Jay Jay Okocha is unimpressed with the Super Eagles' efforts
Nigeria runs the risk of missing out on back-to-back FIFA World Cups after a slow start in the 2026 tournament qualifiers which saw them record two consecutive draws.
The Super Eagles lie third in Group C behind Rwanda and South Africa with two points from their opening two games, after consecutive 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and they run the risk of missing out of the 2026 edition. Photo by Carlos Rodrigues.
Source: Getty Images
According to Soccernet, former Super Eagles captain, Jay Jay Okocha has slammed the team, claiming they have been focused on rivalry and underrating other teams in their group.
He acknowledged the Nigerian national team did not get off to a good start and said they were ultimately fortunate that Bafana Bafana lost their second qualifier, per Sunday World.
"I think we are focusing more on the rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria instead of focusing on qualifying. It’s a big surprise that Rwanda is topping the group."
Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after being knocked out by Ghana, will face Bafana Bafana on June 3, 2024, when the qualifiers resume after the Africa Cup of Nations.
Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, in an interview with ObiOne Podcast has revealed why he turned a fine attacking midfielder Mikel Obi into a defensive midfielder.
Known for his long-range pass and silkiness on the ball during the early stage of his career, the former Super Eagles captain saw his role reversed under the Portuguese manager at Stamford Bridge.
Only bettered by Lionel Messi at the 2005 U-20 World Cup in Holland, Mikel finished as the second-best player of the tournament following a fine performance where he helped Nigeria to a second-place finish with his two-goal contributions.
Mikel became one of the most sought-after players immediately after the tournament with the player said to have already signed a deal with Manchester United, who were looking for a midfielder to replace the aging legendary Paul Scholes.
But after some drama, the Nigerian made a switch to the Stamford Bridge in what till today remained one of the most bizarre transfers in the English Premier League.
After his transfer to Chelsea, Mourinho surprisingly converted Mikel to a defensive midfielder.
Unperturbed by the 36-year-old goal contributions, Mourinho revealed his admiration for the Nigerian.
“I liked everything about Mikel. If you go through all the positional [defensive] midfield players that I have had during my career, there are lots of similar things,” Mourinho said on the ObiOne Podcast.
Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates have a tough Champions League round of 16 draw as they will take on Barcelona.
The draw for the round of 16 took place on Monday, 18 December 2023.
Barcelona have had the upper hand against Napoli having never lost to the reigning Serie A champions.
In the six encounters between the two teams, Barcelona have won four and drawn two against Napoli.
The last time the two teams clashed was in the Europa League in February 2022 in Italy with Barcelona winning 4-2.
Napoli will host the first leg before traveling to Spain for the second leg.
Another Super Eagles player Umar Sadiq and his Real Sociedad teammates will have their hands full in the round of 16.
The LaLiga club will take on French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the first knockout round.
Meanwhile, Zaidu Sanusi’s FC Porto will take on Premier League heavyweight Arsenal.
Other draws will last season’s finalist Inter Milan take on Atletico Madrid, PSV will battle Borussia Dortmund, Lazio will face Bayern Munich, reigning champions Manchester City will tackle Copenhagen and Leipzig will slug it out with Real Madrid.
The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on 13, 14, 20 and 21 February, and the second legs will be played on 5, 6, 12 and 13 March 2024.
The final of this season’s UEFA Champions League will be played at the Wembley Stadium in London, England.
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw:
Porto v Arsenal
Napoli v Barcelona
PSG v Real Sociedad
Inter v Atletico Madrid
PSV v Borussia Dortmund
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Copenhagen v Manchester City
RB Leipzig v Real Madrid
The Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Mr Kalilou Traore, has said that the 2024 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, will create relevant avenue for his country to further strengthen cooperation with Nigeria.
Traore stated this in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, sequel to the country’s preparation to host the AFCON tournament from Jan. 14 to Feb. 13, 2024.
He said it has become necessary for the two countries to use the opportunity to further boost diplomatic ties between them.
“The AFCON is also a big occasion for us to deepen cooperation.
“So, we as an Embassy, we are organising with our partners, we are packaging for those who want to participate in Abidjan at AFCON,” he said.
The envoy added that leaders of both countries at levels of Heads of State and Heads of Ministries have mutual relationship, saying: “We have strong agreement, many agreements between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire government”.
[Leadership]
Arsenal are ready to sign £51million Sporting CP centre-back, Goncalo Inacio for their manager, Mikel Arteta.
Inacio has established himself as a vital player at the heart of Sporting’s defence since making his first-team debut in 2020.
The 22-year-old has been extensively scouted by Arsenal’s Premier League rival Liverpool in recent months.
However, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Arsenal are ‘tightening their siege’ on signing the Portugal international ahead of the Reds.
