Sports
Ballon D’Or 2021: Six Surprise Players To Make Shortlist
Published
3 years agoon
By
EditorFootball fans are anxiously waiting for France Football, the organizers of the Ballon D’Or award, to unveil the shortlist for this year.
However, there has been a lot of discourse as to who and who will be included.
The conversations have generally pointed to the fact that Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi will most likely win it for the seventh.
But Messi is expected to be challenged by Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich and Chelsea’s duo of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho.
But what surprise names could we possibly see?
1. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City): The Belgian playmaker is the kingpin of Pep Guardiola’s team that won the Premier League title in May. He has netted 12 goals, 11 assists this year and also lifted the Carabao Cup.
2. Mohammed Salah (Liverpool): The prince of Egypt and the king of Liverpool, but Salah is hardly mentioned as a candidate for the Ballon D’Or. Let’s hope his 26 goals and five assists changes that this year.
3. Harry Kane (Tottenham): In 2021, Kane has scored an astonishing 32 times and provided five assists. Although he is out of sorts this season following England’s defeat in Euro 2020 final and his failed move to Manchester City, he is a top marksman any day.
4. Neymar (PSG): Neymar finished 16th the last time. But he could make an argument for himself with 14 goals, 14 assists. The Brazilian superstar also won the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions.
5. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund): In the year in review, Haaland scored 41 goals and provided 13 assists for the Bundesliga club. The Norwegian prodigy also won the DFB-Pokal.
6. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain): The Italian stopper is widely regarded as one of the best in the world at the moment. In 2021, he has kept 20 clean sheets and made several fine saves as Italy won Euro 2020.
(DAILY POST)
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Sports
Super Eagles Stars, Calvin Bassey And Alex Iwobi Caught On Camera Shopping Together In London
Published
2 days agoon
May 1, 2024By
EditorSuper Eagles stars, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were spotted shopping together at a store in London.
The Nigerian internationals play for Fulham FC in the Premier League.
Sports
10 Facts About New Super Eagles Coach, Finidi George
Published
4 days agoon
April 29, 2024By
EditorThe Nigeria Football Federation on Monday announced the appointment of former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.
The announcement came in a statement, with the NFF Board approving the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward.
The new Super Eagles boss’s immediate task will be to guide the team to victory in two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan, respectively, within the next five weeks.
However, takes a look at 10 things about Finidi George as compiled by The PUNCH.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Finidi George Appointed New Super Eagles Head Coach
1. Finidi George was born on April 15, 1971, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2. He played as a right winger and was known for his pace, accurate crosses, efficient dribbling, and free-kick abilities. He played for three clubs in Nigeria including Calabar Rovers and Sharks of Port Harcourt.
3. George had a successful club career with Ajax, winning 8 major titles including the 1995 Champions League.
4. He also played for Real Betis in Spain, nearly joining Real Madrid before that move fell through.
5. George spent one season with Mallorca and then joined Ipswich Town in the Premier League for £3.1 million in 2002.
READ ALSO: Finidi, Odigie, Two Others For NPFL Manager Of The Month Award
6. He made his international debut for Nigeria in 1991 and earned 62 caps, appearing at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.
7. George won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria and helped them reach the round of 16 at the 1994 World Cup.
8. At the 1994 World Cup, he scored against Greece and celebrated with a famous ‘urinating dog’ celebration.
9. He has 11 brothers, two of whom (Igeniwari and Celestine) were also professional footballers.
10. In September 2021, George was appointed head coach of Nigerian club Enyimba F.C. and won the Nigeria Premier League with them in June 2023.
Sports
JUST IN: Finidi George Appointed New Super Eagles Head Coach
Published
4 days agoon
April 29, 2024By
EditorThe Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.
The announcement came in a statement on Monday, with the NFF Board approving the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward.
Finidi George, who spent 20 months as an assistant to the outgoing José Santos Peseiro, had been serving as the interim coach after the Portuguese tactician’s departure following the Super Eagles’ impressive run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
READ ALSO: Delta Police Kill Suspected Kidnapper, Rescue Victims, Arrest Armed Robber Cultist
During his interim tenure, George oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco last month, where the team ended an 18-year winless streak against Ghana with a 2-1 victory before suffering a 0-2 loss to Mali.
“George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals,” the NFF statement read.
Reflecting on his illustrious playing career, the statement highlighted George’s achievements, which include “gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.”
One of George’s most memorable moments came when he “assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994,” the statement noted.
The new Super Eagles boss’s immediate task will be to guide the team to victory in two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan, respectively, within the next five weeks.
The NFF statement emphasised that “the matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.”
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