SPORTS
The Euro 2024 tournament has lit up the sporting world with giant slaying clash, mouthwatering goals and record-breaking performances all in the first round of games that have recorded 34 goals so far with FIFA top-ranked Belgium suffering an early defeat to low-ranked Slovakia.
Real Madrid youngster, Arda Guler broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s record to become the youngest player to score on their Euros debut against Georgia. The ‘Turkish Messi’ did it in style by netting a worldie that has been nominated for goal of the round.
Amidst the series of entertaining games at the EURO 2024, Nigeria has found a way to squeeze itself into the tournament and for some Nigerians, it is a distraction from the recent poor performance of the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifiers.
Among the standout players are some players with Nigerian roots, who, while representing their respective European nations, carry the heritage and legacy of Nigeria.
Footballers of Nigerian descent who have openly embraced their Nigerian roots have pivotal roles to play for teams like Germany, Netherlands, England, and Italy.
The tournament is not just a celebration of Europe’s finest football talent but also a testament to the global diaspora that has shaped modern football, and that includes Nigeria.
See the Nigerian-born players at EURO 2024 below:
Jamal Musiala- Germany
Jamal Musiala has emerged as one of the standout players in Germany’s squad. The Bayern Munich prodigy, renowned for his agility, vision, and technical prowess, might have played in the Africa Cup of Nations had he chosen to represent his father’s country, Nigeria. Musiala’s father hails from Nigeria’s Yoruba tribe, while his mother is German with Polish roots. His diverse background is mirrored in his versatile playing style.
Musiala’s football journey began at Chelsea’s academy, where he honed his skills before joining Bayern Munich. Despite playing for both England and Germany at the youth levels, he committed to Germany in 2021, a decision that has proven fruitful for Die Mannschaft. His Nigerian heritage adds a rich cultural layer to his already impressive profile.
Bukayo Saka- England
Bukayo Saka’s impact on the England national team has been profound. With Nigerian roots, Saka brings a unique blend of speed, creativity, and tactical intelligence to the squad. At just 22, the Arsenal winger has rapidly become one of football’s most exciting young talents. His journey from the youth ranks at Arsenal to becoming a key player for both club and country is a testament to his dedication and skill.
Saka’s versatility allows him to excel in multiple positions, whether as a winger, wing-back, or even a central midfielder. This adaptability, combined with his Nigerian heritage, provides a rich narrative of talent and cultural pride, making him a fan favourite and a vital asset to Gareth Southgate’s team.
David Alaba- Austria
David Alaba, another player of Nigerian descent, anchors Austria’s defence with his experience and leadership. Born to a Nigerian father and a Filipino mother, Alaba’s multicultural background is reflected in his versatile playing style. Whether playing as a centre-back, left-back, or even in midfield, Alaba’s presence is a cornerstone of Austria’s strategy at Euro 2024. Although he would not be playing at the Euro 2024 due to injury, however, he would be on the bench as a “non-playing captain”.
Manuel Akanji- Switzerland
Manuel Akanji, a key player for Switzerland, boasts Nigerian roots through his father. Known for his strength, composure, and tactical awareness, Akanji has been instrumental in Switzerland’s solid defensive performances. His journey from the youth ranks in Switzerland to becoming a mainstay in the national team highlights the influence of Nigerian heritage in shaping top-tier European talent.
He made a winning start to Euro 2024 as Switzerland beat Hungary in their Group A opener in Cologne. The City defender played a full 90 minutes as the Swiss took a significant step towards qualification for the knockout stages with a 3-1 victory
Eberechi Eze- England
Eberechi Eze, the talented midfielder from Crystal Palace, has cemented his place in England’s Euro 2024 squad, impressing manager Gareth Southgate with his exceptional skills. Born to Nigerian parents in England, Eze’s journey to the top is a testament to his perseverance and dedication, reflecting the resilience and passion of his Nigerian heritage.
