Nigerian Musician shot dead!

Nigerian Singer Damino Damoche Shot Dead In Lasu This Afternoon -- Viewers’ discretion is advised

I was shock to see the photos you’re about to see now, so if you cannot handle gory photos please, don’t open…

Afro-pop singer Olaniyan Damilola popularly known as Damino Damoche is dead. He was shot this afternoon in front of Lasu after lectures by unknown gunmen alleged to be cultists.

Too sad!!!

RIP Goldie. Her label Kennis Music release official statement

Statement from the CEO of Kennis Music, Kenny Ogungbe pictured above with the late singer.

“With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Award. She was rushed from her Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos residence to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival at exactly 7:30pm in the evening.

We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance in which she passed away; the abundance of talent she exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her. She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters. We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage. We shall keep everybody informed as events unfold as we are devastated by the sudden loss.”

Goldie's remains has been deposited at the mortuary. I'm not blogging today...will only bring you update about her untimely demise. Let's use the whole day to mourn her. Goldie and I recently became friends after she called me for a heart to heart. She was also best friends with one of my best friends, Denrele. RIP, angel. Only God knows why this happened. 

What a lost!!!

RIP Goldie. Her label Kennis Music release official statement

Statement from the CEO of Kennis Music, Kenny Ogungbe pictured above with the late singer

“With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Award. She was rushed from her Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos residence to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival at exactly 7:30pm in the evening.

We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance in which she passed away; the abundance of talent she exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her. She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters. We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage. We shall keep everybody informed as events unfold as we are devastated by the sudden loss.”

Goldie's remains has been deposited at the mortuary. I'm not blogging today...will only bring you update about her untimely demise. Let's use the whole day to mourn her. Goldie and I recently became friends after she called me for a heart to heart. She was also best friends with one of my best friends, Denrele. RIP, angel. Only God knows why this happened. 

What a lost!!!

RIP Goldie. Her label Kennis Music release official statement

Statement from the CEO of Kennis Music, Kenny Ogungbe pictured above with the late singer

“With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Award. She was rushed from her Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos residence to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival at exactly 7:30pm in the evening.

We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance in which she passed away; the abundance of talent she exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her. She is survived by her father, step- mother, brothers and sisters. We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage. We shall keep everybody informed as events unfold as we are devastated by the sudden loss.”

Goldie's remains has been deposited at the mortuary. I'm not blogging today...will only bring you update about her untimely demise. Let's use the whole day to mourn her. Goldie and I recently became friends after she called me for a heart to heart. She was also best friends with one of my best friends, Denrele. RIP, angel. Only God knows why this happened. 

What a lost!!!

'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius arrested after his girlfriend is shot dead at his home

BLADE RUNNER-VALENTINE DAY MURDER!!!

South African Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius, around 4am this morning shot dead hismodel girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at his home in Pretoria. Friends of Oscar think its a Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong. Oscar, 26 and Reeva, 30, have been dating for many months. Reeve was shot several times in the head, chest and arm.

Oscar, known as the “Blade Runner” for his racing prosthetics and also dubbed 'the fastest man on no-legs', has been charged with murder and is currently in police custody. He is believed to have told police he thought she was an intruder.

Police said they found a 9mm pistol at the scene and will charge the athlete to court later today.

Pistorius, who races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades after he was born without a fibula in both legs,was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics and reached the 400 semi-finals in London 2012..
Valentine TAKE!!!

Burkina Faso appeal Pitroipa card

Jonathan Pitroipa set to miss Africa Cup of Nations final unless official appeal against red card is successful.

Burkina Faso have lodged an official appeal against key player Jonathan Pitroipa's red card in the semi-final win over Ghana, the team manager told AFP on Thursday.

As it stands, Pitroipa will miss Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria in Soweto after picking up two yellow cards in the stunning penalty shoot-out success over the Black Stars.

Pitroipa, who has scored twice in the tournament, was sent off three minutes from the end of extra time on Wednesday for diving when, in fact, he had clearly been knocked to the ground after tangling with an opponent.

Team manager Gualbert Kabore, speaking at the team hotel, disclosed: "The Burkina Faso Football Federation wrote an official letter of appeal to CAF (competition organisers).

"We lodged it in the two hours after the match as stipulated by the regulations.

"We think we have a good chance of winning the appeal."

Referee errors

Kabore, a distant relation to another key Burkinabe player, midfielder and vice-captain Charles Kabore, echoed coach Paul Put's dim view of referee Slim Jdidi's decision-making during the match.

