The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu has provided much-needed succor and support for the injured and traumatized players and officials of Nigeria Premier Football League side, Sunshine Stars FC of Akure.
A ball boy was shot and players and other officials highly traumatized and disoriented after the team bus was attacked by armed robbers on the Ore-Benin Highway on Thursday, as the team headed to Benin City for a scheduled NPFL Match 13 tie against Bendel Insurance.
The sports-loving Edo State number two man immediately dispatched aides to the hospital where the ball boy was taken for treatment, alongside the highly traumatized contingent.
Now, Comrade Shaibu has offered to foot the bill of the medical treatment of all those involved in the unfortunate incident.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has reacted to the Deputy Governor’s gesture: “We thank the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu for this kind gesture.
It is a commendable move whose nobility cannot be over-emphasized. We appreciate him immensely, as we pray for quick recovery for the injured ball boy and the traumatized players and other officials.”
He is a hard worker. I knew when we signed him, his energy and dynamic will help us-Marco Silva
By Ed Emeanua
Fulham coach Marco Silva has said that he is not surprised by midfielder Alex Iwobi’s fine form and quality in Fulham’s colors.
The Nigeria international is in a blitzkrieg of form following his arrival at Cottage Road, with his most recent five-star showing coming against visiting Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Fulham forward Raul Jimenez and Iwobi scored a brace of goals each, in the Cottagers complete 5-0 blaze out of Forest at Cottage road, with midfielder Tom Cairney taking credit for the team’s last goal against the Tricky Trees.
Afterwards Silva posted on his team’s ‘X’ account page his immense belief in both Iwobi and Jimenez’ qualities.
On @alexiwobi: “He is a hard worker. I knew when we signed him, his energy and dynamic will help us.”: “He is a hard worker. I knew when we signed him, his energy and dynamic will help us.”
Silva said that he signed the midfielder in a surprise move from Everton on Premier League’s transfer deadline day because he was confident that the Nigerian’s work ethics will make the difference at Fulham.
Juventus moved 12-points clear of Napoli with a 1-0 defeat of Serie A’s defending champions on Friday as striker Victor Osimhen failed to score in another barren start in a classics for his floundering team.
The Nigeria forward now stretches his scoreless streak since his return from the injury list to four games in as many appearances.
On the other hand, Federico Gatti’s two goals to his name in so many matches, has now accounted for six crucial points for Juventus, which has also allowed the Bianconeri to climb to the top of the table. The Juve centre-back made the job complete when he scored the sole goal in Friday’s outing at the Allianz Arena to seal Napoli’s fate.
The match started at a frenetic pace but the end-to-end forays failed to produce perfect opportunities to score for the sides in the opening i5 minutes.
Within that period, Napoli missed the best opportunity of all to go ahead, with Wojciech Szczesny stopping their goal attempt right on the line.
Juve then cut in from the flank on the left in the 18th minute. Dusan Vlahovic ignited the threat half-way, and Filip Kostic and Federico Chiesa briefly exchanged to create the effort that was eventually repelled by Juan Jesus.
The rebound fell nicely for Vlahovic aerially, who then spiraled the ball towards the apex of the six-yard box where Weston McKennie’s overhead kick collided with it. But the USA international’s acrobatic effort sailed over the bar.
In the next minute, Chiesa returned with the absolute intention of causing chaos in the visitors’ rear, but his cut-back was redirected for a corner before any of his teammates could cause further havoc.
The best opportunity of the first stanza fell for the reigning champions on the 28th minute. Osimhen brought the ball well under control on the half-way line and glided with it into space. His cross-field pass splayed in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose exchange with Szczesny saw his shot blazing into the stands.
The Polish keeper then conjured up a single hand world-class save on his 250th Serie A outing to frustrate Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who was left unmanned in front of goal after Bremer’s effort to clear bounced off Gatii. A goal from the Napoli’s captain would have counted for nothing nonetheless, as he was by-and-by flagged down for off-side.
Juve was hungrier after the half-time break. Vlahovic crashed his shot within the box into the post from McKennie’s set up. However, the midfielder was flagged for gaining possession of the ball after straying into offside position.
The Bianconeri persevered in their pressing of the champions, however, and the 51st minute proved to be their salvation.
Undaunted by his match-winning accomplishment at Monza a week earlier, Gatti swooped unexpectedly again to notch his third strike of the 2023-2024 term.
