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Leicester releases Rodgers, Ndidi awaits fate

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Leicester releases Rodgers, Ndidi awaits fate

Ndidi, Iheanacho, and others await the chopper at the end of the season

 

 

By Ed Emeanua

 

The long awaited purge at struggling Premier League side Leicester City FC began today with the club’s release of Manager Brendan Rodgers by “mutual agreement,” as Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and other stars of the outfit await their fate.

 

Assistant Manager Chris Davies and First Team Fitness Coach Glen Driscoll are also affected by the purge, with the Club wishing all the affected former staffers the best in their future careers.

 

Interestingly, it was Rodgers who advised the Club to put on hold talks with players whose contracts are up for renegotiation until the Club’s relegation battle is determined and not to sign certain players should Leicester City FC fail to maintain its Premiership status at the end of the season.

 

 

Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and attacker Kelechi Iheanacho are among other Leicester Stars in Rodgers’ list to the Club that should be sacked should the side be relegated.

 

Below is the detailed press communication on Rodgers’ release by the Leicester FC.

 

LCFC Statement – Brendan Rodgers

 

Leicester City Football Club has reached a mutual agreement with Brendan Rodgers that will see him leave the Club after four years as our Men’s First Team Manager.

Brendan departs King Power Stadium as one of the most successful managers in the Club’s history, having guided us to our long-awaited first FA Cup triumph in 2021, the FA Community Shield in the same year, two of the Club’s three highest Premier League finishes and consecutive European campaigns, including our first European semi-final in 2022.

 

Assistant Manager Chris Davies and First Team Fitness Coach Glen Driscoll will also be leaving with the Club’s thanks and best wishes for their future careers.

 

Immediate responsibility for Men’s First Team training and match preparation will be led by the Club’s long-serving First Team Coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell.

 

Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “The achievements of the team under Brendan’s management speak for themselves – we’ve experienced some of our finest footballing moments under his guidance and will always be grateful to him and his staff for the heights they helped us to reach on the pitch.

 

“Off the pitch, Brendan embraced the culture of the Club and helped cultivate an outstanding developmental environment, particularly during the transition to Seagrave, and provided strong leadership during the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. His place in Leicester City history is assured.

 

“However, performances and results during the current season have been below our shared expectations. It had been our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our previous achievements under Brendan’s management. Regrettably, the desired improvement has not been forthcoming and, with 10 games of the season remaining, the Board is compelled to take alternative action to protect our Premier League status.

 

“The task ahead of us in our final 10 games is clear. We now need to come together – fans, players and staff – and show the poise, quality and fight to secure our position as a Premier League club.”

CAF inspects Nigeria’s facilities for 2025

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CAF inspects Nigeria’s facilities for 2025

Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 joint bid with Benin Republic commences with CAF team inspection of stadia and sundry facilities

 

Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo is one of the venues listed to host the event

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Inspectors of the Confederation of African Football are checking out the stadia and related facilities that Nigeria has put forward in a joint bid with Benin Republic to host the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in the year 2025.

 

On the cards for evaluation are the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo; Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos; Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, and; Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

 

Already, the four-man team of Jean-Louis Romain, Emma Bollet, Didier Levy and Timour Tawfik (accompanied by a couple of Nigeria football officials), has assessed the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in the nation’s capital; Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos; Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba and; the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

 

In the nation’s showpiece arena in Abuja, the team was received on Friday night by the Deputy Director (Facilities) of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mallam Mohammed Rabiu and the stadium managers. They were taken through several sections of the arena and made some observations about some sections.

 

On Saturday night, the team stopped over at the Teslim Balogun Stadium which is currently under extensive renovation, and were received by the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Sola Aiyepeku alongside the Director General, LSSC, Mr Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan and; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroots Development, Mr Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye.

 

At the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Sunday, the Executive Director of Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobox Okowa (who is also President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria) was joined by the Director General, DSSC, Chief Chris Anazuih and the Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, Chief Kenneth Nwaomucha as the team went round the facility.

 

In Benin City, also on Sunday, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Mr. Yusuf Alli was in company of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Sabina Chikere; Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, Mr. Abu Rowland and; the Director of Facilities, Mr. Victor Edokpayi, as they inspected several sections of the magnificent facility.

 

A common refrain has been the need to reconfigure facilities in a way that different client-groups in the football arena, such as VIPs, Players, and their officials, Media Representative,s and the Fans will have seamless and distinct entry and exit points to play their part without any group obstructing the other.

 

The inspectors will also check out the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto Novo in Benin Republic.

 

Nigeria hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980, and co-hosted with Ghana 23 years ago. The country has hosted a number of major football and general sporting events such as the All-Africa Games (1973 and 2003), the FIFA U20 World Cup (1999) and the FIFA U17 World Cup (2009).

