CAN BARCELONA FC OVERCOME THEIR STRUGGLES?

 

For a team known for the fluidity and flair of their possession football, Barcelona FC has witnessed an undulating campaign so far in the 2023/23 football season. Their successes have made them stand out so much that a little setback draws immediate attention and scrutiny from both fans and foes!

Playing their week 19 match against Las Palmas FC at the Gran Canaria Stadium, Barcelona FC had a torrid time overcoming the stubborn resistance of their hosts. They won 1-2, through a penalty scored by Iker Gundogan, in the 93rd minute of extra time.  Such has been their situation this season.  Almostthe same scenario occurred with Almeria FC in week 18 and against this season's surprise team, Girona FC.  They lost 4-2; it was never so in the past. They appear to be losing the aura that the presence of such greats as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, and many others brought to the team. Also,the daily struggles of overcoming their huge debts and the Financial FairplayRegulations Rules remain daunting enough to affect their on-field activities but they still survive.

 

WHY IS BARCELONA FC STUTTERING SO HARD?

They currently stand in the third position, with 41 points, and are 7 points below joint leaders, Real Madrid and Girona FC, yet, criticisms continue to grow about the current form of Barcelona FC. It is such high standards they have set for themselves in the past seasons and Coach Xavi Hernandez has received so much scrutiny about what the issues are with his team.  Truly they've dropped points in matches that ordinarily they would win. Injuries and loss of form to their important players such as star striker, Robert Lewandowski, goalkeeper Andre Ter Stegen, Pedri, Joao Felix, et al have affected their fortunes.  Lewandowski has scored just 3 goals since September 2023 and going by his standards, it is very underwhelming. Keeper Marc Andre Ten Stegen has been out with injury for some time and his stabilizing presence in the team cannot be ignored.  In everything, Xavi Hernandez has received the unalloyed support of club President Joan Laporta, despite the extreme criticism by the press!

 

 

 

 THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR BARCELONA FC

Against Las Palmas FC, theirnew striker, the Brazilian whiz kid Victor Roque was introduced and showed flashes of his skill, and the expectation is that he'd integrate fast to help the stuttering Lewandowski, Joao Felix, and others. Coach Xavi though has promised not to put him under pressure to allow him to settle.

 

With their current form and the consistency of Real Madrid and Girona FC, it would be difficult for Barcelona to retain the La Liga title. They're enjoying an interesting transition though, with several young and enterprising players establishing themselves and Barcelona's future looks very bright provided they're able to keep these players in good form.  Players such as Ferran Torres, Gavi, Pedri, Victor Roque, Yamal, and Araujo are very young but have huge experience and the current glitch looks surmountable once they maintain their good form.

ANC2023: SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA, FAVORITES OR BYSTANDERS?

The African Nations Cup starts off in Cote d’Ivoire within a fortnight and the Super Eagles of Nigeria are participating. About thirty years ago, they ranked the 5^th best nation in the world and attracted so much global attention through the scintillating performance of the team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA. This was the apogee of Nigeria’s football history. The Super Eagles won the 1994 ANC in Tunisia and players such as Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West, Victor Ikpeba,  got huge transfers to some of the best clubs in Europe.

Fast forward to 1996, the Nigerian football team won the gold medal in the Olympics, beating the star-studded teams of Brazil and Argentina, on their way to achieving this feat. Kanu Nwankwo won the CAF African Best Player Award, in 1996 & 1999, and Victor Ikpeba followed in 1997.  These events occurred just within six years after Professional Football was legalized in Nigeria. Most of the players had just left the local league. Thompson Oliha, playing for African Sports D’Abidjan(Cote D’Ivoire), same with Finidi George, Ajax Amsterdam, Ben Iroha, Vitesse Arnhem were recurring features on Coach Clemence Westerhof’s team list in the 1994 team and under Coach Bonfere Jo, Joseph Dosu, ‘owned’ the goalkeeping shirt and never crumbled to the onslaught of Bebeto, Romario, Diego Simeone, Gabriel Batistuta, and others.

 

THE SUPER EAGLE: ANY HOPE FOR OPTIMISM?