Chief among the Tunisian's perceived errors in the Burkina Faso camp were the rejection of a legitimate penalty claim, a disallowed goal that appeared to be valid, and Pitroipa's sending off.

"There were some scandalous decisions, we don't know why, we're asking lots of questions, there are lots of theories," said Kabore.

"Curiously, the players reacted better than us (the team management). They said if the referee is against us that must mean we are the stronger side."

Burkina Faso are hoping to hear later on Thursday whether their appeal has been successful.

The Stallions are already having to do without the services of top scorer Alain Traore.

He was leading the scoring charts in South Africa with three goals only for his Nations Cup to end prematurely when he sustained an injury against Zambia in the final first-round game.

Woman delivers baby girl in keke Marwa in Lagos

A woman, Mrs. Mutiat Aileru has delivered a baby girl in a tricycle in Abule-Egba area of Lagos. The woman delivered the baby at about 5p.m. The reporter was walking by the roadside near Awori bus stop when a woman suddenly ran out of the commercial tricycle, Keke Marwa and raised the alarm that her relative was delivering a baby inside the tricycle they had boarded.

She had called for urgent help from the owners of the shops by the road and women promptly removed the wrappers on them to shield the woman in labour. Immediately the woman was delivered on the back sit of the tricycle,the reporter quickly took photographs of the new baby, a girl. The women rushed to pick her up, some cleaning her, others cuddling and others yet bringing accessories to assist in the delivery. Some even heaped verbal invectives at the reporter for daring to take the baby’s picture.
“Are you mad! Why are you taking the baby’s pictures. Who you be? If you are not careful we will beat you up here. Why would you take the photograph of a woman delivering in a tricycle? You don’t even know how to do your work.” Many of them said. There would have been a mob action, had the reporter not feigned calling on the police to come to the area. It was then the mob gathering against the reporter receded.

While the women were still busy attending to the mother and her baby, the reporter took on the driver of the tricycle in camera. Asked how the journey of the miraculous delivery began, Prophet Ariyo Ajibola of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Erimo in Ijaiye-Ojokoro, who drove the tricycle, said: “It was at Ikeja computer village that the two women that followed the mother approached me to beg me to assist them to carry a pregnant woman to a hospital in Abule Egba.

At first I was reluctant but when they began to plead, I obliged. Moreso, as a prophet, I had an inner conviction that there won’t be any problem. And I took them in. But when we got past Agege, the pregnant woman began to moan in seriuos labour. She became hysterical and her people began to panic. But I was relaxed and praying silently for God’s intervention, I was calming the women down. At a point, I took one-way to beat the gridlock on the road.

Then suddenly I heard a loud noise of a rushing liquid, when we just left Abule-Egba bus stop and the other women began to raise the alarm that a baby had just been delivered. And they began calling for help. As a man and a Christian, I just thank God for what has happened. It is just a miracle and I will give a special thanksgiving to God once I get to the church for an evening programme we have today. I asked them to pay N1000 but they offered N700 and I accepted but even if they don’t pay me, I won’t be unhappy.”

What shall the babe be called?

3 Nigerian Brothers Charged With Kidnapping & Sexually Assaulting A 15 Year-Old Girl

Three Nigerian born brothers have been accused of abducting a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint and sexually assaulting her.

The brothers Aziz Animashaun, 22 (left), Isiaka Animashaun, 25 (centre), and Taiwo Animashaun, 26 (right) were among a total of five to six attackers who took the girl to a home and sexually assaulted her on 21st December 2012.
Chicago Tribune reports that the girl was taking care of her brother and throwing out the trash when an SUV with five to six men inside drove up.
Prosecutors say Aziz Animashaun, 22, jumped out of a black SUV at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 and told the girl, who was taking out the trash, to get in the vehicle.
When the girl refused, Animashaun allegedly knocked her unconscious by striking her with a handgun and then carried her to the SUV.
While searching the home where she was raped, the police found a used condom and a shiny antique handgun that matched the description of the one Animashaun is accused of using. DNA results from the condom were traced to one of the brothers, Taiwo Animashaun. Also, the 15 year-old girl identified Aziz Animashaun and Isiaka Animashaun as two of her attackers.
According to DNA Info, the girl heard the men speaking a language other than English while she was being forced to have sex with them. Based on her experience with a teacher who speaks a language spoken in Nigeria, she was able to identify that the men who attacked her spoke a similar language.
The victim managed to escape once the men were no longer in the room, Hamelly said. She ran from the location and and noticed the black SUV in a driveway, Hamelly said. Cops said that the victim made it home, and her sister called police.
The three Animashaun brothers are citizens of Nigeria but are longtime residents of the Chicago who live in the same neighborhood with the victim. Each brother faces one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a firearm and one count of kidnapping while armed with a firearm. No one else has been charged.
 The Judge ordered bail for Taiwo Animashaun set at $500,000, Aziz Animashaun set at $400,000 and Isiaka Animashaun set at $250,000.

