Sports
Osimhen named CAF men’s player of the year — first Nigerian since 1999
Victor Osimhen, Super Eagles striker, has been crowned 2023 CAF men’s ‘Player of the Year.’
The 24-year-old was announced the winner of the gong at the gala held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday.
Osimhen garnered the highest votes to defeat Egypt’s Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi of Morroco to win the coveted individual prize for male African footballers.
The Napoli striker became the first Nigerian to win the CAF men’s Player of the Year since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Osimhen had a laurel-laden 2023, which started with leading Napoli to the club’s first Italian Serie A title in 30 years.
The Eagles striker scored 25 league goals to become the league’s highest goalscorer, setting the record as the first African footballer to achieve the feat.
He was also instrumental for Nigeria during the AFCON 2024 qualification campaign and was the top goalscorer in the series with ten goals.
Osimhen was named the eighth best male footballer in the world at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October. He finished higher than any other Africans on the list. He also became the first Nigerian to be named in the top ten of the Ballon d’Or.
He recently won the Italian Footballers’ Association (IFA) Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 season, in which he was the highest goalscorer in the league with 25 goals.
Osimhen joins the illustrious list of male Nigerian footballers who have men named the best players on the continent. The list includes Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Kanu, who won the prize twice.
Sports
Adeyemi defeats Adekanla to clinch West Africa boxing title
Segun Adeyemi has been crowned the West African Boxing Union (WABU) light welterweight champion.
Adeyemi, popularly known as War, defeated compatriot Adeyemi Adekanla via majority decision to claim the regional belt on Wednesday at GOtv Boxing Night 31 held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The victory was Adeyemi’s 11th win in 12 professional fights with just one draw. His opponent was also undefeated before the bout, with 12 wins in 13 professional fights.
In other bouts, the 16-year-old Raheem “Badoo” Animashaun secured a fourth-round technical knockout win over Samuel Moses in their national light welterweight challenge fight.
Badoo’s performance in the fight earned him the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for the best boxer of the night with N1 million cash prize.
The teenager is the son of Jamiu “Rotor” Animashaun, a former professional boxer who fought in the first two editions of GOtv Boxing Night.
Also, on the night, Adewale “Playboy” Oladeji sealed a unanimous decision win over Afikun “Ijebu” Gbenga in their super welterweight encounter.
Emmanuel “Ability” Abimbola secured a split decision win over Azeez “Latest” Ayobami in a national lightweight challenge fight, while Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan defeated Batholomew “Aboy” Abuchi via technical knockout in their national super featherweight challenge duel.
However, the national flyweight challenge bout between Sikiru “Isho” Ogunyaju and the current national flyweight champion, Sifon “Best” Iwatt, ended in a tie.
Also, the national light welterweight challenge fight between Hammed “Eshe” Ganiyu and Yusuf “Hungry Lion” was declared a no-contest after the latter sustained an injury in the second round from a headbutt by his opponent.
Sports
19 years later, NFF still owes me salary as Eagles coach, says Christian Chukwu
Christian Chukwu, former Super Eagles captain, says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) still owes him salary from his time as the country’s male senior national team head coach.
Chukwu, nicknamed “The Chairman”, was head coach of the Eagles between 2002 and 2005.
He led the team to a bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.
The manager was relieved of the job in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the World Cup in Germany.
In a chat with The Athletic Nigeria on Monday, Chukwu said 19 years after his stint with the Eagles, NFF is yet to pay him some of his salary from the period.
The Chairman added that he is not the only indigenous coach owed by the federation, adding that some of the victims are dead now.
“They owe Nigerian coaches. They don’t owe foreign coaches. It is a problem. You take on an indigenous coach who takes a cheap salary, and you owe him,” Chukwu said.
“Is it proper? Are you encouraging him to do his job? I am still being owed up to today. They are still owing me till tomorrow. My files are there with the NFF. There is nothing I can do [to get them to pay me]. The file is there. Go to their office, and you will see how much they owe me. Not only me, other indeginuos coaches are being owed too. Some are late.”
In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his leg. The family had to open a GoFundMe appeal to solicit funds for the Nigeria football legend’s medical treatment.
Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman, eventually paid $50,000 for Chukwu’s treatment overseas.
Chukwu captained Nigeria to its first AFCON success in 1980. He also led the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977.
Sports
Nnadozie wins best goalkeeper of the season award in France
Chiamaka Nnadozie, Super Falcons of Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, has been voted the season’s best goalkeeper in the French Division 1 Feminine League.
The 23-year-old was announced the award winner on Monday night. She received the individual accolade following a stellar season in which she garnered a reputation as a penalty expert, saving seven spot-kicks in the league and Champions League, the highest in Europe this season.
Notre gardienne @Nadoziechiamaka est élue 𝐌𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 🥇✨
— Paris FC Féminines (@PFC_feminines) April 29, 2024
🔵⚪️ #CertifiéParis #TrophéesD1Arkema pic.twitter.com/mMOzaG7jxk
Her penalty-saving heroics saw her lead Paris FC to shoot-out wins over giants Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League. She also guided the Paris-based club to the semi-final stage of the competition where they were knocked out by rivals Lyon.
Speaking at the event, the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year winner said she is “very happy” to have won the award.
On his part, Pierre Ferracci, president of the club, praised the Nigerian goalkeeper.
“It’s very pleasing, because she deserves it and she achieved an exceptional Champions League and not only on penalties. She is adorable. It is deserved. We know that she will be courted this summer but we will try to keep her,” Ferracci added.
Paris FC are third in the League with 42 points, eight points behind Paris, their local rivals, and a further 11 points away from Lyon, the league leaders.
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