Sports Archives | Page 33 of 35

Mikel admits role in Osimhen’s transfer

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

John Obi Mikel has revealed he played a key role in trying to get Victor Osimhen to Chelsea. The Napoli and Nigeria striker was heavily linked to the goal-shy Premier League side for much of the summer transfer window, but ended up joining Galatasaray on loan. Given Osimhen’s role in ending Napoli’s 33-year wait for a league title as Serie A’s top scorer in the 2022/23 campaign, it seemed rather remarkable that he landed in the Turkish Super Lig which is ranked as the tenth best in Europe. But as former Blue Mikel revealed, it wasn’t for the want of trying from either Chelsea or Osimhen. “I mean, a lot happened, and I think it’s an open secret that I was involved in the deal,” he said on his Obi One Podcast. “I was involved in trying to make sure that I get Victor to the club. A lot happened, it was very interesting, because I think I hear a lot of people saying this and saying that about Victor and and how greedy he is and stuff like that. “I just want to categorically say it here that I know the kid since from the very first day he joined the national team, my relationship with him has been very, very good. And since then we’ve kept in contact and been friends. “I know what he’s capable of, and I just want to say that is absolutely not true. Victor is not a greedy boy. He only wants to get what he deserves. And that’s not a problem. “He wasn’t asking for all that bulls*** [£500,000 per-week]. I know what happened. I was there, in the midst of everything. So I can tell everybody that that is definitely not true. “He’s not a greedy boy, he just wants to play football and get what he deserves, a player knowing what he’s worth and asking to be paid what he’s worth is not a problem.” Osimhen was heavily-linked to both Chelsea and Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli during the final days of the transfer window, and talkSPORT understands that he rejected the latter approach. Meanwhile, personal terms are understood to have held things up for the Blues, something Mikel alluded to while suggesting that the deal may not be over. “We were very very close to getting this deal done but there were slight issues and problems that we couldn’t get over the line,” Mikel said. “Of course the medical couldn’t be done even if the deal got done. “I know exactly where we stopped and exactly where we are with the deal, if eventually in January we have to pick it up again I know exactly where we are and where we have to start from. “I was the guy right in the middle of everything and there were a couple of days where I didn’t sleep.”

Eguavoen: Super Eagles can’t be intimidated by any team

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

Augustine Eguavoen started his fourth stint with the Super Eagles on a fabulous note, with the three-time African kings decimating Benin Republic’s Cheetahs 3-0 in Uyo on Saturday. The 58-year-old intends to continue along the win-and-smile path when Nigeria confront Rwanda at the Amahoro National Stadium, Kigali on Tuesday afternoon. “We play to win all the time, because Nigerians expect their team to win all the time. And because we have a team with great personnel, we play every team with respect but we don’t get intimidated by any. “Our objective for Tuesday’s game is the three points.” Team captain William Ekong, speaking at the pre-match post conference at the Amahoro Stadium on Monday, just before the Eagles’ official training, echoed the tactician: “We are here for a purpose. With Coach Eguavoen, who has coached the team before, we all feel like a family. We will play for each other and go for the three points that will establish us at the top of the table.” Table-toppers Nigeria, still basking in the great-feel of their 3-0 defeat of the Cheetahs, take on the Amavubi (Wasps) at the refurbished 45,000-capacity facility in the heart of Kigali in a Matchday 2 encounter of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, from 2pm Nigeria time. Tuesday’s encounter is the first of four battles between the Eagles and the Amavubi in the next 12 months, with the two teams to clash in November in Nigeria in the final round of this qualifying race, and then do a home-and-away in the 2025 FIFA World Cup race with the Wasps also hosting Nigeria first in March next year. Coach Torsten Spittler, a German, has roused the country of 13 million people to believe that the Amavubi can torpedo Nigeria, Libya and Benin Republic, and earn their first ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations since 2004. He flaunts an impressive record though, having led the team to win three of their last eight matches, drawing four and losing one. Spittler intends to set defenders Claude Niyomugabo, Fitina Omborenga, Ange Mutsinzi, Jean Claude Niyomugabo and Christian Ishimwe against Nigeria’s twin-terrors Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, who both concocted the three goals that deflated the Cheetahs in Uyo. In the midfield, Olivier Niyonzima, Bonheur Mugisha and Jean Bosco Rubineka can prove a handful on their day, and at the fore, Spittler has implicit confidence in Gilbert Mugisha, Bienvenu Mugenzi and Innocent Nshuti, who got the team’s equalizer against Libya in Tripoli last week. Eguavoen confirmed on Monday that all 23 players in the Nigeria team abode at the Radisson Blu are fit and ready, meaning that goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali should be expected to start, alongside captain Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey at the heart of defence, while Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi will be wingbacks. Wilfred Ndidi will possibly anchor the midfield that will have Alex Iwobi or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze could still start at the fore.

