John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses will not be part of
international against Burkina Faso in Kaduna.
Both players asked for permission and were excused by coach Stephen Keshi after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Malawi.
The duo were not part of the squad that left Calabar on Sunday morning for Kaduna via Abuja.
It is unclear as yet if Keshi will call up any replacements or stick with the 21 players currently en route to Kaduna.
Moses recently joined Liverpool on loan from Chelsea.
Despite the damp conditions in Calabar when they took on Malawi on Sunday, it was an afternoon of sizzling performances for the Nigerians.
Here is how we rated them:
Vincent Enyeama 7
barely had a save to make all game, as the Flames rarely ignited a spark upfront. But stayed alert when he had to.
High marks mostly for his organization of the four in front of him.
Efe Ambrose 7
With little to trouble him at the back, spent most of his time in opposition territory.
Lost the ball on one occasion after dwelling on a pass, but burst a lung to win it back.
Elderson Echiejile 7
Like Ambrose, spent most of his time upfront like he is won’t to do these days. Rarely troubled at the back
Godfrey Oboabona 8
Another sparkling showing from the centre back. Always aware, especially with his fullbacks living in the other half.
High point of his game was a typical decisively well-timed tackle to deny Nyondo with the striker clean through.
Azubuike Egwuekwe 7
Won everything in the air, leaving Malawi’s set play tactics in tatters, and still had time to join the attacking build-up.
Ogenyi Onazi 8
Was at the vanguard of the Eagles’ high-pressing game. Few things got past him
John Mikel Obi 9
Easily Nigeria’s best player. Again. Everything went through him. Weaves his way past three players to pass to Musa and score the return ball. Shame it was offside, Baffling why Saintfiet, who has been studying Nigeria’s games the ,sat two months by his own admission, did not out a man-marker on him.
Nnamdi Oduamadi 7
had one major job: to run at the defenders and trick his way in and around the box to win freekicks and penalties.
It may have happened a little dubiously, but he achieved his objective
Victor Moses 8
Peppered Malawi down one side, twisting and turning the right back with ease. Then switched flanks and did the same.
Cool conversion for the penalty
Serena Williams captured her fifth US Open title and 17th career Grand Slam singles crown after defeating Victoria Azarenka 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 in Sunday’s final.
Williams hails tough opponent
With her second title in a row at Flushing Meadows, the 31-year-old American became the oldest Open Era women’s winner in US Open history, 293 days older than Australian Margaret Court when she set the prior mark in 1973, and the Open Era’s third-oldest Grand Slam women’s champion.
Heading into the contest in New York, the world No 1 hadn’t lost a set in her previous six matches but was bothered by the brutal swirling wind and Azarenka’s strong play.
Seemingly in control in the second set, Williams was surprisingly broken while serving for the match at 5-4 and 6-5.
After Azarenka took the tiebreaker, Williams threw her racket in disgust.
“Vika’s such a great fighter and that’s why she’s been able to win multiple grand slams, so it was never over until match point.”
Serena Williams
But she soon regained her composure in the third set, breaking for a 3-1 lead when Azarenka double-faulted before capturing the title on the second match point of a thrilling, two hour 45 minute final.
She jumped around the court in celebration as Azarenka sobbed into her towel, a beaten finalist on Arthur Ashe once again.
After her win, Williams said: “Victoria played unbelievable, and what a great match. Vika’s such a great fighter and that’s why she’s been able to win multiple grand slams, so it was never over until match point.”
Williams’ success moved her to within one of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova’s 18 slam crowns and level with Roger Federer.
She won $3.6 million, including a $1 million bonus for her success as the leading player of the American hard-court season.
She is the first top-seeded champion since Justine Henin in 2007 and the first to defend the women’s crown since Kim Clijsters in 2010.
