Sports

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

Published

1 year 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

Al Ahly, Esperance to clash in CAF Champions League final

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Two of Africa’s club giants, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia, will do battle next month over two legs for the right to be crowned champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Title-holders Al Ahly and their long-standing rivals Esperance both booked their places in the final with dramatic semi-final victories over DR Congo”s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa respectively on Friday night.

While Al Ahly, winners of five of the last seven editions of the continent’s top draw tournament, with a record 11 in total, overcame TP Mazembe with a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final second leg after a goalless first leg last Saturday, Esperance surprised Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in Pretoria to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate win.

The two-legged final will mark the third encounter between Ahly and Esperance in the Champions League final, with the Egyptians winning in 2012 and the Tunisians triumphing in 2018.

In 2023, the two clubs clashed in the semi-finals with Ahly emerging victorious home and away, securing a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Esperance who are aiming for a fifth Champions League title, will host the first leg in Rades on May 18, with the return fixture scheduled in Cairo seven days later.

Sports

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal accident where he sustained serious injuries.

The accident which involved a head-on collision between a Mercedes-Benz car in which Kalaba was in, and a truck, had initially sparked fears for his life and has since been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zambian University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The good news on the footballer’s progress was released by the UTH Public Relations Officer, Nzeba Chanda, who informed that the Chipolopolo legend has been discharged after showing positive signs of recovery.

“Mr. Rainford Kalaba has been discharged from the UTH-Adult where he was admitted after being involved in a road traffic accident two weeks ago,” Chanda said, adding that Kalaba will continue his recovery at his family home.

According to local media reports, the 37-year-old was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz when it collided with an oncoming truck in the south-eastern Zambian town of Kafue a week and five days ago.

In his active playing days, Kalaba spent the majority of his club career at TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the CAF Champions League with the club in 2015 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016.

He also had a spell with clubsides in Portugal including FC Braga, and was a major part of the Zambian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 under Frenchman, Herve Renard.