SPORTS
Super Eagles Of Nigeria End 2023 As Most Expensive Squad In Africa
The Super Eagles of Nigeria ended the outgoing 2023 as the most financially valuable national team in Africa.
According to the most recent Transfermarket financial rankings of national teams for 2023, the Super Eagles are the 12th most valuable national team globally.
Super Eagles’ squad financial valuation has now hit €465.90 million, which is a €14.3 million increase from their worth in November,r which was €451.60 million.
The players’ recent outstanding season for their respective clubs, alongside the addition of Nathan Tella, a midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen, contributed to a notable increase in the squad’s financial valuation.
Tella, who made his debut for Nigeria against Zimbabwe in November, is reportedly valued at €23 million.
Victor Osimhen (€120 million) is the most expensive player in Nigeria, valued at more than a quarter of the squad, with a transfer value that eclipses any other player in Africa.
Boniface, a sensation from Leverkusen, is the Eagles’ second most expensive player at €40 million.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s squad worth increased dramatically, from €326.05 million to €350.80 million, solidifying their ranking as the continent’s second most valuable and 13th most valuable team in the world.
With a value of €340.58 million, Ivory Coast is ranked third in Africa and 15th overall, down €25.5 million from €315.08 million. With a squad worth €266 million, Senegal holds fourth place on the continent; Ghana, with a value of €285 million, moved up to fifth place.
On the world stage, Brazil moved up to second place with a squad worth €1.09 billion, while England remained the most valuable team in the world with a market value of €1.15 billion, down from their previous €1.37 billion.
Spain (€837 million), Portugal (€922 million), and France (€1.05 billion) round out the top five national teams in the world according to transfermarkt.com.
Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey is set to make a return from injury by the end of January.
Partey has made good progress in his rehabilitation work and will hand the Gunners a timely boost.
The Ghanaian has been plagued with different injuries throughout his time in England and picked up a groin problem at the beginning of the season.
He briefly returned to action in October, but picked up another long-term muscular injury.
Partey was then left out of Ghana’s final squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, The Mirror reports that the 30-year-old has shown progress in his rehabilitation work and could return to the first team ahead of their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on January 30.
Chelsea’s stance on sacking their manager, Mauricio Pochettino has been revealed.
Pochettino is under significant pressure as head coach at Stamford Bridge due to the club’s not too impressive display this season.
The Argentine recently watched as Middlesbrough defeated the Blues 1-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie.
His team currently sit in the 10th position on the Premier League table after 20 games this season.
However, according to The Telegraph, Pochettino’s job is safe for now despite their latest defeat to Middlesbrough.
The report added that his position at the west London club is not in jeopardy while Chelsea have a ‘realistic chance’ of qualifying for Europe.
Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has said his side can’t use the difficult weather condition in Abidjan as an excuse ahead of their opening game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The West Africans arrived Abidjan in buoyant mood on Wednesday morning despite losing 2-0 to Guinea in a friendly two days earlier.
The Eagles had a light training session after setting down at their base, the magnificent Pullman Hotel.
Peseiro stated that his team must focus on the task ahead and not allow any form of distraction.
“We cannot give excuses about the weather; we need to put in our focus, adapt well and do our best ahead of the first match, which is very important for us,” he told NFF TV.
The Super Eagles will open their campaign at the 2023 AFCON finals against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
They will also face hosts, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.
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