Sports
Morocco 2025: Eguavoen to lead Eagles, as German tax laws abort NFF, Labbadia deal

Stringent regulations of German tax authorities have conspired to abort the agreement between the Nigeria Football Federation and Coach Bruno Labbadia for the latter to mount the saddle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men Team, Super Eagles.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities. It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32% to 40% of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.
“The NFF and Mr. Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up. We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that,” President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said on Friday evening.
In the event, Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Augustine Eguavoen will now take charge of the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic (Uyo, 7th September) and Rwanda (Kigali, 10th September).
It will be Eguavoen’s fourth stint in charge of the three-time African champions, after earlier experience in 2005-2007, 2010 and 2022.
Sports
Transfer: Chelsea, Man Utd, six others battle for Osimhen

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is in contact with up to eight teams about a possible summer transfer.
These clubs include Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Manchester United, Juventus, and Galatasaray.
Osimhen is now on holiday in Nigeria and will take his time deciding on his future club.
This was revealed by Goal’s transfer insider, Valentin Furlan.
Furlan wrote on X on Saturday: “Eight teams have contacted Victor Osimhen, per me and
@RudyGaletti, in the last few days: “Galatasaray, Juventus, PSG, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, AC Milan, and Real Madrid.
“Osimhen in no rush to decide his future.”
Sports
Reinvented Olympic Balloon Makes Paris Comeback

The 2024 Summer Olympics might be over, but French authorities are hoping Parisians and tourists can “relive” last year’s magic when the iconic symbol of the Games returns next week.
During the Paris Games, the Olympic cauldron tethered to a balloon flew into the Parisian sky at sunset every day, with thousands flocking to see the seven-metre (23 feet) wide ring of environmentally friendly fire.
On Thursday evening, President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo visited the Tuileries Garden near the Louvre, where workers were installing the redesigned balloon and ring.
“We are going to relive this!” a beaming Macron said in a video posted on X.
The balloon, which will no longer carry the Olympic branding, will take to the skies on June 21 during France’s annual Fete de la Musique festival of street music.
It will be accessible to visitors every summer evening from June 21 to September 14 for the next three years, until the next edition of the Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Its flame made up of clouds of mist lit by LED rays will remain the same.
The flame is still “100 percent electric”, according to Pierre Viriot, communications director at state-owned power utility EDF.
But unlike last year, it will be turned off at night.
The reconstruction of the balloon and the ring has been financed by the Olympic Organising Committee and EDF.
Sports
Manchester City Endorse AC Milan Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for £46.5m

Manchester City have completed the signing of AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for an initial fee of £46.5 million, the club confirmed on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Netherlands international joins the Premier League champions on a five-year contract, becoming Pep Guardiola’s fourth summer signing following the arrivals of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, and Rayan Cherki.
Reijnders joins City in time to be eligible for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States later this month, with a potential debut lined up for June 18 against Wydad FC.
“I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” said Reijnders. “City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities. Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many titles and I want to help keep that going with a lot more success in the coming years.”
Capped 23 times by the Netherlands, Reijnders was an unused substitute in his country’s 8-0 win over Malta on Tuesday night. He enjoyed a standout season with Milan, scoring 15 goals in 54 appearances and earning the Serie A Midfielder of the Season award.
His arrival comes amid the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, with Guardiola looking to bolster City’s midfield options after finishing third in the Premier League last season.
See also Information minister congratulates Super Eagles
Reijnders is expected to play a key role in City’s domestic and international campaigns as they aim to reclaim the league title and secure more silverware under Guardiola’s leadership.
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