The report added that the Gunners are already aware of the €60 million (£51.5m) release clause in the player’s deal with Sporting and are prepared to pay the fee for him to switch to Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window.
[DailyPost]
Rebecca Welch to make history as the first female referee of a Premier League game as she has been selected to officiate Fulham’s match against Burnley on December 23, 2023.
Welch became a referee in 2010, juggling the job with her work in the British National Health Service.
She officiated a Football League match between Harrogate and Port Vale in 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
In addition, Welch was the first female official to officiate games in the FA Cup’s third round and the Championship.
She made history last month when she became the first woman to act as fourth official in a Premier League game as part of the team for Fulham’s match against Manchester United.
Welch is also in charge of several high-profile women’s fixtures, including games at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand has said Wayne Rooney was his worst ever teammate.
During their tenure at Old Trafford, Ferdinand and Rooney won numerous trophies, including Champions League and Premier League ones. However, Ferdinand has since disclosed that they used to argue a lot while playing.
In the latest episode of BBC podcast, hosted by Rugby League legend Rob Burrow, Ferdinand said: “The worst team-mate I have probably had the most arguments with is Wayne Rooney, to be honest with you.
“Never came to blows, it was on the pitch.
“We never argued in training really, it was just match day, we probably argued once every two or three games, effing and blinding, screaming at each other because I wanted more from him.”
[OpinionNigeria]
SUPER Falcons legend Mercy Akide-Udoh has described her CAF Awards win in 2001 as ‘special’, while charging the Nigerian senior national teams to win their tournaments next year.
The former Nigeria striker won the first-ever African Player of the Year award for women in 2001, setting the stage for the likes of Cynthia Uwak, Perpetua Nkwocha and record six-time winner Asisat Oshoala.
Akide, who won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with the Super Falcons in 1998, 2000 and 2002, was in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday to see her compatriots steal the show.
Nigeria swept the big prizes on a glorious night for the country as Victor Osimhen was named Player of the Year, Oshoala Player of the Year (Women), Chiamaka Nnadozie Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) and the Super Falcons National Team of the Year (Women).
“I feel blessed to have been the first woman to win this award back then,” Akide-Udoh said.
“It was very special and I think it was the beginning of recognition for women’s football in Africa.
“I am excited that other Nigerians have done it again and I hope that we will see more of this in future. If anybody had told me that it would take so many years before another Nigerian man would win it again, I don’t think any of us would have believed it, but that’s football and God knows best.
“I am proud of all the winners and I hope that as Nigeria has won so many awards tonight, this will be the start of more success for our football, from the AFCON in January to the women winning their own too and then to the FIFA World Cup.”
Osimhen was the first Nigerian man to win the main award since Kanu’s success 24 years ago and the Napoli striker will be the key man for the Super Eagles as they seek their first Africa Cup of Nations since 2013 at the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire in January and February next year.
[NaijaTimes]
On Tuesday, December 12, Victor Osimhen, the newly crowned CAF 2023 African Player of The Year, penned a gratifying message to celebrate his top prize.
In an extended message posted on his X account, the Napoli striker told an inspiring story of how he started as a hawker on the streets of Olusosun in Lagos to becoming a global icon in football.
On Monday, the Napoli striker beat Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to the star prize at the awards ceremony in Marrakech.
Reflecting on his journey to stardom, the 24-year-old wrote, “As a young boy who came from the streets of Olusosun, who had to hawk in traffic almost every day of the week while growing in order to survive the numerous challenges my family and I were facing, becoming a Treasure in Africa and World Football was a wild dream. Words can’t express the joy in my heart; this is a very special moment for me.
“My football journey has been a rollercoaster of highs, tough lows and emotions. The goals, echoes and jubilation of victories keep me going even when the critics, hate and pain of defeats hit me hard in the chest. The support of my amazing family, my fans most especially my Nigerian supporters and the love for the beautiful game of football motivates me to aim higher daily.”
He added, “Losing my dear parents in the course of this journey leaves a scar in my heart as they have always been my major driving force for success since I was a kid, may their souls continue to rest in peace.
“To my wonderful family thanks for always having my back and loving me so much. I wouldn’t have made it this far without your esteemed support.
“To my fans and Nigerian supporters, your dedication in supporting me on the good days and bad days do not go unnoticed, even amidst the arrows of hatred thrown at me y’all still stood by my side. I am grateful.
“Winning the CAF Best African Player 2023 is a testament to my hard work, your love and support. I am so proud of myself for achieving this prestigious award.
“Thank you CAF, to all the coaches I have played under both local and international, your wisdom and knowledge have played huge roles in guiding my footballing career, thank you so much.
“I am sure my parents in heaven are smiling at me, this is for you.
“I also congratulate Chiamaka Nnadozie and Asisat Oshoala for their prestigious awards. Dreams do come true! Thank you, everyone, GOD is the greatest.”