Despite being released by four English clubs, Eze never gave up on his dream, and his determination paid off with his success at Crystal Palace. His impressive performances, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists, caught Southgate’s attention, leading to his selection for the national team. Eze’s inclusion came at the expense of Marcus Rashford, a notable omission from the squad.
With a point to prove, Eze is determined to secure his spot in the team and make a lasting impact at the Euros, proudly representing both England and his Nigerian roots. His unique street-style football, influenced by his Nigerian heritage, has captured the attention of fans and pundits alike, earning him a reputation as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League.
Noah Okafor- Switzerland
Noah Okafor, the talented attacker of Nigerian descent, is making waves in Europe with his impressive performances for AC Milan. Born to Nigerian parents in Switzerland, Okafor’s speed and skill on the wings have earned him a spot in the Swiss National team, alongside fellow Nigerian-Swiss player, Manuel Akanji.
With six goals and three assists for the Rossoneri in all competitions, Okafor’s contributions have been invaluable. His Nigerian heritage has undoubtedly influenced his playing style, bringing a unique flair to the pitch. Despite representing Switzerland internationally, Okafor’s roots remain strong, making him a source of pride for Nigerian fans worldwide.
With 22 appearances for the Swiss National team, Okafor is ready to take the international stage by storm, proudly representing both Switzerland and his Nigerian heritage. His success serves as an inspiration to young players of Nigerian descent, showcasing the potential for greatness that lies within. As Okafor continues to soar, his Nigerian roots will remain an integral part of his journey to the top.
Michael Folorunsho- Italy
Michael Folorunsho, the talented defender of Nigerian descent, has made a significant impact in the world of football. Born to Nigerian parents in Italy, Folorunsho’s impressive skills have earned him a spot in the Italian National team, making his debut in June.
Following a stellar loan season with Hellas Verona from Napoli, Folorunsho’s performances caught the attention of coach Luciano Spalletti, securing his place in the squad as they aim to defend their title in Germany. Folorunsho’s Nigerian heritage has undoubtedly influenced his playing style, bringing a unique perspective and flair to the pitch.
Joshua Zirkzee – Netherlands
Joshua Zirkzee, another talented footballer of Nigerian descent, is part of the Netherlands national team at Euro 2024. Born to a Nigerian mother and a Dutch father, his full name is Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee. Zirkzee graduated through Bayern Munich’s system and had spells with Parma and Anderlecht before joining Bologna in the summer of 2022.
The forward, who is strongly linked to Manchester United, received limited game time in his first campaign in Serie A, scoring only two league goals from 808 minutes. However, in the just-concluded season, he scored 11 league goals.
The presence of players of Nigerian descent at Euro 2024 highlights the global nature of modern football and the profound impact of African heritage on the sport. Jamal Musiala, Bukayo Saka, David Alaba, Manuel Akanji, and others exemplify the blend of talent, culture, and heritage that defines contemporary football. As the tournament progresses, their contributions will continue to showcase the enduring legacy of Nigerian influence on the world’s most beloved sport.
The NFF executive committee has finally accepted the resignation of Finidi George as Super Eagles coach.
The NFF reportedly refused to initially accept the resignation because the letter by Finidi was unsigned.
But the quit notice has since been signed and made available to all members of the executive.
committee to decide so that the coach could have his wish. An official statement to that effect was expected after the Sallah holidays yesterday, according to ScoreNigeria.com.
Finidi quit his post following the decision of the NFF to appoint a foreign technical adviser to boss him.
In his letter addressed to NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau, he said that in the light of the changes to the Super Eagles technical crew he headed and which had several persons handpicked by him, he has opted to step down from his post as head coach of the Super Eagles.
The NFF have announced they will hire a new coach before the 2025 AFCON qualifiers get underway in the first week of September.
Youngster Francisco Conceicao snatched Portugal a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 Group F opener on Tuesday just minutes after coming off the bench.
The 21-year-old Porto winger capitalised from close range after the Czechs were unable to clear a cross, completing his team’s comeback.
The Czechs went ahead against the run of play through Lukas Provod’s fine strike from the edge of the box after the hour mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal did not shine but dug just deep enough to claim victory, with Robin Hranac’s own goal pulling them level before Conceicao’s dramatic winner.
