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Saka, Musiala, Ugbo: Meet Nigerian-born footballers featuring at World Cup

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To many football-loving Nigerians, the absence of the Super Eagles in Qatar 2022 remains a hard-to-heal wound.

The Ghanaian national team pushed the bitter pill down the throat of the Super Eagles at the National Stadium in Abuja when it eliminated the Nigerian team after a goaless draw.

The loss triggered a devastating swirl of emotions which snowballed into the appalling vandalisation of facilities at the newly refurbished Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

Nigerians will watch the World Cup without their beloved green and white army for the second time in 28 years. Only in 2006 did the country fail to qualify for the Mundial.

With the Eagles absent from the tournament, Nigerian football fans can have their patriotism hooked and cheer a handful of footballers of Nigerian descent who are representing other countries in Qatar.

 

Bukayo Saka (England)

The 21-year-old is unarguably the most popular name of Nigerian descent heading to the World Cup. The Arsenal winger has been hailed as one of the most exciting young talents in the world since he broke through the Gunners youth team in 2018.

Born to Nigerian parents who immigrated to England, Saka was eligible for the Super Eagles but he opted for the Three Lions in 2020.

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Speaking on the decision, the 2022 Golden Boy nominee said although he is proud of his Nigerian roots, he sees more progress with the English national team.

“I feel like I’m really, really proud of my Nigerian heritage,” Saka said.

“I always still watch Nigeria’s games where I can and I wish them all the best and support them all the way.

 

“But I’ve seen the process of how England are transforming and I think in the future, they’re going to do great stuff. I feel like it was right for me to choose England.”

He has since made 22 appearances for Gareth Southgate’s side, scoring four goals.

Saka recently sponsored surgeries for 120 kids from poor homes in Kano, Nigeria.

 

Jamal Musiala (Germany)

At just 19, Musiala has been touted as a fully forged world-class midfielder. His repertoire of skills communicates the diverse and sophisticated football education he had.

Born in Stuttgart, Germany, to a father of Nigerian origin and a German mother, Musiala was enrolled in Chelsea academy after his parents moved to England in 2011.

The teenager represented England at the youth level until Bayern Munich came calling, and he returned to Germany.

Eligible to represent all three of Nigeria, England and Germany, Musiala opted for his mother’s country.

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In an interview earlier this year, Gernot Rohr, former Super Eagles coach, said he almost got the Bayern midfielder to switch allegiance to Nigeria when he was 17, but it fell through.

Musiala made his debut for the Die Mannschaft in March 2021.

 

Karim Adeyemi (Germany)

Adeyemi is living his father’s dream of becoming a professional footballer. Abbey Adeyemi left Nigeria for Germany in search of greener pastures for his lofty football dreams. But upon his arrival, he was too old for the shortening age range of professional football and settled for a normal life.

On came Karim through a Romanian mother, and his dream was rekindled vicariously.

Karim is a 20-year-old striker deemed talented enough by Borussia Dortmund as the replacement for Erling Haaland.

He pledged allegiance to Germany in 2021 and scored on his debut.

 

Manuel Akanji (Switzerland)

The Manchester City defender was born in Neftenbach, Switzerland, to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother.

He comes from an athletic family. His siblings, Michelle and Sarah, are both professional athletes.

Akanji has strong ties with his Nigerian origin but chose to represent Switzerland instead.

He has represented the Rossocrociati 42 times across several major tournaments.

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Noah Okafor (Switzerland)

Like Akanji, Okafor has a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother.

The 22-year-old forward represented Switzerland at various youth levels before making his senior debut in 2019.

Okafor plays for Austria’s RB Salzburg where he has won three league titles and as many cup trophies.

 

Samuel Adekugbe (Canada)

Adekugbe was born in England to parents of Nigerian descent. He had a spell with Manchester United Grassroots Program before his family moved to Canada when he was 10.

He rose through the ranks of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and made his debut for the Canadian national team in 2015.

His playing career saw him return to England, followed by spells in Sweden and Norway.

The 27-year-old currently plays for Hatayspor in Turkey Lig 1.

Ike Ugbo (IKe Ugbo)

Ugbo was also born in England to parents of Nigerian origin. He is a product of the prestigious Chelsea academy where he twice won UEFA Youth League titles.

Although his parents had moved to Canada when he was five, the striker opted to represent England at the youth level.

He, however, switched allegiance to Canada in 2021. The Troye FC striker has played eight times for the Reds since then.

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13th All African Games: Nigeria finishes second with 120 medals

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Team Nigeria finished second on the medals table at the 13th African Games in Ghana. 

 

The Nigerian contingent raked in 47 gold, 33 silver and 40 bronze medals across 25 sports at the competition.

 

Weightlifting produced Nigeria’s highest medal haul. The team garnered 32 medals — 16 gold, 10 silver and six bronze medals.

 

Athletics was Nigeria’s second most productive sport at the Games, with 22 medals won.

 

Tobi Amusan won her third consecutive African Games gold medal in the women’s 100 meters hurdles. She then anchored the women’s 4×100 meters team to a gold medal.

