Sports

Boniface, Lookman lead Super Eagles attack against Libya

Published

3 weeks ago

October 11, 2024

admin

Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman will lead the Super Eagles’ attack against Libya in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday.

The two on-form strikers will lead the attack in the absence of the injured Victor Osimhen as Nigeria seeks to maintain its unbeaten start to the qualifier series for the Morocco 2025 edition of AFCON.

Lookman, who was on target twice in the Super Eagles’ 3-0 win over Benin Republic, has scored thrice and provided three assists in Europe this season.

Boniface, on the other hand, has been unlucky in front of goal with the Eagles but has six goals in nine appearances for his German club so far this season

Interim coach Austin Eguavoen made just two changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Rwanda in their last match with Frank Onyeka and Moses Simon in for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Samuel Chukwueze.

READ Tinubu resisted pressure to interfere in my reinstatement as Emir - Sanusi

The defence remains unchanged with captain William Troost-Ekong leading his five-man rearguard including Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Bruno Onyemaechi.

Others in the starting line-up include midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi.

Nigeria tops Group D of the AFCON qualifiers with four points from two matches, one ahead of Benin Republic.

The match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya starts at 5 pm.

Super Eagles starting XI:

Stanley Nwabali, Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon.

Related Topics:AFCON qualifier LIBYA SUPER EAGLES

Up Next

Bayelsa APC suspends Lokpobiri, Lyon over ‘anti-party activities’

Don't Miss

Wema Bank launches #MyTeacherMyHero challenge to celebrate exceptional educators in Nigeria

Click to comment

Sports

Ballon d’Or: Lookman ranked 14th best male footballer in the world

Published

3 days ago

October 28, 2024

admin

Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, has been named the 14th best male footballer in the world.

The 27-year-old was named among the 15 best players in the world on Monday at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

The winger is the only African to make the 30-player shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or prize. He is the second Nigerian to be nominated for the prize in two years.

In 2023, Victor Osimhen became the first Nigerian to break into the top 10 of the award — finishing eighth overall.

Before that, Kanu Nwankwo was the last Super Eagles player to crack the top 15 of the coveted individual prize, ranking 11th in 1996.

Lookman placed ahead of Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba on the 2024 Ballon d’Or ranking.

The winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for Atalanta, which retained its status as one of the best in Serie A.

READ Abducted Sokoto emir killed after three weeks in captivity

He scored a hattrick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning Atalanta’s first-ever European title.

Lookman was one of Nigeria’s best players at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals as the Eagles won silver at the tournament. He was also named in the competition’s best XI alongside captain Willian Troost-Ekong.

Sports

UPDATED: Man United sack Ten Hag, name Van Nistelrooy as interim coach

Published

4 days ago

October 28, 2024

admin

Manchester United have fired Erik ten Hag as the club’s head coach following an uninspiring tenure at the helm of affairs.

In a statement on the club’s website, United said Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as the team’s interim manager.

Ten Hag’s dismissal comes just a day after a 2-1 defeat at West Ham United on Sunday. The loss was the United’s fourth in the English Premier League (EPL) this season, and they slipped to 14th place on the log.

The team also remain winless in the Europa League with three draws from as many games. They are rooted in the 21st position of 36 teams in the Europa League log.

Ten Hag was appointed as United manager in April 2022. He replaced Ralf Rangnick, who had been working at United in an interim capacity after the club sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021.

Although Ten Hag’s tenure in the United dugout was fraught with inconsistent results in the EPL, the Dutchman led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

READ NFF releases detailed account of Super Eagles’ 20-hour ordeal in Libya

Van Nistelrooy will take over on an interim basis alongside the remaining departing coach’s technical team members until a permanent manager is recruited.