Sports
Neymar Set To Stay At PSG
Neymar is set to remain a Paris Saint-Germain player for the 2019-20 season, as talks between the French champions and Barcelona failed to reach a conclusion that suited both parties, ending a transfer saga that has dragged on all summer long.
PSG originally refused to enter talks with the Catalan side due to a breakdown in relations between the two clubs. But with Neymar effectively downing tools to force through a move, the Parisians relaxed their stance in a bid to offload the wantaway star.
There was growing optimism on Barca’s end that a deal could be struck before the end of the summer window, having cleared Coutinho’s wages off their books in order to avoid falling foul of financial fair play regulations.
Face to face talks between the clubs’ hierarchies followed, with several names being offered up by the Blaugrana as makeweights in proposed part-swap deals. PSG’s insistence that Nelson Semedo be included initially stalled progress as Barca did not want to part ways with the full-back.
Ivan Rakitic’s name also came up, and the Croat being dropped from Ernesto Valverde’s recent starting XIs suggested he could be on his way. Ultimately, however, it was Ousmane Dembele’s refusal to move to Paris that scuppered Neymar’s Camp Nou return.
The man signed as the Brazilian’s replacement in 2017 has had something of a rough time of it in Barcelona, suffering from persistent injury problems and having his attitude and lifestyle called into question on multiple occasions.
And while a fresh start in his native France might have seemed a good idea from the outside, the 22-year-old has flat-out refused to move, with money seemingly not a factor as Dembele plots a long career with the Liga champions.
Neymar, meanwhile, has informed a selection of his PSG team-mates that he will be lining up alongside them once more upon the completion of his international duties with Brazil – the Selecao take on Colombia and Peru in friendlies on September 7 and 11.
Back in Paris, Thomas Tuchel’s outfit will be looking forward to reintegrating Neymar into their side and continue their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 campaign as they play host to Strasbourg on September 22.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”
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