Category: Sport News

Categories
Sport News

Finidi George Reportedly Resigns As Super Eagles Coach

Finidi George has reportedly tendered his resignation from the role of head coach of the Nigerian football team, Super Eagles.

Popular sports news reporter, Toyin Ibitoye, disclosed this on X some minutes ago.

‘’News just in Finidi George @FinidiGeorge_FG has resigned from his  @NGSuperEagles manager position”

Finidi, a former Nigerian international and member of the iconic 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the nation’s second African Cup of Nations title, took over as head coach last month.

His resignation comes days after the NFF disclosed it is in search of a foreign Technical Adviser following a poor run in the WCQ.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) or Finidi George have yet to confirm his resignation.

Categories
Sport News

Serie A: Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman Voted Atalanta’s Player Of The Month

Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles winger, has been voted Atalanta’s Player of the Month for May and June.

Lookman, 26, beat Gianluca Scamacca and Ederson to the individual accolade.

The talented winger scored six goals and provided three assists in the two months.

The former Leicester City player was the hero of Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Lookman scored a superb hat-trick in the encounter played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

He finished the campaign with 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

Categories
Sport News

Ballon d’Or 2024: Dani Carvajal Picks Player That Should Win Award

Dani Carvajal, the right-back for Real Madrid, has chosen his teammate Vinicius Junior as the deserving recipient of the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

According to the Spain international, the Brazilian deserves the top individual prestigious award after his performances this season despite injury.

Overall, Vinicius made 39 appearances across competitions for Real Madrid in the 2023-24 campaign.

He scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists for the Los Blancos.

Vinicius helped Carlo Ancelotti’s side to win both the LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League.

Asked to name his favourite for the Ballon d’Or this year, Carvajal told MARCA (via @MadridXtra):

“Ballon d’Or? The one I see with the most options is Vinicius. He was injured for three month but this didn’t stop him from scoring many goals and be decisive in the Champions League and La Liga.

“He and Bellingham may be the ones who can win.

Categories
Sport News

Ballon d’Or 2024: Mourinho Names Player to Win Award

Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho has named the player to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
He spoke during an interview with TNT Sport.
Mourinho was asked several questions about the European Championship with kicks off this weekend.
In the quickfire chat, the former Chelsea and Manchester United predicted his native Portugal will win the Euros and England will be runners-up.
Mourinho also said Three Lions captain, Harry Kane, will finish top scorer and his team-mate Jude Bellingham will be named Player of the Tournament.
When asked who will win the Ballon d’Or, he simply answered “Vinicius Jr”.
Vinicius is a strong contender for the prize, after winning the LaLiga and Champions League titles with Real Madrid this year.
Categories
Sport News

2026 WCQ: They Thought It Was Done – Rohr Mocks Super Eagles After Benin Defeat

The head coach of Benin Republic, Gernot Rohr has mocked Nigeria after the Super Eagles lost to their Republic of Benin counterpart.
The Super Eagles lost 2-1 win in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Monday.
Reacting, Rohr slammed the mentality of Super Eagles players.
Nigeria had taken the lead in Abidjan, thanks to Raphael Onyedika’s first goal for his country.
But they fell apart and conceded twice in the space of twelve minutes.
It was Benin’s first-ever victory against Nigeria, and Rohr, who coached the Eagles between 2016 and 2021, pointed out their lapse in concentration.
“We had the right organization, Nigeria scored the first goal, perhaps, they believed it was already done.
 
“But the reaction, the desire of my team was so strong that they could come back to win the match,” Rohr said, per Favour Itua.
Categories
Sport News

2026 WCQ: Why Super Eagles Lost to Benin Republic – Finidi

Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George has opened up on why his side lost 2-1 to Benin Republic.
The super eagles had yesterday suffered the loss during its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria remain in fifth position in the Group C table with three points from four games.
It was the second time the Cheetahs would beat the Super Eagles in 17 meetings.
Gernot Rohr’s men top the standings with seven points.
“We scored a good goal and after that we lost concentration, they got their equaliser and then they got their momentum,” Finidi said during his interaction with media after the game.
 
“We didn’t defend well the long kick from the goalkeeper and they got their first goal.
 
“We had control of the game, but we didn’t defend well.
 
“If you don’t take your chances and don’t defend well in a World Cup qualifier, you pay for it.
 
