International Football
Aaron Replaces Iwobi in Super Eagles’ Squad; Ola Aina Doubtful
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
CSKA Moscow forward, Aaron Samuel has been given a late call-up to replace injured Alex Iwobi who has been ruled out of the crucial twin World Cup qualifying fixtures with Cameroon.
The 21 year old Iwobi is a nephew of former Nigerian midfielder and skipper, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha is reportedly down with a thigh muscle strain.
His replacement, Aaron is one of the seven players put on stand bye. He is not the only one getting a late call up as the Nigerian camp opens this Monday in Uyo.
He last played for Nigeria in the 2-0 win over Chad in Kaduna on June 13, 2015. Incidentally, that was also Nigeria’s last match under the late Coach Stephen Keshi.
Aaron debuted for Nigeria on October 15, 2014 in the Africa Cup of Nations match with Sudan in Abuja. It was a scoring debut for him as he scored the last goal of the 3-1 victory. He scored again in his second match, an away 2-0 defeat of Congo in Pointe Noire.
Aaron also played in the 2-2 and 1-1 draws with South Africa in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Also, defender Uche Agbo of Standard Liege in Belgium has been invited as a possible replacement for Hull City right back, Ola Aina whose clearance for international switch is still being awaited from FIFA.
The player whose full name is Temitayo Olufisayo Olaoluwa Aina was born of Nigerian parents on October 8 1996 in Southwark England but had featured for England at youth level.
He was in England’s U-16 team in the 2011/12 season with which he played six matches and moved on to play 11 times for the U-17 side in 2012/13.
Aina later played a match for England’s U-18 and 13 games for the U-19 team from 2013 to 2015. Up till last year, he was in England’s U-20 side.
However, five days after Nigeria played 1-1 with Senegal in a friendly match, Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, met the him and Chuba Akpom of Arsenal ostensibly to persuade him on international switch. It worked. In May, Aina pledged his international future to Nigeria and reportedly obtained a Nigerian passport. There and then, the process of changing his international status began.
International Football
BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/osimhen-jubilates.jpg)
At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m
He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.
International Football
Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-2161934515-scaled-e1725270615569-1024x683-1.jpg)
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.
The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.
“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.
“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.
“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.
Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.
Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
-Reuters
International Football
Quitting Portugal never crossed my mind, says Ronaldo
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/34P2HEWYWJOKBFGYISOZT244ZE.jpg)
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo dismissed suggestions he had considered ending his international career in the near future, adding that post-Euro criticism did not worry him.
Portugal host Croatia in their Nations League opener on Thursday before welcoming Scotland in League A Group One on Sunday.
“That’s all from the press. It never crossed my mind that my cycle (with Portugal) had come to an end. Quite the opposite: it gave me even more motivation to continue to be honest,” Ronaldo told a press conference on Monday.
“The motivation is to come to the national team to win the Nations League … We’ve already won it once and we want to do it again. I might say the same thing over and over again, but I don’t think long term, it’s always short term.”
Ronaldo captained Portugal to success in the opening edition of the Nations League in 2018-19, three years after they became European Champions for the first time in France.
“Until the end of my career, I will always have the mindset that I will be a starter,” Ronaldo added.
“What I feel at the moment, and the coach’s (Roberto Martinez) words also demonstrate this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team and I will be the first (to admit it) if that isn’t the case.
“When I’m (no longer) an asset I will be the first to leave. But I will go with a clear conscience, as always, because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do and what I will continue to do.”
The 39-year-old appeared untroubled by criticism he faced for failing to score at the 2024 European Championship.
“Criticism is great because if it doesn’t exist there’s no progress. It’s always been like this. Is it going to change now? It won’t,” Ronaldo said.
“So I try to follow my path, be as professional as possible, help in the best way possible with my professionalism and not just with goals, assists, discipline, and example, because football is much more than just playing well or scoring a goal.
“The people who give their opinions have never been in a locker room, and I often laugh because it’s the same thing as me talking about Formula 1.
“How can I give my opinion on Formula 1 if I don’t know anything about tires, rims or the weight of the car … It’s normal and that’s why for me criticism is good and part of it, it’s no problem at all.”
-Reuters
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