Tag: General Sports

Vincent Enyeama, widely regarded as Nigeria’s greatest goalkeeper of all time, is mourning the loss of his father, Philip Enyeama.

The retired Super Eagles shot-stopper announced the sad news on Instagram, where he shared a post showing him posing with his late dad. Enyeama, now an orphan, expressed his grief with a heartfelt caption accompanying a video of him and his father playing a game of Table Tennis.

“To God be the glory for a life well spent, you were the reason a lot of people achieved what they achieved. You were selfless and generous,” Enyeama wrote, paying tribute to his father’s impactful life.

Although Enyeama did not provide specific details surrounding his father’s passing, he eulogized him for his selflessness and generosity, highlighting how his father stood in for many and fought for others to achieve their dreams.

Vincent Enyeama, who is Nigeria’s second most-capped player ever, has been back in his homeland after concluding his playing career in France with Lille in 2018. The loss of his father adds to the pain of losing his mother, Lucy Enyeama, who passed away in 2015.

This loss comes as a significant blow for the 41-year-old goalkeeper, who continues to be celebrated for his remarkable career and contributions to Nigerian football.

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Leicester City coach Enzo Maresca has disclosed that Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will remain sidelined for their upcoming Championship match against Leeds United on Friday.

Ndidi has been a key player for Leicester City this season, making 21 appearances and contributing two goals and five assists in the first half of the season. However, he suffered an injury just before the Africa Cup of Nations and has not played a game since then.

This injury has caused Ndidi to miss Leicester City’s last ten games, and there is no indication of his imminent return to action.

Coach Maresca confirmed Ndidi’s unavailability for the upcoming match against Leeds United, stating, “The only one at the moment is Wilf (Wilfred Ndidi). He is still injured. One of our best players, or best position, is Wilf. When he’s not there, we used Cesare. Now they’re not there, so we try to adapt. Unfortunately, Wilf is still injured.”

Despite Ndidi’s absence, Leicester City leads the English Championship and appears poised for a return to the Premier League. Ndidi is hopeful to recover before the conclusion of the season.

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Hafiz Ibrahim: The Leading Goal Scorer in Viareggio Cup 2024

In a remarkable turn of events at the ongoing Viareggio Cup in Italy, three players from SC Raven, a Football Club based in Ogun State have swiftly integrated into the lineup of Ojodu City FC after joining for the prestigious tournament. These players have already secured spots in the starting eleven, showcasing their talent and adaptability on the international stage.

Leading the charge is the SC Raven star striker Hafiz Ibrahim, whose goal-scoring prowess has been nothing short of exceptional. With an impressive tally of 9 goals from just 5 matches, Ibrahim has not only solidified his place in the team but has also emerged as the leading goal scorer in the tournament.

Precious Okwelum and Auwal Ammeer who play defensive midfield and center midfield are all products of SC Raven and have all been outstanding in their positions helping the team to reach the semifinal of the Viareggio Cup for the first time.

Hafiz Ibrahim’s performance in the tournament has since attracted top clubs in Europe, with the player scoring back-to-back Hat tricks.

This remarkable feat highlights the quality and depth of talent within SC Raven, as well as their effectiveness in providing players with valuable exposure and experience at elite levels of competition.

Hafiz Ibrahim who joined SC Raven in Ogun State three years ago will be hoping to extend his scoring chart when they take on their fellow country rivals Beyond Limit FC in the semi-finals of the Viareggio Cup later today.

In its 74th year, the Viareggio Cup is one of the pre-eminent tournaments for young players. It is an opportunity for scouts from leading football clubs to spot them. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro was spotted by Inter Milan when he played for Beyond Limits.

As the 2024 Viareggio Cup continues to unfold, all eyes will be on SC Raven product Hafiz Ibrahim and his fellow teammates as they aim to further impress on the international stage

No Nigerian team has won the Viareggio Cup since its inception. Alex Transfiguration reached the final in 2022 but lost.

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Abia Warriors forward, Samson Obi, is optimistic about the team’s chances of securing a positive result in their upcoming NPFL Matchday 21 encounter against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday in Kaduna.

The talismanic Obi, who recently rejoined the first team after recovering from a brief illness that sidelined him for several weeks, was absent from Abia Warriors’ last home game – a goalless draw with Remo Stars at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

Having scored four goals during the first half of the season, Obi expressed his belief in the team’s improvement and readiness to achieve a favorable outcome in Kaduna.

READ MORE: Nigeria vs Argentina International friendly date and time fixed

“We are really ready and prepared to get a positive result against Tornadoes on Sunday. We know that it is not going to be an easy game,” Obi stated. “I believe that we have all it takes to get the needed result, and I feel it is achievable even if we are playing away from home this time. But I have faith in the team and my teammates on what we can achieve together as a unit,” he concluded.

The former Enyimba forward is hopeful of featuring for Erasmus Onuh’s side when they face Niger Tornadoes at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Sunday in what promises to be a challenging NPFL encounter.

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Nigeria’s national team defender and AFCON 2023 stand-in captain, William Troost-Ekong, has shown interest in the possibility of joining the Saudi Pro League, where renowned Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays.

Troost-Ekong, who earned the title of Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the recently concluded 2023 AFCON tournament, has reportedly caught the attention of clubs in the Pro League, including Al Ittihad and Al Nassr.

