Posted: Feb 03, 2011
West Brom striker Peter
Odemwingie hopes to score 15 goals this season after netting his ninth against Wigan.
The Super Eagles forward admits that his original target at the start of the season had not been so high, but he has now readjusted after exceeding his own expectations.
Odemwingie is confident he can carry on at his current rate and finish with a tally that any Premier League frontman would be proud of.
"There are 14 games to go and I hope I will get to 15 goals," he told the Express and Star.
"The target was to get to double figures, minimum, and I am nearly there. I just need one more goal.
"But with 14 games to go I won't be happy with one more goal. I will keep pushing to get to the 15."
Odemwingie's strike against Wigan did not turn out to be in a winning cause as the Baggies were held to a 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns, with the 29-year-old limping off at the final whistle due to an ankle knock.
However, he hopes to be fit to face Manchester City at Eastlands on Saturday.
"Towards the game I started feeling something. It is my ankle. It was stepped on again unfortunately in the first half and it hurt," he explained.
"But I will get some treatment and hopefully it will not swell up and I will prepare normally for Saturday."
The clash with Wigan also marked Carlos Vela's debut for the Baggies following his loan switch from Arsenal.
The Mexican was substituted before the hour mark but Odemwingie was encouraged by his performance.
He said: "Carlos did well. Your first game is not easy with a new group of players and a new stadium.
"I am sure he has a lot to offer because he is coming from a big team. So we hope he will adapt soon and start showing his best, because he definitely has quality.
"He thinks it is a team that passes the ball on the ground. He prefers to come here because of that point.
"I am sure he remembers the game we played at the Emirates Stadium when we played very well.
"He is a young guy. He has talent and his potential is strong and he will help us. I am sure he has got qualities.
"I don't know his best position though, where he will be more effective for the team and to enjoy his game.
"With a few games more, we will see where he is more comfortable so he can assist and score his own goals.
ADAMU KNOWS FATE TODAY
Posted: Feb 03, 2011
Suspended FIFA and CAF executive member, Dr. Amos Adamu will today know his fate as FIFA delivers its verdict on his appeal following allegations of corruption against him during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.
Nigeria’s Adamu and Reynald Temarii were barred from voting by FIFA’s Ethics Committee on 2nd December 2010 over their involvement in the bribery-for-votes charges.
Adamu a former boss of the National Sports Commission, and President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) before his eventual clamp by the world’s soccer governing body has challenged a three-year football ban for seeking bribes from reporters from The Sunday Times who posed as lobbyists. He was further fined 10,000 Swiss Francs.
Temarii, the hitherto President of the Oceania Football Federation from Tahiti, was cleared of corruption but received a one-year ban for breaking confidentiality rules.
The 58-year-old Adamu would be eligible to re-contest his position on the FIFA Executive Committee when the Confederation for African Football (CAF) holds elections in Sudan on February 23.
CAF will hold its annual assembly same day (23rd), in Khartoum, where it will choose two of its four delegates to the 24-member FIFA body.
Adamu is listed as a candidate pending his appeal, with compatriot and former NFA boss, Ibrahim Galadima on standby should FIFA stand by its original decision.
Three former members of Fifa's ruling panel - Slim Aloulou of Tunisia, Mali's Amadou Diakite and Tongan Ahongalu Fusimalohi - are also appealing against their suspensions.
FIFA's Independent Appeals Committee is chaired by Larry Mussenden, the President of Bermuda's Football Association.
Adamu had told the BBC that he expects a favourable result today.
Nigeria’s Adamu and Reynald Temarii were barred from voting by FIFA’s Ethics Committee on 2nd December 2010 over their involvement in the bribery-for-votes charges.
Adamu a former boss of the National Sports Commission, and President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) before his eventual clamp by the world’s soccer governing body has challenged a three-year football ban for seeking bribes from reporters from The Sunday Times who posed as lobbyists. He was further fined 10,000 Swiss Francs.