[https://www.tori.ng/]
A host of Nigerian X users are taking pleasure from the posts of the Confederation of African Football after the football governing body tweeted in some local languages of the country.
CAF joined a host of other people across the world in celebrating Nigerian trio Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie after they were recognised as the best players and goalkeeper in Africa on Monday night while also celebrating the Super Falcons team that emerged as the best Women’s team on the continent.
Osimhen was named African Footballer of The Year after beating Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to the award at a ceremony in Marrakech on Monday, with compatriot Oshoala winning the top prize in the women’s category.
Nnadozie beat fellow goalkeepers in the form of Moroccan shot-stopper Khadija El-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Olaminii to claim the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of The Year for 2023.
The achievement means Osimhen became the first Nigeria to win the men’s best player award for the first time since 1999 after Kanu Nwankwo claimed the honour. But for Oshoala, it was a record-extending sixth award and the first for Nnadozie.
In celebrating the Nigerians and the women’s team, CAF in a series of posts on their official X handle has been tweeted in Yoruba, Igbo and, pidgin languages.
One of the tweets in Yoruba read, “Mo so fun yin o #CAFAwards2023”
Another tweet in pidgin read, “Naija full ground, Naija gather dey, Naija no dey carry last!”
Tweeting in Igbo, CAF wrote, “Osi na nwata buru ogaranya 1! Inspiring the next generation with greatness.”
Reacting to the tweets, an X user, JosephOnuorah wrote, “This guy na one of us – Nothing anyone can tell me! Proper naija boy behind the CAF handle We see you bro ”
Klinsdon commented, “Admin where are you from? You speak Yoruba and now Igbo! . This admin must be a Nigerian. You spoke our languages including pidgin English! I twalle for you jor! ”
Aisah Baby added, “Globally recognised. Yoruba too sweet.”
Basking in the euphoria, Otunba GCFRN wrote, “Thank you #CAF_Online. Yoruba to the world!”
Unjoerated Joe also commented, “Igbo to the world.”
More...
Turkey’s football leagues will resume on December 19, ending a brief suspension caused by a violent attack on a referee, the federation announced on Wednesday.
Matches were suspended hours after MKA Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca rushed onto the pitch and punched referee Halil Umut Meler after the final whistle in Monday’s first division match in the Turkish capital.
Meler was released from hospital in Ankara on Wednesday, after undergoing observations and receiving a phone call from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkish Football Federation chief Mehmet Buyukeksi said the sport’s governing body will announce penalties for the altercation on Thursday.
He told reporters that weekend matches will be rescheduled to help deal with the incident’s repercussions.
“We had decided to postpone the matches in all leagues indefinitely. With the decision we took today, all leagues will restart on Tuesday, December 19,” Buyukeksi said.
Buyukeksi added he expected Meler, a respected 37-year-old with accreditation to referee international matches, to recover and join the officiating crew of the Euro 2024 championship to be held between June and July in Germany.
“We expect Halil Umut Meler to take part in Euro 2024. There is no possibility of him quitting refereeing right now.”
Images of Monday’s incident showed Koca rushing onto the pitch with a group of men and knocking out Meler with a blow to the left side of his face.
Meler was kicked several times in the ensuing melee.
Koca appeared to be incensed at Meler for sending off one of his players and then awarding a stoppage-time goal that allowed visiting Caykur Rizespor to leave Ankara with a 1-1 draw.
Meler released a statement Tuesday saying Koca had threatened his life.
“Faruk Koca punched me under my left eye and I fell to the ground. While I was on the ground, they kicked my face and other parts of my body many times,” Meler said.
“Faruk Koca told me and my fellow referees: ‘I will finish you’. Addressing me in particular, he said: ‘I will kill you’.”
[Vanguard]
The outspoken president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, has been re-elected to his position as head of Spanish football’s two top divisions, the league said on Tuesday.
Tebas, 61, had resigned in November in order to seek a fourth term and was the only candidate.
He assumed the presidency of La Liga for the first time in April 2013 and was re-elected in 2016 and 2019.
“The Electoral Commission of the National Professional Football League (La Liga)… has agreed to the definitive proclamation of Mr. Javier Tebas Medrano as President of the National Professional Football League, for a period of four years,” La Liga said in a statement.
Tebas, the former club president of Huesca, is credited with reforming Spanish football’s TV rights bargaining by centralising a system which previously relied on clubs negotiating individually.
He has butted heads with the presidents of Real Madrid and Barcelona over their support for a proposed European Super League.
And he has raised hackles abroad with his criticism of clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, arguing that their Gulf-based ownership amounts to “financial doping”.
Kingsley Coman scored the only goal for the Bundesliga champions, who had long since secured their place in the last 16, to leave United without even the consolation of dropping into the Europa League.
