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‘I must go back to South Africa’ – Nwabali dismisses talks of leaving Chippa United amid threats
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Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has confirmed he will return to Chippa United after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
There have been speculations linking the 27-year-old away from the South African club.
Added to that, Nwabali has been the subject of threats from fans in the country, after Nigeria beat Bafana Bafana at the tournament.
Nwabali saved two spot-kicks during the shoot-out as South Africa were eliminated in the semi-final.
But the goalkeeper has insisted he will be back at the Chilli Boys.
“I must go back to my club, but talking about the threats, this is football,” Nwabali said according to BluePrint as reported by KickOff.
“You can’t threaten someone because they also won some other teams too.
“How about if those they beat decided to keep threatening your players, would it make sense?
“It’s football, I don’t think there’s anything attached to it. Maybe it was just someone writing on social media.
“It’s cool to me because I spoke to my [Chippa United] chairman three days ago, but he didn’t say anything like all that stuff.
“So, he felt like, ‘No, it’s cool, you can come back’. I must go back to my club because they own me.”
Following the report of his contract expiration with the Super Eagles after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Jose Peseiro has emerged as a potential candidate for the coaching position of the Algeria national team.
Reports from Algeria suggest that the Portuguese coach is being seriously considered to lead the Desert Foxes.
Alongside Peseiro, former coaches Carlos Queiroz and others have also been associated with the job.
Naija News understands that the Algeria Football Federation is actively searching for a new coach after the team’s disappointing performance in Cote d’Ivoire, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
It is worth noting that Peseiro has previously been linked with a prominent Egyptian club, Zamalek.
Recall that Peseiro led Nigeria to the 2023 AFCON final but failed to secure the title for the Super Eagles after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the list of players included in the official XI for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) team of the tournament.
Three Super Eagles of Nigeria players were included in the list released by CAF. They are captain William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, and Ola Aina.
South Africa has two representatives in the team, DR Congo has two, Equatorial Guinea has one, while the host nation, Ivory Coast, has three players in the team of the tournament.
The team is coached by Ivory Coast manager, Emerse Fae.
Here’s a full list of the team
Goalkeeper – Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
Defender – William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
Defender – Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo)
Left Back – Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast)
Right back – Ola Aina (Nigeria)
Midfielder – Teboho Mokoena (South Africa)
Midfielder – Jean Michael Seri (Ivory Coast)
Midfielder – Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast)
Left Winger – Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Right Winger – Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Striker – Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)
Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen has once again taken a stand against the cyberbullying of his colleague, Alex Iwobi.
Iwobi, who faced severe criticism from fans blaming him for the AFCON defeat, was forced to delete his social media account to escape the relentless trolling.
Super Eagles’ stars, including Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, have rallied behind Iwobi, expressing their love and support for the embattled player.
In a recent interview, Osimhen condemned the cyberbullying and called on Nigerian football fans to adopt a more constructive approach in expressing their opinions about players’ performances.
Osimhen emphasized the human aspect of football players, stating that they are not immune to the emotional toll of harsh criticism.
He urged fans to remember that footballers are people with feelings, and constructive criticism could go a long way in motivating players to improve their performance.
The Napoli striker pointed out the importance of fostering a positive environment for players, especially during challenging times.
Osimhen acknowledged that criticism is part of the game but stressed the need for it to be delivered in a manner that encourages growth rather than tearing down the morale of players.
Moreover, Osimhen revealed that the team has reached out to Alex Iwobi to offer support and encouragement.
He assured fans that Iwobi is resilient and remains committed to giving his best for the country in future competitions.
Osimhen urged fans to stand behind their national team and players, especially during challenging moments in the world of football.
See below;
Media
"Some of our fans should do better...What they have done to Alex (Iwobi) is out of this world and is not good"
— ???? @???????????????????????????????????????????????????? (@OneJoblessBoy) February 13, 2024
- Victor Osimhen pic.twitter.com/LnPkcWfgd7
Video of Ivorian goalkeeper allegedly 'wearing juju' during AFCON final sparks speculation [VIDEO]
Admin![Video of Ivorian goalkeeper allegedly 'wearing juju' during AFCON final sparks speculation [VIDEO]](/media/k2/items/cache/a94809cb02e56cb7466b08dab8f7bd6b_M.jpg?t=20240214_073529)
A video of Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana has caused a buzz online after an unusual item, allegedly ‘Juju,’ was tied around his waist during AFON final match against the Super Eagles.
