Tag: Football - Page 24 - African News Today

Iheanacho a Key Player for Leicester – Rodgers

6Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Iheanacho a Key Player for Leicester – Rodgers

Leicester City coach, Brendan Rodgers has tagged Kelechi Iheanacho an important player ahead of his side’s away match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday night. Iheanacho, 24, has found regular playing berth a great challenge since he joined the club from Manchester City in 2017. The Nigerian international has found himself further down the pecking order following the arrival of Ayoze Perez from Newcastle United last season. Iheanacho staked his claim for a place in the team with a superb goal in Leicester’s 1-1 draw against Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday. Rodgers in his interaction with journalists described his technique for the goal as outstanding. He said, “He (Iheanacho) is very important. The technique in that goal last night was outstanding.” ...

AFCON Qualifier: It’s Not a Crime For Eagles to Travel by Boat for Benin Fixture – Pinnick

4Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifier: It’s Not a Crime For Eagles to Travel by Boat for Benin Fixture – Pinnick

Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has said the performance of the Super Eagles won’t be impacted by their means of transportation for the decisive 2021 Africa cup of Nations qualifier against Benin at Porto-Novo. The NFF president disclosed this in an interview with Arise Television’s Morning Show News, while reacting to the possibility of the team making the trip to Benin by boat for the March 22, 2021 match. Pinnick said there is no big deal if the Super Eagles travel by boat. Head coach, Gernort Rohr had in February said the team may cross the border by boat so as to avoid the bad roads linking both countries. He has been backed by Pinnick who equally said that there is nothing wrong with exploring other forms of adventure in Nigeria. Pinni...

Super Eagles Would Have Won AFCON 2000 With VAR – Amokachi

1Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Super Eagles Would Have Won AFCON 2000 With VAR – Amokachi

Iconic Nigerian forward, Daniel Amoachi has said that the Super Eagles would have been crowned the African Champions at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations if the current Video Assistant Referee, VAR, was in use at the time. Amokachi said this while reflecting on the 200 AFCON match where Victor Ikpeba’s penalty kick during penalty shootout against Cameroon was incorrectly ruled out. Tunisian referee Morad Daami did not award the goal despite replays showing the penalty had crossed the line. It allowed Cameroon to win the match 4-3 on penalties. Speaking on whether he would have welcomed VAR during his professional career, Amokachi, speaking in Monday’s edition of his radio programme ‘Bull’s Pit’ on Brila FM replied:”I would have welcomed VAR during my playing days because with VAR ...

28Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Egypt, English Premiership, News, Sports

Klopp Speaks on Possible Salah Exit

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has declared that the club will not consider any bids for Egyptian Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward had during a recent interview declined to rule out a transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid or Barcelona in the future. Speculations have been rife in the media over the future of the prolific forward, especially with the Reds title defence in shatters, but Klopp has quelled rumours of a possible summer transfer away from the club. Klopp said, “It is very important – both to the team and that Mo stays here with us. It is not often that I have to praise my own players, which of course I always like to do.” “But in Mo’s case the numbers just speak for themselves. But Mo is not only a goal scorer. He is developed football-wise as well – and is a very,...

AFCON Qualifier: Rohr to Submit List of Invited Players For Benin, Lesotho Matches Next Week – NFF

27Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifier: Rohr to Submit List of Invited Players For Benin, Lesotho Matches Next Week – NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has said that the coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr will submit the list of invited players that will prosecute the African Cup of Nations matches against the Squirrels of Benin and Crocodile of Lesotho on March 22 and 30 respectively. This was disclosed by a top source to the Federation on Friday, Completesports reports. The Super Eagles currently top the group L with eight points from four games while Benin trails with seven points. The match in Benin will be crucial in deciding the status of both teams as they aim to clinch a spot at the African showpiece tournament. According to the source, all hands are on deck to ensure that the best players are selected by Rohr for the encounter. the source said, “We’re still expecting the list ...

