Sports

Nigeria’s Super Eagles ranked most expensive national team in Africa, 13th in the world

Published

2 months ago

March 31, 2023

The Super Eagles of Nigeria is officially the “Most Expensive Team” in Africa with a total value of €338.50m, according to the latest financial rankings of national teams released by Transfermarkt on Thursday.

The Super Eagles is also ranked the 13th most expensive team in the world, witnessing a massive rise in squad market value following a couple of high profile signings of Nigerian players in the last one year.

According to Transfermarkt, the rise in the squad market value has seen the three-time African champions move up two steps from 15th to the 13th most valuable international team globally, while also maintaining its position in Africa as the most valuable team on the continent.

“The Super Eagles of Nigeria boast players who ply their trade in Europe’s lucrative leagues, making them one of the world’s most valuable teams, with a total value of €338.50m,” the report said.

“The Nigerian squad’s value witnessed an increase of €37.5m compared to the squad’s previous value which was €301m in February.

“There was a massive rise in the market value of some of the Eagles players, following their recent outstanding performances for their various club sides.

“The biggest of them of all is Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, who has the highest rise between the month of January and March.

“His excellent form saw a massive €30m rise in his market value, moving from €70m to €100m, and is now Nigeria’s most valuable player ever,” the report by Transfermarkt stated.

Other players in the star-studded Super Eagles team include Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, who though saw another drop in his valuation due to a bout of injuries, remains the second most valuable player in the team with €38m, compared to his previous value of €60m.

Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman is another player who contributed to the increase in the Super Eagles’ market value as he moved from his previous value of €20m to €30m, following his impressive debut season with the Italian club.

Everton forward, Alex Iwobi maintained his €25m valuation to remain as Super Eagles’ fourth most expensive player, while Villareal’s Samuel Chukwueze’s market value remains at €20m.

The likes of Terem Moffi, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey contributed to the growth of the Super Eagles’ value with a combined value of €72m.

On the African continent,
Morocco, who were once the third most valuable African team, are now second in Africa and 14th in the world with a team value of €306.85m, while Ivory Coast remains third in Africa and 22nd globally with a market value of €251.03m, with Ghana ranked fourth on the continent and 24th in the world.

African champions, Senegal, is fifth in Africa and 27th in the world.

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Sports

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon shatters women’s 1500m world record at Diamond League

Published

1 day ago

June 3, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Kenyan long distance runner, Faith Kipyegon Friday broke the 1500m women’s world record after clocking 3:49.11 at the third leg of the Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season held in Florence, Italy.

The two-time Olympic and two-time world champion who went into the Golden Gala as the second-fastest women’s 1500m runner of all time, took some minutes off the 3:50.37 she clocked in Monaco in August last year on her way to shattering the world record.

In the process, the 29-year-old Kipyegon bettered the previous record of of 3:50.07 set by another African, Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba in Monaco in 2015.

Top British runner,
Laura Muir, settled for second position while another Briton, Imani-Lara Lansiquot was third.

Sports

Osimhen can’t help Man U win trophies— Andy Cole

Published

2 days ago

June 2, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Former Manchester United top goalscorer, Andy Cole has kicked against the club’s hunt for Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, whom he believes cannot help the English Premiership giant win a trophy.

Cole who was one of the of the most prolific strikers in the history of the English game, warned the Red Devils against splashing a mouthwatering transfer fee on the Napoli hotshot as that would not guarantee them winning the Premier League title or other diadems next season.

The English team have been in the the hunt for a new attacker to rejuvenate their strike force next season and Osimhen who ended the season as the highest goal scorer in the Italian Serie A has been repeatedly linked with a move to Old Trafford in a bid to bolster their squad for the 2023-24 season.

The Red Devils entered the fray for Osimhen who has scored 25 goals in 31 appearances in the Serie A, along with several European giants, including Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and PSG.

However, Cole who formed a devastating strike partnership with Dwight Yorke in the 90s, believes signing the Nigerian forward will not be enough to help United conquer England and Europe.

The 1999 treble-winning forward who bared his mind on Thursday night about the FA Cup final involving United and bitter rivals, Manchester City, said categorically that Osimhen was not the answer to Man U’s attacking problems.

“No, Manchester United can’t win the league next season. It frustrates me when people think that buying two more players, we can then win the league,” Cole said.

“So why are Manchester City in such a good position if all it takes is buying two players? Make it make sense. Two players, including Victor Osimhen, can’t help Manchester United compete for the league title.

“Unless Manchester City don’t buy anyone this summer and say ‘we’ll let everyone catch us up.’ Football doesn’t work like that, so I’m honest when people ask if Manchester United can compete for the league title next season, I say no.”