Latest News
SPORTS
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman on winning the 2024 CAF Men’s African Footballer of the Year.
In a statement on Monday night by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu also hailed Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for clinching the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award and the Super Falcons for being named the Women’s National Team of the Year.
The awards were announced Monday night at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
The President joined millions of Nigerians in celebrating these athletes, describing them as worthy ambassadors for showcasing their talent and bringing honour to the country on the continental and world stage.
The President express belief that this recognition by Africa’s highest football authority will inspire other upcoming athletes to remain steadfast in pursuing their dreams.
He affirmed that their determination, discipline and confidence underscore the administration’s resolve to build a better Nigeria where everyone thrives and succeeds.
‘‘These athletes embody the essential Nigerian Spirit. They signpost the best in us as a nation. Let no one ever write us off. I am incredibly proud of them.
‘‘Thank you for making Nigeria proud and keeping our flag flying.
‘‘Thank you for winning medals for Nigeria both at home and abroad. You will win more in the future,’’ the President said.
Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman has succeeded his countryman, Victor Osimhen, as the CAF Men’s Player of the Year in 2024.
Ademola Lookman, who is currently 27-year-old clinched the CAF prestigious honor during the award ceremony at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, earlier today, December 16.
The Atalanta winger, who started his international football career with the England youth team, contended with Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams for the honor. Interestingly, he was deemed better than the aforementioned players.
Ademola Lookman at the 2024 CAF Awards in Morocco.
Note that since the list of nominees was announced in November, most football enthusiasts believe that Lookman was more deserving of the honor than his competitors.
The former Leicester City winger had a superb 2023-2024 season with Atalanta as he helped them to win the UEFA Europa League for the first time in the history of the Italian side.
Recall that Lookman became the first player in history to score a hat-trick in the final of the said tournament as Atalanta won the trophy by beating the German Bundesliga invincibles Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.
He was also one of the highest goalscorers at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in which he helped Nigeria finish second behind the hosts.
Last season, Ademola Lookman scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists for Atalanta. So far this season, the Nigeria international has scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists in 19 games in all competitions.
Below are major stats of Ademola Lookman in 2024:
- Over 20 MOTM Awards
- Reached the AFCON Final
- Scores brace in AFCON R16
- Scores winner in AFCON QF
- AFCON Team of the Tournament
- Hat-trick in the Europa League final
- Only African Nominated for the 2024 Ballon ‘Or
Retiring Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta bid farewell to his playing career Sunday in an exhibition match between Barcelona and Real Madrid greats in Tokyo and will now look to go into coaching.
The 40-year-old announced in October that he was hanging up his boots after a career that saw him win two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.
He gave a crowd of more than 45,000 fans in Tokyo one last glimpse of the skills that also saw him win nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during his 16 years with Barcelona.
'My songs will make you buy bedsheets'- Ironha, who took hawking when fire razed his Yaba shop
He made sure he went out with a bang, delivering a last-minute cross that the Real Madrid defence turned into their own net to hand Barcelona a 2-1 win.
“I think it was a great game for the Japanese fans,” said Iniesta, who played in Japan for five years after leaving Barcelona in 2018.
“If they went home satisfied then I’m very happy.”
Iniesta lined up alongside former midfield partner Xavi Hernandez, with Rivaldo, Rafael Marquez and Javier Saviola also in the Barcelona line-up.
Roberto Carlos, Fabio Cannavaro and Iker Casillas were among the players in the Real team.
Iniesta said he had “a lot of fun” playing with Xavi, with whom he helped take Barcelona and Spain to new heights.
“Of course neither of us is at the same level that we were before but a lot about the way we used to link up came back to me during today’s game,” said Iniesta.
Iniesta came up through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and made his first-team debut aged 18.
He made 674 appearances and won a total of 32 trophies during his time at the Camp Nou.
He moved to Japan’s Vissel Kobe before playing one final season in the United Arab Emirates.
Iniesta said he wanted to stay involved in football.
“I’m thinking about getting my coaching licence and I want to see where my career takes me,” he said.
