Tag: Sports - Page 13 - African News Today

AFCON: Ndidi, Iwobi, Troost-Ekong, Iheanacho Five Others Arrive, 23 Players Now In Camp

4Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON: Ndidi, Iwobi, Troost-Ekong, Iheanacho Five Others Arrive, 23 Players Now In Camp

Leicester City duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi are among nine players who have arrived at the Super Eagles Abuja camp for the 2021 AFCON. Also currently in camp are the quartet of Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka, Semi Ajayi and Kelechi Nwakali. The current arrivals means 23 players are now in camp ahead of the continental showpiece in Cameroon. Meanwhile, five players are still being expected to join the rest of the squad. Read Also: AFCON: ‘Osimhen Told Me He’s Not 100% Fit To Play’ – Eguavoen The players are Odion Ighalo, Jamilu Collins, Tyrone Ebuehi, Joseph Aribo and Samuel Chukwueze. And according to the team’s media officer Babafemi Raji, hopefully the five players will be in camp today. Super Eagles players cu...

AFCON: ‘Osimhen Told Me He’s Not 100% Fit To Play’ – Eguavoen

3Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports, Uncategorized, WAFCON

AFCON: ‘Osimhen Told Me He’s Not 100% Fit To Play’ – Eguavoen

Super Eagles interim coach, Austine Eguavoen has disclosed the main reason why Victor Osimhen decided to withdraw himself from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Recall that the Nigerian international had sustained a nasty facial injury in late November, after colliding with Milan Skriniar in their 3-2 defeat to Inter Milan. Read Also: Qualify Eagles For 2022 World Cup Or Get Sacked –NFF Tells Peseiro However, he declared himself fit despite being ruled out for three months by Napoli doctor after successfully undergoing a surgery. In a chat with the Super Eagles media officer, Eguavoen stated that Osimhen’s health was behind his withdrawal from the squad. “Osimhen, it’s a pity that he will not be at the AFCON. He told me practically and pleaded with me, and I saw reasons. “I tried...

Qualify Eagles For 2022 World Cup Or Get Sacked –NFF Tells Peseiro

30Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Qualify Eagles For 2022 World Cup Or Get Sacked –NFF Tells Peseiro

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has mandated the newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro to qualify Nigeria for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar or face the exit door. The Portuguese tactician was appointed following the sacking of Gernot Rohr earlier this month. Read Also: Surgeon: Only A Miracle Will See Osimhen Represent Eagles At AFCON 2021 The 61-year-old was in charge of the Venezuela national team until August and has also coached Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, and Al Ahly of Egypt. NFF vice-president, Shehu Dikko, speaking with ESPN, said that if he fails qualify Nigeria for the 2022 World Cup, the situation will be reviewed and a decision taken. “If he does not qualify us for this World Cup, we will review the situation objectively and make a decision based o...

AFCON: Three Players Arrive Camp As Super Eagles Begin Preparation

30Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON: Three Players Arrive Camp As Super Eagles Begin Preparation

Three players have arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Abuja, African News Today has gathered. The first player to arrive at the camp was Olisa Ndah, a central defender. Other players who have arrived are Taiwo Awoniyi and John Noble. The team made this known via its Facebook page. “Olisa Ndah is the first player to arrive camp. Taiwo Awoniyi and John Noble have arrived at camp… Three players in camp,” it posted. The Super Eagles camp opened on Wednesday for the start of preparation for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, The PUNCH has learnt. The 33rd edition of the AFCON will hold in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022. Read Also: Surgeon: Only A Miracle Will See Osimhen Represent Eagles At AFCON 2021 The three-time African champions will be camped ...

Surgeon: Only A Miracle Will See Osimhen Represent Eagles At AFCON 2021

29Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

Surgeon: Only A Miracle Will See Osimhen Represent Eagles At AFCON 2021

Napoli surgeon, Professor Gianpaolo Tartaro has declared that it would only take a miracle for Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen to represent the senior national team at the fast-approaching 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Osimhen, who recently made a return to training after successfully undergoing a surgery to correct multiple fractures in his face following a clash with Inter defender Milan Skriniar on November 21, was named in the 28-man list by Super Eagles interim coach, Austine Eguavoen for the bi-annual tournament. Read Also: NFF Met Mourinho For Eagles Job –Pinnick According to Football Italia, Osimhen spent the Christmas break in Nigeria, but he’s expected to return to Naples on Friday for a medical check after a cheekbone surgery he underwent at the end of November. ...

