Football
Gernot Rohr: Why it’s difficult for NPFL players to break into Super Eagles
Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr has defended his decision for overlooking players in the Nigeria Professional Football League for national team selection. Since his appointment four years ago, Super Eagles, only Heartland goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa has enjoyed constant invitation into the team and many have accused him of killing other talents in the domestic league. Rohr has now defended himself and said he has invited 23 players from the local league since he took the Super Eagles in 2016, but it became difficult to continue working with the players because most of them are leaving for greener pasture. “Unfortunately, Nigeria professional football league is not playing like other leagues that are coming back, but they also have a chance to come in my team and you know I already invited 23...
NFF to interview coaches for vacant Super Falcons job
File Photo The President of Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick has disclosed that the Federation is working tirelessly to recruit qualified coaches for the country’s senior women national, the Super Falcons. The record African Women championship winners are still without a coach since former boss, Thomas Dennerby, walked out of the team a few weeks after leading the team to knock out phase of the 2019 women’s world cup in France. Christopher Danjuma was later appointed as caretaker boss after the departure of swede, but the failure of the team to qualify for the next summer’s Olympics in Tokyo automatically ruled him out of the job. Pinnick said the search for the right coach for the team has begun and the announcement will be made at the right time. “We are working to see how we ca...
Flying Eagles striker delighted with his AS Trencin debut
Nigeria Flying Eagles striker Ahmad Abubakar Ghali said he’s delighted to make his debut for Slovakian side As Trencin. Ghali, joined the club from Nigeria professional football league side MFM FC shortly after he helped Nigeria win medal at 2019 All African games in Rabat Morocco. It would be recalled that Ahmad Ghali scored the winner to help Nigeria defeated South Africa 2-1 in their second game of the Football Event at the 12th African Games in Morocco. He was involved in his club 4-0 win over SpartakTrnava on Sunday as they prepare to restart the league in Slovakia. “Its been a tough time really for the whole world fighting Covid-19, football was suspended but we’re back. Good news, I made my official debut for @astrencin in our victory last weekend.” he wrote on his social media acco...
Amaju Pinnick: Gernot Rohr deserves to continue as Super Eagles coach
The President of Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick says Gernot Rohr remains the best man for the Super Eagles and deserved to keep his job. Rohr signed a new two and half year deal with the Nigeria Football Federation last week to put an end to an end to all the speculations linking him away from the job. While speaking with journalists on social media chat on Monday, Pinnick said the Federation is happy with the Franco-German coach regardless of reports going round in the media. “We are of the view and conviction that Mr. Gernot Rohr deserves to continue the job he is doing with the Super Eagles. I believe he has earned it. He had a right of first refusal so it was not a problem. We included a few other things in his contract but at the end of the day, we were able to come to an a...
NFF supremo pledges solidarity to national league
NFF President Amaju Pinnick has announced there’ll be a solidarity payment to the Nigerian National League to aid the league. The Delta-born administrator made this statement while speaking to organized media during a zoom call, citing that the Glass House would help the league out of its predicament. The NNL has been in state of limbo for over five months with three delayed resumptions already experienced. The President, also noted that protocols are been put in place to oversee the gradual return of football in the country, assuring that all leagues would kick off simultaneously once it is safe to do so. Pinnick, also stated in the call that Gernot Rohr’s AFCON and World Cup targets aren’t set in stone alluding that if improvements were seen, decisions on how to move on will be made. Get...
Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen shortlisted for 2020 Marc-Vivien Foe prize
Nantes winger Moses Simon and Lille striker Victor Osimhen have been nominated for the 2020 Marc-Vivien Foe prize alongside nine other African stars. The 11 nominees for the annual award, organised by Radio France International and France 24, were announced on Friday with the winner set to be revealed on June 29. The other nominees are Reims centre-back Yunis Abdelhamid, Saint-Etienne forward Denis Bouanga, Montpellier forward Andy Delort, Metz star Habib Diallo, PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye, Monaco striker Islam Slimani and Rennes trio Mbaye Niang, Hamari Traore and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The shortlist is dominated by four Senegalese, with two Algerians, two Nigerians, one Gabonese, one Moroccan and also included one Malian. Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe won the 2019 edition before his switch...