Azarenka conceded the better player had won, saying: “It is a tough loss. I gave it my all, we showed our hearts, we fought, bu
Moses, Mikel out of Today’s Encounter with Stallions of Burkina Faso
Ahmed Musa 7
Could have joined Mikel on a 9, but for his imprecise finishing.
Got in behind the defence with his pace time and again, but kept failing to finish.
Emmanuel Emenike 8
Scored one goal, missed another. But it was about his overall play. His brute force was an unending problem, and the clip for the goal was peerless.
SUBS:
Nosa Igiebor 6
Got himself into the fray immediately and was this close to a goal
Shola Ameobi 5
Continued from where Emenike left off. Unlucky not to score
Uche Nwofor 5
Plenty of running out wide, but looked like he would have liked to be more central
The players and those that didn’t play may have another opportunity against the stallions today.
We Pass Captain Armband Around For Experience _Efugh
…As Team Departs for Uyo Today
The secret behind the constant rotation of captain armband among Heartland players has been revealed as a way of motivating the upcoming players in the team as well as strengthen the wining aura.
Before now players like Bob Acholonu, Isah Akor Umoru, and many others have at one time or the other been handed the captain armband in some of the home and away games which according to the team captain Chinedu Efugh (Chicago) revealing that the reason behind that was simply to help the new and upcoming players settle into the team as quickly as possible and also to enable them gain quality experience.
In Sunday’s NPFL home game against high riding Bayelsa United at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, once more the captain armband found its way on the tiny arm of striker Happy Akuoka who performed the ceremonial captain duties until he was substituted and the armband moved on to midfield maestro Ikechukwu Ibenegbu (Mosquito).
Heartland on that day defeated the Yenogoa based side by 1 0 with a vicious strike from Bayelsa born Heartland left full back Eddy Ongolo in the second half of the game to take his teams points to 43 in as many as 30 games.
Captain Efugh who was delighted with the hard earned victory noted that with the new found motivation coming to the team now, they have resolved that it will not be in vain as they hope to finish comfortably at the end of the season to at least appreciate the support.
Heartland departed Owerri this morning to Uyo for their week 31 NPFL games against Akwa United who had a good outing in Port Harcourt were they held Sharks fc to 1 1 draw.
NPFL WEEK 31 GAMES (11/9/13)
Akwa Utd — Heartland
3SC — Sharks
Bayelsa — Rangers
Wikki — Nasarawa
Pillars — Enyimba
Lobi — Nembe City
Dolphins — Wolves
Gombe — Kaduna Utd
El Kanemi — Kwara
AbsS fc — Sunshine
WEEK 30 RESULTS
Sushine abd 3CS
Sharks 1 1 Akwa
Heartland 1 0 Bayelsa Utd
Rangers 1 0 Wikki
Nasarawa 2 1 Pillars
Enyimba 3 0 Lobi
Nembe 0 0 Dolphins
Wolves 1 0 Gombe
Kaduna Utd 2 0 Kwara Utd
ABS fc 0 0 El Kanemi
IKEOHA’S CUP RESULTS
Ikperejere 1 0 Amainyi @ Ihitte Uboma
Umueze 1 0 0 Agbaja @ Ehime Mbano
Avutu 1 0 Alike @ Obowo
FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
10/9/13
Italy — Czech Rep
Wales — Serbia
Faroe Island — Germany
Andorra — Holland
Norway — Switzerland
Russia — Isreal
Ukraine — England
Belarus — France
Egypt — Guinea
Algeria — Mali
11/9/13
Uruguay — Colombia
Paraguay — Argentina
Jamaica — Costa Rica
USA — Mexico
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES (10/9/13)
Nigeria — B/Faso
Japan — Ghana
S/Korea — Croatia
S/Africa — Zimbabwe
Spain — Chile
11/9/13
Brazil — Portugal
AFRICAN WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF QUARLIFIERS
Nigeria, Ivory Coast
Ghana, B/Faso
Senegal, Cameroon
Algeria, Egypt
Cape Verde, Ethiopia
