The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osimhen

  • 2016 Nigeria Pitch Awards: Ighalo, Osimhen, Salami fight for King of the pitch

    2016 Nigeria Pitch Awards: Ighalo, Osimhen, Salami fight for King of the pitch

    Twenty-one awards are up for grabs at this year’s edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, which comes up in Kaduna on March 25

    At a world press conference held yesterday to announce the categories of award for last season, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Managing Partner at SIAO Partners, stated that this year’s edition would be the most successful one in the history of the award.

    Announcing the categories, Ighadalo said that Ahmed Musa of CSKA Moscow, Odion Ighalo of Watford, Victor Osimhen and Gbolahan Salami will battle for the King of the Pitch Award, while Ngozi Ebere of PSG Ladies, Desire Oparanozie Guingamp FC, Asisat Oshoola of Liverpool Ladies and Ngozi Okobi of Washington Spirit will vie for the Queen of the Pitch Award.

    The Goalkeeper of the Year category has Karl Ikheme of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Vincent Enyeama of Lille FC, Femi Thomas of Enyimba FC and Ikechukwu Ezinwa of Sunshine FC. In the Defender of the Year category, Chima Akas of Rivers FC, Chinedu Udoji, Efe Ambrose of Celtics FC of Scotland and Austin Oboroakpo will slug it out.

    For the Striker of the Year, Gbolahan Salami, formerly of Warri Wolves, Odion Ighalo of Watford, Chisom Chikatara of Abia Warriors and Victor Osimhen will contend for the award, while the Rashidi Yekini Award will go to the highest goal scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Gbolahan Salami.

    In the MVP (men) in the NPFL, Chisom Chikatara, Gbolahan Salami, Tunji Adeniji of Sunshine Stars and Chinedu Udoji of Enyimba will vie for honour. In the women category, Ngozi Okobi of Delta Queens, Ngozi Ebere of River Angels, Aminat Yakubu of Sunshine Queens and Shola Oyewusi will compete for the award.

    The Club/Team of the Year category has Dream Team, Akwa United FC, Enyimba FC and Golden Eaglet, while Kadiri Ikhana (3SC), Samson Siasia (Super Eagles), Zachary Baraje (Plateau United) and Emmanuel Amuneke (Super Eagles) will battle for the award.

    In the Referee of the Year Category, Gabriel Adigwe, Peter Edibe, Jelili Ogunmuyiwa and Ferdinand Udoh have been selected, while Football Friendly Governor category has Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, Nasir El-Rufia of Kaduna, Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Emmanuel Udom.

    In the Football Journalist of the year (Print), Ade Ojeikere (The Nation), Johnny Edwards (Complete Sports), Tana Aiyejana (Punch Newspaper) and Emmanuel Tobi (New Telegraph) will go up against each other. In the radio category, Bimbo Adeola (Star FM), Babafemi Raji (Brila FM), Godwin Enakhena (Top Radio) and Murphy Ejemba will vie for the award.

    Selected in the Television category are Miyen Akiri of Galaxy Television, Austin Okon Akpan of Channels Television, Godwin Enakhena of Sportsplash/LTV and Toyin Ibitoye of Channels Television.

    Ighadalo stated that the award, which was created by Matchmakers Consult international, would be audited by SIAO to enhance its credibility, saying, “ We are committed to improving the process without compromising transparency and integrity.”

  • Wolfsburg table 3.5 m Euros for Osimhen

    Wolfsburg table 3.5 m Euros for Osimhen

    German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg have tabled a four and a half year deal worth about 3.5 million Euros for Victor Osimhen, it can be exclusively revealed.

    Osimhen, 17, was top scorer at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and the Wolfsburg deal is expected to kick in when he turns 18 in December.

    “The Wolfsburg deal for Osimhen is around 3.5 million Euros. It will be a four and a half year deal,” disclosed a top source who is involved in the transfer.

    Last month, Osimhen and his representatives visited the German club and a verbal agreement was reached. They are due to return to Germany soon to sign the dotted lines.

    Belgian club Anderlecht are the only other club who are known to have tabled an offer for the highly-rated young striker.

  • Osimhen offered to Arsenal for N1.1bn

    Osimhen offered to Arsenal for N1.1bn

    Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that English Premier League team, Arsenal have not given up in their chase for Nigeria U- 23 international Victor Osimhen despite strong competition from Wolfsburg.

    Arsenal were one of the first teams to express an interest to secure the signature of the Golden Boot winner at the last FIFA U-17 World Cup and are being encouraged by the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and Stellar Group.

