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Nigeria’s Osayi-Samuel Freed, Teammates, Trabzonspor Punished Over Pitch Invasion

<p><img width="547" height="401" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot_20240318-094918.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="It was a very dramatic weekend for Super Eagles of Nigeria defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who went beyond defending the goalpost to defending his teammates at Fenerbahçe." decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot_20240318-094918.jpg 547w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot_20240318-094918-300x220.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px" /></p> <h2><a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/03/26/bright-osayi-samuel-explains-why-he-had-to-beat-up-trabzonspors-fan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Super Eagles of Nigeria defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel</a>, will not be punished for punching a pitch invader on March 17.</h2> <p>The actions of Osayi-Samuel <em>“did not meet the threshold for a violation of disciplinary rules,”</em> according to a statement from Turkish Football Federation (TFF) disciplinary committee.</p> <p>Recall that Osayi-Samuel and two of his teammates at Fenerbahce <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/04/01/super-eagles-bright-osayi-samuel-to-face-panel-in-turkey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were invited to face a disciplinary penal </a>over their encounter with the pitch invaders that stormed the pitch after Fenerbahce's away 3-2 win over Trabzonspor.</p> <p>After the victory at Papara Park stadium on March 17, some Trabzonspor fans stormed the pitch and attacked Fenerbahce players as they were celebrating the win.</p> <p>Osayi-Samuel punched one of the pitch invaders and landed on him because the invader was reportedly trying to attack him and his teammates with a knife.</p> <p>TFF disciplinary committee deemed Osayi-Samuel's action as self-defense, hence, he wasn't punished after facing the disciplinary penal.</p> <p>However, his other two teammates, Dutch defender Jayden Oosterwolde and goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat, were slammed with a game ban and fined over their role in the incident.</p> <p>The TFF's board decided to punish Oosterwolde because he kicked a pitch invader who wasn't attempting to attack him.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Trabzonspor will play six of their home games behind closed doors as punishment for the pitch invasion. The club will also pay two fines which amounts to 3.1 million Turkish lira over the incident.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/04/03/nigerias-osayi-samuel-freed-teammates-trabzonspor-punished-over-pitch-invasion/">Nigeria’s Osayi-Samuel Freed, Teammates, Trabzonspor Punished Over Pitch Invasion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>

mingooland · · 2 min read
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General

Xabi Alonso Gives Fitness Update On Victor Boniface

<p><img width="688" height="402" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240402-181546.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240402-181546.jpg 688w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240402-181546-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 688px) 100vw, 688px" /></p> <h2><a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/03/29/jurgen-klopp-reacts-as-xabi-alonso-confirms-next-move/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The manager of Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso</a> has confirmed that Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface will be available for their DFB-Pokal semi-final game against Düsseldorf at BayArena on Wednesday, April 3.</h2> <p>Victor Boniface has been struggling with an adductor injury since January. He had to undergo surgery to treat the injury.</p> <p>Due to the injury, he withdrew from the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2023 AFCON squad. In his absence, the Nigerian team finished second in the tournament in Ivory Coast.</p> <p>Also, the absence of Victor Boniface has not stopped Bayer Leverkusen from maintaining their unbeaten run in all competitions. They are the only club in the top five leagues in Europe who are yet to taste defeat this season.</p> <p>Hence, the return of Boniface who has scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 23 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen is seen as a big boost for an already vibrant side.</p> <p>Ahead of Bayer Leverkusen's DFB-Pokal semi-final game against Düsseldorf, coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that Boniface has been training hard, and he is set to play his first game in 2024.</p> <p><em>“We have no injured players. Everyone could be available for the squad,”</em> Alonso told a press conference.</p> <p><em>“Boniface could play a part of the game. He trained hard and came through it with a strong mentality. He can’t wait to be back on the pitch.”</em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/04/02/xabi-alonso-gives-fitness-update-on-victor-boniface/">Xabi Alonso Gives Fitness Update On Victor Boniface</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>

mingooland · · 2 min read
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Sports