Colombia 2024: Falconets spank Venezuela, hit Round of 16

Prince Odutola4 months ago4 months ago02 mins

Goals by Amina Bello, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Flourish Sabastine and substitute Joy Igbokwe against Venezuela in Cali on Saturday took two-time silver medallists Nigeria to the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Bello guided home a cut-back by the irrepressible Okwuchukwu for the first goal against the South Americans in the 16th minute, before Okwuchukwu turned goalscorer in the 28th minute when she met a corner kick with a bullet header to make it 2-0 for Nigeria. Okwuchukwu, who scored Nigeria’s only goal in their 1-3 loss to Germany on Wednesday night, was at it again in added time of the first half, when she assisted Flourish Sabastine with a pull-out that the latter converted to put daylight between both countries. Substitute Joy Igbokwe made it four, four minutes into added time, with the result effectively steering the Falconets to the Round of 16 of the competition. Victory earned the Falconets six points and a plus three goals difference in their group D campaign, with their Round of 16 game to come up in Bogota on Thursday.

Morocco 2025 qualifier: Ademola Lookman wins Man of the Match award

Prince Odutola4 months ago4 months ago01 mins

Ballon d’Or Player of the Year nominee Ademola Lookman has emerged the Man of the Match winner in Super Eagles three nill victory over The Cheetahs of Benin Republic. The Atalanta of Italy playmaker struck shortly before half time, to the Abuja fans into frenzy. Lookman also compounded the woes of the Beninoise with a header in the 83rd minute. The pacy player’s efforts put Nigeria to top Group D with three points ahead of Libya, Rwanda who are on one point respectively, while Benin Republic are fourth place with no point.

Morocco 2025 qualifier: Osimhen, Lookman sink Benin Rep’s Cheetahs

Prince Odutola4 months ago4 months ago02 mins

A brace from Ballon d’Or Player of the Year nominate Ademola Lookman and strike by the African footballer of the Year were all the Super Eagles needed to claim tops in Group D of the AFCON 2025 qualifier. The Atalanta of Italy playmaker struck shortly before half time, to the Abuja fans into frenzy. Osimhen replaced Victor Boniface after half time to increase the tally at 78th minute of the tie. Lookman compounded the woes of the Beninoise with a header in the 83rd minute. AC Milan midfielder Samuel Chukwueze made his mark with a swinging free kick but the Beninoise goalkeeper averted danger. Galatasaray of Turkey forward Osimhen started from the bench while the interim gaffer of the senior national team, Austin Eguavoen, opted for Leverkusen of Germany forward, Boniface to the team’s assault. Stanley Nwabali was in goal as team captain, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Ola Aina provided him cover in the defence. Bruno Onyemaechi, Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi were saddled with midfield role. Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Boniface combined in the attack. Nigeria will travel to face Rwanda, while Benin hosts Libya on Tuesday in the next round matches of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. The former African champions lead the group with three points ahead of Libya, Rwanda on one point respectively while Benin Republic are rock bottom with no point.

Morocco 2025 qualifier: Eguavoen benches Osimhen, starts Boniface

Prince Odutola4 months ago4 months ago01 mins

African footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen will start from the bench in this afternoon’s AFCON 2025 qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo. However, the interim gaffer of the senior national team, Austin Eguavoen, opted for Leverkusen of Germany forward, Victor Boniface to the team’s assault. Stanley Nwabali retained his place in goal and will get cover from team captain, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Ola Aina. Bruno Onyemaechi, Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi were saddled with midfield role. Samuel Chukwueze will join Boniface in the attack. The tie will kick off at 5pm Nigeria time.

