Tag: General Sports

In a powerful call to action, Lagos State Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu has urged the Super Eagles to give their all and bring pride to the nation at the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The governor assured the team of his support and the backing of 200 million Nigerians who eagerly anticipate the joy and success that would come with the Eagles’ triumph at AFCON.

During a dinner hosted for the Super Eagles upon their return from the training camp in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the team’s role as a unifier for the country. Addressing the players, he stated, “You are the country unifier; there is an excitement in the heart of over 200 million Nigerians. Believe in yourself, and don’t give up in Côte d’Ivoire.”

Encouraging a collective effort, he emphasized the importance of teamwork in the sport, saying, “Work as a team. It is not an individual sport; it is a team sport.” Expressing his personal commitment to supporting the team, Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed plans to be present in Abidjan for the games.

He concluded with a fervent wish for the team’s success, declaring, “I want to assure you that our best wish is to do it for our country. Winning the AFCON will be the best palliative.”

With the continental championship set to kick off in Cote d’Ivoire this weekend, expectations are high for the Super Eagles, despite facing challenges with injuries to key players.

Source

In a painful setback for both the Super Eagles and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, striker Victor Okoh Boniface is slated to endure approximately four months on the sidelines due to an unfortunate injury suffered while on duty with the National Team.

The 23-year-old, initially part of Jose Peseiro’s 25-man AFCON squad, had to withdraw from the lineup after sustaining a muscle-tendon injury in his right adductor.

The void left by Boniface’s absence has been swiftly filled by OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi, who has been drafted into the squad as his replacement and is set to join the team on their journey to Ivory Coast.

Despite early assessments indicating a six-week recovery period, Bayer Leverkusen’s official website has delivered a harsh blow, revealing that the young striker will undergo surgery. His anticipated return date is now scheduled for early April, leaving Xabi Alonso’s squad without their top scorer during crucial stages of the Rückrunde.

This news adds to Alonso’s woes as he is already missing four key players engaged in international duty at the AFCON tournament. Boniface’s absence will be felt keenly, especially in the upcoming clash against Bayern Munich and the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League. While a potential return for the quarter-finals remains uncertain, the Super Eagles star’s absence will undoubtedly leave a significant void in Leverkusen’s attacking prowess.

Boasting an impressive record of ten goals and six assists in sixteen league starts this season, Boniface’s absence marks a challenging period for Xabi Alonso and his men as they navigate crucial fixtures without their prolific striker.

Source

Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane tied the knot on Sunday, January 7 with his longtime girlfriend Aisha Tamba in a private wedding ceremony held in Dakar, Senegal.

The new wife of the two-time African Ballon ‘Or winner was born in Casamance, a town bordering Bambali, the village where her husband hails from. She is 18 years old, according to the Senegalese news outlet, and she is the daughter of an architect.

Mane is said to have first spotted Tamba when she was just 16 years old but he did not approach her formally since she was a minor at the time. However, he reportedly communicated his intentions to his uncle, who is a friend of the family, which paved the way for their eventual union.

With his usual discretion, Sadio Mané orchestrated the event in utmost secrecy, and it was only at the last minute that the world of Senegalese and African football became aware of it.

A few days before committing to his wife, Mane presented a stadium he built to the people of his hometown – Bambali – before heading off for his AFCON duties.

The now Mrs Mane is reportedly a scholar of the Quran – the Islamic holy text – having spent most of her youthful days studying at a private institute in Mbao. She is in her final year of school.

The romantic event was said to have been attended by friends, family, and former players, as well as the players from Senegal’s national team.

Source

Terem Moffi has received a call-up to join Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad as a replacement for the injured Victor Boniface, according to official report from the teams camp.

The invitation is contingent on approval from both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Moffi’s French Ligue 1 club, OGC Nice.

Terem Moffi, who was initially left out of the 25-man squad, is expected to join the Super Eagles in Cote d’Ivoire if he secures the necessary approvals and is released by his French club.

The decision to call up Moffi was confirmed by Super Eagles spokesman Babafemi Raji through a social media post on Tuesday, January 9.

