Sports

Manchester United cancel end of Season dinner party

Manchester United football club of England have cancelled the club’s traditional end of season awards dinner following the club’s disappointing campaign.

According to a report by The Athletic, the club said they do not want to provide any distractions ahead of the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City.

The club usually host a dinner at their Old Trafford stadium at the end of the season in order to present awards including the Sir Matt Busby player of the year award, as well as recognition for young talent that broke through the ranks.

The award dinner is attended by the first team for the men’s and women’s teams, and academy players, coaching staff, club staff, supporters and sponsors.

However, United have suffered a hugely disappointing season, leaving manager Erik Ten Hag fighting for his future.

The club were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage before Christmas. They are eighth in the Premier League table, having lost fourteen matches and are scrambling to qualify for a place in the Europa League or Europa Conference League.

United are yet to face neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final at the end of the month, which woild be their only success story this season if they win the match.

The club say that United’s dinner for this year had originally been scheduled for May 20, in the week leading up to the final against City on May 25

But The Athletic reports that following consultation with Ten Hag and the football leadership team, “it has been decided that the players should not have any distractions in the week of the game.”

“The players will still receive awards voted by their peers, coaches and fans but there will not be an awards dinner.”

Sports

Eguavoen unveils Super Eagles squad for Libya clash

Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has announced a 23-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Libya.

Captain William Ekong, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and 20 other players have been called up for the home-and-away battles. The team includes:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, and Amas Obasogie

Defenders: William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina, and Benjamin Tanimu

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze, Chidera Ejuke, Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, and Taiwo Awoniyi

Notably absent due to injury is Victor Osimhen, while Olisa Ndah also misses out. Bright Osayi-Samuel returns after missing the previous matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

The Super Eagles will host Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on October 11 and travel to Benghazi for the return leg on October 15. Players are expected to report in Uyo on October 7.

Sports

AFCON 2025 Qualifyer: We will approach Libya game like World cup final – Eguavoen

Eguavoen admits it’s tough coaching football nation like Nigeria

Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen says the team will approach the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Libya like a “World Cup” final.

The three-time African champions will face the Mediterranean Knights in a matchday three encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo next week Friday.

The West Africans will battle with the North Africans in away territory four days later.

“We play against Libya back-to-back, it will be the same approach that we had for the previous games, but it’s a game at a time, so game 3 (vs Libya) is a World Cup final,” Eguavoen told Brila FM.

“No game will be easy, but we will do everything possible to put smiles on the face of Nigerians

“We need the fans to be patient and they should support the team with all our hearts.

“We hope to have the full complement of the team, let the boys stay injury-free, we have the players who can rule the world.”

Sports

Why I rejected Super Eagles job – French coach, Hervé Renard reveals

French coach, Hervé Renard, has revealed why he rejected an offer to become the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

Renard, who has enjoyed stints at Ivory Coast and Zambia, disclosed that he was approached by the Nigeria Football Federation after the exit of Finidi George in May.

According to Renard, the NFF’s offer was the most lucrative he had received, but after much deliberation, he decided to decline.

“I almost went to Nigeria. I weighed the pros and cons for a few days, even weeks, before eventually turning it down. It was the best offer I’ve had so far, but it didn’t suit me in the end,” Renard told French outlet L’Équipe, as reported by Brila FM.

Augustine Eguavoen, who was first made interim coach last month, has since been appointed as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.