Transfer Impasse: Analyst blame Victor, others
Its unfortunate nut true that the deal to have Nigeria’s Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen move to Chelsea has collapsed completely.
NFF holds 79th Annual General Assembly in Uyo
The 79th General Assembly of Nigeria Football Federation will take place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Sunday. The annual plenary of Nigeria’s football governors at all levels will commence with an opening ceremony that is expected to be graced by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar. President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will, alongside the Executive Committee that he heads, welcome the delegates composed of chairmen and secretaries of the 44 members of the NFF (including FA chairmen and secretaries of the 36 States and the FCT). Also expected are members of the Akwa Ibom State cabinet, eminent football stakeholders and NFF Management and Staff. The business session, which begins after the opening ceremony, will kick off fully with an address by the NFF President, and such regular matters such as suspension or expulsion of members (if applicable), activity report of the General Secretary, presentation of the consolidated and revised balance sheet and profit-and-loss statement, approval of the financial statements and the budget, and admission for membership (if applicable) are on the agenda. On the agenda as well are votes on proposals for amendments to the Statutes, the regulations governing the application of the Statutes and the Standing Orders of the General Assembly (if applicable), and discussion of proposals submitted by the Members and the Executive Committee. After the conclusion of the assembly, the delegates and other invited guests and stakeholders will proceed to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final-day qualifier between the Super Eagles and the Falcons and True Parrots of Sao Tome and Principe, which begins at 5pm. Nigeria, on 12 points and already qualified for next year’s continental showpiece in Cote d’Ivoire, need only the minimum win to secure leadership of their group ahead of Guinea Bissau’s Djurtus, who are on 10 points and host the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Bissau.
Enyimba FC win NPFL title, N100m prize
Enyimba International FC of Aba are champions of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season. The People’s Elephant won the league on Sunday after they played out a one-all draw with former champions, Rivers United in the final match of the 2023 NPFL Super 6 in Lagos. Going Into the crunchy tie, the 2019 champions needed a draw to claim their nineth League title and the recorded the draw after Rivers United forced them to a 1-1 scoreline. Ekene Awazie scored the opening goal in the 40th minutes for the Aba boys but Nyima Nwagua restored parity in the 47th minute for the Pride of Rivers. Both teams could not find the winning goal in the remaining moments of the encounter but the full time score line gave the two-time Africa Champions their deserved title, and nineth in history. Enyimba won the title after accruing 9 points from 5 matches while Remo Stars came second with same number of points but lesser goal difference. 2022 champions, Rivers United came 3rd with 8 points By the virtue of their positions, Enyimba and Remo Stars have qualified for the CAF Champions League while Rivers United will join the winner of the 2023 Federation Cup between Rangers and Bendel Insurance in the CAF Confederation Cup. Rivers United were quarter-finalist in the 2023 edition of the CAF second tier league. For emerging champions of the NPFL, Enyimba will receive a cash reward of ₦100, 000, 000 from the organizers of the league, the Interim Management Committee, IMC.
AFCON Qualifier: Peseiro lists Osimhen, Simon, 21 0thers for Sierra Leone
Super Eagles’ Coach, José Santos Peseiro has invited captain Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defender William Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Moses Simon among others for next weekend’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Monrovia. In-form forward Victor James Osimhen, whose 31 goals in all competitions for SSC Napoli this season helped the Italian giants to the semi finals of the UEFA Champions League and to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years, tops the strikers’ list. Osimhen has also recently been honoured with the National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Government of Nigeria, and has received a special ball and jersey from world football-ruling body, FIFA for his magnificent season. Home-based goaltenders Victor Sochima and Olorunleke Ojo are also called, as well as Rivers United defender Ebube Duru and Bendel Insurance FC midfielder Divine Nwachukwu. Defenders William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel are in, with midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho also in the 23-man roster. The Super Eagles are top of their qualification group with nine points out of four matches, followed by Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs who have seven points. Leone Stars, who gave the Eagles a tough run in Abuja on Day 1 of the qualification series before succumbing 2-1, are on five points. Sao Tome and Principe, who play the Super Eagles on the final day of the series in September, are bottom with only one point. Nigeria and Sierra Leone clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Sunday, 18 June, as Sierra Leone do not have any stadium in their country approved for international matches. ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS: Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC) Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey) Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England) Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey)
CAF CC: USM Alger win first continental title (With Photos)
USM Alger created history by clinching their first-ever continental title as they edged out Tanzania’s Young Africans (Yanga) on the away goals rule in a thrilling finale of the 2022-23 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. Despite a 1-0 defeat at home in front of a packed Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers on Saturday night, USM Alger’s 2-2 aggregate score, courtesy of their 2-1 first-leg victory in Dar es Salaam, secured them the coveted trophy. Although the loss may have dampened the celebration, it couldn’t diminish the euphoria of becoming the first Algerian side to win the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. Yanga, appearing in their maiden continental final, came tantalizingly close to their own momentous achievement after Djuma Shabani’s first-half penalty. However, they were unable to find a crucial second goal to swing the tie in their favor and claim the crown on enemy territory. USM Alger’s captain Zineddine Belaid had a second-half penalty saved, but his disappointment was forgotten as the Algerian side held on to a 1-0 defeat at the final whistle, securing their place in history. Yanga faced a daunting task, needing to win by a margin of more than two goals. They got off to a perfect start when they were awarded a penalty just seven minutes into the match after Saadi Radouani’s challenge on Kennedy Musonda. Shabani confidently converted the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and giving Yanga an early lead. The early goal was precisely what the Tanzanian side needed to fuel their pursuit of victory, and they continued to apply pressure on USM Alger. In the 30th minute, Alger came agonizingly close to equalizing when Aimen Mahious rose to meet a cross from Khaled Bousseliou, but his header narrowly missed the target. Yanga’s Fiston Mayele, who was tightly marked, had a glimpse at goal when he expertly controlled a lofted pass from Musonda, but he failed to find the target with his subsequent touch.
