Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has spoken of the intercontinental futures for John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses.
Neither player was named in the Super Eagles’ squad for their impending matches against the Seychelles and Egypt.
The former is a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, even though the latter is a welcoming.
Both games will be played in Asaba.Moses retired from worldwide football, contacting time on his Nigeria vocation after the 2018 World Cup in Russia past year.
There was speculation that he could return to the Super Eagles soon after exhibiting some great form for loan club Fenerbahce, and Rohr is open to the player resuming his worldwide career.
Talking to the official website of Confederation of African Football, Rohr claimed: “I was against his global retirement and, if he altered his thoughts, he need to explain to me but I have no information and facts about it.
We are going to see.”On the situation of his skipper John Obi Mikel, who was omitted from the hottest collection, the German manager added: “He has arrived in Middlesbrough not too long ago. He told me he was not ready and wants to function after his knee damage in China.“He did not play all winter season possibly. He is not dominated out for the AFCON but could not make that match in Asaba. We will see for the potential.”
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has admitted that the injury-enforced absence of Nigerian star Victor Moses has been a major blow to his team.
The Super Eagles wide-man has missed the last nine matches across all competitions for Chelsea, having picked up an injury in a 2-1 loss against Crystal Palace in mid-October.
Moses began training with the first team last week and was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool this past weekend.
He could well make his comeback into the team during tonight’s Premier League clash at home to Swansea City.
“He is in contention but at the same time I have to make the best decision for every player,” Conte was quoted as saying by Football.London.
“For sure Victor is back from a bad injury and needs a bit of time to find the best physical condition. He is an important player for us.”
Nigerian international Victor Moses has resumed training with his Chelsea teammates.
The defender-cum-midfielder spent the last five weeks undergoing rehabilitation due to the hamstring problem he suffered against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte revealed that Moses has progressed well following the team’s 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in an English Premier League game on Saturday.
“Today the starting 11 was the same as against United,” Conte told Chelsea’s official website.
“We played well in that game and we did again today but don’t forget we have to play a lot of games in a few days, so I need all of my players.
”Victor Moses is progressing well and I hope to have him back from tomorrow, for the game after Qarabag,” he added.
“It’s important to have all the senior players in good form without injuries.”
Moses, 25, has made six league appearances for the Blues this season.
Having found his feet and successfully nailed down a spot in the Chelsea first team, Victor Moses believes that he belongs at Stamford Bridge.
Following three successive seasons out on-loan, Antonio Conte’s arrival opened the door for Moses with the Italian mentor giving the Nigeria international a chance to shine.
Moses duly took the opportunity with both hands and was one of the club’s star men as they charged to the English Premier League title last season.
The Blues rewarded the 26-year-old’s form with a new deal in March and Moses has since revealed that the contract extension gave him even more confidence.
“It [the contract] gave me even more of a boost to go out there and enjoy my football,” Moses told Goal.
“The new deal gave me a lot more confidence to say this is where I belong, this is where I want to play, this is where I want to help my team and to win trophies.
“Chelsea is one of the biggest football clubs in the world. I am happy here and enjoying it. I have always believed in myself. As a footballer it is essential to have that belief,” he concluded.
Nigeria international Victor Moses continues to make steady progress on his return to full fitness, with the Chelsea utility player pictured back in outdoor training.
Moses, 26, has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury in the Blues 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last month.
As a result, he was not selected for the Super Eagles 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria this evening. He will also play not part in the country’s scheduled friendly against Argentina.
Moses’ absence has been a major blow for the London club, but Antonio Conte is not willing to rush the former Liverpool man back into action.
Nigeria’s match against the Fennec Foxes in Constantine tonight is a mere formality with the West African’s having already booked their place at next year’s showpiece.
Chelsea’s Victor Moses (L) in action against Arsenal‘s Danny Welbeck (R) during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC
Chelsea have continued to struggle without Victor Moses, with the London club falling to a 3-0 loss away to Roma in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Moses, who is nearing a return from injury, has been massively missed by the Blues with Antonio Conte’s men to now turn their attention to their upcoming fixture against Manchester United this weekend.
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard commented on Moses’ impact at Stamford Bridge and believes that the club have missed the Nigeria international.
