French Ligue 1
HEART OF GOLD SUPER EAGLE, MOSES SIMON GIVES BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY
Super Eagles’ forward Moses Simon has felt compelled, for the second time in seven months, to come to the aid of his community in Nigeria.
The 25-year-old has financed the installation of a drainage system and the construction of the main road to help tackle flooding in Benue.
Last September Simon, who plays in France for Ligue 1 side Nantes, funded the building of water pumps in his village, Obagaji Agatu, to halt the community’s age-long reliance on a stream for potable water.
The lack of access to some of the most basic necessities in his father’s hometown of Obagaji Agatu and other communities is something that bothers Simon.
“It’s important to step in where the politicians have decided not to help,” Simon, who now has a street named after him, told BBC Sport Africa.
“Imagine in 2021 we are talking of people without potable water and desperately praying for protection ahead of the rains and floods.
“These people deserve more from the government because they put all their trust in them only to be disappointed.
“As sports people we can all do more to make our people happy, some are already doing and very supportive of their community but we can’t stop.”
The head of the community, James Ucheche, said he was touched by the footballer’s decision to again extend a helping hand to the area.
“We cannot thank Moses Simon enough for his amazing works as he continues to go way beyond alleviating the challenges of his people,” he said.
“He personally provided three boreholes for the community. Not a non-governmental organisation, but an individual who wants the development of his community.
“We are grateful and thankful for this incredible gesture to sank boreholes, fix the road and install a drainage system.”
Born and bred in Kaduna state in the northern part of Nigeria, Simon has previously carried out several philanthropic projects especially in Southern Kaduna and in Benue state.
He also stepped in to ease the impact of the coronavirus on the community by making contribution to some families living in financial hardship during the lockdown.
He follows in the footsteps of current football stars doing charitable work, including the likes of Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi, William Troost-Ekong, Oghenekaro Etebo and Odion Ighalo.
In 2017 Ighalo, the top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, built an orphanage to cater for children in his country.
The Ighalo Orphanage Home in Ijegun, an island suburb north of Lagos, reportedly cost the Saudi-based striker US$1.4 million .
It houses between 30 to 40 children and has separate apartments for boys and girls.
They take abandoned babies and pledge to look after them – with the approval of the state authority – until they reach 18, teaching academic studies and sports.
-Oluwashina Okeleji/BBC
Paul Pogba has joined AS Monaco on a free transfer after signing a two-year contract, the Ligue 1 club said on Saturday, as the 32-year-old French midfielder looks to revive his career following a doping ban.
Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban in February 2024 after testing positive for DHEA, which boosts testosterone levels. The suspension was cut to 18 months after a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Italian club Juventus announced in November that they had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, which was due to expire in June 2026.
The 2018 World Cup winner had a disappointing second spell with Juventus due to injuries after returning to the Turin-based club following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022.
Pogba was signed by United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of 89 million pounds ($122 million) but the four-times Serie A champion won only two trophies with the Premier League club — the League Cup and Europa League in his first season.
He last played for France in 2022 but knee surgery prevented him from appearing at the World Cup in Qatar.
Monaco finished third behind Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain and Olympique de Marseille last season.
-Reuters
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After Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi signed a contract extension with French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain, he became the World’s most-paid fullback.
The Moroccan international will earn a staggering €70 million in wages over his new five-year deal, cementing his status as football’s highest-paid defender.
He signed a contract extension with the French champions until 2029. The new deal adds three years to his previous contract, which was set to expire in 2026.
His net salary is increasing from €10 million to €14 million per season (€28 million gross).
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The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee and Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, is almost certain to leave the Serie A in the coming winter transfer window following interest from Premiership but the biggest interest is from Paris Saint Germaine.
The AFCON 2024 silver medal winner with Nigeria has been on the radar of the London side, West Ham United and three other sides from the league but all is more certain that the London club will find it difficult to compete for the signature of Atalanta star according to Football Insider.
Reports have suggested that the Irons are ready to swoop for the Nigeria international in the January transfer window.
However, sources say there will be “huge interest” from Europe in the 27-year-old ex-Everton star.
Paris Saint-Germain will be the frontrunner for the forward if he becomes available in the coming months.
Additionally, Lookman plays in the same area of the pitch as West Ham’s big-money summer signings Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme.
The London-born has raised his stock with his displays for Atalanta since joining from RB Leipzig in 2022.
He finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings this year after leading the Italian side to a Europa League title last term.
Lookman has already hit five goals and contributed five assists in 10 games across all competitions this term.
The forward, who is under contract until June 2026, hit 17 goals and notched 10 assists in 45 appearances last season.
West Ham are unlikely to have serious funds to spend in the January window after their lavish spending in the off-season.
Julen Lopetegui’s side started slowly and sat 13th in the Premier League after nine games.
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