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I may be done after AFCON -Osimhen

Victor Osimhen won the Serie A title with Napoli last season and ended 2023 by being named African Footballer of the Year, but the striker reckons lifting the Cup of Nations with Nigeria might just top the lot.

While the Super Eagles are preparing to face hosts Ivory Coast in their second group game at this edition of the AFCON on Thursday in Abidjan, Osimhen said, “It would be one of the best moments of my life.

“I have done that with Napoli, I have made history, but no matter what I do, no matter how many goals I have scored, to be able to win the AFCON, I would go a long way in my life but probably when I do that I am done,” he admitted.

“I am really looking forward to winning something with the Super Eagles.”

Osimhen is, naturally, the focus of most attention around the Nigerian squad after his exploits with Napoli, scoring 26 goals last season to lead them to their first Scudetto since 1990.

The eyes of Africa’s most populous country, home to over 220 million people, are on him, but he insists he can handle the pressure.

“I have aimed high all my life while growing up, and this pressure comes naturally. I am the kind of person who doesn’t fold under pressure,” he said while speaking at the Nigerian team hotel overlooking Abidjan’s Cocody Bay.

“As the pressure comes I take it into my head to try to give my best and do well for myself.

“So far so good, I have been doing well for my club and country, which I feel like is the most important thing,” said Osimhen, who pipped Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah to the African player prize.

“To win the African Player of the Year is just the dream of every young African player. For me to have won it shows the kind of things I have put in, the hard work, the sweat, the tears.

“For me, it is really a dream come true,” he added, appearing relaxed having just finished another interview with Togo’s 2008 African footballer of the year, Emmanuel Adebayor.

The lithe forward spearheads a Super Eagles side packed full of attacking talent and the aim for Osimhen is to lead them to their first AFCON crown since 2013.

Doing that would allow him to take his place alongside Nigerian greats such as Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, the latter part of the team that won the 1994 Cup of Nations.

“I used to speak with Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha. I think I owe a lot of my success to them because they have been sort of an inspiration to me while growing up,” said Osimhen, who announced himself as the top scorer at the Under-17 World Cup in 2015.

“To be up there in the same category as them — not that I am better than them in terms of football, but in terms of what I have achieved — I think is huge for me.”

Osimhen is fresh from signing a new contract at Napoli, where he insists he is happy and has “a good relationship” with President Aurelio De Laurentiis.

His previous AFCON experiences have been frustrating, as he hardly featured when Nigeria –- with Odion Ighalo leading the attack — finished third in 2019 and then missed the 2022 edition altogether.

“In 2019 when I came, Ighalo was there. He is a big brother to me, so it was important for me to go through this learning process from him, to get this experience,” Osimhen said.

“I was supposed to be there in Cameroon, but of course, I had my facial injury.

“Now I am here. It is a dream come true for me. I don’t want to put myself in the centre but of course, a lot of people say this. I think I am more of a team player.

“I think we have the quality to make sure we have a very good tournament that we can be proud of.”

Osimhen scored as Nigeria was held by Equatorial Guinea in their opening Group A game, a result that increased the pressure before facing the hosts.

“The first game was really disappointing,” he said.

“Going forward we need to make sure we get it right in the next game, which is against a tougher opponent.”

AFP

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Perez And Red Bull Agree To End Contract Early

Sergio Perez is to leave Red Bull two years before the end of his contract after reaching a termination agreement with the team.

The move comes after a weak season for the Mexican, who failed to win a race and finished on the podium only four times as team-mate Max Verstappen won his fourth world title.

Perez, who has essentially been sacked, said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team.

“Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together.”

Perez, 34, is expected to be replaced by 22-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson, in a promotion from the sister Racing Bulls team.

Lawson, who drove six races at the end of 2024 and five during 2023, is said to have been told he would be promoted before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar, who finished second in Formula 2 this season, is expected to join Racing Bulls alongside Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, who has been overlooked by Red Bull for a seat in the senior team.

In Abu Dhabi, Perez expressed his concern for an inexperienced driver being put in alongside Verstappen.

“Being team-mates with Max at Red Bull as a young driver, I wouldn’t like to be in those shoes, if I’m honest,” Perez said.

“People cannot underestimate the level of challenge that there is in this seat.”

Although Red Bull had already decided to ditch Perez, he was reluctant to leave and his management sought the best possible compensation agreement before acquiescing.

The team said “announcements regarding the team’s full 2025 line-up will be made in due course”.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: “I would like to thank Checo [Perez] for all he has done for Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons.

“From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first one-two finish in the drivers’ championship.

“While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history.”

“It’s been an absolute pleasure driving alongside you,” Verstappen posted on social media.

“We’ve had some amazing moments together that I’ll always remember.”

Red Bull’s decision to drop Perez raises questions about the decision-making of Horner, who made the decision in May to sign him until the end of 2026.

The move came at the start of a slump in form from Perez – which echoed a similar decline in 2023 – and Horner said the intention was to allow him to recover his confidence.

But Perez’s performances did not improve. He took his final podium in the fifth race of the season in China and after finishing fourth at the following race in Miami, his best result was a sixth place in the Netherlands.

His one highlight for the remainder of the season was a strong performance in Azerbaijan, where he was on course for a podium finish before a late crash with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Perez’s inability to get close to Verstappen’s performances was a significant factor in Red Bull losing the constructors’ championship.

They finished third behind McLaren and Ferrari, despite Verstappen’s nine victories. McLaren took six wins between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Ferrari five with Charles Leclerc and Sainz.