Georgian ex-footballer turned far-right politician Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to become Tbilisi’s next figurehead president in an indirect election denounced as “illegitimate” by the current pro-EU leader.
Picked by the governing Georgian Dream party as a loyalist, the former forward for the English Premier League’s Manchester City is known for his expletive-laden parliament speeches and tirades against government critics and LGBTQ people.
He is expected to be voted into the role by an electoral college controlled by Georgian Dream, after the party abolished the use of popular votes to elect the president under controversial constitutional changes passed in 2017.
Kavelashvili being catapulted to the role comes at a dramatic moment as thousands of anti-government protesters have flooded Tbilisi for weeks, furious at Georgian Dream for shelving EU accession talks.
Protesters have described Kavelashvili as a “puppet” of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream’s founder, who in turn has called him “the embodiment of a Georgian man”.
Sporting a moustache and combed back hair, his comments on LGBTQ people have raised alarm, as Georgian Dream has adopted Kremlin-style laws curbing their rights.
The ex-footballer slammed the West for wanting “as many people as possible (to be) neutral and tolerant toward the LGBTQ ideology, which supposedly defends the weak but is, in fact, an act against humanity.”
– Football roots –
Born in Georgia’s tiny southwestern town of Bolnisi in 1971, Kavelashvili began his career as a professional footballer in the 1980s, playing for clubs in Georgia and Russia and becoming a striker for his country’s national team.
The 53-year-old played for Manchester City between 1995-1997, scoring on debut against bitter crosstown rivals Manchester United.
He then joined Swiss club Grasshoppers, where he spent most of his time on the bench, before stints elsewhere in Switzerland at Zurich, Luzern, Sion, Aarau and Basel.
Kavelashvili was disqualified from running for president of the Georgian Football Federation in 2015 due to a lack of higher education, a requirement for the role.
He has served as an MP for Georgian Dream since 2016 and was elected to the legislature on the party’s list in October 2024 polls — which opposition groups say were rigged and do not recognise.
In 2022, Kavelashvili, alongside other Georgian Dream lawmakers, established a parliamentary faction called People’s Power — an anti-Western group that officially split from the governing party but was widely seen as its satellite.
His political affiliations align with far-right ideologies.
– ‘Oligarch’s puppet’ –
He is known for obscenity-laced statements against opponents and has accused Western leaders of trying to drag Georgia into Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Georgian Dream nominated Kavelashvili for the largely ceremonial post in late November, aiming to strengthen its grip on power.
But the nomination outraged many in Georgia, especially those who have been taking to the streets daily for two weeks to protest Georgian Dream’s drift from its aim of joining the EU.
On the 14th day of mass protests this week, demonstrators did not hold back in expressing their disdain for Kavelashvili.
“I can hardly imagine anyone less suited for the role of head of state,” historian Nika Gobronidze, 53, told AFP.
He said Ivanishvili, the businessman widely believed to be pulling the strings in Georgian politics, chose Kavelashvili as a tool he could control.
“Caligula wanted his horse to be a consul, our oligarch wants his puppet Kavelashvili to be a president,” he said, referring to the Roman emperor.
– ‘Illegitimate’ –
The new electoral process makes it a foregone conclusion that Kavelashvili will be the next president, with incumbent Salome Zurabishvili set to lose office.
But Kavelashvili will see his legitimacy undermined from the onset, with constitutional law experts — including an author of Georgia’s constitution, Vakhtang Khmaladze — saying the election will be “illegitimate”.
Tbilisi is currently engulfed in a constitutional crisis, with Zurabishvili demanding a re-run of October’s parliamentary elections.
Parliament had approved its own credentials in violation of a legal requirement to await a court decision on Zurabishvili’s bid to have the election results annulled.
Zurabishvili has declared the new parliament and government “illegitimate” and vowed not to step down at the end of her term on December 29 if Georgian Dream does not organise a fresh vote.
AFP
FIFA has confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The world football governing body announced at an online FIFA Congress on Wednesday.
The Middle Eastern country submitted the sole bid for the competition and got the nods of 200 FIFA member federations in the virtual event.
