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Cody Gakpo: Likely Liverpool shirt numbers

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Cody Gakpo: Likely Liverpool shirt numbers

There are plenty of shirt number options for the newly signed £37m star at Anfield

 

 

Cody Gakpo is expected to join Liverpool in January
Cody Gakpo is expected to join Liverpool in January / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages
 

Liverpool is on course to seal the signing of PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo in January and has agreed to a deal worth an initial £37m – rising to £50m with add-ons, for the Netherlands star, Jamie Spencer reports for 90 Min.

.

 

The player had a breakout campaign with PSV in 2021/22, scoring 21 times in all competitions. So far this season, he has been directly involved in 30 goals (12 goals, 17 assists) in 30 club appearances. He also found the net three times for the Netherlands at the World Cup.

 

Gakpo, who was a major reason why PSV tore Premier League leaders Arsenal to pieces in a Europa League game in October, has primarily played on the left flank at the club level. But he showed versatility by operating centrally as either a ‘number nine’ or ‘number 10’ at the World Cup.

 

At Liverpool, his most likely initial route into the team is on the left, where Luis Diaz is currently sidelined and not expected back until March.

 

What shirt number will Cody Gakpo wear for Liverpool?

 

Gakpo has pre-existing connections to a handful of shirt numbers, although none are options for him at Liverpool because they are all currently occupied.

 

Since 2021, Gakpo has made number 11 his own at PSV. At Liverpool, it belongs to Mohamed Salah. He wore number eight at the World Cup, which Naby Keita took at Anfield. The player also established himself at PSV wearing 19, belonging to Harvey Elliott on Merseyside.

 

Gakpo has additionally been known to wear nine and seven for the Netherlands, neither of which are vacant options at Liverpool.

 

The realistic shirt numbers available at Liverpool are 12, 16, 18, 24, and 25, which Gakpo will be breaking new personal ground, having never worn any of them in his career.

 

The number 12 was vacated by Joe Gomez in the summer when he switched to number two, while 18 was worn by another recent January addition, Takumi Minamino, who has since left.

 

Curiously, 25 hasn’t been worn by anyone since Pepe Reina last played for Liverpool in 2013.

English Premier League Festivities Grill 2

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English Premier League Festivities Grill 2

The unpredictable league fresh from the grill

 

 

NBC Sports Grill & Brew is Now Open at Universal Citywalk Hollywood — Cleverly Catheryn

 
 
By Edwin Emeanua
 
In the English premier league (EPL), nothing is given. Rather, everything is up for grabs as teams aim to secure their premiership status for the next season. The EPL Festivities Grill serves the final chapter of our palatable post Xmas football dish.
 
With the awareness that demotion to the league below comes with a huge financial cost and the loss of bragging rights, the EPL has arguably become one of Europe’s most competitive and unpredictable leagues.
 
The first lesson learned in the premiership is that though money can make a great team of expensive stars, shrewd but precise spending at the shark-infested transfer by poorer groups often nullifies the huge disparities between the rich and the poor teams of the EPL.
 
The two games on the slate today-Chelsea versus Bournemouth and Manchester United versus Nottingham Forest- are typical examples of two teams in EPL’s poor cadre roster on an away mission against two of the league’s highly prosperous sides.
 
Yet, it will be inconceivable that Chelsea and Manchester United will underrate their visitors when they clash later today at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford.
 

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

  • Chelsea 17:30 Bournemouth
  • Man Utd  20:00 Nottm Forest
 

Chelsea versus Bournemouth

 
 
Chelsea manager Graham Potter during a press conference at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Tuesday October 4, 2022.
Chelsea manager Graham Potter during a press conference at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
 

Chelsea manager Graham Potter will attempt to start saving his side’s season on Tuesday as his team entertains AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League as the Blues were woefully inconsistent before the World Cup, reports Online Editors for independent.ie.

 

Bournemouth comes into the game with a new owner and a new permanent manager, following Gary O’Neil getting the reins after an impressive spell as caretaker.

 

They beat Everton in their last league outing to sit 14th before kick-off, despite losing four on the bounce before that game.

 

What is the team news?

 

The Blues have real concerns over their squad for many reasons. Wesley Fofana picked up a short-term injury in a friendly recently, so they will miss out – while Armando Borja picked up an ACL injury so he will miss the rest of the season.

