The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Victor Osimhen

  • Champions League: Osimhen down plays Lille’s 3-0 loss to Ajax

    Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen believes he and his Lille teammates have learnt useful lessons following their 3-0 defeat in the Champions league by Ajax on Tuesday.

    Osimhen, who was in action for the entire duration of the match remained optimistic that hope still lies ahead.

    The 20 year apparently not in the mood for long talk after the match simply told his teammates and supporters alike “lesson learned, we move”.

    The former VfL Wolfsburg ace had prior to the match revealed that the entire team was on fire during training.

    Unfortunately the zeal to pull a win or run away with vital point failed to materialise for the hard fighting Nigerian and his teammates who will now be hoping to remedy the situation when Ajax come visiting.

    Osimhen comes close to scoring during tie against Ajax

    Business minded Ajax seized control of the battle of Johan Cruijff Arena on Tuesday as early as the 18th minute with a goal from Quincy Anthon with Álvarez Velázquez and Nicolás Tagliafico increasing the tally in the 50th and 62nd minutes respectively.

    Ajax maintained 56 to 44% possession ratios in Tuesday’s match with seven shots on target against five by Lille.

    Ajax came into Tuesday’s match fresh from a 4-1 victory over Heerenveen in the Dutch league while Lille on their part had recorded a 2-1 home victory over Angers SCO prior in the French Ligue 1

  • UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Osimhen, three other Nigerians vie for honours

    SUPER Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen will be aiming to start his Champions League campaign on a bright note as Lille visit Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena tonight.

    Other Nigerians playing today include Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey (Genk) and Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague).

    Osimhen has been in a superb goal-scoring form for his French club after netting against Angers in the Ligue 1,to become the first player to score five goals in his first five French top-flight outings.

    However, his attention will be shifted to Tuesday’s clash against an Ajax side that made the last four of the UEFA Champions League last season, with the aim to continue his goal-scoring form.

    A trip to the Johan Cruyff Arena is a daunting way for Lille to make their Champions League return, having not featured in the competition proper since 2012-13.

    However, it is certainly a step up from their last European foray – defeat to Qabala of Azerbaijan in the third qualifying round of the 2016-17 Europa League – and also they have had to cope with the loss of a star player in Nicolas Pepe.

  • Osimhen on rampage scores brace in Lille’s 3-0 victory

    Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen was on rampage Wednesday as he netted twice in the Lille’s 3-0 defeat of Saint-Etienne in the France Ligue 1.

    It is the second brace for Wolfsburg ace that joined the ligue 1 side in July this year.

    He had earlier netted a brace in his debut for the club against Nantes in a tie that ended 2-1.

    Osimhen who has been invited by Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr ahead of September’s friendly encounter against Ukraine, first opened scoring for Lille in the 37th minute after enjoying a timely assist from Croatia import Domagoj Bradarić.

    Home boy Jonathan Bamban converted a penalty in the 69th minute before Osimhen increased the tally to three in the 74th minute thanks to Zeki Çelik assist.

    Osimhen fires Lille to victory Wednesday

    Interestingly osimhen did not start the match but came in as early replacement for Loïc Rémy in the 19th minute.

    The Saint-Etienne are 7th on the 20-team log while Lille occupy the 14th position with only three matches played in the new season.

    Osimhen who was part of the Super Eagles squad to the last Nations cup in Egypt it will be recalled replace injured Odion Ighalo in the third place match which Nigeria won by a lone goal.

    Ighalo had shot the team into the lead before pulling out with injury and the team held on to the lead till the end.

  • Osimhen may face AS Roma today at Stade Pierre-Mauroy

    Lille Olympique Sporting Club (LOSC) new signing, Victor Osimhen, would most likely feature in his first game as the French Ligue 1 side tackle AS Roma in a high profile friendly match at their Stade Pierre-Mauroy home ground today.

    Osimhen only on Friday had his first official training at the Domaine de Luchin that was well celebrated on LOSC TV and aptly tagged ‘Discover the first day of Victor Osimhen with his new teammates.’

    German coach Gernot Rohr has described Osimhen as ‘a good boy that has the capability to succeed’ at the French Ligue 1 side.

    The 19-year-old Osimhen on Thursday completed his switch from Belgian side Sporting Charleroi and was handed the iconic number 7 jersey  in a five-year deal that will keep him at Stade Pierre-Mauroy till 2024.