    United Kingdom – based agency, Stellar Group have officially communicated to Ultimate Strikers, claiming that the Emirates outfit are willing to pay a four million pounds transfer fee for Victor Osimhen.

    Jonathan Barnett’s Stellar Group had wanted to manage the affairs of the Golden Eaglets sensation immediately after the tournament in Chile but were only given a mandate for Arsenal.

    Juventus, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon and R.S.C. Anderlecht are among clubs interested in snapping up Osimhen from his nursery team.

  • Anderlecht table N434m for Osimhen

    Anderlecht table N434m for Osimhen

    BELGIAN top side, Anderlecht are confident seeing off English Premier League side, Arsenal and Bundesliga giant, Wolfsburg for Victor Osimhen as they have tabled a N434m (€2m) bid for the whizkid.

    According to a source, HLN says Osimhen has visited Belgium and Anderlecht and was impressed by the club’s offer. The teen is tied to the Ultimate Strikers Academy, which are asking €3.5m (N761m) to sell. Anderlecht, thus far, have offered €2m (N434m).

    The U-17 World Cup star has Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea all keen on his signature.

    Osimhen and his family are are considering offers from across Europe ahead of the January market.

    Osimhen probably would have been watching the concluded Under-17 World Cup in Chile at home like most Nigerians if the coaches of Lagos State football team preparing for the National Sports Festival had not rejected him when he went there for a trial. He was sent away not because he was not good enough, a senior coach in Ultimate Striker FC who did not want his name mentioned said.

    According to his brother, Andrew Oshimhen: “The coach told us that many influential individuals had brought their candidates and there was no way they could accommodate him. And now this same Lagos State has been calling us for discussions since the player has started doing well at the World Cup.”

  • Gafar denies Osimhen’s economic right allegation

    Gafar denies Osimhen’s economic right allegation

    36 Lions FC boss, Liameed Olawale Gafar  has denied the report claiming he owns part of Victor Osimhen’s economic right as the player plans to sign for clubs in Europe.

    Speaking live on Channels Sports on Sunday, Gafar shed more light on the growing controversy surrounding the transfer saga of the FIFA U-17 goal record holder, and the role he played in the  transfer process. “Economic rights these days is no longer in existence and this is because FIFA has banned it, and I’m aware of this. So I don’t have any economic right since I know what the rules say”, Gafar told Channels Sports.

    “My role with Osimhen is a fatherly role, I don’t have direct contact with Victor, but I have contact with Victor’s club, Synergy Ultimate Strikers; I have contact with thousands of youth players out there. I have contact with the club as an adviser, co-sponsor and a father, that is it.

    ‘’I didn’t send thugs to beat up Victor’s father, Patrick Osimhen. As far as I am concerned, that is the joke of the year, the man is 72-years-old, the person I really know is Coach Chinedu, who happens to be the owner of the club. He has been grooming the boy (Victor) for how long God knows. I met the father when the issue of Victor’s transfer controversy started. Coach Chinedu requested I should talk to the father so that he won’t allow people  mislead them. On a particular day, I met Andrew, the elder brother Blessing, Gloria and all other family members on the same issue. When the allegation came up I was in Germany with  the elder brother and others, so I don’t know where they got the story from”, Gafar said.

    On the power of attorney handed over to Victor’s principal agent, Shira Yussuf (elder brother of Ayila Yussuf), Gafar said: The father is always busy, he is 72, the brother Andrew has his own job too; but there is a guy called Shira, who is Ayila’s elder brother. He knows much of football than the father, Andrew and coach Chinedu, so as a result he was handed the legal guardian so that the boy can be guided properly; and I came in as an adviser to them all.

    “We had a successful discussion at Wolfsburg, and the offer was good; but because we are not only concerned about the money; I told them as their adviser, let’s go back home and consult people who know more than us. Signing for Wolfsburg without weighing other options is like putting ourselves in a tight corner without knowing what others are bringing on board. Victor will be 17 years in two days time so he should be able to differentiate between Arsenal, Manchester United and AS Roma”, he concluded.

    However, both coach Chinedu Ogenna, and Shira Yussuf also gave versions of their role in the controversial transfer saga. Both of them stated Gafar’s position in Victor Osimhen’s purported transfer issue.

  • Wolfsburg move: NFF stops Osimhen

    Wolfsburg move: NFF stops Osimhen

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has put on hold the transfer of Golden Eaglets Striker, Victor Osimhen to VL Wolfsburg, President Amaju Pinnick has confirmed.

    Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Thursday, Pinnick insists the FA will adopt stringent measure to ensure no member of the victorious 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup squad is exploited by clubs or agents.

    He further stated that the Federation will pass a legislation which will declare the players as national assets under the purview of the NFF.