 

N’Golo Kante is still sidelined with the issue which saw him miss the World Cup, while Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech probably won’t play as they returned late from Qatar after runs to the final weekend. Finally, there are doubts over Carney Chukwuemeka, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Ben Chilwell – but Reece James should be fit to return.

 

As for the Cherries, they are missing Neto and David Brooks until January, but Jefferson Lerma and Marcus Tavernier are among the key players hoping to return after illness. Lloyd Kelly is back in training after the injury.

 

Predicted lineups

 

Chelsea – Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly, James, Jorginho, Gallagher, Cucurella, Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling

 

Bournemouth – Travers, A Smith, Stephens, Senesi, Zemura, Christie, Cook, Billing, Anthony, Moore, Solanke

 

Manchester United versus Nottingham Forest

 

 

Manchester United's Tyrell Malacia shakes hands with goal scorer Marcus RashfordMarcus Rashford (right) scored in Manchester United’s 2-0 EFL Cup win over Burnley on Wednesday.

 

TEAM NEWS

 

The BBC reports that Manchester United is without defender Lisandro Martinez, who is still celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win.

 

Fellow World Cup finalist Raphael Varane could return, and Harry Maguire faces a fitness test after missing the midweek EFL Cup match with illness.

 

Full-back Diogo Dalet is doubtful to feature today due to a hamstring injury, while winger Jadon Sancho remains unavailable.

 

Nottingham Forest’s Wayne Hennessey is set to start in goal as Dean Henderson is ineligible to face his parent club.

 

Serge Aurier struggles to overcome a calf complaint, and Cheikhou Kouyate is out with a hamstring problem.

 

 

8-1 was the score the last time Manchester United faced Nottingham Forest in the Premier League in February 199. Substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored four that day.

 

 

MATCH FACTS

 

 

Head-to-head

 

  • Manchester United has won the past six meetings in all competitions.
  • This is the first clash between the sides since the Red Devils won 8-1 at the City Ground in February 1999.
  • Forest have lost four of their five Premier League away games against Manchester United, except for a 2-1 win in December 1994 as a newly-promoted side.

 

Manchester United

 

  • Manchester United have won four of their past five Premier League home games, drawing the other.
  • Their only defeat in the previous 19 top-flight matches against newly-promoted opposition came away at Watford in November 2021 (W12, D6).
  • The Red Devils have lost 11 of their 34 league fixtures in 2022. They have not fared worse in a calendar year since losing 12 times in 1990.
  • Erik ten Hag’s side has conceded four Premier League goals at home this season, the fewest of any side.
  • Ten different players scored United’s last ten league goals.
  • Marcus Rashford needs one goal to move level with Eric Cantona on 64 in the Premier League for Manchester United.

 

Nottingham Forest

 

  • Nottingham Forest has earned just two points from seven top-flight away games this season, and Brennan Johnson scored their only away goal in a 1-1 draw with Everton in August.
  • Since that draw at Goodison Park, Forest has failed to score in five Premier League away fixtures – their worst league run without a goal on the road since a seven-match goalless streak in 1970.
  • Jesse Lingard is set to face his former side for the first time – he scored 20 goals in 149 Premier League appearances for Manchester United between 2014 and 2022.
  • Morgan Gibbs-White is vying to become the first Forest player to score in three successive Premier League games since Dougie Freedman in March 1999.
  • Wayne Hennessey is set to make his Forest league debut. His last four top-flight appearances have come in four different years: 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
 
 

English Premier League Festivities Grill

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English Premier League Festivities Grill
The unpredictable league served fresh from the grill
 
 
NBC Sports Grill & Brew is Now Open at Universal Citywalk Hollywood — Cleverly Catheryn
EPL boxing day bash
 
By Edwin Emeanua
 
English premier league actions resume after the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar, allowing clubs to go full throttle to improve or solidify their destinies. 
 
 With cash in hand, clubs are rushing back to the transfer market for more quality addition to their player force as the need to fortify teams for the challenges ahead gains further push.
 
Before this season’s premier league start, no one foresaw that Arsenal would sit atop the league table and Newcastle, their most consistent challenger, with Chelsea sitting in the ninth position after Christmas.  
 
