Sports
Don’t Bring Back Ighalo, Fans tell Pinnick
Nigeria fans have questioned the desire of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation to bring back striker Odion Ighalo to the Super Eagles.
Ighalo quit the Eagles two years ago, after leading the team to a third-place finish at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, emerging as tournament top scorer with five goals.
Pinnick, who visited England-based Super Eagles players, said stated on Instagram on Monday that he had appealed to Ighalo to reconsider his decision to quit the national team.
“I had a long conversation with Odion Ighalo, personally I believe we need experience in our attack to combine with our energetically youthful (Victor) Osimhen, (Paul) Onuachu, Kelechi (Iheanacho) and Odion’s (Ighalo) body language is very positive. We are also in touch with his agents and club,” Pinnick wrote on Instagram.
However, several Nigerians, who commented on Pinnick’s post, questioned the NFF boss’ decision to bring back Ighalo to the team.
“I think you started very well until your mention of Odion Ighalo. Odion is on retirement, let’s focus on Osimhen, (Taiwo) Awoniyi, and Onuachu who are going a great job at the club and national level,” fidelenny wrote.
“I feel really disgusted hearing about Ighalo, damn, Osimhen is world rave of the moment, Ighalo has paid his dues, actually, the team needs a creative midfielder and a winger who can score and assist, so he should be talking of Victor Moses coming and also tell Rohr to get a creative midfielder, not striker at all, Osimhen is Afcon qualifier top scorer,” Chidon said.
According to Mr_tee_, the team should also try and bring back former captains Jay jay Okocha and Mikel Obi since Pinnick said the Eagles needed experience.
“Was about to applaud your write-up until Ighalo was mentioned, you should also speak to Okocha and Mikel, their creativity and experience are needed in the midfield,” he posted.
Sports
Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
Sports
ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
Sports
DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
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