The Azzurri centre-back met a pinpoint cross from Andrea Cambiaso at the height of the six-yard box, with his well directed header leaving Alex Meret grasping at nothing.
Napoli’s riposte materialized from a Franck Anguissa header that sailed clearly off target.
Szczesny then was out of sorts, when he caused a howler inside the Allianz Stadium from an attempted clearance that careened off Stanislav Lobotka’s head.
The Napoli midfielder then located his forward, who in turn side-stepped Szczesny at the edge of the box before burying the ball into an empty net. But, Osimhen was adjudged offside.
Despite Walter Mazzarri’s rejig of his frontline from the available resources at his disposal on his bench, the Juve defence managed to hold their shape to deny the visitors from scoring in Turin for the first time in eight consecutive returns.
Up and climbing Nigeria-American WWE superstar under periscope
By Ed Emeanua
It is undisputable that Edris Enofé (real name Inyené Umoh), a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar, was born in Nigeria, making him a Nigeria American.
Enofé is a member of team Edris Enofé & Malik Blade. Both grappling standouts are rising performers under the WWE’s NXT brand.
Enofé has proven doubters wrong across NXT 2.0 and 205 Live following his NXT debut where he provoked a coup d’œil to the NXT Universe of his possibilities in an entrance debut clash with Solo Sikoa.
After that, the U.S. Navy past master has teamed up with comrade and rising star-Blade-to make a sterling showing in their 2022 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic heroics.
From his performance against the highly dangerous Sikoa, one thing is sure: Enofé has a bright future as a singles grappler in the WWE fold.
Allianz Arena sets the stage for Serie-A ‘moment of decision’ clash
The Allianz Arena
By Ed Emeanua
The Allianz Arena hosts the cliffhanger showdown between scudetto seeking Juventus and defending champions Victor Osimhen’s Napoli, where title contenders face the current champions in their moment of decision for the season.
The Nigerian striker has gone scoreless in as many as three games since his return from injury, while his side has remain winless in two of his last games with them, including a sensational 4-2 Champions League loss to Real Madrid.
Out of sorts Napoli, are hard pressed to stop their Serie A defense freefall, while hosts Juventus, are under pressure to rediscover consistency as both sides dig deeper for to sustain their scudetto quest for the season.
Now fifth placed, the Partenopei seeks a turning point in their poor scudetto defense on this crucial visit to Juventus’ Allianz Arena on Friday, while their second placed host focuses on their drive to upstage table toppers Inter Milan.
Stellar performances, mostly on home turf the current season, has aided the majority of Serie A side to sustain their various 2023-2024 tempo, and Bianconeri should not be the exception as they go to battle with the visitors on familiar grounds.
The Old Lady’s 1-1 Italian derby stalemate with Inter interrupted Juventus’ five consecutive Serie A triumphs at the Allianz in which they managed a total log of 9 goals for and 2 against.
Napoli should therefore be heading into this fray with hosts with much trepidation and Bianconeri should await them with enough reason for optimism.
A Federico Gatti propelled Juventus puffed out a last-gasp 2-1 win at Monza last week, with the Italy international center-back’s 94th-minute boldness helping Massimiliano Allegri’s Bianconeri maintain closeness with the League leaders. Juve, just two points shy of table toppers Inter Milan, can regain interim leadership with a win Friday.
Walter Mazzarri’s return to the Napoli brand with his squally 2-1 win at Atalanta on his debut has since wobbled, as the doyen manager has directed consecutive losses, the most recent a harrowing 3-0 home capitulation to Inter the penultimate weekend.
Nicolo Fagioli and Paul Pogba, who continue on suspension for violating betting rules and running fowl of a drug test, will be kept at bay from Juve’s lineup just as Bianconeri will be without Mattia De Sciglio and Timothy Weah.
However, Alex Sandro and Danilo return to the side, though both are expected to be start from the bench.
Napoli has lost injured Mathias Olivera and Mario Rui to the sidelines, and are left with Juan Jesus as their remaining left-back choice. Mazzarri’s biggest headache remains Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s fitness level, as the Partenopei skipper overcomes a nagging muscle.
Armed Robbery Attacks: NFF empathises with Sunshine Stars, FC One Rocket
By Rasheed Adewuyi
The Nigeria Football Federation has decried the recent spate of robbery attacks on players and officials of football clubs travelling by road in the country to honor matches in the domestic Leagues, while appealing to security agents to devise further means of protecting road users in the land.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi on Friday said the Federation is disturbed by the trend, which has seen players and officials of Nigeria National League club, FC One Rocket and NPFL side Sunshine Stars attacked with persons injured and valuables lost over the past few days.
