EMENIKE TO UNDERGO ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY

Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, will undergo an arthroscopic surgery in the coming days on his knee after he damaged his internal meniscus lateral ligament on his return from a two-month injury layoff in Spatak Moscow's 2-0 win over Anzhi Makhachkala on Sunday.

The Africa Cup of Nations top scorer who suffered a muscle tear in the semi-final match against Mali at the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa was examined by his club doctors yesterday morning and they ruled him out of action till the end of the season.

This means he will miss Nigeria’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in June.

According to the Spartak Moscow's legendary midfielder, Yegor Titov, Emenike's injury looks like a cruciate ligament rupture but was quick to add that his muscles were not ready when he was rushed back. 

"I am sure that this is a serious injury 99%.  This is a cruciate ligament rupture," he began.

"We lost him for a long time; apparently, his muscles were not ready yet. He was not very confident on his feet and the way I saw it,  it was evident that it was a serious injury. 

"When he was being taken off through the stretcher, it was obvious that he was in serious pain. I once had the same type injury and I can distinctly remember the piercing pain," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Emenike himself told MTNFootball that he is devastated that he has again been sidelined.

“I felt bad that I have to go back to the sidelines immediately I returned to action but I have accepted it as another fear to conquer."

"My club have also supported me to bounce back next season after I was told I will be out for two months." 

The power-playing striker gave more details as regards his latest injury woes in Sunday’s league match against Anzhi, which Spartak won 2-0."

”I actually wanted to take a shot before an opponent put his leg and that happened to be on my knee. I was hurt but sometimes such things happen. The most important thing is to remain focused and I wouldn't blame the player for the tackle, that is football.”

"As it is now, I will be out of national assignments, it hurts but I have no choice. I have to focus on my recovery for next season."

 "It is frustrating but I am learning from the injury problems. I will be back and better when I return," he lamented.

The former Karabukspor hit-man also backed his club to book a UEFA Europa League ticket in his absence.

"I believe they can win the remaining four fixtures and book a place in the Europa League. They have been wonderful in my absence and I believe they will keep the momentum again.”

HARUNA AWARE OF GERMAN INTEREST

Super Eagles midfielder, Lukman Haruna, has revealed that he is aware of reports linking him with a move to German giants Bayern Munich in the summer but the former AS Monaco player was quick to add that nothing concrete is on the table.

The Bavarian who would be coached by Pep Guardiola next season recently splashed about 32 million pounds on German prodigy Mario Goetze to bolster their squad with the Nigerian play-maker who grabbed a first half brace for Dynamo Kiev in their 2-0 win over Dnipro on Saturday in the Ukrainian league also in the radar according to the report.

"I'm aware that there were scouts from Bayern Munich who watched the game but nobody is certain they came to watch me,” the former Flying Eagles skipper began.

"But I'm focused on performing well for Dynamo and help them finish in the best position this season."

"I've been  reading so many reports linking me with a move away from here in the summer but nothing is certain yet," Haruna who has so far scored four goals in the league told Complete Sports.

Dynamo remain in second place on the table with 56 points from 26 games. They are 15 points behind leaders Shakhtar Donetsk.

BOLTON COACHES STORM LAGOS FOR COD

Coaches from English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers will arrive Nigeria next week to facilitate the COD Soccer schools clinic at the club's academy grounds in Lagos Ijaw boy has been informed.
Coaches Mick Wild and Mark Willis, who have been in Nigeria for the same purpose on previous occasions will take registered youngsters and specialist youth coaches through drills and training sessions.
Speaking ahead of the coaching clinic, Wild expressed his delight returning to Nigeria to help impart his knowledge of the game on the emerging youngsters who featured at the Iber Cup in Portugal in April.
"I am very excited about returning to Nigeria. We had so much fun last time out and we are happy to return again." Wild began.
"There is so much playing and coaching talent in Nigeria and we are more than happy to partner with COD United to give these talents the best opportunity to develop." he added.
Mark Willis also added:"What I really enjoyed the last time we visited was not just the sessions and drills, I was really impressed with the professionalism and organisation at COD United.
"It was no different from what obtains in Europe. I am looking forward to working with the kids again. Who knows, in a few years time, I could be saying I had the pleasure of coaching one these young men when they fulfill their potential and become super stars."
Ayodeji Adegbenro, Director of football at COD United also said the soccer camp has become a permanent fixture on the COD calendar.
"We do these 3 times a year and that will continue because we can see the results already. The boys who perform really will have the opportunity to undergo further training at Bolton.
"The last group of boys who travelled came back and you could see the difference in attitude and technique. Developing young men into great individuals and footballers in a huge part of what we do here and that wouldn't change."

ADELEYE TO WEAR NO 3 JERSEY

ADELEYE TO WEAR NO 3 JERSEY

KAITA JOINS TAVRIYA

247sportnaija can report today that SC Tavriya Simferopol latest signing Ayodele Adeleye will wear the number three jersey at his new club.

The Super Eagles defender who is currently with the national team preparing for the upcoming Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar and friendly match with Argentina this Sunday joined the club from Metallurg Donetsk on a three year deal for a reported fee of £2.5m.