Pep Guardiola Gives Update On Ake, Walker, Stone After Arsenal Draw

<p><img width="615" height="409" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/images-2023-12-08T202333.652_1702063511.jpeg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Man City Have Been Handed Brutal Reality Check - Pep Guardiola On City's 4-Game Winless Streak" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/images-2023-12-08T202333.652_1702063511.jpeg 615w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/images-2023-12-08T202333.652_1702063511-300x200.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px" /></p> <h2><a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/03/15/pep-guardiola-reacts-to-manchester-citys-ucl-draw-with-real-madrid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola</a> has noted that the injury Nathan Ake sustained in the club's 0-0 draw with Arsenal might keep him sidelined for a while.</h2> <p>Pep Guardiola also noted that Kyle Walker will remain sidelined a bit longer, while John Stones is expected to return to full fitness soon.</p> <p>During Arsenal's visit to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, March 31, coach Guardiola had to substitute Ake for Rico Lewis in the 27th minute because the 29-year-old Dutch defender sustained an injury.</p> <p>Before the game that ended 0-0, Manchester City lost their two English defenders, Kyle Walker and John Stones to injuries.</p> <p>Walker sustained an injury while playing for England against Brazil on March 23; Stone sustained his injury while playing for England against Belgium on March 26.</p> <p>Due to fitness issues, Pep Guardiola had to make do without the star players as his team <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/03/31/manchester-city-fail-to-beat-arsenal-at-etihad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed to score a goal against Arsenal in front of their home fans on Sunday.</a></p> <p>After the game, the Spanish tactician told Sky Sports that Ake's fitness issues could be because he played two games in one week.</p> <p><em>“It is what it is",</em> the former FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager said.</p> <p><em>“[Ake] played two games this week [including] with the national team in Holland. John will be better soon, I think. Kyle will be longer, now Nathan will be longer.”</em></p> <p>Note that Manchester City are currently sitting third on the league table, three points behind first-placed Liverpool, and a point behind second-placed Arsenal.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/04/01/pep-guardiola-gives-update-on-ake-walker-stone-after-arsenal-draw/">Pep Guardiola Gives Update On Ake, Walker, Stone After Arsenal Draw</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>

mingooland · · 2 min read
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General

Mauricio Pochettino Laments After Chelsea’s 2-2 Draw With Ten-Man Burnley

<p><img width="632" height="364" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot_20240331-063729.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot_20240331-063729.jpg 632w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot_20240331-063729-300x173.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 632px) 100vw, 632px" /></p> <h2><a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/03/11/pochettino-urges-his-players-to-inform-chelsea-owners-if-they-need-jose-mourinho/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The manager of Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino</a> has admitted that he wasn't happy with the performance of his team after an abysmal outing against relegation-threatened Burnley.</h2> <p>Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea played from the 40th minute of the Premier League game with a man advantage after Burnley's Lorenz Assignon was red-carded in the first half.</p> <p>Four minutes after the red card, Cole Palmer gave Chelsea the lead in the 44th minute via the penalty spot and most football enthusiasts thought Burnley would suffer a whitewash at Stamford Bridge.</p> <p>Interestingly, Burley's coach Vincent Kompany was able to set up his team in such a way that the team came back as early as in the 47th minute of the second half.</p> <p>In the 78th minute, Chelsea restored their lead courtesy of Cole Palmer's strike. The lead didn't last for more than three minutes before ten-man Burnley equalized in the 81st minute through the boots of Dara O'Shea.</p> <p>The game ended 2-2 as Chelsea maintained their 11th spot with 40 points in 28 games, while Burnley maintained their 19th spot with 18 points in 30 games.</p> <p>After the draw on Saturday, Pochettino said, <em>“Today we didn’t show the capacity, the energy, the hunger. Not the minimum to compete in the Premier League. In the defensive phases, we concede too much.</em></p> <p><em>“That is why I’m so upset and disappointed. It’s more here (in the heart) and here (in the head) than in your legs. It’s about being strong like a group, strong like a team.</em></p> <p><em>“We are too slow evolving in this area. That was the key today. But when we didn’t have the ball, we didn’t have the same energy.</em></p> <p><em>“Today, sorry, I am not happy with the performance when we don’t have the ball. It’s difficult to accept not to win. It was a must-win game.”</em></p> <p>He continued: <em>“The players need to realize that competing is different from playing football. We can be there and play, but we need to increase our level.</em></p> <p><em>“It’s not about blaming the players. Maybe we (the coaching staff) need to be tougher with them.</em></p> <p><em>“We need to be more ruthless, find better communication, be more competitive.</em></p> <p><em>“We are missing something. That’s why we are where we are. When we don’t have the ball we need to increase our capacity to recover it.”</em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/03/31/mauricio-pochettino-laments-after-chelseas-2-2-draw-with-ten-man-burnley/">Mauricio Pochettino Laments After Chelsea’s 2-2 Draw With Ten-Man Burnley</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>

mingooland · · 3 min read
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