ODUAMADI TO QUIT AC MILAN

Super Eagles prospect and AC Milan rookie, Nnamdi Oduamadi is set to quit the Rossoneri for elsewhere as the body language of club coach, Massimilliano Allegri indicates the talented youngster may not feature in the side's 1st team plans for next season. According to Oduamadi, Allegri favors other established players in the squad and is unwilling to give him a meaningful chance to prove himself.

In a bid to get better Oduamadi insists he would not mind a move elsewhere on loan so as to get more playing time and also improve himself. Oduamadi has hailed the recent transfer of Olympique Marseille of France defender and national teammate, Taiye Ismaila Taiwo to the San Siro outfit but also noted that he may not be available next season to play alongside his more illustrious compatriot.

Oduamadi, 20, revealed to brilafm.net that he craves to play regularly for the Rossoneri but coach of Milan, Massimo Allegri will not allow him to do so as he prefers the more established attackers in the team.

“It is a good thing Taiye Taiwo is joining me at AC Milan, am very excite by the prospects of having a national teammate join me at the San Siro. I may not be around here to play alongside him next season because i may have to leave for another club on loan so as to get more playing time. The coach is not even helping matters as he only prefers the more established players in the squad,” he explained.

Osaze admits: I need a break

Nigerian and West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie is going to consult with Albion’s medical team to establish a summer fitness programme after admitting he needed a break.

The Nigeria international is not due to pack away the boots that have fired 15 goals in the Baggies’ best Premier League campaign until the second week in June, because of a promise to play in a testimonial for a former Albion forward, Nwankwo Kanu.

Odemwingie said: “I have international duty to prepare for as soon as the Premier League season is over. We’ve got a prestige friendly against Argentina and then a qualifying game against Ethiopia. That is on June 5. After that I have to play in Kanu’s game in Lagos on June 11. It’s not a serious game but Roy Hodgson wants us back by July 4. I need to get to the beach because it’s been a couple of years since I’ve had the chance to do that. I need a nice break but I need to see the medical people here to see how best to go through the summer, or what there will be of it.”

The Albion favourite is determined to keep up his level  of fitness which he reveals has improved as his season has gone on, after initial injury problems coping with the demands of the Premier League.

He said: “It’s a difficult league to play in. Very physical, very fast. You don’t have much time on the ball at all, the teams press a lot but I think I have been lucky, playing the type of football which suits me. When I arrived I spoke with the gaffer at the time, Roberto Di Matteo, about how I would play and it became clear to me the system was similar to the one I played in with Lille. I said ‘yes.’

“I’ve felt good physically, my endurance levels have definitely been raised. That’s why I feel physically good. More energy will give me extra chances to score. I now feel strong enough to cope with the intensity of football in this division.”

Odemwingie, a £2million signing from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow, will also hope to agree an improved contract with Albion in recognition to his major contribution to the campaign.

And the 29-year-old does not foresee problems, saying that all the signals from the Hawthorns hierarchy are “positive.”

Yobo closer to first Euro glory

Nigeria skipper Joseph Yobo

 

 

Nigeria skipper Joseph Yobo is only a win away from grabbing a Turkish League winners’ medal after his club Fenerbache thrashed Ankaragucu 6-0 at the weekend.
This would be the first major honour for the 30-year-old defender since he moved to Europe in 1998.
Fenerbache, who have compiled an amazing run of 16 wins and a draw in their last 17 games, are tied on 79 points from 33 matches, same as champions Trabzonspor.
They now have to win away at Sivaspor on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the championship.
Last season, Yobo’s club lost the title on the last day of action when they were held to a draw by eventual champions Trabzonspor.
Yobo, who is on a season-long loan from English club Everton, has so much stabilised the defence of the Istanbul giants that they have set a European record this season as they are yet to let in a goal in the last 853 minutes of action at home.

SuperSport United want Arokoyo

Outgoing Premier Soccer League champions, SuperSport United, have expressed interest in the services of Nigerian junior international, Gbenga Arokoyo.

