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 Ghana’s Black Stars are expected to play their remaining 2025 Africa Cup of Nations home qualifiers in Nigeria, according to various reports from the West African nation.
This follows the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) refusal to approve their home venue, the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
CAF’s inspection team found the stadium inadequate for competitive matches, citing major structural issues such as poor drainage, uneven playing surfaces, and inconsistent grass coverage.
As other Ghanaian venues like the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadiums also failed to meet CAF’s requirements, the country is left without a suitable stadium for their upcoming qualifiers.
CAF has instructed Ghana to find an alternative venue for the crucial Matchday three and four fixtures in October outside the country.
The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, has emerged as the most likely option due to its proximity.
This facility, with a capacity of 30,000, is currently the home ground for the Super Eagles.
Other potential venues include Côte d’Ivoire’s Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Stade de la Paix, Cameroon’s Japoma Stadium in Douala, and the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco.
The Ghana Football Association is anticipated to announce its final decision in the coming days.
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 Nigeria’s senior women’s football team, the Super Falcons, have maintained their 36th spot in the latest FIFA global rankings, as announced on Friday, August 16, 2024.
The Super Falcons also retain their position as the top-ranked women’s team in Africa, highlighting their continued dominance on the continent.
This ranking comes despite a poor performance at the recent Women’s Summer Olympics football tournament in Paris, France.
The Super Eagles fell in the latest FIFA rankings as Spain rose to 3rd.
The Super Falcons struggled to progress past the group stage, with three straight losses. They were defeated 1-0 by both Brazil and Spain, followed by a 3-1 loss to Japan, ending up at the bottom of Group C.
In the African rankings, South Africa follows Nigeria (50th), Morocco (59th), Zambia (62nd), and Ghana (66th).
Obasempire reports that the Argentinian government dismissed their deputy sports minister for instructing Lionel Messi, the nation’s football captain, to apologize for his teammates’ chants of racist and homophobic songs directed at France following their Copa America triumph on Sunday.
Enzo Fernandez, a midfielder for Chelsea, broadcasted himself and his teammates singing the discriminatory song during their bus ride.
The disrespectful and discriminatory chant ridiculed the African heritage of black players in the French team, including captain Kylian Mbappé.
The vulgar chant includes lyrics such as: “They play for France but come from Angola” and “Their mother is Nigerian, their father is Cambodian but on their passport: France.”
Amid the backlash, the Deputy Minister of Sports of Argentina, Julio Garro, was forced to speak on the issue.
Garro appeared on the radio station Urbana Play and suggested the Argentine captain apologize for his team’s actions.
He said: ‘I think [Messi] should come out and offer the appropriate apologies, as should the Argentine Football Federation president [Claudio Tapia].’
He added that the incident ‘leaves Argentina looking bad as a country’ and that it would be good to ‘make an example out of this’.
Hours later, he was sacked by Argentina’s right-wing president Javier Milei.
‘The Office of the President states that no government has the right to tell the Argentine national team, world champions and double Copa America champions, or any other citizen, what to comment, what to think and what to do,’ Milei’s official social media accounts stated.
‘That is why Julio Garro ceases to be the under-secretary of sport.’