Despite Nigeria’s loss to Cote d’Ivoire in the final match on February 11, Troost-Ekong’s stellar performance, which included three goals and solid defensive play, earned him the MVP award.

Currently representing Greek side PAOK, the 30-year-old center-back disclosed his openness to the idea of relocating to the Middle East.

In an interview with Amanda Davies on CNN World Sports, Troost-Ekong mentioned his consideration of a move to Saudi Arabia: “I can’t confirm anything at the moment because it’s not on the table,” he said.

He further added, “The Saudi League is an enticing prospect, given the number of top players from AFCON who have moved there. If such an opportunity arises, I would need to evaluate it thoroughly before making a decision.”

When questioned about the potential of teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr, Troost-Ekong expressed his admiration for the football legend: “Who wouldn’t want to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo? He’s one of the greatest players in the world. However, I am content at PAOK for now and will see how things unfold.”

READ MORE: Super Eagles players consider retirement after AFCON defeat

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The long-awaited international friendly clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the reigning world champions, Argentina, is set to take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the United States of America on Tuesday, March 26.

Initially slated for Japan, the friendly was relocated to China due to logistical issues. However, a disagreement between Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Chinese authorities prompted the search for an alternate venue, ultimately leading to Los Angeles being chosen.

In addition to facing Nigeria, La Albiceleste is expected to engage in another friendly fixture against El Salvador in March.

For the Super Eagles, this match will mark their first appearance since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they faced the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire. Unfortunately, Nigeria suffered a 2-1 defeat in that encounter.

The Nigerian squad will use this friendly as vital preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scheduled for June against South Africa and Benin Republic.

The match will be an opportunity for the Super Eagles to fine-tune their tactics and strategies ahead of these crucial qualifiers.

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The NFF President, Alhaji Gusau has told referees that they will be permanently banned if they disgrace themselves in the NPFL

At an event where some Nigerian referees were decorated with FIFA badges on Wednesday in Abuja, Ibrahim Gusau, president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), says the absence of Nigerian referees at AFCON is a real shame and that efforts are being made to ensure the Nigerian referees return to officiating in major continental and global competitions.

“The absence of any Nigerian referee of whatever cadre in Cote d’Ivoire remained ‘an elephant in the room’ for most of us that were in Cote d’Ivoire. It is a real shame that we didn’t even have an assistant referee

“To whom much is given, much is expected. We ensured that the NPFL improved indemnities at the beginning of the season, and I have also instructed the General Secretary to start the process of procuring the necessary gadgets for our referees. But anyone caught disgracing the uniform, the refereeing body, and by extension Nigeria football, will be thrown into a permanent cooler. We want to see you people officiating at top continental championships and we will not sit idly by while some incorrigible ones destroy all that vision.” the NFF president said.

Thirty referees were decorated with FIFA badges: seven men referees, seven men assistant referees, four women referees, four women assistant referees, four beach soccer referees, and four futsal referees.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor admitted that the Gusau administration has been very excellent in responding to the demands of referees since coming into office, and promised that all that is necessary will be done to restore Nigerian refereeing to its pride of place in the continent.

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Chelsea is actively seeking to resolve their goal-scoring woes in the upcoming summer transfer window and appears to be leading the race to secure the signature of Napoli’s prolific striker, Victor Osimhen with African legends, Mikel Obi and Didier Drogba actively persuading the Nigerian striker.

The 25-year-old Nigerian international has attracted interest from various clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, but Chelsea has emerged as the frontrunner to bolster their attacking lineup.

Osimhen’s impressive track record, including 31 goals for Napoli last season, has caught the attention of Chelsea, who view him as the ideal candidate to strengthen their centre-forward position.

Reports indicate that Osimhen is eager to make a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea being his preferred destination. Inspired by the success of African players in the league, Osimhen sees Chelsea as the perfect platform to showcase his talents on a global stage.

Chelsea have been actively pursuing Osimhen’s signature and has been leveraging connections with former players such as Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel to persuade him to join the club.

With Chelsea aiming to address their goal-scoring challenges to compete for major trophies, Osimhen’s potential arrival is seen as a significant boost to their attacking prowess and a step towards achieving their ambitions.

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Napoli forward Victor Osimhen’s spectacular goal against Barcelona in the Champions League has earned him a nomination for goal of the week by UEFA.

THE ATHLETIC.NG reported that Osimhen played a heroic role as SSC Napoli secured a 1-1 draw against the La Liga champions on Wednesday night.

Returning to action for the troubled Serie A champions, Osimhen showcased why he is a pivotal figure for the club, salvaging a point at home. With Barcelona leading thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s 60th-minute strike, the 25-year-old Nigerian delivered a crucial moment by equalizing with just 13 minutes left to play.

Assisted by fellow African star Frank Andre-Anguissa, Osimhen executed a graceful turn to evade his marker before calmly slotting home with a clinical low drive.

His remarkable equalizer has now been nominated as one of the UEFA Champions League’s top goals of the week, alongside stunning efforts from Porto’s Galeno, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, and Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen.

Although facing stiff competition, Osimhen’s combination of skill and composure for the strike underscores why he is regarded as one of Europe’s most feared marksmen.

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