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Galatasaray coach, Okan Buruk, has given an insight on how he convinced Victor Osimhen to join the Turkish Super Lig club.
Recall that Osimhen was heavily linked with moves to Al Ahli and Chelsea on transfer deadline day.
The Nigerian striker ultimately decided to join Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli, failing to join either Chelsea or Al Ahli.
Speaking on how he convinced Osimhen, Buruk said he had a personal conversation with the 25-year-old, during which he outlined his playing style to the player.
“I have a style and a method, like a video chat with a footballer on the phone… I spoke to Osimhen and he was convinced,” Buruk told Milliyet via Napoli Magazine.
“He found it very exciting to come to Galatasaray. I already had the idea of playing with a double striker. Such an opportunity should not be missed.”
Less than 24 hours after his loan move to Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray, Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has witnessed a remarkable surge in his social media followership.
The reigning African footballer of the year joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli for the 2024/25 season on Tuesday after the Italian club agreed to the dry loan move.
The move has not only boosted Osimhen presence in European football but also significantly elevated his social media profile.
According to sportsration.com‘s report, since Galatasaray officially announced the agreement with Napoli on their social media platforms, Osimhen has gained over 100,000 new followers on Instagram, with his count rising from 4.4 million to 4.5 million in less than 24 hours. This rapid growth underscores Osimhen’s influence as one of Africa’s most prominent footballers and highlights the excitement surrounding his move to Turkey.
Osimhen’s transfer to Galatasaray followed a dramatic transfer saga that saw his anticipated move to Chelsea collapsed on deadline day.
The Nigerian international was on the verge of joining Chelsea, but negotiations failed to progress, leaving him to stay in Naples. This came despite a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli, who were prepared to pay Osimhen a staggering €30 million per year over a four-year contract. However, the Nigerian super star opted to continue his career in Europe, leading to his loan move to Galatasaray.
The surge in Osimhen’s social media following further cements his status as one of the most influential African footballers globally, and his journey at Galatasaray is set to be closely followed by millions of fans around the world.
Super Eagles Interim Manager, Austin Eguavoen, says the Super Eagles have all it takes to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to hold in Morocco.
Nigeria is in Group D alongside Benin Republic, Rwanda and Libya.
Eguavoen who spoke with NFF TV ahead of Saturday’s 2025 AFCON qualifying match against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Uyo, said he was optimistic that the Super Eagles would scale through.
“Nigeria is a nation, in terms of football, alot of countries respect and the 2025 AFCON Qualifier is no different.
“I am very confident that we will scale through these two games and beyond.
“We have the materials, players, personnel and support. We have everything,” he said.
He said that there was a need to remind the players of their achievement at the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire where they finished as runners-up in the tournament.
He also called on Nigerians to rally round the team to ensure it began its campaign on a bright note.
“The only thing we have to remind these players about is that they were almost African champions a few months ago; it’s not even up to a year yet.
“So, what went wrong? It is still the same players. We will do everything we have to do as the technical crew and of course, the federation.
“Nigerians will also rally round them, but they (the players) are the ones whose duty it is to turn the table around.
Morocco 2025: Ilechukwu, four others to assist Eguavoen plot Benin, Rwanda’s downfall
“I have spoken to them and we will still be having some series of meetings before the game proper and I am very confident that they will go out there and make the nation proud,” he said.
Eguavoen, however, cautioned that it was very important for the Super Eagles to respect every opponent in the qualifier as they were no minnows in football any more.
“We will treat our opponents with utmost respect, no doubt about that, because in football, if you disrespect or look down on any team, then you will have problems.
“So, we will play them with great respect, but this is our home and we have no choice but to ensure we begin our AFCON qualifying campaign with a victory on Saturday,” Eguavoen said.
Only three players are still being expected in the camp of the Super Eagles, as 20 players trained in Uyo on Tuesday evening.
Captain William Ekong led from the front, arriving on Monday with the earliest birds, which included defenders Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi and Olisa Ndah.
Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru as well as forwards Ademola Lookman and Taiwo Awoniyi were also part of the training.
Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi were in town, while forward Victor Boniface and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali joined in the evening.
On Tuesday morning, defender Calvin Bassey and midfielders Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka pitched in.
This was before defender Benjamin Tanimu (drafted in place of Bright Osayi-Samuel), midfielder Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and forwards Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze arrived.
