Osimhen to battle Messi, Mbappe, Haaland for Best FIFA award

Published

2 weeks ago

September 15, 2023 11:30 am

BodexNG

Victor Osimhen, Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, has been nominated for the 2023 Best FIFA Player of the Year award.

The 24-year-old Napoli striker is one of 12 players on the shortlist for the annual award, according to a statement released by FIFA on Thursday.

In the statement, the world football governing body said the nominees were shortlisted based on their achievements during the year in view.

Based on the list, Osimhen will face stiff competition from the likes of Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe.

The striker who led Napoli to its first Serie A title in 33 years is also joined on the list by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, his teammate in Naples.

Osimhen won the Serie A highest goalscorer award last season — becoming the first African to achieve the feat.

The masked striker also finished highest goalscorer of the just-concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier series with ten goals.

Five current Manchester City players make the list, with Ilkay Gundogan who played for Pep Guardiola’s side last season, also on the shortlist.

According to FIFA, the winner will be decided by votes from an international jury comprising national team captains and coaches, journalists, and fans from all over the world.

Osimhen was last week also nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.

FULL LIST:

Julián Álvarez (Argentina / Manchester City FC);
Marcelo Brozović (Croatia / FC Internazionale Milano /Al Nassr FC);
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC);
İlkay Gündoğan (Germany / Manchester City FC /FC Barcelona);
Erling Haaland (Norway / Manchester City FC);
Rodrigo (Rodri) Hernández Cascante (Spain / Manchester City FC);
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia / SSC Napoli);
Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain);
Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain /Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami);
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / SSC Napoli);
Declan Rice (England / West Ham United FC /Arsenal FC);
Bernardo Silva (Portugal / Manchester City FC).

Nigeria loses bid to host AFCON 2027

Published

3 days ago

September 27, 2023 1:55 pm

BodexNG

Nigeria has lost the joint bid with the Benin Republic to host the African Cup of Nations in 2027, as Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are named joint hosts of the 2027 tournament, AFP reports.

This comes after the Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh arrived in Egypt on Tuesday with representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation to bid to host AFCON in 2027.

We report that Nigeria’s only hosting of the AFCON was in 1980 when Christian Chukwu led the team to victory in front of enthusiastic home fans, including former President Shehu Shagari.

The joint hosting with Ghana ended in disappointment as Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions claimed the trophy at the National Stadium in Lagos.

Osimhen’s agent threatens legal action against Napoli

Published

3 days ago

September 27, 2023 11:03 am

BodexNG

Roberto Calendar, the agent of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, on Tuesday said he “reserves the right to take legal action” against the club.

Calenda’s threat came after a video mocking the player was posted and then deleted from the Serie A side’s official TikTok on Tuesday.

He released a statement on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the video caused “very serious damage to the player”.

“What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable.

“A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted,” said Calenda.

“We reserve the right to take legal action and any other useful initiative to protect Victor.”

Napoli did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

Osimhen missed a late penalty kick in a goalless draw against Bologna in Serie A on Sunday.

He was substituted as the game drew to a close and appeared to protest the decision, shouting at coach Rudi Garcia before leaving the pitch.

Later on the French manager, however, played down the situation.

Winners to get N150m as 2023/24 NPFL season kicks off September 30

Published

4 days ago

September 26, 2023 10:53 am

BodexNG

The board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced a new kick-off date for the 2023/24 season.

In a statement on Monday, the board disclosed that the NPFL will commence its new season on September 30.

According to Davidson Owumi, NPFL chief operating officer, the season’s champions would receive ₦150 million, a 50 percent increase from the previous season’s prize money.

He added that the league’s board would also administer a take-off grant of N10 million to each of the 20 teams participating.

“The 20 clubs will, as was done last season, receive a take-off grant of ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000) each to smoothen your operations as the season starts,” the Owumi said.

“We are therefore expecting the Clubs to as a matter of urgency, forward their respective account details to the NPFL Secretariat for the transfer of the said amount as the season is set to commence on Saturday, September 30, 2023.”

The season was scheduled to commence on September 9, with Enyimba billed to face Bendel Insurance in the opening matchday.

But a few days to the date, the kick-off was postponed due to the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which was held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

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