Sports

Ex Super Eagles Gaffer Gernot Rohr Sack Is Overdue

Published

3 years ago

December 15, 2021

Ex Super Eagles Gaffer Gernot Rohr Sack Is Overdue

Only recently, a breath of fresh air blew across the Nigeria football landscape with the sacking of the ex Super Eagles Gaffer Gernot Rohr by the Nigeria football federation (NFF) which was long overdue.

Never in our football history have we had a coach like Gernot Rohr who for the over five years that he was in the saddle of managing our senior football team, displayed crass incompetence in team tactics, strategy and players selection that left one wondering what was the criteria adopted in assessing this misfit as qualified to be appointed as the Super Eagles gaffer in the first place?

Since his appointment as the senior national team manager in 2016, Gernot Rohr never impressed anyone except save for his employers and maybe those who engineered his appointment as the Super Eagles coach, because under his leadership, the national team became a dumping ground for unfit and misfit players.

To make matters worse despite all the support and encouragement he got from the football ruling house for the five years that he was in the saddle, Mr. Gernot Rohr continuously picked players without pedigree and didn’t have a defining style of play of beautiful football and win matches even against less ranked national teams.

Under ex coach Gernot Rohr, our senior national team the Super Eagles became like in the words of ex chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Salisu Ibrahim at his pulling out parade in 1994 on retirement from the Army, “One of anything goes”.

As a football devotee, his period was the worst in our football history with mediocre display which made a lot of football enthusiasts to lose interest and confidence in our senior national football team unlike what obtained in the past when football was a religion in most homes in the country and a uniting factor. The Super Eagles became a team that any team can defeat, to our national shame.

If he is not picking the wrong players, he would be calling up old and disused tired legs to the national team, when there are over a thousand and one players both from the local league and diaspora leagues to play the different positions on the field.

Even the “established” players called up by Rohr without exception always churn out mediocre display which was characteristic of the team style of Rohr and at the end of the day, such unserious and disappointing players are always recalled for further matches just like that and one is left to wonder if there are other yardstick adopted for players call up and team selection other than merit and performance?

The incalculable damage done to our football by the tenure of ex Coach Gernot Rohr cannot be captured in a single write up like this and might take years to overcome, in view of the trauma that the man subjected our football to while his inglorious reign lasted. But be that as it may, the appointment of Augustine Eguavoen in temporary capacity following Rohr exit is a poor decision given his low capacity and capability which has been exposed on two previous occasions that he was in charge of the Super Eagles.

It saddens one that every time, in our national life, we take decisions on critical national issues that exposes us as a people who seems to have learnt nothing despite our age and experience, we behave more like the Galatians in the Holy Bible and the million naira question is, why are we like this?

As one joins millions of countrymen and women to celebrate the sack of Gernot Rohr and remove this scourge of his reign in our football, which was long overdue, one can only add his voice in calling on our football federation to quickly do the needful in appointing a technically sound and competent manager for the super Eagles for the tasks ahead rather than this low capacity and capability temporary manager of theirs who will only compound our football woes and infuriate public anger by his managership of the Super Eagles.

Sports

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Published

2 days ago

December 22, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Ukrainian boxing sensation Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight championship titles and cemented his place in boxing history with a unanimous decision victory over Britain’s Tyson Fury in their rematch on Saturday night.

The judges scored the bout 116-112 in Usyk’s favor across the board, marking his second consecutive win over Fury. This victory extended Usyk’s flawless professional record to 23-0, with 14 knockouts, adding another chapter to a career already highlighted by Olympic gold and an undisputed cruiserweight championship.

A Masterclass Performance

Usyk, 37, showcased his signature precision and relentless pace, repeatedly catching Fury with clean left hooks and dominating the latter stages of the fight. Fury, at 6ft 9in (206cm) and weighing a career-high 281 pounds, attempted to impose his physicality but was unable to break Usyk’s composure.

The fight, held in Saudi Arabia, saw Usyk wearing traditional Cossack attire during his entrance, while Fury entered the arena dressed in a festive Santa-inspired robe to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

The early rounds were competitive, with Fury landing powerful jabs and body shots. However, Usyk’s endurance and tactical brilliance began to shine in the middle rounds. The Ukrainian landed sharp combinations and dictated the tempo, including a stunning uppercut in the final round that left little doubt about the outcome.

“I thought I’ve won both fights,” Fury said post-match, sporting a bruised right eye. “But I’ll always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.”

A Legacy Sealed

Usyk’s victory solidified his standing as one of the greatest heavyweights in history. Already the first undisputed heavyweight of the four-belt era, Usyk joins the ranks of legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Mike Tyson.

The bout, reported to have a prize purse of $190 million, also underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports. Usyk, who served briefly as a soldier during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, celebrated his victory by hoisting a symbolic sabre belonging to Ukrainian nationalist hero Ivan Mazepa.