Arsenal Takes Final Decision To Sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

23Dec

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Gabon, News, Sports

Arsenal Takes Final Decision To Sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Arsenal have finally decided to sell striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the upcoming January transfer window. According to ESPN, Arsenal will allow Aubameyang leave Emirates in January as long as they receive a suitable offer for the forward. Aubameyang was stripped of Arsenal’s captaincy earlier this month due to a ‘disciplinary breach’. The 32-year-old has missed Arsenal’s last four matches against Sunderland, Leeds United, West Ham and Southampton. See Also: Aubameyang Banished From Arsenal First-Team Training He currently has 18 months to run on his current deal with Arsenal. However, Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has not ruled out reintegrating Aubameyang into his squad, but the North London club are willing to listen to offers for the Gabonese international next ...

NFF Met Mourinho For Eagles Job –Pinnick

23Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

NFF Met Mourinho For Eagles Job –Pinnick

Nigeria Football Federation boss Amaju Pinnick says the federation held talks with Roma manager Jose Mourinho in its search for a coach for the Super Eagles. Pinnick, who stated this during a media parley with sports journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, said the Eagles would get a new coach “within the next week or so”, meaning interim coach of the team Austin Eguavoen might not take the squad to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins January 9, 2022 in Cameroon. Eguavoen took charge of the side on a temporary basis following the sacking of Franco-German Gernot Rohr December 12, but Pinnick stated that the federation was in advanced stage in its search for a permanent replacement for Rohr. The NFF boss confirmed that they had held talks with Serbian Mladen Krstajic and Jose M...

Aubameyang Banished From Arsenal First-Team Training

18Dec

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Gabon, News, Sports

Aubameyang Banished From Arsenal First-Team Training

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has reportedly been banished from first-team training. According to Sportsmail, the player will continue to be exiled from Mikel Arteta’s plans until the end of 2021 at the earliest. Aubameyang’s future with the Gunners is looking increasingly bleak, after he was stripped of the club captaincy on Monday. Arsenal in an official statement, cited his “latest disciplinary breach”. The 32-year-old has not been involved in first-team training at the club’s London Colney HQ this week. See Also: FIFA Dismisses South Africa Replay Appeal After Controversial Loss To Ghana Instead, Aubameyang has been training alone, away from the squad. Arteta confirmed on Friday that the Gabon striker would not be considered for the weekend game at Lee...

I Took 20% Pay Cut As Eagles Coach – Rohr

17Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

I Took 20% Pay Cut As Eagles Coach – Rohr

Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, says he took a 20 per cent pay cut in a bid to help the Nigeria Football Federation manage cost after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The NFF terminated the contract of the Franco-German on Sunday, after five years and four months with the three-time African champions, with just a few weeks to the AFCON in Cameroon. NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, cited the team’s abysmal performances under Rohr as the reason the coach was shown the exit door, while adding that the 68-year-old failed to enforce discipline in the team. On his part, Rohr alleged that some officials tried to influence his choice of players. In an interview with ESPN, the former Bordeaux manager said he was never in Nigeria because of money. “No, never,” Rohr respo...

Copa del Rey: Chukwueze On Target In Villarreal’s 7-1 Away Win

16Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Copa del Rey: Chukwueze On Target In Villarreal’s 7-1 Away Win

Samuel Chukwueze got among the goals as Villarreal hammered lower division side Sanluqueno, in the second round of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night. Chukwueze has now scored in back-to-back Copa del Rey games this season. Read Also: ‘It’s A Huge Frustration’ — Rohr Bitter After Nigeria Sacking His first game in the 8-0 away win against another lower division side Victoria CF. The Super Eagles winger scored Villarreal’s fourth goal on 40 minutes, in the win against Sanluqueno. He was later replaced by Yeremi Pino with 14 minutes remaining in the game. So far this season Chukwueze has netted four goals in 14 games in all competitions for Unai Emery’s side. Source: CompleteSports