Ronaldo, 39, playing at a record-extending sixth European Championship, was denied by Stanek on three occasions as Portugal constantly looked to find the competition’s all-time top goalscorer.
The striker hit the post with the score tied and Diogo Jota nodded in the rebound but the goal was disallowed for offside against Ronaldo.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez selected 41-year-old defender Pepe, who became the oldest player in Euros history, beating the record set by Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly aged 40 in 2016, as part of a three centre-back defence.
Portugal won that tournament in 2016 to claim the trophy for the first time and captain Ronaldo said they deserve another, although they got off to a stuttering start in Germany.
In coach Ivan Hasek’s first competitive game after taking over in January, the Czech Republic largely frustrated Martinez’s side, who qualified unbeaten while scoring more goals than any other team.
Ronaldo sent an effort wide with his shoulder after Rafael Leao cut inside with menace early on, as the Portuguese controlled the ball.
Bruno Fernandes’ deflected dipping effort had some Portugal fans out of their seats and Leao was inches away from connecting with a low cross from the Manchester United playmaker.
Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek twice denied Ronaldo on a record 26th Euros appearance, but on both occasions the striker appeared marginally offside.
The Al Nassr hitman’s brightest moment came with a clever backheel which played in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha, but the Czech defence swarmed around him quickly and blocked his shot.
Debate over whether Ronaldo should still be a starter or not has rumbled on since the 2022 World Cup and at times Portugal looked short on ideas beyond slinging crosses in towards him.
Stanek comfortably saved a Ronaldo free-kick from distance before the Czechs made their breakthrough.
Slavia Prague midfielder Provod whipped a superb strike past Diogo Costa from the edge of the box after Portugal failed to fully clear a cross just past the hour mark.
However Portugal were quickly level when Hranac unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, after Stanek palmed Nuno Mendes’ header straight at him from point-blank range.
Ronaldo and Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick finished as joint top scorers at Euro 2020 with five goals each but neither was at their lethal best in Leipzig.
Jota thought he had grabbed a last-gasp winner after Ronaldo’s header bounced off the woodwork into his path, but VAR showed the veteran forward was offside.
It didn’t matter for Martinez’s men though after Conceicao came on to fire them to the three points, putting Portugal level with Turkey at the top of Group F.
Victor Osimhen is likely to be sanctioned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the coming days.
The striker will be charged for improper conduct over his verbal attack on the former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria, Finidi George, according to Vanguard.
Finidi who was the coach of the team until Friday when he tendered his resignation letter following the announcement by the NFF that they will be appointing an expatriate coach, was called out by the Napoli forward who was angry over reports that the coach questioned his commitment to the team.
Osimhen went all out on the coach on the reason why he missed the team’s world cup qualifiers games against south Africa and Benin Republic, which they drew 1-1 and lost 1-2 respectively to drop to 5th in their group, four points behind leader Rwanda.
“Already the president of the NFF Ibrahim Muse Guseu has spoken with Osimhon over his outburst and Finidi also reached out to him. The report he reacted to is fake and misleading, sadly he didn’t confirm bofore reacting”, a board member of the NFF told Owngoal Nigeria.com.
“Osim ben is a role model and the only way we can help the incoming coach stamp his authority is by using him to set example. He crossed the line with his outburst even when Finidi called him to explain he still didn’t deem it fit to retract his statements. We won’t condone that and after the Salah break, we will sit on the issue. I can tell you he won’t be in the team until he says sorry for his actions”, he concluded.
World record holder in the Women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, claimed her fourth Nigerian title at the ongoing Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s National Trials at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin-City, Edo State, on Monday.
She powered through to the finish line at a time of 12.78s ahead of Adaobi Tabugbo, who finished second in 13.33s.
The event, which ends this Tuesday, will be used by the AFN to pick athletes for the Paris Olympics, the Africa Championships to be held later this month in Cameroon, and the World U-20 Championship in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31.
