SportsNews

World Cup Qualifiers: I can’t beg Osimhen to play for Super Eagles — Head coach Finidi George

Published

1 year ago

June 15, 2024

Super Eagles’ head coach, Finidi George has said he can’t beg the team’s poster boy, Victor Osimhen, to play for the team in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers.

This comes amidst widespread backlash following Super Eagles ‘underwhelming’ performance that saw the team taking the fifth place in the six-team table.

Recall that the Super Eagles failed to win any of their first four games against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Benin in the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers.

Opening up on the turmoil he faced in his first few weeks in charge of the Super Eagles, Finidi said he has not received much support from his employers the NFF and he did not hesitate to fault the commitment of the players to the cause of the national team.

A source told SCORENigeria that Finidi used Osimhen to drive home his point that the country’s top stars are not fully committed to the Super Eagles.

Osimhen was not available for the two all-important World Cup qualifiers with an official explanation that he was injured and sidelined for four weeks.

“Finidi said the Napoli striker could still have managed to play these matches.

The coach will go on to say that it appears that Osimhen chooses the games he plays for Nigeria and he cannot beg him to play for his country,” the source said.

The former Enyimba coach also bemoaned the complete breakdown of discipline in the team and was totally disappointed with how the players strolled into training camp for the crucial World Cup qualifiers.

He said many of these players have the backing of some powerful NFF Board members and that it became increasingly difficult to sanction them because he would often be warned that a player “belonged” to a certain “big man”.

SportsNews

Club World Cup: We’ve never won it before – Vinicius rates Real Madrid’s chances

Published

47 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Real Madrid winger, Vinicius Junior, has expressed confidence that his team will win this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.

According to the Brazilian, the new Club World Cup expanded format is the only title that the Los Blancos have never won before.

According to him, Xabi Alonso’s side are eager to win it because people never forget the first one.

Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s first Club World Cup tie with Al-Hilal on Wednesday, Vinicius said as quoted by Madrid Xtra: “We are eager to win this first Club World Cup because people never forget the first one.

“It’s the only title Real Madrid doesn’t have. We are going for it,” he stated.

Real Madrid are in Group H of the Club World Cup, taking place in the USA.

The Spanish LaLiga giants will also face Pachuca and RB Salzburg in the group stage.

SportsNews

Transfer: Tottenham Hotspur interested in Onyedika

Published

1 day ago

June 15, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Super Eagles midfielder, Raphael Onyedika is on the radar of Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur.

The London club are trying to beef up their squad following the arrival of new manager Thomas Frank.

Frank have reportedly demanded for six new signings.

Onyedika has been linked with a move away from Belgian Pro League outfit, Club Brugge this summer.

The 24-year-old caught the eye with his impressive displays in the UEFA Champions League.

The defensive midfielder helped Club Brugge win the Belgian Cup.

SportsNews

Transfer: Victor Osimhen gives Galatasaray conditions to sign for them

Published

1 day ago

June 15, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

An insider at Galatasaray, Ali Naci Küçük, has revealed that Victor Osimhen has given conditions with which he would consider remaining at the club.

He said it was one of Osimhen’s conditions that led to the club’s signing of Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich.

He said the signing of Sanè was part of their strategy to lure Nigerian highly sought after striker to join them.

Ali Naci Küçük told Futbol Arena Youtube channel viahabersarikirmizi that Osimhen said he would only stay at the Super Lig if they are able bring in new top stars and build a solid team.

Germany international, Sané is all set to move to the Super Lig champions after his contract at Bundesliga champions expires on June 30.

Sane could decide to play for Bayern Munich at the FIFA Club World Cup which started yesterday in the United States of America.

The former Manchester City star already agreed a 3-year deal with the Turkish giants and with a net salary of €9m per season and a loyalty bonus of €3m.

Galatasaray want Osimhen to remain at the club having had a loan spell in which he netted 37 goals and registered eight assists in 41 appearances for the club.

Osimhen, however, is in no hurry to decide his future.

“When Icardi signed for Galatasaray, he said, ‘If we are going to build a strong team, I will stay.’ Osimhen used the same sentence.”

Küçük urged the fans and media to respect the striker’s patience and decision-making process.

“Now let’s talk about the transfer issue. Galatasaray is in a hurry, but Osimhen is not.

“The player needs to be treated with understanding. Galatasaray has done the math well at the moment.”

The Turkish giants are said to have offered the Nigerian €14 million plus bonuses in wages, which the former African Footballer of the Year is currently considering.