Ademola Lookman – From Charlton Athletic to Ballon D’Or nomination

Prince Odutola4 months ago4 months ago07 mins

Charlton Athletic have to be given credit for Ademola Lookman’s rise. The former player is now up for football’s most prestigious individual award. As the nominations for this year’s Ballon d’Or came in on Wednesday, a potentially surprising inclusion came in the form of Atalanta’s Lookman. The Nigerian forward experienced a mixed bag of loan and permanent spells prior to his arrival at La Dea. Enduring his first professional match in 2015, the 26-year-old started life at The Valley with Charlton. The academy product of the League One side featured 49 times and scored 12 goals over a one-and-a-half year period with the club. Experience in the Championship and League One earned Lookman a top move to Everton in January 2017. With the Toffees, the Nigeria international played a small part in his first season with club – only featuring eight times. However, in 2017/18’s Europa League campaign, Lookman scored twice as he featured in six group stage matches. Seven league appearances and three in the cup were the other, fairly minimal domestic contributions. The following season, the 26-year-old experienced his first loan spell. Bundesliga side RB Leipzig took Lookman in on a six-month deal, where he scored nearly every other game. Five goals in 11 appearances gave the Nigerian an opportunity to stay on at his parent club the next year, where he featured 24 times in the 2018/19 campaign. As the subject of a £22.5 million deal with the aforementioned Bundesliga side, Lookman returned to Leipzig on a permanent basis in the summer of 2019. The former England academy player earned an exciting move to another top-flight club who promised him more game time. At just 21, Lookman signed on a five-year deal. Disappointingly, the former Charlton player found himself featuring just 13 times – once in the Champions League – before being shipped out on loan to Fulham in 2020. However, 34 Premier League games and four goals later, Lookman established himself as a competent top-flight forward. When the Nigerian returned from this loan spell, an immediate move back to England saw Leicester City snap him up on a season-long deal. With the Foxes, Lookman appeared in five separate competitions: the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Europa League, and the Conference League. Eight goals in 42 games caught the attention of Atalanta, where the 26-year-old has stayed since being bought by the Italian side in 2022. In the two seasons that Lookman has featured with last year’s Europa League champions, the Nigerian attacker has scored 32 goals in 79 appearances. 2022/23 saw an immediate welcome to a permanent club, as he appeared in the majority of the Serie A campaign. Last season is the crucial highlight of Lookman’s career so far. This 2023/24 campaign has now earned the 26-year-old a nomination for the Ballon d’Or. 17 goals in 45 games is impressive enough, but being a key part in European glory is even greater. On the 22nd May 2024, Atalanta took on a record-breaking, unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side – in the Europa League final – who had already picked up their first ever Bundesliga title. A lot of neutral fans were expecting Xabi Alonso’s side to brush La Dea aside and secure the treble, but Lookman had other ideas. An early brace saw the Nigerian net two goals for Atalanta in the 12th and 26th minutes. This lead felt secure for the most part of the game, with both sides seemingly equal to each other. However, the final blow came from Lookman as he completed his hat-trick in the European final and single-handedly secured silverware for the Italian club. Not only did the 26-year-old help Atalanta win their first trophy in 61 years, he also became the only player to end Leverkusen’s near-perfect season. The most impressive part about this final endeavour, was the 10/10 match rating that Lookman earned in football’s highly-coveted, L’Equipe. Becoming only the 18th player to receive this praise, Lookman has cemented himself in European history and subsequently earned a deserved inclusion in the Ballon d’Or running. The 26-year-old’s former youth coach described Lookman as a ‘fantastic player’, who ‘works so hard’. His coach said he nearly cried when the third goal went in, due to the bond that they both had. “I cried when the third goal went in and I don’t cry. I’m so glad for Ade – he works so hard. He’s a quiet lad, he’s sometimes misunderstood because of his quietness but he’s a great kid.”

Man Utd made Olise attempt before Bayern swoop

Prince Odutola4 months ago4 months ago01 mins

Manchester United made an enquiry for Michael Olise this summer but could not sign him. The Red Devils did go after the former Crystal Palace winger, but only after Bayern Munich had moved ahead in the race. Per The Mail, Olise had already committed to Bayern and was not going to change his mind. United were even looking to use Sir Alex Ferguson to try and persuade the winger to join. However, Olise believes that he can get good game time at Bayern and can develop his game. Whether he comes back to the Premier League is unclear, but United will be monitoring his progress.