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Nigeria's U-23 Team Land In Lagos Following AFCON Victory (Photos) / Samson Siasia Flaunts The U-23 Trophy And His Medal (Photo) / All The News About The Golden Eaglets (U-17) HERE! (2) (3) (4)
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| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by Nobody: 12:18pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
tbaba1234:Please how old is mikel |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by BascoVanVeli(m): 2:46pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Napoleon55: But he is right, he is much better than he has shown. I expect him to get more clinical in front of goal and he has many more tricks in the bag. Maybe he is just being too honest. 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by enomakos(m): 3:14pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
joseph1013:hope they paid their money ooo |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 3:20pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
[b][size=14pt]Chelsea's Mikel John Obi: How Rio 2016 Olympics plane trouble grounded my hopes of leading Nigeria at opening ceremony[/size]  My Olympics adventure took a while to take off but the Nigeria football team have certainly been flying since we arrived in Brazil. Not everything went according to plan at the start, mainly because there seemed to be a problem getting a plane big enough to take us from our training base in Atlanta to Manaus for our first match. I will never forget going to the airport and seeing this tiny aircraft that had been booked for us. It was so small and only had room for about 25 people. I don’t know how they expected us to get on that plane, we all have families. We were also told that it would need to make two stops on the way to refuel, fly overnight and take eight hours. I had to step up for the team and told them we have to get a better plane or we will wait in Atlanta. Thankfully a better plane came out of nowhere and we ended up on a direct flight, that took us just five hours. But it meant we only arrived on the day of the game and I think it contributed to the crazy opening match against Japan. We won 5-4 and the goals just seemed to be flying in all over the place. Significantly, with more time to prepare, Nigeria won the next match with Sweden 1-0 and everyone was far more compact. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up carrying the Nigeria flag at the opening ceremony as expected. Our first two games were in Manaus and we arrived so late, we didn’t have the time to arrange for me to fly to Rio straight after the Japan match and then come back again to face Sweden. We decided it was going to be too much for me as it takes four hours each way. It was obviously disappointing. I watched some of the ceremony but then I got a bit too emotional and had to switch off because I knew I was supposed to be there. But that’s life and I still have a lot to be excited about. We are already in the quarter-finals, regardless of the result against Colombia in our final group game tonight. Everyone is determined to carry on the momentum and keep winning, so we won’t be taking it easy this evening. There is also a possibility that we might get the hosts Brazil in the next round but I say “bring it on”. If we don’t face them now, we could play them later so there is no point being worried about them or anyone else in the tournament. After all the drama of getting here, the dream of winning the gold medal is the only thing on my mind. http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/sport-olympics/chelseas-mikel-john-obi-how-rio-2016-olympics-plane-trouble-grounded-my-hopes-of-leading-nigeria-at-a3316351.html[/b] 2 Likes |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by tbaba1234: 3:22pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
MuhdG: 29-30 2 Likes |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 3:31pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
[b][size=14pt]Chelsea's Mikel John Obi: Antonio Conte told me to bring home Rio gold[/size]  Mikel John Obi believes he owes his career to the Nigeria team that won Olympic gold in 1996. Now he wants to inspire the next generation. The Chelsea midfielder was just nine when a team featuring Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha shocked the world by beating Brazil and Argentina on their way to becoming the first African nation to be crowned champions. What he had once seen as just a hobby took on a whole new meaning and Obi set out to emulate his heroes. Twenty years later and he has that chance as he prepares to represent Nigeria in the Games for the first time this month. As he arrived in Rio at the weekend, Obi reflected on how his life was changed by the heroes of 1996. Chelsea's John Obi Mikel to miss start of Premier League season after being included in Nigeria squad for 2016 Rio Olympics “Watching Nigeria beat Brazil in the semi-final and then Argentina in the final really inspired me,” Obi told Standard Sport. “I was just kicking a football around for fun back then in the streets. But after seeing Nigeria win the gold medal, I changed. “I realised that football is amazing and you can do something incredible. All my friends and everyone around me could talk about was the final. We kept playing football. We kept getting into trouble with our parents for not coming back early, for playing football rather than doing our homework. “The 1996 team inspired me and my friends and I’d like to do the same thing for the current generation at home.” If Obi leading the team out as skipper for their first game against Japan on Thursday night is not special enough, he will then have an even greater responsibility 24 hours later. For the player who moved to Stamford Bridge in 2006 is also captain of the entire Nigeria Olympic team, so will carry the flag during the opening ceremony. As far as Obi’s achievements go, only winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 comes close. “To be my first Olympics and getting this huge honour made the tournament 10 times as exciting for me,” he said. “I was like a kid that had just been given their first piece of candy when they told me. It’s up there with