Although Amusan had qualified for the Olympics, she executed her race smoothly in Benin-City to defend her title.
The 27-year-old has recorded some triumphs this season, including a world lead at the Jamaican Invitational in May and before then set the African 60m hurdles (indoor) record twice in January and February.
In what will be her third appearance at the Olympics, Amusan is looking to reach the podium in Paris, where the Games hold from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
The three-time (consecutive) Diamond League winner, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, two-time African champion and three-time African Games gold medalist, has participated in two Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020).
She didn’t make it beyond the heats on her debut appearance in 2016 and finished fourth at the last edition in Tokyo, marginally missing out on the podium.
However, the Nigerian champion has said she is not under pressure to win gold at the Paris Games.
“No pressure, just having fun. One day at a time, one race at a time, no pressure on. When it’s time for Paris, we’ll definitely show up in Paris,” Amusan said in May during the Atlanta City Games.
[Leadership]
Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen would rather join one of his Premier League suitors that moved to PSG League, as the 25-year-old is set to leave Napoli this summer.
Arsenal and Chelsea have emerged as frontrunners for his signature, and the former Lille striker is eagerly awaiting calls from the duo, according to reports in Itlay.
PSG initially earmarked him as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who is on his way to Real Madrid, but according to Monday’s Corriere dello Sport, Osimhen is not interested in joining the French giants, being unconvinced about playing in Ligue 1. Instead, he considers the Premier League his dream destination, making Arsenal and Chelsea the favourites to land him ahead of the 2024–25 season.
Osimhen, who won the Serie A Golden Boot award in the 2022–23 season, signed a new contract with Napoli in December, which has a release clause reportedly set at €120–€130 million (£101 million).
Sevilla FC have completed the signing of Nigerian forward Chidera Ejuke.
The 26-year-old joins the Spanish club as a free agent, having successfully completed his medical examination and agreed to a three-year contract.
The announcement was made on the same day the Spanish side revealed Sergio Ramos would depart the club after a year following a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023.
Ejuke is Sevilla’s first acquisition of the summer under head coach García Pimienta.
The club, which struggled in La Liga last season, is aiming to bolster its squad with quality players to improve its performance in the upcoming season.
Primarily a left winger, Ejuke is versatile and can play on both flanks.
He will face competition for a spot in the starting lineup and is expected to make an immediate impact.
Before joining Sevilla, Ejuke made 65 appearances and recorded 18 goal involvements for his previous Russian club, CSKA Moscow.
He spent the last two seasons on loan at Hertha Berlin and Royal Antwerp.
Chidera Ejuke was part of the Nigerian national team squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where he featured in two matches.
Ejuke’s last appearance for the Super Eagles was in 2022 during an international friendly against Algeria.
Israel Adesanya has confirmed his highly anticipated UFC comeback, with the former champion scheduled to face his arch-rival in Perth.
The 34-year-old announced a hiatus from mixed martial arts following his surprising defeat by Sean Strickland in Sydney last September.
His return to the Octagon has been widely anticipated, with Adesanya strongly considered for the headline slot at UFC 300, but his fierce rival Dricus du Plessis was unable to confirm his availability for the date.
The two fighters had exchanged taunts before, with the South African asserting that he would embody a true African champion, living, training, and breathing in Africa, unlike Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria before relocating to New Zealand.
Posting a mocked-up image of himself donning the UFC’s brand new golden glove, Adesnaya, in a post on X, on Monday, appears to announce he will return to the ring later on August 17.
He wrote: “The SUN of Africa is the same sun that lights up our planet.
“The SUN will set and will rise again until you walk into it. The SUN, enjoy while it shines. Darkness falls when it’s gone.”
Media
☀️??
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) June 17, 2024
The SUN of Africa is the same sun that lights up our planet.
The SUN will set and will rise again until you walk into it. ?
The SUN, enjoy while it shines. Darkness falls when it’s gone. pic.twitter.com/u5Swlzr6TW
Romelu Lukaku endured a frustrating night as Slovakia stunned favourites, Belgium 1-0 on Monday night in the second game of Group E.
