Tag: General Sports

The Nationwide League One (NLO) is set to seal its biggest sponsorship deal worth multi-million naira and also announce partnership with two foreign service providers.

The sponsorship deal which will run for four (4) years, is record-breaking and a breakthrough for grassroot football development in Nigeria.

NLO Chairman and ex-Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State His Excellency Silas Agara, shared more light on the deal.

“We are happy with the several brands that has shown interest in the NLO in the last few months, as we want the NLO to grow to become a global phenomenon as the most successful grassroot football league across Africa, as challenged by NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau

“One of our partners, is a lottery company licensed by the Nigeria Lottery Commission; they will be NLO Title Sponsors. We have agreed on a four year sponsorship deal. And we shall unveil them on Thursday March 14, 2024.

Twenty-four hours later, precisely Friday March 15, the NLO will unveil four of its prospective partners.

“One of them is a service provider- a Croatian based sports tracking platform with over 25 million active monthly users worldwide. This is very good for our clubs. They have also mandated the NLO to assist them in bringing on board other leagues in Nigeria.

“No monetary value involved, but on share benefits on developing our league, and we have agreed to work with them.

However, there is another IT firm that has accepted to develop websites for all the NLO clubs, they will as well open social media channels for all the clubs as well.

“They will train club officials on how to manage the sites and then commercialize the website and the social media handles to enable the clubs generate funds to support their clubs.

“The NLO sees this as a good avenue for club development and another source of revenue stream for the clubs in NLO.”

Honourable Silas Agara hinted further, “Two other technical partners will join the NLO, as they will help to facilitate talent discovery with the use of technology.

“The nation’s third-tier domestic football league sees them as Development Partner and we have agreed to allow them access to our data. The benefits to NLO is on revenue sharing when the data are being sold, we have a device to monitor what they do with our data.”

In a separate development, to expand it’s reach to a larger audience and passionate followers of the league, the NLO has lunched it’s two (2) channels on Blend TV.

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Fulham player Alexander Iwobi has made a comeback to social media after a hiatus following backlash received during the AFCON tournament.

The Nigerian football star, who recently played a key role in Fulham’s victory against Manchester United, had previously taken a break from social media and deleted all his Instagram posts due to the mass criticism and hateful comments he faced from Nigerian football fans following Nigeria’s loss to Ivory Coast in the AFCON 2023 final.

Numerous Nigerians flooded the comment section of Iwobi’s social media platform to express their disappointment with what they perceived as a “below par” performance during the AFCON 2023 final match.

The cyberbullying sparked outrage among Iwobi’s fellow Super Eagles teammates, who expressed their solidarity with him and condemned the behavior of the fans.

Iwobi has now returned to social media after being away since February. He took to Instagram to share a video, giving his fans and followers a glimpse of what he has been up to recently, while also sharing a snippet of what appears to be his unreleased rap song.

Several football stars and teammates, including William Troost Ekong, Frank Onyeka, and Kenneth Omeruo, showed their support for Iwobi in the comment section.

Iwobi’s musical revelation comes as a pleasant surprise and is something to look out for in the coming days.

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In a recent statement, Comrade Julius Nnaji, the Director General of Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the N20 Million Ikukuoma Mbaise Owerri Zonal U-20 Football Tournament, labeling it a resounding success.

Nnaji commended both the referees and officials for their professionalism, noting that their performance added a touch of class to the tournament. He emphasized that the upcoming semi-final matches promise to showcase the finest displays of football talent seen throughout the competition.

Highlighting the significance of the Ikukuoma Mbaise tournament, Nnaji revealed that scouts are actively scouting for promising players, underscoring the pivotal role this plays in the tournament’s objectives.

READ MORE: Joshua Zirkzee reveals condition before he represent Nigeria Super Eagles

In his remarks, Nnaji stated, “It has been an awesome and wonderful journey thus far. All 24 participating teams contributed to the tournament’s success, and as we approach the semi-finals scheduled for March 1, 2024, we express our gratitude to God that no serious injuries have been reported.”

He further added, “We extend our appreciation to the referees and officials for their outstanding contributions. As we prepare to conclude the tournament with the closing ceremonies and trophy presentations, we anticipate witnessing the pinnacle of football excellence.”

Nnaji concluded by acknowledging the divine guidance that has led the tournament to this point and reiterated the importance of identifying and nurturing exceptional talent among the participating players.

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Jose Peseiro has confirmed he is no longer the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with effect from Febuary 29, 2024.

This comes after the expiration of his contract just after the recently concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON).

The Portuguese tactician, in a series of tweet on his X account on Friday, March 1, 2024, described it as a pride and honour to have coached the Super Eagles.

Peseiro, who would be leaving alongside his backroom staff, conceded that they will miss the team “but we will always be there for you.”

Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honor to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfillment.

— Jose Peseiro (@JosePeseiro) March 1, 2024

He wrote, “Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF.

“It was a pride and honor to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfillment.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure.

“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you.”

Meanwhile, the Algeria Football Federation has showed interest in hiring coach Jose Peseiro as their new head coach.