An embarrassing early exit from Europe's elite competition increases the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag with United also languishing in sixth in the Premier League.
The damage to United's Champions League hopes was done long before the arrival of Bayern when they failed to win three of their four games against Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
Copenhagen beat Galatasaray 1-0 on Tuesday to join Bayern in the last 16, with the Turkish giants finishing third.
"We didn't lose it today, that's clear," said Ten Hag.
"We had I think opportunities in games (against Copenhagen and Galatasaray). We were in winning positions; we scored many goals and we gave it away."
It is just the fourth time that an English side has finished bottom of their Champions League group.
A troubled season for Ten Hag reached a new low on Saturday when Bournemouth won for the first time at Old Trafford and with ease in a 3-0 victory.
The former Ajax boss responded by recalling Raphael Varane to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly two months.
The Frenchman has been surprisingly frozen out by Ten Hag but is likely to have a big part to play in the coming weeks as Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw had to be replaced during Tuesday's action, adding to an already lengthy injury list.
"We are losing players and losing players who are very decisive," added Ten Hag, who was also without Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro.
"In many games it was the case in this campaign that we didn't have players available."
Bayern were already assured of progressing as Group A winners but Thomas Tuchel's men had a point to prove themselves after suffering a 5-1 hammering at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
"It's never comfortable at Old Trafford, but I think we deserved to win. "We needed a reaction, and we got a reaction," said Tuchel.
Harry Kane started on his return to England and played a decisive role in the winning goal as he teed up Coman to blast past Andre Onana.
Bayern remain unbeaten in the Champions League group stages since 2017 and extended a competition record of nine consecutive away wins at this stage of the competition.
Yet the German giants rarely had to get out of second gear as they look forward to the knockout stages in 2024.
"After the result at the weekend we had a really high motivation here," said Kane.
"I think there could have been a bit more in the final third. We had a good start to the season, but I feel like there are a few more gears to go up."
There was no such excuse for United's lack of urgency as they bowed out with a whimper.
Shaw's long-range effort that Manuel Neuer comfortably batted behind was United's only shot on target.
But the loss of Shaw at half-time and Maguire during the first half, to an apparent groin injury, only added to Ten Hag's woes ahead of a daunting trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
United did have one big chance to go in front early in the second half, but Bruno Fernandes' wild effort that flew well over the bar summed up his side's lack of quality and composure in the final third.
Bayern were also far from their free-flowing best.
However, they needed just one slick move to win the game as Kane flicked Thomas Mueller's pass into the path of Coman to fire home his fifth goal of the season 19 minutes from time.
Napoli reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday after seeing off Braga 2-0 and ending a home hoodoo which had stretched back two months.
The Italian champions qualified second in Group C behind Real Madrid thanks to Serder Saatci’s clumsy own goal and Victor Osimhen’s first goal since early October, both which came in the first half.
Walter Mazzarri’s side would have got through even with a single-goal defeat but in the end comfortably qualified for the next round, snapping a six-match winless streak at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
A first win in Naples since beating Udinese in late September made sure that Napoli finished the group stage on 10 points, six ahead of Braga who drop down to the Europa League.
Braga knew that they had to win by at least two goals in order to leapfrog Napoli and Bruma wasted a great chance to put the away side into the lead with just two minutes on the clock, lashing wide from close range after confusion in the Napoli area.
However their task was made that much taller in the ninth minute, when the unfortunate Saatci tripped over Matteo Politano’s low cross and sent the ball spinning towards his own goal.
Braga goalkeeper Matheus did his best to keep the scores level but could only claw the ball out after it had already crossed the line.
Napoli pushed for a second but had a superb Alex Meret save to thank for Braga not pulling level with a Ricardo Horta rocket from distance.
However in the 33rd minute newly-crowned African player of the year Osimhen effectively sealed Napoli’s passage into the next round.
Moments before the Nigeria striker was left open-mouthed at Piotr Zielinski not squaring to him when he was completely unmarked just yards from goal, opting instead to smash a shot straight at Matheus.
But this time Natan played the right pass afer bursting down the left flank and allowed Osimhen to bundle in his seventh goal of what has been a difficult campaign to date in southern Italy.
Osimhen’s first goal in this season’s Champions League left Braga needing to score four goals without reply to get through and the wave of relief was tangible both in the stands and on the pitch.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa should have scored when Osimhen perfectly teed him up in the 65th minute, but the Cameroon midfielder could only shot straight at Matheus.
The only negative note of proceedings was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s continued struggle for form, the out-of-sorts Georgian yet to open his account in Europe’s top club competition this term.
However he will have another chance in the new year thanks to a win which broke a painful run of three straight losses and could bring some confidence back to troubled Napoli.