SuperSport.com has learnt that the South African club was impressed with the performance of the young defender during the just concluded Africa Youth Championship, in South Africa. Arokoyo, who played all Nigeria’s matches during the AYC and was brilliant in the heart of the defence, confirmed the development, "SuperSport United have made a serious bid for me and they want me in South Africa for medical.”
Arokoyo is the second Nigerian defender after former Enyimba captain, Ajibade Omolade, to be linked to Matsatsantsa as Gavin Hunt continues to re-build his side ahead of next season.
However, SuperSport.com understands that the South African side will face stiff competition from French and Belgian clubs in their quest to secure the Kwara United defender, who is on loan from the Ilorin based Kwara Football Academy.
“We’re still monitoring the situation considering all the options available. I know some clubs in France and Belgium want me to join them. I’m also looking forward to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Columbia so as to maximize on opportunities available,” he said.
Arokoyo revealed that Nigeria’s victory at the AYC and his first international goal at the 4-nation invitational tournament in South Korea was a big boost to his fledgling football career.
“I joined the national Under-20 team this year after returning from trials with Azerbaijani Premier League side, Gabala FC, which is coached by former England and Arsenal legend, Tony Adams. I thank God that I was able to convince the coaches of my abilities and did my best for the team. The team had a good competition in South Africa."
“I’ve always wanted to score a goal for Nigeria and that chance came in Korea. The goal made me the happiest person that day,” he added.

English FA writes Wigan on Moses

The English Football Association has officially written to Barclays Premier League side, Wigan Athletic, to seek clarification on their striker, Victor Moses.
SuperSport.com was informed by Tony Finnigan, agent of Moses, in a telephone interview on Tuesday morning that the letter from the English FA was sent to Wigan last week. But Finnigan did not divulge the content of the letter from the English FA to Wigan.
"I know the (English) FA sent a letter to Wigan last week about Victor Moses," said Finnigan. "But I believe you can contact the FA in your country (Nigeria) to get further details about the progress on the plans to see Moses switch his international career."
The English football agent also confirmed that the process has been slow from the end of the England's football governing body.
Finnigan, however, stated that there is a chance that Moses could be cleared in a fortnight ahead of the international friendly against Argentina in Abuja on June 1.
He further said Moses is keen to pull on Nigeria's colours for the game against Argentina.
"Victor Moses is anxious to play for Nigeria against Argentina. The chance of that happening is good as we anticipate a positive outcome in the next two weeks," Finnigan told SuperSport.com.

© SuperSport.com

CAF unveil 2014 World Cup qualifying format

The Confederation of African Football have unveiled a three-stage qualifying format for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 

The series will begin with a preliminary round involving the 24 lowest-ranked teams on the latest edition of the Fifa rankings, who will play a knockout tie on home and away basis.

The 12 qualifiers from this preliminary round will join the 28 teams on a bye for the second phase, which will be divided into ten groups of four each.

The top team from each of the 10 groups will qualify for the final play-off, and will play on home and away basis to determine the five slots.

In all, 154 matches will played between November 2011 and November 2013.

Fifty-two out of the 53 National Associations affiliated to CAF will take part in the qualifying series to determine the continent’s five slots for the next World Cup.

Dates            Fixtures         Observations         Match Day

Stage 1: First Round* 24 bottom FIFA ranked teams*
11 Nov 2011    1stLeg          Knock out             FIFA D –MD1
15 Nov 2011    2ndLeg         Knock out             FIFA D –MD2
* 24 bottom FIFA ranked teams based on latest available Coca-Cola rankings

Stage 2: Group phase –10 groups of 4 teams**12 teams from Stage 1 + 28 teams
01-05 June 2012    Round 1                         FIFA DD –MD3
08-12 June 2012    Round 2                         FIFA DD –MD4
22-26 March 2013    Round 3                         FIFA DD –MD5
07-11 June 2013    Round 4                         FIFA DD –MD6
14-18 June 2013     Round 5                         FIFA DD –MD7
06-10 Sept. 2013    Round 6                         FIFA DD –MD8
** Top team of each group to qualify for final play off phase: 10 teams

Stage 3: Play-off phase –5 Home & Away10 teams –10 matches
11-15 Oct 2013    1stLeg       Knock Out                   FIFA DD –MD9
15-19 Nov 2013    2ndLeg     Knock Out                 FIFA DD –MD10