“The NFF is seriously disturbed and disillusioned by this unwarranted trend. First, it was FC One Rocket of Abat, Akwa Ibom State that was attacked. Their players and officials lost a variety of valuables in the attack in Ihiala, Anambra State while on their way from an NNL match against Ikorodu City in Lagos.
“Only on Thursday, 7th December, 2023, players and officials of Sunshine Stars of Akure were attacked on the Ore-Benin Road by armed robbers, with the ball boy shot. This is worrisome and we are passionately appealing to security personnel to painstakingly work out new ways and methods of ensuring safety and security of lives and properties on our roads.”
Sanusi empathized with the players, coaches and Management of the two Clubs on the unfortunate incident, and urged them not to allow the incidents to dampen their morale or negatively affect their challenge for titles in the ongoing season.
“On behalf of the Nigeria Football fraternity, we convey our sympathies to the two teams on the unfortunate attacks and trust that they will not be psychologically dampened in their quest for honors this football season.”
Contrasting reactions have greeted Victor Osimhen’s Gran Galà del Calcio recognition as the star forward of the 2022-2023 Serie A campaign.
The Napoli forward was named Monday in the Italian prima league’s eleven alongside six other teammates. At the end of the exercise, a constellation of fans’ mixed reaction trailed the Nigerian’s most recent accomplish in the Italian league.
Che tristezza votare per se stessi, “How sad to vote for yourself,” fumed a bewildered fan who goes by the name Trifolao, after Osimhen revealed that he voted for himself at the award trickled.
Another fan-Mabrosino, could not hold back his perturbance of the Neapolitan forward’s poor of Italian assimilation noting rhetorically that: 3 anni in Italia neanche una parola in italiano, “Three years in Italy not even a word in Italian.”
However, Desmo_gard countered in Osimhen’s defense stating: Ha già imparato la vita napoletana, “He has already learned Neapolitan life.”
During the Gala, the Napoli striker said he voted for himself as the Serie A Player of the Season, just as Hakan Calhanoglu selected Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nicolò Barella opted for his Azzurri teammate Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Monday’s grand football gala was on the auspices of the Italian Association of Footballers, to allow the stars of Serie A to get recognition for awards for the 2022-23 season.
The event is exemplary as it allows footballers’ votes select awardees, and players picked in the Team of the Year were later required to reveal who they voted for in the Best Serie A Player of 2022-23 category.
AC Milan ended up with the joint second-most chosen players in the Team of the Year with three stars (same as their city rivals Inter), while Napoli had five as they were the runaway Scudetto champions at the end of the term.
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The full XI: Maignan; Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-jae, Bastoni, Theo Hernández; Lobotka, Çalhanoğlu, Barella; Leão, Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen.
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The Rossoneri had Mike Maignan in goal, just as Theo Hernandez was named in the defense and Rafael Leão in the attack.
Osimhen owned up that he had voted for himself, as Inter player Calhanoglu humorously asked for the Nigerian forward’s forgiveness disclosing that he had picked his teammate Kvaratskhelia.
Inter and Italy star Barella was the only one who selected neither Osimhen nor Kvaratskhelia, but opted for his fellow Italian Di Lorenzo instead.
Nine-time champions and ever-present Nigeria earned their ticket to the 13th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in majestic style on Tuesday with a 2-1 defeat of hosts Cape Verde, for a 7-1 aggregate win in the final round of the qualification series.
The hosts started like a house on fire at the Santiago-Estádio Nacional Cabo Verde in Praia raiding the Super Falcons’ goal area, and their quick-off-the-blocks approach paid off when Ivania Tavares Moreira got the ball past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for a goal in the 9th minute.
Sensing the possibility of being able to do the unexpected, the Cape Verdeans swarmed all over the Nigerian rear and earned a couple of corner kicks in the process, but the resilient Super Falcons, spurred on by members of the Nigerian community cheering in the stands, quickly repelled the onslaughts and launched some of their own.
A couple of corner kicks and free-kicks after, the Nigerians rose to the ascendancy, but the scoreline remained the same as the teams went into recess.
