Who Is Victor Ikpeba (The Nigerian Striker)?
Prince Adey
Soccer-Monaco prepare for United with 2-0 win
04:16 p.m Feb 28, 1998 Eastern
By Rex Gowar
PARIS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Monaco boosted their morale before meeting
Manchester United in the European Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 French
Cup third round victory over Olympique Marseille on Saturday.
Nigeria striker Victor Ikpeba scored both goals in extra time, running
onto a fine long ball out of defence from Bosnia captain Muhamed Konjic
to slip the ball under Marseille's German goalkeeper Andreas Koepke in
the 99th minute for the first.
In the 119th minute, Ikpeba ran after another long ball out of defence,
tricking Koepke into going for it outside the box. The ball sailed over
Koepke without the 'keeper or Ikpeba touching it and the Nigerian
stroked it home.
Monaco, at home to United on Wednesday in the first leg of their European
Cup, had lost their previous league match 1-0 at Bastia.
"This victory is a plus before Manchester (United) when we have to face
another great team," Ikpeba said. "It's a victory that's good for morale,
but on Wednesdsay it's another match, another world, because Marseille
are not Manchester."
Five times French Cup winners Monaco join Paris St Germain and second
division Caen and Mulhouse, who all went through on Friday, in the
quarter-finals.
It was league leaders Marseille's third defeat in a row, including
elimination from both domestic cup competitions in the space of 12 days.
They lost their League Cup quarter-final 3-2 at home to AJ Auxerre on
February 17.
With playmaker Ali Benarbia on the field during extra time, Monaco were
more dangerous. Coach Jean Tigana started Benarbia on the bench thinking
of keeping him fresh to face Manchester United.
Monaco also rested Scotland's John Collins and France striker David
Trezeguet, who are both nursing minor injuries, while libero Franck
Dumas is also injured.
"I'm very satisfied with the performance of my players this evening
because I made quite a few changes to use part of the squad but above
all to allow some to rest with a view to the Champions' League match,"
Monaco coach Jean Tigana said.
"I hope to be able to call on David Triziguet and Franck Dumas against
Manchester (United)," he said.
PSG beat fourth division Pau after extra time with a 113th-minute goal
by their Brazilian captain Rai.
Mulhouse upset Cannes 2-0 after extra time and Caen beat fellow second
division Sochaux 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time.
Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
STDAWODU
Victor Ikpeba has been with MONACO for the past 6 years as their top striker
and was on the reserve bench for nigeria in 1998 world cup in usa.
He was a member of the under 17 team that won the world cup years ago.
I never understood why he was replaced with RASHIDI YEKINI in the USA'94 world
cup since he is younger and a more prolific striker.
His combination with FINIDI GEORGE and KANU will be very deadly to any
opposing team.
regards to all as usual.
Segun T. DAWODU, MD
Rogunsuyi
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dr. Dawodu,
May I add that Victor Ikpeba was voted the African player of the Year for 1997
You wondered why Yekini was picked over Ikpeba in the 1994 World Cup. Yekini
led them to the "Finals" as they are officially known. Plus sports performance
rankings are a very fluid phenomenon. Because player A is better than player B
in 1998 does not mean the rankings could not have been 180 degrees reversed in
1994. In sports, 4 years are an eternity.
Picking a team for the upcoming Finals will not be easy for the folks in
charge because of the abundance of talents all over the place. I wouldn't
wanna be the one making the decision on this simply for the fact above. If
anything goes wrong as they usually do in sports, there would be second (&
3rd) guessing all over the place.
I hope you had a beautiful Sunday.
Ro.
Oladipo Omosoto
Victor Ikpea was on the 1989 youth squad that lost to Saudi Arabia in
the quarter finals. Never won the under 17 cup.
Prince Adey wrote:
> Soccer-Monaco prepare for United with 2-0 win
> 04:16 p.m Feb 28, 1998 Eastern
> By Rex Gowar
>
> PARIS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Monaco boosted their morale before meeting
> Manchester United in the European Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 French
>
> Cup third round victory over Olympique Marseille on Saturday.
>
> Nigeria striker Victor Ikpeba scored both goals in extra time, running
>
> onto a fine long ball out of defence from Bosnia captain Muhamed
> Konjic
> to slip the ball under Marseille's German goalkeeper Andreas Koepke in
>
> ------