Category: Youths - Page 18 - African News Today

Ajax Goalkeeper Onana Suspended One Year for Doping

5Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Africa, Cameroon, Sports, Youths

Ajax Goalkeeper Onana Suspended One Year for Doping

Ajax’s Cameroonian international goalkeeper Andre Onana has been suspended for one year for doping, the Dutch club said on Friday. The club said in a statement Onana had “mistakenly” taken his wife’s medicine which had led to the banned diuretic Furosemide appearing in his urine. Ajax said they had hoped Onana would receive a shorter ban because the substance was “arguably” not a performance booster. “On the morning of October 30, Onana was feeling unwell,” the club said in a statement. “He wanted to take a pill to ease the discomfort. Unknowingly, however, he took Lasimac, a drug that his wife had previously been prescribed. “Onana’s confusion resulted in him mistakenly taking his wife’s medicine, ultimately causing this measure to be taken by UEFA against the goalkeeper.” ...

2Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Ndidi, Vardy Ruled Out of Fulham Tie

Leicester City would be without Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi when they face Fulham tomorrow in the EPL. The key Leicester City pair both missed Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Leeds, the club’s first loss in 10 matches , but neither will have overcome their injury problems in time to provide Brendan Rodgers with a boost ahead of the trip to the capital. Vardy is in the process of recovering from a hernia operation and could return to training later in the week. Ndidi, meanwhile, suffered a minor hamstring tear in the 1-1 draw at Everton and is not due to be back in action until next week. After the loss to Leeds, Rodgers said it was clear his side would have benefitted from their involvement. “I think everyone watching the game could see there were certain moments where those two playe...

Eze Good Enough To Play For England – Hodgson

1Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Sports, Youths

Eze Good Enough To Play For England – Hodgson

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson believes Eberechi Eze will be good enough to play for the England senior side but is not yet ready to make the step up, according to Sky Sports Eze grabbed his third goal of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolves to continue his fine start at Selhurst Park following a summer switch from QPR. The 22-year-old is eligible to play for Nigeria but is currently part of Aidy Boothroyd’s England Under-21 squad, although he missed the recent games in November with an injury. When Hodgson was in charge of the national team, he had to convince Jack Grealish to pick the Three Lions over the Republic of Ireland and the Aston Villa captain has forced his way into Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of the Euro’s later this year. And with Eze now in a simi...

Crystal Palace Worked Hard For Win Against Wolves – Eberechi Eze

30Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Crystal Palace Worked Hard For Win Against Wolves – Eberechi Eze

Eberechi Eze says Palace’s impressive victory over Wolves was a reward for their continued hard work throughout the season. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said in his post-match interview. “We work hard all the time and it’s not come off for us, but today it worked so I’m grateful. “We always put in the work and we’re always trying to give the best account of ourselves. It hasn’t always come off but today we put it right.” Eberechi Eze says Palace’s impressive victory over Wolves was a reward for their continued hard work throughout the season. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said in his post-match interview. “We work hard all the time and it’s not come off for us, but today it worked so I’m grateful. “We always put in the work and we’re always trying to g...

30Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Interview, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Why I Shunned Ajax Move – Ajayi

West Bromwich Albion defender has explained his quest for first-team football made him reject an opportunity to join Ajax. The 27-year-old centre-back started his career at Charlton Athletic academy and was promoted to the senior team in 2012. During his time at the Valley, the Super Eagles star also spent time on loan with Dartford before moving to Arsenal permanently in 2013. The defender spent two years with the Gunners but did not get a chance to feature for the senior team and had to leave the Emirates Stadium. Ajayi went on trial at Ajax before sealing a deal with Cardiff City and has revealed why he decided not to join the Dutch side despite their interest to sign him. “When I left Arsenal, they allowed me to go and train at clubs and have a look at clubs and explore ...

28Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Rodgers Plays Down Ndidi Injury Concern

Leicester City manager, Brendan Rodgers, has played down the severity of the injury copped by midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, in their 1-1 draw against Everton at the Goodison Park on Wednesday in an English Premier League fixture. The Foxes were forced to a first half substitution after the combative midfielder picked up a knock and was replaced by Papy Mendy in the 42nd minute. Giving updates on the injury situation of the Nigerian and defender, Johnny Evans, Rodgers says the status of the player will be known in a couple of days. “Wilf was tight, it was the back of his hamstring, so we’ll see how that goes in the next couple of days,” Rodgers told the club website. “It’s just tightened up. He doesn’t think he’s overstretched or tore it. We’ll just have to assess that. We couldn’t...

Ighalo Announces Exit from Manchester United

26Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Ighalo Announces Exit from Manchester United

Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has announced his departure from Manchester United. He made the announcement in an emotional farewell message posted on his social media handles. In the message, the prolific striker said it was hard to leave Old Trafford, saying it was a pleasure to play for the Manchester club. The 31-year-old striker’s loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua expires at the end of this month. The Nigeria international joined United in January last year on an initial six-month deal that was later extended to 12 months. Ighalo scored five goals in 18 appearances during the 2019-20 campaign as he proved a useful back-up option for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He posted, “It’s so hard to see this dream come to an end. But I give God the glory for helping ...

25Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Youths

FG Threatens To Shut Down NYSC Camps

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has threatened that the government will not hesitate to shut down orientation camps of the National Youth Service Corps in any state where the guidelines designed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 are being flouted. He however said his visits to camps across the country so far showed that the guidelines were being adhered to. Dare recalled that before orientation camps were reopened in November 2020, meetings were held during which the safety guidelines were arrived at. “The government will not hesitate to shut down orientation camps in states where the safety guidelines and protocols are not being adhered to. “Corps members from such states will be moved to adjoining states. We however wish that we will not get to that sta...

Osihmen Returns, Features in Napoli’s Away Loss

25Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Osihmen Returns, Features in Napoli’s Away Loss

Some 77 days after playing his last game in the Italian Serie A, Victor Osimhen played for 25minutes yesterday in Napoli’s 2-1 away loss to Verona. Osimhen was last in action for Napoli on November 8 in their 1-0 away win over Bologna before he joined with Nigeria for the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers against Sierra Leone where he sustained a shoulder injury on November 13 in Super Eagles 4-4 draw at home against the Leone Star of Sierra Leone in Benin City. While still recuperating from the injury, Osimhen was tested positive to COVID-19 on January 1 while he was cleared of the virus on Friday January 22. Yesterday, he came on in the 65th minute to replace Andrea Petagna but he could not save his team from going down to Verona in the tie. Osimhen reportedly has a very light bra...

We Must Take our Chances Against Brentford – Iheanacho

24Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

We Must Take our Chances Against Brentford – Iheanacho

Nigeria footballer, Kelechi Iheanacho expects a tougher atmosphere at the Brentford Community Stadium when they clash again in the fourth round of the same competition today. Iheanacho calls on his teammates to take their chances against obviously improved Brentford as they chase down their first FA Cup title. “We played them last time in the FA Cup and probably the team has changed a little bit,” Iheanacho told LCFC TV via video call. “They were a good side last time we played them, and they have good quality players as well, so they might hurt us if we’re not careful. We need to just be ourselves, play our own game and make sure that we get the win. “We need to take our chances when they come in the first half, so they don’t take us to the second half. “They’re at home, an...