Charlotte Flair ‘The Queen’ dethroned

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Charlotte Flair ‘The Queen’ dethroned

Long reigns the new Queen, Rhea Ripley

 

 

By Ed Emeanua

 

It took sweat, tears, tattered emotions, and blood to dethrone Queen Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 Saturday in Hollywood California.

 

Rhea gave just that and more en-route to unseating Flair and rightly getting her deserved coronation as new WWE SmackDown Women’s champion.

 

The crowning move was a Rhea’s Riptide uncannily executed from the second rope as all seemed to have failed to put away the foe to earn the victory. Charlotte characteristically applied her trademark Spear to Rhea’s midsection to no avail. Rhea, responded with her Riptide, but the former Queen still found enough gusto within to weather the storm.

 

However, try as hard as she did, Rhea remained true to her match-plan by managing to deny Charlotte the opportunity to execute her deadliest move-the figure four-which has broken many resolute oppositions in the past.

 

Both women enthralled the WWE universe as each tried to protect pride, respect and honor in this epic tie with huge career implications.

 

The match itself-an all women affair- featured a female announcer, referee and wrestlers, a truly historic moment in the annals of WrestleMania and the WWE.

 

Results

 

  • United States Championship Match: Austin Theory def. John Cena
  • WrestleMania Showcase Match: The Street Profits def. Braun Strowman and Ricochet, Alpha Academy, and The Viking Raiders
  • Seth Rollins def. Logan Paul
  • Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus def. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, IO Sky)
  • Rey Mysterio def. Dominik Mysterio
  • SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley

Anthony Joshua outpoints Jermaine Franklin

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Anthony Joshua outpoints Jermaine Franklin

Huge void left to be filled despite the Nigerian-Born fighter’s easy win in London tonight

 

 

By Ed Emeanua

 

British heavyweight fighter Anthony Joshua easily outpointed American challenger Jermaine Franklin this evening at the O2 Arena London by unanimous decision but it was obvious something is missing in AJ’s game.

 

Despite it being glaring that the Jermaine Franklin of this world are not in the same league with the Olegsander Usyk and Tyson Fury of contemporary heavyweight boxing, but it appeared at times in this fight that the American journeyman boxer might just be in the same class with former unified world heavyweight champion, Joshua, as both men settled their milieu, Saturday night.

 

The scorecards at the end of the fray read, 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111 all for Joshua, but there remains doubts about the British fighter’s readiness to take his game up a notch to face stiffer oppositions in Usyk, the Ukrainian fighter who beat him back to back and fellow British heavyweight bomber, Fury, who has been lying in waiting behind Joshua shadows.

 

Watch this wild scene at the end of the encounter

 

Give it up to Franklin, he tried his best, but his best ends just here, while Joshua’s must progress. For the victor of this talent tryout however, much is expected if his performance tonight is used as a yardstick for important bouts that awaits his future boxing endeavors.

 

“If that was a knockout… It’s important to get the win,” Joshua said moments after the fight.

 

“Someone else will knock him out, probably. From Britain, I reckon. Jermaine has got a good duck and dive style. There was opportunity there, but he knew how to tuck up, respect to him, he’s done well. Well done to him and his team for preparing. I should have knocked him out, but what can I say now? It’s done. On to the next,” Joshua said when asked if he wanted to knock Franklin out.

 

“I know who the fans want. I would 100 percent be honored to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world [against current champion Tyson Fury],” Joshua said in response to the question who he wants to fight next.”

Gombe athletes rise in national reckoning

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Gombe athletes rise in national reckoning

Excel at Junior National Championship, win university scholarship awards

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

No fewer than Seven Gombe State athletes that participated at the just concluded National U-18 and U-20 junior Championship in Kaduna improved in their previous ratings.

 

One of the junior Athletes Ibrahim Abba Aliyu, returned a time of 21:90 in the 200m boys final B to win the race.

 

According to the Gombe Athletics Association (GAA) media officer, Inua Mohammed, Abba Aliyu outshone peers to clock a personal best record.

 

His colleagues and coaches rejoiced with him for winning for the first time at such a high profile and challenging National Championship.

 

Enock Dabo, placed 4th in the 200m finals with a seasons best, just as Taiwo Rebecca Ogundele placed 5th with a place in the national girls U-18 relay team, even as Blessing Ehi Ikpa competed in the 200m finals with an improvement in her previous personal best.

 

The Athletes however poured encomiums on the Chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe for his tenacity in making Athletes attend the National U-18 Junior Championship in Kaduna.

 

Abba Aliyu says, “Gombe State is usually absent at past competitions, we don’t usually attend, that’s why we are backward and poorly rated at the national level.”

“With this performance, I’m proud to compete for Gombe State and other States have seen we are a force that is coming up. If we can get more exposure, more competitions, some of us will excel more than our performance in Kaduna.

