SportsNews
World Cup Qualifiers: I can’t beg Osimhen to play for Super Eagles — Head coach Finidi George
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”.
Former Newcastle United striker, Andy Carroll has criticized Alexander Isak for trying to force a move to Liverpool this summer transfer window.
Carroll labelled Isak’s behavior as a shame because Newcastle fans want him to stay at St. James’ Park this season.
Isak has refused to play for Newcastle again and as a result the Swede international has gone on strike.
He will not take part in Newcastle’s Premier League tie against Aston Villa this weekend.
The 25-year-old has made his decision clear he wants to join Liverpool this summer.
Speaking on the development, Carroll told Sky Sports: “Isak is not from Newcastle so he can act like he is acting now and think it is acceptable.
“It is a big move for him. The way he is playing his cards at the minute, the Newcastle fans are not going to back him and it is a shame because he is such a good player and every Newcastle fan wants him to stay, the manager wants him to stay.”
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, has reiterated that there will be no change to the kick-off date for the 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season.
Gusau disclosed this at the NPFL 2025/26 pre-season seminar in Lafia on Friday.
He said it is a positive development that the league calendar now aligns with that of European clubs.
“When we came on board, we had no choice but to opt for an abridged league. This paved the way for achieving uniformity, as our league ended in May last season,” Gusau stated in his address.
“This season, too, we will start on August 22 as scheduled.”
Defending champions Remo Stars will square up against Rivers United in the opening fixture of the new season.
The season is expected to climax in May 2025.
The Anambra Beach Soccer Association says all is set for the second round of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League, due to kick off in Nnewi on August 21.
Okwudili Awam, the Director of Media of ABSA, gave the assurance in Awka on Monday.
”We are thrilled to inform lovers of beach soccer that Anambra will host the second round of the 2025 NBSL commencing on Aug. 21st, 2025″
Awam said the league would be held at the Beach Soccer stadium within the Nnewi High School premises.
He said eight beach soccer clubs, including Kebbi Fishers, Ibom, Nmako Patigi, Kada, Kebbi United, Jigawa Golden Stars, Niger, and hosts Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors, would take part in the league.
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