Jose Peseiro, the newly appointed Super Eagles coach, has asked Nigerians to give him enough time to build a ‘formidable’ team, after Nigeria’s 2-1 win against Sierra Leone in the opening fixture of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
The Portuguese has had a difficult start after losing his first two games against Mexico and Ecuador in an international friendly.
In the game against Sierra Leone, the Super Eagles came from behind after conceding in just 11th minute of the game due to a defensive error.
The three-time African champions responded well as goals from Alex Iwobi and Victory Osimhen was enough to get all three points.
Algeria and USM Algiers midfielder Billel Ben Hamouda has passed away.
The 24-year-old died in a tragic car accident while he was on his way back home after featuring in a friendly game for the Desert Foxes against DR Congo.
In a post on Twitter by Algerian Football Association, the death of the attacking midfielder was confirmed.
The player was involved in a car accident on Thursday night while returning with a friend to his home in the city of Hajout, about 70 km from the “July 5” stadium in Algiers.
Hamouda is one of the most prominent players in the Federation and the National Championship during the past few years.
His death has left African football in pain as they deal with the devastating effect of Benhamouda’s unfortunate demise.
Aston Villa manager, Steven Gerrard has said his team will fend its walls against Manchester City in their Premier League final day match.
Naija News understands that Aston Villa is the only lifeline for Liverpool to become English Champions again.
Should Villa hold Man City to a draw or win on the final day match, Pep Guardiola’s side will forfeit the Premier League title to Liverpool if only the Reds could also win their match against Wolves.
The possibility of Man City losing to Villa at the Etihad Stadium is, however, narrow.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Gerrard who was lamenting his side’s position this season, described the 2021/2022 EPL campaign results as unacceptable.
Speaking to Sky Sports after a 1-1 draw with Burnley in their last home fixture of the season, Gerrard said his side cannot afford to finish 14th again in the EPL log.
Naija News understands that Villa players had taken a celebratory lap around Villa Park on Thursday after their 1-1 draw with Burnley.
The former Liverpool player turned coach, however, cautioned that the club must step up next season, and sign in more capable players.
Gerrard said: “Moving forward, this club cannot finish 14th again. We need to change things and come back better and stronger next season.
“The first part of the job was to stay safe, but we wanted to finish in the top half. Moving forward we need to improve in a lot of departments. We need to recruit well,” the Villa boss noted.
Speaking about Villa’s clash with Man City on the final day of this season, Gerrard said, “we’ll try and make it as difficult as we can for them. We will fight for everything we can.”
Jose Peseiro has been named as the Super Eagles head coach, months after his initial deal with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) collapsed.
An NFF statement on Sunday said the appointment is “with immediate effect, subject to the signing of agreed terms” between the football body and the Portuguese.
“Peseiro is expected to lead out the Super Eagles for the first time during the upcoming tour of the United States of America, during which the three-time African champions will slug it out with Mexico and Ecuador ‘A’ Teams in prestige friendlies,” the statement added.
“The Eagles will tango with the El Tri at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, State of Texas on Saturday, 28th May before flying to New Jersey to confront Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, 2nd June.”
Gobet247: New Betting Platform Launches in Nigeria, Promises Exciting Rewards
…sign up and get a N250 bonus
The burgeoning betting industry will inevitably experience an intense revolution when Gobet247 makes its grand entry into the Nigerian market on May 14, 2022, the new betting firm has said.
Gobet247, a Nigerian company, said it is committed to rewarding the passion of Nigerians by creating a world-class and hassle-free experience for the betting populace.
With more bonuses, great odds and instant payouts, the firm said Gobet247 is raising the bar in the Nigerian betting industry, with offerings that are mouth-watering and the delivery that is stimulating.
The company noted that fans would get a N250 welcome bonus once they sign up via the user-friendly platform; https://gobet247.com with no deposit required. Upon first deposit, punters would also get a 100% bonus.
According to the General Manager of the betting firm, Damian Okosun, “Gobet247 online platform is an easy-to-use on desktop and mobile phones as bookmakers can seamlessly register, deposit, place their bets and withdraw their winnings without hassles.
“We are committed to providing the fastest payout in the industry and that is an experience our customers will find out by the time we roll out nationwide on May 14.”
“We are creating a brand that the gaming populace will trust; a platform that offers the pundits the opportunity to access their winnings in a twinkle of an eye. More so, punters can earn more using our platform for their gaming activities because our odds are highly competitive.”
He said the customers can’t be worried about the security of their identities and funds, insisting that the top-class technology deployed by the firm makes the platform among the most-secured betting websites in the country.
“Choosing Gobet247.com, one of the most secured online betting sites in Nigeria, you can be sure of getting 250% accumulation bonus and sign up bonus with no deposit required,” the online gambling platform manager noted.
Okosun added that although Nigerians are more passionate about football, the platform covers many sports including volleyball, tennis, basketball, ice hockey, boxing, MMA, and table tennis among others.
“Our offerings also capture those who like to play casino; there is an opportunity for those that play lotto. They can play these games live. We certainly have more markets and our customers are going to enjoy more matches and leagues compared to our competitors,” he added.
The new Super Eagles coach will be named latest Thursday, the Nigerian Football Federation has said.
The president of the country’s football body, Amaju Pinnick, told a local media that Portuguese born Jose Peseiro is one of the leading contenders.
The NFF had sacked Gernot Rohr in December 2021 after failing to meet expectation. He was with the team for 64 months.