    “I got a call from Wolfsburg who had a lucrative offer for Osimhen (Victor) and I asked what their plan was for the player. There must be a plan which they’ll have to defend. We won’t stop anybody from travelling but we’ll be religious about monitoring because we believe the Federation should have a major role to play.

    “We are going to tell the agent to stay off because no ITC will be issued to any player until we know exactly where they are going  and the plans they have. We are not just taking about winning but also the impact on seamless transition.

    “We’ll come up with a legislation soon; within a week or two, that will make the players national assets. What Wolfsburg is offering is huge and very tempting but we’ll turn them down if their plans don’t suit ours.”

  • ‘Osimhen has shown enough quality’

    ‘Osimhen has shown enough quality’

    NIGERIA U-23 handler Samson Siasia feels Victor Osimhen has the potential to succeed at the 2015 African U23 Championship.

    The Chile FIFA U-17 World Cup star was a surprise inclusion in the Dream Team VI squad to Senegal and the ex-international is sure that the 16-year-old prodigy will prove doubters wrong when given the chance.

    “Victor Osimhen has shown a lot of promise, and when given the chance he will prove to all that his performance in Chile was no fluke,” Siasia told media during a press conference organised by CAF.

    “It is always good to encourage young players, and Victor (Osimhen) has shown enough quality at training.”

    Siasia also revealed that his team target is to pick a ticket to the Rio Olympics , while disclosing that he has the team to accomplish the task.

    “We are here to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. We have to train hard and make sure the players play to instructions,” he said.

    “All teams deserve to be here. For us (Nigeria), we are tactically sound and know the kind of opposition to expect.

    “All the teams will be tough to play and the best thing will be about creating and scoring chances.

    “The first game is always important, and you need to win it. If you draw the first game, usually it affects the confidence for the second game. We are taking no chances,” he said.

  • U-23 AFCON squad:Osimhen replaces Success

    U-23 AFCON squad:Osimhen replaces Success

    FIFA U-17 goal king Victor Osimhen has been made the late replacement for Granada striker Isaac Success on Nigeria squad to the U-23 AFCON in Senegal.

    Success was originally listed on the final squad submitted and Nigeria may now have to pay a fine to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for this late change.

    Osimhen was top scorer at the U-17 World Cup in Chile with 10 goals and sources have suggested a top NFF official was behind his inclusion particularly as coach Samson Siasia could not guarantee the availability of Success, who has established himself at struggling La Liga side Granada.

    Osimhen is reportedly a target of several top European clubs with his agent saying Arsenal have shown the most interest thus far.

  • Barca offer Osimhen N211.85m

    Barca offer Osimhen N211.85m

    Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today that Golden Eaglets’ goals’ merchant, Victor Osimhen has been offered one million Euros (about N211,851,907:50) by UEFA Champions League defending champions, FC Barcelona.

    Sportinglife scooped further that Barcelona FC chiefs are willing to storm Nigeria to perfect the signing of Osimhen’s contract documents, with word rife that the Spanish side are ready to outbid whatever offer any Euroepan side throws on the table for the current FIFA U-17 World Cup winner and the competition’s highest goal scorer with 10 goals.

    Indeed Sportinglife gathered that Osimhen’s agent, Shera Yusuf is favourably disposed to the enticing offer from Barcelona and the prospect of his ward training with soccer greats such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luiz Suarez et al.

    Interestingly, those who should know at Osimhen’s amateur side told Sportinglife that Barcelona’s youth scout Ryan Hartsfield, a FIFA licensed agent, is willing to come to Lagos to begin negotiating the deal, even as it has been confirmed that Hartsfield has been authorised not to allow Osimhen slip through Barcelona’s talent-hunt net.

     

  • Siasia invites Nwakali, Osimhen, 2 Others

    Siasia invites Nwakali, Osimhen, 2 Others

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, has called up four Golden Eaglets stars to the Nigeria U23 national team ahead of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal.

    Golden Ball winner Kelechi Nwakali, Golden Boot winner Victor Osimhen and first- choice fullbacks Udochukwu Anumudu and John Lazaraus have all been invited for a get – together in Gambia, where the U23s will hold a training camp prior to the tourney.

    Speaking on their invitation, Siasia told thenff.com : “I have been monitoring the progress of these boys while the team was being built by my brother, Emmanuel Amuneke.

    “Don’t forget we were in the same hotel and used the same pitch to train and I have been impressed with what I saw them do in Chile, so I think what I just did was rewarding them for a job well done.”

    The four invited players have been given one week to rest with their families before linking up with the Olympic squad.