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Napoli offer Osimhen N6.5bn annual salary

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Italian champions, Napoli, have offered Victor Osimhen a new two-year contract extension with a salary worth N6.5bn — €6.5m plus €1m in bonuses.

Osimhen, who has two years left on his contract at Napoli, had demanded a salary of €7m annually to extend his current deal with the Italian champions, who are keen to tie him down to a new deal amidst interests from some of Europe’s top clubs.

The new proposed deal, it was gathered, will include a release clause worth £170m for the Nigerian striker.

The 24-year-old steered the Partenopei to their first title in 33 years scoring 26 goals in 32 games.

“Napoli is in advanced talks to extend his (Osimhen) contract until 2027 with an increase in salary to €6.5m plus €1m as bonuses,” Skysports revealed on Monday.

Rudi Garcia, Napoli’s new manager, confirmed that Osimhen would remain at the club ahead of the new season.

“Of course, I have spoken to Osimhen who wants to stay here to make another great season with Napoli,” Garcia said.

“I can assure you that he (OsImhen) wants to stay, he is happy to be with us and still wants to do great things.”

Osimhen scored 26 goals plus five assists in 32 league appearances for Napoli, and was crucial to the Partenopei winning the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years last season.

He also became the first African to claim the prestigious Capocannoniere award, given to the top scorer in Serie A.

Meanwhile, Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, debunked reports that claimed his client wouldn’t sign a new contract.

Calenda, took to Twitter on Monday to call out a report from Naples-based newspaper Il Mattino as fake news.

“I read in Il Mattino that ‘Calenda has no intention of renewing in the summer and wants to explore all avenues in the market first. Fake news.’”

Osimhen is expected to return to pre-season training on Wednesday.

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NFF unveils Finidi as Eagles coach, announces technical crew

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled Finidi George as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

The federation presented the newly appointed manager to the public on Monday at the media centre of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja

In April, Finidi was appointed as the permanent replacement for Jose Peseiro, who the former Nigerian international worked with as an assistant coach for 20 months.

At the unveiling ceremony, the 53-year-old’s technical crew members were also announced.

Daniel Amokachi, former Super Eagles player, will be the assistant coach. Olatunji Baruwa is named the goalkeeper trainer, Chima Onyeka slots in as fitness trainer and Benjamin James will also be a backroom staff member.

Dignitaries present at the unveiling include John Enoh, minister of sports development; Ibrahim Gusau, president of NFF; and Augustine Eguavoen, technical director of NFF.

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

He 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.

Finidi’s immediate task with the Super Eagles will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.

The Eagles drew their first two games of the campaign to Lesotho and Zimbabwe, lagging behind in third place in Group C.

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Osimhen’s Champions League dream dies as Juventus and Bologna seal European qualification ahead of Napoli

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Napoli’s hopes of European glory have been dealt a severe blow as Juventus and Bologna secure coveted spots in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.

Italian giants Juventus and surprise package Bologna officially booked their places in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League following Atalanta’s crucial victory over Roma, leaving Napoli behind in the race for European football.

Despite Italy securing five UCL participants, last season’s champions Napoli will not be one of them. The Partenopei have put up a disastrous title defence and are in eighth place with only 51 points.

Napoli are nine points away from Roma in sixth place with only two matches left and are mathematically unable to reach the UCL places even if the Serie A gets six representatives in the revamped UCL formats.

Despite Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen’s contribution of 15 goals and four assists in 22 appearances, Napoli’s disappointing campaign is under threat of ending with no promise of European football next season even if Serie A gets the maximum number of slots for the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.

For Juventus, the upcoming Champions League campaign marks a return to Europe’s premier club competition after a one-year absence after being suspended from continental football in the 2023/24 season following their breach of financial fair play regulations, but they have bounced back this season to secure a coveted spot in the revamped Champions League format.

Meanwhile, Bologna’s sealed their first-ever appearance in the main stages of the Champions League after last playing in the qualifying stages for the European Cup in 1964.

Their remarkable achievement caps off a remarkable season under the leadership of former Barcelona and Inter midfielder Thiago Motta

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Amusan sets world leading record in 100m hurdles

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Tobi Amusan ran a world-leading 12.40 seconds (0.9m/s) to win the 100m hurdles at Saturday’s inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston.

The world record holder claimed the win ahead of Danielle Williams, the world champion who ran a season’s best 12.46 seconds, and American Christina Clemons who was third with 12.54 seconds.

The Nigerian has now taken over the world lead from American Tonea Marshall who had run 12.42 seconds in late April.

Amusan’s latest win comes two months before the Paris 2024 Olympics.

John Enoh, the minister of sports development, took to X to congratulate the pace-setter over the feat.

“Tobi, you keep making our country proud. Paris Olympics is around the corner, your performance gives us hope just like others, that Nigeria is set to break a jinx. Keep soaring, we are proud of you,” the minister’s post reads in part.

The 26-year-old recently set a new African record of 7.77s in the 60m hurdles event at the Astana Indoor Meet in Kazakhstan, breaking the 25-year-old record held by Gloria Alozie.

She is expected to spearhead the Nigerian contingent’s hopes for gold medals at the Olympics set to commence on July 26 at France’s national stadium.

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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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