Category: Front News

According to reports making the rounds, captain of Super Eagles of Nigeria John Obi Mikel could be heading to China on a deal reportedly worth 170,000 pounds a week.
Shanghai SIPG reportedly contacted his representatives with the offer after the last international weekend, but the 29- year old who is yet to play a game at Chelsea under new manger Antonia Conte asked for more time to mull over the offer.
Last season Mikel turned down a move to Shanghai Shenhua opting to remain with Chelsea where he would be a free agent next summer, a condition that gives him the authority to talk to interested clubs in January.
A nominal transfer fee in the region of 2.5m pounds would be paid to Chelsea for the second longest serving player in the team behind Captain John Terry.
Mikel currently earns 80,000 pounds a week at Chelsea a figure that makes him the highest earning Nigerian player in Europe but second behind Obafemi Martins who plays for Shanghai Shenhua in China on the overall list.

One of the brightest Nigerian born defender who failed to don the green and Jessie of the Nations Super Eagles Angelo Obinna has finally revealed why he couldn’t play for his father land.
Sports Ambassador reliably gathered that the former Torino FC, Juventus  and now West Harm United of England defender was contently asked to pay some amount of money by some of the officials in NFF who where apparently seeking for their selfish interest instead of their Nations growth.
A very close source to the tall and lanky central defender who uses the left leg comfortably informed that some of the officials who are no longer with the NFF (names withheld) misinformed him that he would have to pay his way to and from Nigeria each before he can be called up to the Super Eagles as well as pay certain amount to them, a situation he found very absurd hence his decision to look elsewhere.
In his words, though I have missed playing for my father’s country, I still have that hunger in me to help the development of football in Nigeria.
“Given the right opportunity and platform I still want to be part of something good in moving Nigeria football forward”, Angelo said.
Angelo Ogbonna was born  to Nigeria parents who hail from somewhere around Obinze in Owerri West LGA, Imo state His parents were said to have immigrated to Italy from Nigeria in 1983 and settled in the city of Cassino , central Italy.
He has been a member of the Azzuris as the National team of Italy is called. The ebony black player is said to have obtained his Italian citizenship on his 18th birthday and was with the Azzuris at the Euro 2016 in France recently.
Ogbonna’s story may not be different from many other Nigerian born players who are playing or aiming to play for countries they migrated to such as Jordan Ibe, Dele Ali of Tottenharm, Anya of Scotland and many others.

The maiden edition of the Imo State All Progressive Congress APC, Football competition is set to kick-off this December.
Speaking to Sports Ambassador on the new innovation which was branded the brain child of his Excellency the Governor of Imo State Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, a local organizing member of the competition, who doubles as the Owerri zone APC youth leader, Sir Canice Amadi disclosed that all is set for the mother of all football tournament which according to him is so dear to the heart of the Imo State Governor.
Sir Canice stated that the governor apart from aiming to unite Imo youths with soccer which is arguably the most unifying factor globally also intends to select talented football players during the tournament to form a formidable team that will later play Heartland FC of Owerri and possibly take brilliant once into the Naze Millionaires.
While disclosing other members of the LOC which includes Hon Ugochukwu Nzekwe (chairman LOC), Hon Charles Amadi(APC Chairman Owerri-West), Ifeanyi Okoroafor (Okigwe zone APC youth leader), Philip Amagba (Orlu zone APC youth leader), Mr Chuks Onuoha and Mr. Bath Akobueze, Sir  Canice said they will work in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth and Sports under High Chief Rodney Ajaelu, Commissioner for Youth ,Sports And Public Safety.
The competition, Sports Ambassador gathered  will involve  all the 27 LGA’s in the state as all the INEC wards in each local government will play each other first on knock –out bases as the best teams from their LGAs  will proceed to engaged their counterparts from other local government and then to the quarter, semi and final stages.

Bournemouth winger, Jordan Ibe is willing to rescind his initial decision and pledge football allegiance to Nigeria.
The former Liverpool ace initially turned down pleas to play for the Super Eagles when approached by former Eagles gaffer, Sunday Oliseh, but is now ready to make a U- turn.
A source close to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said: “Jordan is willing to listen to what we have to offer.
“We are hoping he finds the project enticing enough to dump England where he is a youth international and play for Nigeria at senior level.
Ibe has played for England at all levels from U- 18 and has four U-21 caps. The cherries star was reportedly a victim of a 25,000 dollar’s robbery earlier this month. The ex-Liverpool winger was understood to have been hit by a vehicle containing four men, who threatened Ibe with a knife before taking off with his watch on November.

Ex – Nigerian international and USA 94’Olympic Gold medalist Emeka Ezeugo have said that the Nigeria Algeria clash will be a tough one haven played pretty well against Zambia and won away in the opening encounter of the qualifying series for Russia 2018 world cup.
Emeka Ezeugo revealed that the game against Zambia was the first time he saw a Nigerian side play a compact game, “they were collective in defense and attack, for more than twelve years I haven’t seen anything like that” he maintained that if the super eagles approach their game the way they did in Zambia, they will triumph over Algeria in Uyo.
The Ex international noted that the North Africans are technically better than the Super Eagles who were lot better individually, but charge them for victory through their collective performance and explosive attacking mindset, “if they play the way they did against Zambia, they would definitely have them loss against us at home”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, the crucial encounter is slated for today, Saturday 12thNovember 2016 in the capital city of Akwa-Ibom, as players are charged to rise-up to the big occasion.

The NFF signed a three-and-half -year contract with Nike in 2015 that will see the US-based sport wear giant provide products worth $3.75m.
The home kit is a solid green shirt, with white ribbing around the back of the modern crew neck collar featuring Nike’s Dri-FIT technology.
Nike’s Dri-FIT technology draws sweat away from the body to the exterior of the shirts and shorts, where it quickly evaporates. This allows players to perform at their best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable.
And Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, a Nike athlete, is looking forward to wearing the new kit against the Greens in Uyo.
meanwhile, Nigeria senior national team  wore a new set of jerseys as they emerged victors against Algeria in the  FIFA World Cup qualifier, with goals from Victor Moses and Mikel Obi..

Kanu Nwankwo believes the Nigeria’s Super Eagles have a great chance of beating Algeria’s Desert Warriors in Saturday’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier in Uyo.
The two sides meet toe to toe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium with a win for Nigeria guaranteeing them top spot in Group B after match day two.
Kanu says the attitude and body language of the players fills him with enormous confidence that a win could be on the cards for the Super Eagles on Saturday.
“I can see the joy and happiness in our Super Eagles players,that’s sign of good team spirit and the will show it in the game against Algeria,” Kanu wrote on his official twitter account, @papilokanu.
Kanu, who scored 12 goals for Nigeria at senior level, earning 87 caps for the Super Eagles between 1994 and 2011.

The first stage of Heartland FC flash screening exercise came to close at the old Stadium in Owerri this afternoon with three different set matches between the Trial Team and the Imo State Festival Team.
The trial team lost the first game 1-0, won the second game by the same margin and ended the third set on goalless.
Coach Ramson Madu declared the exercise as successful after about 23 young players were picked from a pool of about 250 players who took part in the exercise.
Those chosen will be further invited for trials in the next stage of the talent hunt exercise which will come very soon.
Heartland FC ‘Trial Team’ later defeated on day Four Imo State Sports Festival Team 1-0 in one of the three trial matches that took place at the Old Stadium, Owerri.