“The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, said.
Saudi Arabia’s bid has attracted criticism since the country tabled the proposal in 2023. Some of the critics referenced the country’s human and women’s rights history.
However, FIFA’s bid evaluation team deemed Saudi’s human rights concerns only “medium risk”.
FIFA also ratified the decision to hold the 2030 World Cup across six countries on three continents.
Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are the joint hosts of the competition. In commemoration of the World Cup’s centenary, the opening three matches will take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
The World Cup was first held in 1930 and hosted by Uruguay.
FIFA had announced the numerous hosts of the event at the Congress in 2023.
The award of the recent Ballon d’Or for the best European-based footballer to Spain’s 28-year old Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, instead of the red-hot favourite, Real Madrid’s 24-year-old Afro-Brazilian winger, Vinícius “Vini” Jr, is the most controversial decision in the 68-year history of this competition. Just before the award was announced in Paris, the assembled players, coaches, and administrators were chanting Vinícius’s name.
This decision was particularly curious as Real Madrid (which boycotted the award ceremony), won the team and coach of the year awards for their record-extending 15th European Champions League win, during which Vinícius had been named the best player of the competition, breaking Argentine legend, Lionel Messi’s record of being the youngest player to score in two finals.
Overseen by the Union of European Football Associations and France Football, journalists from the 100 top-ranked footballing nations determine the Ballon d’Or winner, based on a complicated formula of awarding points to the top 10 players. That Rodri’s Real Madrid teammates, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, came third and fourth, respectively, in the voting, clearly worked against Vinícius.
This outcome represented a geopolitical North-South divide, with the vast majority of the 40 European nations (nearly half of the electorate), the US, Israel, and former “White Dominions” Australia, Canada, and New Zealand voting for Rodri as first choice, while most African, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern journalists voted for Vini. Latin America was surprisingly divided, suggesting some regional resentment against five-time World Cup-winning Brazil. There were a few anomalies: Spain, France, Switzerland, and Greece voted for Vinícius, while SA, Zambia, Ghana, Gabon, Uganda, Iran, and Palestine chose Rodri.
Brazilian journalists led the criticism of a decision they regarded as Eurocentric, unjust, and retaliatory, noting that Vinícius had been punished for his antiracism activism.
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. Picture: VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA/REUTERS
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. Picture: VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA/REUTERS
On the merits of the past season, this really should not have been a contest. In helping Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga, Vinícius had scored at least 20 goals in three successive seasons, while netting six often decisive goals in the Champions League including in the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final.
The Brazilian displayed blistering pace, mesmerising dribbling skills, close control, incisive passing, and clinical finishing. Though he has not shone for Brazil as he has for Real Madrid, the same criticism did not stop Messi from winning seven Ballons d’Or before Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph.
Rodri also had a good season in which he helped Manchester City win the league title, and was named player of the tournament when Spain won the European Championship (an award that his prodigious teammate, Lamine Yamal, perhaps should have won). Rodri’s strengths are as a “ball carrier” with solid tackling, aerial, and passing skills, though lacking the pace to be a truly great player.
Vinícius has faced countless incidents of ugly racism in Spain, including his effigy being hung from a bridge and racist chants from Valencia and other away fans. Lackadaisical Spanish football authorities have often condoned such racism, mirroring the anti-immigrant xenophobia pervasive in Spanish society.
The outspoken Vinícius accused La Liga of normalising racism, and defiantly noted: “Black people have been suffering for a long time, and the time has to come when all this has to end.” Vini has also supported humanitarian projects to empower disadvantaged Brazilian youth.
Outspoken Algerian-French 2022 Ballon d’Or winner and Viní’s former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, best captured the outrage sparked by this travesty: “There is nobody else who deserves it more than Vinícius.” Benzema went on to note that Rodri is a good player but “doesn’t do things that make me say ‘pfff.’” Awarding the Spaniard, the Ballon d’Or recalls the expression that one cannot put lipstick on a caterpillar and pretend it is a butterfly. Vinícius is undoubtedly the best footballer in the world.
