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femid@nigeriainfo.fm (Femi D) — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 14:52:33 +0000

2022 WCQ: Osimhen, Iheanacho Star In Super Eagles First Training

Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho caught the eye during the Super Eagles first official training on Tuesday
ahead of Friday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against the Lone Stars of Liberia.

The training session took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

24 players took part in the training session which was supervised by head coach Gernot Rohr.

Osimhen and Iheanacho will look to continue their impressive partnership in training on Wednesday and the duo is expected to lead the team’s attack on Friday.

Goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Francis Uzoho were the other top performers in the team’s training on Tuesday.

NFF, Eagles to review World Cup bonus Thursday

The Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, says the federation and the senior players in the Super Eagles will hold a meeting on Thursday to review their World Cup bonuses.

Pinnick made this known while addressing the players on Tuesday after lunch at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.

The NFF is yet to offset the outstanding bonuses and allowances of the coaches and players of the Eagles, as well as salaries owed the coaches of the team and have blamed it on the global coronavirus pandemic.

The Eagles, drawn in Group C, begin their 2022 World Cup qualifiers on Friday with a home clash against Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

“I like the spirit in the camp and this is the spirit to qualify for the World Cup,” Pinnick said.

“I will be sitting down with the leaders of the team to discuss the World Cup bonus. We must qualify for the World Cup. You win on Friday and you get your bonus.”

Pinnick also revealed that talks are ongoing with an unnamed insurance company to insure the players of the teams.

Covid-19 Rules: UK Govt Almost Ruined Super Eagles Plans -Rohr

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has accused the UK government of planning to ruined his Super Eagles plans by imposing strict COVID-19 regulations that will make it impossible for some key members of his squad to feature in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde.

Rohr, who is expected to have the full squad available for the first game against Liberia, stated this in an interview with Daily Record.

He claimed that England tweaked their regulations to ensure a smooth Euros earlier this year.

“They were able to change everything at the Euros when England hosted it, but they can’t do anything here for the World Cup players.

“All our midfielders will not be there. Our central defence also will not be there. So it will not be easy against a very difficult team like Cape Verde,” Rohr said.

Is it fair to pay administrators and coaches more than players and athletes?

femid@nigeriainfo.fm (Femi D) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:44:00 +0000

Bayelsa government has rewarded indigene players of including Bayelsa United, Bayelsa Queens and Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborududu after their superlative performance in the 2020/2021 Aiteo Cup formerly known as Federation Cup and the Japan 2020 Olympics.
At the ceremony held at the Government House, Yenagoa Governor Douye Diri announced a reward of One Million Naira to each of the twenty-five registered players while Five hundred thousand Naira was the reward to each of the unregistered players.
According to the Governor, each Coach of both clubs will receive 1.3 million Naira while chairmen of the clubs will be rewarded with 1.5 Million Naira each as board members of the clubs will go home with one million Naira.
Olympic silver medalist, Blessing Oborududu got four Million Naira for making Nigeria proud in Japan.

The World Athletics has confirmed Tonobok Okowa as the officially recognised President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
“World Athletics has received information from both elections and based on the information provided, we are now working with the board elected in Abuja.
“The meeting in Abuja was attended by the most voting members plus the National Olympic Committee, and is the board with whom the National Olympic Committee dealt with to enter its team to the Olympic Games,” WA Head of Communications, Nicole Jeffery, said in a statement.
In 2019, former AFN vice president Olamide George led other board members to impeach Gusau (in his first term), but the Abuja High Court and Court of Appeal ruled in Gusau’s favour as president of the country’s athletics body, until WA and Confederation of African Athletics directed that elections must hold latest June 14, where Gusau and Okowa were returned as factional presidents in parallel elections held in Kebbi and Abuja.
World Athletics’ declaration puts an end to the leadership crisis that has rocked the AFN since 2019. Before the official recognition of Okowa as AFN president by WA, the global athletics body had sent the password for the official email of the federation and correspondence between both bodies to Okowa’s camp. The Gusau-led group was previously in the custody of the password.

Memphis Grizzlies have announced the signing of centre Daniel Oturu from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Oturu, who is of Nigerian descent, appeared in 30 games off the bench and averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.4 minutes as a rookie for the Clippers last season.
The 21-year-old was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the University of Minnesota.
According to reports, Oturu will earn around $1.5m annually at his new club.
Oturu, who is in his second NBA season, is eligible to play for D’Tigers having previously represented Nigeria through Team World Select at the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon.

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Exciting sports stories are here on Sports Drive

Covid-19 Rules: UK Govt Almost Ruined Super Eagles Plans -Rohr

Is it fair to pay administrators and coaches more than players and athletes?