Other perennial big guns of the league-Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and the veritable Manchester United all follow suit in that order, with Brighton and Hove Albion sitting in the sixth spot ahead of mighty Liverpool coming behind in the seventh position.
 
To complete the unbelievable apparition, the newly promoted Fulman is in the eighth spot ahead of the hitherto persistent title contender. Chelsea. 
 
Sports Joust will serve our readers the refreshing news from all major reports of the 2022 shock-filled premier league actions through the premier league festivities grill.
 
 
Wolves claw out from the bottom at Everton’s expense on Lopetegui’s premier league bow
 
 
Iwobi Strikes But Blues Defeated At Wolves
Everton’s Alex Iwobi tries to ply through as Yeri Mina’s early strike is not enough to keep the ravaging Wolves at bay at Goodison park on boxing day
 
Rayan Ait-Nouri snatches dramatic late win for Wolves at Everton, handing Frank Lampard his fourth straight defeat in all competitions despite Yerry Mina’s seventh-minute opener; Daniel Podence equalized for Wolves, who now rise to 17th in the table, Ben Grounds reports for Sky Sports.
 

New Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui marked his Premier League bow with a dramatic late win as Rayan Ait-Nouri’s 95th-minute strike secured a 2-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park, which moved Wolves off the bottom of the table.

The Spaniard saw his side reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals midweek with a victory over Gillingham. Still, Yerry Mina gave Everton the perfect start when he flashed home a header from Dwight McNeil’s corner to mark his return to the team.

Wolves settled and leveled when Joao Moutinho expertly spotted the run of Daniel Podence in a fine move started from a cleverly-worked set-piece.

 

Neither side had done enough to turn one point into three during a tense second half. Still, deep into stoppage time, the Wolves broke upfield, and Adama Traore’s cross was deflected into Ait-Nouri’s path for an untidy but priceless finish.

 

The win moves Wolves to 13 points in 17th place, one position and one point below Everton, following their fourth straight defeat in all competitions to heap the pressure on Frank Lampard.

 

Vieira reacts to Crytal Palace’s defeat by Fulham

Eberechi Eze had an uninspiring outing against Fulham and was sacrificed early after the Mitchell sending off

 

Patrick Vieira says that despite his side’s two red cards in their defeat against Fulham at Selhurst Park, the overall performance let Palace down.

 

“From the first minute, I would say that Fulham was the better team,” he said in his post-match press conference.

 

“We had to do aspects of the game where we weren’t present, and at the end, we get what we deserve.

 

“We didn’t do anything today to get something from that game. It is really difficult to understand right now, and this is one of my frustrations because I was pleased with what I saw in the last couple of weeks of training, and I expected a better performance from the team.

 

“This shows the quality of the Premier League again. Look at Fulham and the team and the quality they have. We still have a lot of work to do to compete, and today we didn’t compete.

 

“Of course, the two red cards didn’t help us, but outside of those situations, it was more the performance from the first minute that let us down.”

 

And the losers are…

 

Miguel Almiron scores Newcastle United's second goal past Danny Ward during the Premier League match against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Miguel Almiron scores Newcastle United’s second goal past Danny Ward during the Premier League match against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. (Image: Marc Atkins)
 

With the ‘Boxing Day’ EPL festivities fixture between Arsenal and Wes Ham United yet to be played, it’s been another dramatic day with a topsy-turvy ending for home teams.

 

Except for Brentford, who drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur, other home sides fell at the swords of their visitors. Even Brentford had to squander a comfortable 2-0 lead to settle for a disappointing draw with their visitors.

 

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodger’s job continues to hang on the precipice. Still, Newcastle’s 3-0 overpower of the former Premier League champions at their King Power stadium may have sent the manager’s job over the edge.

 

Crystal Palace seemed to lack ideas allowing Fulham, their visitors, to run amock at Selhurst Park. For their unprofessional lackadaisy, Crytal Palace was hammered 3-0 by a Fulham team that showed more purpose, grit, and tenacity.

 

If Crystal Palace were rudderless on their home turf against their less illustrious visitors, Everton betrayed the appearance of composure at their Goodison Park home ground, where they lost 1-2 to an inspired Wolverhampton Wanderers despite taking the lead 7 minutes into the encounter.

