Tag: Sports - Page 31 - African News Today

AFCON Qualifier: Rohr Invites Onuachu as Replacement for Injured Forward

18Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifier: Rohr Invites Onuachu as Replacement for Injured Forward

Genk attacker, Paul Onuachu has been handed an invitation by the Super Eagles for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Benin Republic and Lesotho. Nigeria will face the Squirrels at the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto-Novo on Saturday, March 27 before battling the Crocodiles three days later at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Head coach Gernot Rohr had named Onuachu on the standby list despite his impressive form in the Belgian Pro League for KRC Genk this season. His invitation was announced by the Nigeria Football Federation in a post on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday. The tweet read, “Following the uncertainty regarding the availability of players based in France [due to COVID 19 laws guiding the country], Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr h...

Agali: NFF Falsely Accused me of Hosting Women in Super Eagles Hotel

17Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Agali: NFF Falsely Accused me of Hosting Women in Super Eagles Hotel

Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Agali has expressed sadness over the treatment he received from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), during the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Agali was dismissed from the Super Eagles hotel alongside the duo of Celestine Babayaro and Yakubu Aiyegbeni for breaking the team protocols. Reports at the time said they invited women into their hotel rooms after the Eagles lost their opening match against Morocco 1-0. Reacting to the accusation in an interview with Brilafm, Agali said he was wrongfully accused by the officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He said, ”NFF Officials lied about what happened in Tunisia, I was kicked out of the Super Eagles on false allegations.” “I remember years later Taiwo Ogunjobi, of blessed memor...

‘Say where You Want To Play’- Everton Boss Tells Iwobi

14Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

‘Say where You Want To Play’- Everton Boss Tells Iwobi

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has called on Alex Iwobi to tell him face-to-face where he prefers to play at the club rather than resort to cryptic complaints on social media. Iwobi marked his selection for Nigeria’s forthcoming internationals against Benin and Lesotho with an Instagram post on Tuesday that read: “Always an honour to get a call up to my national team. Hopefully I get to play in my preferred position.” The versatile winger did not specify whether he was referring to club or country. Ancelotti rarely criticises his players in public but has been bemused by Iwobi’s comment. The Everton manager, who has played the £34m signing in several roles, cited Andrea Pirlo as an example of the benefits of more open communication. “I read the post. I want to speak to him, o...

National Team Coaches Demanded 20% of my Wages For Super Eagles Invitation – Udogi

12Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

National Team Coaches Demanded 20% of my Wages For Super Eagles Invitation – Udogi

Former Eagles player, Chigozie Udoji has made a shocking revelation, indicting national team coaches of demanding 20 per cent of his earnings for life as a pre-condition for being called up. Udoji made the revelation when he featured on Brila FM’s ‘No Holds Barred’ with Ifeanyi Udeze, noting that he could have had a better career had he succumbed to the demand. He said, “If I had given what was asked perhaps I would be elsewhere today. They wanted me to sign a contract,”. “Maybe I made mistakes or not but I feel it’s all God’s plan. Maybe it’s because I didn’t give the things I was asked,” Udoji said. “Nigeria is a country of give and take, that’s the culture. If I had given what was asked perhaps I would be elsewhere today. “They wanted me to sign a contract. I was asked to...

11Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Musa a Non-playing Captain – Rohr

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has clarified Ahmed Musa’s place in the team saying the forward won’t play in the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho. The inclusion of Musa who is the team’s captain had generated reaction from sports enthusiasts in the country as the captain had been without a club since October. Reacting to the controversy, Rohr said he was given an honorary place in the squad as the captain. Rohr in an interview with BBC Sports Africa said, “It’s important to clarify that Musa is not in the competitive list of 23 players for our game against Benin and Lesotho.” “We’ve invited Musa as the captain by making him the 24th player, but he is not as part of the 23 on the list that will play our two matches. “What is important n...