“Moses is a miss,” Lampard said on BT Sport when asked about the 26-year-old’s impact.
“You wouldn’t of thought that 18 months ago with what he’s given them in the right-wing back position.
“He [Conte] is covering it with Cesar Azpilicueta, he’s covering it with Davide Zappacosta but it’s affecting the whole back five.
“And I think he will want to get back to knowing what his three is and working on it through the week.
“The players are going to have to react because I don’t think Conte is a manager that will change his way. He might change players in the team but they’ll have to work,” the former Chelsea midfielder concluded.
The FA has roped in Zambian legend Kalusha Bwalya to help in the recruitment of Cranes coach as the FA could be trying to show how that national team stakes have risen.
“To coach Uganda Cranes is an honour that brings the best out of you. I have enjoyed my time hope it continues,” said Basena.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has blamed his side’s draw with AS Roma on the absence of three key players in his squad, including Victor Moses.
The English Premier League (EPL) champions were held to a 3-3 draw by Italian Serie A giants AS Roma in an UEFA Champions League in London on Wednesday.
Nigerian international Moses picked up a hamstring injury in last weekend’s EPL defeat to Crystal Palace.
His team-mate Danny Drinkwater is out with a calf injury, while Frenchman N’Golo Kanté suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty.
”We must realise we had three important players out, Kante, Drinkwater and Moses, and this gives us problems, but I am not looking for excuses now,” Conte told Chelseafc.com.
”I tried an extra defender to protect more the team, but in terms of the style and system I want to see, it must always be the same.”
The three players will miss Chelsea‘s league game against Watford on Saturday.
Chelsea‘s Victor Moses (L) in action against Arsenal‘s Danny Welbeck (R) during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC
Nigeria international Victor Moses has taken to Twitter to explain that he is “working hard” to return to fitness following his recent injury.
The Super Eagles star, who played a major role in Nigeria qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, picked up a hamstring injury in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace this past weekend.
The 26-year-old is set to be sidelined for approximately a month, which would see him ruled out of Nigeria’s final dead-rubber qualifier away to Algeria on November 10.
However, Moses put the following post up on his official Twitter page ahead of Chelsea’s 3-3 draw with Roma in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.
Gutted to pick up an injury. Working hard to get fit&back on the pitch as soon as I can!Good luck to the boys tonight come on the Chels #CFCpic.twitter.com/1JuqqXdHRd
The Blues will hope Moses can speed up his recovery from the hamstring injury, but know that he will definitely be out of commission for this weekend’s Premier League clash at home to Watford.
Despite their failure to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament, Ugandan coach Moses Basena says he is happy with how his men played against Ghana.
The penultimate Group E encounter failed to produce a winner as both sides played to a goalless draw on Saturday in Kampala.
Although the Uganda Cranes struggled to break down a resilient Black Stars team, Basena praised his team as both teams failed to qualify the the showpiece in Russia.
“We are a little bit crestfallen for drawing here in Namboole,” Basena told reporters.
“But when you draw against a strong opponent like Ghana, you don’t really lose hope and there are some positives we pick from the game.
“We are disappointed by the result but happy with how we worked especially myself as a coach.
“There are many people who doubted our ability but I am happy that we showed we can play against any team.”
Kaizer Chiefs continued with their poor run of form when they lost 2-1 in the Absa Premiership to Baroka FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
Although they scored first through George Maluleka’s stunner, Amakhosi failed to hold on to their lead.
The loss means coach Steve Komphela’s men now occupy the fifth spot with nine points from seven league games.
For the visitors, Lewis Macha and Gift Motupa scored the two goals as they continued with their unbeaten run in the 2017/18 league campaign.
Amakhosi had a bright start as they dictated the proceedings in search of an early goal and their efforts were rewarded in eighth minute.
A beautiful play by the hosts saw Bhongolethu Jayiya delivering a wonderful pass to Maluleka on the edge of the area – the midfielder unleashed a powerful shot to beat goalkeeper Virgil Vries on his right corner.
Four minutes later, Baroka looked for a quick response and the visitors made good runs on the left flank and a cross was delivered for Sipho Moeti in the box, but his touch sailed inches wide, with Itumeleng Khune moving the opposite direction.