Romania opened the group with a 3-0 win over Ukraine to go top of the table.
The first upset of the competition was recorded at the Deutsche Bank Park when the less-fancied Slovakia earned a shock win over Belgium.
It was an unforgettable evening for Chelsea striker, Romelu Lukaku who missed three big chances in the first half before his goal was ruled out for Luis Openda’s handball in the second half.
Ivan Schranz took advantage of a terrible Jeremy Doku’s pass to stab home the opener in the seventh minute.
Belgium dominated the game with over 70 per cent possession and seven shots in the first half but they failed to find the back of the net coupled with Lukaku’s wasteful showing.
Just after the restart, Lukaku thought he had scored the equaliser but his effort was ruled out for offside.
48th placed ranked Slovakia held on for a record-breaking win over the third best team in the world according to the latest FIFA rankings.
It was the first defeat for Belgium against a team outside the top 45 of the Fifa world rankings for the first time since 2010.
The Red Devils will hope to bounce back in their second game when they take on Romania on Saturday, while Slovakia will be seeking a place in the next round with a win over Ukraine.
Tobi Amusan has claimed her fourth consecutive national title in the women’s 100 metres hurdles event.
The 27-year-old dipped at 12.78 seconds and was way ahead of her competitors in a one-sided final of the event on Monday at the national Olympic trials in Benin, Edo state.
The victory was Amusan’s fourth national title in a row, having swept to victory at the Olympic trials in Lagos in 2021 before winning twice in Benin in the last two years.
In the women’s 100 meters, Favour Ofili clinched the national title and booked an automatic qualification for the Paris Olympics.
The 21-year-old clocked a season-best of 11.06 seconds to finish ahead of Olayinka Olajide, who came second in 11.37 seconds, and Justina Eyakpobeyan in third.
Kanyinsola Ajayi won the men’s 100-meter crown with a blistering 10.14 seconds.
He defeated Alaba Akintola, who clocked 10.16 seconds, and Usheoritse Itsekiri, who finished second and third.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won his fourth consecutive men’s shot put national title. He only needed three attempts to his 21.37 meters mark which was insurmountable by his opponents.
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Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, has overtaken Tyson Fury in the latest WBC heavyweight rankings.
Anthony Joshua has now moved to number one in the WBC heavyweight rankings, while Tyson Fury has dropped from the first spot to the second spot.
The current undisputed heavyweight title holder, Oleksandr Usyk, is ranked the winner of the rankings.
Fury dropped one spot after losing his WBC heavyweight title to Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in May 2024.
While Fury suffered a massive defeat to the Ukrainian boxer, Anthony Joshua recorded successive victories against Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin.
These two victories have qualified Joshua to contest for the vacant IBF title against Daniel Dubois in September.
Agit Kabayel who recently beat Frank Sanchez during one of the under-cards on the Fury vs Usyk bill in May, takes the third spot in the WBC rankings.
Zhilei Zhang who stunned Deontay Wilder with a knockout win earlier this year is the fourth-highest-ranked boxer in the world according to the WBC.
Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Efe Ajagba completes the top five list thanks to the WBC ‘silver’ trinket belt he is currently holding.
Jared Anderson is ranked 6th, Martin Bakole is ranked 7th, Sanchez 8th, Joe Joyce 9th, and Bakhodir Jalolov is ranked 10th in the WBC rankings.
Former Super Eagles head coach, Finidi George has opened up on why he resigned from the position.
Finidi submitted his resignation letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on Saturday.
The 53-year-old took the decision after the NFF announced it would hire a foreign technical adviser to tinker the team.
In a video posted on social media hours later, a former media officer of the Eagles, Colin Udoh, confirmed he had spoken to Finidi after his decision.
“Finidi confirmed to me that he resigned his position indeed,” Udoh said.
“The reason being that he met with the NFF on Thursday, and they had a very good conversation.
“They spoke about the things they need to do going forward and he (Finidi) asked if he will be back.
“At no point during that meeting did anyone tell him they were going to appoint a foreign technical adviser.