2021 AFCON: Uzoho, Musa, Osimhen Among List of Invited Players For Crucial Benin, Lesotho Matches

10Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

2021 AFCON: Uzoho, Musa, Osimhen Among List of Invited Players For Crucial Benin, Lesotho Matches

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has shortlisted captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen who just returned from injury among a 24-man list for the upcoming 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Benin Republic and Lesotho later this month. The Nigerian side currently top of Group E with eight points take on the Squirrels of Benin at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo on Saturday, 27th March. They will battle the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State, three days later. Both games will round off proceedings for the qualifying rounds. Among the invitees are Enyimba FC of Aba goalie John Noble, Rangers defender Leon Balogun, Fulham defender Olaoluwa Aina and Kenneth Omeruo. There is a first...

Enyimba Target First Nigerian CAF Confederation Cup Title

9Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Enyimba Target First Nigerian CAF Confederation Cup Title

Coach of Nigeria Professional Football League club, Enyimba, Fatai Osho, has expressed readiness to lead the team to Nigeria’s first CAF Confederation Cup triumph. Fatai declared that the club can get the better of the 15 other contenders to clinch the trophy this season. “We have a good chance of winning this competition,” he said ahead of matchday 1 on Wednesday when the last Nigerian team to win an African club competition host Libyan outfit Al Ahly Benghazi. He added, “Enyimba are title contenders and not just participants. We have what it takes to go all the way and become the first Nigerian winners of the Confederation Cup.” Here, AFP Sport analyses the group standings ahead of the first eight group matches in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League. Group A ...

U-17 AFCON: Tanzania Coach Raring to go Against Nigeria, Algeria, Congo

8Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Tanzania

U-17 AFCON: Tanzania Coach Raring to go Against Nigeria, Algeria, Congo

Coach of the Tanzania U-17 Football team, Maalim Salehe has expressed optimism his team progress beyond the group stages of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations despite facing tough opponents. The Serengeti Boys face a battle for qualification in the AFCON B alongside Nigeria, Algeria, and Congo. Salehe told Brila.net that he is relishing the prospect of facing the teams in the group and dismissed urged his boys to rise to the occasion. He said the team’s discipline will play a key role in boosting their chance of qualification for the next stage of the competition. “Talking about our group, our group is very tough there are Nigeria, Algeria, and Congo. Those three teams are very tough and I know they always come to this competition. We need discipline more and more discipline. To th...

Osimhen Scores against Bologna to mark Napoli Return

8Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Osimhen Scores against Bologna to mark Napoli Return

Victor Osimhen scored on his return from injury to help Napoli secure a 3-1 victory over Bologna in Sunday’s Serie A match. The 22-year-old has been out of action since February 21 when he suffered a head trauma against Atalanta in a league game. The Nigeria international landed awkwardly and hit his head on the turf following a collision with Cristian Romero in the encounter. The forward was subsequently rushed to the hospital, where he spent the night, but after undergoing several tests, he was cleared of any serious injury but advised to rest before playing again. Subsequently, Osimhen missed the Parthenopeans’ last seven games, including last Wednesday’s draw against Sassuolo. On Sunday, the Super Eagles forward made his much-awaited return in style at Diego Armando Mara...

UFC: Blackchowicz Hands Adesanya First Career Defeat to Retain Light Heavyweight Title

7Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

UFC: Blackchowicz Hands Adesanya First Career Defeat to Retain Light Heavyweight Title

Nigerian fighter, Israel Adesanya suffered his first career defeat in Las Vegas on Sunday against Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision at UFC 259. The result saw Blachowicz retain his light heavyweight title after he was awarded an upset unanimous decision victory. The judges handed scores of 49-46, 49-45, and 49-45 in favour of the Polish champion. The fight saw both fighters minimise mistakes in the first rounds as they struggled to find their balance but Blachowicz imposed himself in a leading position in the fourth and fifth rounds. Adesanya had hoped to get the better of the legend as he targeted emerging the fifth fighter in UFC history to become a two-weight champion simultaneously. The Nigerian fighter had faced Blachowicz, in a bid to add the polish champions’ light...