Sports
Osimhen leads Lookman, others in new rating for Top 20 Nigerian players
Despite winning the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year, Super Eagles and Atalanta of Italy’s striking sensation, Ademola Lookman is presently trailing fellow compatriot and Galatasaray of Turkey’s sensation, Victor Osimhen, who has emerged the number one Nigerian footballer in 2024 with Lookman on the 2nd position going by a current rating by Diaspora Newsline @www.nigeriadiasporanews.com
In its special New Year edition published online, the news platform whose focus is the promotion of the activities of Nigerians thriving in the diaspora, rated Victor Osihmen ahead of Lookman, Victor Boniface, Alex Iwobi and other top Nigerian players.
In an intro, by the editor, Nzeh Frankwhite, titled New Year, New Glory, he acknowledged the trilling exploits of Nigerian football talents across Europe and America.
In his words, “The year 2024 was no doubt quite an eventful one for the Nigerian football community, both home and abroad. The silver medal winning Super Eagles team gave Nigerian fans something to chew on, while our notable talents made headlines in some of the most competitive football leagues within Europe and beyond.
To say that our talents are making headlines across Europe and beyond is to state the obvious. Our boys were blazing hot in 2024, breaking records, setting new ones, recording historic moments, and shattering the projections of bookmakers.
In the year in focus, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman brought back the coveted CAF African Footballer of the Year after another Nigerian, Victor Osimhen, won it in 2023.
Nigerian fans have also predicted a win for another Nigerian as a part of the projected 2025 glory, may be Victor Boniface, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukweze, Simon Moses, Iheanacho, etc. might take the spotlight to deliver the goods this year.
The rating is dominating media headlines and dominating discourse among sports pundits across the globe.”
No doubt, Victor Osimhen is still the highest rated among Nigerian footballers across the globe, as captured by this current rating.
Though fans have criticized the rating for not considering the exploits of Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, but it is obvious that Saka’s decision to identify with the English national team may have denied him any consideration in this rating.
Our boys are obviously shining like a million stars across the best leagues in Europe and
2025 surely holds a lot of promise for these super established and other rising talents from the world’s most populous black nation and giant of Africa
Sports
Speaker House Reps, Abbas, Others Thumbs NFF President Over NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and New Training Pitches
…Says It Will Boost Nigeria’s Economy
By Joel Ajayi
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has commended the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, for initiating the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches, describing it as a transformational project that will boost Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Speaker Abbas praised the initiative and pledged the National Assembly’s full support.
“This is a noble project, and the National Assembly will give it full support. I congratulate the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation, and I thank FIFA for agreeing to fund this project,” he stated while cutting the ceremonial tape.
He also assured the House of Representatives’ support for the visionary leadership of Engineer Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the NFF in other key areas where assistance is required.
Leading the FIFA delegation, Gelson Fernandes (Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer/Regional Director, Africa) reiterated FIFA’s commitment to funding the project, emphasizing that infrastructure development has been a priority since the tenure of President Gianni Infantino began.
Expressing his excitement, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stated that the hostel and training pitches will serve all Nigerian national teams, leagues, and academies.
“Indeed, my joy knows no bounds. From the day my Executive Committee and I were sworn into office in Benin City on Friday, 30th September 2022, I was determined to push this project forward as a legacy for Nigerian football.
“For sustained success, we must provide a conducive environment, infrastructure, equipment, and support systems that enable players and officials to perform at their best.
“Building a players’ hostel and having new training pitches will not only enhance team management but also reduce costs, allowing us to invest more in grassroots development programs.”
Several dignitaries present at the event applauded Gusau’s leadership, determination, and commitment to football development in Nigeria.
The event was well attended by local and international stakeholders, including sports enthusiasts, who witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches.
In addition to the hostel, the project includes:Two new training pitches (one synthetic and one natural grass). Reconstruction of the existing synthetic pitch.
Also, Spectators’ sitting terraces with 1,838 seats.Two dressing rooms for players, each accommodating 27 players.Two dressing rooms for officials.
The construction is expected to last 24 months and is fully funded by FIFA under its FIFA Forward 3.0 programme.
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