Sports
Glo League: The Stars Who Will Light Up the Season
Several stars shone in the 2013/2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season to make a name for themselves.
Some of the players who hit headlines last season like Emem Eduok, Peter Ebimobowei and Osaguona Ighodalo have since sought greener pastures.
Eduok is enjoying a new life in Tunisia with Esperance where he has been dazzling.
The forward scored 20 goals for Dolphins last season to emerge as the second top scorer and equaled Jude Aneke’s record of 20 goals in a season.
Bayelsa United lost Peter Ebimobowei to Al Ahly. Ebimobowei scored 18 goals for Bayelsa United who managed to stay up in the premier league, but the striker’s qualities did not go unnoticed as he was snapped up in Egypt.
Osaguona Ighodalo is another player who the league has lost after a superb season with Enugu Rangers.
The big striker, who featured for the Super Eagles, is now a key figure with Raja Casablanca of Morocco.
Warri Wolves ace, Stanley Dimgba deserved a mention as he dazzled for his new club in the last campaign.
Giwa FC goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke was one of the major reasons why the league debutants did so well in the league. It was a form that earned him a place in the national U20 team.
Chisome Chikatara (Abia Warriors), Christian Pyagbara (Sharks), Ocheme Udoh (Giwa FC) all did well for their teams last season.
As the 2014/15 football season seeks to gather momentum. Tidesports source takes a look at the players who have the potentials to excel in the league and become big stars for people to adore.
Etebo Oghenekaro: Warri Wolves forward is a quality player who can take the league by storm once again, but only if he stayed fit.
Injury was his bane last season when he managed three goals in few games.
Oghenekaro was an instant hit in his first season 2011/2012 for Warri Wolves where he scored 15 goals to attract interest from Serie A side Udinese, but injury messed the deal up.
He is fit again and has been dazzling for the national U23 team. He could well be the star of the new season.
Christian Pyagbara: The U20 star has crossed from Sharks to city rivals Dolphins and he is poised to be a replacement for departed Emem Eduok.
Pyagbara is a lethal forward just as Eduok and Dolphins coach has tagged him as the replacement for the Esperance of Tunisia forward.
His switch from the wings to top striker has produced more goals from his boots.
Pyagbara did well for Sharks scoring 12 goals for them last season.
Peter Onyekachi: This is another striker who has potential to be the best in the new season following his exploits so far with Enyimba.
Last season with Abia Warriors, he netted 12 goals.
He is currently with the Nigeria U23 team where he is doing well. He is a good buy and time will tell what he can do with the two-time African kings.
Christian Obiozor: Kano Pillars new striker is one of the strikers to watch out for when the season commences. The lanky striker is skillful and good goal getter.
He has shown what he has in stock during the expanded Super 4, where he scored four goals and also in the CAF Champions League.
The striker who helped Nigeria win bronze at CHAN 2014 in South Africa scored 8 goals last season for Rangers and he is a striker to watch out for in 2015 season.
Mfon Udoh: The All-time top scorer in Nigeria league will play for Enyimba this season and he is the man to beat as every striker will fight to break his record which he set last season.
Udoh is a consistent goal scorer as he has proved in his first two season in the top flight.
In 2012/2013, the striker scored 15 goals for Akwa United. For the 2013/2014 season, Mfon Udoh was the most talked about player in Nigeria league as he set a new goals’ record after he netted 23 goals for ‘The People’s Elephant’ as they finished runners-up.
Surprisingly to majority of Nigeria football fans and lovers, Udoh did not seal a deal to play abroad as expected following his achievement in the Nigeria league. A last minute deal to join Ismaily of Egypt collapsed.
The nippy striker told newsmen that he is looking forward for a good season with Enyimba.
”I have put behind me the transfer issue. I am back in Enyimba and ready to do my best for the team and look forward to a summer deal,” Mfon said.
Others who deserve a mention are: Shuaibu Ibrahim: He did well for Giwa FC last season where he scored 14 goals and will still play for the Giwa in 2015 season.
3SC new signing Emmanuel Onuwa: The diminutive midfielder is a bundle of skills and may be the main man in 3SC midfield as they returned to NPFL.
Bobby Clement: The striker was a delight to watch for Heartland last season, he may hit it big this time at new club Rangers.
Kingsley Sokari: Enyimba midfielder was one of the best last season for Enymba and may do better this season. He has enjoyed more exposure having played for the Nigeria U23 team.
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.’”
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.”
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.