Sports
‘Mikel Ready To Die For Eagles’
Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi played one of his best games for the Super Eagles against Kenya last month in Nairobi, setting up two of Nigeria’s three goals and generally dominating the midfield in the later stages.
It has now emerged that the midfielder was so desperate to play the game that he knocked on coach Shuaibu Amaodu’s door on the eve of the game pleading for a place in the starting line-up.
Mikel had been on the mend following an injury sustained while at his English Premier League Club, Chelsea, leading Amodu and his coaches uncertain about his match fitness or psychological state, and a decision was taken to leave him out due to the critical nature of the game.
A team source told Tidesports’ source that after finding out that he might be left out of the line-up, Mikel went to coach Shuaibu Amodu to ask that he was fit and willing to play.
“The coach told him that he was not sure if he was in the right physical and psychological state to play the game, but Mikel surprised Amodu when he said “coach, I am ready to die for you today if you play me.
“We need this World Cup ticket and I am ready to do everything for us to win this match, Amodu told him he would consider the request,” the team official informed the source.
After considering with his assassins, Amodu decided to name the Chelsea star in his starting line-up and the midfielder immediately took charge, specially up to the first time at the pre-match prayer huddle where he charged his teammates to give everything for the World Cup ticket.
The Super Eagles on Monday in Bissau beat hosts Guinea Bissau 1-0 to reclaim leadership of Group A in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Moses Simon’s penalty kick after 29 minutes gave the Nigerian senior men’s football team the needed win to move to nine points after four matches.
They have now upstaged from the apex position Guinea Bissau who toppled them on Friday in Abuja with a 1-0 win.
Guinea Bissau are with seven points from four matches and in second place, ahead of Sierra Leone who have five points from four matches.
The Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will next face the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in a Match Day 5 fixture.
Nasarawa United Football Club, Lafia, has unveiled eight new players for the remainder of the 2022/23 league calendar
The newly acquired players comprise one goalkeeper, four defenders and three attackers.
A release signed by the Media Officer of the Club, Eche Amos and made available to Tidesports yesterday, said Goalkeeper, Mohammed Galadima and central defender, Victor Collins both returned to the club after spells at Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi and Amanat Baghdad FC of Iraq, respectively.
Right full-backs, Samson Vandi Drambi and Nelson Abiam joined from 2nd division side, EFCC FC of Abuja, while Nelson Abiam joined from premier league side Wikki Tourists FC, Bauchi. Full-back, Aminu Yusuf joined from neighbouring Lobi Stars FC, Makurdi.
The trio of centre forwards, Kazeem Abdulrafiu, Isaac James Ogiri and Kolawole Daniel inked the contract papers from Ruqayya Football Academy of Kaduna, ABS FC of Ilorin, and Gombe United FC, Gombe, in that order.
The unveiling ceremony took place last Wednesday in Lafia.
Each of the players is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear as the Solid Miners prepare to overturn their current position on the league standings.
In another development, Nasarawa United yesterday defeated border neighbours, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, in an explosive friendly game decided at the Sports Complex of Federal University, Lafia, to fine-tune both teams ahead of the resumption of the second phase of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League.
If not for the high level of corruption in Nigeria football administration, the country would have produced lots of football stars, former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside said.
According to him, the country has a bunch of good and talented players like Victor Osimhem, but because of corrupt administration, many young players were deprived to get national call up.
Idah made the assertion last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after Rivers United FC defeated Rangers FC 1-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
He revealed that he will come back to Nigeria with the view to promote and develop football, following the experiences gained outside the country.
“If I was elected as the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) a lot of things would have changed in the football administration.
“ I have come back to Nigeria, Port Harcourt, my base with all the experiences I had gained around the world to see how one can be involved in the development of the game.
“ Football is my game, I have sacrificed a lot for the development of the game” Idah said.
He congratulates Osimhen for his impressive performances in the Italian League, adding that what he expected Osimhen to do was to win World best or Africa footballer of the year.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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