Latest News Archives - Page 17 of 93

Super Eagles’ caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has offered insights into his decision to bench Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi during Nigeria’s goalless AFCON 2025 qualifier against Rwanda, as reported by Soccernet.ng. Despite Osimhen being the reigning African Player of the Year, he started the game from the sidelines for the second consecutive match. Eguavoen opted to bring him on as a substitute in the second half, replacing Victor Boniface. Osimhen, who recently joined Galatasaray on loan, struggled to make an impact, unlike his previous game against Benin, where he found the net. Osimhen’s Fitness Concerns In the post-match press conference, Eguavoen explained that his decision was influenced by Osimhen’s fitness issues after a challenging summer, which included a failed transfer to Chelsea and a falling out with Napoli. “Osimhen is our brother, you can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We know what he is going through in Napoli. He just moved to Galatasaray and has not been playing active football for a while now,” Eguavoen said. He further emphasized the need to manage Osimhen’s fitness carefully, stating, “We are trying to manage his fitness. He played the last 25 minutes in the previous game, and today we had a word with him that he can’t play 90 minutes or else he will get injured.” Awoniyi and Squad Rotation Eguavoen also addressed his decision to limit Taiwo Awoniyi’s playing time, explaining that squad rotation and player fitness were key factors. “Awoniyi had a few minutes at his club before joining us. We have 23 to 40 players to choose from, but only 11 can start. It’s frustrating, but the bonding is there, and everyone is on board,” Eguavoen remarked. Formation and Tactical Challenges The Super Eagles coach acknowledged the difficulty of making tactical changes given the limited preparation time, having had only a few days of training before facing Benin and Rwanda. “We trained for three or four days before the Benin game and then had to come here. It’s very difficult to change formation,” Eguavoen explained. Confidence in Qualification Despite the challenges surrounding fitness and tactics, Eguavoen expressed confidence in the Super Eagles' ability to secure qualification for AFCON 2025

Eguavoen reveals why he named Osimhen and Awoniyi on the bench vs Rwanda

Super Eagles’ caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has offered insights into his decision to bench Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi during Nigeria’s goalless...

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Rwanda coach happy after goalless draw against Nigeria in Kigali

Rwanda head coach Torsten Spittler expressed his delight after his team held Nigeria to a 0-0 draw in their second match of...

Nigeria's youth men's basketball team has continued to make waves in the FIBA U-18 Afrobasket

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Nigeria down Uganda in FIBA U-18 Afrobasket tournament second group game

Nigeria’s youth men’s basketball team has continued to make waves in the FIBA U-18 Afrobasket tournament, defeating Uganda 72-61 in their second...

Nigeria's hopes for a perfect start to their AFCON qualifying campaign were halted as the Super Eagles were held to a goalless draw by Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday.

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Super Eagles player ratings: Nigeria held to goalless draw by Rwanda in AFCON qualifiers

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were forced to a 0-0 draw by Rwanda in their second 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)...

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No two wins in two games for Austin Eguavoen as Nigeria held to a draw by Rwanda

Nigeria’s hopes for a perfect start to their AFCON qualifying campaign were halted as the Super Eagles were held to a goalless...

Former Chelsea winger Victor Moses has made his return to English football after signing with Championship side Luton Town on a free transfer.

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Victor Moses joins English club as a free agent

Former Chelsea winger Victor Moses has made his return to English football after signing with Championship side Luton Town on a free...

We have so much ability in the team - Olisa Ndah

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Super Eagles defender Olisah Ndah eager to make the most of national team return

Super Eagles and Orlando Pirates defender, Olisah Ndah, has expressed his excitement about being recalled to the Nigerian national team after a...

Charles Etim made his much-anticipated Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) debut for Akwa United in a 0-0 draw against Lobi Stars

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Charles Etim makes Impressive NPFL debut as Akwa United settle for draw against Lobi Stars

Former Nigeria U-17 and U-20 international, Charles Etim made his much-anticipated Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) debut for Akwa United in a...

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has congratulated the players and officials of Ibom Angels Football Club for their outstanding success

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Akwa Ibom State Governor celebrates Ibom Angels’ promotion to NWFL

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has congratulated the players and officials of Ibom Angels Football Club for their outstanding success...

Benue State-based Honey Badgers made history on Sunday, September 8, 2024, by securing their first-ever promotion to the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership.

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Honey Badgers make history, Ibom Angels return to NWFL Premiership

Benue State-based Honey Badgers made history on Sunday, September 8, 2024, by securing their first-ever promotion to the Nigeria Women Football League...