Nigerians have rallied behind Victor Osimhen following reports that Mercedes-Benz has initiated legal proceedings against the striker over an alleged unpaid leasing debt.

The case, first reported by Italian outlet Il Giorno, centres on claims that the Nigeria international defaulted on payments for a Mercedes GLE hybrid SUV acquired under a leasing agreement in 2023 during his time at Napoli.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Italia S.p.A. is said to have filed a complaint in Milan, accusing the 27-year-old of failing to meet his financial obligations, with the alleged arrears estimated at €90,000, while it is also claimed that the vehicle was not returned at the end of the contract.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, reactions on social media platform X have largely been in support of the forward, with many users expressing disbelief and calling for caution.

Some Nigerians suggested the situation may have stemmed from a misunderstanding and should be resolved privately rather than publicly.

“Miscommunication probably. They should both settle things behind closed doors, instead of bringing it here,” user @zinux17 wrote.

Others questioned the credibility of the report, insisting the claims did not align with Osimhen’s profile.

“I don’t believe this one, sorry. It doesn’t make sense; something might be wrong somewhere,” @nuelpraise213 posted.

There were also views that the striker would not risk damaging his reputation over such an issue.

“This is not adding up at. Osimen wouldn’t want to do anything that will jeopardise his reputation,” @get2lanre said.

Several reactions outrightly dismissed the allegations, describing them as difficult to believe.

“Osimhen failing payments for a leased car? This can’t be true,” @mondaycaroline wrote.

Calls for restraint were also evident, with some urging the public to wait for verified information before drawing conclusions.

“This is one of those reports that needs proper confirmation before conclusions are drawn,” @minugirl49268 added.

“High profile names often trend quickly online, so it’s important to wait for verified statements before reacting strongly.”

Others simply rejected the report without elaboration.

“This can’t be right,” @jeremiah6929 stated.

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray in 2025 in a deal reportedly worth €75m, has yet to respond publicly to the allegations, while his representatives have also remained silent at the time of reporting.

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John Obi Mikel has ruled out Cesc Fàbregas as a potential Chelsea manager, instead backing former team-mate Filipe Luís as the best candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Chelsea are searching for a new manager following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, with several names linked to the role as the club continue to assess options behind the scenes.

Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel acknowledged the progress made by Fàbregas at Italian side Como but insisted the Chelsea job may come too soon for the Spaniard as he continues to build his managerial experience.

“I think for me, it’d be too early for Fabregas. I like Fabregas and we can all see the success he’s having with Como in the Italian league, but I think it’s a bit too early. Give him a couple more seasons to establish himself and gain more experience.”

The former Nigeria captain instead pointed to Filipe Luís as the standout option among the names being considered, despite the Brazilian’s relatively short time in management with Flamengo.

Mikel highlighted the identity and structure Luís has already instilled in his team, particularly noting their performances on the international stage, which he believes demonstrate the qualities required to succeed at the highest level.

“On Filipe Luis, he is a fantastic manager and his team played fantastic football in the Club World Cup and had an objective of how they wanted to play.”

“There was a clear structure, playing with purpose, that’s how you know someone can become a top manager.”

“Maybe he doesn’t have the experience right now, but from the job he did with Flamengo and the way his team plays, there is something to be excited about.”

“There’s an expectation of what you feel you can achieve and that’s what I like about Filipe Luis. Maybe it’s too early, but of all the three managers mentioned, if they go with any of them, I’ll probably say Filipe Luis,” Mikel said.

Chelsea, who are being overseen by interim boss Calum McFarlane until the end of the season, are not rushing their decision, with reports suggesting the club are also considering undisclosed candidates as they weigh up their next appointment.

Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, suffered a second consecutive defeat on their United States tour after falling 88–79 to the Minnesota Lynx in a competitive contest at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Tuesday, PUNCH Online reports.

Playing under assistant coach Wani Muganguzi in the absence of head coach Rena Wakama, who is on WNBA duty with Chicago Sky, the Nigerian side showed marked improvement from their opening 89–63 loss to Los Angeles Sparks, pushing the Lynx across all four quarters.

D’Tigress started strongly, with the quintet of Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu, Suzie Rafiu, Uche Izoje and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah matching the tempo of their opponents in a fast-paced opening period that ended narrowly at 27–26 in favour of Minnesota.

The game remained closely contested through the first half, with the Lynx edging the second quarter 19–17 to take a 46–43 lead into the break, before gradually asserting control in the third period with a 21–16 advantage.

Minnesota maintained their edge in the final quarter, outscoring Nigeria 21–20 to seal a nine-point victory in front of a crowd of 6,510.

Kalu led Nigeria’s scoring with 25 points in an assured offensive display, while Gabby White added 16 points and continued to impress in her evolving role within the team.

Kunaiyi-Akpanah contributed 11 points, and Izoje chipped in eight as D’Tigress displayed improved balance in attack.

The African champions recorded 36 rebounds compared to Minnesota’s 25 and also edged steals 8–5, but were undone by lower shooting efficiency, converting 40 per cent of their field goals against the Lynx’s 50 per cent, while also trailing in assists 23–11.

Both teams matched each other with 32 points in the paint, but Minnesota capitalised on fast-break opportunities, scoring 13 points to Nigeria’s seven, and also benefited from superior ball movement which created higher-quality scoring chances.

The contest featured six lead changes and was tied on five occasions, although the Lynx’s biggest lead of 15 points ultimately proved decisive.

Courtney Williams led Minnesota with 17 points, while the hosts’ collective offensive effort saw them register 43 bench points compared to Nigeria’s 28.

Despite the defeat, Nigeria showed encouraging signs within a youthful and experimental squad assembled as part of a broader rebuilding phase.

The 21-player camp roster is heavily dominated by athletes from the American collegiate system, with 15 players drawn from 14 NCAA programmes as the Nigeria Basketball Federation looks to develop depth ahead of future competitions.

Players such as Gabby White, Stephanie Okechukwu, Shay Ijiwoye, Nora Ezike, Uche Izoje and Danielle Osho are part of a new generation being integrated into the national team setup.

The tour forms part of preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin in September, where Nigeria will compete in Group B alongside France, South Korea and Hungary.

With one game remaining in the three-match series, D’Tigress will look to build on their improved performance when they face Indiana Fever on Saturday midnight, as the coaching crew continues to assess tactical cohesion and player combinations against elite WNBA opposition.

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