I'll Not Sign 2013 Budget –Jonathan

Abuja President Goodluck Jonathan has told the leadership of the National Assembly that he will not sign the 2013 budget. 


The leadership of the Senate, that of House of Representatives and officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) will meet at 2pm today to reconcile faulty and bogus allocations in the budget.
The meeting will hold at the Senate complex. The N4.987 trillion budget was passed by both chambers of the federal legislature on December 19, 2012. It was transmitted to the President for assent on January 14, this year.
However, despite the early passage, President Jonathan has declined to sign the Appropriation. Confirming that there are issues with the budget, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamilla, said the President has picked a hole in the bill as passed by the National Assembly. He said the President has communicated to the leadership of the National Assembly on some grey areas causing his delay in signing it. A member of the House, who does not want his name mentioned, said that the President rejected the bill and returned it to the National Assembly because of the pegging of oil benchmark at $79 by the legislature. The executive had proposed $75, but that was rejected by the lawmakers.
He said the President was not happy over the zero allocation given to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the budget by the National Assembly. The latter had hinged the zero allocation to SEC on the continued stay in office of the Director-General, Ms. Arunma Oteh . The House had passed a resolution asking the President to sack her, but the recommendation is yet to be implemented. Another grey area, according to the lawmaker, is the N63 billion added to the original budget proposed by Jonathan. The Presidency equally rejected some aspects of the capital project vote particularly the National Assembly Constituency project. In view of the alleged poor-implementation of the capital projects in the 2012 budget, the National Assembly had rolled over the non-implemented aspects of the capital projects, especially the constituency projects into 2013.
The move was turned down by the President who described it as illegal. The National Assembly had approved N4,987,220,425,601 as the 2013 budget. It comprised N387,976,000,000 for statutory transfer; N591,764,000,000 to service debts N2,386,024,770,349 for recurrent (non-debt)expenditure while the balance of N1,621,455,655,252 is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure. The figure passed by the two chambers was N63 billion more than N4.924 trillion original proposal presented to the joint session of the federal legislature by the President last October. On how the leadership of the National Assembly is taking the refusal to sign the budget bill, the lawmaker said the issues being raised by the President are being handled by the two chambers. He said:”This budget wahala ‘problem’ has come again.
The President has returned the 2013 budget that we passed before we went for Christmas break. Although the thing is yet to be made known officially to members, those who have seen it said SEC and benchmark issues were among the grey areas. Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, John Enoh, dismissed speculation that the budget has been rejected, saying the bill is still valid. He said: “All I know is that the budget cannot be returned through the window” The principal officers of the House held a marathon meeting on the matter yesterday. The House leadership met today to find a solution to the problem but we are yet to agree on the right step to take”, he said.

Nigerian consulate in NY to start charging $2.50 per min to call them

This is what you see once you log on to their site...Nigeriahouse.com.  What a country!

FG files corruption charges against Farouk Lawan over Otedola bribe

The Attorney-General of the Federation has finally filed charges against Farouk Lawan and Mr. Emenalo Boniface for allegedly collecting bribe from Femi Otedola. The case has been assigned to Justice M.N. Oniyangi of the FCT High Court.

See the charge papers sent to me by Festus Keyamo Chambers after the cut...

 

 

Let us watch and see...

Senators kick as N4billion is budgeted for Patience Jonathan's project

The office of the First Lady is not known to the constitution, some say it's even illegal, but there's a N4 billion vote in the 2013 budget of the Federal Capital Territory for the First Lady Mission, which is Dame Patience Jonathan's project. The N4 billion is for building a mission office for the First Lady.

Senators who reviewed the FCT budget yesterday kicked against the expenditure; Senator Babajide Omoworare said:

The Women Development Centre is there for the use of the First Lady to do anything she wants to do and I'm not aware that there's a First Ladies Mission in the US where we copied the presidential system of government. There's no such building in South Africa or Ghana that is our neighbour

Quoting Senator Babjide Ojudu:

I'm worried and I hope that those of us who are leaders in this country do not take the youths for granted. How can we vote N4 billion for office of the First Lady? I just pray and hope that this does not get to the public because if it does, we are in trouble. Nigerians will not forgive us for appropriating money for an office that doesn't exist in Nigeria. All of us sitting here must not allow this thing go through.

