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Mikel, A Key To Success Or Failure Of Super Eagles In 2018 World Cup

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6 years ago

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Nigeria’s head coach Gernot Rohr looks to bow to the pressure of removing playmaker John Mikel Obi from the crucial “No 10” role but the former Chelsea defensive midfielder still holds the key to Nigeria’s midfield woes. Mikel was subject to criticism after their 2-0 defeat to Croatia as the captain failed to inspire his teammates despite being fielded in the creative midfield role. This have prompted several football analyst including legendary footballer Jay Jay Okocha who voiced out their disdain at the former Chelsea defensive midfielder.

Football analyst and supporters have advised head coach Gernot Rohr to deploy him to the defensive midfield position or to drop him to the bench in the upcoming game against Iceland with legendary footballer Jay Jay Okocha and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho backing the ideas. While the “No 10” role is tasked with the role of creating chances for the wide players and striker, the defensive midfield position is the role tasked with the job of shielding the defense and midfield stability. Nigeria football news reported that the Super eagles captain have shown openness and liberality to any decision the coach takes as he promises to do everything to ensure Nigeria makes it to the knockout stages of the Russia 2018 World cup. When asked about playing in defensive midfield position on Wednesday, Mikel responded “If I have to sacrifice for the team to progress, I will”. “If I have to sacrifice a position, go play wherever, I will do that for this team to win games”.

The deployment of Mikel to the defensive position of the Nigerian midfield might be the key to attaining midfield and overall stability in the Nigerian team. It is no longer news that this was the position that the Super eagles captain operated from in his successful 11yrs stint at Chelsea. Mikel while at Chelsea played under different tactics, managers and players in this position as well as in big games with the famous UEFA Champion’s league final against Bayern Munich in 2012. The Nigeria talisman within his 11yr stint mastered the art of retaining possession with accurate passing of the ball while playing in the defensive midfield role, a rare feat that will prove to be vital when the Nigeria team take on Iceland on Friday. Mikel Obi was also revered in the position due to his flexibility as he complimented his partners, the Nigerian midfielder adapted to difference calibers of midfielders ranging from box-to-box to central midfielders.

The deployment of the Nigerian midfielder in the defense midfield position could provide the stability and platform from attacking minded players could operate from. While former Chelsea footballer offers all this positives in the withdrawn role, his switch in position could have a negative impact on the team. Gernot Rohr have been accustomed to field 3 recognized midfielders in matches in a bid to balance the midfield in case of moments requiring intense defense, the deployment of the Nigerian captain in the defense midfield position could potentially alter the entire team. Mikel despite his experience and quality lacks the pace to keep up with the position. This could prompt another tactical decision to field Onazi, Etebo or Ndidi alongside him. While fielding Onazi affords him less defensive duties at the middle of the park, Etebo or Ndidi playing alongside him could mean that the former Chelsea midfielder will be heavily involved in defensive duties.

Mikel remains the key to unlocking Nigeria’s midfield potential in this world cup irrespective of the position he is deployed to on Friday. Gernot Rohr will need to make a strong tactical decision on Fridaywhether to field the Nigerian skipper in his “Creative role” or “the withdrawn role”.

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Iheanacho, Ndidi promoted back to EPL with Leicester City

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13 hours ago

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April 27, 2024 3:14 pm

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Leicester City gained promotion back to the English Premier League (EPL) on Friday night.

The 2016 EPL champions were relegated last season. The Foxes’ promotion was confirmed following Queens Park Rangers’ 4-0 win over promotion-chasing, second-placed Leeds United.

Leeds United’s defeat means Leicester have an unassailable points haul that ensured they have picked up one of the two automatic promotion tickets.

The Midlands club earlier put their foot at the door with a 5-0 win over Southampton on Tuesday night in a match where Wilfred Ndidi, the Super Eagles of Nigeria midfielder, scored a goal.

Ndidi, who will return to the EPL with Kelechi Iheanacho, his international teammate, also congratulated the club via a post on X.

“Congratulations to me, the boys, the staff the club and the amazing fans.. 2 more to go!!! We back!! 😁,” the 27-year-old midfielder wrote.

Enzo Maresca’s team tops the championship table with 94 points and is well-placed to win an eighth championship title.

The King Power side have a four-point lead with two matches left in the 44-game season.

Leicester can now claim the championship title on Monday with a victory at Preston if third-placed Ipswich fail to beat Hull City on Saturday.

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No talks with Peseiro over Eagles return, says sports minister

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17 hours ago

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April 27, 2024 10:31 am

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John Enoh, minister of sports development, says there is no ongoing negotiation to return Jose Peseiro as Super Eagles head coach.

On Thursday, there were reports that the minister had contacted Peseiro and was negotiating a potential return of the Portuguese to the helm of Nigeria’s men’s national team.

Reacting to the claims in a statement signed by Diana Mary-Nsan, his media aide, the minister described the reports as “entirely false” and “fabricated to create sensation”.

The statement added that Enoh “does not interfere or influence critical decisions of the federations” and “ensures that the federations meet the required expectations and standards in the discharge of their duties”.

Peseiro exited the Eagles role in February after leading the team to a silver medal-winning campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to announce a permanent replacement for the Portuguese since then.

The federation had called for public applications from interested and qualified candidates to fill the role, but little has been let out after.

On April 19, Enoh announced that a new coach would be named within the next two weeks.

Finidi George was the Eagles’ interim head coach for two international friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March.

Finidi led the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Ghana in his first game at the helm but lost 2-0 to Mali in the second game.

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Juventus ordered to pay Ronaldo €9.7m unpaid salaries

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1 week ago

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April 18, 2024 10:01 am

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Juventus must pay Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo 9.7 million euros ($10.4 million) in back wages for the 2020-21 season, the Italian courts announced on Wednesday.

The Court of Arbitration, to which Ronaldo appealed, “orders Juventus Turin to pay the sum of 9,774,166.66 euros”, plus interest and procedural costs, it stated in its decision.

The sum equates to the difference between the salary actually received by Ronaldo and that which he should have received after tax and other deductions.

Ronaldo, who spent three seasons in Italy with Juventus (2018-21) before joining Manchester United (2021-22) and then the Saudi club Al Nassr, was claiming 19.5 million euros but the arbitration panel reduced that by 50 per cent.

Contacted by AFP, Juventus declined to comment, but said it would be issuing a statement “shortly”.

According to the rankings drawn up by the American business magazine Forbes, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was the world’s highest-paid sportsman in 2023, with $136 million, including $46 million in wages.

Juventus, who are listed on the stock exchange, recorded losses of 123.7 million euros in the 2022-23 financial year, which ran to the end of June, it announced in October.

No provision has been made in the accounts of Italian football’s most successful club, currently third in Serie A, for the payment of this wages backlog.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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