Ameobi, who scored the winner against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, is expected to play a key role in Newcastle from January when the club’s main striker, Demba Ba, is expected to leave
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Despite the second-half rally, United were held to a first league draw of the season by a stubborn Swansea
Shocked by his exclusion, the Edo State born striker vented his anger on Keshi, stressing that he was not surprised
Another Nigeria striker, Victor Anichebe, scored the equalizer for Everton in the 2-1 win over West ham United in the 61st minute
Addressing the players, Abdullai, who was clad in white and green national track suit, told the team that President Goodluck Jonathan is interested in the welfare of the team and has asked him to offer his total support to the team as the countdown to the Nations Cup draws near
Elsewhere, League leaders, Manchester United, will travel to Swansea with the hope of consolidating their lead
Following a meeting with the NFF Technical Committee in Abuja on Friday, where he defended the list, Keshi rolled out a squad containing 14 home-based professionals and 18 overseas-based players
The first legs of the matches are to be played on February 14, 2013 while the second legs are scheduled for February 21, 2013
Ghanaian expert, Ben Koufie, was the assessor at the course, which also has Nigerian heavyweights, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Dr. Kashimawo Laloko and James Peters, as coordinators
The team’s coordinator, Abel Oyillo, lamented that after the Organising and Disciplinary had awarded them points in their disputed match with Bida Lions, the NFF is trying to stop them from playing in the National League after they had completed registration formalities
The Nasarawa side, managed by veteran Coach Alphonsus Dike, played their hearts out in the encounter but it was the national team that showed more maturity and should have easily won the game but for the several begging chances that were wasted
Mustapha said that apart from the impressive performances of the country’s national teams in the outgoing year, the Aminu Maigari-led NFF has also succeeded in bringing a reasonable degree of harmony into Nigerian football
Also on Wednesday, NFF’s Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire, decried a report in a national newspaper that the duties of the Technical Committee had been handed over to the Technical Department
The Big Boss, as Keshi was fondly called in his playing days, said he understands the financial position of the federation and does not have any salary dispute with the Aminu Maigari-led board of the NFF
Speaking at the team’s Bolton White Apartment abode, Keshi said he was not averse to critics of the team but cautioned against those who are hell bent on distracting the team
The Argentina international, 25, has enjoyed a record-breaking year for club and country, scoring 90 goals in 2012
There were fears that the two players, who have been part of the national team set up from the home front since Stephen Keshi took over about a year ago, may not be fit on time for the AFCON 2013 championship
At a meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, the Board also reversed several decisions it took in the course of the 2011/2012 NPL
Bradford twice failed from the spot but Santi Cazorla, Marouane Chamakh and Thomas Vermaelen of Arsenal missed their efforts to the delight of the Bantams
The three successful sides will join Porto, Paris St Germain, Schalke, Arsenal, Malaga, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Valencia, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester United in the draw for the Round of 16