Sports

Knocks For Osimhen After Finidi George Outburst

Published

1 week ago

June 16, 2024

Editor

Following Victor Osimhen’s outburst on social media, reactions from fans have been pouring in, with many criticizing the Napoli striker for his comments against Finidi George.

Finidi, who is said to have also resigned as the head coach of the Super Eagles on Saturday (although the NFF is yet to confirm), was quoted to have said he can’t beg Osimhen to play for the national team after the player withdrew from their last two 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury.

The striker was said to have been ruled out by a four-week injury and was replaced by Enugu Rangers defender, Kenneth Igboke.

But following the Super Eagles wobbling performances against South Africa and Benin Republic, the narrative of Osimhen’s absence changed as the online medium reported that Finidi used Osimhen’s absence as a poser for the players’ bad attitude towards the national team when he and the Nigeria Football Federation chiefs met with the Sports Minister, John Enoh in Abuja on Wednesday.

Osimhen, who was apparently infuriated by the comments in a live Instagram video on Saturday, said he had lost respect for Finidi and opened up on the circumstances that led to his withdrawal from the Super Eagles last two World Cup qualifiers, adding that Finidi was adequately briefed by him and his doctor.

Jason, using the handle @zieecity, dismissed Osimhen’s actions, stating, “Let him get out, who’s he? As a professional footballer you don’t release a live video swearing and saying nonsense. No player is bigger than the team.”

Kinq Kudos expressed his disapproval of Osimhen’s approach, saying, “I don’t like Finidi’s style of coaching but Osimhen is not supposed to handle this issue like this. He could have done this on a podcast or interview if he truly wants to address it.”

Ore Eva defended Osimhen, stating, “For years that Osimhen has been on the team, he’s never spoken against any coach. Finidi must have really been terrible.”

Iyke, with the username @drackfel, accused Osimhen of disrespect, commenting, “Osimhen feels he’s richer and bigger than Finidi so he has no right to be in charge of him. It wouldn’t happen if the coach was a white man. He wouldn’t make such comments publicly if one of his managers at Napoli did the same thing. Shame.”

Uchenna, with the username @RichDakvng, called out Osimhen’s disrespect, saying, “Anyone that doesn’t see disrespect in this speech is a big hypocrite! When Sancho called out his manager, they said Sancho is disrespectful.”

Uche Mark emphasized that players like Finidi caused Osimhen’s failure, “This is why Finidi did not succeed. Disrespect, just look at how he’s talking to someone old enough to be his dad. They’re calling you Osimhen, your head is swelling. Have you played up to half of what Finidi played? You’re my Edo brother but I don’t support you on this.”

Related Topics:#Super Eagles Finidi George Victor Osimhen

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Sports

FULL LIST: Nigeria, Host Nation In Group A Of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Draw

Published

2 days ago

June 23, 2024

Editor

The groups for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 have been unveiled in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

This marks the first time the Dominican Republic will host a FIFA tournament, set to take place from October 16 to November 3, 2024.

A late Saturday statement from the FIFA website on Sunday revealed this.

Flamingos, other African nations
Flamingos are drawn with the host nation while Kenya and Zambia are in Group C and D respectively.

Notably, Spain won the tournament in 2022 on their way to the extraordinary achievement of simultaneously holding the U-17, U20 and senior women’s titles – the first nation to do so.

Sixteen teams will compete to lift the trophy and follow in the footsteps of former champions DPR Korea, Korea Republic, France, Japan and Spain.

However, each of the 16 teams now know their group-stage opponents and subsequent pathways at the tournament, with the final set to take place on 3 November in the nation’s capital.

Meanwhile, hosts Dominican Republic have been joined in Group A alongside Ecuador, New Zealand and Nigeria, while reigning world champions Spain have been placed in Group B with USA, Korea Republic and Colombia.

Here is the full list for the four groups:
Group A:
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand, Nigeria

Group B:
Spain, USA, Korea Republic, Colombia

Group C:
Korea DPR, Mexico, Kenya, England

Group D:
Japan, Poland, Brazil, Zambia

According to the statement, “This will be the Dominican Republic’s first appearance at a FIFA women’s showpiece, and it comes at a time when the national football scene is on a high.

“The nation was represented at the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ for the first time last year, and the men’s Olympic squad are primed for their maiden campaign in Paris 2024.

“Tickets for U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 will go on sale on 27 August.”

Sports

CAF Announces New Dates For 2025 AFCON In Morocco

Published

3 days ago

June 22, 2024

Editor

The next Africa Cup of Nations will be played in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said on Friday.

“I am confident that the CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 will be extremely successful and the best AFCON in the history of this competition,” he said.

CAF held a virtual executive committee at their headquarters in Cairo on Friday evening after which Motsepe made the announcement.

Originally scheduled for June and July 2025, the AFCON was moved to avoid a clash with the inaugural Club World Cup in the United States from June 15 to July 13 next year.

An added challenge for CAF officials was the desire to avoid a clash of dates with the UEFA Champions League in Europe.

Matchday six of the elite European club competition ends on December 11 2025 and matchday seven begins on January 21 2026.

However, the new dates are sure to upset many Premier League clubs as the Christmas-New Year period is frenetic with teams playing many matches in a short period.

English media reports have suggested clubs might not release African stars as they are compelled to do so for only one international championship per year and the next World Cup is in 2026.

CAF could argue that it is the 2025 AFCON, although most of the tournament will be staged the following year.

Finding suitable dates for the AFCON, a 24-nation tournament won by hosts the Ivory Coast last February, has become increasingly difficult.

A switch to mid year worked for the 2019 edition in the searing heat of Egypt in so far as it avoided a clash with the European club seasons.

Dramatic profit increase

However, the two subsequent editions, in Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, had to be staged in January and February to avoid the rainy seasons in central and west Africa.

The qualifying draw for the 2025 AFCON is scheduled for Johannesburg on July 4 with 48 hopefuls to be divided into 12 groups.

Morocco will take part to gain competitive match practice, but are guaranteed a place at the 24-team finals as hosts.

Unlike the four-yearly European Championship, Copa America and Asian Cup, the AFCON is held every two years because it delivers most of the CAF revenue.

In a recent TV interview, Motsepe said CAF made an $80 million (€75 million) profit from the last AFCON, hosted by the Ivory Coast in January and February this year.

This was a dramatic increase from previous editions, which produced an average profit of about four million dollars, according to the South African billionaire.

The 2024 Women’s AFCON (WAFCON) has also been postponed and will now be played in Morocco from July 5-26 next year.

New dates will also have to be found for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), originally scheduled for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda this year.

Not even the qualifying draw has been made for a competition restricted to home-based footballers and won by Senegal in Algeria last year, and CAF have not explained the delay.

There has also been no news from CAF on a second edition of the African Football League (AFL), initially called the African Super League.

Planned to be a 24-club mini-league and knockout competition featuring the highest ranked clubs in the continent, it debuted last year with just eight sides involved in a three-round affair.

Were the original format to be introduced, clubs would play between 14 and 21 matches in a continent where air travel presents challenges due to limited direct flights between countries.

“You can turn the lights off on domestic football if this (AFL) goes ahead,” warned John Comitis, the chairman of top-flight South African club Cape Town City.

AFP