the Champions League, which was the pinnacle of my career, for different reasons. “To carry the flag of your country at an Olympics is absolutely amazing. You’re leading a whole nation going into the biggest sporting event there is. To represent the flag of Nigeria, not just the football team, is incredible.” A number of competitors will miss the Games because of fears over Zika but Obi insisted there was never any doubt in his mind about travelling to Rio because of the virus. “It never crossed my mind not to go,” he said. “The Zika virus has affected a lot of people in Brazil and South America but it’s not something that would stop me from trying to achieve what I have always wanted to achieve. “I think the whole Zika virus story has been mostly blown out of all proportion. Yes, it is there, but there is a bigger picture here and I am willing to be part of that. We have a young team that are definitely good enough to do what the 1996 team did, even though a few Premier League players, like Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho, weren’t released.” The only thing that did make Obi think twice about boarding the plane was leaving his club at a time when coach Antonio Conte is making plans for his first season in charge after leaving his job as manager of Italy following their Euro 2016 exit. Should Nigeria progress to reach the final on August 20, Obi will miss the first two matches of Chelsea’s season. With £32million signing N’Golo Kante adding to competition for places in midfield, Obi will be at a disadvantage when he rejoins the Blues later this month. “It is difficult to leave Chelsea at this time,” he said. “But I explained to the club why I wanted to go and I thank them for their understanding and allowing me to be a part of this. Antonio Conte tells Chelsea to let the football do the talking as they plan Premier League title fight “The coach also gave me his blessing. He told me to make sure I do well and bring back the gold medal! “Obviously, it is hard to be away because I want to impress the new coach. I had one week of pre-season training and you need more than that if you want to prove yourself to a new manager who wants to change everything around. “It is a risk that I have taken but I am willing to stand by that. I hope after the Olympics I can go back and prove myself.” However, this would not be the first time over the past decade that his first-team place has been put in doubt only to feature regularly throughout the following campaign. “I have always been there with every manager at Chelsea,” said Obi, who has won 10 honours at Chelsea and is the second longest serving player behind captain John Terry. “I have always managed to find my way through, to get past all the doubters and critics. “I have always had to work very hard to earn my place. It’s never been handed to me on a plate. “I know what the coach wants, I know what’s at stake. As soon as the Olympics is done, I will go back knowing I can do something [for Chelsea].” Returning to west London with a gold medal around his neck should certainly help him do just that. http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/sport-olympics/chelseas-mikel-john-obi-antonio-conte-told-me-to-bring-home-gold-from-rio-a3309851.html[/b] |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by goldfish80(m): 4:01pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
joseph1013: Mikel has grown into a humble leader. I guess it has to do alot with having a baby. That process certainly changes every man. Earlier in his career, he snubbed national team invites forming big boy, believing his whole hype that he plays in a better club than every other person. But this version of Mikel is a huge inspiration to everyone around the national team. Atleast he is lucky he ammended his ways earlier because people like Okocha never got the 2nd chance to change some things they could have done differently durring their active days while playing for the national team. Germany 2006 word cup as a case study. 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by thegoodjoehunt3(m): 6:25pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
“I have always been there with every manager at Chelsea,” said Mikel Obi, who has won 10 honours at Chelsea and is the second longest serving player behind captain John Terry. “I have always managed to find my way through, to get past all the doubters and critics. “I have always had to work very hard to earn my place. It’s never been handed to me on a plate. “I know what the coach wants, I know what’s at stake. As soon as the Olympics is done, I will go back knowing I can do something [for Chelsea].” This is something I have explained to people and they miss it. Mikel is not lucky or fortunate to last this long at Chelsea. It was not by chance he was part of the greatest part of Chelsea's history. There were always players fighting for his place at Chelsea. From Belleti, Ginkel, Romeu, Essien, Lasana Diarra, Geremi, Matic, Ramires, Meireles etc. It took perseverance, patience, hard work and PLAYING WELL to make him one of the most capped players in the history of Chelsea. If people consider the obstacles and challenges Mikel faced to get to where he is, they will appreciate his dedication to the team. I hope and Pray Mikel achieves his Olympics dream. I now get why this is a big deal for him. I hope he keeps his young team mates motivated. 2 Likes |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by thegoodjoehunt3(m): 6:39pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