Lord help us! 

Henry Okah Found Guilty Of 2010 Independence Day Bomb Attacks

A South African court has found Henry Okah guilty of terrorism charges leveled against him by the federal government of Nigeria.

Okah is accused of masterminding two car bombings in Abuja on October 1 in 2010. 12 people were killed and 36 were injured. He was arrested in Johannesburg the following day.

Okah was allegedly the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, that claimed responsibility for the blasts.

He was charged with engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, who was first to give evidence at the opening of Okah’s trial said Okah was a “key figure in the Niger Delta struggle and the militants had a lot of respect for him”.

Okah denied involvement in the attacks, which were claimed by MEND militants, and also denies being the leader of the group.

what next?

70 FRSC Road Marshals Sacked In Kogi

70 FRSC Road Marshals Sacked In Kogi State, Nigeria

About 70 Special Marshalls of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) serving in Kogi State have been relieved of their duties for non-performance and other acts of indiscipline.

The outgoing State Coordinator of the Special Marshall Command of the FRSC, Mr Joseph Solomon who stated this in Lokoja on Sunday while giving the account of his four-year stewardship said that the sack has reduced the number of special marshals in the state to 242 from 319.

Apart from the sack of the 70 marshals, he said that the entire Obajana Unit had also been scrapped for being inactive in road activities, non-attendance of meetings and non-payment of dues.

He said that the Command presently has 17 units of Special Road Marshalls spread across the three senatorial districts of the state, appealing to the FRSC to approve the establishment of more units for effective traffic control on all major streets of the state.

Osaze Odemwingie and wife welcome baby boy

Noah comes to the world to celebrate Odemwingie's goal!

The footballer and his wife, Sarah Fallon, welcomed a baby boy this morning Sunday January 20th. The proud papa made the announcement on his Twitter page. The couple exchanged vows in May 2012 after dating for a few years. Big congrats to them.

Congrats broh!!!!

Woman strangles lover’s 4 children in Anambra state

Wonders Shall Never End in Anambra State. 

Few days after about 40 strange dead bodies were seen floating on a certain river in Anambra State, Nigeria, another terrible news is heard again!

In what sounds like a movie tale, A woman in Obuno Umuochefu, Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state has snuffed life out of four children of her boyfriend by strangling them. Not done with her bestial mission, the suspect sat back at the scene of the crime until her victims’ parents returned, and attacked their mother.

For Mr and Mrs Nwanneka Ogechukwu Okonkwo, both natives of Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area but resident in Igbo-Ukwu, January 15, 2013, came like any other day. But the young couple who are each 28 years old, never knew that it was the day their four children, Chukwuebuka, (13), Chukwumelum (6) Obumneme (3) and 15-month-old Chinenyenwa would breathe their last.

The young couple had no premonition of the tragedy that shocked everybody in the community. Their three sons and a daughter were allegedly killed by a lady simply identified as Blessing, from Abakiliki in Ebonyi State. Narrating the tragic incident, the mother of the dead children who spoke with Sunday Sun at Ekwulumili Health Centre where she was recuperating from the shock, said that she was also attacked by the suspect. Mrs Okonkwo said that the eldest of her children, Chukwuebuka, was the first casualty.

According to her, the suspect allegedly hit him on his forehead with a hard object and dumped the lifeless body inside an underground tank in the compound before strangling his siblings one after the other. “I was to go for a burial ceremony with my husband at Ukpor on that fateful day and the children went to school. We initially left with the youngest one, Chinenyenwa but the vehicle we boarded was jam-packed with passengers and the baby started crying. Consequently, my husband said we should disembark and use our motorcycle but people around said the road was too dusty to ride with a baby on a bike.

I decided to go home and wait for our other children who went to school so that they would take care of the baby and enable my husband and I to make the trip with our motorcycle. “But long after school hours, the children didn’t come home. We went to the school and other pupils told us that our children had gone home. I looked for them along the roads they usually take to the house but I did not see them.

Thereafter, I urged my husband to go on his own and look for them, but he returned soon after, saying he had seen them coming home. Before my husband and I left for the burial, I gave them food and told them to go and stay with an old woman in the neighbourhood because we are the only occupants of that building, and I don’t like them staying alone in the compound. “We had stayed barely one hour at the burial ceremony when my husband said we should go home.

