Obasempire reports that Victor Olatunji has joined the growing “Chosen” trend in Nigeria while celebrating his goal for Slavia Prague in their UEFA Champions League opener against RB Salzburg.
Olatunji, who played a 58-minute cameo for Lars Friis’ side at the epet Arena, helped his team secure a commanding 3-0 victory over Austrian giants RB Salzburg.
The Nigerian forward demonstrated excellent awareness in the box, latching onto a precise pass from Filip Panák before firing a first-time shot into the left corner to extend Slavia Prague’s lead.
Following his goal, Olatunji lifted his jersey to reveal a white undershirt with the bold message: “I am a Chosen, who are you?”—a reference to the popular phrase associated with the Nigerian “Chosen” church.
The “Chosen” trend has gained significant attention in Nigeria, originating from the church, which is renowned for claims of miracles and divine interventions.
Despite skepticism from some sections of society, members of the church frequently proclaim the phrase “I am a Chosen, who are you?” when seeking divine help in difficult situations.
Olatunji is not the first footballer to identify with the movement. Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface has also been linked to the church, with photos surfacing of him during his early days as a member of the congregation.
The 25-year-old’s goal celebration has caught attention on social media, adding more interest to the “Chosen” trend that is becoming popular in Nigerian football.
Obasempire reports that former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has insisted that interim head coach of the Super Eagles Augustine Eguavoen has no godfather.
Pinnick also urged players to have the mindset of ‘wanting to die for their country’.
He spoke following Eguavoen’s recent return to the Super Eagles on an interim basis.
Recall that the NFF appointed Eguavoen as interim coach of the Super Eagles last month after failing to reach a final agreement with German coach Bruno Labbadia.
Eguavoen was given the task to lead the Super Eagles in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda in September.
When asked about Eguavoen having a godfather, Pinnick told Arise News: “Eguavoen is absolutely nothing, not like that. If you remember the Shuaibu Amodu time, as a technical director, even in major teams in global football, a technical director takes charge when there is a vacuum in the coaching crew. “That is what happened. Eguavoen is still the technical director of the Nigerian Federation. If it was someone else, that person would have taken charge.
“I believe that it is more about the players, not even the coach. The players should look at that green-white-green flag, should look at that emblem and say “I want to die for Nigeria.”
Obasempire reports that Italian club Napoli and Saudi club Al Ahli have reached an agreement on the transfer of striker Victor Osimhen to the Arab club.
According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the “club to club deal done for €75/80m total package.”
Romano wrote on X: “BREAKING: Napoli reach total agreement with Al Ahli for Victor Osimhen!
“Club to club deal done for €75/80m total package, Al Ahli have already booked a medical.
“Four year contract worth €25/30m per season net to Osimhen + RELEASE clause.
Obasempire reports that Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has stated that footballers, including himself, play the game to support their families rather than to win trophies.
Ideye, who currently plays for Kuwaiti Division One club Al-Yarmouk, shared this on Tuesday via his X account in response to Victor Osimhen’s transfer challenges.
He expressed regret that despite Osimhen’s outstanding performance at Napoli and being named African Player of the Year, he is not regarded as one of Europe’s top strikers.
Ideye advised Osimhen not to overlook opportunities that could secure his and his family’s future, emphasizing that players’ careers are brief.
“You can’t feed your family with trophy, we all play football because that’s the only way out of the hood, we want to have all the good things in life and take care of our family.
“It’s a shame they don’t rate him among the top strikers abroad, after an amazing season with his club and winning the African best player award.
“It’s not every Nigerian footballer playing in Europe that is making good money after tax.
“Don’t miss a move that will set you and your family up for life, in football every game you play may be your last,” Ideye wrote in a series of tweets.
Obasempire reports that former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson has died this morning at the age of 76.
Eriksson, who famously made history by becoming England’s first foreign boss when he took the role in 2001, died on Monday morning after suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Eriksson had been ill for a while and in January 2023 announced the shocking news that he ‘had at best a year to live’.
He had recently resigned from his post as sporting director of Karlstad in his native Sweden and had sought medical advice after collapsing during a 5km run, with doctors also discovering he suffered a stroke.
A statement from his agent on Monday, August 26 read: “Sven-Göran Eriksson has passed away. After a long illness, he died in the morning at home surrounded by family.
“The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong.”
“This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories. No one can ever forget the 5-1 victory in Munich against Germany under Sven’s guidance.
“Sven will be rightly recognised and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team, and for his wider contribution to the game.
