Category: Sport News

It’s God’s Favour — Eguaveon Denies Lobbying For Super Eagles Coaching Role

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date September 4, 2024
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Austin Eguavoen, the caretaker coach of the Super Eagles, has refuted claims that he lobbied for the interim coaching role.

In a recent statement released through the official Super Eagles communication channels, Eguavoen emphasized that his appointment was not a result of any personal efforts or influence but rather the manifestation of divine favor.

“I am a member of the Federation, working as the Technical Director Nigerian Football Federation,” he said.

“When a situation like this comes and you are being called upon, you can’t say no. It’s a task that I had performed; it is a duty that falls under my responsibility.

“For the fact that the hierarchy of the Federation now feels and thinks that I can salvage the situation, why not? But one thing should be clear to the public: I didn’t ask for this; I didn’t lobby for this, I didn’t apply for this; it is God’s favour.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the appointment of Augustine Eguavoen as the interim head coach of the Super Eagles for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

The decision came after negotiations with German coach Bruno Labbadia broke down.

Eguavoen, 59, who has served as the national team’s technical director since 2020, will temporarily take charge during this international break.

The Super Eagles legend is no stranger to the role, having previously coached the national team in three different stints, the most recent being in 2021 when he led the team at the AFCON following the sudden dismissal of former coach Gernot Rohr.

Tags Austin Eguavoen, super eagles

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Transfer: Osimhen Sacks Agent Over Failure to Seal Permanent Exit From Napoli

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date September 3, 2024
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Robert Calenda, the agent of Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has been sacked.

Osimhen sacked him over his transfer saga, according to Il Mattino (via TMW).

Osimhen is said to be pissed off by Calenda’s incompetence, as he tried to engineer a permanent move away from the Serie A side.

It is believed that the Nigeria international even negotiated his loan move to Galatasaray without an agent.

Osimhen was expected to leave Napoli on deadline day, with Al Ahli and Chelsea trying to complete deals but nothing happened.

Calenda was heavily criticised on social media for messing up the deals.

It is understood that Osimhen employed the help of Turkish intermediary George Gardi, to negotiate with Galatasaray.

The deal is a straight loan until the end of the season, with a break clause in January in the event of top European clubs making a move.

Tags victor osimhen

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Osimhen Close to Sealing a Move to Galatasaray

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date September 2, 2024
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Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen could be sealing a loan deal to Galatasaray.

This is coming after he failed to sign for a top European club this summer and has been excluded from the Serie A club’s squad.

With no way back for the Nigerian under Antonio Conte, he is now considering the few options left on the table.

And according to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, Napoli has reached an agreement with Galatasaray over a loan.

Osimhen’s wages will be covered by the Turkish club.

Romano wrote on X: “Galatasaray has reached an agreement in principle with Napoli over a loan deal for Victor Osimhen!

“One year loan, salary covered as Napoli have accepted these conditions.

“Gala’s delegation to meet with Osimhen in Napoli in the next hours for the final green light to the move.”

Tags victor osimhen

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Transfer: We Want Players That Accept Our Conditions – Chelsea Manager, Maresca Speaks On Osimhen Deal

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date September 1, 2024
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Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, has said the club will only buy players who accept their conditions.

Maresca was speaking to the media about their failure to get a striker in the summer transfer window.

The Blues were in talks for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen until deadline day.

The transfer did not happen eventually, with multiple reports claiming Osimhen was not willing to accept a pay cut.

Maresca was only able to bring in Marc Guiu, a teenage striker from Barcelona and has Nicolas Jackson as his first-choice striker.

After the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday, Maresca said: “We want players, but we wanted a player that we decide it has to be on our conditions.

“If a player is not here, then it was not.

“New striker in January? We will see.”

Tags Enzo Maresca, Napoli, victor osimhen

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Transfer: He’s In Pains – Ighalo Blasts Nigerians Over Osimhen’s Failed Napoli Exit

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date September 1, 2024
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Odion Ighalo, a former Super Eagles striker, has hit out at Nigerians over their comments on social media, after Victor Osimhen failed to seal a move away from Napoli.

Osimhen has been frozen out at the Serie A club following the collapse of transfer talks with Chelsea.

The situation led to mixed reactions from fans on the Internet, with many criticizing the player and his entourage.

But Ighalo wrote on X on Sunday morning: “No human being is perfect and we have all made mistakes in life.

“But seeing comments about this young man from his own country people makes me really sad, without even knowing what happened.

“I spoke to him and I can feel the pain in his voice, the way he’s been treated, this young man play with heart and pains for his country.

“Hmmm it’s well, he will definitely be back stronger, we learn everyday in life. Happy New Month to y’all.”

Tags Napoli, odion igalo, victor osimhen

Sport News

‘He decided not to play’ – Napoli confirm no plans to reintegrate Osimhen into squad

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date September 1, 2024
No Comments on ‘He decided not to play’ – Napoli confirm no plans to reintegrate Osimhen into squad

Napoli has confirmed that Victor Osimhen will not be returning to their first-team squad.

This follows the breakdown of transfer negotiations between interested clubs.

Napoli’s director, Mauro Manna, revealed that Osimhen decided not to play for the club anymore last year.

“Osimhen decided not to play for our club anymore last year,” Manna stated. “We tried to help, but the deal didn’t happen. The plan on both sides remains to part ways.”

Manager Antonio Conte echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that there are no plans to reintegrate Osimhen into the squad.

“No player will be reintegrated,” Conte asserted. “Those who are out of the project will remain out. We made our choices and work in one direction all together.”