• Professor Adekeye Adebajo is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship.
Ademola Lookman scored a late winner for Atalanta FC in their 2-1 victory over AC Milan in Serie A on Friday.
Lookman’s goal came in the 87th minute as the host saw off the visiting Rossoneri at the Gewiss stadium.
Atalanta had scored the opener in the 12th minute. Charles De Ketelaere rose highest to meet a well-swung freekick from Martin De Roon and sent the header past Mike Maignan.
However, less than 10 minutes later, AC Milan levelled from a blistering counter-attack play. Rafael Leao was afforded the space to run down left, and he beat his marker before finding Alvaro Morata in the middle of Atalanta’s goal area, and the Spaniard swiped the ball home.
The game was on a knife’s edge from then on, with both sides failing to make their numerous chances count.
But Lookman remedied all efforts late in the game. The winger raced towards the far post, where he met the errant ball off a corner-kick. He poked his head into the wild ball, and Maignan was caught on aware.
The goal was Lookman’s 10th goal of the season in 16 appearances.
The victory takes Atalanta to the summit of the Serie A table, two points above Napoli, who play Lazio on Sunday.
As the celebration for the 2024 CAF Africa Player award gears up, Cameroon international Flavien Enzo Boyomo is confident that Nigeria international and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is the favourite to win the men’s best player award, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Lookman, who made history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a European club competition final during his club’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen last season, has been getting massive backing from teammates, stakeholders and fans since CAF announced the final shortlist for the award.
Boyomo is the latest to throw his weight behind the Nigerian to claim the honour when the winner will be announced at the CAF Awards 2024 on December 16.
Lookman faces competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Algeria’s Amine Gouiri, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
Despite the stiff competition from other nominees, the Osasuna centre-back remains confident that the Atalanta man will win the award.
“I believe Lookman will win the African Ballon d’Or,” Boyomo was quoted saying by Actu Cameroon.
“He won the Europa League and he is the one who has the best chance of winning the trophy this year.”
Lookman’s nomination comes after a remarkable season that saw him emerge as Europe’s most productive attacking player in the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign, registering 14 goal contributions (eight goals and six assists) from April onwards, more than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues.
The former Everton striker’s stellar performances reached their pinnacle in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, where he netted a historic hat-trick to crown a season that saw him amass an impressive 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.
The former Everton man has continued with his impressive form this campaign, with the Nigeria international already notching nine goals and five assists in just 16 appearances for La Dea.
Aside from his historic and remarkable Europa League exploits with Atalanta, Lookman emerged as the overwhelming favourite for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award following his 14th-placed finish at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris in October where he was the only African player nominated for the award.
Super Eagle Alex Iwobi has emerged as Fulham’s most influential attacking force this season, leading the team’s goal contributions chart with six involvements – three goals and three assists in 13 Premier League appearances, as they prepare to host Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on Thursday (today).
The Nigeria international reached a significant milestone in his last home game, netting his 25th Premier League goal in Fulham’s 4-1 defeat to Wolves at Craven Cottage, before following up with another crucial contribution by providing his third assist of the campaign in the subsequent 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Marco Silva’s side salvaged that point against Spurs in North London last weekend in a match that ended in eventful fashion for captain Tom Cairney, who was sent off late in the game. Silva was left frustrated after the match, insisting his Fulham side “deserved to win.”
The £22m summer signing from Everton sits joint-second in Fulham’s scoring charts alongside Emile Smith Rowe and Harry Wilson, with all three having netted three times.
Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez leads the way with four goals in 13 appearances, while Andreas Pereira, Adama Traoré, Rodrigo Muniz, Reiss Nelson and Cairney have each contributed one goal.
In the creative department, Iwobi’s three assists put him level with left-back Antonee Robinson, with only Spanish winger Adama Traoré having created more goals (four) for the Cottagers this term.
Smith Rowe and Jiménez have registered two assists each, while goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Kenny Tete, Rodrigo Muniz and Reiss Nelson have one apiece. This places Iwobi and Jimenez as the joint-leaders in goal contributions for the Cottagers with the Mexican also on six.
