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Nigerian journalist confronts Liverpool coach for branding AFCON ‘little tournament’

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5 years ago

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Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given reasons for branding the Africa Cup of Nations tournament as a “little tournament” after a Nigerian journalist confronted him.

Ojora Babatunde of OJB Sports had said, “Hi Jurgen, during your last pre-match presser, you deliberately called the Africa Cup of Nations a ‘little tournament’.

“I think it’s an insult to the players, an insult to the fans, an insult to the people on the continent and I think you owe the continent an apology.”

Klopp explained to the offended journalist that his remark – which came after the 4-0 win against Arsenal on Saturday – was a way of expressing his frustration at losing vital players at an important stage of the season.

Liverpool are set to lose Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane for the month-long tournament, which runs from January 9 to February 6.

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“In January, there’s a little tournament in Africa, I just want to say, and I think Asia is playing games, too – South America as well, great, can’t wait,” the coach had said on Saturday.

The journalist had said Klopp had insulted the players, fans, people, and continent of Africa with the comment.

Klopp while replying during his Champions League post-match press conference after Liverpool had secured a fifth straight win in the competition to beat Porto 2-0 on Wednesday, said, “I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t know why you understand it like that.

“It’s not even close to the idea in my mind that I want to talk about AFCON as a little tournament, or the continent of Africa like a little continent, not at all.

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“What I meant is, because people said, and if you watch the full press conference, if you wanted to understand it in the right way you could have understood it in the right way. I said ‘there’s no international break anymore until March’ and I said: ‘Oh and there’s a little tournament in January,’ and I didn’t mean a little tournament, just like you say it when there’s still a tournament. It’s ironic. There’s still a tournament. A big one. We lose our best players to the Africa Cup of Nations.

“I’m not a native speaker, but if you want to understand me wrong you can do that all the time. I know that I would never think like this. I never understand why you thought like this to be honest, but that’s really not OK, because I would never do that, but that’s it now.

“It was not my intention, but you made something of it. That’s not so cool as well to be 100 per cent honest.”

Punch

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Why Osimhen Turned Down Galatasaray’s Iconic No. 9 Jersey

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12 hours ago

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August 6, 2026

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Why Osimhen Turned Down Galatasaray's Iconic No. 9 Jersey

Why Osimhen Turned Down Galatasaray’s Iconic No. 9 Jersey

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed why he turned down the chance to wear Galatasaray’s iconic No. 9 shirt, opting instead to retain the No. 45 jersey ahead of the new season. The Nigerian international, who completed a permanent move to the Turkish champions after a hugely successful loan spell, said he chose to keep the number that has become closely associated with his journey at the club. The No. 9 shirt became available following Mauro Icardi’s departure, and many had expected Osimhen to inherit the famous jersey traditionally worn by the club’s leading strikers.

Explaining his decision, Osimhen acknowledged that taking the No. 9 shirt could have boosted shirt sales but stressed that his decision was based on personal conviction and superstition. According to Turkish sports outlet Sabah Spor, Osimhen was quoted as saying, “I believe you will sell more shirts, but I think you will understand my perspective. The number 45 has been lucky for me at Galatasaray.” “I want to continue with the same number,” he added. The number 45 holds special significance for the 27-year-old forward. He first wore it at Belgian club Charleroi, where he scored 20 goals and launched his European career. At Galatasaray, he has continued his prolific form, setting a club record with 37 goals in a single season while wearing the number.

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Since his permanent transfer from Napoli, Osimhen has established himself as a fan favourite, delivering important goals and strong performances for the Yellow-Reds. He recently opened his pre-season scoring account in Galatasaray’s entertaining 3-3 draw against Rennes in Istanbul. The Nigeria international, who has won two Turkish Super Lig titles with Okan Buruk’s side, remains a key figure for Galatasaray. Despite turning down the No. 9 shirt, Osimhen’s influence continues to grow at Rams Park, with reports indicating that head coach Okan Buruk is considering giving him captaincy duties during the new season when other senior players are not on the pitch. Osimhen has previously denied reports that he demanded the No. 9 shirt and the captaincy, insisting such claims were “not true”. His decision to keep No. 45 reflects his belief in maintaining the jersey that has accompanied his remarkable rise at the club and his desire for continuity over symbolism.

Why Osimhen Turned Down Galatasaray’s Iconic No. 9 Jersey

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Super Falcons Thrash Egypt 6-2, Book WAFCON Quarter-Final Date with Cameroon

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19 hours ago

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August 6, 2026

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Super Falcons Thrash Egypt 6-2, Book WAFCON Quarter-Final Date with Cameroon

Super Falcons Thrash Egypt 6-2, Book WAFCON Quarter-Final Date with Cameroon

The defending champions produced a dominant attacking masterclass to defeat Egypt 6-2 in Casablanca, securing their place in the knockout stages of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The emphatic victory sets up a blockbuster quarter-final clash against Cameroon as Nigeria continues its quest for a record-extending 11th continental title.

The Super Falcons booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after an emphatic 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday. The defending champions needed a convincing win to keep their hopes of progressing alive after suffering a shock 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening match, before narrowly defeating Zambia 1-0 in their second outing. The overwhelming victory capped Justine Madugu’s side’s stunning turnaround from their shock opener loss to tournament debutants Malawi, as Nigeria delivered one of the group stage’s best displays to secure their passage to the knockout stages.

Nigeria entered the match under pressure, knowing that even victory might not be enough depending on the result of the simultaneous clash between Malawi and Zambia. According to tournament rules, if all three teams finished on six points, matches played against the group’s last-place team would be removed from consideration, with only the head-to-head results between the tied teams used to determine final positions. This created a tense situation where Nigeria’s fate hung on the scoreline in the other fixture, adding an extra layer of drama to an already high-stakes encounter.

