Tag: Sports - Page 42 - African News Today

Ogenyi Onazi Completes Transfer to Danish Side, Sonderjyke

5Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Ogenyi Onazi Completes Transfer to Danish Side, Sonderjyke

Nigerian midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has secured a transfer to Danish premier league side, Sonderjyke on a one-year contract. This was announced on the club’s social media account on Sunday. The club wrote, “Sønderjyke Fotbol signs a contract with the former Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi.” It added, “The 27-year-old Nigerian midfielder has signed a contract with Sønderjyke for the rest of the current season with an option for an extension of two more seasons.” Onazi was set to seal a move to newly-prompted side Crotone but the deal fell apart after failure to agree on personal terms. The club’s sports director, Hans Jorgen Haysen expressed delight with the signing of the Super Eagles midfielder. He said, “He is a player with a crazy CV and has played a lot of matches in Serie...

Saka: Nigeria’s Target Gets England Call-up

1Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Africa, English Premiership, Nigeria, Sports

Saka: Nigeria’s Target Gets England Call-up

Arsenal star and Super Eagle's target Bukayo Saka has been included in England team billed to face Wales, Belgium and Denmark in their upcoming games in October. The Three Lions will face the Welsh side in a friendly at Wembley on October 8 before taking on Belgium and then the Danish team in a Nations League outing. Saka has been who has been in fine form for Arsenal was a target for the Super Eagles having been of Nigerian descent. The youngster was born in England to Nigerian parents and has represented the European country at age grade levels of U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21. If the the left-back features for the three Lions then that would end his Super Eagles chances according to FIFA rules. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick had previous...

Gattuso Backs Osimhen to Succeed at Napoli

28Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Gattuso Backs Osimhen to Succeed at Napoli

Coach of Napoli, Gennaro Gattuso has commended Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen for his performance against Genoa on Sunday despite failing to register a goal on the scoresheet. The 6-0 thrashing of Genoa was Osimhen’s first start for the Italian giants and the striker managed to register an assist despite featuring for the entire 90 minutes. The match marked his second game without scoring, having featured as a substitute in the encounter against Parma. His barren spell notwithstanding, Gattuso applauded Osimhen for helping the team create space for other players to score. Gattuso in a post-match press conference said, “We were lacking a player like Osimhen who could attack the space, so again today he didn’t score, but he created the situations that allowed others to score...

UFC Champion Adesanya Challenges Cannonier After Beating Costa

27Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

UFC Champion Adesanya Challenges Cannonier After Beating Costa

Nigerian-born mixed martial artist, Israel Adesanya has challenged Jared Cannonier to a fight after beating Brazilian Paulo Costa to retain his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. The win takes his win to 20 professional victory with the champion yet to experience defeat in his career. The Nigerian proved too much for Costa to handle in a dominant defense of his middleweight title, winning by TKO in the second round in the main event of UFC 253. He took apart his bigger opponent in Abu Dhabi before landing decisive ground strikes in the second round to win the fight. Adesanya dubbed ‘The Last Stylebender’ bloodied Costa’s face with a high kick at the start of the second round, and then dealt his opponent a major blow with a le...

NFF Constitutes Head of Coaching Crews of National Teams, Names Danjuma, Bosso, Olowookere

26Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

NFF Constitutes Head of Coaching Crews of National Teams, Names Danjuma, Bosso, Olowookere

The Nigerian Football Federal has constituted new technical crews for a host of National teams. Among the nominees to head the teams are former U20 Boys coach, Isah Ladan Bosso, Chrostopher Danjuma and Bankole Olowookere who was appointed Head coach of U17 girls. According to the list, the U20 team, Flying Eagles bench will be led by Isah Ladan Bosso, assisted by former international defender Oladuni Oyekale as first assistant with Jolomi Atune as second assistant; Samaila Marwa Keshi, assistant coach/scout while Suleiman Akanmu completes the crew as goalkeeper coach. Similarly, the U17 boys will be led by Fatai Amoo, assisted by Ahmed Lawal Dankoli as first assistant; Nnnamdi Onuigbo, second assistant; Hassan Abdallah, assistant coach/scout; and Danlami Kwasau as goalkeeper trai...