The video, which surfaced online, shows a black material tied around the goalkeeper’s waist with a white rope, leading to speculations among viewers.
The video, allegedly taken during the match, has fueled rumours and suggestions that the black material might be a fetishistic item, possibly voodoo or juju .
Video sparks speculation over Ivorian goalkeeper's alleged use of fetish item
The controversy has intensified as fans and observers question whether such alleged rituals could have played a role in the Ivory Coast team’s performance, particularly in the AFCON finals.
It is noteworthy that Within Nigeria has not independently verified the authenticity of the video.
Media
Be like ivory coast use jazz for us during that AFCON final ???????? pic.twitter.com/flxEzcytQM
— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) February 13, 2024
Explains Why Osimhen Struggled At 2023 AFCON
Former Super Eagles of Nigeria assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has explained that Victor Osimhen struggled at the 2023 AFCON because he was made to be too involved in defensive duties.
Victor Osimhen, who scored ten goals during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, managed to record just one goal throughout the tournament, as three of his other goals were cancelled after VAR interventions.
He was also seen limping towards the end of almost every game at the tournament, especially in the final against Ivory Coast on Sunday, February 11, which the hosts won with a 2-1 scoreline.
In his analysis of Victor Osimhen’s performance at the tournament, Amuneke, who discovered and nurtured the 25-year-old Napoli striker in the under-17 phase of his career, argued that the team’s defensive pattern at the 2023 AFCON didn’t work for Osimhen.
“You know in this AFCON, Osimhen spent a lot of time helping the team to defend, and when you have a striker that is so dangerous, move a lot, and then at the end of the day he is coming to defend. I think it reduces his quality”, Amuneke told News Central TV..
“Osimhen is a player that when you look at him, moves a lot and needs players that can actually, you know, give him those balls into spaces where he can become effective and functional.”
He added, “Chukwueze and Simon Moses likewise but of course, you must have players that can complement the effort of these players.”
Meanwhile, Amuneke, who was Super Eagles assistant coach under Austine Eguavoen during the 2021 AFCON, in which Nigeria finished in the round of 16, had said he is ready to head the team.
The current coach of the team, Jose Peseiro, is out of contract, and he expects the Nigeria Football Federation to extend his stay with the team, having accomplished the ultimatum of reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 AFCON.
However, there is a lot of push for the Portuguese tactician to be sacked due to his defensive style of football, which is believed to be one of the reasons Nigeria lost to Ivory Coast in the 2023 AFCON final.
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the future of Jose Peseiro, most football pundits believe Amuneke should be appointed to replace the Portuguese tactician.
While reacting to that in an interview with Central Television, Amuneke said: “I am a Nigerian, all my life I have served Nigeria as a player. If Nigerians now find me fit to add value to the team, of course, it is a welcome development.
“But for now it is not necessary to talk about this issue.
“We have to support the team and other Nigerians, they are going through a lot of sadness.
“We all want the best for our country, the best for our football. This has to be respected.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has received Premier League directors and owners’ test approval for his 25 per cent purchase of Manchester United.
A deal will be completed within days as the Football Association signs off a final agreement after Ratcliffe extended his purchase offer until the end of this week.
United’s Class A shares rose more than six per cent to $21 (£16.57) in post-market trading after the tender offer deadline was extended to Friday from Tuesday.
Club filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) overnight confirmed the league has privately approved the deal.
A Premier League statement confirming the decision is only expected once Ratcliffe completes, however, which is likely next week.
Filings confirmed there was no doubt as far as United’s shareholding set-up is concerned that the Ratcliffe deal will be done. By February 9, around 36.7 per cent of the outstanding Class A Shares had been “been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer,” the documents confirm.
Premier League approval for the deal is confirmed in the filing’s offer terms.
