Sports

Napoli social media executive resigns after Osimhen saga

Published

1 year ago

October 2, 2023

The recent saga involving Nigerian and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has swept away the Italian club’s social media executive, Alessio Fortino, who resigned from his position.

Fortino’s resignation comes days after a controversial video shared on the club’s official TikTok platform where the player was mocked for missing a penalty in a Serie A match against Bologna went viral.

A first video posted on the account showed the 24-year-old Osimhen appealing for a penalty, with an audio captioned “Gimme penalty please,” before showing him blazing the spot-kick wide of the post, while a second video compared Osimhen to a “coconut head”, which many widely viewed as having a racial slur.

The denigrating videos caused outrage, with Osimhen’s fans urging him to leave the club, citing disrespect and possible racism. Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, waded into the matter and promised to intervene to protect the player and other Nigerian athletes in any part of the world.

Following the backlash from the saga, Fortino threw in the towel, and confirmed the news via a post on his personal Instagram account on Monday after offering an apology that the TikTok videos were “never intended to offend or make fun of Osimhen.”

“Today, after 805 days, my professional adventure with SSC Naples ends. For many, this job would be comparable to a dream,” the post reads.

“For me, it was a simple daily reality: a reality built on commitment and fueled by the constant desire to learn and play.

“I cannot help but express my deepest gratitude to all the colleagues, collaborators, partners and supporters I’ve met along this long journey for making this experience so special.

“Leaving the company with a baggage of great memories and an excitement for the new adventures that lie ahead,” Fortino said.

Though the Serie A champions have not made an official comment on Fortino’s resignation, Italian sports media believes the circumstances surrounding his stepping down are not far from the Osimhen saga.

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Sports

Libya vows to appeal CAF’s sanctions over botched Afcon match with Nigeria

Published

10 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has vowed to appeal sanctions imposed on the country by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), following the October 15 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria which was cancelled.

The LFF said it would “go to the highest levels of litigation” as it seeks to overturn the sanctions imposed upon it by the continent’s football governing body.

In a ruling earlier in the week, CAF had decided to award three points and three goals to the Super Eagles after the team boycotted the match in Benghazi after their plane from Nigeria was diverted from its intended destination and the squad was stranded in an airport terminal overnight.

As part of the sanctions, CAF disciplinary board also fined the LFF $50,000 (£38,500).

The CAF’s sanctions also leaves Libya on the brink of elimination from qualifying for the tournament as the Mediterranean Knights need to win both of their remaining two games in Group D and hope that opponents Benin and Rwanda fail to pick up points.

But while promising to take its appeal to the highest level including the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), LFF acting president, Abdunnaser Ahmed, said his country was not given a fair hearing by CAF.

“Match points cannot be awarded in this way. It is a precedent that African football has never witnessed before. Whoever refrains from playing before any match is cancelled should be considered a loser,’ Ahmed told the BBC Sports, insinuating that Nigeria should have been punished instead of Libya.

“We believe that our cause is just. We will see CAF’s response to the appeal submitted by us and we will go to Cas. We will not give up our right. Such decisions place football officials in Africa before a new phase of dramatic scenes,” he added.

Sports

Zambia mourns as seven footballers die in bus crash

Published

1 day ago

October 29, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zambian football community has been thrown into mourning following a ghastly accident on Saturday that claimed the lives of seven footballers.

The bus crash which involved a third division club side, Chavuma Town Council FC, also left some players and officials injured.

Local media said 12 other persons were injured in the accident, and five of those have been evacuated to the capital Lusaka for treatment.

The Zambian Football Federation (FAZ) which expressed its “deep shock” at the accident in a statement on Tuesday, said the accident occurred while the squad was travelling to a league game in the north west of the country.

“We are in touch with the football, civil and law enforcement authorities in the province to furnish us with full details,” Faz President, Andrew Kamanga, said in the statement.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe who sent his condolences to the Zambian FA, said he and the governing body hope and pray that those injured will fully recover soon.

“I convey my personal and Caf’s deepest condolences,” Motsepe added in a statement.

“May God comfort and console the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of Zambia.May the souls of the departed players rest in eternal peace.”

Also commenting on the tragedy,
Artur de Almeida e Silva, the President of the Council of Southern Africa’s regional FAs, said the loss of young lives in such a manner was “truly heartbreaking”.

“Football is a sport that unites us, bringing joy and pride to communities across our region. In this tragic moment, we share in your grief and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends who are mourning this immense loss.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still receiving treatment for their injuries,” he said in a message to the FAZ President.