The Cottagers, who have slipped to 10th in the Premier League table, will be hoping Iwobi can maintain his impressive form when they face Brighton. Fulham have enjoyed facing the Seagulls in the Premier League, winning four and drawing four of their last eight meetings in the top flight, including their last encounter in March which ended in a 3-0 victory at Craven Cottage.
Notable players yet to open their scoring accounts include defensive stalwarts Calvin Bassey and Robinson, who have featured in all 13 matches. Summer signings Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic are also searching for their first goals, having made 10 and nine appearances respectively.
Since making his Premier League debut for Arsenal in 2015, Iwobi has consistently proven his quality across 265 league appearances. The midfielder netted 11 times for the Gunners before adding six more during his stint with Everton. His spell at Fulham has been particularly productive, with eight goals already registered in his first two seasons.
The 28-year-old’s versatility has made him an indispensable asset in Silva’s setup, excelling in various midfield roles while maintaining his attacking output. His 25 Premier League goals place him eighth among Nigerian goalscorers in the competition’s history, trailing Victor Anichebe (27) but still some distance from record-holder Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s impressive haul of 95 goals.
While the likes of Wilson (three goals in nine games) and Smith Rowe (three goals in 13 appearances) have matched Iwobi’s scoring record, neither has matched his creative output. Traoré, despite leading the assist charts with four, has only managed one goal in his 12 appearances.
The statistics highlight Iwobi’s dual threat as both scorer and creator, making him the standout performer in Fulham’s attack this season. His consistency and ability to influence games have been crucial for the Cottagers, who will be looking to climb the Premier League table in the coming weeks, starting with Thursday’s clash against fourth-placed Brighton.
With several players yet to make significant attacking contributions, including new signing Timothy Castagne, Fulham will be hoping their Nigerian talisman can maintain his impressive form while others look to increase their offensive output as they aim to improve their midweek record, having won just one of their last six league games played on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has expressed his desire for a rematch with Anthony Joshua, despite being scheduled to defend his title against Joseph Parker in February.
“As a fighter, I would love to get in the ring and put the final touches on our rivalry,” Dubois told Mirgor.
“But as it is, I’m just really excited to get out there and defend that belt again. I’m sure a rematch with Joshua could happen in the future, who knows? So yeah, I’m just ready to continue on my journey.”
The champion’s eagerness for a second bout comes after his spectacular knockout victory over Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September. However, the former two-time world champion won’t return to action until at least May 2024, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua, who has amassed over $200m in career earnings, making him one of boxing’s highest earners, could pursue a different path to heavyweight glory. The WBC has approved a fight between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel for their interim title, with the winner potentially facing the British-Nigerian.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed this development, stating, “The WBC has received a formal request to sanction this fight for the interim title, and we will accept it. We’ve been clear and transparent in supporting the best possible matchups, especially in the heavyweight division.”
Former unified light welterweight world champion Amir Khan has advised Joshua to hold off on other fights and wait for a mega-bout with Tyson Fury before retiring.
“He should wait for the big fight against Tyson Fury,” Khan told New Zealand Daily.
“They’re both such big names and I think he should call it a day after that.”
The proposed Fury bout could materialise under the Riyadh Season banner, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh expected to make a lucrative offer should Fury fail to reclaim his title from Oleksandr Usyk in December.
Joshua’s financial success has been remarkable, earning $75m from fights in 2024 alone, second only to Canelo Alvarez in yearly earnings. His paydays include a $65m purse for the Andy Ruiz Jr rematch in Saudi Arabia and over $40m for his two encounters with Usyk.
With one fight remaining on his Riyadh Season contract and multiple options available, including the WBC interim title route and potential mega-fights with Fury or Dubois, Joshua’s next move could significantly impact the heavyweight division’s landscape.
More...
Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has said he believes he doesn’t get enough credit for his team’s winning run from the local media, begging that he wants to “work in peace.”
Mourinho’s side is second in the Turkish Super Lig and have won five consecutive games, including Monday’s 3-1 home triumph over Gaziantep.