Gattuso Expresses Doubt Over Osimhen’s Fitness Ahead of Benevento Clash

26Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Gattuso Expresses Doubt Over Osimhen’s Fitness Ahead of Benevento Clash

Coach of Napoli, Gennaro Gattuso has expressed doubt over the recovery of Nigeran striker, Victor Osimhen ahead of Sunday’s Serie A match against Benevento, African News Today has gathered. The striker was stretched off the pitch unconscious during the closing minutes of Napoli’s 4-2 away defeat to Atlanta last Sunday. Osimhen, 22, was rushed to the hospital after hitting his head on the ground, following a collision with Atlanta defender Christian Romero. The club on Tuesday disclosed that Osimhen will rest for a period of few days before returning to training gradually. Speaking ahead of the clash on Sunday, Gattuso said, “With Benevento? It’s not up to us, he’s had a head injury, he’s blacked out, and he’s up to Federation protocol on things like that, not our doctor.” “I don’t k...

U-17 AFCON: Dosu Backs Golden Eaglets to Top Group B

25Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

U-17 AFCON: Dosu Backs Golden Eaglets to Top Group B

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph has backed Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to qualify to the knockout phase of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Champions billed for Morocco. The Nigerian team qualified for the competition after they finished as runner-up in the 2021 WAFU Zone B Tournament in Benin. The Golden Eaglets were on Wednesday drawn against Tanzania, Algeria, and Congo in group B. In his reaction to the draws, the Atlanta Olympic medalist told Completesports that the Golden Eaglets has the quality to qualify from the group. he said, “I am confident the team will qualify from the group despite been grouped alongside Tanzania, Algeria, and Congo. “If their performance at the WAFU tournament is anything to go, then expect the team to deliver the best of football. Yes...

Rohr Sweating Over Osimhen’s Fitness Ahead of Benin, Lesotho Games

24Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Rohr Sweating Over Osimhen’s Fitness Ahead of Benin, Lesotho Games

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is optimistic the team’s striker, Victor Osimhen will recover in time for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Benin and Lesotho next month. The forward picked up an injury during the last minutes of Napoli’s 4-2 away defeat to Atlanta in the Serie A on Sunday. Osimhen, 22, was stretched off the pitch and taken to the hospital he was knocked unconscious following a collision with Atlanta defender Cristian Romero. Napoli allayed fears of a serious injury on Tuesday, announcing that the Nigerian international will rest for a few days before returning to training gradually. Reacting to the development, Rohr who anticipates the striker to lead the line for next month’s decisive final two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, is ...

AFCON Qualifier: Why Super Eagles May Travel By Boat For Benin Fixture – Rohr

23Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifier: Why Super Eagles May Travel By Boat For Benin Fixture – Rohr

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has said that the team might travel to Benin by boat for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Rohr’s men are billed to square off against the Squirrels of Benin on March 22 in a game that could decide the fate of the two teams. The German gaffer in an interview with French radio station Europe1 (via Football 365), lamented Benin’s poor road network for their decision not to travel by road to the capital, Porto Novo. He also urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to move their hotel closer to the Nigerian-Benin border. he said, “We will have the “fitness” at the hotel, which we did not have on the previous day in Benin City,” Rohr told French radio station Europe1 (via Football 365). “We will be very close to Benin. We risk making the...

Ikpeba Begs NFF – Please, Pardon Oparazonie

23Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Ikpeba Begs NFF – Please, Pardon Oparazonie

Former Super Eagles forward, Victor Ikpeba has asked the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, to pardon Super Falcons striker, Desire Oparanozie for her transgressions. The Falcons striker was exempted from the list of the 23-man squad that is currently flying the country’s flag at the Turkish Women’s Cup, where the team has won two of their matches. Ikpeba had last week questioned the omission of Oparanizie from the squad despite being the team’s highest goal scorer. Reacting during Monday Night Football program on Supersports, Ikpeba lauded the performance of the Super Falcons after beating CSK Moscow and Uzbekistan at the ongoing tournament. He said, “Super Falcons should not get carried away by their victories at the Turkish Women’s Cup. This is just a tournament where they can...