16112022

Full House in Lisbon as Super
Eagles dare Ronaldo, Portugal
H
ead Coach José Santos Peseiro has the full compliment of in
vited players as three-time African champions Nigeria get set
for what could be a fiery international friendly with Portugal in Lisbon
tomorrow.
In camp are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye and
Adebayo Adeleye, defenders William Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem,
Kevin Akpoguma, Calvin Bassey, Tyronne Ebuehi, Bruno
Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ebube Duru, as well as
midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Frank Onyeka, Alex
Iwobi and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo.
There are also forwards Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi,
Paul Onuachu, Emmanuel Dennis and Ademola Lookman. Forward
Samuel Chukwueze was being expected on Tuesday night.
tomorrow's encounter at the 50,000 -capacity Estádio José Alvalade
in Lisbon is the first-ever full international between both countries,
and it promises fireworks with Portugal heading to the FIFA World
Cup finals in Qatar the following day and Nigeria eager to blood a
Gusau visits ailing Nwosu, assures
him of NFF’s support
The President of Nigeria Football
Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa
Gusau on Tuesday visited former
Nigeria captain Henry Nwosu at the
Federal Medical Centre, Asaba
where the legend has been receiving
treatment for an undisclosed ailment
for some weeks now.
Nwosu, the youngest player in the
Nigeria squad that won the Africa
Cup of Nations title on home soil in
1980, had been in the hospital for
some time now, with top politicians,
captains of industry and football
chieftains all showing interest in his
health status.
“I can assure you that all Nigerians,
from our political leaders to business
gurus and all football people,
are interested in seeing you recover
from this illness. Everyone, within
Nigeria and in the diaspora, is praying
for your recovery and eventual
recuperation,” Gusau told the legend
in the hospital located in the
Delta State capital.
Nwosu, a formidable force in the
Senior Men National Team of Nigeria
in the 1980s, played in three Africa
Cup of Nations finals (1980, 1984 and
1988) and was one of the best players
of the 1984 and 1988 editions,
both of which Nigeria lost to
Cameroon in the Final.
He scored a stellar goal against the
Indomitable Lions in the 1988 Final
in Morocco, disallowed by
Mauritanian referee Idrissa Sarr, and
that incident remains of the evergreen
talking points in the 65-year
history of Africa’s flagship football
championship. Cameroon went on
to win by the odd goal scored from
the penalty spot in the second half.
“The NFF will continue to monitor
Osimhen is
not injured
—Italian media
Contrary to claims by the Nigeria
Football Federation, Napoli
striker Victor Osimhen is not suffering
from any physical injury.
Super Eagles head coach Jose
Peseiro had included Victor Osimhen
in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the
international friendly with Portugal
on Thursday, November 17.
But the NFF, in a statement released
on Twitter on Monday, announced
that Osimhen was injured
and that Cremonese forward Cyriel
Dessers had been called up as the
23-year-old’s replacement.
However, Italian newspaper
La Gazzetta dello Sport, reports that
Osimhen has no physical problem.
“The former Lille lad only snubbed
the Portugal friendly to avoid taking
risks that could endanger him in the
friendly encounter.
Osimhen has been crucial to
Napoli’s charge for a first Serie
A title tilt in three decades, with
the Nigerian forward scoring
nine goals for the Neapolitans.
Osimhen is Nigeria’s most valuable
player in the world, with a
career-high market value of €70
million.
•Eagles
corp of new frontliners after narrowly failing to
make the train to Qatar.
Top scorer Victor Osimhen is out injured but
Peseiro can still call on on-fire Belgium-based
Onuachu, the nifty Dessers, dependable Moses
Simon, France-based Moffi and the Italybased
winger Lookman.
•NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau with Henry Nwosu
during his visit
your situation and will be ready to their support for you to return to your
offer whatever support it can while healthy self to act in the nation’s interest,”
Gusau told also calling on all those who can lend
Nwosu.
Man Utd eye blockbuster
Mbappe, Osimhen bid
ANCHESTER UNITED are
Mlining up a blockbuster bid for
•Osimhen
Kylian Mbappe, with Victor
Osimhen also in their sights.
That’s after United said they are
ready to rip up Cristiano Ronaldo’s
contract after his explosive interview
with Piers Morgan.
The Portuguese superstar, 37,
stunned United with his shock
outburst on Sunday night, slamming
the club’s infrastructure and
ambition while adding he has “no
respect” for boss Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils are now considering
their next step, and one option
is to tear up Ronaldo’s contract
to make him a free agent.
That would see United need a
new striker to lead the line in 2023.
Ten Hag has already turned to
Mbappe as his top option.
The French forward,
23, is believed to still
be unhappy at Paris
Saint-Germain after
demanding to
leave last
month.
It’s reckoned Mbappe saw red after
the Ligue 1 champs failed to
pay him part of his salary in September.
And United are now putting together
a potential £150million offer,
as well as a contract worth an
initial £500,000-a-week.
Mbappe’s numbers show he is
worth it, having scored 19 goals in
20 games this season.
But whether PSG will sell is another
story, having handed
Mbappe a new deal just six months
ago.
That means United are also looking
at other options, and one of
them is thought to be Napoli’s
Osimhen.
The Nigerian ace, 23, has
emerged as one of
Europe’s top
strikers and has a
host of admirers.