Man City beat Man United to win FA Cup
*Pep’s lads are one away from the season’s treble Reigning Premier League champions, Manchester City on Saturday defeated neighbors Manchester United in the 2022/23 FA Cup final played at the prestigious Wembley Stadium. Manchester City Captain and match winner, Ilkay Gundogan, who scored the fastest FA Cup goal in less than a minute, told BBC Sport afterwards that he was happy to score and win for his club because they really deserve it. “To win a final is always special. Every trophy is special. This group deserves it. We played really well, second half was amazing and we deserved to lift another trophy. “Obviously we know how we want to play the kick off and we aim to do that, to go long for Erling and try to get a second ball. It just placed amazingly for me and I just had to hit it. Obviously it was a quite good strike.” Gundogan, who has since been a target of almost champions Arsenal, said concerning his future that he would wait and see how things pan out at the end. “I don’t need these kind of days to feel appreciated and feel special in this club. I know that and that is why I have been here seven years. Nothing is decided yet, we will see what will happen.” Man City next face Italian giants Inter Milan in the Champions League final with a a chance to win a treble this season on the cards.
U20 W/Cup: Nigeria Coaches hail Bosso, Flying Eagles for beating Argentina
The Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) has commended the Chief Coach of the Flying Eagles, Isah Ladan Bosso, his lads, the Flying Eagles, and the backroom staff over their emphatic 2-0 victory against host nation Argentina in the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup. In a statement signed by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Etta Egbe, the Acting President of the Association, Dr. Isiaka Salami, praised the leadership, technical and tactical efficiency of Coach Isah Ladan Bosso against Argentina, which were rated as favourites to win the 2023 Under 20 World Cup. He was full of praises for the boys, the Flying Eagles, who gave their best that made Nigeria to record this rare achievement against Argentina. Dr. Salami admonished the team to work towards taking the next three important steps to winning the Under 20 World Cup, by maintaining that spirit of determination to win and hard work. He advised the team to celebrate less, be focused and prepare more for the task ahead. He stated that apart from the members of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association who are solidly behind the Flying Eagles, the entire country stands behind them. This is the time Nigeria needs the U20 World Cup the most. “We pray for you to succeed”, he added.
FIFA U-17 World Cup: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Mali to represent Africa
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Mali will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup after Nigeria missed the opportunity with a 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso. The four sides sealed their places following the conclusion of the quarter-final matches at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Thursday. The 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the 19th edition of the biennial international men’s youth football tournament. It is contested by 24 teams of the under-17 national teams of the member associations of FIFA from six confederations. It will be held from Nov. 10 to Dec. 2 in a yet-to-be-decided venue (initially Peru). This edition marks the return of the tournament after a 4-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing FIFA to cancel the 2021 edition. The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are the most successful team in the tournament having made eight appearances and winning a record, five FIFA U-17 World Cup titles (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015). They were also runners up on three occasions (1987, 2001 and 2009). Nigeria are also two-time Africa U-17 Cup of Nations’ champions, having won their first title in 2001, with their most recent title at the 2007 edition. They were runners up on two occasions (1995, 2013) and finished third in 2003. Brazil are the defending champions, having won their fourth title in 2019. Africa has four slots at the tournament and with the U17 AFCON serving as the qualification, the teams that reach the semi-finals will represent the continent at the global event. Of the teams qualified, Mali is the most experienced, having qualified five times previously. This is their sixth qualification. Their best performance was in 2015 when they lost to African rivals Nigeria in the final. Their last qualification was in 2017 in India when they finished fourth. They reached the quarter finals in 1997 and 2001 and exited in the group stage in 1999. Burkina Faso are meanwhile going back to the global stage for the first time since their last qualification in 2011 when they exited in the group stages. They have qualified for the World Cup four times in total and their best ever performance was in 2001 when they finished third after beating Argentina 2-0 in the play-off. Morocco are meanwhile qualifying for the World Cup for the second time in their history, having made their debut in 2013 when they when they reached the round of 16. Senegal have qualified for the World Cup for the second time in their history, after making their debut in 2019 following Guinea’s elimination. In their maiden campaign, they reached the round of 16 after finishing second in their group. They lost 2-1 to Spain in the knockout phase.