Sports
Nations Cup Ouster:PH Fans Call For Super Eagles Disbandment
Soccer fans in Port Harcourt, Rivers State have called for the disbandment of the Super Eagles following what they descried as disgraceful performance and ouster from the African Cup of Nation’s in the final qualifier against Syli Nationale of Guinean at the Abuja National Stadium at the weekend.
Some of the soccer enthusiasts who spoke with The Tide sports yesterday were unanimous in insisting that the federal government should re-organise the national team of he country is to make head way in future competitions.
Mr Chika Okenwa, a Port Harcourt based businessman who is also a soccer fan was of the view that the disbandment of the present Super Eagles has become imperative since majority of the players have been infected with indiscipline bug.
He said that the poor performance of the players even in front of goals could be attributed to the running battle between Coach Samson Siasia and some players in the Eagles camp.
Mr Okenwa was of the view that Nigeria’s ouster from the African Cup of Nations was a sabotage packaged by some powerful officers in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and delivered by the players last Saturday.
Mr Inime Alasia on his part, said that apart from overhauling the Super Eagles, there was urgent need for the federal government to probe the role of players and NFF officials in the match between Super Eagles of Nigeria and Syli Nationale of Guinea.
Mr Alasia, who is a sport analyst could not fathom why a star player like Osaze Odemwinge would fumble consistently in front of goal. He pointed out that the interest of the country and its million soccer loving citizens is paramount than self-seeking players and their cohorts in the football house.
Mr Samuel Duru, another soccer analyst, however exonerated the players blame over the country ouster in the nation’s cup.
He attributed the Super Eagles fate last Saturday to the inability of Coach Samson Siasia to know when and how to make changes in a crucial encounter such as the match.
Mr Duru used the opportunity to urge the Federal Government to sack Siasia in order to give soccer the direction it deserves in the country.
Also, Monica Iheakam, a senior sports journalists with The Sun Newspaper said that Samson Siasia should be relieved of his duty because he has lost credibility.
Iheakam expressed sadness over Nigeria’s elimination and blamed Siasia for the national disappointment.
Isaac Nwankwo & Tonye Orabere
Sports
Gyokeres Situation, Transfer Under Cloud At Sporting

Sporting have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no gentleman’s agreement for him to leave for £59million, says club president Frederico Varandas.
Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal.
He has a 100m euro (£85m) release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for 70m euros (£59m) this summer.
However, Varandas said the club’s only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m eurors or 90m euros.
“In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.’”
Sports
Concacaf Opposes 64-Team W’Cup Plans

Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has criticised a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told Tidesports source
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
Sports
Brazil Edge Paraguay, Book W’Cup Spot

Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup this week with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha.
The victory, Ancelotti’s first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil has now qualified for every edition of the World Cup.
“We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Vinicius Jr.
“Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn’t one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win.
“Now it’s time to celebrate qualifying.”
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a high-boot challenge on Colombia’s Kevin Castano.
But Lionel Messi’s side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon’s Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Ecuador, Argentina’s nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.
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