Tag: Sports - Page 40 - African News Today

16Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Super Eagles Depart for Freetown Today

The Super Eagles squad and their officials will travel to Freetown, Sierra Leonean capital today (Monday) aboard a chartered flight for the Tuesday’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Leone Stars. The Eagles who played out a 4-4 draw on match day three against the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium last Friday will be eager to redeem their battered pride when both teams rekindle hostilities at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown. Gernot Rohr’s side will be without their top marksman, Victor Osimhen for the encounter after the 21-year-old dislocated his shoulder in the reverse fixture in Benin City last Friday. Osimhen who has scored four goals in the AFCON qualifiers for the Eagles and has made four assists as well will be out for at least two weeks.

Osimhen Ruled out of Nigeria Vs Sierra Leone Encounter

15Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sports, Youths

Osimhen Ruled out of Nigeria Vs Sierra Leone Encounter

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Napoli forward Victor Osimhen will miss the second leg encounter of their 2022 AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone on Tuesday. Rohr also stated how Leon Balogun and Samuel Chukwueze are recovering well and should make the trip to Freetown. Osimhen suffered a dislocated shoulder at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Friday and was immediately replaced by Paul Onuachu while Club Brugge forward Emmanuel Dennis did not feature in the 4-4 draw because of a swollen ankle. Balogun and Chukwueze were substituted in the game due to varying injuries, but they are working with their teammates to be in good shape.

AFCON Qualifier: “We Will Work to Put Things Right” – Iwobi Begs Nigerians After Disappointing Draw

14Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, News, Nigeria, Sports

AFCON Qualifier: “We Will Work to Put Things Right” – Iwobi Begs Nigerians After Disappointing Draw

Super Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi has expressed disappointment over the team’s display in their African cup of Nations qualifiers match against Sierra Leone on Friday in Benin City. The team threw away a four-goal lead to allow their opponents draw the match 4-4 on home soil. Although the Everton of England forward banged a brace, it went unnoticed as the Super Eagles went on to surrender their four goals advantage and share the spoils at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Friday. Iwobi in a post on social media on Friday described the result as disappointing and pleaded with Nigerians that the team will work even harder to achieve a better result in the return leg on Tuesday. He said, “Deeply Disappointed, we’ll Work to Put Things Right.” The second leg is scheduled to take pla...

Eberechi Leaves Door Open for Eagles Invitation

12Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Eberechi Leaves Door Open for Eagles Invitation

Crystal Palace of England midfielder, Eberechi Eze has expressed willingness to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria despite being invited to the England U21 team. The midfielder remains eligible to play for Nigeria’s national side, haven trained with the African heavyweights in the past though he is currently in the England Under-21 camp. Eze who signed for the premiership side in the summer was born in England to Nigerian parents and his international future has continued to generate speculations in the past weeks, but the player said he is concentrating on the task at hand. He said, “I can [still play for Nigeria],” said Eze. “At the moment, I’m focused on my England Under-21 camp. I don’t want to put any type of pressure on myself and try to force anything now.” He said. “I...

12Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sports

We Won’t Underrate Leone Stars – Rohr

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has promised that the Leone Stars will not be underrated when both clash in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Friday. Nigeria will qualify for the next AFCON tournament should they win both games against Sierra Leone. The Eagles currently lead Group L with six points from their opening two games. “We do not in any way under-rate the Sierra Leoneans that we play over two legs within these four days, but we have our focus and objective for the matches,” Rohr said in a statement made available to The PUNCH from the Nigerian Football Federation media “We want to win both games so we can have the ticket and be able to be a little more relaxed for the final games. You know that next year, we also ha...

11Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

We Need To Be Tough – Etebo

Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has stressed that they must be mentally and physically ready for the Friday 2021AFCON qualifying game with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone slated for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. The Galatasaray midfielder who breezed into the Eagles camp in Benin City yesterday, has therefore, enjoined his teammates to take the whole 90 minutes seriously so as to brighten their chances of qualifying for the 2021 AFCON fixed for Cameroon. “Nigeria and Sierra Leone, competitive wise we all know Nigeria is more ahead of them, but now it is football and anything can happen,” Etebo told NationSport. “But the most important thing is that we must be mentally and physically prepared. We should do what we know how to do best and hope for a better game. ...

16 Eagles Train Ahead of AFCON Qualifier, Osimhen Absent

11Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

AFCON, Nigeria, Sports

16 Eagles Train Ahead of AFCON Qualifier, Osimhen Absent

Ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sierra Leone in Benin City on Friday, the Super Eagles had their first leg of training session on Tuesday. 16 out of the 23 invited players took part in the training session, News Agency of Nigeria reports. Despite earlier confirmation that Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen had arrived the Eagles’ camp, he was suspiciously a absent from the training prompting questions ahead of the crucial match. According to a statement by Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday Osimhen had arrived the team’s camp despite having flight challenges. He said “Osimhen called me two days ago complaining that an airline could not carry him because of XYZ.. and asked if he could get another ticket and I said...

Confusion in Eagles Camp As Akpeyi and Ezenwa Hit Eagles Camp

10Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Confusion in Eagles Camp As Akpeyi and Ezenwa Hit Eagles Camp

There is a mild confusion in the Super Eagles camp in Benin city following the arrival of goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi who was earlier reported to be having Visa issues into the country. The development led to the invitation of third choice goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa. Ezenwa had earlier arrived the camp on Tuesday on invitation by the team handlers in a precautionary measure to fill the void left by Daniel Akpeyi. However, the Kaizer Chiefs shot stopper arrived Lagos today, quelling all speculations about his unavailability for the match. Ikechukwu Ezenwa was originally on the standby list of the team but has not played professional football since March following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joe Scores Twice as Rangers Wallop Hamilton 8-0

8Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Nigeria, Sports

Joe Scores Twice as Rangers Wallop Hamilton 8-0

Scottish side Rangers on Sunday restored their nine-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a ruthless 8-0 victory over Hamilton at Ibrox. The pressure was on Steven Gerrard’s league leaders to respond after Celtic’s 4-1 victory at Motherwell cut the gap to six points, and respond they did, in devastating fashion. Scott Arfield opened the floodgates and Rangers were three up inside 19 minutes, as goals from Kemar Roofe and Joe Aribo completed a three-minute three-goal flurry to put the game beyond the Accies. Aribo and Roofe doubled their tallies either side of the interval before substitute Brandon Barker and a double from captain James Tavernier sealed the biggest and most emphatic victory of Gerrard’s tenure. The chastening defeat leaves Hamilton rooted to the...

COVID-19: No Fans for Eagles Vs Sierra Leone Clash – FG

4Nov

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

AFCON, Africa, Covid-19, Nigeria, Safety, Sierra Leone, Sports

COVID-19: No Fans for Eagles Vs Sierra Leone Clash – FG

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 have advised the Edo State Government and the Nigeria Football Federation against allowing fans into the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, during the 2021 AFCON qualifier between the Super Eagles and Sierra Leone on November 13. Edo State Government had earlier announced that the gates would be thrown open for fans to watch the game at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. The ministry said admitting fans into the match venue would amount to a breach of the COVID-19 protocols. In a letter addressed to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, the ministry stated that the game “will not have any audience and no gathering.” The letter read in part, “The ministry wishes to bring to your urg...