Sports | Page 13 of 54 | African News Today

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

‘How Eguavoen Can Become Successful As Super Eagles Interim Coach’ –Onigbinde

14Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

‘How Eguavoen Can Become Successful As Super Eagles Interim Coach’ –Onigbinde

Former Nigeria coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, says the only way the interim coaching crew of the Super Eagles led by Austine Eguavoen can succeed is if they get sound administrative backing from the Nigeria Football Federation. Onigbinde served on two different occasions – from 1983 to1984 and 2002, as interim coach Nigeria. He was first engaged to coach the Green Eagles in 1983 after Brazilian Otto Gloria was sacked following the team’s failure to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup and also their inability to defend the AFCON title at the Libya 1982 edition. He led Eagles to win the Silver medal at AFCON 1984 in Cote d’Ivore. He also got another chance after Amodu Shaibu was fired in 2002 and he led the Super Eagles to the Japan/Korea 2002 FIFA World Cup where the team couldn’t progress b...

‘It’s A Huge Frustration’ — Rohr Bitter After Nigeria Sacking

14Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

‘It’s A Huge Frustration’ — Rohr Bitter After Nigeria Sacking

Gernot Rohr can’t hide his disappointment following his sacking as Super Eagles head coach weeks ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Rohr was dismissed by the Nigeria Football Federation on Sunday as a result of poor performances. “It’s a huge frustration, but I don’t want to argue, it’s not my style,” the 68-year-old told AFP. Read Also: NFF Sacks Rohr Less Than A Month To AFCON; Appoints Eguaveon Interim Head Coach “(I’m) convinced that they will have a very good AFCON because the team is in place and this very united group is ready for the challenges that await it.” The former Gabon and Niger Republic gaffer also admitted it will be tough to cope with his exit from the job. “I’m going to have a hard time doing without these great players and this v...

NFF Sacks Rohr Less Than A Month To AFCON; Appoints Eguaveon Interim Head Coach

13Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

NFF Sacks Rohr Less Than A Month To AFCON; Appoints Eguaveon Interim Head Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed Augustine Eguavoen, currently its Technical Director, as the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles on an interim basis. This is with immediate effect, and follows the termination of the relationship with Franco-German Gernot Rohr, who has been in charge of the three–time African champions for the past 64 months, and is Nigeria’s longest–serving manager. Read Also: Egyptian Football Coach Dies After Final Whistle Following a virtual meeting of the NFF Executive Committee on Sunday, it was decided that Eguavoen will work with Salisu Yusuf (Chief Coach); Paul Aigbogun (Assistant Coach); Joseph Yobo (Assistant Coach); Dr Terry Eguaoje (Assistant Coach) and Aloysius Agu (Goalkeeper Trainer). Former Nigeria captains Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okoch...