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China sports authorities cancel Argentina vs Nigeria friendly amid backlash over Lionel Messi’s failure to play for Inter Miami in Hong Kong

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The Chinese sporting authorities have cancelled next month’s friendly international between Argentina and Nigeria over Lionel Messi’s failure to play in an Inter Miami friendly match in Hong Kong last week.

Argentina were scheduled to play Nigeria in the Chinese city of Hangzhou next month before facing the Ivory Coast in Beijing, but Messi’s failure to take to the field for Inter Miami in Hong Kong on Sunday sparked outrage among fans.

The organiser of the Hong Kong match said they would give fans a 50% refund for tickets after the former Barcelona star did not take the field during their 4-1 win against Hong Kong All-Stars due to injury, but played in Japan days later.

On Friday, Hangzhou sports authorities announced that Argentina’s friendly against Nigeria would no longer take place.

‘As a commercial event, a company and the Argentinian soccer team negotiated that the team would play a friendly match in March this year in the city of Hangzhou,’ the Hangzhou authorities said in a statement.

“In view of the current well-known reasons, according to the competent authorities, conditions to hold the friendly match are not mature, therefore (we) have decided to cancel it.”

Tatler Asia, a privately owned publishing and lifestyle company, said in a statement on its Instagram page that it was “deeply sorry” and “heartbroken” that fans were let down after Messi stayed on the bench during Sunday’s match.

The match in Hong Kong drew 40,000 fans, with some spectators paying up to nearly HK$5,000 ($640) per ticket.

The cost of all match tickets bought from official channels can be 50% refunded, Tatler said, adding that it had been in discussions with the Hong Kong government to resolve the issue.

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said Messi was deemed unfit to play in the friendly in Hong Kong, but he came on as a 60th minute substitute against Vissel Kobe on Wednesday.

“When we learned that Messi would not be playing, we pleaded with Inter Miami CF ownership and management to urge him to stand up, engage with the spectators and explain why he couldn’t play,” Tatler said.

“He didn’t. The fact that Messi and (team mate Luis) Suarez played in Japan on Feb. 7 feels like another slap in the face.”

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Transfer: €40m paid as Galatasaray, Napoli finalise Osimhen’s deal

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Galatasaray have paid Napoli an initial €40m for Victor Osimhen’s permanent transfer.

According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, Galatasaray and Napoli are now finalising details of Osimhen’s deal.

The Turkish champions will also pay the Serie A champions a €35m in one year for the second part of the payment for the 26-year-old’s transfer.

Romano added that Napoli also set a penalty clause for Galatasaray to avoid selling Osimhen to any Italian club in the next two years.

However, final details to get Osimhen’s deal done and the sell-on clause are yet to be agreed at the moment.

Osimhen spent the whole last season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli and he has already made it clear he wants to continue at the Turkish giants.

The Nigeria striker rejected huge money offers from Saudi Arabia club Al Hilal to continue at Galatasaray.

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Transfer: Osimhen has arrived, Galatasaray reach agreement with two more players

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A sports commentator, Zeki Uzundurukan has insisted that Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has arrived at Galatasaray.

Uzundurukan, who said this while commenting on Galatasaray’s transfer agenda, said that the Turkish champions have also reached an agreement with two more players after securing Osimhen’s permanent transfer deal from Napoli.

“Victor Osimhen had always planned to stay at Galatasaray from the beginning to the end, and the thought of going to Saudi Arabia had never crossed his mind,” Uzundurukan said (via habersarikirmizi).

“President Dursun Özbek managed the process very well. If it had been another Turkish team with €150 million in its coffers, they might not have been able to make this transfer.

“There were those who tried to sabotage Victor Osimhen’s transfer, and there were those who intervened. This transfer happened thanks to Osimhen’s upright stance.

“Osimhen has arrived. Galatasaray has reached an agreement with two more players. One of them is a goalkeeper… They will announce them as well,” he said.

This is coming after Galatasaray vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu insisted that no one can mock the club regarding Osimhen’s permanent transfer.

According to Kavukcu, Osimhen wants to join Galatasaray badly to the extend that the 26-year-old attacker rejected incredible offers from other clubs.

Galatasaray and Napoli had already reached an agreement on bank guarantees and payment plans regarding Osimhen’s transfer.

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WAFCON 2024: We respect Super Falcons, not scared – Zambia captain, Banda

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Ahead of their quarter-final meeting at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Zambia captain, Barbara Banda says they have no fear for the Super Falcons of Nigeria, Ekwutosblog reports.

The Copper Queens are seeking a second consecutive appearance in the semi-final of the competition.

Nora Hauptle’s side went home with the bronze three years ago, edging past Nigeria 1-0 in the third-place match.

The Super Falcons waltzed through Group B without conceding, though yet to hit expected heights.

They still remain a strong force, and have some of the best players on the continent.

Banda, who is the current African Footballer of the Year, declared that they respect the Super Falcons but have no fear for Justine Madugu’s team.

“We are not scared, but we respect them because we know the game is 90-plus, so we are going to speak on the pitch. We want to hunt it,” she told a press conference in Casablanca.

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