In the evening, just before the team bus pulled out of the hotel for training, defender Bruno Onyemaechi (of Portuguese club Boavista) and midfielder Raphael Onyedika (of Belgian side Club Brugge) arrived in camp.
Forward Kelechi Iheanacho is due in camp on Wednesday, while goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and forward Victor Osimhen are being expected on Thursday.
After Saturday’s encounter, the Super Eagles are scheduled to fly to Kigali on Sunday for Tuesday’s Matchday 2 clash with the Amavubi of Rwanda. (NAN)
Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen has reportedly parted ways with his football agent, Roberto Calenda, after an unexpected turn of events during the 2024 summer transfer window.
Victor Osimhen was arguably the hottest striker in the transfer window after French star, Kylian Mbappe secured his dream move to Real Madrid.
Top clubs, including Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United, reportedly showed interest in Osimhen, but nothing concrete came out.
Chelsea and Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli pushed for the signature of the 25-year-old Nigerian striker until August 30, the transfer deadline day of top European leagues. Yet, agent Roberto Calenda couldn’t seal a deal for his client.
Following the dramatic transfer window, his club, Napoli decided to discard him from the club’s first team and also took away his shirt number nine and gave it to their new signing, Romelu Lukaku.
With that, Victor Osimhen was left with the option of moving to Saudi Arabia or Turkey, the two countries whose transfer window was still open then. Fortunately for him, Turkish club, Galatasaray decided to sign him on loan after reportedly agreeing to fund most of his wages.
According to II Mattino via TMW, Osimhen reportedly negotiated the loan deal himself alongside his intermediary George Gardi.
At the time of writing, Osimhen’s camp and agent, Roberto Calenda, were yet to make a public statement concerning this development.
Uruguayan football legend, Luis Suarez has confirmed his retirement from international football, which will take effect after the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Montevideo on Saturday, September 7.
Luis Suarez made this announcement at an emotional press conference earlier today, September 3.
While speaking with reporters, the 37-year-old Inter Miami striker said it was not an easy decision to make, but he is determined to give his all in his final match for Uruguay.
“I’ve been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time,” Luis Suarez said.
“I want to be relaxed when I play my last game with the national team. I’ll be just as excited to play as I was in 2007 when I played for my national team for the first time.
“That 19-year-old kid is now a veteran player, an older player – however you want to call it – with an incredible history with the national team that will give his life for the team.”
Throughout his career, Luis Suarez has been recognized as one of the greatest players of his generation and is leaving behind a remarkable legacy as Uruguay’s all-time leading goal scorer with 69 goals from 142 appearances.
Suarez, who made his international debut for Uruguay in 2007, led the country to victory in the 2011 Copa America, where he was honoured as the Player of the Tournament.
In addition to his impressive achievements, Suarez’s career has not been without controversy. He was involved in infamous incidents such as being banned from the 2014 World Cup for biting an opponent and his handball on the goal-line during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final clash against Ghana. His career in club football also saw incidents that sparked controversies, including a suspension for alleged racial abuse.
Despite the controversies, Suarez continued to make significant contributions to the Uruguay national team, helping them qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as making appearances in this summer’s Copa America.
UEFA has revealed that there will be a reduction in the maximum amount clubs can charge for away tickets in Europe’s three men’s club competitions this season.
The new price caps for away tickets are as follows: Champions League games will be capped at 60 euros, the Europa League at 40 euros, and the Conference League at 20 euros. It’s important to note that these caps apply only to visiting fans and not to home supporters.
From next season, the maximum price for Champions League away tickets will be further reduced to 50 euros, and the Europa League to 35 euros. These changes come as part of UEFA’s efforts to enhance the matchday experience for all fans and to keep football an inclusive sport, valuing and recognizing the contributions of travelling supporters who follow their teams across Europe.
Note that this is not the first time price caps have been introduced. In the 2019-2020 season, the maximum prices were set at 70 euros for the Champions League and 45 euros for the Europa League. These adjustments are a response to incidents in previous seasons where fans protested against high away ticket prices.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized that these changes mark another important step in enhancing the fan experience, reaffirming UEFA’s commitment to making football more fan-friendly.
He said: “This marks another key step in reaffirming Uefa’s commitment to enhancing the matchday experience for all fans.
“By introducing more fan-friendly policies, we continue our mission to keep football as an inclusive sport, where supporters who travel across Europe to follow their teams are valued and recognised.”