Fury’s Uncertain Future

The defeat leaves Fury’s future in doubt. Once unbeaten across 35 fights, Fury now stands at 34-2-1. His attempt to reclaim glory after a brief retirement in 2022 has been marred by back-to-back losses to Usyk.

Usyk, on the other hand, continues to add to his already remarkable resume, leaving fans and critics alike in awe of his technical skill, resilience, and determination. As the heavyweight division looks ahead, Usyk’s reign appears unshakable, and his place among boxing’s all-time greats is firmly secured.

Sports

Lille Netted Just €7M from Osimhen’s €70M Napoli Move, Club President Reveals”

Published

5 days ago

December 19, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Lille Netted Just €7M from Osimhen’s €70M Napoli Move, Club President Reveals”

Lille’s financial gain from Victor Osimhen’s high-profile 2020 transfer to Napoli was far less than expected, with the French club earning only €7 million despite the deal being valued at over €70 million. The shocking revelation was made by Lille’s President, Olivier Letang, who explained that the €7 million figure was the net result after factoring in the purchase price of Osimhen, four Napoli players who never played for Lille, and various intermediary fees and commissions.

“The net amount, after accounting for the player’s purchase, four players valued at €20 million who never featured for us, as well as intermediaries and commissions, was around €7 million,” Letang told L’Equipe TV.

This disclosure comes amid ongoing investigations by both Italian and French authorities into the circumstances surrounding the transfer, though Napoli has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Napoli’s legal team highlighted the club’s clean record, with lawyer Mattia Grassani emphasizing that the club had been acquitted after facing scrutiny from multiple judicial levels.

Letang, who took over as Lille’s President months after Osimhen’s departure, has now shed light on the intricate financial details behind the deal that saw Osimhen move to Italy. The striker’s move to Napoli would become a pivotal moment in his career, propelling him to stardom and helping Napoli secure their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Born in the tough environment of Lagos’ Olusosun community, Osimhen’s rise to prominence began at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot with a record-breaking 10 goals. After stints at Wolfsburg in Germany and Charleroi in Belgium, Osimhen’s impressive performances at Lille led to his transfer to Napoli, where he went on to score 76 goals in 133 appearances. In 2023, he helped Napoli end their long wait for the Serie A title, earning the Serie A Golden Boot and breaking records, including becoming the highest-scoring African in Serie A history.

Currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, Osimhen has continued his impressive form, with 10 goals and five assists in just 14 appearances. Though contracted to Napoli until 2026, his future remains uncertain, as his contract includes clauses that could facilitate a permanent departure either in January or the summer. The details of his transfer and the shifting dynamics between player and club add another layer to the complex and ongoing saga of Osimhen’s career.

Sports

Controversy in Morocco as Lookman Beats Hakimi to African Player of the Year Award

Published

5 days ago

December 19, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Controversy in Morocco as Lookman Beats Hakimi to African Player of the Year Award

Moroccan football enthusiasts have expressed disappointment following Atlas Lions captain Achraf Hakimi’s loss in the race for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award.

Atalanta’s Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman clinched the prestigious title during the CAF Awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday evening. Lookman’s achievement sees him succeed compatriot Victor Osimhen, marking consecutive wins for Nigeria in the category.

Lookman’s stellar performances in 2024 made a compelling case for his selection. He played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s historic Europa League triumph, notably scoring a remarkable hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the final—the Italian club’s first-ever European title. Additionally, the 27-year-old was instrumental in Nigeria’s journey to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, contributing three goals and an assist, and earning a spot in the official Team of the Tournament.

Speculation leading up to the awards had suggested that Hakimi was the favorite for the accolade, given his outstanding contributions to both the Moroccan national team and Paris Saint-Germain throughout the year. Reports from Moroccan and French media fueled expectations of a Hakimi win, only for Lookman to be announced as the victor.

The decision has drawn criticism from Moroccan football analysts and fans. Tawfiq Al-Sanhaji, a prominent sports commentator, told 365scores: “It is a great regret for all Moroccan fans, and for all those who follow football in Morocco, because Achraf Hakimi presented distinguished levels throughout the year with the Moroccan national team and Paris Saint-Germain.”

Another sports analyst, Abdel Salam Kourahi, suggested potential internal politics within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) might have influenced the outcome. He remarked, “Perhaps there were understandings, calculations, and divisions within CAF that tipped the scales in favor of the Nigerian over the Moroccan international at the last minute.”

Some fans also pointed to past decisions by CAF, noting that Yassine Bounou, a key player in Sevilla’s Europa League victories in 2020 and 2023, was similarly overlooked for the award.

Lookman’s victory represents a milestone for Nigerian football. It is the first time in three decades that the nation has produced back-to-back winners of the African Player of the Year award, harking back to the consecutive victories of Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

While Lookman’s achievements are undeniably remarkable, the debate over the decision underscores the intense passion and pride that the African Player of the Year award evokes across the continent.