“Premier League Approval” has “already been obtained”, the document confirms, but the Football Association Approval is still awaited.
Ratcliffe, 71, has agreed to gain complete control of football operations as part of his deal for a minority shareholding but the Glazers have since agreed that Ineos should have a broader influence encompassing key decisions across the business.
Telegraph Sport detailed last week how plans include eventually creating a “Wembley of the North” under an ambitious 90,000-seater redevelopment of Old Trafford.
The Ratcliffe deal is now all-but-done after an extraordinary saga which saw the Glazers first start exploring a sale in Nov 2022.
A bump in share values overnight erased losses from earlier in the trading day on Monday amid speculation over whether the offer would be extended. In December, Ratcliffe agreed to buy the stake by allowing investors to swap about one-quarter of their Class A stock holdings for $33 per share, well above the current market price.
As of the close of Friday, 19.4 million shares had been validly tendered, according to the regulatory filing – which means Ratcliffe has already passed the threshold to complete his deal.
United’s American owners are set for a cash windfall of around £715 million from the sale of B shares to Ratcliffe. That eye-watering sum adds to earnings of around £465 million through past sales of A shares and around £150 million in dividend payments.
However, it was announced in previous regulatory filing that there will be no dividends paid for at least three years under Ratcliffe’s deal with the Glazers.
United were acquired by the Glazers for around £790 million in a hostile takeover in 2005, since when around £1 billion has been sucked out of the club in debt repayment, interest and management fees to service the leveraged buyout.
In addition to purchasing the Glazer shares, Ratcliffe – through his Isle of Man investment vehicle Trawlers Ltd – is buying up to 25 per cent of Class A shares at the same $33 per share price so as to minimise any risk of legal action from other minority shareholders such as Eminence Capital, Lindsell Train and Ariel Investments.
The deal values United’s equity at around $5.4 billion and gives the club an overall enterprise value of $6.3 billion, almost £5 billion.
Ratcliffe has also pledged an additional $300 million (£237 million) to invest in Old Trafford and infrastructure needs. The Oldham-born billionaire will have first refusal for a period of 12 months if the Glazers opted to sell more B shares in the future.
Equally, “drag-along” rights included in the deal mean Ratcliffe would be obliged to sell his shares subject to him receiving a $33 per share cash offer from the Glazers should they decide on a full sale 18 months from now.
A drag-along right is a provision or clause in an agreement that enables a majority shareholder to force a minority shareholder to join in the sale of the company.
[Leadership]
Jose Peseiro has expressed sadness at Nigeria’s failure to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Ivory Coast.
Peseiro beat all odds, including financial constraints and injuries to key players to lead the Super Eagles to the final of the 2203 AFCON.
Peseiro’s men were unbeaten in six games, drawing against Equatorial Guinea and securing victories over Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, Angola, and South Africa to reach the final.
However, they lost 2-1 against the host in the final on Sunday.
In a tweet via his X account, Peseiro also said the Super Eagles are very proud of the tournament they played.
“We are sad for not having been able to win this title for Nigeria. But we are very proud of the tournament we played,” Peseiro, who is currently out of contract, tweeted.
“Guys, only we know how much we suffered and fought to have reached this final. I can’t find the words to thank everyone for what we did and achieved. I am grateful.”
[DailyPost]
Cote d’Ivoire has announced Monday a work-free day to celebrate the the Elephants’ African Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory.
The hosts overcame Nigeria 2-1 on Sunday night to claim their third AFCON title.
Eight minutes before halftime, the Super Eagles took the lead through William Troost-Ekong.
However, Emerse Fae’s team scored twice after the break, thanks to Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller.
The locals celebrated the team’s victory into the night.
Meanwhile, Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium will host a trophy parade today.
President Alssanne Quattara and other top government officials are expected to be present.
During the parade, the president is expected to give cash reward to the players and their officials.
Cote d’Ivoire youngster, Simon Adingra has said the Elephants’ win against Nigeria was one of the best moments of his career.
Adingra bagged two assists as Cote d’Ivoire defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
The Brighton & Hove Albion star was almost unplayable in the game with his runs and dribbles causing problems for the Nigerian defence.