Temarii, the hitherto President of the Oceania Football Federation from Tahiti, was cleared of corruption but received a one-year ban for breaking confidentiality rules.
The 58-year-old Adamu would be eligible to re-contest his position on the FIFA Executive Committee when the Confederation for African Football (CAF) holds elections in Sudan on February 23.
CAF will hold its annual assembly same day (23rd), in Khartoum, where it will choose two of its four delegates to the 24-member FIFA body.
Adamu is listed as a candidate pending his appeal, with compatriot and former NFA boss, Ibrahim Galadima on standby should FIFA stand by its original decision.
Three former members of Fifa's ruling panel - Slim Aloulou of Tunisia, Mali's Amadou Diakite and Tongan Ahongalu Fusimalohi - are also appealing against their suspensions.
FIFA's Independent Appeals Committee is chaired by Larry Mussenden, the President of Bermuda's Football Association.
Adamu had told the BBC that he expects a favourable result today.
Nsofor Grabs Brace, Ameobi Injured!
Posted: Feb 03, 2011
Super Eagles striker Obinna Nsofor's rich vein of scoring form continued on Wednesday when he netted a brace as West Ham defeated Blackpool 3-1 in a Premier League clash at Bloomfield Road.
The forward, who is on-loan from Inter Milan, had grabbed a hat-trick over the weekend when West Ham reached the FA Cup fifth round with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Nsofor had promised to keep scoring after his FA Cup heroics and he made good his vow with a superb double as West Ham continued their quest to remain in the top flight.
The Nigeria star opened scoring in the 24th minute as his shot crept under Blackpool's Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Kingson before new signing Robbie Keane added a second 13 minutes later. The hosts however pulled one back through Charlie Adam in the 42nd minute.
But Nsofor had the last word in the first half as his unstoppable 30-yard strike one minute before the break ensured West Ham led 3-1 at half-time.
The goals were Nsofor's seventh and eighth in all competitions this season and his second and third in the league. His other league goal came in the 3-1 victory over Wigan in November.
Meanwhile, Nsofor's compatriot Shola Ameobi's night was in sharp contrast. The Newcastle striker, who was in the Super Eagles squad for the botched friendly with Guatemala, was forced out of his side's EPL game with Fulham due a a head injury early in the first half.
In France, Sochaux's Brown Ideye, who was in the Nigerian South Africa 2010 World Cup squad as injured Mikel Obi's replacement, continued his impressive scoring run this season as he bagged the first goal in his side's shock 2-1 French Cup defeat at lower division Chambery on Wednesday night.
The goal was Ideye's 11th in what is turning to be a productive season for the Canada 2007 Flying Eagles star.
The forward, who is on-loan from Inter Milan, had grabbed a hat-trick over the weekend when West Ham reached the FA Cup fifth round with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Nsofor had promised to keep scoring after his FA Cup heroics and he made good his vow with a superb double as West Ham continued their quest to remain in the top flight.
The Nigeria star opened scoring in the 24th minute as his shot crept under Blackpool's Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Kingson before new signing Robbie Keane added a second 13 minutes later. The hosts however pulled one back through Charlie Adam in the 42nd minute.
But Nsofor had the last word in the first half as his unstoppable 30-yard strike one minute before the break ensured West Ham led 3-1 at half-time.
The goals were Nsofor's seventh and eighth in all competitions this season and his second and third in the league. His other league goal came in the 3-1 victory over Wigan in November.
Meanwhile, Nsofor's compatriot Shola Ameobi's night was in sharp contrast. The Newcastle striker, who was in the Super Eagles squad for the botched friendly with Guatemala, was forced out of his side's EPL game with Fulham due a a head injury early in the first half.
In France, Sochaux's Brown Ideye, who was in the Nigerian South Africa 2010 World Cup squad as injured Mikel Obi's replacement, continued his impressive scoring run this season as he bagged the first goal in his side's shock 2-1 French Cup defeat at lower division Chambery on Wednesday night.
The goal was Ideye's 11th in what is turning to be a productive season for the Canada 2007 Flying Eagles star.
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