 

Brighton and Hove Albion continue their flash-in-the-pan ride this season by surpassing their expectations with another deserved 3-1 victory, this time away to Southampton.

 

Less surprising was Aston Villa’s easy 1-3 manhandling by powerhouse Liverpool at Villa Park.

 

  • Brentford  2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 FT
  • Crystal Palace 0 Fulham 3 FT
  • Everton 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 FT
  • Leicester City 0 Newcastle United 3
  • Southampton 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 3 FT
  • Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 3 FT
  • Arsenal 20:00 West Ham United FT

Next Black Stars boss will live in Ghana

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Next Black Stars boss will live in Ghana

GFA boss give prospective Black Stars coach condition for landing the job 

 

Biography of new GFA President, Kurt Okraku

GFA president Kurt Okura

By Rasheed Adewuyi 

 
Kurt Okraku, the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), says the next Black Stars coach must be ready to reside in Ghana throughout his contract.
 
Otto Addo resigned after the Black Stars crashed out of Qatar’s recently concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was shuttling between Ghana and Germany, where he works as Borrousia Durtmond’s assistant coach.
 
Okraku told Joy FM that part of the manager’s job would be to monitor players in the local league and help the GFA invite the best home-based players to the national team B, adding that all these will not be possible if the next coach does not live in Ghana.
 
“The world cup has come and gone, and the Africa cup of nations is around the corner. We must do the right thing for us to get a better result. The GFA  wants to put its house together before the next Afcon, and that’s why the next coach must adhere strictly to all our riders and regulations,” he adds.
 
Sports Joust reliably gathered that top GFA members highly favor former Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton to get the job because of his coaching record in England.
 
Another advantage Houghton has over other applicants is that he was part of the technical crew in charge of the world cup play-off against  Nigeria. He also assisted Addo at the world cup in Qatar.
 
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, ex-Portugal coach Pablo Bento,  Serbia manager Dejan Stojanovic, and Saudi Arabia’s manager Herve Renard have been linked with the Black Stars job.
 
The new manager will be announced in January 2023.

Africa will surpass Morocco’s feat in 2026

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Africa will surpass Morocco’s feat in 2026

CAF  to support members technically and financially before and during the 2026 world cup

 

 

FILE: Patrice Motsepe. Picture: GovernmentZA/Flickr.

FILE: Patrice Motsepe. Picture: GovernmentZA/Flickr

 

 

By Rasheed   Adewuyi

 
Plans are in top gear by the Confederation of African  Football (CAF)  to support all its affiliates technically and financially before and during the 2026 world cup in the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
 
CAF president Dr. Patrice Motsepe who dropped this hint on Thursday in Cairo while reflecting on Morocco’s achievement at the recently concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, said that it is very important to assist all the 54 African nations for any of the continent’s representatives to equal or surpass Morocco’s record at the Mundial in the nearest future.
 
According to Motsepe: “These are proud moments for football on the African continent taking into account the performance of all the five national teams that represented Africa at the world cup in Qatar and in particular the historic achievement of the Atlas Lions of  Morocco that has made us proud.”
 
Motsepe believes that approximately ten African nations can now compete in the world cup and win laurels for the continent.
 
“Still, the best way to achieve this is to help encourage and give them all the technical support that will make them achieve this goal,” he added.
 
“These countries may increase to fifteen anytime soon because CAF will relentlessly assist affiliated members in tapping budding talents at the grass-root level.
 
“The 2022 world cup is an eye opener for our governing body, and we will act on all the lessons learned from the Mundial.”
 
Caf board members are expected to meet in February 2023 to deliberate on these plans and set up sub-committees that will take care of countries that qualify to represent Africa in the 2026 world cup.
 
Morocco is the first African country to qualify for the semifinal of the world cup. They ended the 2022 world cup in Qatar by losing  2-1 to Croatia in the third-place match.

Chijioke Akuneto eyes Super Eagles shirt

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Chijioke Akuneto eyes Super Eagles shirt

Reigning NPFL highest goal scorer set to dump Rivers United for a European club

 

 

 

Chijioke Akuneto Archives - Complete Sports

Chijioke Akuneto in Nigeria’s B Team action against Ghana’s B Team

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

 

Chijioke Akuneto, last season’s Nigeria Profesional Football League (NPFL) highest goal scorer, may not feature for Rivers United when the Pro – league kicks off later this month.