And Osimhen
has looked sharp
this season with
10 goals in 14
games.
•Mbappe
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 — 39
WORLD CUP COUNTDWON! WORLD CUP
COUNTDOWN!! WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN!!!
Infantino calls for ceasefire during
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
•Infantino
IFA President Gianni Infantino has
Fmade a direct plea to world leaders
gathered in Indonesia for the 17th
Group of Twenty (G20) summit to call
for ceasefire during FIFA World Cup
Qatar 2022 and to begin dialogue as a
first step to bring the conflict in Russia
and Ukraine to an end.
Addressing assembled heads of
state at the intergovernmental forum,
which comprises of 19 countries and
the European Union, the FIFA President
said: “Football is a force for good.
We are not naïve to believe that football
can solve the world’s problems.
We know that our main focus as a
sports organisation is and should be
sports, but because Football Unites the
World, this particular FIFA World Cup,
with five billion people watching it,
can be a trigger for a positive gesture,
for a sign or a message of hope.”
The FIFA President’s speech recognised
the current uncertainty in the
world, and identified countries involved
in current conflict. “Russia
hosted the last World Cup in 2018,
and Ukraine is bidding to host the
World Cup in 2030,” the FIFA President
said, when identifying their 2030
bid together with Portugal and Spain,
among other bidders. “Maybe, the
current World Cup, starting in five
days, can really be that positive trigger.
So my plea, to all of you, is to
think on a temporary ceasefire, for one
month, for the duration of the FIFA
World Cup, or at least the implementation
of humanitarian corridors, or
anything that could lead to the resumption
of dialogue as a first step to
peace. You are the world leaders; you
have the ability to influence the course
of history.”
World Cup fans BANNED from baring
shoulders & midriffs
LAM World Cup fans risk be
Ging slapped with huge fines
or even put behind bars if they
flash their shoulders or midriffs
in Qatar.
The tournament promises to
be like no other with strict laws
governing Qatar that could come
as a shock to visitors.
Temperatures are set to soar
towards a scorching 50 degrees -
but fans must remember to keep
their kits on and dress appropriately.
Despite the sweltering conditions,
female supporters must be
•Fans
particularly careful about their clothing choices in the strict Muslim country
- or they could face a hefty punishment.
According to Qatar's legal code, things considered harmless in the UK like
public displays of affection or wearing revealing clothes can be grounds for
arrest. Fifa has already warned fans that shoulders must be covered in
public - and Qatar has its own set of strict rules for women in public places in
the country.
Although non-Qatari women don't need to wear the abaya - the long,
black robe - their tops must cover their midriff and shoulders, and skirts,
dresses and trousers must cover the knees. Women travelling in Qatar are
also banned from wearing any tight clothing, or flashing any cleavage. The
World Cup website states: "People can generally wear their clothing of choice.
"Visitors are expected to cover their shoulders and knees when visiting
public places like museums and other government buildings.
"Swimwear is allowed at hotel beaches and pools.
"Fans attending matches should note that the removal of shirts in the
stadium is not permitted."
It means blokes must remember they will not be able to go bare chested
when the temperature becomes too much.
Messi: Argentina can't 'fall into trap' of WC hype
L
ionel Messi says Argentina can't believe the hype that they are among
the favourites for the World Cup if they want to win the competition for
the first time since 1986.
Argentina ended a 28-year trophy drought in 2021 when they beat
Brazil in the Copa America final and they qualified for this
month's tournament in Qatar undefeated.
Lionel Scaloni's side are now unbeaten in 35 games -- dating
back to 2019 -- a run which has seen them picked by many
to go all the way at the World Cup, which starts on Sunday
when hosts Qatar play Ecuador.
"All national teams are tough to play against these
days," Messi told Universo Valdano when asked about
Argentina's chances. "Every team [at the World Cup]
will be difficult to beat.
"We have not had many games against European
teams [in our unbeaten run], although they don't
like playing against us either -- playing against South
American teams is tough as well. "We are in good
form going into the finals, but we can't fall into trap of •Messi
believing the hype that we are favourites and will win
it. We have to be realistic and go step by step."
Qatar orders beer tents to be hidden away at World Cup stadiums
udweiser has been told to hide its beer stalls at World Cup stadiums after Qatar’s
Broyal family wanted alcohol to be less visible.
The Muslim-majority nation agreed to sponsorship from Budweiser when it
launched its bid for the World Cup, which kicks off on Sunday.
Alcohol is allowed in hotel bars, restaurants and other places that are away from public
view but these restrictions have been relaxed
for tournament. The installation of beer stations
outside eight stadiums has been
underway for most of the last month. But late
last week a senior Qatari royal asked for the
beer concessions to be moved to less visible
sites, the New York Times reports. It’s understood
the order came from with Sheikh
Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the
brother of Qatar’s ruler.
A
Qatar 2022 squads confirmed
ll 32 teams' 26 players now avail
able. 832 players confirmed they
will feature at the finals.
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Qatar just four days away, the full
squads for all 32 teams can finally be
confirmed as anticipation for kick off
cranks up another notch. The announcement
of the 26-man lists confirms
the sporting dreams of 832 players,
who will all head to the 22nd
edition of the finals, which are set to
kick-off when hosts Qatar face Ecuador
in Al-Bayt Stadium on Sunday
20 November.
•Players