The winger was named Man of the Match after the game.
Adingra also won the Young Player of the Tournament award.
He also credited the effort of his teammates in winning their third tittle in history.
“We did it together, we’re Africa champions and it’s incredible. I’ve just experienced one of the most beautiful moments of my life, and that’s down to the effort of everyone in the team,” he told CAFonline.com.
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Stanley Nwabali, Super Eagles goalkeeper, has apologised to Nigerians after the team lost to Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Super Eagles were defeated 2-1 by the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the final held at the Olympic Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Sunday.
Nigeria took the lead in the match after William Troost-Ekong scored a powerful header in the first half, but Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller scored in the second half for the Ivorians.
The loss was a disappointing end to a tournament that had revived the interest of many Nigerians in the Eagles.
In a post on his Instagram page, Nwabali described the loss as a “frustrating end”, adding that the team takes full responsibility.
The goalkeeper added he understands “how it feels giving you a disappointing night” while appreciating Nigerians for their support of the team’s AFCON campaign.
“A disappointing and frustrating end. I deeply apologise to Nigerians,” the post reads.
Nigeria’s vice-president, Kashim Shettima has eulogised the Super Eagles despite the team’s failure to win the title at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles fell to a 2-1 defeat against hosts, Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the competition on Sunday night.
Shettima, who watched the game live at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, stated that the players will be rewarded for their gallant effort in the game.
“We have tried our best and be rest assured that there is always the next time. You must have it in mind that the tragedy of life lies in not reaching your goal but the tragedy lies in not having a goal to reach,” the country’s number two citizen stated while addressing the players and their officials after the game.
“It is not a calamity to die with a dream, but it is a calamity when you don’t have a dream at all.
“A lot of countries, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and others exited the competition, two, three weeks ago.
“We have come this far, be rest assured that we will come back stronger in the next edition. There is cause for celebration. We are second best in Africa.
“You don’t have to be sad. We have every reason to celebrate. The nation is proud of you. You are the source of our unity. It is only when the Super Eagles are playing that we don’t talk about race or religion. You always unite the nation.
“The nation is in grief, but the nation is in solidarity with you. Be rest assured that your name will be written in gold in the history of football in Nigeria.
“I convey to you, the wish and regards from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There is no need for you to be sad. On Wednesday, we were celebrating and we came so close today. We lost the game within just 15 minutes.
“That’s what football is all about. We must understand that whichever way the pendulum swings, the trophy is still for Africa. It is the Africa Cup of unity and it came to West Africa.
“There is every cause for us to celebrate and rejoice. There is every cause for us to unite. Look at our mistakes and correct them in the next edition.
“Honestly, we are very proud of you and the nation will adequately compensate you for your sacrifice. You came close, there is no cause for you to be remorseful or sad. There is no reason for us to be sad or remorseful.”
Super Eagles on-field Captain, William Troost-Ekong, has been crowned the Best Player of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The Nigeria’s Captain outjumped Nottingham Forest’s Serge Aurier to score his third goal of the tournament and give the Super Eagles a 1-0 lead in the AFCON final on Sunday night.
South Africa goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, won the ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ award after his heroics to power the Bafana Bafana to a third-placed finish ahead of Nigerian keeper, Stanley Nwabali.
Equatorial Guinea’s Emilo Nsue, who from the group stage nicked five goals, got the top goal scorer award.
Cote D’Ivoire coach, Emerse Fae, won the ‘Coach of the Tournament’ while South Africa won the Fair Play award.
Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong, made bruising tackles, led the defence and team vocally from the back, and even scored for Nigeria, emerging as one of the more outstanding players in Super Eagles squad.
[Leadershtp]
Cote d’Ivoire head coach, Emerse Fae has revealed the key to his side’s victory against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Les Elephants edged Jose Peseiro’s side 2-1 in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Sunday night.
It was the West Africans third AFCON title.
“We noticed the Nigerian players were tired in the first half. They were not at their usual best,” Fae said after the game.
“I told my players during the half-time break that we must increase the intensity of our game and it worked out well for us.
“It was not an easy game but the good thing is that we won at the end of the day.”