Category: Sports

NFF Denies Viral Report Of Eguavoen’s Appointment As Super Eagles’ Interim Coach

NFF Appoints Eguavoen As Super Eagles Interim Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied reports that it appointed former Nigeria international Austin Eguavoen as an interim manager of the Super Eagles.

Naija News recalls that Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro stepped down at the weekend after the expiration of his contract.

Following Peseiro’s resignation, reports emerged in a section of the primary media and social media that the NFF had mandated Eguavoen to step in as the interim manager of the Super Eagles. Enyimba International coach Finidi George, who was Peseiro’s assistant to the recently concluded AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, will serve as Eguavoen’s assistant until the NFF names a substantive manager for the Super Eagles.

But a source at the NFF told The Nation that such a report was a “joke.”

The source dismissed with a wave of the hand the purported Eguavoen’s link to the Super Eagles job, adding that the former national team captain is not even being considered to take over on an interim basis.

The source said: “There’s nothing for Eguavoen as far as I know, and, in fact, nobody ever mentioned him in any capacity for the Super Eagles,” the source said, adding that those thrusting Eguavoen forward for the job are only jokers.

“I think those guys are just joking. Nobody has mentioned Eguavoen as Super Eagles’ interim manager.”

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Borussia Dortmund May Rule Out Permanent Deal For Jadon Sancho

German Bundesliga club, Borussia Dortmund are not planning to keep Manchester United star, Jadon Sancho beyond this summer due to financial complications.

Jadon Sancho had the best of his football career at Borussia Dortmund between 2017 and 2021 before Manchester United signed him for a transfer fee worth €85 million.

He fell out with Manchester United coach, Erik Ten Hag in 2023 which forced the Dutch tactician to throw him out of the team because the 23-year-old winger refused to apologize for calling the coach a liar on social Media.

To save his football career, Manchester United agreed for him to return to Borussia Dortmund where he had the best time of his football career. The loan deal reportedly has a buy option.

Unfortunately, things have not worked out perfectly for Jadon Sancho despite playing more regularly than his last two seasons at Old Trafford.

He has made seven Bundesliga appearances in which he has provided two assists since he returned to Germany on January 11, 2024. But that is not convincing enough for Dortmund to give him a permanent deal no thanks to his big weekly wages which is believed to be over £250,000 per week.

“In the end, it will take money, a lot of money. Definitely more than we have at the moment,” Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl told German TV channel Sport1.

“We got over 80 million euros for Jadon. Manchester United will, of course, have an interest in either taking him back in the summer or selling him again in a deal that makes sense for them. Whether that also makes sense for us will be the next topic.”

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Neymar Hints At Reuniting With Lionel Messi For Third Time

Brazilian forward, Neymar Jr. has stressed that he is looking forward to playing with Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, once again.

Neymar and Lionel Messi first played together at Spanish La Liga giants, FC Barcelona between 2013 and 2017.

During that period, the South American stars won two La Liga, three Copa del Rey, one Supercopa de España, one UEFA Champions League title, and one FIFA Club World Cup together.

The two players alongside Luis Suarez formed one of the most deadly trios in the history of club football during the said period.

Neymar left FC Barcelona for French Ligue 1 serial winners Paris Saint Germain in 2016 which cut short their partnership.

In 2021, Lionel Messi and Neymar reunited once again but this time around at PSG. The 36-year-old forward played with Neymar for two seasons in France before he left for Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami.

Weeks after, Neymar left for Saudi Pro League club, Al Hilal where he has managed to make just three league appearances due to fitness issues.

Due to Neymar’s inability to settle down in Saudi Arabia, there have been speculations that the 32-year-old forward could reunite with Messi at Inter Miami for the third time in his football career.

While at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, Neymar hinted to ESPN that he has not ruled out the possibility of playing with Messi once again.

“I hope we do play together again. Leo is a great person”, he said.

“Anyone in football, everyone knows him. I think he is very happy. If he is happy, I am too.”

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