International Football
I’LL SOON BREAK INTO SUPER EAGLES, SAYS VICTOR OSIMHEN
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
It has been a little over two years since Victor Osimhen came from the blues to storm into global limelight with his sublime skills and goal scoring abilities at the 2015 U-17 World Cup where he won the Golden Boot as well as the Silver Ball awards and was part of the five-time champions, Nigeria.
His performance at Chile 2015 also earned him the CAF Youth Player Award. But besides making his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 defeat of Togo nearly six months ago in a June 1 friendly match, his international career appears stagnated.
But the Wolfsburg of Germany striker is not giving up as he told www.sportsvillagesquare.com that he intends to break into the Gernot Rohr’s army that will prosecute the Russia 2018 adventure.
“Everyone has a dream, all am currently aiming is to become the youngest footballer in the current Super Eagles squad that will be jetting out to Russia.
“I believe am not too young. I mean record shows players like Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and host of others made a FIFA World Cup appearance before they clock 20, I can do the same,” he asserts to www.sportsvillagesquare.com.
“Everyone wants to be at the World Cup. I made tremendous records during the Under 17 level and I wish I get such opportunity in next year FIFA World Cup tournament. I have expressed my feelings to Coach Gernot Rohr and his scout, Victor Agali and all they could say was to gear me up to more in improving myself.
“I am currently working hard to meet up to their taste and make my fans proud. I won’t force myself into the team but I will rather show my worth in order to achieve my aim of becoming the youngest Eagles in next year tournament.”
His predecessor in the U-17 tournament of 2013, Kelechi Iheanachor has almost established himself in the Super Eagles, taking a step further than that of Femi Opabunmi who graduated from the U-17 into the Super Eagles but playing just one match, a World Cup confrontation with England at the 2002 tournament.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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