[NaijaNews]
Turkish giants Galatasaray have reached an agreement with Napoli to sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen on loan.
The deal comes after Osimhen’s proposed transfers to Chelsea and Al-Ahli fell through during the summer transfer window.
The loan move to Galatasaray offers Osimhen an opportunity to continue his career in Europe, following a successful spell with Napoli, where he made a significant impact in Serie A. Despite interest from top clubs, negotiations with Chelsea and Al-Ahli did not materialize, leading to Galatasaray stepping in.
Details of the loan agreement, including the duration and potential option to buy, are yet to be fully disclosed. However, this move is seen as a strategic acquisition for Galatasaray, bolstering their attacking options as they aim for success in both domestic and European competitions.
Osimhen, known for his speed, strength, and goal-scoring ability, is expected to be a key player for the Turkish club, bringing his experience and talent to the Süper Lig. Fans of Galatasaray are eagerly awaiting his arrival, hoping he will replicate the form that made him a standout player in Italy.
Nigeria’s Falconets kicked off their 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea early Monday morning at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo, Colombia.
Exciting forward Flourish Sabastine netted the winning goal four minutes from time to hand the Falconets all the maximum points on offer.
The first half was a tense affair, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. However, the Falconets started the second half with renewed vigour.
Imuran tried to set up Mary Nkpa for the opener, but the forward couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity. Imuran had another chance to score from a free-kick, but her effort sailed over the crossbar.
A moment of anxiety followed when goalkeeper Shukurat Bakare misjudged a free-kick, almost gifting South Korea a goal, but the Koreans failed to take advantage.
The Falconets continued to push for a breakthrough, and their persistence paid off in the 86th minute. Flourish Sabastine’s attempted cross turned into an unlikely goal, evading Korean goalkeeper Woo Seo-Bin to put Nigeria ahead.
Osigwe had a chance to double Nigeria’s lead in stoppage time but missed the target.
With this win, Nigeria join Germany atop Group D and will face the three-time World champions on Wednesday in a crucial match that could secure their progression to the next round.
The Germans were good value for the win in their first game as they smashed Venezuela in a 5-2 victory.
Bayer Leverkusen youngster Loreen Bender bagged a brace in a frantic first half that ended 4-1 in favour of the European giants.
Elsewhere, Spain U20 edged to a narrow 1-0 win over the United States while Paraguay forced a 2-0 defeat down the throat of Morocco.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte has reiterated that Nigerian international Victor Osimhen is no longer part of the club’s plans and will not be reintegrated into the first team, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Osimhen was expected to leave the Partenopei during the transfer window after the striker requested to leave.
The Lagos-born emerged as one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, having been linked with moves to Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool, among others, following impressive seasons with Napoli.
Despite his desire to leave the club, the Nigerian striker’s anticipated move to Stamford Bridge fell through, leaving him in a limbo as the transfer window closed on Friday.
While Chelsea were the most likely destination for Osimhen, Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli also emerged as a potential destination. They even reportedly agreed on terms with Napoli for the transfer, but the deal fell apart when the Italian side asked for a further €5m in addition to the agreed €80m transfer fee.
As the 2024/25 season unfolds, Conte remains adamant that neither Osimhen nor other players would be reintegrated in the team despite their inability to strengthen the squad as envisaged.
“Some issues blocked it; perhaps if we had unlocked that [Osimhen] situation, we would have completed the team differently and earlier,” Conte said at a post-match press conference on Saturday.
“The club made an effort, and I must be happy with it.”
“I’m sorry about what happened. I’m sorry for Osimhen. I’m sorry for the club that didn’t monetize. I am sorry for myself because we didn’t complete the team as we wanted, but the club proved to be consistent in this situation,” continued Conte.
“Coherence is the starting point when it comes to respecting the rules. The club proved consistent, so I praise them for this attitude.”
Conte insists that the club were consistent in dealing with Osimhen and other players not in the team.
“No, this is the team. This is the group,” he added.
“We made decisions. I mentioned coherence before. Those who are not consistent don’t respect the rules. I repeat, respect to the club. The president proved consistent despite losing important money—credit where credit is due. The club were consistent, knowing that if the situation had been unlocked earlier, we would all have been advantaged. As I said, we’ve started rebuilding. Good players arrived. They were on the table. It took us time to understand and think about it, but we signed them, and I am happy. We didn’t do everything, and it’s okay, but I think the club did well.”