 

Ese Brume retained her crown in the women’s long jump, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi reigned supreme in the men’s shot put.

 

Blessing Oborodudu and Odunayo Adekuoroye were pristine as wrestling earned Nigeria 11 medals.

 

Nigeria won eight gold medals in a day in boxing while arm wrestling also produced 13 medals.

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Team Nigeria’s medal haul is only bested by Egypt, which had 189 medals, comprising 101 gold, 46 silver and 42 bronze.

 

South Africa placed third on the medals table with 106 medals — 32 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze medals.

 

Algeria finished third with 29 gold, 38 silver and 47 bronze medals, while Tunisia completed the top five.

 

The next edition of the African Games will be held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2027.

 

 

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Super Hero: Nigerian footballer, Osayi-Samuel defends teammates against pitch invaders

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Nigerian defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who plays for Turkish club, Fenerbahçe, was seen knocking a violent pitch invader to the ground during a chaotic on-pitch brawl on Sunday night.

 

Tension escalated at the end of Fenerbahce’s 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

Former Manchester United player, Fred, netted two goals in the first half, as Fenerbahce secured the victory with a late 87th-minute goal from Michy Batshuayi.

Fenerbahce players gathered in the middle of the pitch to celebrate their victory when suddenly, a single Trabzonspor fan made his way onto the pitch to taunt them.

 

A security team swiftly apprehended the individual, who was wearing a mask.

As the situation unfolded, a growing number of Trabzonspor supporters managed to bypass the security staff, causing difficulties in maintaining control.


Video captured the 26-year-old Osayi-Samuel in the midst of the commotion.

 

A video that went viral on social media captured the Nigerian chasing a fan and landing a punch to his face, causing the masked supporter to fall to the ground.

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In another clip, Osayi-Samuel can be seen celebrating when he suddenly noticed a pitch invader.

 

In the video, he confronted the aggressor, defending himself against a punch and retaliating with one of his own, as a security guard swiftly subdued the unruly fan.

During the incident, Osayi-Samuel had to be held back by his teammates and security as the situation became more intense.

 

One particular fan was seen brandishing a corner flag as a potential weapon.

According to a report from Mirror UK, the atmosphere became heated as some home supporters resorted to throwing objects onto the pitch, aiming at players, coaches, and referees.

A number of Fenerbahce’s players and staff had hurriedly made their way to the tunnel for safety.

Osayi-Samuel made the move to Fenerbahce from QPR in 2021, following his early career at Blackpool.

The Nigeria international has made 126 appearances for the Turkish team.

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Arsenal defeat Porto to reach Champions League quarter-finals

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Mikel Arteta led Arsenal to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years after beating Porto in a penalty shootout following a night of tension at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners went into this last-16 second leg 1-0 down but drew level when Leandro Trossard put them ahead on the night four minutes before the interval with a smooth finish following brilliant work by captain Martin Odegaard.

A scrappy, fractious encounter failed to yield a winner even after extra time and it was Arsenal who held their nerve to go through to the last eight.

 

Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were all on target for Arsenal as David Raya saved from Wendell and Galeno to seal victory for Mikel Arteta’s side amid scenes of wild celebration.


Arsenal only trailed to Galeno’s last-gasp goal from the first game in Portugal, but it quickly became clear they would need to pass a stern test of character, temperament and patience against Sergio Conceicao’s streetwise, experienced team.

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Porto, defensively marshalled and organised by the evergreen 41-year-old Pepe, never allowed Arsenal to play with their usual fluency and Trossard’s goal, created after superb footwork and a pass of precision from Odegaard, was a rare moment of weakness from the visitors’ defence.

Arsenal probed but Porto still posed a threat, Raya saving well from Evanilson and Francisco Conceicao.

Odegaard thought he had settled Arsenal’s nerves and put them through without the need for extra time with a second half strike. However, it was ruled out when Havertz was judged to have pulled back Pepe.


The anxiety and anger even reached the technical area, with Porto coach Conceicao an agitated, animated figure throughout, and it threatened to boil over with frustration after their fate was sealed by Raya’s flying save in a chaotic conclusion.

At the end of a nervous night, it was Arsenal who were celebrating with Arteta finally ending his European curse at home, having managed five Europa League ties at Emirates Stadium without winning any.

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It also felt like a psychological barrier had been crossed by the Gunners after losing at the last-16 stage in each of their past seven appearances in the Champions League.

And having reached the last eight, Arsenal might just feel they have learned enough from this tough experience to take their journey deeper into the competition.

Gunners set up dream season finale


Arsenal have had the ideal few days, breaking that barrier into the last eight of Europe’s elite competition while also taking their place at the top of the Premier League.

Their dramatic win against Brentford and the draw between their two closest challengers Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday means they top the league on goal difference.

It also means Arsenal have that feeling of momentum to carry forward into the final stage of the season, fighting both in domestic and European competition.

 

Arsenal’s next game is the mammoth clash with Premier League champions Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on 31 March and Arteta now has time to take a breath and regather his forces in a position of real strength.

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