 

Chijioke scored 19 goals from 38 matches at the end of the 2021/ 22 season and won the league with Rivers United. He also received a whopping sum of 3. 8 million naira for his efforts. Each goal he scored cost the NPFL two hundred thousand naira.

 

The former MFM FC of Lagos attacking midfielder says his ambition is to play for the Super Eagles and the best way to fulfill his soccer destiny is to play in one of t the top European leagues.

 

 

“I am a free agent at the moment. I have many offers from foreign clubs that I’m considering for now. My manager is also doing everything possible to get me the best. I need to weigh the clubs and what they’re offering me. God will surely direct me to pick the right club,” he said.

 

Akuneto, who declined to mention the names of the clubs jostling for his signature because of the rules and regulations guiding his contract, explained that his dream club is the one that will give him the exposure he needs to play for the Super Eagles.

 

“Everything is not about money. When you get to the top, you’ll make money. My mission is to play for the national team, and with determination and hard work, my mission will be accomplished,” he added.

 

Akuneto played for the home-based Super Eagles in the Africa Nations qualifier against the Black Stars of Ghana in Lagos and Accra.

 

 

The NPFL 2022/23 league is expected to kick off on the 28 of December 2022.

 

Hugo Lloris regrets world cup loss

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Hugo Lloris regrets world cup loss

Vows France will bounce back for the next world cup

Argentina-France final score: Argentina defeat France in penalty shootout to win 2022 World Cup final - DraftKings Nation

Different strokes: Lionel Messi rejoices over Argentina’s world cup triumph over France as Hugo Lloris despairs over his country’s loss to Argentina

By Rasheed  Adewuyi 

 
France and Tottenham FC of London goalkeeper  Hugo Lloris said his only regret at the 2022 FIFA World cup final was the two first-half goals he conceded against  Argentina.
 
Argentina defeated France 4-2 via penalties to win the FIFA World cup for the third time. They had earlier won it in 1979 and 1986.
 
Lloris told Fox sports that the two first-half goals made the match more difficult for his side because they were exhausted at the end of the regulation time. France canceled the two goals deficit in the second half.
 
“We showed a lot of resilience. Both teams never gave up, making the final more explosive. We stayed strong for the larger part of the second half to the extra time. We had two glaring chances to win the game in the second half of the extra time, but we couldn’t covert them. It’s so sad”, he said.
 
The three-time National Union of Professional Footballers League 1 best goalkeeper award winner also stressed that the next thing for the French players after the world cup is to reflect on their performances throughout the tournament and come back stronger.
 
“We played in the final this year because we wanted to equal our 2018 record in Russia four years ago. We were almost there, but we weren’t lucky this time,” he adds.
 
The former Lyon FC of France goalkeeper assured their supporters that the team will bounce back in the next World cup slated for 2026.
 
The 2026 edition will be co-hosted by the United States of America,  Canada, and Mexico.

Corruption is killing Nigerian football-Taju Disu

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Corruption is killing Nigerian football-Taju Disu

Says godfatherism and bribery also hampering the growth of Nigerian football

 

 

 

My Children Will Never Represent Nigeria – Tajudeen Disu - Soccernet NG

Taju Disu blasts Nigeria’s football officials and coaches for being corrupt

 

 

By Rasheed  Adewuyi 

 

 

 
Former Super Eagles defender Tajudeen Disu has swelled the list of ex-international players castigating the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)  for the national team’s absence at the 2022  FIFA World cup in Qatar.
 
 
Disu, in a chat with Sports Joust, blamed Godfatherism, bribery, and corruption as the major reasons football is dying in Nigeria. The situation could get worse if nothing is done to solve these problems.
 
“How do you expect football to grow in a country where coaches and players don’t get paid, and those that are receiving peanuts are coaches that got the job through their godfathers in the Ministry or NFF,” he fumed.
 
Disu added: “Majority of the coaches doesn’t have integrity. They receive brown envelopes from their godfathers to help them include unqualified players in their team to the detriment of other quality players ahead of major international competitions. They are all stooges.”
 