Breaking: Chelsea Complete Signing of Senegalese Keeper, Edouard Mendy

24Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

English Premiership, News, Senegal, Sports

Breaking: Chelsea Complete Signing of Senegalese Keeper, Edouard Mendy

Chelsea have secured the services of Edouard Mendy from Ligue 1 club Rennes on a deal worth about £22million. The 28-year old Senegalese has signed a five-year deal from the French outfit making him Chelsea’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window. The goal keeper is expected to be in contention for the club’s weekend fixture against West Bromwich Albion should he pass COVID-19 testing protocols. He will compete with the Blues club record reigning, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballerro for a starting spot between the sticks. Mendy after completing his transfer said, "I am so excited to be joining Chelsea. It’s a dream for me to be a part of this exciting squad and to work with Frank Lampard and all of his coaching staff. I look forward to meeting my team-mates and can’t...

Ighalo Fires Blank as Manchester United Beat Luton Town

23Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Ighalo Fires Blank as Manchester United Beat Luton Town

Nigerian forward, Odion Ighalo failed to find the back of the net as Manchester United defeated Luton Town 3 – 0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night. Ighalo was handed a spot in the starting lineup but failed to capitalise on a rare start as he failed to register a shot on target for the match. The match marked the first outing Ighalo will fail to score for the Red Devils after starting a match, after banging in goals in his previous four starts. The forward was substituted for Mason Greenwood in the 79 minutes. Greenwood ended up scoring United’s third goal of the match. United booked their place in the fourth round after goals by Juan Mata in the 44th minute from the penalty spot and Marcus Rashford in the 88 minutes added to Greenwood’s 79 minutes strike s...

Eagles Coach Rohr Names Squad for Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia Friendlies

22Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

Eagles Coach Rohr Names Squad for Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia Friendlies

Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has invited 25 players ahead of October’s friendly matches against Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia, billed for Austria. The German tactician named five others to be on standby. In the games which will mark the Eagles first fixtures this year due to COVID-19 pandemic, Rohr invited key players such as Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo, William EKong and Wilfred Ndidi as well as new talents Frank Onyeka and Chidera Ejuke. Also listed in the side were England based forward Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, now in Italy with Napoli, and another former U17 World Cup winner Samuel Chukwueze. Rohr’s side, now ranked 29th in the world and third in Africa, will play against Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on 9th October and engage the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, who are s...

21Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Ghana, Safety, Sports

Ghana Approves Resumption of Football

The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo has approved the resumption of professional football as part of easing of measures imposed to curb spread of COVID-19. The move was necessitated by a decline in the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country. However, the president said its land and sea borders as well as beaches, bars, cinemas and night clubs remain closed for the time being. President Akufo warned, “Now more than ever, we must be even more disciplined in our adherence to the personal hygiene, mask wearing and social distancing measures that have become part of our daily routines.” He said the easing of restrictions implies that training in contact sports can resume, while Premier League and Division One football will resume on October 30, adding that players and...

Former Eagles Coach, Oliseh Worried Over Ndidi’s Leicester Deployment

17Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

English Premiership, News, Nigeria, Sports

Former Eagles Coach, Oliseh Worried Over Ndidi’s Leicester Deployment

Erstwhile Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh has expressed worry over the current deployment of Wilfred Ndidi at Leicester City after the midfielder was played out of his preferred position in the Foxes’ 3-0 Premier league opener at newly promoted West Brom at the weekend. Injury to center backs, Evans and Wes Morgan meant Ndidi had to be deployed to the central defense role. The player performed remarkably in the match, defending solidly as Leicester ran away 3-0 winners. However, Oliseh in an interview with Brila said he is concerned for Ndidi especially after Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers defended the decision to field Ndidi in the center back position. Oliseh feels the development will not favour Ndidi especially in the national team of Nigeria. Ndidi has long been playe...