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The climax of the 2023 Ikukuoma Mbaise U-20 football tournament draws near as Ere Na Birigwe delivered a stunning performance, defeating Obokwu Community 3-0 to advance to the final.

In a semi-final showdown at the Ezeagbogu Central School Field, Ezinihitte, Mbaise, Uche Ogba emerged as the hero, netting two spectacular goals for Ere Na Birigwe (Owerri West). His first goal came in the 24th minute, a delightful volley from outside the box, followed by another powerful strike from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 58th minute, doubling the lead to 2-0. Ukwuoma Chika sealed the victory with a superb volley in the 67th minute, making it 3-0.

Ere Na Birigwe’s dominance was evident throughout the match, marking it as one of the most one-sided affairs in the tournament. With their place secured in the final, they now focus on preparing for the ultimate showdown on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Eziudo (Ezinihitte) also booked their spot in the final after a tense encounter against Umuoree Eziudo ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation time. Achor Chigamezu gave Eziudo the lead in the 24th minute, but Ikechukwu Desmond leveled the score for Umuoree Eziudo in the 59th minute, sending the match to a penalty shootout. Eziudo emerged victorious, winning 3-2 on penalties.

As anticipation builds for the final on Sunday, March 3, 2024, between Ere Na Birigwe and Eziudo, the tournament organizers gear up for the third-place match between Obokwu Community and Umuoree Eziudo.

The champions of the tournament will be awarded a grand prize of 20 million Naira.

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Napoli’s President, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has recently disclosed the club’s willingness to part ways with Victor Osimhen for a significant sum. Despite Osimhen extending his contract with Napoli in December, featuring a release clause believed to be around €100 million, the Nigerian striker has garnered attention from elite clubs across Europe.

Since his arrival at Napoli, Osimhen has showcased his prowess on the pitch, becoming a pivotal figure in the Serie A champions’ squad. However, his impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, with several top clubs closely monitoring his situation.

Speaking with Sky Sports, Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis reveals the club willingness to sell the star striker

“Victor is another good player that Napoli have, we had (Edinson) Cavani, (Gonzalo) Higuain, (Ezequiel) Lavezzi and we had (Dries) Mertens, we had a lot of people who were fantastic.”

“Osimhen is a very great player, and Napoli is a fantastic place… but some players will always be attracted by [the likes of] Real Madrid, PSG, Arsenal, Manchester City or Chelsea. So you can’t always stop them leaving, especially when they have a fixed amount of money where they can be bought. Osimhen has a release clause. It’s a very big amount of money.”

De Laurentiis also asserted that Napoli is in a solid financial spot and does not necessarily need to sell their star.

“The money is the last problem for Napoli,” continued the club’s president. “We always made very good acquisitions as we did in the past. We will do [so] in the future.

“The problem is just sentimental problems. When you see a player leave, it’s like a son. You are also happy if this son has a fantastic success everywhere else.”

Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG are also in the mix for Osimhen.

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In his short career, Joshua Zirkzee has already achieved remarkable success, winning the Bundesliga, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the DFB Pokal, and the DFL Super Cup twice.

Bologna striker Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee has revealed the sole condition that would lead him to choose to represent the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Zirkzee, 22, rose to prominence in the German Bundesliga during the 2019/2020 season with Bayern Munich, where he clinched the treble under the guidance of Hansi Flick.

Following his time at Bayern, he was loaned out to Parma and Anderlecht before making a permanent move to Bologna in the summer of 2022.

His impressive form this season has sparked discussions about a potential call-up to Ronald Koeman’s squad for the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, following his stellar performances for Bologna. He has netted nine goals and provided four assists so far.

Born on May 22, 2001, Zirkzee has a Nigerian mother and a Dutch father. Although he has represented the Netherlands from the U-15 level to the U-21 level, he is yet to make an appearance for the senior team.

While expressing his desire to play for the Dutch national team, Zirkzee acknowledged that it would be a dream come true to participate in the Euro 2024 tournament with Ronald Koeman’s men in Germany, where he made a name for himself before moving abroad.

He stated, ‘My dream has always been to represent the Dutch national team. However, the European Championships are not necessarily a decisive factor. If that opportunity doesn’t materialize, then I’ll explore other options. I would be grateful if it did happen, and if not, I’ll have to ensure that they consider me. You always hope to be there one day,’ as revealed by Algemeen Dagblad.

Although a change of nationality is not out of the question for Zirkzee, he acknowledged the difficulty of such a decision, considering Nigeria’s formidable talent pool, which includes strikers like Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface.

He added, ‘It’s not an easy decision to make. If the Netherlands doesn’t come calling, then Nigeria is an option. Are they showing interest? Perhaps. Nigeria is not a country you simply choose because you cannot play for your homeland. The competition for attackers there is just as fierce as in the Dutch team. Nigeria boasts talents like Boniface from Leverkusen and Osimhen from Napoli, among many others,’ the 22-year-old concluded.

Bologna currently sit in 4th place in the Italian Serie A table, two points ahead of Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta in 5th place, as they aim for a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

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Liverpool have offered Alonso a 3-year contract. Talks between Liverpool and Alonso are positive.

