The Super Eagles of Nigeria squad tops the list of the most expensive teams for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, (AFCON), kicking-off tomorrow, Saturday, in Ivory Coast across six stadiums, according to the latest report by UK betting site, BettingSites.co.uk.
Twenty-four teams will compete for honours at the biggest football tournament in Africa, with some of the biggest teams and players set to lock horns in the Ivory Coast in a one-month football carnival.
According to the report, Nigeria’s team is at the top of the squad valuation of the 24 nations competing at the 2023 AFCON. Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is worth almost a third of Nigeria’s team.
With a squad valuation of €349.75 million, the Super Eagles is the most expensive side among all the 24 teams vying for honour in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria’s total squad value is just over €2m more than anyone else competing in the 2023 AFCON, with star striker Victor Osimhen worth almost a third of their entire value.
Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s most valuable player, with a market valuation of €110 million. The Super Eagles striker, who recently signed a bumper contract extension with Italian champions Napoli, is worth more than fourteen teams competing at the 34th edition of the tournament.
Also, other players like players like Alex Iwobi (Fulham) – €28 million, Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) – €30 million, and Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan) – €23 million, stand out as some of the most valuable assets in the Nigeria squad.
The Super Eagles are in Group-A alongside the host nations Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria begin their quest for a fourth continental title on Sunday, January 14, 2024, against Equatorial Guinea before playing Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau on January 18 and 22, respectively.
Borno: ISWAP militants chop-off fishermen’s hands over failure to pay taxes, theft
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants have recently severed the hands of two fishermen in Marte, Borno State, after accusing them of stealing fish.
The fishermen, according to a Counter-Insurgency Expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, were part of a larger group engaged in fishing activities under the control of ISWAP, where they were subject to levies and taxes.
The two fishermen, according to sources familiar with the sad incident, incurred the wrath of the militants when they were found to have failed to pay their taxes, resulting in the confiscation of eight cartons of fish by the terrorists.
After loading the fish onto their canoe, the militants were forced to abandon two cartons due to space constraints. Subsequently, the fishermen secretly retrieved the two abandoned cartons, leading to their arrest by ISWAP on charges of theft.
Following their arrest, the leader of the militant group ordered that the men’s hands be cut-off, as provided under Sharia law.