The post read: “Victor Boniface is out, and Terem Moffi takes his place pending approval of CAF and concurrence of his club.”

Victor Boniface, who sustained a groin injury during training, will return to Germany, where Bayer Leverkusen medics will attend to his injury, sidelining him for several weeks.

The invitation of Terem Moffi comes as a significant development for OGC Nice, as the French club had celebrated his initial omission from the Super Eagles’ AFCON squad.

Moffi’s coach even described him as the team’s “best new signing” of the transfer window after expecting to lose him for the continental tournament.

Source

Randy Waldrum who guided the Super Falcons to the Round of 16 in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, has reportedly signed a contract extension to continue as the head coach of the team.

The details of the contract extension were not immediately available, and it is noted that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to sign their part of the agreement.

Waldrum’s initial contract with the NFF expired in October of the previous year. The delay in finalizing the contract extension has raised questions, particularly as the Super Falcons have crucial 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers scheduled for next month. The team is set to face Cameroon in the third round of Olympic Games qualifying between February 19 and 28, following their 5-1 aggregate victory over Ethiopia in the second round.

Sports journalist Osasu Obayiuwana expressed concern about the delay, stating, “Is there any reason the NFF have not signed their own part of the deal? They have a decisive Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier against Cameroon in February. The Falcons have not played in the Olympics since 2008.”

The Super Falcons are eager to make a comeback to the Olympics after missing out on the London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The extension of Waldrum’s contract comes after the team’s impressive performance in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where they reached the Round of 16, showcasing the potential for further success under his guidance.

Source

As Nigeria gears up for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, Ademola Lookman, the Atalanta forward, has expressed his determination to showcase his best performance in his first major tournament appearance for Nigeria.

The tournament is set to commence thSaturday, with the opening game featuring hosts Côte d’Ivoire against Guinea-Bissau.

The Super Eagles will launch their AFCON campaign on Sunday, January 14, facing Equatorial Guinea. Lookman, eager to make an impact, emphasized his commitment to delivering top-notch performances for Nigeria and the fans.

In an interview on NFF TV, Lookman shared insights into the team’s preparations, stating, “Just like the rest of my teammates, we are all prepared. It’s been a few good days training here in Abu Dhabi, preparing for the AFCON and obviously getting the mindset to do big things in Ivory Coast.”

The 24-year-old forward expressed his aspirations, saying, “Just like everyone, I want to give my best for the team, to bring my A game to this tournament, for Nigeria and for the fans, and we will see where that takes us.”

Lookman highlighted the unity within the squad, emphasizing their belief in themselves as they embark on the AFCON journey. He stated, “As a squad and as a team, we are together, and we believe in ourselves. That’s the mindset.”

In a recent test game against a local club side in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the Super Eagles dominated with a resounding 12-0 victory. Lookman played a significant role, contributing four goals to the impressive win. Other scorers included Victor Osimhen, Umar Sadiq, and Moses Simon, each securing a brace, while the opposition conceded two own goals.

The team is set to face Guinea in a friendly on Monday, further fine-tuning their strategies before returning to Nigeria on Tuesday. As excitement builds for the upcoming AFCON, fans eagerly anticipate Lookman’s dynamic performances and the collective success of the Super Eagles in the tournament

Source

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State will play the role of chief host at a special dinner organized by the Lagos State Government for the Super Eagles on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

The event is scheduled just hours before the three-time champions embark on their journey to Cote d’Ivoire for the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals, which commences this weekend.

Co-hosting the glamorous event will be Sports Development Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh. Distinguished guests at the dinner include Governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa State), and Godwin Obaseki (Edo State).

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will act as the host. Among the attendees are top officials of the Lagos State Government, parliamentarians, NFF Executive Committee members, representatives of NFF’s corporate partners and sponsors, and select members of NFF Management.

Notable guests also include Hon. Kunle Soname, Chairman and Board of the Lagos State Football Association, former Nigeria captain Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, leading artists, top celebrities, and influencers.

