Tag: Football - Page 17 - African News Today

Simy Nwankwo Addresses Crotone Future Amid Exit Rumours

15Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Simy Nwankwo Addresses Crotone Future Amid Exit Rumours

Nigeria forward Simy Nwankwo insists he is happy at Crotone despite interest from top clubs around Europe. Nwankwo is expected to leave Crotone this summer following their relegation to Serie B. The lanky forward is not short of suitors following a superlative campaign in the Italian top-flight that saw him scored 20 times in 38 league appearances. Quizzed about his future in an interview with Gazetta dello Sport, the 29-year-old appeared to suggest that he had yet to make any final decision. “I do not know. For now I’m in a place where I feel good and people love me, the transfer market doesn’t interest me,”he declared. The striker linked up with Crotone from Portuguese club Gil Vicente in 2015.

Why Ademola Lookman, Ejaria Super Eagles Switch is Yet to Be Completed – Official

11Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Why Ademola Lookman, Ejaria Super Eagles Switch is Yet to Be Completed – Official

A top official has given a reason why Ademola Lookman and Ovie Ejaria are yet to complete their switch to the Super Eagles after they have represented England at various age-grade levels. The official said that contrary to media reports Lookman and Ejaria change of allegiance has not yet been approved by FIFA because the two players do not have Nigerian passports yet. He said that FIFA cannot approve a switch of nationalities without proof of a player’s citizenship, which in this case is the Nigerian passport. “They can’t get FIFA clearance without having a passport and evidence of the citizenship of the country they have chosen to represent,” disclosed the official. Coach Gernot Rohr is committed to strengthening his squad in time for the 2021 AFCON and the 2022 World Cup qual...

Football has Been Difficult – Rohr Laments

9Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Football has Been Difficult – Rohr Laments

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr is optimistic fans can return to the stadium during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers set to commence in September after what he described as a difficult period due to restrictions by COVID-19. He also assured the team will be ready for the start of the qualifiers despite their poor performance in the international friendlies against Cameroon. The Eagles lost 1-0to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the first friendly last Friday. The three-time African champions were left disappointed as they claimed a single point in the second friendly on Tuesday. The results notwithstanding, Rohr is confident the team will be battle-ready to get off to a good start in the qualifiers in September. “We will be ready in September for the World Cup qualifiers,” the...

Eagles Issue Jamilu Collins Fitness Update

8Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Eagles Issue Jamilu Collins Fitness Update

Super Eagles defender, Jamilu Collins is in contention to play in today’s friendly match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon after making a comeback from an injury, African News Today has gathered. Collins who plays for Paderborn in Germany picked up the injury when he featured against Cameroon last Friday. However, the team vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has been ruled out of the match due to injury. Camp sources say Collins joined training session on Monday night and is in contention to feature in a wing-back position against the five-time African champions. Also in consideration for the match are Moses Simon and Valentine Ozorwanfor. Cameroon won the first friendly 1-0 thanks to Zambo Anguissa’s 37th minute superb finish.

Vincent Onovo Handed Late Super Eagles Call-up Ahead of Cameroon Friendly

7Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Vincent Onovo Handed Late Super Eagles Call-up Ahead of Cameroon Friendly

Super Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr has invited Vincent Onovo to the team’s camp ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. African News Today has gathered. Onovo, a midfielder for Hungarian side, Ujpest Football club has already arrived at the team’s camp. The 25-year-old was handed the invitation for the game following injuries to vice-captain William Troost-Ekong and left-back Jamilu Collins. He previously played for Finnish clubs Inter Turku and HJK Helsinki. Troost-Ekong has already departed the camp for medical checks on the extent of his injury, team sources say. The Super Eagles lost 1-0 to the Indomitable Lions in the first friendly last Friday. The Eagles will battle the five-time African champions will take place at ...

Rohr Passes Verdict on Eagles Performance, Defeat to Cameroon

5Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Rohr Passes Verdict on Eagles Performance, Defeat to Cameroon

Super Eagles of Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr has said the opportunity to offer playtime to new players was more important than gunning for victory in the friendly against Cameroon in Austria on Friday. The gaffer disclosed this in his post-match conference after the match. Cameroon took the lead through a goal by Andre Anguissa in the first half despite the Super Eagles dominance in the opening stages of the game. The narrow defeat against Cameroon marked the Super Eagles’ first loss against them since the FCON 2000. However, the Nigerian side will have an opportunity to fight back on Tuesday when both teams face off again. Rohr said, “The most important thing is not the result because it was just a test match,” Rohr said. “It was interesting to see some new players because we...

Nigeria Lacks Quality to Reach World Cup Semis – Rohr

5Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Interview, News, Nigeria, Sports

Nigeria Lacks Quality to Reach World Cup Semis – Rohr

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, is not convinced of his players ability to reach the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup despite their impressive form for their European clubs during the just-concluded season. While Rohr admits the likes of Paul Onuachu, who emerged Belgium’s Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner after a record-breaking season, Kelechi Iheanaco, Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, William Troost-Ekong are top players, he says they don’t play for top-tier clubs like their African counterparts. “They (other African countries) have players playing in the best teams in Europe, we don’t,” the Franco-German told ESPN. “Our players are playing in lower clubs. We don’t have these players like Egypt, like Senegal, like Ivory Coast who are playing in the biggest ...

Why Some Senior Players Were Excluded From Eagles’ 2002 World Cup Squad – Finidi

1Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Why Some Senior Players Were Excluded From Eagles’ 2002 World Cup Squad – Finidi

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Finidi George has alleged that some superior powers at the helm of affairs pressured then Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onogbinde to drop some senior players, including himself, from the 2002 World Cup squad. He disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH Online TV programme Kick and Follow. The midfield maestro who once plied his trade in Spain with Real Betis, played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s qualification to the showpiece tournament when the team was being managed by late coach, Shaibu Amodu and his assistant Stephen Keshi. Among the senior players dropped from the squad were Victor Agali, Tijani Babangida, Sunday Oliseh, Victor Ikpeba Nosa, and George Finidi. But Finidi stated that the players didn’t deserve such unfair treatment from them. ...

Senegal’s Edouard Mendy Becomes First African Goalie to Win UCL

29May

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Senegal, Sports

Senegal’s Edouard Mendy Becomes First African Goalie to Win UCL

Senegal and Chelsea FC goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on Saturday became the first African goalkeeper to win the UEFA Champions League. The goaltender who was in goal for Chelsea FC as they defeated Manchester City to clinch their second UCL trophy was full of joy after the game. Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal just before half-time, running on to Mason Mount’s excellent ball before knocking it past Ederson and then rolling into the empty net. City, who were looking to win the competition for the first time, never really showed the imposing dominance that had brought them the 2020-21 Premier League title, with Pep Guardiola’s bold team selection having failed to come off.

26May

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Paul Onuachu Hints on Next Move

Belgian Jupiter League player of the year and Super Eagles striker, Paul Onuachu has expressed commitment to Genk and restates the possibility of remaining at the club next season. The prolific forward has been the subject of transfer speculations following his impressive outing in the just-concluded season, where he bagged 33 goals in 36 matches. He was rewarded with the Belgian Jupiter league player of the year, in addition to the golden shoe. Reacting to the transfer speculations, Onuachu declined to comment on the rumours, but reiterated that, he is still a Genk player. “Right now, I’m in Belgium here in Brussels, I’m still a Genkie and of course next season, I’m starting with Genk. So, I’m still a Genkie” he told the Belgian media outlet, Eleven Sports.