AFCON
FC BARCELONA TARGETS NIGERIA’S ODION IGHALO
Leading 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifying goal scorer, Odion Ighalo may soon become Nigeria’s highest profiled player if he succeeds in the winter’s transfer market from his relegated Chinese side, Changchun Yatai to FC Barcelona.
According to Barcelona page of Spanish publication, Tribuna, Barcelona are following closely as they want to bring an experienced striker to cover up for Munir El Haddadi Mohamed’s departure.
If Ighalo moves to Barcelona, he will join the class of Nigerians to have had links with the club after Emmanuel Amuneke and Gbenga Okunowo as well as Haruna Babangida, Ezekiel Bassey, Godswill Ekpolo and Elvis Ogude Onyema who featured in Barcelona B team.
Tribuna reports that Munir has grown tired of being constantly snubbed by Ernesto Valverde so he joined fellow La Liga rivals Sevilla for just one million euros. However, the Catalans still need to bolster their attack as Luis Suarez definitely needs more rest.
According to Diario Sport, Barcelona have already sent scouts to China to monitor the progress of Odion Ighalo from Changchun Yatai.
The 29-year-old Nigeria international used to play for Granada and Watford before joining the Chinese Super League side for 25 million pounds. During his Premier League times, he scored 27 goals in two seasons.
Ighalo took part in the 2018 World Cup tournament in Russia but failed to make a lasting impression. The Nigerian thrives in China with 21 league goals in 28 matches; nevertheless, the 29-year-old is reportedly interested in the possibility of returning to Spain especially with the mighty Catalan giants knocking on his door.
Diario Sport also state Barcelona are currently choosing between Morata and Ighalo. Surely, the Nigerian would be less expensive, however, his footballing qualities and overall experience cannot be compared to those of the former Real Madrid star.
AFCON
Libya sacks coach ahead of AFCON qualifying back-to-back matches with Nigeria
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has sacked its Serbian coach, Milutin Sredojević who is popularly known as Micho.
This is coming ahead of Libya’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations clashes with Nigeria next month.
Paradoxically, Sports Village Square gathered that the coach’s contract was only recently renewed for six months before the axe fell on the Serbian.
His sack was precipitated by the results obtained in their teo matches of the AFCON qualifiers.
Libya drew 1-1 with Rwanda at home and lost 2-1 away to Benin Republic despite beig a goal up at half time.
The Libyan side, Mediterranean Knights are due to play against the Nigeria Super Eagles in Uyo on 6 October while the return leg holds on 14 October at the 11 July Stadium in Tripoli.
According to information Sports Village Square gathered from Tripoli, the Mediterranean Knights’ coach, Micho led the Libyan national team to win nine matches since taking over in October of last year, he failed to build a strong team due to his poor choices.
He also took a risk with the footballers chosen in the AFCON qualifiers, and the result was shocking to the Libyan sports audience.
According to sources close to the Libyan Football Federation, there is a strong tendency to sign a national coach to lead the Libyan team during the remaining qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
AFCON
CAF president blasts Ghana, others over stadium ban
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has lashed out at Ghana and some other African countries whose home grounds were recently banned from hosting CAF matches owing to inadequate facilities. He made the remarks in Nairobi, Kenya during a press conference,
After the MatchDay 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, CAF ruled Ghana’s Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi as being inadequate to host international matches. Being the only approved ground in the country, Ghana will now look towards either Cote d’Ivoire or Togo for their remaining home matches of the Afcon qualifiers.
Other African countries without approved home grounds are: Djibouti, Chad, Niger, Eritrea, Gabon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, São Tomé and Burundi.
Motsepe voiced his frustration over the recurring issue of nations being unable to host home games.
“Nothing frustrates me more than a national team or club side having to play home matches outside,” he stated.
He stressed the significance of playing in front of home fans, adding, “You can’t grow football if the national teams or club sides aren’t playing in front of their home fans.”
Motsepe reiterated CAF’s commitment to working with countries to ensure they have at least one suitable stadium to host international fixtures.
“Our conversations in every country are to make sure there is at least one stadium capable of hosting a CAF category C game,” he emphasized.
AFCON
Present and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen
The on-going CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Coaches Symposium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire has brought together, the last three coaches that handled the Nigeria national football team.
Gernot Rohr, Jose Peseiro and Austin Eguavoen are part of the the elite coaches currently gathered in Abidjan.
Gernot Rohr whose tenure of 5 years and 55 matches is the longest ever by any coach in Nigeria, is currently handling Nigeria’s Africa Cupof Nations and World Cup qualifying rivals, Benin Republic. He was succeeded in the interim by Austin Eguavoen who is currently having another interim stint.
Peseiro left his position after the Africa Cup of Nations
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