Sports
Lookman, Iheanacho, Boniface for Super Eagles attack against S’Africa
Lookman, Iheanacho, Boniface for Super Eagles attack against S’Africa
Super Eagles in-form striker, Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho and Bundesliga rookie of the year, Victor Boniface are highly favoured to lead the attacking line of the three-time African champions against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in tonight’s 2026 World Cup qualifying series Day 3 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The Super Eagles know nothing but victory will assuage the feelings of football-passionate Nigerians, who are still unhappy at their sluggish start to the campaign.
Finidi, in his competitive match in charge of Nigeria, is most likely to throw the experienced Kelechi Iheanacho and youngsters Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman into the fore with the objective of getting the goals early enough on, on a turf that Nigeria has lost only one competitive game since it was opened 10 years ago.
Speaking before tonight’s crucial match, captain Wilfred Ndidi said that the three-time African champions will give their very best on Friday evening.
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“Nobody needs to tell us that we didn’t start the campaign well enough. The opportunity has arisen to take our fate in our hands and rise to strong contention in our pool. We will approach Friday’s encounter with the right mental attitude.”
Lookman, who became only the sixth man in history to score a hat-trick in a European Cup final when he led Atalanta of Italy to victory in Dublin on 22nd May, is in a great form to continue where he left off after the Africa Cup of Nations, where he netted three crucial goals to steer Nigeria to a second-place finish.
He also netted an important winner for the Eagles against Ghana in a friendly in Morocco three months ago, which helped Nigeria to a first triumph over Ghana in 18 years.
Boniface also had a marvelous season, winning the German League and Cup double with Bayer Leverkusen and reaching the Europa Cup final, where Lookman was the big obstacle.
The Eagles will enter the pitch on Friday night recalling that South Africa has mostly been second best against them, and that their last encounter, in the semi-final of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, ended in a penalty shootout victory for Nigeria.
Lookman, Iheanacho, Boniface for Super Eagles attack against S’Africa
Sports
Osimhen’s attitude, character scaring European clubs, says ex-striker Peter Ijeh
Osimhen’s attitude, character scaring European clubs, says ex-striker Peter Ijeh
Former Nigeria striker Peter Ijeh reckons suitors are avoiding Victor Osimhen like plague because of the attitude and character of the Napoli striker.
Commenting on a Facebook post on Tuesday, Ijeh, who spent a major part of his career in Scandinavia, said Europe is a small community that takes attitude and character as keys, which he thinks the Nigeria striker doesn’t understand.
“How I wish he understood that Europe is a small community that takes attitude and character as keys because it is directly influenced by children, and at the same time, they are notorious for double standards. Even Lagos is bigger than six countries, so it is more or less a community where everybody knows everybody,” said Ijeh, ostensibly reflecting on Osimhen’s verbal onslaught on former Super Eagles coach Finidi George.
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Osimhen has played his last match for Napoli, having made clear his decision to leave Diego Maradona Stadium at the end of last season. Napoli are willing to sell the player, but his £100 million release clause has been a major stumbling block to his transfer.
The club recently lowered the sum to £85 million, with Manchester United reportedly leaping onto the fray, but the Red Devils have also backed down like Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal and are currently in negotiations with Alvaro Moratta.
Napoli offered him to Manchester United and were willing to take Mason Greenwood plus some cash.
Meanwhile, new Napoli coach Antonio Conte has reportedly told Osimhen he will not be his main striker next season.
Osimhen’s attitude, character scaring European clubs, says ex-striker Peter Ijeh
Sports
Aston Villa opens offers for Fiorentina’s Kayode
Aston Villa opens offers for Fiorentina’s Kayode
Aston Villa have tabled an opening bid for Fiorentina full-back Michael Kayode, the 19-year-old Nigerian descent who exploded onto the scene last season in Serie A.
Transfer expert Alfredo Pedulla was quoted as saying that the Premier League club will use the funds collected in the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus, to help finance the deal.
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Villa sporting Director, Monchi, is thought to be a huge fan of the player and Pedulla claimed that the Birmingham club has made an initial offer of €15M plus bonuses. Fiorentina are understood to be ready to sell for a fee in the region of €20M with the two parties now close to an agreement.
Kayode grew up in the youth ranks at Juventus before making the switch to La Viola’s under-19 squad in the summer of 2021. Last season, the Italy Under-21 international made 26 Serie A appearances for the club and six in the UEFA Conference League, which Fiorentina ultimately lost to Olympiacos.
Aston Villa opens offers for Fiorentina’s Kayode
Sports
Napoli plans to slash asking price for Victor Osimhen
Napoli plans to slash asking price for Victor Osimhen
Italian club, Napoli is reportedly set to reduce their asking price for Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen.The Nigerian international currently has a €150 million release clause in his contract, which has put off some of his potential buyers.
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Italian reports have claimed that Napoli will lessen their release clause stance on the Nigerian, with Calciomercato stating the Partenopei may lower their initial valuation to €100 million.Napoli’s new coach, Antonio Conte is said to be aiming to bring in Romelu Lukaku as his replacement, with the pair interested in being reunited after working together at Inter for two seasons before the manager’s resignation after claiming the 2020-21 Scudetto.
Napoli plans to slash asking price for Victor Osimhen
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