But before we left, my husband’s phone rang and I heard him say, ‘I’m in a burial’. So, as we got close to our home, his phone rang again and he told the caller that we were not back yet. I didn’t ask him who the caller was as we rode straight to the house.

“When we got to the elderly neighbour’s house, we were told that she had gone for prayers and that my children were not seen there. We got to the house and I opened the gate from behind believing that the children were inside the house. As we parked our motorcycle inside the compound, my husband pointed to the underground tank that was open. I became apprehensive because we don’t keep it open. But I said maybe the eldest might have drawn water from the well and had forgotten to close it.

I called Ebuka but there was no response. I ran into the sitting room and saw the three younger ones lying on the floor as if they were asleep. I ran out again believing that those three were sleeping. I continued to call Ebuka and looked into the tank and I didn’t see anything. “Later, I decided to wake up Ebuka’s immediate younger brother to ascertain the whereabouts of his brother. I called him but he didn’t wake up; I tried to rouse him but he was motionless and so were the other two. I cried to my husband that the children were dead and I concluded that since the three were dead, Ebuka might be inside the well.

There were marks of human nails on their necks that showed that they were strangled. One of them had faeces in his anus. “It was when my husband started crying and moved towards our bedroom, that the lady (suspect) emerged from the bedroom and asked him why he was shouting. Then, I advanced towards her and demanded from her, where she kept Ebuka’s body because I had seen the others she killed. I held her and she gripped me. When I freed myself from her grip, I rushed to lock one of the two gates and raised the alarm until neighbours came.

“Later, somebody rushed out and called the youths of the community before the local vigilante and policemen arrived. She was arrested along with my husband.” Sources told Sunday Sun that the timely arrival of the police and the local vigilante saved the suspect from being lynched. It was also gathered that Mr Okonkwo, a furniture maker, had been dating the suspect, a relationship his wife confirmed, and had been battling to stop.
When contacted, the couple’s landlord, Mr Sunday, who lives outside the community, described the alleged killing of the innocent children as unfortunate and declined further comment. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra State, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident and said the matter was being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, the state capital.

Horrible!!! 

Miss Intercontinental Beauty Pageant

The International Beauty Pageant -Miss Intercontinental 

The dead beauty pageant Miss Intercontinental Nigeria seems to be rising again.

There have been rumors that the long dead beauty pageant, Miss Intercontinental Nigeria may surface again in this part of the world. This grand pageant has been going on since 1971. For some years now, there seems to be no National organizers from Nigeria to send delegates to the Grand Finale. So Nigeria has been missing a great opportunity to present African Beauty and rich culture.  The sisters of this pageants, Miss Universe and Miss World have bean hosted of recent with Nigerian representatives being present. Well, we can't wait for this one, who knows, our representative might go a long way to win. 

Check it out at www.missintercontinentalnigeria.com

 Isorait!

Moses' confident on Victory

Moses relishes Eagles' first training session in South Africa

The Chelsea striker has spoken highly of his desire to end his debut match in Afcon on a winning note with a victory over Burkina Faso on Monday.

Getty

Nigeria striker, Victor Moses has spoken of the enthusiasm in the Super Eagles squad ahead of Monday's 2013 Africa Cup of Nations group match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso after the country's senior national team rounded of their first training session in South Africa.

The Chelsea winger said he and his colleagues were battle ready to do the nation proud by starting their Afcon group clash with a win over their West African foes.
He admonished Nigerians to get behind the Eagles if they want the team to soar in South Africa.
"We had our first training session in South Africa and the boys are looking sharp. We are looking forward to the tournament and of course the first game against Burkina Faso," the Nigerian said.
The Eagles will also play Ethiopia and title holders, Zambia in their other group ties.

Moses, The Tablet of our hope is on ur hand! If u dash it to pieces, we will dash u to Ashes!

On the Super Eagles 6 home-based

The home lads for the Afcon: A profile of Stephen Keshi's NPL stars

BLOGGARRUS takes a look at the six players who ply their trade in the Nigeria Premier League and who are in the Super Eagles team to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations

Jan 18, 2013 5:00:00 PM

 

Njoku Okezie

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PROFILEBy Emeka Nwani | NPL Editor

Twenty three years ago, Clemens Westerhoff took a bunch of unknown players from the Nigerian League to the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations. Westerhoff who was then coach of the Super Eagles at that time, felt the players were sufficiently talented to begin to show their skills in the National Team with some of them making their debut at the Cup of Nations.