Amidst a conglomeration of minnows, the Super Eagles qualified for the ANC in Cote d’Ivoire, but not without several heartaches and drama! They lost at home to minnows and have not won any friendly match for three years. On paper and in current form, Nigeria boasts of possibly the best array of established African players, paying for good clubs across the World. From Victor Osimhen(Napoli FC, Italy), Ademola Lukeman(Atlanta), Maduka Okoye(Udinese), Ola Aina(Nottingham Forest, England), Victor Boniface(Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) Alex Iwobi(Fulham, England), Adebayo Adeleye(Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel ). Herein, the paradox begins! Coached by Jose Peseiro, a Portuguese, whose success ratio in his coaching career rates below 35%, the Super Eagles, has turned to a team without flair, style, guile, or tactical sagacity to overwhelm even the most unprepared opposition. He’s lost more matches than any other coach of the Super Eagles and even with the unique talents of the team, watching the Super Eagles has become a nightmare!  His disgust for players in the Nigerian league is palpable and has never manifested any attribute to consider him a good coach!

SUPER EAGLES SUFFERING THE BURDEN OF INEPTITUDE

Football is filled with so much drama and unpredictability! Sometimes, even the so-called minnows overwhelm giants and we hope the Super Eagles can replicate the feat of Denmark, in the 1992 European Nations Championship! Captain Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo, remain the only survivors of coach Stephen Keshi’s team that won Nigeria’s last ANC trophy in 2013 and expect that at the twilight of their careers, they’d be able to motivate the current players’ to a good result. Victor Osimhen just won the African Best Footballer award, Victor Boniface, has successively won the Bundesliga Best Player of the Month award for four months starting from August. These successes offer good reasons for Nigerians to be optimistic about Nigeria’s chances but the trajectory of the team under Jose Peseiro leaves much to be desired. Whilst questions continue about the competence of the coach, it is further worsened by the actions of the Nigerian Football Federation, who continue to owe Peseiro backlogs of salaries, and attributing his performance to this anomaly would be in order! The pessimism surrounding the Super Eagles’ participation in ANC2023 and Peseiro’s below-par reign will continue to instigate debates, unless they prove the pessimists wrong and give Nigerians a reason to smile and celebrate, after the ANC. Only such success would guarantee him a place in the annals of Nigerian football history.

 

MICHAEL EMENALO: THE UNASSUMING FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAS TURNED THE SAUDI FOOTBALL LEAGUE AROUND!

 

The football trajectory of Mike Emenalo remains an example of some veritable strategies about management as encapsulated by Barack Obama, the  44th President of the United States Of America: 2009-2017, in this video: https://youtu.be/YNY4UFaHbP4?si=JmzNZ21QCwfv-B_d.

 

Mike Emenalo ventured into football management about two decades ago and has mastered the strategy of getting the job done whilst working silently! His work profile speaks for itself. His foray into the Saudi Football League shows his global value, considering the nature and magnitude of the project; his presence remains a  sweet incense to the mega-rich sovereign investment fund managers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!

It's intriguing to understand how this unassuming and humble Nigerian, has perfectly ticked every aspect of football administration. Mike Emenalo started off as a footballer with Rangers International Football Club, of Enugu, in South-Eastern Nigeria, played for the Nigerian national team, the Green Eagles, and moved into football administration. In a nation where sports administrators are accused of diverse corrupt practices, such as converting allowances of players, favoritism in selecting players, etc Emenalo continues to enjoy high-profile jobs that have made him a veritable model in the world football industry!

Mike Emenalo started as a footballer in Rangers of Enugu, and left after about three years to the United States of America, to further his education. He got a degree in international relations with political sciences at Boston University, in 1989, and took some time to continue his career in the USA. Despite not being an integral member of the team that qualified, Nigeria for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he was invited by the legendary Coach Clemence Westerhof and played every match except Nigeria’s first game against Bulgaria. He played for RC Molenbeek, in Belgium, and moved to Germany, England, the USA, and Israel. It is possible, that his two-year stay in Israel, with Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, changed the course of his entire life.