GistReel Sport reported that Osimhen, who was expected to leave Napoli on Deadline Day, saw moves to both Chelsea and Al Ahli collapse at the last minute.

Chelsea delegates were reportedly in Naples until the final moments of the transfer window, but a deal could not be reached.

Meanwhile, Al Ahli opted to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford, despite initially agreeing to buy Osimhen.

With the transfer window now closed, Osimhen remains at Napoli, but his future with the club appears bleak.

The Nigerian striker no longer features on the club’s official website, and his shirt number has already been handed to new signing Romelu Lukaku.

Tags Antonio Conte, Napoli, victor osimhen

Sport News

Eguavoen To Lead Super Eagles For Benin, Rwanda Fixtures After Labbadia’s Withdrawal

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date August 31, 2024
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Augustine Eguavoen, a former player and Technical Director of the Super Eagles, as the head coach for the team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

This decision comes in the wake of German coach Bruno LabBadia’s unexpected withdrawal from the role.

LabBadia, who was previously named as the successor to Finidi George earlier this week, reportedly declined the position due to unresolved issues with German tax laws.

The NFF disclosed late Friday via a statement on X that these tax concerns were the main obstacle to finalizing the agreement.

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau explained, “We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities. It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32% to 40% of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.

“The NFF and Mr. Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

“The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up. We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.”

The NFF has named a 23-player squad for the upcoming qualifiers, with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, and stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong making their return after extended injury absences.

Tags Augustine Eguavoen, nff, super eagles

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2024/2025 Europa League Draw Confirmed (Full Fixtures)

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date August 30, 2024
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This season’s Europa League draw has been completed.

Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho, will face his former club Manchester United.

Like the Champions League, UEFA has revamped this season’s competition, discarding the traditional group phase.

Instead, teams will play eight different opponents – four home and four away – in a league phase before the knockouts in early 2025.

Aside from a trip to face Mourinho’s new side, Fenerbahce, United and Spurs will both play Rangers.

The final of this season’s Europa League took place at San Mames, the home to Athletic Bilbao in Spain on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Full fixtures:

Manchester United: Rangers (h), Porto (a), PAOK (h), Fenerbahce (a), Bodo/Glimt (h), Victoria Plzen (a), Twente (h), FCSB (a)

Tottenham: Roma (h), Rangers (a), AZ Alkmaar (h), Ferencvaros (a), Qarabag (h), Galatasaray (a), Elfsborg (h), Hoffenheim (a)

Rangers: Tottenham (h), Manchester United (a), Lyon (h), Olympiacos (a), Union Saint-Gilloise (h), Malmo (a), FCSB (h), Nice (a)

Galatasaray: Tottenham (h), Ajax (a), PAOK (h), AZ Alkmaar (a), Kviv (h), Malmo (a), Elfsborg (h), RFS (a)

Athletic Club: Slavia Prague (h), Roma (a), AZ Alkmaar (h), Fenerbahce (a), Victoria Plzen (h), Elfsborg (h), Besiktas (a)

Fenerbahce – Manchester United (h), Slavia Prague (a), Lyon (h), AZ Alkmaar (a), Union SG (h), Midtjylland (a), Athletic Club (h), Twente (a)

Lyon: Lazio (h), Rangers (a), Olympiacos (h), Fenerbahce (a), Ludogorets (h), Qarabag (a), Besiktas (h), Hoffenheim (a)

Roma: Frankfurt (h), Tottenham (a), Braga (h), AZ Alkmaar (a), Kviv (h), Union Saint-Gilloise (a), Athletic Club (h), Elfsborg (a)

Frankfurt: Slavia Prague (h), Roma (a), Ferencvaros (h), Lyon (a), Victoria Plzen (h), Midtjylland (a), RFS (h), Besiktas

Porto: Manchester United (h), Lazio (a), Olympiacos (h), Macabi Tel-Aviv (a), Midtjylland (h), Bodo/Glimt (a), Hoffenheim (h), Anderlecht (a)

Ajax: Lazio (h), Slavia Prague (a), Macabi Tel-Aviv (h), Real Sociedad (a), Galatasaray (h), Qarabag (a), Besiktas (h), RFS (a)

Lazio: Porto (h), Ajax (a), Real Sociedad (h), Braga (a), Ludogorets (h), Kyiv (a), Nice (h), Twente (a)

Slavia Prague: Ajax (h), Frankfurt (a), Fenerbahce (h), PAOK (a), Malmo (h), Ludogorets (a), Anderlecht (h), Athletic Club (a)

Tags UEFA europa league

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Transfer: Osimhen’s Move In Doubt With Chelsea Unwilling To Pay New Players Over £70,000

Post author By kayode amuda
Post date August 28, 2024
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Chelsea are not prepared to offer contracts exceeding £70,000 per week to new players.

According to Sky Sports transfer chief, Kaveh Solhekol, the club is not interested in signing players who demand £200,000-a-week or £300,000-a-week contracts.

With Enzo Maresca looking to add a striker to his squad, Chelsea have been linked with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney of Brentford.

But it now appears the deal for Toney would be easier to do, as Osimhen is reluctant to take a pay cut.

According to Solhekol, “the average wage of their new signing is between £60,000-a-week and £70,000-a-week.

“That is the base wage before you add in bonuses.

“I think there is a feeling that Ivan Toney is willing to fit into that wage structure. Also, he’s coming from a club like Brentford who are not famed for paying massive wages.”