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NPFL:Inability To Convert Chances Worries Eguma  

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The Technical Manager of Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt, Stanley Eguma has blamed his players for not converting scoring chances despite their 1-0 win against visiting  Heartland in the match day 26 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
According to him, the game was a good one as they had a lot of scoring chances they failed to  convert otherwise it could have been more than one goal.
Eguma said this last Sunday in his post match interview with sports journalists shortly after the Pride of Rivers as they are fondly called  beat  Heartland of Owerri 1-0 in the NPFL at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
He explained that they played better  in the game and dominated the game from the beginning to the end but were unlucky not to score more goals.
“ It was a good game, we played well today and we had a lot of scoring chances. If we had converted it would have been more than one goal. We dominated the game from the beginning to the end but we  were unlucky not to score more goals.
“ I feel very good for the result but it is unfortunate that we are struggling this season, all the same it is a game of football, sometimes it happen. As champions, we have to raise  our game and come back to the top” Eguma stated.
He used the opportunity to thank the players and management of the club for the support  when he was away, adding that he believed that they would come together and work harmoniously.
Ukeme Williams scored the only goal for United at the 11th minute in the first half of the game.

By: Kiadum Edookor

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Osimhen Rejects Napoli’s Salary Cut

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Victor Osimhen has rejected a huge pay cut by Napoli and a new contract as his transfer saga remains unending with a week to the close of the window.
Despite the rumours, there has been no concrete offer for the Super Eagles striker with suggestions that he may end up staying put at Napoli.
Commentator Massimo Sparnelli revealed that Napoli proposed a pay cut, an extension of his contract until 2030, and make him the face of the Italian.
Osimhen is currently on over 10m Euros a year and his contract will run out in June 2026.
Napoli want him to agree to a lower salary of between 6m and 7m Euros a year.
“The player refused,” Sparnelli revealed to CalcioNapoli24.
“I can assure you that De Laurentiis made these proposals to him while promising to make the face of Napoli, but Osimhen refused.”

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Administrator Blames Shoddy Preparation For Nigeria’s Poor Olympic Outing

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An astute football administrator in the State Mr. Williams Mapuibi Inko has attributed the cause of Nigerian contingents’ dismal performance at the just concluded Paris 2024 Olympics Games to poor preparations from the authorities concerned.
Baring his mind to our reporter via telephone conversation recently, Mapuibi Inko maintained that there was no magic Nigeria athletes would have performed that would have guaranteed her a medal from the event, considering her poor level of preparation to the event competing against notable World Sports beaters on Parade.
“Honestly, the Nigerian athletes had hardly had enough and regular track and field event preparation before the championship, coupled with poor organization among the overbloated officials who were only interested in what they would gain as individuals from the two weeks outing”
On whether it will be ideal to sack the Sports Minister John Enoh, following the woeful out of the Nigerian athletes at the concluded Olympic games, the Outspoken Mapuibi Inko, who is the President of Diobu International All Stars Sports Club says he has some little reservation for now.
“Perhaps, I will subscribe that some professional and seasoned Sports administrator should be engaged to work with the Sports Minister so that different good ideas would be brought together to prosecute another major competitive event to guarantee better result of winning laurels at the end of the day”, he submitted.
In a different development, Mapuibi Inko has encouraged members of the Diobu All Stars International Sports Club to affirm faith and continue to imbibe the spirt of oneness with a view to strengthening the team for effective outings.
“Speaking to our reporter after taking a critical assessment of the club so far, Mapuibi Inko stated that it was a clear fact that Diobu International All Stars is on the right path of progress, having seen the vision of the Club towards ensuring that it’s dreams of hitting it big in the comity of other All-Stars Football Club in near future is actualized”
He further, posited that the Club which had been the cynosure of all eyes in Diobu axis is making frantic effort to acquire all necessary sporting facilities, ranging from Jersey, footballs etc. to enhance their routine football trainings at St Andrews School Field, Mile one Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“Besides, we are also training very assiduously to ensure that we are physically fit and capable to engage in any competitive matches within and outside the state”
“Again, we are equally looking forward to establishing a good working relationship with the Basic Senior Secondary School management Board as to intimate them more of our vision and readiness towards encouraging grassroots sport development in Post-Secondary Schools in Rivers State, aimed at catching them young”
The amiable Diobu International All Stars Sports Club boss, however, expressed happiness with the current improved numerical strength of the team, which according to him, is in line with the good ideal and vision of the Club right from its formation stage.

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Rangers Qualify For C.C.L 2nd Preliminary Round

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Reigning Nigeria league champions, Rangers International F.C has qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 second preliminary round with a 2-1 aggregate win over Comoros Islands champions, U.S de Zilimadjou in the first preliminary round of the premier continental club competition.
In the second leg, first preliminary round game played inside Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, August 23, 2024, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ were forced to a 1-1 draw by the tiny Island nation.
After both sides ended the first half on a goalless note, with begging chances fretted away by the home side, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu had to make quick substitutions that saw Kazeem Ogunleye and Chiedozie Okorie make way for Ekeson Okorie and Bashir Usman just ten minutes into the second stanza.
The substitution turned out to be an inspired one as Ekeson Okorie, in one of his dashing runs into the box was fouled and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot, and Kenechukwu Agu expertly converted for the opening goal of the encounter on the 79th minute to send the fans that thronged the stadium into a frenzy.
Youssouf Mohamed, however, drew the Comoros side level with just four minutes left on the clock as he nodded home an inviting cross that the Rangers backline found hard to defend just a few seconds after they missed a promising attacking move at the other end of the pitch.
Despite the draw, the Nigerian side progressed to the next round of the competition where they are scheduled to engage either St. Louis F.C of Seychelles or Sagrada Esperanca F.C of Angola with the Angolan side enjoying a 1-0 lead from the first leg played in Seychelles last week.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu in his post-match chat, said, “We are happy to have qualified for the next round of the competition even though when I believe that we did not up our game today against the Comoros champions. This goes a long way to show the mystery of the game of football. Sure, I am worried at our rate of converting chances but I am optimistic of getting over this challenge before the next window for new registration. I believe that the start of the new league season will go a long way in helping us stabilize with regards to cohesive play from my players.”

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