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Victor Anichebe shooting for World Cup

Anichebe shooting for World Cup

Posted: 2010-03-15 12:11

Victor Anichebe is hoping he can regain full match fitness in time to be considered for a place in Lars Lagerback's 23-man squad for South Africa.

The Everton youngster cracked a stunning effort home in Everton's 2-2 draw at Birmingham on Saturday in his sixth appearance for the club after being out for nearly a year with torn ligaments in his ankle.

It was only his third start for the club and Anichebe told KickOffNigeria.com that while Premier League fitness is his primary focus, he also has an eye on the World Cup party.

"Fitness for the Premier League is my first target but I’d be lying if I said the World Cup is not in my thoughts.

"The Olympic Games was an unbelievable experience and to take part in a World Cup would top that especially with it being in Africa. “

Nigeria's forward line is bursting at the seams with talent like Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins, Yakubu Ayegbeni, Ike Uche, Chinedu Obasi and Michael Eneramo as well as the likes of Peter Utaka and Joseph Akpala. The big forward knows that competition will be stiff.

"Nigeria has a very good squad and plenty of attacking options so I am not suggesting for a minute that as soon as I am fit, I’ll be selected.

"I will have to prove myself to show that I am capable but I'm sure that everyone in the team still has something to prove nobody in the team has automatic selection.

"I'm not the coach he is the only one that can pick the team."

Nigeria had an inconsistent African Nations Cup performance in Angola early in the year, and the forward says it was hard watching and not being involved.

"To be honest I missed playing football in general. Its hard just watching knowing that you're not going to be involved for a while but my best wishes always gone to my team and my country.

"It would have been good to have gone to Angola but my main focus is to concentrate on getting myself fit again and playing well for my club, then maybe I can start thinking of playing for my country.

"I am very proud to be a Nigerian and it makes me even prouder to have represented my country so hopefully when I regain my fitness I can achieve this again."

Anichebe was taken off with just over 20 minutes to play in that Birmingham game after landing awkwardly and rolling in pain on the turf, but he says he is fine.

"It is not as bad as we thought at first. It's good," he said.

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eze: 2010-03-15 12:50

Anichebe is a big striker.....Nigeria will surely need him if remains fit....he is better than Yakubu and even Matins whose form has depleted in recent times.

jeff: 2010-03-15 13:14

Di maria, LOL..

Billion: 2010-03-15 13:28

Anichebe looks cool headed unlike other players who are indecent role models with demonic looking hair-do's and gangsteric lifestyle. If he continues well, I'm sure he'll make a great success of his career. I wish the SE well but like @Di Maria, under a foreign coach with Amokachie & Eguavoen!

Love: 2010-03-15 13:30

Bunch of mediocres. We shall see what come of ur garulous disposition. in the city of the blind, a one eyed man is always the kind.............Majabo lo( let your mouth run like water)

tEMITOPE: 2010-03-15 14:07

Watch the lad in this game, he contributed more to the team than Yakubu did. He does fight for ***** for his which Yak totally lacks but time will tell if he'll make SA 2010.

The word.: 2010-03-15 14:36

Every good players should be invited by the coach, but i doubt it if the likes of Victor will make the team, when we have eguavoen and amokachie as assistants to the new man, and yakubu is not cripple.
Victor played better than yakubu in that match against Birmingham. Even the commentator though Victor was going to be removed during the substitution, but yakubu was removed. Lager-beer, should removed yakubu for Victor in SE.

Billion: 2010-03-15 18:19

@Siemo, thanks for ur usefulness on this forum.

Whykay: 2010-03-15 20:55

It's quite unfortunate that some people are really misusing this forum. To the best of my knowledge, this is a forum for all soccer-loving Nigerians to air our opinion on national and international football (and by extention other sports) issues. But unfortunately, some people use it to settle their scores with others, so sad!!! I believe that in whatever we do, we need to tolerate and respect other people's opinion even if it goes against ours; do we need to insult, curse or scold them or call them names? NO!!! Whether we clamoured for Amodu's retention or removal doesn't matter, what matters most is that we're all working towards a better and well organised Super Eagles of Nigeria that we will be proud of again. And in ensuring that, we definitely MUST defer in opinion, but we must learn to react to people's posts without insulting them. It's on this note that I'm humbly calling on Siemo to please apologise to Billion for the insults you passed on him which is totally uncalled for. Meanwhile, I must commend Billion for the way he took the insult; that's the kind of maturity we need on this forum. Well done, Billion.

jeff: 2010-03-15 21:26

Billion i liked the way you replied siemo ,it shows your maturity but dude please try to quote relevance to headline,,everybody has right for his own opinion but there re opinions that ain't worth it...strange to see 'Anichebe shooting for worldcup and demonic and gangsteric lifestyle been used in the same sentence.
@siemo there re many ways to call someone a fool without using the word 'fool',try to be civil with your comments no matter how bad you see your fellow pal's opinion.
Many thanks.

Frank: 2010-03-15 21:46

Anichebe should certainly make the cut in place of Yakubu at least so long as he continues scoring and/or assisting. Methinks he might be a big hit at the mundial!

Original

Garvey: 2010-03-15 22:57

where are you jeff?

Billion: 2010-03-16 00:54

@Siemo, no worries. I forgave u before those comments were made-:)

ken gadaffi: 2010-03-16 09:35

The most difficult thing for a man to do is to admit is mistake and say sorry, ironically, what make a MAN a MAN is his ability to accept his mistakes and say sorry. SIemo, you have just proven that you are a MAN. Weldone. I hope others would follow suit and learn not to abuse people here. This forum can be quite good if we all abide by the code of conduct.
Billion, it will also be good if u let the sleeping dog lie and keep your detest for the Hairdo of our stars. Surely they are all cut up with the bandwagon.

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Simon: 2010-03-16 19:14

It still surprises me when these journalists mentions Yakulazy when talking about Nigerian strikers, dude is nothing close to what a striker should be. @ Billion, there is a saying in my village which says " if person cries too much for burial ground people go begin think sey na im sabi the thing wey kill the person wey die" I ve seen you talk so much about these players hair for over one year now, may be you should consider giving it a brake as its obvious your opinion over the issue aint gonna change nothing about those guys hair style bro. That doesn't mean that there is no sense in you kicking against their hair style especially when its not so common in our culture but,its pretty awkward when you just drop that hair style thing in middle of a discussion that has no relationship with the subject at hand. So like I said earlier, may be you should CONSIDER letting it breath. Nobody has right to insult you over it though, thats why we were giving a mouth by God, to air our views over issues. Throw away my opinion but pls don't throw me away if you don't like it.

ade: 2010-03-17 15:26

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ade: 2010-03-17 15:26

Guys,

Lets give our support toall the African teams partcipating in this year Mundial in motherland. Our suppor n make a big difference...who ay we cannot win it on home soil? Joing proudly hosting now by copying and pasting the link below ino your url: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proudly-Hosting-to-Win-World-Cup/381133410654

Lets go peeps..................

ade: 2010-03-17 15:27

Guys,

Lets give our support to all the African teams partcipating in this year Mundial in motherland. Our support can make a big difference...who say we cannot win it on home soil? Join proudly hosting now by copying and pasting the link below ino your url: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proudly-Hosting-to-Win-World-Cup/381133410654

Lets go peeps..................

utibe: 2010-03-19 18:39

I like Anichebe, but hw many can the coach carry? The decision is lagerbacks