However, the Limpopo side managed to level the scoreline in the 23rd minute after a set piece from Siphelele Ntshangase and Macha’s header beat Khune on his right post.
Both sides exchanged dominance towards the 40th minute, yet there were few goal-scoring opportunities.
However, Amakhosi fought back as they wanted to regain their lead and Siphiwe Tshabalala’s attempt from a curler went wide of the left post in the 42nd minute following a great passing game.
The thrilling encounter ended at 1-1 at half time.
Chiefs came back with more intent and their good passes in the heart of the park saw Hendrick Ekstein’s shot going over the crossbar.
Moeti received a brilliant pass in the box and the forward failed to lower his effort as he blasted his shot over Khune’s left corner.
Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele would finally get the lead when Motupa beat two Chiefs defenders before unleashing a powerful shot on the roof of the net on the hour mark.
With 30 minutes to go, coach Steve Komphela introduced Dumisani Zuma for Jayiya and they added numbers to exert pressure on Baroka’s defence and the substitute saw his effort going wide.
Despite dominating in the last minutes of the contest, Chiefs could not hit the target as Vries stood firm between the posts.
In the wake of the victory, coach Kgoloko Thobejane’s men now sit at number one on the log with 15 points from seven matches.
Moses Okoro and Moses Peter scored a goal apiece in the final five minutes of the tie to hand Nigeria a 2-0 win over Sierra Leone in a Last 16 match during the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Monday, September 11.
Sierra Leone dominated the opening exchanges and almost took the lead three minutes in when Donald Wellington drove behind the defence, but failed to beat the Nigerian keeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, in a one-on-one situation.
Ten minutes later Donald Wellington was at it again when he met a low free-kick from the right, but again he was thwarted by the Super Eagles shot-stopper.
Ikechukwu Ezenwa was certainly at his best for Nigeria between the sticks with yet another close range save to deny Nathaniel Tongo Vula in the 15th minute when he broke behind the defence.
The Super Eagles’ first real attempt on goal only came in the 22nd minute, but Samuel Mathias fired his powerful shot inches over from 25-yards out.
Ten minutes later Sierra Leone’s Lahai Coker tried his luck from long range, but his stinging shot was well-saved by Ikechukwu Ezenwa who was keeping Nigeria in the game.
Neither side could break the deadlock before half time as the teams entered the tunnel locked at 0-0.
Five minutes into the second half Donald Wellington should have given Sierra Leone the lead when he found himself unmarked and in space 14-yards out, but he fired hopelessly wide.
Nigeria took control of the match after that and came close to scoring in the 55th minute when Uche Akas drove into the box from the left flank, but his thunderous 12-yard shot struck the side-netting.
Six minutes later Uche Akas drove into the box again and while his shot was on target this time, the Sierra Leone keeper was on hand to make a spectacular fingertip save to deny him.
In the 76th minute Amadu Barrie was gifted a golden opportunity to give the Leone Stars the lead when he broke through on goal, but with all the time in the world and just the keeper to beat, he failed to do so after shooting straight at Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
Three minutes later the action was at the other end of the park when Rabiu Ali let fly with a pile-driver from the edge of the box, but the Sierra Leone keeper made a good one-handed save turn the ball around post.
In the 85th minute Moses Okoro won the game for Nigeria with the goal of the tournament thus far after curling a 22-yard free-kick into the top left corner, 1-0.
The icing on the cake for the Super Eagles was their second goal two minutes later when Moses Peter made it 2-0.
Nigeria (0) 2 (Okoro 85’, Peter 87’) Sierra Leone (0) 0
Moses Simon of Nigeria (r) challenged by Tebogo Langerman of South Africa during the 2019 Afcon football qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on June 10, 2017 in Uyo State, Nigeria. @Kabiru Abubakar/BackpagePix
As the giants of African football are set to lock horns on Friday, Nigerian midfielder Moses Simon says they respect Cameroon, but they want a win.
The Super Eagles are at home hosting the reigning African champions eyeing their third win in their quest to book a spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Simon has admitted Friday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier is not a fixture for the faint-hearted as they will do everything to grind out a positive result.
