Sports

Big Blow For Nigeria As Victor Osimhen Is Ruled Out Of AFCON 2021

Published

1 year ago

November 23, 2021

NewTimes

Big Blow As Victor Osimhen Is Ruled Out Of 2021 Africa Cup Of Nations

Nigeria have been dealt a major blow as Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations through injury.

The youngster was forced off injured during the Parthenopeans’ 3-2 Serie A defeat to Inter Milan on Sunday evening at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Following a clash of heads with defender Milan Skriniar, he could not complete the game and was replaced by Andrea Petagna four minutes before the hour mark.

The Italian top-flight side, in a statement published on their website, has since revealed how long the former Wolfsburg and Lille player would spend on the sidelines.

“On Tuesday morning, Victor Osimhen was operated on his cheekbone and eye socket by Gianpaolo Tartaro, who was assisted by Dr Mario Santagata with Dr Raffaele Canonico also present,” it read.

“Titanium plates and screws were used in the operation. The player is doing well and will remain under observation for the next few days.

“Osimhen is expected to return to action in three months.”

If this is anything to go by, Osimhen will not be ready as Gernot Rohr’s side bids to win the biennial African football showpiece for the fourth time in Cameroon.

The Lagos-born striker played a key role in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2022 Fifa World Cup play-offs. Aside from his exploits in Italy, he has scored nine goals in his last ten matches for the three-time African Champions in all competitions.

Also, he will miss at least 16 Serie A fixtures for the Naples-based team – starting with Sunday’s showdown at Lazio.

Before the showdown against Inter, legendary defender Giuseppe Bergomi warned the Black and Blues to raise their defensive line when they come face to face with the African star.

“That the whole department can go into crisis due to Osimhen’s revs. They will have to raise the defensive line and there, in those spaces, he can hurt,” Bergomi said as quoted by Stylo24.

“On the other hand, he [Osimhen] just needs a long throw that he leaves and you don’t catch him anymore. I still remember that at the beginning Spalletti told me that he still had to grow, but now I see that he has found sensitivity in playing the ball on the ground.

“Osimhen. It is one that allows you to play with even lower defence, because when you throw it and go. Like Inter did last year with Lukaku.”

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Sports

30 percent of Pele’s Assets Go To Widow – lawyer

Published

3 weeks ago

March 8, 2023

NewTimes

Pele

The 30 percent of the assets of the late legendary footballer Pele will go to his wife,according to his will disclosed by his lawyer.

The will states that Marcia Cibele Aoki, Pele’s third and last wife, will inherit his mansion in Guaruja, a seaside resort town south of Sao Paulo, where the couple lived, according to her lawyer Luiz Kignel.

Other assets belonging to Pele, who died after battling cancer in late December at age 82, include more real estate and a stake in the Pele brand, Kignel said, adding that a complete inventory has yet to be made.

The remaining 70 percent is reserved for Pele’s children, including an unrecognized daughter that he may have.

“He indicated the possibility of the existence of another daughter, whose recognition will depend on a DNA test, which could not be carried out (on Pele) due to the pandemic and the state of his health,” said Kignel.

According to Kignel, the woman in question is a Brazilian national and she has taken legal steps to be recognized as Pele’s daughter.

In September 2022, a court in Sao Paulo ordered Pele to submit to a DNA test, according to the G1 website. The test must now be performed on one of his seven recognized children.

Sports

Obasanjo Shines, Scores Hat-trick As BBHS Mark 100 Years

Published

2 months ago

January 24, 2023

NewTimes

Obasanjo Shines, Scores Hat-trick As BBHS Mark 100 Years

By John Michael Ojo
It was a moment of joy yesterday in Ogun State as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, captained the football team of Baptist Boy High School, Abeokuta the state capital to a glorious victory in a novelty match as part of the activities lined up to mark the 100th anniversary of the college.

As a former student of the college, Obasanjo who toed the path of contemporary European stars like Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe and Neymar in the match, was the star attraction for spectators, many of whom are also former students of the school.

READ ALSO: Why Nobody Can Stop Me From Supporting Obi – Obasanjo

The encounter which saw the old students battle it out with former teachers of the college ended in a 3-0 victory in favour of the old students with all three goals coming from the former president.

Among the high-profile old students present at the event are Bukola Olopade, a former Sports Commissioner in Ogun State; and Hakeem Akintunde, who is the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the state.

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Sports

Everton Fires Frank Lampard

Published

2 months ago

January 23, 2023

NewTimes

By John Michael Ojo
Relegation threatened Premier League side, Everton has relieved its manager, Frank Lampard of his role as the club’s head coach.

Frank Lampard, a former Chelsea midfielder and coach was sacked on Monday after an agreement was reached by Everton’s board, following a run of poor performances recorded under the tenure of the former British star.

With only three wins so far this season in the Premier League, Everton currently sits in 19th place with 15 points after 20 games played.

READ ALSO: Chelsea Fires Lampard

The news of his sack, was convened to him by Farhad Moshiri, the club’s major shareholder through a telephone call after a 357-day spell in charge of the club.

There have been wide speculations over his sack after Everton’s 2-0 loss to West Ham, with Lampard reportedly in a meeting with Moshiri, Chairman Bill Kenwright and Everton’s Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell.

Frank Lampard took over at Goodison with Everton 16th in the table, six points above the relegation zone.

Everton had 10 defeats in the remaining 18 games of the season, but secured their survival with a 3-2 comeback victory against Crystal Palace on what Lampard called “one of the greatest nights” of his career.

He won only 12 of his 44 matches in charge in all competitions, a win percentage of 27.27 that is far worse than his record at Derby (42.1%) and Chelsea (52.4%).

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