    Already described as ‘new offensive reinforcement for  LOSC’, the gangling striker remarkably scored 20 goals, including the record-breaking quickest goal in the history of the Belgian First Division A while on his loan spell with Charleroi last season.

    “Victor is a good boy and he will do well at Lille,” Rohr, a former coach of French side Bordeaux, said in an interview with The Nation Sport. “I’m very happy that Victor Osimhen is going to Lille OSC because it’s a very good club.

    Read Also: My plan exit rumour not true, says Osimhen

    “We spoke about it when we were at Alexandria (during the AFRCON) and I encouraged him to go there because it is a good club and they will be playing in the UEFA Champions League.”

    Rohr further noted that Osimhen’s work is already cut out for him after he was snapped up by LOSC as a replacement for striker Nicholas Pepe who left  for Arsenal , adding the bronze medallist winner with the Super Eagles at the recently conclude AFCON has all it takes to excel with the Dogues.

    “Of course, it would be a big task for him to break into the team but he would be able to do it and do it well and progress.

    “His transfer to Lille is good for everybody and some French journalists have been calling me to ask about his potential and I have told them all the good things I know about Victor.

    “He (Victor) is a good boy, he will succeed there (at LOSC),” added the 66-year-old erstwhile Bayern Munich defender.

     

    Read Also: Rohr: Oshimhen, Chukwueze tipped to start against Uganda

  • French side LOSC Lille eager to sign Victor Osimhen

     

    Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is on the verge of moving over to France in what promises to be a mouthwatering deal.

    The Charleroi of Belgium winger who is on the radar of English Premier League side Southampton is also being chased by LOSC Lille who have become favorites for his signature according to Get French Football News.

    The former junior international, who signed for the Belgian side following his loan from Wolfsburg, enjoyed a fine campaign last season, netting 20 goals and four assists in all competitions.

    Osimhen who has been included in Super Eagles 25-man provisional squad to the 2019 Nations cup in Egypt has attracted attention from a number of European sides with his pace and skill cited as major attraction.

    Lille, who are looking to find a possible replacement for Nicolas Pepe, are said to be in pole position grab the 20 year old.

    Hope is not completely lost for the Saints though, as Lille are said to weighing up an offer for Watford winger Dodi Lukebakio before they make final decision on Osimhen.

    Charleroi have put the value of the Nigerian at €10million (about N4billion) and Saints can still swoop in with a bid before the French side make up their mind.

    Osimhen made 14 Bundesliga appearances before heading for Charleroi. Osimhen who won impressive awards while playing for Nigerian U- 17 side will be hoping to equally prove himself when Nigeria confronts group opponents, Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea at the Nations cup in Egypt later in the month.

  • Osimhen scores 15th goal for Charleroi

    Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen continued his amazing form in front of goal for Belgian side Sporting Charleroi as he scored for the third consecutive match in their 2-2 draw away at KV Oostende, AOIFootball.com reports.

    The in-form forward led the line for the Zebras for the 25th time this season as they went in search of their fourth consecutive playoffs win.

    After a goalless first 45 minutes, Zambian forward, Fashion Sakala opened the scoring for the hosts two minutes after the hour mark as he fired home from twelve yards to put Oostende 1-0 up.

    Read Also: Ajax chases Osimhen

    Osimhen then equalised for the visitors six minutes later to make it 1-1 with his 15th league strike of the season, before Gabriele Angella put Charleroi ahead on the 80th minute.

    However, they were denied their fourth consecutive victory when Robbie D’Haese scored two minutes into additional time as both teams settled for a share of the points.

    The draw sees Charleroi remain in the second position with 10 points, one behind St. Truidense which has played a game less.

  • ‘Decide on Super Eagles’ preferred tactical formation before AFCON’

    Waidi Akanni, an ex-international, has advised the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to decide on what tactical formation best suits the team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Akanni told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that a notable style of play was needed in order for the team to perform well at the AFCON tournament.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles beat the Pirates of Seychelles on Friday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba in their final qualification match for the 2019 AFCON.

    “The coach has to show us his formation. In all what he has been doing, I honestly have not seen the formation he is playing. We have to have a formation.

    “We should have a recognisable style of play. If we don’t have a style of play going to the Nations Cup proper in Egypt, it will be very difficult for the Super Eagles when they meet tougher opponents,” the former Super Eagles defender said.

    Akanni said with the calibre of players at Rohr’s disposal, he should by now be known for a particular style of play.

