Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Neymar pays homage to Messi


The Brazilian has lauded his new team-mate's genius both on the pitch and off it and has thanked the club for the support he received upon moving to Spain Barcelona forward Neymar says that playing alongside Lionel Messi is the realisation of a personal dream.
The Brazil star made a big-money move to Camp Nou over the summer from hometown club Santos, scoring two goals in seven Liga games since his arrival. And he is thoroughly enjoying life in Spain and has been struck by his new team-mate's ability on the pitch and personality off it.

"It's the realisation of a dream and a source of inexplicable pride," he is quoted as saying by AS. "And Messi is a spectacular player, a genius. Off the pitch he is like that. Hopefully I can help him a lot on the pitch and it's an honour to play alongside him."

The 21-year-old also revealed that the club had made every effort to help him settle down when he first made the move to Spain. He added: "Thankfully, I was well received by the club, the players, the coaching staff. I feel at home already. I also had the support of Dani Alves, who helps in and out of the club."

Messi resumes Barcelona training

Lionel Messi handed Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino a boost on Monday when he returned to training after overcoming a thigh injury. The Argentine has made his comeback since picking up a thigh strain against Almeria last month and could be in contention to play against Osasuna this weekend

The 26-year-old has missed his side's last two games – a 1-0 win over Celtic in the Champions League and a 4-1 success over Valladolid – as a result of the muscle strain he sustained against Almeria last month.

The 26-year-old, who has eight league goals to his name this season from six appearances, has made a swift recovery and trained for the first time on Monday, although it remains to be seen whether he will feature in Saturday's trip to Osasuna. That game at Estadio El Sadar is followed by fixtures against AC Milan in Europe and the first Clasico of 2013-14.

Barca captain Carles Puyol also trained alongside Messi as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury that has sidelined him since March. Like Messi, Puyol is waiting to discover what part – if any – he will play at the weekend.
       

     

Monday, October 14, 2013

Nigeria hero Emenike wants to complete the job in Calabar

The Fenerbahce striker scored a brace late in the game to give the Super Eagles a 2-1 win and keep them comfortable ahead of the return leg next month. Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike has expressed joy at their victory over Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa.

Emenike cancelled out Behailu Assefa’s second half goal with a spectacular solo effort against the run of play. He then won and scored a late penalty to put the game beyond the hosts. “I’m so happy for the game, I’m really happy,” Emenike told journalists at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa.
“They played very well in the first half but we came out in the second half and said let’s [take the game] to these guys. And you could see the last 40 minutes we went to them and they could not play anymore.” The striker who won the golden boot at the Africa Cup of Nations early in the year said that their aim for the return leg in November would be to cement their place in the World Cup with an outright win. “We’re going to also play to win, not to defend. It’s our home ground and we have to go there and try to win,” he said. The return leg will be played on November 16 in Calabar, Nigeria.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Ethiopia 1-2 Nigeria: Emenike's brace shoots the Eagles closer to Brazil




Emmanuel Emenike was the hero for the Super Eagles Vs Ethiopia  2-1 victory as they signified a firm interest in making a fifth appearance in the World Cup in Brazil. as he scored the equalizer and the winner in the 89th minute. Ethiopia had gone ahead in the 56th minute when Vincent Enyeama mis-judged a cross from Assefa and the referee, Aliou Neant from Cameroon, ruled that the ball had crossed the line.

The first half started with the Ethiopians on the front foot with their fans howling and making a terrific atmosphere. And it took just two minutes for the Eagles to concede a corner kick that was quickly followed by another. Emmanuel Emenike then drove the Eagles forward and won a corner kick in the fourth minute. The first shot in anger came in the eighth minute but No. 20 shot wide.
After persistent fouling on Victor Moses, Tesfaye was shown the first yellow card of the match in the 12th minute.
Nnamdi Oduamadi then missed the first gilt-edged chance when he mis-kicked Emenike’s cross. Ethiopia then went forward and Saladin Said thought he had scored but Godfrey Oboabona made a fantastic clearance to keep the match at 0-0. Ahmed Musa had a half volley smothered by Butako and then coach Ternat Bishaw called for a water break, a call that was really confusing to the visitors.

