Sports
Eagles Await AFCON Draw as Super Eagles Prepare for Friendlies
By Milcah Tanimu
The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, are poised to discover their group stage opponents in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during the draw ceremony in Abidjan today, according to The PUNCH.
The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, were placed in Pot 2 for the draw due to their recent drop in FIFA rankings. This seeding means they are likely to be matched against either the host nation, Ivory Coast, or one of the top four African teams.
Given the presence of numerous North African countries in Pot 1, Nigeria faces a high probability of being grouped with teams like Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, or Algeria.
While the likelihood of drawing North African teams is significant, the Super Eagles could also find themselves in a group with Ivory Coast or Senegal. Their other potential opponents will emerge from Pots 3 and 4.
Pot 3 includes teams like Cape Verde, 2012 champions Zambia, 1996 champions South Africa, as well as Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, and Mauritania. Nigeria is guaranteed to face one of these six countries.
Pot 4 consists of the lowest-ranked teams in the competition.
In other news, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been called up to the Super Eagles for friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique due to uncertainty surrounding the availability of goalkeepers Adeleye Adebayo and Olorunleke Ojo. Okoye’s return marks his first call-up since November 2022 when he was invited for an international friendly against Portugal.
Adebayo, based in Israel, faces challenges related to his flight due to a crisis in his base, while Ojo is yet to receive an entry visa to Portugal, where the friendlies will be played. Francis Uzoho, who plays in Cyprus, is the only goalkeeper currently in the Eagles’ training camp in Portugal.
Maduka Okoye had been the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper at one point, but his tenure with the national team had been marred by costly errors and threats to his life. He has made 16 appearances for the Super Eagles and has kept six clean sheets for the three-time African champions.
As of the time of this report, the Eagles were still expecting the arrival of new invitee Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Meanwhile, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface trained with the squad in Portugal ahead of the upcoming friendlies.
Sports
Transfer: Gabriel Jesus Could Leave Arsenal as Napoli Show Interest
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus could leave the club this summer, with Italian side Napoli reportedly interested in signing the Brazilian forward.
According to Sky Italia, Napoli’s new manager, Massimiliano Allegri, is a long-term admirer of Jesus and is keen to explore the possibility of bringing him to Serie A.
Jesus and Allegri share the same agent, Giovanni Branchini, who was reportedly spotted at Napoli’s pre-season training camp in Castel di Sangro on Friday.
A meeting could reportedly take place to discuss a potential move for the Arsenal forward.
Napoli’s interest could depend on their ability to offload one of their existing strikers. The club would reportedly need to find new destinations for Lorenzo Lucca, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, or Romelu Lukaku before making a move for Jesus.
Arsenal are reportedly willing to consider offers of around £18 million for the 29-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract with the Gunners.
Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 and could now be heading for a new challenge in Italy if Napoli’s interest develops into a formal transfer.
Sports
Transfer: Liverpool Agree Loan Deal for Barcelona Defender Araujo
Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign Uruguay international Ronald Araujo on loan.
According to Sky Sports, the deal could be completed this weekend, with the 27-year-old defender set to move to Anfield on a straight loan arrangement.
Araujo renewed his Barcelona contract last year, extending his stay at the Catalan club until 2031.
However, the defender endured a difficult campaign last season and was subsequently granted an extended leave of absence from the team.
The proposed move to Liverpool would give Araujo an opportunity to revive his career in a new league and country.
The Uruguay international joined Barcelona from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018 before making his first-team breakthrough a year later.
Sports
LaLiga: Mourinho Introduces Four New Rules at Real Madrid
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly introduced a series of new rules at the club after identifying what he considered bad habits within the dressing room.
Mourinho returned to the Spanish giants for a second spell this summer and has already begun implementing changes to improve discipline and professionalism within the squad, according to AS.
One of the new measures concerns players’ diets. The Portuguese manager has reportedly ended the freedom for players to eat whatever they choose, with the club’s nutritionist now responsible for overseeing their meals.
Under the new system, menus will be carefully structured and determined according to the nutritional needs of the players.
Mourinho has also introduced a disciplinary measure for players who arrive late to training. Such players will reportedly be required to undergo individual gym sessions.
Another rule concerns injury rehabilitation. Players recovering from injuries will now be expected to complete their rehabilitation at the club’s training ground under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical and fitness staff rather than working independently with external personnel.
The changes are part of Mourinho’s reported efforts to establish greater discipline and control within the Real Madrid squad following his return to the club.
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