goldfish80: Mikel was always motivated and humble. He was not forming big boy but he was the only Nigerian playing at a very high level at that time. When he got the call to the Olympics, Chelsea released him late. There was a deadline set by Coach Siasia and the coach used to act strictly before. Miss my deadline, do not bother coming. Mikel made it to camp, many times before others. News like that do not make headlines. What made headlines were Chelsea holding Mikel back for some friendly games. He was a young player then with legends ahead of him. The likes of Essien, Malouda, Ballack, Kalou etc in the squad. Keeping his place was a big battle. Meeting up our friendlies was difficult for the young man but people counted it as forming "Big Boy." Just as the battle between Manchester United and Chelsea for Mikel's signature (which started before the U20) caused Mikel to arrive the U20 games late. That was why Mikel lost the 10 shirt and Captain band to Isaac Promise. Most Nigerian media presented the situation as forming big boy, instead of a difficult time for a young boy to leave Chelsea for National duties. The same way people and media refer to Victor Moses plea to rest during international breaks we have friendly matches. Media outlets report it as Victor Moses forming "Big Boy." NFF suspended Moses, their reason, he selects his games to play for Nigeria. They are not thinking of the challenges the young man is facing in his career because of injuries. If the doctors advice him to cut some games, our coaches and the NFF should support Victor Moses by leaving him out of the Friendly matches. Instead they suspended him. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 9:23pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
[size=14pt]SIASIA MAKES 5 CHANGES FOR COLOMBIA, BUT MIKEL, ETEBO IN[/size]  Samson Siasia has made five changes to his starting XI against Colombia with goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Kingsley Madu and Umar Aminu starting for the first time at Rio Olympics. The other two changes are Sadiq Popoola and Effiong Ndifreke. Skipper Mikel Obi, Azubuike Okechukwu as well as the central defence pair of William Troost-Ekong and Sincere Seth remain for this final group game. Kick-off time is 11pm Nigerian time. Starting XI Daniel Akpeyi – Effiong Ndifreke, Kingsley Madu, Sincere Seth, William Troost-Ekong – Azubuike Okechukwu, Sodiq Popoola, Mikel Obi – Ogehenekaro Etebo, Umar Aminu http://africanfootball.com/news/636859/Siasia-makes-5-changes-for-Colombia-but-Mikel-Etebo-in |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by tbaba1234: 9:38pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
good starting line up.... 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by BascoVanVeli(m): 9:40pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Our allstars are doing ok, 1-1 against valencia. 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by thegoodjoehunt3(m): 9:43pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
joseph1013: Very Brilliant starting line up. He kept the spine of the team. Coach Siasia is taking this seriously. Teo Guiterrez, here the Dream Team comes. Very tough encounter expected. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by thegoodjoehunt3(m): 9:46pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
joseph1013: This is a very good chance for Coach Siasia to test his system against a talented attacking side. Sincere Seth also needs more game time to get used to the Central Position. We have tough games coming up and we need Sincere Seth up to speed with the role. Fly Eagles Fly. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 9:53pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Watching Valencia (Esp) vs NPFL All-Star (Nig) now. So good to see Obinna Nwobodo balling. As at 66', it's 1-1. 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by lakesidepapa(m): 10:10pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
joseph1013: Are we playing with these 10 footies? |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 10:16pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by bigomoh: 10:44pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Is it true that the match won't be aired on Supersport? |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by phamarsenal: 11:00pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
pls which channel is showing d match on mobdro |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 11:05pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
DSTV is not showing it. And I can't even find a link to stream online. I will keep checking |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 11:07pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Just got this: http://www.usagoals.net/football/1634412/1/colombia-u23-vs-nigeria-u23-live-stream-online.html Watching it now 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 11:09pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Columbia leading 1 nil |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by tbaba1234: 11:16pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
joseph1013: dstv 437 |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by BascoVanVeli(m): 11:21pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
What a save |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by tbaba1234: 11:23pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
team is not playing too well.. Madu is showing his defensive frailties. Madu and Seth responsible for the goal. Madu was out of position. Seth was not aware of his surroundings. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 11:28pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Columbia's defensive structure is quite impressive. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by tbaba1234: 11:28pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
two wingbacks. madu and ndifreke very poor defensively. aminu umar offering nothing. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 11:29pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Etebo is getting a club after this tournament. Dude is a baller 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 11:30pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
Etebo misses a very fine chance...played nicely by Sadiq Umar 1 Like |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by BascoVanVeli(m): 11:31pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
We need to get better in the air. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by tbaba1234: 11:39pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
why is ndifreke not falling back when the ball is lost. It should be instinctive. |
| Re: All The News About The Olympic Eagles (U-23) HERE! by joseph1013: 11:39pm On Aug 10, 2016 |
We need to move faster on the ball and make those counter attacks count. Popoola is slacking. |
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