In their first game, they lost 6-1 to Algeria, and every football fan in Nigeria rain abuses on the Dutchman for fielding virtually unknown players. But Westerhoff was confident after the drubbing from Algeria and he was emphatic in saying that the team will play to the finals of the tournament.

Just like he predicted, the team played the same Algeria in the finals of the competition and lost 1-0. Westerhoff said after the competition that there is no need going abroad to look for players when he can watch the Nigerian league and discover the talents that abound in the country.

The Dutchman was able to successfully turn around the fortunes of the home based players and that gave some form of recognition to the League in Nigeria. The players became the fulcrum of his five years stay in Nigeria and he made maximum use of them in every game, even though at that time, Nigeria cannot boast of so many foreign based players.

Current Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi seems to have imbibed the ideals of Clemens Westerhoff. Immediately he was named the coach of the senior national team, he made his intentions known by saying that he would give the home based players equal opportunity like their foreign-based counterparts.

He started by inviting a lot of the players to Abuja to form a home based team, and in no time he was able to raise a good team with all players based in Nigeria. And when he decided to recall the foreign based players, he already had fit players who were ready to give their best.

After the long camping and playing friendly matches, the boys were ready for the big stage. Keshi did not hesitate to start playing the home based players in key Super Eagles matches in the World and Nations Cup qualifiers. The home based players featured prominently in all the matches.

And when it was time for Keshi to make the list of his players to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations known, he did not hesitate to call up six players from the Nigeria Premier League.

Goal.com profiles the six NPL ambassadors that are making the case for the local lads in Nigeria's Afcon 2013 squad.

CHIGOZIE AGBIM (ENUGU RANGERS)

Chigozie Agbim is one of the best goalkeepers in the Nigeria Premier League. He is well experienced having played for some of the best clubs in the country. He has remained consistent over the years in the Nigeria Premier League where he is highly rated. He is one of the goalkeepers that will never have any problem with his club management.

Since he was first invited to Stephen Keshi's team, he has wormed his way into the hearts of the coaching crew and has been rewarded with a place in the Super Eagles side to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

REUBEN GABRIEL (KANO PILLARS)

In 2007, Reuben Gabriel was a unknown quantity with Kaduna United. After two years with the Kaduna based side, he moved to Enyimba and that is where his talents began to show. And in Kano Pillars, he blossomed and everybody came to realise that Gabriel is a player that should keep a permanent shirt with the Super Eagles.

Stephen Keshi did not wait long before inviting him and he has not failed to deliver. He is a midfield enforcer and will form a oerfect partnership with Mikel Obi and Nosa Igiebor in the midfield department of the Super Eagles. Gabriel is one of the players that Stephen Keshi will rely on at the Nations Cup.

EJIKE UZOENYI (ENUGU RANGERS)

Uzoenyi remains one of the players in the present Super Eagles team that can use his left foot to an advantage. His is one player that does not joke with his career and that is why he gives his all in every game. In Rangers, they know him as a player who is committed to his job. He is one of the players in the team that can use his left foot very well and that will come in handy in some of the matches.

SUNDAY MBA (ENUGU RANGERS)

If any coach is looking for a player that is ready to work his hearts out, then midfielder Sunday Mba fits that bill. Mba is one player that may not be visible during matches, but he does a lot to stabilise the team at all times. Mba is one player that is bound to give Stephen Keshi cover at numerous positions. Mba will act as a good cover for the attacking midfielders in the team.

GODFREY OBOABONA (SUNSHINE STARS)

Oboabuna has grown in leaps and bounds since he joined Sunshine Stars six years ago. He emerged the highest scoring defender with six goals last season and has turned out to be the player that will soon explode in the Super Eagles. He has gained a measure of confidence since his Nigeria debut in the game against Rwanda.

He is one of the most versatile players in the Nigeria Premier League. Oboabuna has the unique quality of playing from any position on the field except goalkeeping. He has played as a striker, midfielder and defender for Sunshine Stars. Oboabuna is one player that is ready for the world stage with the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

AZUBUIKE EGWUEKE (WARRI WOLVES)

He has severally been rated as one of the best defenders in the Nigeria Premier League. He brings his height to an advantage in every match and he will surely act as a good back up for the central defenders during the Cup of Nations. Azubuike is waiting for any opportunity to show what he can do and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations is the perfect place to tell everyone that he is ready to take his pride of place in the Super Eagles team to South Africa.

My arms are folded! Am watching d Eagles take off, let me see how high they'll fly!! Ka Chineke mezie Okwu!

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