccer FC Academy who is based in Lagos, admits every category of players with special emphasis are on teenagers, is planning to extend his branch down to his home state, especially in Owerri so that young and talented Imolites can also enjoy the good gesture
Sports Ambassador is however poised to bring to your reading delight development of Good Soccer FC programme as they unfold.
Sports Ambassador is however poised to bring to your reading delight development of Good Soccer FC programme as they unfold.

The Transition Committee Chairman of Orlu Local Government Area, Hon .Bar Ijeoma Igboanusi celebrated the victory of team Orlu who emerged victors over Governor Okoroch’s home team, Ideato South LGA at the debut match of Sam Okwaraji Memorial Football Tournament organized by Okechukwu Theodore Ezeh foundation (OTEF) that ended 1-0.
Hon Igboanusi who spoke to Sports Ambassador newspaper, hailed team Orlu’s spirit which she said was exhibited through their amazing skills and technique that earned the victory.
The 2016 best TC Chairman in Nigeria revealed that Orlu LGA has always excelled in competition and charged the boys to show same team spirit for the trophy throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, Hon Igboanusi appreciated efforts of the organizers of the tournament, through the Chief Executive Officer of OTEF, Describing him as a good spirited Nigerian who deemed it fit to honor and remember a professional footballer and masters degree holder in international law who collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of a world cup qualifying match against at the National stadium Lagos 27years ago.

Yaya Toure’s only appearance in a Manchester City shirt this season came in a Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest – with his team already 5-0 up after the first leg
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has apologized to the club for “misunderstandings from the past”.
City manager Pep Guardiola has said he will not pick Toure until his agent Dimitri Seluk apologizes for criticizing the decision to leave him out of the Champions League squad.
“I wish to apologize – on behalf of myself and those who represent me,” said the Ivory Coast player.
The 33-year-old added that he wants “to help City succeed further”.
Seluk said Toure had been “humiliated” when he was not included in City’s Champions League squad.
Guardiola, who was Barcelona boss when Toure was sold to City in 2010, responded at the time by saying: “Seluk must apologize. If he doesn’t, he won’t play.
“I cannot accept as a coach, when his player doesn’t play, going to the media to speak and speak and speak.”
Asked by BBC Sport about Guardiola’s stance, Seluk then said: “What do I need to apologize for?”
Guardiola demands apology from Toure
“Those statements do not represent my views on the club or the people who work there,” added Toure on Friday, who has not played for City since 24 August.
“I have nothing but respect for Manchester City and only wish the best for the football club.
“I am immensely proud to have played a part in the club’s history and want to help City succeed further. I live to play football and entertain the fans.
“On that note, I would like to thank all of the fans for their messages through this difficult period. This means a great deal to me and my family.”
Toure, a four-time African Footballer of the Year, has scored 75 goals in 267 appearances for City since arriving from Barca for £24m.
He was won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his time in England.

New comers to the Federation Cup (FA Cup), FC Ifeanyi Uba of Nnewi and Nasarawa United of Lafia, will on Sunday test their might when they file out for the 74-year-old trophy.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah players during a training session The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FA Cup, virtually the oldest football competition in Nigeria, will witness for the first time, two teams that have never been to the final of the championship. The final will be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos on Sunday. The competition which started as War Memorial Challenge Cup in 1942, had ZAC Bombers of Lagos winning the maiden edition though it was then limited to clubs based in Lagos. The cup was renamed Governor’s Cup with improved format in 1945 and in 1954, it was again renamed Federation Cup after the promulgation of Nigeria Football Association (NFA). In 1960, after a revised format the competition, it was renamed Challenge Cup until 1999 when soft drink bottlers, Coca-Cola took up the sponsorship and consequently named it Coca-Cola FA Cup. At the expiration of a 10-year sponsorship deal with the then NFA, the competition went back to its former name, Federation Cup. The competition has a rich history of big teams contesting for honours; to them, winning is seen as a thing of pride; thereby engendering stiff competition by top teams. This has made the cup so glamorous and has also attracted unprecedented spectators to its finals wherever it is played. Shooting Stars Sport Club (3SC) of Ibadan is the most successful team in the competition, winning it eight times, while defunct Railway of Lagos won it seven times. Rangers International FC of Enugu followed winning it five times. However, in a new twist of fate, this year’s FA Cup will see two-year-old Ifeanyi Uba squaring up with other outsiders in the competition, Nasarawa United for the title. Both teams has never reached the final of the Federation Cup before; while high flying Ifeanyi Uba came fourth in the just-concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL); Nasarawa United are 11th on the log. FC Ifeanyi Uba, funded by Oil Magnate, Ifeanyi Ubah took the NPFL by storm in the last two years with club’s investment worth over N200 million. The club at the beginning of the 2015/2016 season had announced a budget of N100 million to reposition the team and the purchase of high quality players. The Nnewi-based club also employed the services of a Bulgarian tactician, Mitko Dobrev, as the Technical Adviser and a number of foreign players. The club, however, gained an instant reward with a fourth place finish in the NPFL with astonishing record of 100 per cent unbeaten home record, two draws against Lagos-based MFM FC and Sunshine Stars of Akure. En-route to the final, the Anambra Warriors defeated Ebonyi United 1-0 in the round of 64 and also sent Lobi Stars of Markudi out with a lone goal in the round of 32. The Dobrev-tutored squad edged out Kastina United 2-0 and also beat Warri Wolves in the quarter-finals. To reach the final, Ifeanyi Ubah defeated the giant killers, Crown FC of Ogbomoso 2-1 in the semi-finals at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. Speaking on the exploits of the team so far.