“The NFF board had met on Wednesday and made that decision. But it was when Findi landed in Port Harcourt after that meeting that someone called him and informed him. He (Finidi) had to park his car and read the link to see that it actually was true.
“So he waited for two days to see if anyone would contact him but nobody spoke to him. So he (Finidi) felt they didn’t want him anymore and so he decided to turn in his resignation.”
Former Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, on Sunday, reacted to the viral video of Victor Osimhen on social media, where he denied accusations of faking an injury to avoid participation in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Naija News had earlier reported that Osimhen, on Saturday, in an Instagram Live, disclosed that the claims about him staging an injury to skip national team duties were false.
In the video, Osimhen addressed some rumours linked to Finidi George, claiming that the former Enyimba gaffer said that he won’t beg him [Osimhen] to play for the Super Eagles.
Osimhen attacked the former Super Eagles coach, stating that he has lost respect for him.
The controversy prompted Nigerian sports journalist, Colin Udoh to seek clarification from both the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Finidi George.
Udoh reached out to senior NFF officials, who confirmed that Finidi never accused Osimhen of feigning an injury.
Udoh also revealed that he reached out to Finidi, who refuted ever making such a statement and expected Osimhen to have handled the situation differently.
Udoh said on Instagram, “So I called a couple of people who were at that meeting between Finidi, the NFF, and the minister to find out if what is alleged to have been said was actually said, and so these people are usually very, very senior and reliable people and I was told categorically that Finidi did not say the things he’s alleged to have said.
“He did not say he wasn’t going to beg Osimhen. He did not say that Osimhem was not committed. in fact, he did confirm when he was asked about Osimhen’s absence that he called him from Germany, and that’s why he was excused.
“It was when the issue of player’s commitment was raised; that’s why he said he would not beg anybody to play for the Super Eagles, but he did not mention any player by name, specifically.
“And so, I also called Finidi himself to ask him if that was the case and he also confirmed to me that he never said any of those things.
“In fact, he corroborated what the other gentleman had told me and that he would have no reason to call out any player, whether in public or in private, and that he would address issues with the players themselves if there were any issues.
“And then, as soon as the video was brought to his attention, he said he reached out to Osimhen and let him know that one, he never said those things, and two, even if he had, Osimhen should have reached out to him first to find out if he did say, what he was alleged to have said, rather than going, public with such disrespect.”
Rwanda head coach, Thorsten Frannk Splitter, says he will be relying on Gernot Rohr for essential information to claim the scalp of the Super Eagles in their 2026 World Cup CAF Qualifying Group C match day 5 fixture on March 17, 2025, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
After four rounds of matches, Rwanda are surprisingly topping the group with seven points, the same as South Africa in second place due to an inferior goal difference, and the East Africans can now fancy their chances at maiden World Cup qualification by adding Nigeria to their conquest list.
Rohr led Benin to a historic 2-1 win over Nigeria at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, on June 10, and Splitter feels the Franco-German, who coached Nigeria for almost six years before being appointed by Benin, is the right man to advise him on how to beat Nigeria.
“I am very sure we (me and Gernot Rohr) will have a phone call before; it may be two or three, and if he can tell me something, I will be stupid not to take it. For that, we will try to be in contact; if possible, we can help each other; for sure, we will do it,” the Belgian tactician told Brila FM on Saturday.
Rohr was carried shoulder-high by Cheetahs players after Jodel Dossou scored on 37 minutes to cancel out Raphael Onyedika’s 27th-minute opener for Nigeria, and Steve Mounié scored the decider three minutes into added time of the first half to give Benin their first victory against their illustrious neighbours in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria are stuck in fifth spot on the log with miserly three points in for matches, and the three-time African champions will look to revive qualification hopes when the series resumes early next year, which will see them host Zimbabwe on March 24 on the back of the Rwanda trip.
This will be under a new coach following the resignation of Finidi George on Saturday, June 15, shortly after the Nigeria Football Federation announced its decision to hire an expatriate technical adviser to boss him.