Sports
Arsenal not giving up on Osimhen yet, make contact
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Victor-Osimhen-scaled.jpg)
Arsenal not giving up on Osimhen yet, make contact
Arsenal have reportedly made contact with Napoli star Victor Osimhen, as the Premier League giants intensify their search for a prolific frontman this summer, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria international has been in scintillating form since joining the Italian side from Lille in 2020, netting 76 times in all competitions.
His goal-scoring prowess has not gone unnoticed, with several Premier League heavyweights keeping tabs on the 25-year-old striker who has also garnered attention from Real Madrid and French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side are not believed to be leading the race for his signature despite already touching base over a transfer. That’s after Gianluca Di Marzio told bettingexpert.com (via The Mirror) that no solid negotiations have taken place as of yet.
Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly made Osimhen one of their top targets this summer, as they look to fill the void left by Kylian Mbappe following his move to Real Madrid.
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The Ligue 1 giants could be the only European club capable of luring him away from Napoli, although they are reluctant to meet his £112m release clause.
Despite heavy links with the player in recent years, Chelsea appear to be out of the running for Osimhen after showing little interest of late. It’s believed that Enzo Maresca prefers Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion, but Alvaro Morata’s move to AC Milan has complicated that storyline.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Osimhen could intensify following comments made by Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho, who compared the Napoli striker to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.
“He is of the same level as Drogba, but Didier didn’t dive. If Victor changes, then OK. I’d buy him if I was at a club with a lot of money,” Mourinho said.
With Chelsea stepping back and Manchester United having secured Dutch talent Joshua Zirkzee for £36.5m, there is room for the Gunners to make a run at Osimhen.
Should Arsenal fail to land Osimhen, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak are seen as potential alternatives.
However, both players come with hefty price tags, with Gyokeres having an £84m release clause and Isak valued at £100m.
Arsenal not giving up on Osimhen yet, make contact
Sports
Lookman brace, Osimhen’s goal give Nigeria 3-0 victory over Benin Rep
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Victor-Osimhen-and-Ademola-Lookman.png)
Lookman brace, Osimhen’s goal give Nigeria 3-0 victory over Benin Rep
Ademola Lookman scored a brace while Victor Osimhen came off the bench to help Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a comfortable 3-0 victory in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Benin Republic.
Lookman scored in both halves. Osimhen struck in second half of the game.
The victory takes Nigeria to the top of Group D as they prepare for the next tie against Rwanda on Tuesday, September 10.
It serves as a confidence booster for the Nigerian side that struggled against the Cheetahs when they met last in a 2026 World Cup qualifying game. Gernot Rohr’s side came from behind to win the one 2-1.
Sports
Rodrygo scores as Brazil beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
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Rodrygo scores as Brazil beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
Brazil got back to winning ways in the South American World Cup qualifiers with a drab 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Friday thanks to first-half goal by Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
After its first streak of losses in three successive qualifiers, Brazil did just enough to earn the win that lifted the struggling five-time World Cup champions to fourth in the standings with 10 points.
They are eight points behind leaders Argentina and only two points over Ecuador in sixth, the last spot guaranteed a berth at the 2026 finals.
Playing their first match after a disappointing Copa America defeat to Uruguay in the quarter-final, Brazil had another lacklustre performance, dominating possession but failing to create clear chances throughout the match.
Brazil misplaced too many passes and struggled to connect up front, out of ideas on how to beat Ecuador’s rock solid defensive block.
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Ecuador were relentless while applying a physically aggressive pressure high with three hardworking forwards, making the locals uncomfortable when putting the ball in play. They Brazil almost no room to get inside their box either, forcing them to roam the ball horizontally around their penalty area and resort to strikes from long range.
Brazil’s only two shots on target on the first half were made by Rodrygo, who, after stinging the goalkeeper’s hands from a free kick early, were lucky to break the deadlock in the 29th minute. His effort fired from the edge of the box deflected off a defender and arched around the wrong-footed goalkeeper before hitting the right post and finding the back of the net.
Ecuador almost levelled in a counterattack right before the break, but defender Gabriel Magalhaes denied Moises Caicedo’s effort with a last-minute goal-line clearance.
Brazil came back even worse in the second half, with an uninspired Vinicius Jr creating their only shot on target in an absolutely morose 45 minutes, with boos greeting the final whistle.
“We needed this win, doesn’t matter if it was ugly or not. I’m happy with the victory and to have scored, and I hope it helps us getting better and progressing to the level that we want to reach moving forward,” Rodrygo told Brazilian TV Globo.
Rodrygo scores as Brazil beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
Sports
Paralympics: Onyinyechi Mark wins Nigeria’s first gold medal
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Onyinyechi-Mark.jpg)
Paralympics: Onyinyechi Mark wins Nigeria’s first gold medal
Nigeria’s Onyinyechi Mark has made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by breaking the Paralympic record in the women’s 61kg powerlifting category, with a lift of 147kg.
Mark’s performance surpassed the previous record held by fellow Nigerian Lucy Ejike, marking an iconic achievement for Team Nigeria.
With one lift remaining, Onyinyechi Mark has all but guaranteed Nigeria’s first gold medal of the Games.
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Her closest rival is attempting 138kg on her final lift, while Mark aims to extend her record with a final attempt of 147kg, further cementing her dominance in the sport.
Team Nigeria has long been a powerhouse in Paralympic powerlifting and athletics.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the country secured an impressive 10 medals, including four golds.
Athletes such as Lucy Ejike and Bose Omolayo have set global benchmarks, with Ejike herself holding multiple world records and gold medals in powerlifting.
Paralympics: Onyinyechi Mark wins Nigeria’s first gold medal
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