Liverpool are on the verge of beating Bayern Munich to the signature of Bayer04 Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso and have moved early by offering him a long-term deal.

Alonso has been strongly linked with the Liverpool managerial position since Jurgen Klopp announced that he would step down at the end of the current campaign.

Liverpool are believed to have offered Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso a three-year deal after holding positive talks with the Spanish coach.

The former Liverpool and Bayern midfielder has had an outstanding campaign as Bayer Leverkusen manager, leading the team to an eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and guiding them to the last 16 of the Europa League as well as reaching the semi-finals of the German Cup.

The Bayer Leverkusen boss is considered to be one of the best young coaches in the world and may be leading Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title having finished as runners-up five times but have never lifted the trophy.

According to TEAMTALK, “Liverpool have offered Xabi Alonso a three-year contract after positive talks between both parties as the Reds aim to beat Bayern Munich to the manager’s signature.

“If an agreement is reached, any official announcement will be delayed until Klopp has left Anfield.

“Alonso has loved his time with Leverkusen but sees the Liverpool job as too big an opportunity to turn down, and believes he has what it takes to replace Klopp.”

Xabi Alonso enjoyed a prosperous five-year stint at Anfield as a player from 2004 to 2009, where he played a pivotal role in securing triumphs in both the FA Cup and the Champions League.

Alonso has already formulated his plans for Liverpool in terms of transfer.

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Paul Pogba has received a four-year ban from football due to testing positive for a banned substance. THE ATHLETIC NG reports.

The shocking news reverberated through the football world on Thursday, February 29, as the French superstar received the maximum possible punishment after traces of testosterone were discovered in a routine doping test conducted over the summer.

Despite protesting his innocence and asserting that any consumption was accidental, Pogba’s defense was rejected by anti-doping authorities, resulting in the severe penalty. The four-year ban effectively sidelines Pogba from playing until September 2027, potentially marking a disappointing conclusion to his illustrious career unless he successfully appeals the decision.

Pogba’s return to Juventus, where he had signed a contract just in July, took a sour turn as injuries limited him to only seven substitute appearances before the doping scandal surfaced.

His fall from grace is staggering, considering his key role in France’s 2018 World Cup victory and his status as one of football’s most recognizable figures.

Unless Pogba can clear his name through appeal, the four-year ban will impact his active football status considering he is 30 years old already.

In response to the doping ban ruling, Paul Pogba’s wife, Zulay, took to social media to express unwavering support for her husband.

Posting a photo of Pogba on her Instagram story, she captioned it with a message of solidarity: “The truth will always prevail, stay strong like always mi rey” (translated as “my king”).

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Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, on Wednesday, announced an undisclosed amount of money for Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Silver-winning Goalkeeper Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Olatunji Baruwa.

At a brief reception held at the Government House in Lafia, the Governor said he was overjoyed to learn that Osun State-born Baruwa is equally the goalkeeper trainer at the Nasarawa State-owned men’s football club, Nasarawa United.

According to him, “Recently, the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Kashim Shettima, requested me to go with him to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations match between Nigeria and host nation, Ivory Coast, with the hope of bringing the Cup home.

“Then during the half-time of the game, we were at the dressing room of the players to address them, then this gentleman(Baruwa) told me that he is from Nasarawa United FC but working with the Super Eagles at AFCON. Instantly, my head got bigger, apparently with joy.

“With due respect, one of the best things that happened to Nigeria at the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire was actually the goalkeeper who kept us in the game up until the final because he was fantastic throughout the Tournament.

“So, I was so happy to see that it was a Coach from our own club here that’s the Trainer of the Super Eagles’ Goalkeepers.

“I have received reports that so many clubs have started showing interest in him, which is normal when you are doing something well because I am from a background that craves for excellence and rewards it.

“When you are good, people and organizations will always approach you because they want the best.

“However, my prayer is that it will be our Goalkeeper Trainer who will help mould our own Goalkeepers to qualify for the National Teams’ invitations to also show the kind of performance displayed by Stanley Nwabali at the AFCON.

“By then, you would write your names in gold and have a golden handshake with me.

“Importantly, too, I was informed that from the little you got from the National Team as your personal gift, you still shared it among members of Nasarawa United.

“I am very excited to hear this. That’s the kind of spirit I look forward to.

“On this note, what I wanted to give you initially, I will now double it so that you you will have a little bit of recovery from what you have already expended. This is not for the public to know what I am giving you – it’s between you and me, please.

“So, thank you for bringing pride and glory to Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole and I wish you all the best in your endeavour.”

The Governor equally extended his financial benevolence to Nasarawa United’s Supporters’ Club, charging them to sustain the tempo.

He noted that it was his earnest desire to see Nasarawa United back to the Premier League in Nigeria, emphasizing that his administration is doing everything humanly possible for the Club to have full ownership of her players in order to properly invest in them.

He congratulated Nasarawa United and the entire staff for their efforts so far in the Nigeria National League, assuring that he would have a more relaxed and rewarding private moment with the team when they are back in the elite league.

Overwhelmed by the gesture, Coach Olatunji Baruwa, appreciated the Governor for honouring him.

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