Emenalo’s Journey into Football Administration

He started off in the USA, with the Tucson Soccer Academy in 2006, but switched to Chelsea FC, England in 2007, as opposition scout, then assistant first-team coach, when Israeli-born Avram Grant, became the coach. He stayed for ten years with Chelsea, occupying different important positions. Mike Emenalo became a close confidant of the then owner Roman Abramovich and in his role as technical director, from 2010, supervised their flourishing player transfer policies. Under him, players such as  Juan Mata, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, N'Golo Kanté, Eden Hazard, and Cesc Fàbregas, joined the club. He was involved during the coming of Jose Mourinho, the special one! As technical director, Chelsea did not just buy players, but won several trophies,

 

LIST OF TROPHIES

·         Premier League: 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17

·         FA Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18

·         Football League Cup / EFL Cup: 2014–15

·         UEFA Champions League: 2011–12

·         UEFA Europa League: 2012–13

In November 2017, Mike Emenalo left Chelsea FC and moved to Monaco FC, France to supervise the project of another Russian Billionaire; Dmitry Rybolovlev He occupied the same role of sporting director but left two years later. In July 2023, Emenalo was given the responsibility to become the first sporting director of the reinvigorated Saudi Roshan League. This project is hugely backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund which in June 2022 took equity control over four of the country's top football teams - Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli – as part of the country’s Vision2030 plan. Under it, football plays an integral part in the kingdom’s aim to diversify its economy, boost tourism, and create an atmosphere of investments to strengthen national prosperity and enhance global appeal. Under his guidance, the Saudi League has within a year become the most congested haven for some of the world’s best footballers.

Emenalo, a Lesson for Football Administrators in Developing Economies

For example, the Nigerian Football industry ranks far above Saudi Arabia in its achievements in world football. It has won several world football tournaments and ranks amongst the top 10 countries for football exports across the world, with its players achieving several titles, in Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world, unlike Saudi Arabia. Football administrators, especially in developing economies, like Emenalo’s home country, can seek wise counsel through direct and virtual interactions from this erudite football administrator, and knowing his unassuming nature, everyone stands to benefit. Such wise action would help rid them of unscrupulous practices and enable them to rank alongside the likes of Emenalo et al.

Michael Emenalo remains a veritable example for football administrators in developing economies. Getting the job done whilst keeping your integrity attracts greater recognition than soiling your hands with some filthy lucre!

 

Antoine Griezmann Cements Legendary Status with Atletico Madrid FC

 Antoine Griezmann enhanced his legendary status with his brace in their mid-week La Liga match with Getafe on the 19^th of December. The match ended 3-3, after Getafe rallied from 1-3 down to equalize against an Atletico Madrid side that was short of one player because of a red card awarded against Stephan Savic.

Despite his trophy-filled career, Griezmann’s latest achievement remains a sweet one, having just equaled the over 50-year record of the legendary Luis Aragones, as the highest goal scorer in the history of Atletico Madrid. With any other goal he scores for Atletico, he’d become the indisputable highest goal scorer in the club’s history, eclipsing Aragones and with the 2023/24 season close to halfway, achieving this feat is imminent.

The Record  -19^th December 2023

Number of goals     Total matches        Name of player

173                              370                            Luis Aragones

173                             364                            Antoine Griezmann

 

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN’S FOOTBALL TRAJECTORY

Antoine Griezmann’s career is filled with trophies, right from the age grades to his current level. He started his adult football career in Spain, with Real Sociedad, and then moved to Atletico Madrid in 2014. After 94 matches with them, he moved to Barcelona, for a reported sum of € 120 million but soon returned to continue his harmonious relationship with Atletico. With Barcelona, Griezmann won the Copa de Rey, maintaining a record of winning a trophy for every club he’s played for in his senior career.

He’s known for his versatility to play across different attacking positions and has remained consistent for over a decade. Griezmann has won the UEFA U-19 Championship, FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Championship, the UEFA Europa Cup. The Spanish La Liga and Segunda and has also been a runner-up for the highest goal scorer award in the World Cup, and UEFA Championship. At 32 and still active, very little separates him from the most accomplished football stars on the World stage such as Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo! Apart from the Balloon D’or, where he’s only got a third position, very little separates him from their achievements.

Apart from a little stint in the youth academy with his hometown club, UF Mâconnais, where he started his career, Griezmann has never played his club football in his country of origin, France. This has not stopped him from currently having over a century of caps with them. He’s been very fortunate in enjoying no career-threatening injury and has maintained some consistent runs in his playing career.