“First half was good but for the goals (we conceded), while in the second half we pushed and defended well.”
Categories
Sport News

Benin Republic Beat Nigeria 2-1, Fans Blast Finidi

Fans have demanded the sack of coach Finidi George after the Super Eagles lost 2-1 to Benin Republic.
Cotonou, the capital of neighbouring Republic of Benin erupted in joy following the shock 2-1 win over the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their 2026 FIFA world Cup qualifier at the Felix Houphouët Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

“This  was a real miracle,” Beninese foremost journalist, Elvis Dedjinou Zanclan , told NationSport after the match.“Two games won successively, first again Rwanda and  now, the super Eagles; this is unbelievable.”
Zanclan then added: “My point of view  at the end of the match  was that the Nigerian players  thought the game  was won  before the kick -off. I think Finidi’s team is the first Nigerian side to lose to Benin in history.
 
“Of course, Cotonou is bubbling and celebrating,”he noted.
By contrast,  the Super Eagles’ defeat  was painfully received  as Nigerians reportedly   took to the social media app, X(formerly Twitter ) to demand the immediate sacking of  Coach Finidi George over the team’s poor performance.
In a  report by Sahara Reporters , many of  Nigerian micro blog users  vented their anger on the former Ajax Amsterdam’s winger.
A commentator, Samstar said, “Finidi George is just a clueless coach with a very big head. Please sack him now and also jail him for stressing all Nigerians #SoarSuperEagles.” 
Another analyst, Buchi Laba regretted being among those who called for George’s appointment few months ago.
He wrote: “I pushed heavily for Finidi George to get the job. I’m a very stupid person. Never ever take any advice coming from me. I no get sense.” 
Categories
Sport News

Why Real Madrid Will Snub FIFA’s Invitation to Club World Cup – Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti has given an explanation why the club will not participate in FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup next season.
Recall that the competition is billed for the United States at the end of next season.

 

 

A total of 32 teams from across the world have been invited.
Ancelotti, who guided Real to a double of La Liga and the Champions League this season, claims that FIFA have offered around €20million for their participation.
According to the Italian, Real will not be the only team rejecting FIFA’s offer.
“FIFA forgets that the teams will not participate in the new Club World Cup.
 
“A single Real Madrid match is worth €20million and FIFA wants to give us that amount for the entire tournament.
 
“We will decline the invitation,” Ancelotti told Il Giornale.
Categories
Sport News

Why Nwabali Owes Me Mercedes Benz – Chippa Coach

Sean Louw, the Chippa United goalkeeper coach, has said that Stanley Nwabali, owes him a Mercedes Benz after his bold prediction of his appearance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nwabali was a surprise inclusion in Nigeria’s squad for the biennial competition hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.

Prior to the competition, the former Enyimba and Katsina United shot stoppers made just one appearance for the Super Eagles.

The 27-year-old was in goal when the Super Eagles squad, dominated largely by local players, was trounced 5-0 in a friendly by Mexico in the United States of America in 2021.

Nwabali was, however, one of the top performers, as the Super Eagles came second in Cote d’Ivoire.

Louw revealed that he once told Nwabali he would play for the Super Eagles in a big tournament, but the goalie doubted him.

“I told Stanley that he is going to play in the AFCON and he said, ‘’I will never play at the AFCON as long as I am playing for Chippa,” Louw told Idisktimes.

“I said ‘Challenge accepted’, and he said if he plays AFCON, he will buy me a Mercedes Benz. Until today, I am still waiting for my Mercedes Benz (laughs).”

Categories
Sport News

Transfer: It Will Be Difficult For Me To Play With Neymar Again – Messi Says

Lionel Messi, the world-famous Inter Miami superstar, has admitted that it will be “difficult” for him to line up alongside Neymar Jr again.

The two footballers first played together at Barcelona, before Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

Messi and Neymar were then reunited at PSG, before the Brazilian left for Al-Hilal.

There have been recent speculations claiming they could play together again in the MLS, especially after Luis Saurez signed for Inter Miami.

But Messi said: “We talk often. We even have a group chat with the three of us, including Luis. Ney speaks perfect Spanish.

“A little message to recruit him? No, I don’t know. The truth is, it’s difficult now”.

“He’s in Saudi Arabia, and I think he has a year left on his contract. He had a tough year, where he was injured for a long time. So, it’s difficult now”.

“After that, I don’t know. Life takes so many turns that anything can happen, but I think, for now, no.”

About Us

626blaze is an entertainment and lifestyle website that brings you latest gist and scoops from the world of music, fashion, movies, sports and social commentary.

Categories

Subscribe to our Newsletters