 

“It’s a junior Championship, we have our eyes at the senior level, with good exposure, my colleagues and I will build enough confidence to compete anywhere in the world, please help us thank our Chairman Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu

“The competition gave Gombe State athletes, coaches and officials the opportunity to mix, interact and share ideas with the aim of gaining more experience from colleagues that are more exposed, it was a good Championship for all of us from Gombe State.”

 

Earlier, owing to work in progress, GAA Chairman, the creator of the Child Athletes Development (from Local government to international level) in Gombe Sate, said the State may attend the Kaduna Championships as Observers, but perhaps changed his mind and today, the exposure had paid off.

 

It’s also gratifying that two of the female Athletes have gained automatic admission into the Army University in Biu. They are the pair of Blessing Ehi Ikpa and Taiwo Rebecca Ogundele.

 

Gombe State was rated well at The National U-18 and 20 junior Championship owing to the performance of a few Athletes elated Gombe State Officials said with their average performance in Kaduna, more accomplishments would be attained at future meet.

 

Ex-sports stars should run sports-Okpodu

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Ex-sports stars should run sports-Okpodu

Lambasts NFF for sacking Super Eagles assistant coaches Finidi George and Ike Shorunmu

 

Okpodu throws hat into the ring - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community |

Sam Okpodu

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Former Super Falcons coach, Sam Okpodu, has suggested that former sports men and women should be saddled with the responsibility of leading the state sports councils and football associations for the betterment of sports in Nigeria.

Okpodu made this statement during a chat with Sports Joust at his base in the United States of America (USA).

 

The former Nigeria international right winger also lambasted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for relieving Super Eagles assistant coaches Finidi George and Ike Shorunmu of jobs recently.

 

Finidi George and Ike Shorunmu refused to report to the Super Eagles camp in Abuja when Nigeria played against the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau in the first leg of the Africa cup of nations qualifier double header because the NFF declined to formalize their contracts and did not pay their salaries since they were employed in May 2022.

 

Okpodu fumed at the way and manner both former Super Eagles players lost their jobs, adding that the situation was nothing but a big embarrassment to the country’s football.

 

” How can they embarrass Finidi and Ike like that? If you don’t want them, pay them off and let them go quietly. If we don’t confront the truth, we will remain where we are. We should stop disgracing our local coaches,” he said.

 

” The whole world is laughing at us because we value foreign coaches more than our local counterparts. I’ve never seen any Nigerian last five years with the National teams. The NFF can afford to pay foreign coaches huge salaries but no local coach has ever received fifty thousand dollars monthly salary before.

 

“Journalists are also part of the problem because they failed to criticize the admistrarors.”

 

The former Turks & Caicos Island national U-16 team manager added, ” it is very painful to see that the same people who are supposed to take care of Ike and Finidi are the ones maltreating them.”

 

On the Super Eagles versus Guinea Bissau match, Okpodu stated that the national team will not make any meaningful impact at the Africa cup of nations in Ivory Coast next year with their Colonial style of play.

 

“Our football will not grow if we continue to play the Colonial style of game I saw against Guinea Bissau. We need to respect our coaches , pay handsomely and give them the same opportunity as their foreign counterparts ”

 

Joshua goes for broke against Franklin

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Joshua goes for broke against Franklin

The British star cannot afford to lose against his American opponent in tonight’s duel at the O2 Arena in London

 

Joshua and Franklin at yesterday’s weigh in for their bout

 

By Ed Emeanua

 

Sequence of defeats have torpedoed Anthony Joshua from the vaunted summit of the sweet science’s hierarchical order to a lowly 5th place in the world pugilistic rankings.

 

Now, the British heavy pounder promises to begin making a success of his already convoluted climb-back to the top.

 

Joshua faces a stiff challenge from the American foe Jermaine Franklin Saturday, April 1st, at the O2 Arena, London, in a bout that poses huge implications for his fighting career going forward.

 

Among all the implications spiraling out there in people’s mind for tonight’s fight outcome is the possibility that the British fighter with Nigerian bloodline could again add another disappointing loss to his lengthening career setback fighting record log.

 

Though the possibility of such an outcome exists, in reality, Joshua cannot dare to even consider such a fate at the end of his hurly-burly with his formidable American challenger.

 

The former undisputed world heavyweight champion climbed down from the scales for his fight with Franklin weighing in excess of 110 kg before hundreds of fans yesterday, while his opponent tipped the scales at only a a bit above 106 kg. Is the a bad sign for Joshua fans?

 

Joshua said, “I know I’ve got the possibility of doing it, one hundred per cent. But there’s a process to get there, I just follow my process. Pray to God, and what will be, will be.”