The former National Bank FC of Lagos and Abiola Babes FC of Abeokuta player said until players are selected on merit for national assignments, the Super Eagles, Flying Eagles, U 23, the Golden Eaglets, and all the female national teams will not make any meaningful impact at the world level.
 
“If Stephen Keshi and Amodu  Shuaib, who served Nigeria meritoriously, could be owed salaries up till this day, you can imagine what the coaches who are willing to help revive soccer in the country will go through if they’re given a chance to be in charge.” he continued.
 
Sven-Göran Erickson, a former England manager, recently said he declined to accept the Super Eagles job because some NFF officials demanded that he ceded a portion of his salary to them before giving him the job.
 
All efforts to get the Nigeria  Football Federation’s (NFF) reaction to this story proved abortive as the NFF communication director Demola Olajire’s phone was permanently switched off.
 

Wasiu Ipaye tips Argentina to beat France

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Wasiu Ipaye tips Argentina to beat France

Former Super Eagles midfielder says Messi would do everything possible to win the match and become the greatest footballer of all time

 

 

 

Worst Foreign Striker - Wasiu Ipaye (No. 9) | KickOff

Wasiu Ipaye (middle)

 

 

By Rasheed  Adewuyi 

 

 
Former Super Eagles midfielder  Wasiu Ipaye has tipped Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Sunday.
 
 
Ipaye, in an interview with Sports Joust on Friday, disclosed that he picked Argentina over France because he thinks  Messi would do everything possible to win the match, and be ranked the greatest footballer of all time. Football fans and pundits have adjudged Pele and Maradona the best in the game’s history.
 
 
“I know it will be very difficult for Argentina because France is also a good side. Messi single-handedly took his team to the final, and I’m sure he’s going to do it again,” Ipaye said.
 
 
The former AS Sogara FC of Garbon player, who predicted that Argentina would beat France by 1-0,  also said the two-time champions would still triumph over their European opponents should the game stretch into extra time.
 
 
“I think Sunday’s final will bring the best out of Messi. He needs the cup more than all the players on both teams because this is his last world cup. Argentina will win it,” he adds.
 
 
 
France defeated Argentina  4-3 in the round of 16  at the 2018  FIFA world cup held in Russia.

‘Bad leadership cost Nigeria world cup spot’

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‘Bad leadership cost Nigeria world cup spot’

Femi Olukanni laments over the poor state of Nigerian football 

 
 
 
Petition · Get Femi Olukanni in the Fresno State Hall of Fame · Change.org
Femi Olukanni in Fresno State colors
 
Rasheed  Adewuyi 
 
 
Former Flying Eagles of Nigeria midfielder Femi Olukanni says Argentina captain Lionel Messi deserves to win the world cup before retiring from the national team.
 
 
On Sunday, Argentina will take on France in Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World cup final.
 
 
Olukanni, in a telephone chat with Sports Joust on Friday, discloses that victory for Argentina against France would help the 7-time world’s best player award winner end his career on a good note.
 
 
“It will not be an easy match for both teams because the world cup finals have always been very tough. France or Argentina, the team that wins it on Sunday, is okay with me, but I know it’s going to be a tough game,” Olukanni says.
 
 
The former Leventis United FC of Ibadan midfielder attributed the absence of the Super Eagles in this year’s world cup to bad leadership and poor preparation for the Mundial.
 
 
“If  Nigeria can not beat any of the African countries that were in Qatar for the 2022  world cup, it simply means that we don’t have any business in Qatar. We continue to allow leaders that can not help develop football to be in charge of our football administration,” he adds.
 
 
Segun Odegbami,  Felix Owolabi, Adokiye Amesiemaka, and other former players will perform better than the current set of administrators,” he adds.
 
 
Olukanni also stresses that the situation in the national team during his time was far better than what is in place now because the economy was good.
 
 
All the players represented the country, not because of money but love for the game.
 
 
“If we put the right people in the right places, Nigerian sports will develop. Many immigrants in the United States are happy to allow their children to represent the US because the system is good.
 
 
He says: “There are too many corrupt people in Nigeria. This is killing our sports.”
 
 
France defeated Argentina 4-3 in the round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World cup held in Russia.
 
 
 
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