Alex Iwobi to face title chasing Liverpool on neutral ground
Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi and his Everton teammates will face title chasing Liverpool on a neutral ground as part of arrangements aimed at ending the coronavirus arrested season. Stakeholders have been working hand in gloves with a view to successfully concluding the season. South Yorkshire Police recommended that games in which Liverpool are involved be played on a neutral ground. The police did not stop there but underlined matches they would like to be played at neutral venues which could include Liverpool matches where the title could be won. Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire Police, the UK’s football policing lead, said in a statement issued to the PA news agency: “Our discussions with the Premier League throughout this process have been positive, with a sha...
NFF urged to give Gernot Rohr free hands to do his job
Former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has pleaded with the Nigerian Football Federation to give Eagles coach Gernot Rohr a chance to operate freely. It will be recalled that Gernot Rohr recently signed a new two-year contract extension that will see the German finish as the longest-serving coach in Super Eagles history by the end of his tenure. In his reaction to the news of Rohr’s contract extension, the former Real Madrid player urged the NFF to give the Franco-German the free hand to work in order to achieve his targets. “Well, I think he’s supposed to have free hands because he’s willing to continue and the NFF is willing to renew his contract and it has been renewed so, he should just be allowed to do his work without any interference,” Mutiu said. Rohr, who has been in charge of...
Arsenal chiefs identify Victor Osimhen as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s replacement
Arsenal chiefs have identified Lille striker, Victor Osimhen, as a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Daily Express says Arsenal are tracking Osimhen as a potential replacement for Aubameyang. Aubameyang looks set to leave this summer after failing to negotiate new terms at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are keen to avoid a repeat of the scenario which saw Aaron Ramsey leave for free last summer, so will offload Aubameyang this summer to ensure they get a fee. Osimhen has scored 13 goals in 25 Ligue 1 starts this season. Meanwhile, Osimhen has turned down an offer from Napoli. The Nigeria striker is being put up for sale by LOSC president Gerard Lopez as he seeks to balance the club’s books for next season. Napoli are keen, but Eurosport’s Manu Lonjon reports Osimhen has already...
Arsenal sure of signing Nigeria forward from Club Brugge
Arsenal are favourites to sign Club Brugge forward, Emmanuel Dennis, but they are not alone. According to the Daily Mail, Napoli have prioritised signing the Nigerian this summer. Dennis caught the eye of European clubs during his performances against Real Madrid and Manchester United. The Gunners are hoping to seal a £22m deal for the 22-year-old. read also:Dennis explains why he performed Ronaldo’s celebration at Real Madrid But Napoli could force a bidding war between the two clubs, much to the job of Club Brugge. A host of clubs including Sheffield United and Monaco have scouted Dennis this season. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Ge...
Vincent Kompany turns down offer to be Pep Guardiola’s assistant
Vincent Kompany has turned down an offer from Manchester City to become Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach, according to various Belgian media reports on Friday. The former City captain is under contract as player-manager of Anderlecht until 2022, having left the Etihad Stadium last year following a trophy-laden 11-year spell in England. Kompany, who has never concealed his desire to one day be City manager, said he wanted to stay at Anderlecht. On Thursday, Belgium’s most successful club responded to recent financial difficulties as Wouter Vandenhaute took over from Marc Coucke as president. Anderlecht finished only eighth in the Belgian league season, which was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, their worst post-war position. City boss Guardiola has been looking for a new assistant sinc...
Premier League set to resume as Arsenal take on Manchester City
The Premier League action is set to resume on June 17 as Arsenal take on Manchester City in thir opening game. The teams that have played a game fewer than the rest will start the league when it resumes so that all the teams will be on the same page in terms of games played. The likes of Arsenal, Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Manchester City have all played one game fewer than the rest of the teams in the division owing to the latter two clubs’ participation in the Carabao Cup final. The main games will commence on June 20. Premier League teams have been training in small groups so far, limited to a maximum of five players, but it was agreed on Wednesday that the next phase can now be introduced with contact once again permitted. A statement from the Premier League confirmed: ‘Premier ...