With no immediate transfer on the horizon and Napoli’s firm stance on Osimhen’s exclusion from the squad, the Super Eagles striker finds himself in a challenging position.
The 25-year-old striker, who had been one of the most sought-after talents in European football, now faces an uncertain future at least until January, when the transfer window reopens.
However, the Saudi Arabian transfer window remains open until September 2 (today), while the Turkish Super Lig window is open until September 13, which means that the Nigerian could still save himself from getting stuck at Naples until January.
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Former Premier League defender who played across multiple clubs, Sol Bamba, has died at the age of 39 while in charge of a match for a Turkish club.
His death was confirmed on Saturday.
The former defender, known for his stints with Leeds United, Cardiff City, and Leicester City, had been battling Non-Hodgkin lymphoma since 2020.
Bamba, who also represented the Ivory Coast national team, was serving as the technical director of Turkish side, Adanaspor, at the time of his death.
The club announced the news in a statement on X, stating, “Our Technical Director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the Manisa Football Club match played yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”
The former Cardiff City, Leeds, and Leicester defender had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, on Christmas Eve in 2020.
Although he was believed to be in remission, Turkish outlet Hurriyet reported that he “fell ill before the Manisa FK match due to a relapse of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.”
After retiring from professional football in 2022, Bamba transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant manager for Cardiff City before joining Adanaspor in the summer of 2024.
He had been working as the club’s technical director until his untimely passing.
Tributes have poured in from Bamba’s former clubs and teammates.
Cardiff City, where he spent a significant portion of his career, released a heartfelt statement on X: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of Club legend, Sol Bamba. As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room, and a true gentleman. Our thoughts are with his friends, family, and everyone lucky enough to know and love Sol.”
Middlesbrough, where Bamba played in the 2021-22 season, also paid tribute on X: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Sol Bamba at the age of 39. Our thoughts are with Sol’s family and friends at this time. RIP Sol.”
Leeds United, where Bamba served as captain in 2016, expressed their sorrow: “Everyone at #LUFC is devastated to learn of the news that former #LUFC captain Sol Bamba has passed away. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”
Bamba began his football journey in Paris with Paris Saint-Germain’s youth setup before moving to Scotland, where he played for Dunfermline and Hibernian.
His English football career started in 2011 when he joined Leicester City under Sven-Goran Eriksson, with whom he shared a close bond.
Earlier this week, Bamba paid tribute to his former manager, Eriksson, who also recently passed away.
Bamba later played for Trabzonspor and Palermo before returning to England in 2015 to join Leeds.
His captaincy at Leeds was cut short when he moved to Cardiff City in 2016, where he made 118 appearances.
It was during his time in Cardiff that he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He fought the disease for several months undergoing chemotherapy, and made an emotional return in the final match of the 2020-21 season.
He subsequently signed for Middlesbrough, where he made 28 appearances and famously scored the winning penalty in the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Reflecting on his battle with cancer, Bamba once told Mail Sport, “After the first chemo, I was down for four days. I could not get out of bed. I lost weight. After that, I told my missus, ‘I’m not going for the second round.’ The way I was, in that moment, it was awful.”
Despite the challenges, Bamba made a return to the pitch, inspiring many with his resilience.
Napoli boss, Antonio Conte has expressed regret over the club’s failure to sell Victor Osimhen this summer.
The Italian also appeared to confirm he has no plans to reintegrate the Nigeria international in the squad.
Conte spoke about the Osimhen situation after he led his side to a 2-1 win over Parma with Osimhen’s replacement, Romelu Lukaku coming off the bench to score one of the goals.
Osimhen failed to complete his transfer to Chelsea on transfer deadline day on Friday over the Blues failure to meet his salary demand.
With the coming of Lukaku, it means it would be difficult for the Super Eagles striker to find minutes under Conte.
“I’m happy with the work the club did on the market,” Conte said via Fabrizio Romano.
“If there had been the sale of Victor Osimhen, we would have completed the situation… but I’m happy”.
Erling Haaland scored a hattrick as Manchester City defeated West Ham United 3-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) clash at the London stadium on Saturday.
The late kick-off saw Haaland continue his scintillating start to the season, scoring all three goals against an attacking side that troubled the EPL champions but could not make the most of their impressive performance.