 

Should Joshua win tonight, this will be the tiding for good business for his promoter, Eddie Hearn who is already contemplating a June and December future fight involvements for Joshua against WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

 

Ahmed Musa regrets Golden Eaglets snub

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Ahmed Musa regrets Golden Eaglets snub

Pump-up spirit with a pledge of half million for each Golden Eaglets’ goal in Algeria 2023

 

Musa in a group photograph with Golden Eaglets players in their camp on Wednesday

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Nigeria’s most capped international, Ahmed Musa, regrets never playing for the U17 team in his football career.

 

“You have to work hard. Listen and obey your coaches if you want to succeed at this stage of your football. “Sometimes, I regret that I never played for the Golden Eaglets,” Musa revealed, during his surprise visit to the campsite of Nigeria’s U17 team, the Golden Eaglets, at the Parkview Hotel in Abuja on Wednesday.

 

“I promise and I assure you that you will be rewarded with ₦500,000.00 for every goal scored at the U17 AFCON in Algeria next month. Remember to always play as a team. If you are a defender, play with your mates, same for you that is a midfielder. Do not be selfish as a striker.”

 

 The former Leicester of England attacker urged the players to endeavor to continue the rich youth football culture of Nigeria, and to make a name for themselves and their families. 

 

“You have to make use of this opportunity. You are not the best in Nigeria. Many players out there are better than you. The only difference is that you have the opportunity,” Musa stated.

 

“You have to work hard. Pray a lot and be determined to make a name for Nigeria and also for yourselves and your families. Do not miss this great opportunity.”

 

The Super Eagles star also said he was shocked when he was named the Super Eagles captain by former Nigeria Coach, Gernot Rohr.

 

“I was only given five minutes in my debut game for the Super Eagles, but today I am the captain of the team. I never thought I would someday be the captain of the Super Eagles.

 

Musa, who won his 109th cap for the Super Eagles in the 2023 AFCON 1-0 away win over Guinea Bissau in Bissau on Monday, added: “Promise me that you will make Nigerians proud. Football is the only thing that unites our country. Whether you are a Muslim or a Christian does not matter in football. Winning is what Nigerians are looking forward to.”

Leicester City sacks Ndidi and Iheanacho

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Leicester City sacks Ndidi and Iheanacho

Foxes’ boss reveals plan to dump their Nigerian stars if club is relegated from the Premiership at the end of the season

 

Ndidi: Iheanacho can't stop scoring after latest heroics against West Brom | Goal.com SingaporeLeicester City’s endangered specie are in-line for the termination of their contracts in the summer

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Super Eagles’ midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Kelechi Iheanacho’s contracts will not be renewed if Leicester City are relegated at the end of the season.

 

Brendan Rodgers told Leicestershire Live that contracts talks with top players have been put on hold until the club’s battle to avoid relegation is over.

 

“I think it’s less likely that any of those players on expiring contracts will be signed up again in the event of relegation. I think City would start afresh, and all those whose deals are running out would be let go,” Rodgers told Leicestershire live.

 

Ndidi’s and Iheanacho’s contracts will expire in June 2024 . The Foxes currently lie in the 17th spot on the Premier League table, with twenty five matches played so far in the season, and just one point above the relegation zone.

 

Rodgers added “There does seem to be a pause on contracts talks at the moment because of fears over relegation. Either way, I don’t think Ryan Bertrand, Victor Kristiansen, and Luke Thomas will get a deal but Daniel Amartey would be retained to balance the number of central defenders in the club.

 

Rodgers described Ndidi, Iheanacho, Hervey Barnes and James Maddison, as players who will generate the most revenue of any sold players, adding that there are plenty of others who may move on, that might fetch a fair bit of revenue.

 

“For example, Castagne (Timothy), is at least a twenty million pounds player. So there would be enough funds to spend on building the club in the Championship if Leicester is relegated,” the Foxes’ boss said.

 

Leicester city were relegated from the Premiership in 2003/2004 season with thirty-eight points along with Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wonderers.

 

Guinea U-23 2-0 Nigeria U-23

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Guinea U-23 2-0 Nigeria U-23

Morocco 2023: Olympic Eagles fails to qualify for U-23 AFCON finals

 

Dosu Laments U-23 Eagles Failure To Qualify For AFCON After Defeat To Guinea - Complete Sports

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles have come short of making it to this year’s U-23 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 2-0 to Guinea in the second leg of their final qualifying fixture in Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday.

 

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Abuja on Wednesday last week, the Eagles had the opportunity of more training sessions together to take the game to the Guineans on neutral ground, as Guinea does not have an approved venue in their country to host international football.

 

Both teams fought hard on the turf of the Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan for one hour, before Guinea took the lead, then added a second goal 15 minutes later to the consternation of the Nigeria squad and head coach Salisu Yusuf.

 

Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, for a team that emerged champions of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015 and reached the finals staged in Egypt four years ago.  

 

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