Ike Uche opens scoring again

Ikechukwu Uche

Nigeria international striker Ikechukwu Uche has continued his fine run in pre-season for Villarreal with another goal against Swansea City on Saturday.

The former Getafe striker, who was sensationally left out of the recent World Cup in Brazil by coach Stephen Keshi, scored his team’s opening goal in the third minute to set the tone for a 3-0 win over English Premier League side Swansea City. Last season, Uche fired 14 goals in the Spanish La Liga for Villarreal. That number of goals made him the highest scoring Nigerian for the closed season but missed Brazil 2014 due to differences with the Nigeria coach. He won the 2013 Africa Nations Cup with Nigeria and Spanish Segunda league in 2005/2006 with Recreativo De Huelva.

He was Pichichi trophy winner as Segunda top scorer in 2005/2006 season. The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC) star has 44 caps for Nigeria with 14 goals.

Uche’s pre-season goals are coming just as the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that the southern coastal town of Calabar will stage next month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda. The NFF have also confirmed that the game will be played on Saturday, September 6.

The NFF spokesperson Ademola Olajire told AfricanFootball.com, “The Nigeria versus Rwanda AFCON 2015 qualifier will be played in Calabar.

“We as a federation are working tirelessly to ensure that the Eagles are prepared for the encounter, which takes place on the 6th of next month.”

It is not clear now if the NFF and Keshi would have concluded their contract renewal talks by the time the Rwandans arrive in Nigeria for the game. But whether they conclude or not, the former Nigeria captain is expected to lead the team out.

South Africa and Sudan are the other teams in Nigeria’s qualifying group with the top two teams advancing to Morocco 2015 in January. The same Calabar city hosted all Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON and 2014 World Cup qualifying matches.

This was after the pitch at the Abuja National Stadium was found to be unplayable.