Sports
FINIDI SAGA: Brown Ideye Lambast Osimhen ‘I Don’t Care How Many Awards You Have Won’
Super Eagle 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning striker Brown Ideye tong-lashed super Eagles striker and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen for his outburst about coach George Finidi last weekend.
A Nigerian website recently published an unconfirmed report alleging that Finidi George claimed Victor Osimhen expressed reluctance to participate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Recall that it was reported that Finidi George claimed Victor Osimhen expressed reluctance to participate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
According to the report, Finidi stated he would not beg the reigning African Footballer of the Year to represent the country.
In his response to the report, Osimhen went on his official Instagram page Live, and attacked Coach Finidi and attacking Super Eagles fans who had questioned his commitment to the national team.
On his part, the former Eagles striker Brown Ideye on the controversy, placing the blame on Osimhen.
He noted that the current Super Eagles players lack passion and spirit of nationalism, and are not desperate to defend the colours of Nigeria.
In an X space conversation hosted by The Naija Football Conference,
Ideye said: “Coming to what happened between coach Finidi and Victor, a lot of people asked me the best way to go when a coach calls you out.
“I said I’ll get my lawyer, we’ll do a write up on all my social media platforms and I will post it, and I will call the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, speak to him, call the coach.
“What Victor did is wrong, a lot of people can say he had to defend himself. What are you defending, who are you trying to explain to that you have an injury?
“You don’t need to explain to people that you have an injury that’s why you’re not in camp. Call the coach to see if he really said what he said before going out there to your social media platforms.”
Ideye disclosed that he reached out to Osimhen, advising him to apologize to Finidi following his Instagram Live outburst.
“I told him I’m disappointed in you but what you have to do is to go back to that social media and apologize to Nigerians and Finidi because no matter how we want to say it he’s a legend.
“He cleared the road for you like we normally say in Nigeria so you don’t disrespect people like that.
“I don’t care who you are, I don’t care how many awards you have won, I don’t care what you have done in your club.
“Africa’s best player don’t behave the way you behave. I spoke to him you don’t behave like that. You have 2.7 million people watching you on your (Instagram) Live and you are ranting, talking down on a legend.
“It’s not like that, I’m waiting for Victor to apologize, he has to apologize. He just has to do it.”
According to Ideye, the absence of a genuine leader in the present Super Eagles team is evident and he also highlighted that with Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and John Obi Mikel, certain behaviors were simply off-limits during his time with the national team.
SOURCE: All Nigeria Soccer
Nigeria Super Eagles striker and Italy Napoli goal getter, Victor Osimhen was mobbed by Galatasaray fans at the Istanbul Airport, as he arrived in the country ahead of completing a loan move from Napoli.
Nigerian striker left Italy via a private jet, there photographs of fans waiting for him at the airport began to surface on social media.
The fans sang chants and clapped joyfully, with Osimhen reciprocating their affection by joining in.
The 25-year-old is set to sign a one-year loan deal with Galatasaray.
It is understood that the deal has a break clause in January, which allows Osimhen leave for another club if Galatasaray receive a fee.
Napoli have also reduced Napoli’s release clause to €75m.
OLU JAMES RAPHEAL. (LAGOS)
Aftermath of disgraceful exit of former Spee Eagle’s coach, George Finidi, the Nigeria Football Federation has appointed a German, Bruno Labbadia as head coach for Super Eagles.
The NFF mad the appointment announcement on its official X page #thenff.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Super Eagles.”
“The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development sub-committee to appoint Mr Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles,” according to the federation’s General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.
Labbadia becomes the 37th Head Coach of the Super Eagles after the resignation of former coach, Finidi George.
World record holder Tobi Amusan qualified for the 100-meter hurdles semi-finals in the ongoing 2024 Olympics in Paris on Wednesday.
US’ Alaysha Johnson reacts with Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (R) after competing in the women’s 100m hurdles heat of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP)Amusan led the pack of eight athletes with 12.49 seconds, followed by America’s Alaysha Johnson with 12.61 and Jamaica’s Janeek Brown qualified with 12.84 seconds.
US’ Alaysha Johnson reacts with Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (R) after competing in the women’s 100m hurdles heat of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP)
The semi-finals will be held on Friday, August 9, while the final is slated for the penultimate day of the athletics event, Saturday, August 10.
This is Amusan’s third consecutive Olympic Games.