New Super Eagles invitee, Igho Ogbu, has revealed that he rejected an opportunity to represent Norway and waited for the time to fulfil his dream of playing for Nigeria.

Ogbu, who was part of the Flying Eagles squad in 2019, had moved to Norway in 2018 and got a chance to represent the European country during his final season with Lillestrøm.

After leaving Gombe United in 2018, Ogbu played for five clubs, (four in Norway) before moving to the Czech Republic to join Slavia Prague for a record €2.5 m fee in January 2023.

Reflecting on his decision to reject Norway, Ogbu shared that it was a deeply personal choice, guided by his late father’s wishes.

“There was a chance to play for Norway in my last season with Lillestrøm,” he told SCORENigeria.

“But I always knew that I would also get my chance with the Super Eagles.”

His faith was eventually rewarded this year as he was named in coach Eric Chelle’s 23-man squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

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The 25-year-old defender joined his teammates on Monday night in their Kigali camp ahead of the matches.

Ogbu reports for his first international duty with Nigeria off the back of an impressive show in Slavia Prague’s 3-0 victory over FK Jablonec in the Czech Fortuna Liga on Sunday, when he scored in the opener in the game.

It was his second goal of the season in 20 league appearances this campaign.

Meanwhile, Slavia Prague head coach Jindřich Trpišovský was full of praise for the Nigerian defender, highlighting his rare ability to contribute offensively despite being a defensive stalwart.

“Igoh usually defends the opponent’s best player and can be dominant in duels,” Trpišovský told Slavia Prague’s official website.

“He has calmed down recently, feels good, and I think it was his first goal with his left foot in his career.”

Manchester United extended their unbeaten run in open play to seven games with a comfortable victory at seemingly doomed Leicester.

Rasmus Hojlund ended a 21-game goal drought by firing United in front on 28 minutes.

Alejandro Garnacho was made to wait for his first goal since November as the Argentine was flagged offside early in the second half.

Garnacho, though, was not to be denied with a snap shot that Mads Hermansen should have kept out.

United have won all four meetings against Leicester this season, two of which the Foxes’ current boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was in interim charge of the Red Devils.

But the Dutchman has not had the same impact at the King Power.

Leicester have lost 13 of their last 14 league games to fall nine points adrift of safety.

Van Nistelrooy’s men also set an unwanted record of becoming the first Premier League side to go seven home games without scoring.

Bruno Fernandes unsurprisingly set the seal on United’s win with a stunning strike from the edge of the box for his seventh goal in seven games.

Newcastle United on Sunday flogged Liverpool 2-1, securing their first major trophy after 70years

The Magpies in a historic Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium defeated the Reds to clinch the first silverware of the 2024/25 football season, PUNCH Online reports.

The EFL match began with both teams displaying cautious play.

Newcastle broke the deadlock just before halftime when defender Dan Burn headed in a goal from a corner in first-half stoppage time.

In the second half, Newcastle continued their dominance.

Alexander Isak doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Liverpool.

Liverpool struggled to respond effectively, with manager Arne Slot making several substitutions, including introducing Curtis Jones and Darwin Núñez, but they failed to penetrate Newcastle’s resolute defense.

However, Federico Chiesa pulled one back in th injury time (90+4) with all hopes high but to no avail to the Premier League table toppers.

The final whistle confirmed Newcastle’s 2-1 victory, ending their 70-year wait for a major trophy, The Guardian reports.

The win is also Eddie How’s first cup win as a manager.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe praised his team’s performance, saying, “This is a dream come true for the club and the fans. The players showed incredible heart and determination to achieve this historic win.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot, visibly disappointed, admitted, “We weren’t good enough in the critical moments. Newcastle deserved the win; they were the better team on the day.”

Burn, van Dijk comments
Dan Burn, who opened the scoring for Newcastle, expressed his emotions post-match, saying, “To score in a final and help the club end this long wait is beyond words.

This is for the fans who have stood by us all these years.”

On the other hand, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, despite the disappointment, demonstrated great sportsmanship, congratulating Newcastle players and acknowledging their impressive performance.

Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, known for his emotional commentary, was visibly moved during the match, stating, “I’m almost crying seeing what this means to Newcastle fans. This is what football is all about—moments like these.”

Former Newcastle striker and club legend Alan Shearer joined in the celebrations at Wembley, expressing his joy.

“This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. It’s been a long journey, but this victory shows the strength and passion of this club,” he said during a post-match interview.

Fans around the world echoed similar sentiments, flooding social media with tributes to the players and the manager, celebrating the end of a 70-year wait for silverware.