Haaland put City ahead in the 10th minute when he slid in to convert Bernardo Silva’s pass but West Ham responded with the equalizer nine minutes later, Ruben Dias scoring an own goal.
The Norwegian striker restored City’s lead with a fierce shot that flew into the roof of the net in the 30th minute before putting the game to bed seven minutes from time with another well-taken goal.
The hattrick is Haaland’s 11th of his Man City career — eighth in the EPL. He has scored seven goals in the opening three matches of the season as Pep Guardiola’s side continues their 100% start to the season.
In earlier matches, Brighton held ten-man Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in a match Declan Rice was dismissed for a second yellow card for time wastage.
Everton, however, surrendered a two-goal lead with three minutes of regulation time remaining and lost 3-2 to Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
However, Aston Villa held on to win 2-1 at Leicester City.
RESULTS
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Ipswich Town 1-1 Fulham
Leicester City 1-2 Aston Villa
Everton 2-3 Bournemouth
Brentford 3-1 Southampton
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham United 1-3 Manchester City
[TheCable]
Declan Rice was controversially sent off for the first time in the Premier League as Arsenal were held to a contentious 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side were leading through Kai Havertz’s first-half strike when Rice saw red after the interval at the Emirates Stadium.
In a bizarre incident, the Arsenal midfielder earned a second booking for gently kicking the ball away and failing to retreat after fouling Brighton’s Joel Veltman.
Rice looked bewildered by the decision, while Arteta sought an explanation from the fourth official as Arsenal fans chanted “you’re not fit to referee” at Chris Kavanagh.
The Premier League said Rice was sent off for “delaying the restart”. VAR was unable to intervene because it was a yellow card and not a straight red.
Brighton took advantage of Rice’s dismissal to equalise through Joao Pedro, ending Arsenal’s 100 percent start to their bid to win the title for the first time since 2004.
The Gunners had won their opening two games of the season against Wolves and Aston Villa, but this was the first blow to their hopes of dethroning champions Manchester City.
Arsenal will be without the suspended Rice when they return to action after the international break with a north London derby trip to Tottenham on September 15.
“If it happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine but it didn’t. It is the inconsistency,” Arteta said of Rice’s red card.
“We started the game really well. We scored the goal, 1-0. We started the second half really good but then there is the decision that changes the game completely.”
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler inevitably saw it differently to Arteta, saying: “First of all he shoots the ball away so it is a clear yellow card, it changes the momentum of the game.”
Hurzeler has made an impressive start with Brighton, who are unbeaten in three games after building on last weekend’s win over Manchester United.
Arsenal new-boy Raheem Sterling watched from the stands following his deadline day loan move from Chelsea.
Sterling, who was frozen out by new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, wasn’t registered in time to feature but his name was cheered by Arsenal fans when he was welcomed to the club in a stadium announcement.
Rice sees red
Bukayo Saka tormented Brighton defender Jack Hinshelwood with his pace and movement in the early stages, easing into space for a pair of shots that Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen repelled.
Arteta’s belief that the inconsistent Havertz can be an adequate striker for a team with title ambitions looked well placed in the 38th minute as the German broke the deadlock.
Havertz came in for criticism after scoring just 13 times last season following his move from Chelsea.
But he showed composure and quality to deftly chip over the on-rushing Verbruggen from the edge of the area after Saka punished Lewis Dunk’s hesitancy with a clever flicked pass.
Rice escaped with only a yellow card after the Arsenal midfielder crunched into Veltman, a decision that saw Hurzeler booked for protesting.
But Rice wasn’t so fortunate in the 49th minute when he was dismissed after kicking the ball away and failing to retreat before a Brighton free-kick.
Rice had just conceded a foul with a challenge on Veltman, whose kick out at the midfielder in the aftermath looked the more significant offence.
Pedro rubbed salt into Arsenal’s wounds with his 58th minute equaliser.
Dunk’s superb pass split the Gunners defence and Yankuba Minteh sprinted clear for a shot that was pushed out by David Raya to Pedro, who fired home from close-range.
It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded this season, but they should have regained the lead when Havertz broke free for a low shot that was too close to Verbruggen, who saved Saka’s sliding effort seconds later.
In a frantic finale, Raya saved Yasin Ayari’s close-range effort and Carlos Baleba smashed over the bar as 10-man Arsenal held on.