The Super Falcons took the lead in the 21st minute when captain Asisat Oshoala calmly converted a penalty following a VAR review for a handball inside the Egyptian penalty area. The ten-time African champions doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time through substitute Gift Monday, who finished off a brilliant short-corner routine involving Toni Payne and Rinsola Babajide. However, Egypt pulled one back moments later when Nadine Ghazi converted a penalty awarded after another VAR intervention, sending the teams into the break with Nigeria leading 2-1. The first half showcased the Falcons’ attacking intent while also highlighting the defensive vulnerabilities that have plagued the team throughout the group stage.

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Nigeria reasserted their authority after the restart, with substitute Uchenna Kanu restoring the two-goal cushion in the 57th minute after capitalising on a defensive lapse. The Falcons’ relentless pressure earned them another penalty following a VAR review, and Christy Ucheibe made no mistake from the spot in the 81st minute to extend the lead to 4-1. Ghazi struck again three minutes later to score her second goal of the night and briefly revive Egyptian hopes, reducing the deficit to 4-2. But any thoughts of a comeback were quickly extinguished when Nigeria won a fourth penalty late in the match. Captain Rashidat Ajibade confidently converted in the 91st minute, before turning provider deep into stoppage time to set up Joy Omewa, who scored her first-ever WAFCON goal to complete the 6-2 rout.

The victory was made even more dramatic by the fluctuating results in the other Group C match between Malawi and Zambia, which saw qualification change hands several times throughout the evening. With both matches at one stage at 1-0, Nigeria, Malawi and Zambia were all level on six points, forcing the standings to be separated by results involving the three teams. Nigeria ultimately finished second in the group behind Malawi, with both teams advancing on six points, while Egypt and Zambia were eliminated from the tournament. The dramatic conclusion to the group stage underscored the competitiveness of the expanded 12-team format and the fine margins that separate success from elimination at the highest level of African women’s football.

Despite missing suspended defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini due to yellow-card accumulation, Nigeria delivered an assured performance that restored belief in their title defence. The Super Falcons finished the match with 59 per cent possession and produced a relentless attacking display that confirmed their passage to the last eight of the continental championship. The team’s ability to overcome adversity, including the suspension of key players and the pressure of a must-win situation, demonstrates the depth of talent and resilience within the squad as they prepare for the knockout stages.

The Super Falcons will now face the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the quarter-finals, with the match scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. WAT. Cameroon are expected to win Group D and will provide a stern test for the defending champions. The Falcons will now turn their full focus to the knockout stages as they continue their quest for a record-extending continental crown. The quarter-final clash promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of Africa’s football powerhouses, with Nigeria seeking to maintain their dominance over Cameroon, who have often been their fiercest rivals on the continent. The Super Falcons have won all three previous WAFCON meetings against Cameroon, including the 2016 final, but the Indomitable Lionesses will be determined to end that streak and claim a famous victory.

Super Falcons Thrash Egypt 6-2, Book WAFCON Quarter-Final Date with Cameroon

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CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

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4 days ago

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August 3, 2026

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CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

Defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini will miss Nigeria’s must-win final Group C match against Egypt at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after being suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following disciplinary incidents in the victory over Zambia.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will be without two key players for their crucial final Group C match against Egypt at the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed suspensions to defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini. The suspensions stem from disciplinary incidents during Nigeria’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday, a result that revived the nine-time African champions’ title defence after a shock opening defeat to Malawi.

Demehin will miss the decisive fixture after receiving a straight red card in the 40th minute of the Zambia match. The centre-back was sent off for bringing down Zambia captain Barbra Banda as the striker raced through on goal during a dangerous counter-attack. The dismissal forced Nigeria to play with 10 players for more than 50 minutes, but the Super Falcons defended bravely to protect their slim lead until the final whistle. Echegini, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, will also be unavailable after receiving a yellow card during the same contest. The booking was her second caution of the tournament, triggering an automatic one-match suspension under CAF’s disciplinary regulations.

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The suspensions come as Nigeria seek victory against Egypt to boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals. The Super Falcons bounced back from their opening 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a determined win over the Copper Queens, but the victory came at a significant cost. Asisat Oshoala scored the only goal in the eighth minute before Nigeria were forced to play with 10 women following Demehin’s dismissal. Despite Zambia’s numerical advantage for most of the contest, the nine-time African champions held on to claim all three points. With two rounds of matches completed, Malawi lead Group C with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia have three points each. Egypt remain without a point, leaving qualification for the knockout stage to be decided in the final round of group fixtures. The final round of Group C matches will be played on Wednesday, with Nigeria facing Egypt knowing victory could secure a place in the knockout stage, while Malawi take on Zambia in another decisive fixture.

Beyond the two confirmed absentees, captain Rasheedat Ajibade faces a different concern. Should she receive a yellow card against Egypt and Nigeria progress to the knockout rounds, she would be suspended for the first knockout-stage match, adding another layer of caution to Nigeria’s approach to the game. The absences of Demehin and Echegini will test the squad’s depth and put pressure on head coach Justine Madugu to reorganise ahead of a match Nigeria must win to advance. Demehin’s absence could prompt Madugu to reshuffle his backline after the defender had played a key role in containing the dangerous Barbra Banda before her dismissal, while Echegini’s suspension reduces Nigeria’s midfield options for the decisive encounter. Despite the double blow, the Super Falcons will be encouraged by the resilience they showed against Zambia, where they protected a one-goal lead for more than 50 minutes with a numerical disadvantage to reignite their title defence. The nine-time African champions have once again demonstrated their ability to grind out results under pressure and will be eager to maintain that momentum against Egypt.

CAF Suspends Two Super Falcons Stars Ahead of Decisive Egypt Clash in WAFCON 2026

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