    “He needs a good combination of players. The coach needs to let us know if he is playing 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.

    “We now know the core of players available to him. We should therefore know his tactical formation based on the players we have.

    “Rohr has to show us that he has a style of play, which, for now I can’t see in the team,” he said.

    The Super Eagles ended the qualifiers as Group E leaders with 13 points, having won four games, lost one and drawn one.

    A first half penalty kick by Odion Ighalo and two second half goals from Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon gave Nigeria a routine 3-1 victory over Seychelles on Friday.

    READ ALSO: Super Eagles struggle to beat Seychelles

    The victory cemented the Super Eagles’ top-place finish from their group, having already qualified for the continental showpiece slated for June in Egypt.

    However, Akanni was not so impressed with the performance of the national team, especially in the first half.

    “It was an average game by all standards. The first half was below par, but the Super Eagles brought some momentum into the game in the second half.

    “More important was the fact that they were able to find a way to score those two goals in the second half. Football is a game of goals and a team can only be taken seriously when they score goals.

    “So, it was okay that they got three goals,” he said.

    Rohr had invited some new players for the Seychelles match, including former Flying Eagles defender Valentine Ozonwafor, former FIFA U-17 World Cup winner Victor Osimhen and Denmark-based forward Paul Onuachu.

    Akanni said although the new players have to be gradually integrated into the senior national team, the coach should have handed them a start against Seychelles.

    “I would have expected the coach to start the new players by resting Ighalo, Etebo, Ndidi and some of the other familiar players in his starting line-up.

    “But, somehow, I understand that he wanted to win the game first. So, he didn’t want to take too much risk.

    “The fact is that when you want to test new players, especially in a game of little significance like this, you have to give them good game time.

    “I believe Rohr should have taken the risk of starting many of the new guys,” the former Lagos State Football Association chairman said.

    The Super Eagles will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in an international friendly on Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

    NAN

  • Osimhen goes under knife again, out for weeks

    Osimhen goes under knife again, out for weeks

    Wolfsburg’s new signing, Victor Osimhen has gone under the knife again as the Nigerian will not

    be available to head-coach Valérien Ismaël for the up-coming games.

    The 18-year-old Nigerian had to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on

    Wednesday, in order to treat a strain related meniscus problem which had occurred during

    training.

    “Victor came through the procedure without problems. He will now go through a specialised

    rehabilitation programme and he will not be available to us for the duration. The decisive

    factor is that he is built up again step-by-step, to ensure there is no recurrence of the

    problem,” explained VfL head-coach Valérien Ismaël.

  • Ndidi, Mohammed, Osimhen set for ‘official Eagles debut’

    Ndidi, Mohammed, Osimhen set for ‘official Eagles debut’

    Youngsters Wilfred Ndidi, Musa Mohammed and Victor Osimhen are set to make their official debut for the Super Eagles in Saturday’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania.

    Ndidi has played for Eagles in three international friendlies against DR Congo, Cameroon and Luxembourg.

    The Genk midfielder was outstanding in the Eagles test game against Akwa United on Wednesday and he is expected to play a part in Saturday’s encounter against the Tanzanians, africanFootball.com reports.

    Mohammed featured in May friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in Europe and he is expected to feature in the right back position for the three-time African champions on Saturday.

    Osimhen was a surprise call-up by new Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, for the AFCON qualifier after he won the Golden Boot at last year FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

    The Wolfsburg-bound striker has already earned accolades from his older and more experienced colleagues in the national team.

  • Amuneke hails Osimhen Eagles’ invitation

    Amuneke hails Osimhen Eagles’ invitation

    Nigeria U-20 coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has commended Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, for handing Victor Osimhen his first-ever call-up, saying the Wolfsburg-bound youngster is the future of Nigeria football.

    The 17-year-old Osimhen was record top scorer at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and has since featured for both Nigeria U-20 and U-23 teams.

    He was named in a 23-man squad for next month’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo.

    “It’s a good thing that the coach picked Victor. He is a growing talent who is blessed with abundant talent. He is the future,” africanFootball.com quoted the former Barcelona forward as saying on Osimhen’s invitation to the Super Eagles.

    “He will learn from other established strikers in the Super Eagles and that will quicken his growth.

    “In more developed footballing countries that is how you bring in your young players.”

    “Young players like Victor and Kelechi (Nwakali, who has signed for Arsenal) are the future Super Eagles and with time Nigeria will be proud of their immense talent.”