The Ethiopians then scored a goal that could best be described as a fluke because Enyeama mis-judged a cross by Assefa and the referee ruled that the ball had crossed the line before the Nigerian goalkeeper claimed it. Stephen Keshi made changes  bringing in Nosa Igiebor for Nnamdi Oduamadi in the 63rd minute as the goal woke up the Nigerians who then went in search of the equalizer.
The Super Eagles should have equalised in the 62nd minute when Moses went one-on-one with the goalkeeper but goalkeeper Tassew did well to save at the feet of the Liverpool man. Minutes later, Keshi withdrew Moses, who had an average game and brought on Brown Ideye.
Their equalising goal came in the 67th minute when Emenike shot a thunderbolt from outside the box. Afterwards, the Nigerians went on the offensive.
Musa hit the post in the 77th minute off a terrific pass by Mikel. Nigeria went ahead for the first time in the encounter in the 88th minute when Emenike was dragged down in the box for a clear penalty.
The Fenerbahce player dusted himself off and cooly dispatched the penalty to give the Super Eagles the victory and one leg in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The second leg will be held in Calabar on November 16 at the U.J Esuene Stadium but the Nigerians will  believe that they hold all the aces.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Mikel Obi is one of the stars Nigerian look out for

Coaches Ike Shorunmu, Stephen Keshi & Daniel Amokachi

The Nigerian national team arrived in Addis Ababa on Saturday morning for Sunday’s 2014 World Cup qualifying first leg play-off match against Ethiopia. Photos by Lolade Adewuyi

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Messi with a hamstring injury and will be out of play for three weeks

The Argentina international has been sidelined with a hamstring injury but the Catalans are hopeful that he will return in time for their meeting with Real Madrid on October 26 Barcelona have confirmed that Lionel Messi will be out of action for between two and three weeks due to a thigh injury.

The 26-year-old Rosario native opened the scoring in the 21st minute of Saturday's Liga meeting with Almeria but hobbled from the field just moments later. "Leo Messi has a minor hamstring injury in his right leg," read a statement on the Catalan club's official website. "This was confirmed this morning in the Medical Services Sports City.

"The Argentine should be out for approximately two-to-three weeks, forcing him to miss two games that Barcelona has this week: on Tuesday, against Glasgow Celtic, and on Saturday, at Camp Nou, against Valladolid." Messi, who was severely hampered by a hamstring injury during the final stages of last season, should therefore be in line to make his return to action against Osasuna on October 19.

Ronaldo: We didn't deserve to win Madrid derby

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted that Real Madrid could have no complaints after their 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night. Diego Costa's 11th-minute strike proved to be the difference between the sides, thus handing the Rojiblancos their first Liga win over their city rivals since 1999. 
Speaking after the game, Ronaldo refused to make any excuses for the loss but called for a sense of perspective, despite the fact that Madrid now trail leaders Barcelona and Atleti by five points. "We did not  play well; we did not deserve to win," the 28-year-old forward was quoted by Sport.es. "Atletico scored an early goal and won the game well. It wasn't comfortable for us because we had to play against them with all their players behind the ball. So it was difficult to score.

"We should not dramatise this. We should keep our heads up, fight and keep working because we have a lot to win this year." Los Colchoneros have made an excellent start to the season, with matchwinner Costa their star performer, having scored eight goals in the opening seven league fixtures to help his side maintain a 100 per cent record.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Iniesta: I am not at war with Barcelona



Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has spoken out about the uncertainty surrounding his future, insisting that negotiations for a new contract are going according to plan. The club are keen to offer him a renewal on his terms, but reports suggested that the 29-year-old was reluctant to sign a new deal, with his current contract expiring in 2015, and Paris Saint-Germain said to be monitoring the situation.
However, Iniesta has rubbished such claims by restating his desire to end his playing career at Barca, explaining that a new agreement was in the interest of all parties. “There is nothing strange or any war going on between Barca and Iniesta. The club wants me here and I want to stay here,” he said at a press conference.

Iniesta also rejected any suggestion that the delay in negotiations was because of financial considerations, instead asserting his desire to better himself as a footballer during the seasons ahead at Camp Nou. “This has nothing to do with money or whether I am the second, third, fourth or fifth best paid player,” he continued. “What motivates me is knowing that I have some good years ahead in which I can keep improving and growing as a player.”

“The most important thing is that we are all getting to play a role and feel useful,” he said. “Nobody likes being dropped, but it happens to us all.
“You have to take things as they come. The coach has to make his decisions and the first thing on his mind is the decision which benefits the team.”