Sports
Watch Your Back, Disu Warns Rohr, Lauds NFF
Former Technical Director, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Tunde Disu has warned Super Eagles Coach Genor Rohr to watch his back over variant issues as regards the preparation of the team for Russia 2018.
Disu, who gave the warning in an interview with newsmen, added that the team needed to be wary of the numbers of international friendly games for the Eagles.
Tidesport source gathered that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lined up about five friendly games for the Super Eagles in preparation for the mundial in Russia.
NFF said that the Rohr’s men would have two games lined up for March 23 against Poland and would also face Serbia four days later in London.
Nigeria is also expected to play a farewell game against Congo at the Abuja National Stadium, where President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to be in attendance on May 28.
After that, the Eagles are expected to have a high profile date against the Three Lions of England to be played at the Wembley Stadium on June 2.
The last match for the Eagles according to NFF will be a clash against Czech Republic on June 6.
Assessing the lined up friendly games, Disu said that it was good to have them but there must be a constraint on the number of matches to avoid injuries.
“It is good that we have all this friendly games to prepare well ahead, but it is also good to consider the technical aspect of it too.
“The point is that too much playing time could lead to injuries considering that these players might have just finished from a long season from their respective clubs.
“Players such as Mikel Obi needs to be protected from injuries and others too because they may have played many games before coming to the camp.
“Super Eagles need players that are fit to play well in the World Cup and not tired legs, maybe the coach will need to rotate the team in assessing them,’’ he said.
Disu, however, commended Rohr for injecting young footballers into the team, adding that Eagles would go far in the mundial.
“I must also commend the coach Rohr for his spectacular job in the team; he has been able to put the needed young players in the team.
“I think the coach knew what he wanted and I am grateful to the leadership of NFF for giving him free hands to manage the team.
“What I am saying is not criticism but a technical advice for the team to also be wary of injuries which might ruin the team’s chances during the World Cup.
“The team has done fantastically well and the coach is also on point but there are other issues to manage like injuries and injecting discipline in the team,’’ he said.
Disu said that the national team would not be seen as underdogs when they play in Russia, adding that Eagles would be a team to beat.
“Our national team will not be seen as underdogs during the World Cup considering the way we qualified and our friendly match against Argentina.
“For now, Super Eagles is in the eye of all the teams that will be in Russia 2018 because we may count beating Argentina as a plus to us, but technically, this has put more eyes on us. “I am particularly happy that NFF President Amaju Pinnick is now in the FIFA executive. This is a big plus for us because aside from the on field play, off the field politics is also important”, he added.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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