Coach Justin Madugu threw Esther Onyenezide and the clinical Esther Okoronkwo into the fray at the beginning of the second half, for Peace Efih and Uchenna Kanu, and knuckled when Okoronkwo, never one to engage in frivolities in the fore, got the ball in the net 11 minutes into the second half, only to be judged off-side.
The homers would not be as lucky six minutes later, as Okoronkwo, who got two of the goals when the Falcons brushed aside the Verdeans 5-0 in Abuja on Thursday, scored to draw Nigeria level.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade saw her shot fly past the crossbar in the 71st minute, and 10 minutes later, substitute Rinsola Babajide could have got her first international goal but saw her low drive agonisingly miss the target by a few inches.
Yet, the sterling Ajibade would have the last laugh, scoring three minutes into added time to ensure victory for Nigeria and an overwhelming aggregate win that takes the Falcons into next year’s finals as undoubtedly the team to beat.
Everything you need to know about TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations
Confédération Africaine de Football
The registration window for clubs and international scouts interested in attending the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 is now open.
The registration platform will be accessible using the link provided below between 03 and 16 December 2023:
Victor Osimhen fires blank as Inter Milan edges Napoli 3-0 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium Sunday night
Victor Osimhen may have regained his starting spot in the center of Napoli frontline, but the gangling Nigerian striker could only manage firing a few blanks as Inter Milan recorded a commanding 3-0 away win.
Inter put up an overpowering showing at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium Sunday night to down Napoli and reinforce their position on the summit of Serie A table.
The Nerazzurri showcased their Scudetto ambitions with sublime precise finishing, despite the home team’s apparent resolve to get any type of result from their home turf.
Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicoló Barella, and Marcus Thuram stamped their names on the scoresheet in a game that is evidently the Nerazzurri most spectacular showing this term, including with their 5-1 demolition of rivals, AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina in September.
Walter Mazzarri definitely has a yeoman’s job up his sleeves despite his victorious start with Napoli last week. It is obvious that the man from Tuscany inherited an incomplete team, with a leaky backline, as the Azzurri have let in eight goals in just three outings since his Napoli return.
To make matters worst, his two confirmed left backs were both unplayable because of injuries, leaving him the option of deploying center back Natan to the left of his backline.
Victor Osimhen returned to his starting position in the middle of the forward line, but it was obvious that the Nigerian striker is still not in his prime shape.
Simone Inzaghi kept the same lineup he deployed a week ago after changing out several of his regulars in the mid-week Champions League fixture. As a result, Inter were therefore very crisp and that shored up the difference between the two sides as the game came down to the wire.
Yet, it was Napoli began the match spritely. With just 2.9 minutes into the game, Elijf Elmas produced a breathtaking shot from outside the box, forcing Yann Sommer to make make a save. Just as the effort from Macedonian midfielder was spectacular, the Swiss goalie’s response was stunning and established Sommer’s worth in Inter’s arsenal this season.
Eighteen minutes into the fray, Stefan De Vrij injured his abductor and was substituted for Carlos Augusto. But Matteo Politano hit terrific screamer that could have altered the outcome of the game crashed into the crossbar.
Before then, Inter had found the net through Thuram only to see their goal disallowed for offside. However, on the 43rd minute of the game, Calhanoglu broke the deadlock with a pristinely struck right foot missile. The Turk whipped the ball past Alex Meret after being found by Barella, who in had received the ball from Denzel Dumfries.
Napoli reacted but Sommer was once again, a major roadblock to Napoli’s ability to find the net. The Inter goalkeeper tipped to safety an bent Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cannon with his finger on 57 minutes.
Right after the one-hour mark, Inter struck again. The Nerazzurri’s second goal was conception of the brilliant Lautaro Martinez. El Toro’s pass from the left was snatched by Barella in the middle of the box. The diminutive midfielder then and shooting his team 2-0 ahead.
Thuram then placed his brand on the scoreline in the 85th minute. The Frenchman merely had to nudge the ball into the back of the net from a Juan Cuadrado splitting pass, as the Napoli back line appeared to have been caught completely off their stride.
Napoli oiled up their attack line the game with a radical-offensive setup as Giacomo Raspadori, Piotr Zielinski and Jesper Lindstrom were added to compliment Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia upfront, but the Partenopei still failed to find the net.
Napoli are now 11 points adrift from the summit of the Serie-A placement. Napoli may as well has ceded their throne to a new champion this early on in the Serie A season.
Nigeria
Victor Osimhen fires blank as Inter Milan edges Napoli 3-0 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium Sunday night