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN’S FOOTBALL LEGACY

Griezmann’s career remains fulfilled even at this phase of his career, and he still has more active years ahead of him. Very few players enjoy the privilege of winning the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Cup, and listless club and individual titles that he’s won in his career. To have competed at the highest level of European–World football, especially with his stint at Atletico Madrid and Barcelona FC, is a testament to his unquestionable football skill. Maintaining a prominent role in a star-packed French national team for almost a decade further strengthens the quality he possesses and whenever he decides to retire from the beautiful game, his imprints would be difficult to be instantly forgotten.

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AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF NIGERIA's FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT: 1959-2009.

ANC2023: HOW FAR CAN LIVERPOOL FC GO WITHOUT MO SALAH?

The Confederation for African Football 2024 African Nations Cup would run from the 13^th of January 2024 to the 11^th of February 2024. Within a fortnight, players from participating countries would join their various camps to prepare for the tournament. Liverpool FC lethal striker, Mo Salah would be leading the Pharaohs of Egypt in their quest to win the title in Ivory Coast. He’s been a livewire for his national team and his availability is crucial to their title quest at the Nations Cup. He’s not won any major title with his national team and this quest would certainly be taken seriously by Salah and his team.

 

Mo Salah, the Jewel

Mo Salah remains one of Africa's greatest strikers and his importance in the Liverpool FC team is immeasurable, just like it is for the Pharaohs. Coach Jurgen Klopp has done much to fortify his attack with the purchase of Darwin Nunez Luiz Diaz, and Gakpo, but despite this, the team still relies greatly on Salah to rally them to victory, especially at difficult times. The consistency of the other striking force has remained questionable and epileptic. That is where Salah’s value continues to soar. His skill, dexterity, and experience often come to bear in their pursuit to win the 2023/24 English Premier League.

 

Mo Salah would be Missed

Liverpool FC would have to deal with the absence of Mo Salah when the ANC starts. Egypt’s first match would be against Mozambique on the 14^th of January, then against Ghana on the 18^th of, January, and Cape Verde on the 22^nd of January. On paper, they stand a good chance of qualifying from their group and that could take him away from his club, missing matches in the Premier League, League, and FA Cup until February, even if Egypt doesn't get to the final. If they do get to the final, then Salah would effectively be away for about 5 weeks. He'd be sorely missed except his replacements can replicate his scintillating performances.

 

Liverpool FC matches from January 1 to 11^th February when the ANC ends:

o   Newcastle(h) – January 1^st      - EPL

o   Arsenal (a) – January 7^th – FA Cup

o   Bournemouth (a) – January 21^st - EPL

o   Chelsea(h) - January 31^st - EPL

o   Arsenal (a) - February 3^rd - EPL

o   Burnley(h)- February 10^th - EPL

 

He’d miss several crucial matches whose consequence could affect their bid for titles in different competitions. Their major rivals such as Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Manchester City FC would have no such absentees and any negative consequences of Salah's absence could effectively cost Liverpool FC the English Premier League and possibly other titles. Another important issue would be the fear of injury and fatigue from his participation at the ANC. The team would have to step up their game to cover for his absence as that remains the best solution to this issue.

Despite Mo Salah’s absence, Klopp Can still be Trusted

Jurgen Klopp is known as an astute coach, adept at raising his team to overwhelm the foray of any opposition. Since taking over at Liverpool, he’s taken them to a new level of success, winning six titles so far. Apart from his first season and the 2022/23 English Premier League season, Liverpool FC, has continued to challenge for titles both within England and Europe. He’d again prove his mettle as one of the world’s best current coaches, to rise above this transitory hiccup.

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AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF NIGERIA's FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT: 1959-2009

REAPING THE BENEFITS FROM NIGERIA’S FEAT AT THE 2023 CAF AWARDS

 

The Nigerian trio of Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, attained legendary status, with their individual honors at the CAF Awards.  Also, the female football team won the Team of the Year title. Victor Osimhen, won the African Footballer of the Year (Male), Oshoala, won the female version, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, won the Best African Female Goalkeeper of the Year. It was a culmination of the great season they had last season, extending upto the current period. Osimhen helped his team, Napoli FC win the Italian Scudetto, for the first time after 30 years and was the highest scorer in last season’s Scudetto. Oshoala helped her team, Barcelona FC win the female UEFA Champions League and took Nigeria to great heights in the last Female World Cup Competition. Chiamaka Nnadozie has grown steadily to become amongst the best female goalkeepers in the World and this was solidified by her feat in the last Female World Cup and the performances of her club, Paris FC, in last year’s UEFA Champions League.