LAGOS JANUARY 31ST (NEWSRANGERS)-Yes, before the days of Jay-Jay Okocha, there was a playmaker in the Nigerian team who was a great dribbler and was even nicknamed “The African Maradona”. His name, Etim Esin. Who is Etim, how special was he, what did he do, and how did he lose it all? I was at…
LAGOS JANUARY 29TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, may be named the coach of Ghana’s national team ahead of their Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs against Nigeria in March. Rohr was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation last month, after some unconvincing performances in the World Cup qualifiers, despite steering the three-time African…
LAGOS JANUARY 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Striker Mario Balotelli has been recalled by Italy coach Roberto Mancini more than three years after he last played for the Azzurri for a training camp ahead of 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Monday. The 31-year-old Balotelli was one of several surprise call ups including…
LAGOS JANUARY 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Defending Champions Algeria may have gone after their early exit from the ongoing Nations Cup in Cameroon, they are however to cough out $5000 for bridging the rules according to CAF Disciplinary Board. In their report match officials reportedly indicted Algeria for invading the pitch during their match versus Ivory Coast. The…
LAGOS JANUARY 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Everton forward, Alex Iwobi, will be unavailable for Nigeria when they take on Ghana for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This is because of the red card he picked up during their 1-0 defeat to Tunisia. Iwobi, who came on as a substitute in the 2021 Africa Cup…
LAGOS JANUARY 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, has been receiving death threats since the elimination of Nigeria at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Nigeria lost 1-0 to Tunisia in the Round of 16 game played at the Garoua centre on Sunday night, with some people accusing Maduka of selling the game….
LAGOS JANUARY 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Karim Benzema’s house was broken into on Sunday while the French striker was playing for Real Madrid against Elche, police sources told AFP on Monday. Benzema, who missed a penalty and then went off injured at the Santiago Bernabeu, returned to find his house “in a complete mess”, although it is not…
LAGOS JANUARY 25TH (NEWSRANGERS)-No fewer eight people are reported to have been killed and dozens hurt in a crush outside an Africa Cup of Nations match in Cameroon. Video footage showed football fans struggling to get access to the Paul Biya stadium in a neighbourhood of the capital Yaounde. One child is among the dead,…