“On behalf of my colleagues at The FA, past and present, our thoughts are with his friends and family today. He will be much missed, and we will pay tribute to him when we play Finland at Wembley next month.”
Born on February 5 1948, Eriksson grew up in Sweden where he became a professional footballer.
Making his first move into management with Degerfors IF, Eriksson got the job with Swedish giants Goteborg where he announced himself on the European stage by winning the UEFA Cup in 1971/72.
He was then snapped up by Benfica in 1982 where he won three Primeira Divisao titles and a Portuguese Cup alongside finishing as runners-up in both the European Cup and UEFA Cup across two spells.
In January 2001, Eriksson took charge of the England national team and led the team to two World Cups and one European Championship, leading ‘the Golden Generation’ featuring David Beckham, John Terry Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and others.
Obasempire reports that Cristiano Ronaldo, the renowned global football star, has set a new standard with the debut of his YouTube channel, amassing 17.1 million subscribers within just 24 hours of launch—as of this report.
Ronaldo, who unveiled the channel on Wednesday afternoon, experienced a remarkable surge of 10 million subscribers in under 12 hours.
This achievement is particularly notable when compared to the growth rate of other prominent YouTubers; for example, it took YouTube phenomenon MrBeast 132 days to reach a comparable milestone.
The channel, featuring 19 videos so far, provides an insider’s view of Ronaldo’s life off the football field. The content prominently includes his family, such as his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, and his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.
The most popular video to date, titled “Discover EVERYTHING about us. Who will win?”, highlights this personal side, which appears to strongly connect with his audience.
From the outset, Ronaldo’s YouTube channel shattered records, gaining one million followers within 90 minutes of its launch—a world record for the quickest accumulation of subscribers in such a brief period.
By Thursday, the subscriber count had grown to an impressive 16.7 million, demonstrating Ronaldo’s widespread appeal across various demographics.
The channel’s followers, known as “SIUUUbscribers” after Ronaldo’s signature “Siuuuu” goal celebration, have helped make it one of the fastest-growing YouTube channels globally.
However, this success comes at a time when Ronaldo’s on-field performance has faced challenges. As he nears his 40th birthday in February, his stint at Saudi club Al-Nassr has been marked by frustration over disappointing results and a lack of trophies.
His discontent was evident when he declined to accept the Saudi Super Cup silver medal following a 4-1 defeat to Al-Hilal.
Despite these obstacles, Ronaldo continues to excel off the pitch, particularly in Riyadh, where his enthusiasm for various interests is reflected in his latest digital venture.
The content on Ronaldo’s channel showcases his diverse interests, featuring discussions on topics such as Rafael Nadal versus Novak Djokovic and Boxing versus UFC, appealing to a broad audience of sports enthusiasts.
Ronaldo’s digital dominance is further highlighted by his impressive social media presence. With 636 million followers on Instagram, 107 million on Facebook, and 112.6 million on X (formerly Twitter), he remains one of the most influential figures across all platforms.
His digital reach, coupled with his YouTube success, solidifies his position as a leading figure in global media.
Financially, the YouTube channel could significantly enhance Ronaldo’s already substantial earnings. With YouTube paying creators between $2 to $12 per 1,000 views, Ronaldo could potentially earn millions from ad revenue alone, joining the ranks of top YouTubers like MrBeast.
This new income source adds to his estimated $260 million fortune, as reported by Forbes in March 2024.
In addition to his digital endeavors, Ronaldo’s wealth is further supported by a lifetime deal with Nike and his CR7-branded ventures, including clothing, accessories, hotels, and gyms.
His contract with Al-Nassr is valued at $200 million per season, further cementing his status as one of the highest-earning athletes globally.
Ronaldo’s shift from the football field to digital platforms marks a significant transition, showcasing his ability to extend his brand across various sectors.
As he continues to break records both on and off the field, Ronaldo remains a formidable presence in the world of sports and beyond.
Obasempire reports that Rafa Benitez had the entire Overlap panel in laughter after delivering a harsh jab at his former player Jamie Carragher during the latest episode of the podcast.
Benitez is currently jobless after being dismissed by Celta Vigo following a 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid last season, having taken over in 2023.
Before his stint in La Liga, the Spaniard had returned to the Premier League as Everton manager, where he was in charge for six and a half months before being terminated in January.
Benitez took over an impressive squad from Carlo Ancelotti, which had been second in the Premier League at Christmas the season before the former Liverpool manager’s arrival.