The NFF appointed Austin Eguavoen who led the Super Eagles team that finished in third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt back in 2006 as interim Technical Adviser.
The governing body of the NFF had in December last year picked Peseiro as the new coach, but Eguavoen was retained to lead the Eagles to the African Cup of Nations and World Cup Qualifiers where the team lost both.
“All the minister wants is fair play and not just Peseiro, he wants us to weigh other options and we will be announcing the new Eagles coach latest by Thursday,” PUNCH quoted Pinnick.
He added, “I don’t know who that will be yet, because we are talking to many of them and we’ve had zoom meetings with them.”
Big names like ex- Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde, ex-PSG and France coach Laurent Blanc, former PSV Eindhoven manager Phillip Cocu and former Sampdoria and Cagliari manager Walter Zenga are Rohr’s likely replacement.
Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Dortmund, Erling Haaland, has reportedly completed and passed medicals at Manchester City.
The English Premier League top club are keen to receive the 21-year-old striker at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s side is said to have complete all necessary arrangements for Haaland’s move and an official announcement will be made soon.
Haaland has long been linked with a transfer to one of the European elites, but Man City made a smart move for the forward to beat other competitors.
Renowned football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, on Monday, confirmed that Haaland completed his medical assessments by City before returning to Dortmund.
An official announcement is expected to be made before the week runs out.
Reports had claimed Haaland’s contract would be sealed with a payment of around £64m, but according to Romano, the actual cost is a fair bit cheaper, at roughly £51m.
Haaland has scored 85 goals in 88 appearances for Dortmund since his arrival from Red Bull Salzburg back in the January transfer window of 2020. And he now looks set to follow in his father’s footsteps, with Alf-Inge also previously representing City.
With Haaland’s move to City, Guardiola’s side would further be a threat to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and more in the chase to win the Premier League in seasons to come.
Todd Boehly’s consortium has signed an agreement to purchase Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, the English club have confirmed.
The deal was announced by Chelsea on Saturday after Abramovic put the club for sale in March.
The deal is expected to be completed in late May subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, according to the club.
Chelsea were given May 31, 2022 as deadline to find a new owner for the club, after it sanction the Russian owner.
Abramovich hired the the Raine Group to oversee the sale of the club.
Raine Group have chosen a preferred bidder, headed by the LA Dodgers part-owner – which includes backing from Clearlake Capital, a US investment company .
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for a new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjoerg Wyss, to acquire the Club,” the club said in a statement seen by THE WHISTLER.
The group defeated the £4.25bn bidder Jim Ratcliffe and other consortiums led by Stephen Pagliuca and Martin Broughton to become the new owners.
Chelsea said, “Of the total investment being made, £2.5bn will be applied to purchase the shares in the Club and such proceeds will be deposited into a frozen UK bank account with the intention to donate 100 per cent to charitable causes as confirmed by Roman Abramovich.
“In addition, the proposed new owners will commit £1.75bn in further investment for the benefit of the Club. This includes investments in Stamford Bridge, the Academy, the Women’s Team and Kingsmeadow and continued funding for the Chelsea Foundation.”
Manchester United has appointed former Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag, as new United manager.
Dutchman will replaces Ralf Rangnick as the manager.
Official statement by Manchester United and Ajax confirms the agreement had been sealed.
Based on the deal, Hag will stay at Oldtrafford until June 2025 and an option to extend till June 2026.
United said the 52-year-old Dutch will become the manager at the end of the 2021/22 season.
United said, “The evolution in Ten Hag’s reputation has been meticulous, mirroring a rise which has been methodical rather than meteoric. A sharp, ball-playing central defender in his playing days, Erik spent the majority of his career spread across three stints with FC Twente, with whom he won the KNVB Cup in 2001.
“After hanging up his boots, a steady ascent up the coaching ladder began, inevitably within the familiar ranks at Twente. When former Reds no.2 Steve McClaren was made manager in 2008, Erik stepped up to become assistant manager and made an immediate impression.”
Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has blamed the referee for his team’s Champions League exit.
After suffering defeat to Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, Tuchel during an interview faulted Szymon Marciniak for not reviewing VAR himself when Marcos Alonso’s goal was overruled.
Tuchel’s side went to Spain on Tuesday after going down 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the clash.
But the Blues made an impressive start leading the Madrid 3-0 by the 75th minute. The match was forced to the extra time where Madrid squeezed in 2 goals to qualify on 5-4 aggregate.
“I think this is the very, very worst time to do this,” Tuchel said.
“After 126 minutes with one team giving their heart and desire, fighting to the very last drop.
“I know Carlo is a gentleman and a nice guy but when I wanted to go and say thank you (to the referee, Zymon Marciniak) I see him smiling and laughing loudly with the opponent coach (Ancelotti). I think it’s very, very bad timing.”
The Blues manager also expressed disappointment that the referee failed to review a goal scored by his team in the 62nd minute which was cancelled by VAR.
Tuchel lamented, “If you play against Real Madrid you can maybe not expect everybody to have the courage. I felt little decisions went against us also in the first leg and today as well.
“I did not see the goal but I told him I’m super disappointed he didn’t go to check it himself. You should stay the boss and not give decisions like this to somebody in a chair and isolated from the atmosphere.
“A referee has a certain style, things he allows and doesn’t allow, so I think he should stay in charge and check it on his own, then he could explain it better.
“But this is just my opinion. Maybe it’s too much to ask for in matches like this against this opponent.”