Fenerbahce are second in the table, three points adrift of leaders Galatasaray.
“But they [local media] still kill me,” Mourinho said in a postgame news conference. “Give me a little bit of credit.
“Don’t try to do to me what was done to Giovanni van Bronckhorst [at Besiktas]. I don’t know any coach that in three, four, five months can make miracles, can change things. For me he [Van Bronckhorst] was doing a great job.”
Besiktas parted company with Van Bronckhorst on Saturday after his team had taken just one win in six games.
Mourinho, who took over Fenerbahce in the summer six months after leaving Roma, said of Besiktas: “The results lately were not the best but you have this culture and this is a culture that goes against stability.
“Clubs and players to evolve, they need stability also in their coaches, in their coaches’ philosophy. So give me a bit of a break, let me work in peace but if it’s not in peace, there is no problem, I still enjoy it.”
ESPN reports that Fenerbahce have scored more goals than any other team in the Super Lig and given away the fewest.
When asked how his team has managed to go on a positive run despite the congested calendar, which also included an international break in November, he said: “That calendar is for every team that is in Europe. It’s when you have to use the squad. If you always play with the same players they will burn out.
“You have to trust the squad. You have to give an opportunity for fresh people to play. I have a wonderful bench, full of options. With benches like this, a coach is a happy coach; and a coach doesn’t have any fear of accumulation of matches in the calendar.”
[Leadership]
Ruud van Nistelrooy said he was “astonished” by the number of offers he received following his brief spell as Manchester United’s interim manager, as he plans how to keep Leicester in the Premier League.
The Dutchman had four games in caretaker charge at Old Trafford – two of them against Leicester – after Erik ten Hag’s sacking at the end of October. He left the club when Ruben Amorim arrived last month.
Speaking at his first press conference since replacing the sacked Steve Cooper at Leicester, Van Nistelrooy said offers had flooded in.
“What happened after the games and the amount of interest, the options that suddenly appeared for me, and the offers that came in, I was a little bit astonished,” he said on Monday.
“It was four games, and I managed a full season at PSV Eindhoven, where I won the cup and the charity shield. I have been coaching with the (under) 19s and the national team (with the Netherlands), but it never received this kind of reaction from the football world.”
“It provoked these reactions, and I was happy with that – to have conversations with different parties and be able to make a decision that felt right for me. I am happy to be here.”
He said he had enjoyed his “intense” spell in the Old Trafford hot seat and had helped “steady the ship”.
“I really enjoyed it, being responsible, creating a connection with the team, with the supporters, and turning the momentum for the club for a while,” he added. “That’s our job, and it felt great to do it. Now, it feels even better to be in this position to do it again.”
Van Nistelrooy, whose first game in charge of Leicester is against West Ham on Tuesday, takes over a side just one point above the relegation zone after 13 games.
Caretaker boss Ben Dawson oversaw Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Brentford, the team’s third straight defeat.
Van Nistelrooy, a former striker for United and Real Madrid, said he was proud to have been given the opportunity to manage the former Premier League champions, where “expectations are clear”.
“It is a challenge we face, to maintain our place in the Premier League, and that is the big target for everyone,” he said.
The 48-year-old added: “In two days, it’s difficult to make many changes, but we have started making changes in style of play, training sessions, and structure, gradually building the foundation of a highly motivated team that can compete in this league.”
[Punch]
Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has invited 30 home-based players for training as the Nigeria Football Federation emphasizes its commitment to qualifying the Super Eagles B team for the upcoming African Nations Championship finals.
The 8th edition of the tournament, exclusively for players competing in their domestic leagues under standard contracts, is set to take place in February 2025 across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Among the notable players invited is the experienced midfielder Rabiu Ali from Kano Pillars, who has made a significant impact this season with eight goals. He is joined by Remo Stars’ goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, Rivers United’s defender Steven Mayo, and the promising forward Sunday Megwo from Abia Warriors.