"I love the number four jersey but I have no choice but to wear the jersey number vacant at the club," the lanky defender revealed.

His compatriot Sani Kaita has also been signed on a two-year deal by the fourth placed team in the Ukrainian league. The 25-year-old battling midfielder becomes the third Nigerian at the club.

Kaita was reported to have signed a three year deal with Belgium side Germinal Beerschot but the deal was cancelled by the club because he failed to obtain a work permit from the Belgian Embassy in Nigeria.

Both players featured for the Dream Team IV at the 2008 Beijing Olympic where the team won silver for the Samson Siasia led team.

ADELEYE JOINS TAVRIYA ON A THREE YEAR DEAL

SC Tavriya Simferopol has completed the signing of Metallurg Donetsk and Nigerian defender Ayodele Adeleye on a three-year deal Complete Sports can report.

Adeleye who had a brilliant debut season in the Ukrainian top flight joined Semen Altman's side for a reported fee of £2.5m, alongside arrival Alexander Pischur who signed from Volyn.

The former Sparta Rotterdam player could make his debut after the international break in their home game against high-flying Kryvbas at the Respublikanskiy stadium on the 9th September after successfully under-going medicals at the club before jetting in for national assignments.

"Right from the first moment they made enquiries about me I've had good feelings about the move but Metallurg Donetsk didn't want me to move following my performance in my debut season for the club last season," Adeleye revealed.

"Tavriya is a big club anyway but I have left to join a bigger club in Ukraine and it is all about the opportunity to win laurels and play in European competition and I can achieve that here now being a player at the club,"

The former Beijing Olympic silver medalist who rejected lucrative offers from two unnamed clubs in Russia earlier in the transfer window scored three goals in 32 appearances for Metallurg last season and has been called up by Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia for the Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar and Argentina.

We Will Play For Pride

Head Coach of the Barea of Madagascar Franck Rajaonarisamba says they play for pride in Sunday's AFCON qualifier against the Super Eagles at the Stade Municipal de Mahamasia.

The Barea are out of the reckoning for a place in the next edition of the Nations Cup but Rajaonarisamba has clearly stated that the game as an important one in the history of Madagascan football.

"There is plenty to look forward to on Sunday. We are playing a World class team and we will be ready for them," Rajaonarisamba told lexpressmada a local daily in Antananarivo.

"Personally, this game will be an opportunity for me to prove the value of the Madagascan football. I admit, the Barea have been setbacks, but I tell you, we lost some battles but not the war. One day, Barea will rise and who knows if this is Sunday, September 4,"

Rajaonarisamba further revealed that while he's team will be relying on the massive home support from the Mahamasina fans they won't hesitate to attack the depleted Super Eagles who are expected to arrive Antanarivo today.

"It's a matter of honor for Madagascar, we will defend it, but we will attack if the opportunity arises. I have always had confidence in public

Mahamasina when I was a player, and I am sure that nothing has changed, even though I am now a coach. However, it should show that we want to give something good in spite of the difference, at all levels between the two teams," he revealed.

The Super Eagles must win Sunday's encounter if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for next year's Nations Cup billed for Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

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Ameobi to play in mask on return from cheek injury

Shola Ameobi could return to the Newcastle side to face Everton wearing a face mask. The striker fractured a cheekbone during the 1-0 defeat to Fulham last month and flew to America to see a specialist who fitted him with the protective face guard.

Ameobi returned to full-contact training on Tuesday and has been trying to get comfortable with his new headgear. He could be joined in the squad for Saturday's game by Stephen Ireland who is keen to make his debut for Newcastle after his loan move there from Aston Villa.

"Shola has trained with the rest of the group for the first time and so has Stephen Ireland, but we'll not make a final decision on whether they are able to play some part against Everton until Thursday," said the club's manager Alan Pardew. "It is looking good, though, and both have reacted positively in training.

"Shola has had a week with the mask, just getting used to it. There was no point getting him to wear the mask, ask him to play and he wasn't comfortable with it. He has to have that confidence it is going to protect him so he can throw himself around as usual.

"The guy who has designed the mask has done so loads of times before with basketball players and that is a far more risky sport when it comes to elbows in the face and injuries like this. But Shola still had to try it out, he's done that now and it would be great to have him involved at the weekend.

"I'll have to have a chat with him on Thursday, check he is comfortable and ask him whether he wants to play. I'm pretty sure he will, but it has to be his decision."

Ireland is yet to make his debut for Newcastle after his loan move while the midfielder started only six games for Aston Villa earlier in the season. He has not played since 6 December because of a knee injury but Pardew is keen for the 24-year-old to join on a full-time basis.

"It's a big opportunity for Stephen here," said Pardew. "He has enjoyed himself so far, has settled in well and this is a chance for him to show what he can do.

"Stephen didn't get much of a chance at Aston Villa for one reason or another, but he is a quality player. He will give us an extra goal threat from midfield and he can play in several different positions.

"We are interested in doing something in the summer which would make the move permanent, but a lot of water has to go under the bridge first. We have to see what Stephen does and we would have to talk to Villa about what they want to do. Let's just see how he does first."