Sports
CHAN 2024: Ogunmodede Backs Home-Based Super Eagles To Beat Senegal In Opener
One of the Home-based Super Eagles coaches, Daniel Ogunmodede, has expressed confidence in the side’s readiness to challenge defending champions Senegal in their opening fixture at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The Home-based Super Eagles will face Senegal next Tuesday at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar, marking their comeback to the CHAN finals after missing out on the last two editions.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Ogunmodede acknowledged the threat posed by Souleymane Diallo’s men but remained optimistic about Nigeria’s chances.
“Of course, Senegal are defending champions, so they’ll be eager to defend their title. But we’re ready to give them a very good fight,” Ogunmodede said in a chat with ESPN.
To sharpen their edge ahead of the tournament, the Home Eagles played back-to-back friendlies against Zanzibar earlier this week, allowing the squad to acclimate and fine-tune tactics.
The last time Nigeria featured in the tournament was in 2018, where they emerged as runners-up behind host nation Morocco. Their bronze-medal finish at the 2014 edition in South Africa also remains one of the team’s proudest CHAN moments.
Meanwhile, in a nod to past glories, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named former Super Eagles winger Ejike Uzoenyi among the all-time greats of the CHAN competition.
Uzoenyi, remembered for his dazzling pace and accurate left-footed deliveries, was the standout performer at the 2014 tournament and was crowned the Most Valuable Player.
His CHAN exploits helped catapult him into Nigeria’s squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and also earned him a spot in the victorious 2013 Africa Cup of Nations team.
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Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Victor Osimhen has climbed into the elite ranks of Africa’s highest-paid footballers in 2025 following his landmark transfer from Napoli to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
It was reports that Victor Osimhen made headlines earlier this summer after sealing a historic €75 million switch. This deal officially broke the Turkish transfer record.
But beyond the hefty transfer fee, Osimhen’s jaw-dropping contract has become a talking point across the football world in terms of the agreed wages.
According to Capology, the 26-year-old Nigerian international will pocket a base salary of €25 million annually at Galatasaray, which breaks down to a staggering €512,885 per week, including bonuses.
This massive wage package not only underlines Osimhen’s stature as one of the most sought-after strikers in world football but also sees him leapfrog Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah on the list of the top 10 highest-paid African players in 2025.
Below are the highest-paid footballers from Africa in 2025:
1. Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) – €931,316 per week
2. Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr) – €753,846 per week
3. Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) – €654,038 per week
4. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) – €512,885 per week
5. Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli) – €263,846 per week
6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – €253,910 per week
7. Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli) – €207,308 per week
8. Omar Marmoush (Manchester City) – €187,325 per week
9. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) – €139,615 per week
10. Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – €105,192 per week
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Galatasaray fans are in for a special treat tonight as the Turkish giants officially unveil their star summer signings, Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane, at RAMS Park ahead of their pre-season clash with Lazio.
The presentation, scheduled before kick-off (7 p.m. Nigeria time), is expected to draw a capacity crowd eager to welcome the high-profile duo to Istanbul. Both players were signed to bolster the Turkish Super Lig champions’ ambitions domestically and in Europe in the forthcoming season.
Sane, a German winger, arrived from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich last month. His move was seen as a statement of intent from Galatasaray, signalling their hunger to dominate not just in Turkey but on the continental stage.
Just 48 hours before the unveiling, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen completed his permanent move to Galatasaray from Italian side Napoli.
The 26-year-old hitman was one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards earlier this summer. His return to the Yellow and Reds, where he had previously shone during a season-long loan, has heightened the club’s fans’ expectations.
Osimhen wasted no time settling back in. He resumed training with the squad on Friday and is expected to feature on the bench tonight against Lazio.
The Super Eagles forward was Galatasaray’s talisman last season, scoring an astonishing 37 goals and providing eight assists in 41 matches across all competitions. His performances contributed to the club winning the domestic double.
Galatasaray fans are in for a special treat tonight as the Turkish giants officially unveil their star summer signings, Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane, at RAMS Park ahead of their pre-season clash with Lazio.
The presentation, scheduled before kick-off (7 p.m. Nigeria time), is expected to draw a capacity crowd eager to welcome the high-profile duo to Istanbul. Both players were signed to bolster the Turkish Super Lig champions’ ambitions domestically and in Europe in the forthcoming season.
Sane, a German winger, arrived from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich last month. His move was seen as a statement of intent from Galatasaray, signalling their hunger to dominate not just in Turkey but on the continental stage.
Just 48 hours before the unveiling, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen completed his permanent move to Galatasaray from Italian side Napoli.
The 26-year-old hitman was one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards earlier this summer. His return to the Yellow and Reds, where he had previously shone during a season-long loan, has heightened the club’s fans’ expectations.
Osimhen wasted no time settling back in. He resumed training with the squad on Friday and is expected to feature on the bench tonight against Lazio.
The Super Eagles forward was Galatasaray’s talisman last season, scoring an astonishing 37 goals and providing eight assists in 41 matches across all competitions. His performances contributed to the club winning the domestic double.
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Kanyisola Ajayi, Prestina Ochonogor, and Sade Olatoye stole the spotlight on Friday as the 2025 Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) National Trials kicked off at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
The event which was originally billed for Abeokuta, was relocated to Lagos at the last minute and now serves as the official qualification meet for Nigerian athletes eyeing a spot at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
Ajayi, widely regarded as Nigeria’s current sprint sensation, lived up to his reputation by dominating heat one of the men’s 100m with a strong 10.05s finish on Friday.
However, the fastest time of the day came from Israel Okon, who stunned the crowd with a new personal best of 10.03s to win heat two. Fakorede Nicholas also set a personal best of 10.06s to top heat three.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist Enoch Adegoke showed his experience in heat four, clocking 10.14s for the win. Alaba Akintola followed with a 10.08s performance in heat five, while Olaolu Olatunde shaved off time from his lifetime best to take heat six in 10.13s. Other heat winners included Seye Ogunlewe (10.18s), Temitope Bello, and John Caleb.
In the women’s 100m heats, 18-year-old Prestina Ochonogor continued her breakout season with an 11.48s win in heat one, holding off challenges from Precious Nzeakor and Faith Osamuyi, who finished second and third, respectively.
On the field, Chioma Onyekwere secured her third national title in the women’s discus with a consistent series that culminated in victory ahead of Obiageri Amaechi, who settled for second place with a 59.39m throw. Onyekwere’s triumph marked her third win in five national championship appearances.
Hammer throw specialist Sade Olatoye also impressed in her category, emerging as one of the key athletes to watch as the trials progress.
The action resumes today, August 2, with athletes across various events battling to meet qualification standards for Tokyo.
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