The 25 players selected for Nigeria’s AFCON campaign, along with their officials, will be the vintage guests at the dinner. They will arrive in Lagos aboard a chartered aircraft on Tuesday evening.

Expressing gratitude, NFF President Musa Gusau thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration for hosting the team at the Send Forth ceremony. He highlighted the significance of the event in boosting the team’s morale and emphasizing the support of Nigerians as they aim for a fourth continental title in Cote d’Ivoire.

Source

President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action to address the longstanding financial issues faced by Nigeria’s national sports teams, including the Super Eagles.

The announcement, made through a statement on the X handle of Tinubu’s Media Centre on Sunday, reveals that the outstanding payments, amounting to a substantial N12 billion, have been settled.

The payment encompasses a range of financial commitments, primarily aimed at supporting the various national teams. This includes the clearance of senior national team coach salaries, covering a period of 15 months. Additionally, allowances and promises owed to both the senior national teams and the female and Under-20 national teams have been duly addressed.

The statement from Tinubu’s Media Centre emphasized the significance of this financial intervention, stating, “President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others.”

This move comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles gear up for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to commence later this month. The financial injection is expected to provide much-needed stability and support to the teams, fostering an environment conducive to optimal performance on the continental stage.

President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to settling these financial obligations underscores the importance placed on the nation’s sporting excellence and the welfare of its athletes. As Nigeria prepares to showcase its football prowess at the Africa Cup of Nations, the timely resolution of outstanding payments is poised to boost the morale and focus of the national teams.

Source

In an evening where Liverpool’s consistency was questioned following the departure of their star man Mohammed Salah to AFCON, Jurgen Klopp fielded an attacking side in the testing third-round encounter at Emirates Stadium in a bid to get all three points.

Luis Diaz, Gody Gakpo, and Nunez all started in the attack for Liverpool, but they struggled to find their feet in the first half with Arsenal enjoying the better chances of the first half in which both sides hit the crossbar. Liverpool were battered in the first half by an Arsenal side playing with ferocious intensity.

The Reds began to assert themselves after the interval. Jurgen Klopp’s decision to switch Nunez to the left and Diaz to the right was inspired, and as the second half progressed Liverpool looked increasingly menacing.

The first goal came in the 80th minute when Jakub Kiwior sent Trent Alexander Arnold’s free-kick into his own goal.

The 2-0 victory was capped off deep into stoppage time when Luis Diaz rasped in a finish that ensured Liverpool’s name is in Monday’s draw for the next stage.

The win against Arsenal meant that Liverpool inflicted a third consecutive defeat on Arsenal thanks to a Jakub Kiwior own goal and a superb Luis Diaz strike.

Arsenal’s well-documented struggles in front of goal continued as chance after chance went begging against Liverpool. Martin Odegaard’s shot rattled the crossbar, while Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz were also guilty of missed opportunities.

Arsenal have only one win in their last seven matches in all competitions as the pressure builds on Arteta to find a solution to his side’s struggles in front of goal.

Without Mohamed Salah for Liverpool, Diaz stepped up in front of goal and claimed a big win for Liverpool in the FA Cup third round.

Source

The Super Eagles of Nigeria spanked a Dubai Club 12-0 in a 2023 AFCON preparatory game on Sunday, January 7, 2024 in Abu Dhabi.

Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman scored 4 goals in the resounding 12-0 win over Dubai Cultural Sports Club in the game played behind closed doors.

The Eagles were 6-0 up at half time with CAF Men’s Player of the Year Victor Osimhen bagging a brace in the encounter.

Substitute Moses Simon also grabbed a brace alongside Umar Sadiq, while the crushed Dubai Club contributed two own goals to the scoreline.

Coach Jose Peseiro tutored Super Eagles will on Monday, January 8, 2024 play a more competitive friendly against fellow AFCON-bound Guinea at the Bani Yas Stadium.

The Eagles are expected back in Nigeria on Tuesday before leaving for Cote d’Ivoire the next day for AFCON 2023 where they will open their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January.

Source