However, after pushing both James Rodriguez and Lucas Digne out of the club, and bolstering the team with players like Salomon Rondon and Andros Townsend, his tenure at Everton was unlikely to endure.
Despite his recent challenges, Benitez remains one of the most esteemed coaches of his era, with his time at Liverpool especially notable.
In his latest appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, presented by Sky Bet, Benitez clarified that his time at Everton wasn’t as poor as many believe.
“I have some Everton fans say ‘We saved the club’ because we didn’t spend the money. So if we spent the money it would have been even worse,” he claimed.
On the podcast, Benitez also talked through the changes he has had to deal with as his career has progressed, particularly with the changes to the transfer market in the modern era.
While explaining the huge market inflation managers now deal with, Benitez couldn’t help but through a dig at Carragher.
“If you want to buy Gerrard & Carragher this time, you pay £200m. £180m for Gerrard and £20m for Carragher,” Carragher joked.
The 64-year-old’s cheeky dig made Gary Neville, Jill Scott, and Roy Keane completely lose it.
Carragher played under Benitez for the entirety of his six-year spell from 2004-2010 and started the infamous 2005 Champions League final which saw Liverpool come from 3-0 down to defeat AC Milan.
Obasempire reports that Manchester United supporters are convinced Ruud van Nistelrooy will be their new manager after spotting a moment following the final whistle.
The Red Devils began their Premier League season with three points after new recruit Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning goal on Friday evening against Fulham. After the final whistle, the United players celebrated around Old Trafford.
However, fans could be heard chanting Van Nistelrooy’s name—who is now part of the coaching staff under Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman promptly and graciously gestured towards the squad, encouraging the supporters to direct their affection towards them.
“He’s becoming the coach when we sack Erik ten Hag,” one fan said on social media. While a second shared: “Oi this is our next manager! I can see it!”
“My favourite moment after the game Friday night. Ruud Van Nistelrooy coming over to Garnacho, speaking to him and giving him a pat on the back. Knows Garna is probably beating himself up about the miss so has a little word in his ear,” a third said. And another added: “He’s 100 per cent the successor.”
Van Nistelrooy returned to the Red Devils over the summer after he spent five prolific season in Manchester in the 2000s – the Dutchman scored 150 goals, putting him 11th on the club’s all-time list but left in controversial circumstances after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson.
He had been out of work since quitting as PSV boss just before the end of the 22/23 season after winning the Dutch Cup, with players unhappy with his coaching methods.
“I am delighted Rene [Hake] and Ruud have agreed to join our project, adding a wealth of experience, knowledge and new energy to the staff,” said Ten Hag.
“Now is a good time to refresh the coaching team as we look to build on the achievements of the past two years and push to the next level.”
Obasempire reports that the coordinators of the protest against economic difficulties and poor governance have announced intentions to continue their demonstration at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos today.
This information was shared in a communiqué released on Sunday by Hassan Taiwo, Ayoyinka Oni, and Adegboyega Adeniji representing the organizers.
The announcement followed the President’s address earlier on Sunday, where Tinubu recognized the protesters’ concerns and called for them to halt their demonstrations in favor of dialogue.
Part of the statement read: “We consider the President’s decision to address the nation an important victory for our movement.
“Without our courage and resolve to dare the odds, even this acknowledgement would not have happened. So far, we have demonstrated that a President is not greater than the rest of the country.
“In our view, the president cannot be approbating and reprobating at the same time. The President cannot offer an olive branch while at the same time holding a dagger to our throat.”
They called on young people and the general public to join them at 7 a.m. on Monday at Gani Fawehinmi Park for the fifth day of the protest.
Obasempire reports that the Nigeria’s D’Tigress have been matched up against the United States in the quarter-finals of the women’s basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Nigerian women made history by securing Nigeria’s first-ever spot in the final eight of the Olympic basketball tournament.
This achievement followed their impressive 79-70 win over Canada in their last group match on Sunday.
The team earned five classification points and initially led Group B.
However, their position changed when Australia defeated France 79-72 in another group match, causing Nigeria to fall to third place in the group standings.
The team is now scheduled to compete against the defending champions, the USA, on August 7 at 9:30 pm.
This match marks the second Olympic meeting between the two teams.
At the Tokyo Games, D’Tigress experienced a narrow nine-point loss to the Americans in their opening group match. They were also defeated in the 2024 Olympic qualifiers.
In other quarter-final matchups, Serbia will face Australia, Spain will take on Belgium, and France will go up against Germany.