Additional players include Enyimba FC’s goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena, wing-back Ismail Sadiq from Remo Stars, Kazeem Ogunleye from Enugu Rangers, and Anas Yusuf, a forward from Nasarawa United.
The squad also sees the inclusion of Nasarawa United’s Victor Collins and Adamu Abubakar from Plateau United, both of whom were previously called up for last month’s AFCON qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
All selected players are expected to report to the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, as they prepare for the crucial first leg of the qualification fixture against Ghana’s Black Stars B, scheduled for December 22 at the Accra Sports Stadium. The second leg will be held at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on December 28.
Historically, Ghana has presented challenges for Nigeria, having prevented the Super Eagles from reaching the African Nations Championship finals in both 2009 and 2023. In past encounters, Nigeria faced setbacks despite strong starts, and they are determined to turn the tide in this upcoming qualification series.
Below Are The 30 Home Based Players Eguavoen Invited For Training
Goalkeepers:
– Henry Ozoemena (Enyimba FC)
– Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
– Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United)
Defenders:
– Ismail Sadiq (Remo Stars)
– Waliu Ojewole (Ikorodu City)
– Imo Obot (Enyimba FC)
– Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United)
– Junior Nduka (Remo Stars)
– Victor Collins (Nasarawa United)
– Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)
– Steven Mayo (Rivers United)
Midfielders:
– Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars)
– Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)
– Saviour Isaac (Rangers International)
– Musa Zayyad (El-Kanemi Warriors)
– Emmanuel Ogbole (Kwara United)
– Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
– Kazeem Ogunleye (Rangers International)
Forwards:
– Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United)
– Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United)
– Osy Martins (Lobi Stars)
– Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars)
– Temitope Vincent (Plateau United)
– Samuel Ogunleye (3SC)
– Abiam Nelson (Kano Pillars)
– Meyiwa Oritseweyimi (Bendel Insurance)
– Ngbemena Ikechukwu (Heartland FC)
– Sunday Megwo (Abia Warriors)
– Umar Al-Amin Ibrahim (El-Kanemi Warriors)
– Adams Aminu Sani (Kano Pillars)
Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has confirmed that the former two-time heavyweight champion is set to make his highly anticipated return to the ring in 2025.
The announcement comes in the wake of Joshua’s devastating loss to Daniel Dubois, a fight that derailed his bid to reclaim his position as a dominant force in the boxing world.
Joshua, who turned 35 on October 15, is at a crossroads in his illustrious career. While some speculated the defeat might signal the end of his journey in professional boxing, Hearn dismissed any talk of retirement, reaffirming that the British-Nigerian remains committed to continuing his career.
“Anthony loves boxing; he’d fight forever if he could,” Hearn said.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist entered 2023 with renewed vigour, securing four straight wins and looking poised to challenge for heavyweight supremacy once more. However, his encounter with Dubois in March 2024 proved a stumbling block. A brutal loss—following a first-round knockout victory over Francis Ngannou—reset the trajectory of his comeback.
Speaking on the loss, Hearn acknowledged the need for Joshua to regroup both mentally and physically. “After fighting four times in less than a year, Anthony needs to recharge. He’ll resume camp in January 2025, which sets him up perfectly for an April or May return to action,” he explained.
Hearn made it clear that Joshua’s return would not include tune-up fights.
“At this stage in his career, Anthony doesn’t need warm-ups,” Hearn said.
“He’s going straight in. There’s no appeal in smaller fights; it’s about making the big ones happen.”
This approach contrasts with Joshua’s previous rebuilding phase, following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Then, he fought Jermaine Franklin and other lower-ranked opponents to regain confidence. Now, with time not on his side, Hearn believes Joshua’s focus must shift exclusively to marquee matchups.
Despite recent setbacks, Joshua remains one of boxing’s biggest draws, both in the UK and globally. His ability to pack arenas and generate pay-per-view interest ensures he will continue to be a key player in the heavyweight division.
The next steps for Joshua largely hinge on the availability of Tyson Fury and Dubois. Fury’s bout with Usyk and Dubois’ February title defence will determine how soon negotiations can begin for either fight.
[Punch]