Horner re-signed Perez – giving him a two-year extension that seemed inexplicable to many in F1 – rather than taking Sainz, who is being replaced at Ferrari next season by Lewis Hamilton.

The basis for the decision was the tension that existed between the Verstappen and Sainz camps when the drivers were paired at Red Bull’s junior team in 2015 and early 2016.

But Verstappen’s father Jos Verstappen said he had never expressed a preference for Sainz not to rejoin Red Bull.

Perez took five victories for Red Bull, one in 2021, and two each in 2022 and 2023, but was able to get close to Verstappen only for the first four races of 2023.

However, he was instrumental in Verstappen winning his first world title in 2021.

His aggressive defence against Hamilton at the season finale in Abu Dhabi allowed Verstappen to close back up to the seven-time champion in the middle of the race.

That meant when the decisive late safety-car period happened, Hamilton did not have a sufficient gap to pit for fresh tyres while also retaining the race lead, which he likely would have had Perez not blocked him for so long.

That meant he was vulnerable to Verstappen, who did stop for fresh rubber.

Race director Michael Masi started the race for one final lap, having ignored the rules governing a safety car period in two different ways, and Verstappen, on fresh tyres, was able to pass Hamilton, ensuring he rather than the Mercedes driver won the championship.

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Rugby: Stallions Set To Make A Triumphant Return After 5-Year Hiatus, Line Up For Epic Clash Against Tunisia

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has officially announced the starting lineup for the Black Stallions as they gear up for their highly-anticipated return to the rugby 15s arena. This momentous occasion marks their first tournament appearance since 2019, ending a five-year hiatus caused by a mix of challenges, including a World Rugby ban and internal disputes. However, with those issues now firmly in the rearview mirror, the NRFF has rebuilt bridges with key stakeholders and is ready to restore the sport’s prominence in Nigeria.

All eyes are on the upcoming showdown with Tunisia that comes up at 14:00 GMT+1(3pm Nigerian time )—a clash that promises to be fierce, given the historical rivalry and passionate encounters between the two nations, which often transcend the game and resonate through other aspects of life and culture.

A Stellar Lineup Poised for Battle
Leading the charge for the Stallions is the charismatic Captain Babajide Tunde, who has sharpened his skills with Southend Saxons Rugby Club. He will be flanked by a robust and skillful lineup that reflects a perfect blend of power, agility, and tactical expertise:

1.Loose Head Prop: Oghenetejiri Ajuchi
2.Hooker: Ibrahim Umar
3.Tight Head Prop: Ford Ayodele
4.Left Lock :Babajide Tunde
5.Right Lock: Arinze Okemuo
6.Left Flanker: Akeem Yusuf
7.Right Flanker: Chiemerie Felix-Maduchem
8.Number Eight: Frederick Henry-Ajudua
9.Scrum Half: Isa Omale
10.Fly Half: Matthew Ilube
11.Left Wing: Jonathan Ilori
12.Left Center: Oluwadara Odunlami
13.Right Center: Anthony Egodo
14.Right Wing: Samuel Akpabio
15.Fullback: Samuel Akpovwa

The Stallions’ depth is evident in their formidable bench, ready to make an impact:

16.Sunday Bassey
17.Julius Godwin
18.Taiwo Olagunju
19.Iyintosoluwa Kolawole
20.Liberty Enoma
21.Monday Omorogieva
22.Alex Onyeahasi
23.Christian Friday

This lineup signals the Stallions’ intent to return with a bang

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Nigeria Granted Full Membership of World Wheelchair Rugby Federation

The Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby Association has been granted full membership of the World Wheelchair Rugby Federation, following its compliance with all statutory requirements of the international body.

This development was conveyed in a letter signed by Alison Bridge, Head of Administration of the WWR, to the Nigerian wheelchair Association on December 4, 2024.

According to the letter, the provisional approval was made on July 9, 2024 and would be confirmed at the forthcoming General Assembly of the World Wheelchair Rugby Federation.

In a statement by the Secretary of the Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby, Fred Edoreh, the approval follows about two years of efforts by Mr Suleiman Isah, President Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby, also the Secretary General of the Nigeria Paralympic Committee, and members of the board to establish Wheelchair Rugby in Nigeria and meet membership requirements of the international body, in the bid to expand opportunities for Para sports in Nigeria.

“Finally and happily, Nigeria has been granted full membership of the World Wheelchair Rugby Federation. It has been a long journey, and we must commend the President of Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby, Suleiman Isah, for pursuing the process to realisation.

“As Secretary General of the Nigeria Paralympic Committee, his vision has been to expand opportunities for Para sports in Nigeria and elevate the visibility of Nigeria para athletes in international sports.

“As former President of the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation, he worked to take the Nigeria Amputee Football team to the Amputee Football World Cup in 2018 in Mexico, for the first time ever, after they team had missed attending three previous editions due to lack of funds and faced the threat of international sanctions.

“He followed up by taking the team to the Africa Amputee Football Nations Cup in Angola in 2019, at which the country finished second, and also to the Tanzania 2021 edition.

“Having repositioned Amputee Football, he has focused on Wheelchair Rugby, in the bid to provide as many international sports opportunities for persons living with disabilities in Nigeria, and it is welcoming that he has pursued the approval of full international membership of Nigeria Wheelchair Rugby to a logical conclusion. The sky is now the limit for as many para sports people in Nigeria.”