On the other hand, the midfielder also shared his sentiments on the return of skipper, John Obi Mikel ahead of the crucial encounter.
“We were not at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon when Cameroon won the trophy but we have respect for them as the African champions,” he tells CAF.com.
“We have to give everything that we have when we are going to play against them. We have to play together as a team.
“I believe we have a very good squad with the calibre of players we have in the team right now.
“We are happy to always have him (Mikel) around because he’s the leader. His presence alone is a great boost to the team and it will motivate us as well.
“We want the fans to come out to support us to win this important match on Friday. We want to keep our mind and eyes on the match in Uyo.
“Thereafter, we can talk about the return match in Yaounde. What Nigerians should expect from us on Friday is victory.”
Gernot Rohr’s men currently tops Group B with six points from two wins over Zambia and Algeria. The match will be staged at the Uyo International Stadium at 18:00 (CAT) on Friday.
The success and improvement Victor Moses enjoyed at Chelsea last season helped convince Antonio Rudiger to join the Premier League club.
The Nigerian was converted to a right wingback by Blues coach Antonio Conte and went on to enjoy his best season in English football, establishing himself as a key figure of a Premier League-winning side.
Rudiger, who joined Chelsea from Italian giants Roma earlier this month, explained that Conte’s ability to improve players like Moses was one of the reasons he agreed to join the London club.
“Of course, for me the biggest reason [to move to Chelsea] was the coach, Antonio Conte,” he told beIN Sports.
“He’s a fantastic Coach. He improved a lot of players, like last season Moses and [Marcos] Alonso.
“They had a great season and I that’s why I said I want to be a part of that.”
Henry Onyekuru has been advised by Nigerian compatriot Victor Moses to choose West Ham United over Arsenal if and when he moves to the Premier League.
Onyekuru, who is currently on the books of Belgian side KAS Eupen, is set for a big-money move to England’s top flight, with the Gunners and the Hammers set to battle for his signature.
Moses has inside knowledge of West Ham, having spent a season on loan with the club, and according to the Daily Mail he has urged Onyekuru to choose them ahead of Arsenal.
“The Nigerian [Onyekuru] wants to play for the London Stadium side despite reports in Belgium saying Eupen wanted him to go to a more prestigious club,” claims the Daily Mail.
”Onyekuru, who has one international cap, has spoken to Chelsea‘s Victor Moses about living in London and has been encouraged to make the move to West Ham where Moses played on loan in 2015-16.”
The trio of Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho will be the Super Eagles’ key players for their clash with South Africa, according to former Nigeria international Etim Esin.
Nigeria will host Bafana Bafana next weekend in the opening round of Group E matches in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Both teams failed to qualify for the 2017 AFCON held in Gabon earlier this year and they are expected to wrestle for top spot in the group, which also includes Libya and Seychelles.
Esin, who is fondly known as the ‘African Maradona’, believes the above-mentioned Premier League trio could be tilt the game in Nigeria’s favour.
“I’m happy new players were given the chance to play for the Super Eagles,” Etim Esin told Brila FM, as quoted by Allnigeriasoccer.com, in reference to players like Alhassan Ibrahim, Stephen Odey, Henry Onyekuru and Mikel Agu.
”South Africa are more organised when it comes to preparations. It’ll be a bad omen to miss out on another African Cup of Nations.
”Victor Moses is in my top list. Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho are the players we can look to.”
Chelsea defender-cum-midfielder Victor Moses is delighted to have signed a partnership with one of the most popular browsers in Africa, Opera.
The Nigeria international will be featured in the new Opera Mini TV commercial as well as a range of collaborative projects extending throughout 2018.
Opera recently announced that they will invest $100 million USD (30 billion Nigerian Naira) in Africa over the next two years.
“I am proud to be in partnership with Opera and am looking forward to working together,” Moses told AllNigeriaSoccer.com.
“The Opera team have taken me through their plans and vision for the brand in the Nigerian market and it’s made me incredibly excited about the future.
“I’m delighted to be a part of such a groundbreaking campaign.”
The 26-year-old player recently won the 2016/17 English Premier League (EPL) title with Chelsea after flourishing in the right wing-back position.
He’s expected to make the Super Eagles squad that will face South Africa in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Nigeria next month
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