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General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi has responded to Leon Balogun’s comments over the non-payment of the Super Eagles bonuses and allowances.

Back in January, President Amaju Pinnick said the NFF is working to pay the players’ outstanding payments and the coaching crew’s salaries which include Gernot Rohr and his goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu.

Sanusi, in his reaction to Balogun on Wednesday, disclosed that they are only owing the Super Eagles bonuses and allowances from their last two matches.

“The NFF deserves no joy in owing players and coaches their entitlements,” Sanusi said in a statement. “The same players and coaches have been well taken care of and provided the necessary facilities when things were normal, and as we work assiduously towards conquering the present challenges and seeing sunlight again, we expect the players, coaches and administrative staff to show the same level of understanding that they have been showing over the past 18 months.

“Of course, we are pragmatists and we realize that these things can be frustrating and some people will boil over and talk about them. It is normal. Last month, during the friendlies in Austria, we were able to pay some of the outstanding bonuses and allowances.

“We are working at a pace presently to clear what is remaining. As I speak, we are owing the team bonuses and allowances from only the last two matches, and payments for these two games had been sent to the Central Bank some weeks ago. They will receive the monies shortly. We are equally working to pay the coaches what they are being owed as salaries.

“We have never denied owing the team. Leon is a senior player that everyone respects for his quality output on the pitch and calmness and forbearance off it, but I do not know which reports he was referring to when he said the NFF was contradicting itself.”

The Rangers defender also lamented the poor state of facilities in Nigeria and he claimed that they hinder the discovery of talents.

While defending the idea of changing venues for the Super Eagles, Sanusi gave assurances of the government’s commitment to developing stadiums across the country.

“He also talked about playing pitches. Sincerely speaking, the past few years have seen a remarkable improvement in stadia infrastructure across the country,” he continued.

“The team had to move round the States because the turf of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja got bad. Now, the pitch is coming back to shape thanks to the efforts of the present Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, who got the respected Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s company to work on it.

“Presently, we have exciting venues in Uyo, Benin City, Asaba, Kaduna and Lagos. Without the team moving round the States, the governments of these States probably would not have devoted much effort into putting these facilities in world-standard shape.

“There are remarkable improvements on facilities in Ibadan, the National Stadium in Lagos and a new one in Lagos. All these will benefit the teeming youth population of Nigeria who are interested in sports.”

South Africa coach David Notoane has admitted they are disappointed after they failed to reach the next stage of the Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday.

The African side ended their journey in the competition on the worst note after losing 3-0 against Mexico in their final Group A match at the Sapporo Dome.

Goals from Ernesto Vega (18th minute) and Luis Romo (45), as well as Henry Martin’s strike on the hour mark, condemned South Africa to end their sorry campaign since they had also been beaten 1-0 by Japan before falling 4-3 to France.

“Overall we are all of us disappointed to be out of the tournament but I think we can take a lot of lessons out of this game today [Wednesday], and out of this tournament going forward in terms of how mistakes are being punished at this level,” Notoane told the media after the game.

“Nonetheless, the boys gave it their best effort under very difficult conditions and circumstances in this Tokyo Olympics.

“We just now have to dust ourselves off and face the South African public in terms of having disappointed them in terms of their expectations of us from the games.

"So we have to show a lot of emotions and maturity and of course be accountable for the results that we faced here in Tokyo and hopefully the boys will graduate and take this experience to Bafana Bafana as we strive to make Bafana Bafana a better team in the future.”

Notoane, however, blamed his players for conceding easy goals against Mexico which proved difficult for them to recover in the game.

“Today [Wednesday] against Mexico, it was very disappointing especially in the first half, our defensive mistakes never gave us any hope or any chance of having a shout towards qualification to the next round, a 2-0 defeat going into the break it was far off from us,” Notoane continued.

“We were not really in the game, we didn’t really push Mexico, they really pushed us and we knew that we were playing against a very efficient team, a team that is well organised in their patterns of play in attack, a team that was very strong breaking down the middle and we made those two mistakes from centre areas.

“In the second half, we managed to get a bit of life into the boys, a bit of self-belief in the boys to try to get back into the game and unfortunately we conceded the third goal, so it was a difficult evening, not much in the legs of the boys after the France game [of course, a game that took a lot from us] and it showed today.”

On the overall tournament, Notoane said: “I think for me, it was a fantastic opportunity to be here, a lot of important lessons learned, on and off the pitch and I hope it is the same for the boys, as well and I am sure of that, young players so they can only grow from here going forward.

"We also wish Mexico the best of luck going into the other stage of the tournament and I think it is a team capable of going all the way.

“For us, as we make our way back home, we would like to take this opportunity to thank team SA for having brought us here for looking after us and despite all the challenges we faced off the pitch, we are going home united as we came and we look forward to the next tournaments, and thanks for being with us.”

Samuel Chukwueze’s Villarreal would not be among the top challengers for the La Liga title in the 2021-22 season, according to Goal Africa readers.

Unai Emery’s men finished eighth in the Spanish top-flight in the last campaign with Chukwueze having a record of only four goals and two assists in 28 appearances.

The Nigeria international’s season ended abruptly after he suffered an injury in a Europa League match against Arsenal in April.

He has undergone successful surgery on the quadriceps of his left leg and he is raring to resume full training with his teammates after he was spotted at the Ciudad Deportiva Del Villarreal this week.

Following their seventh-place finish in the league, the Submarine Yellow ended the 2020-21 season with the Europa League crown – the first major silverware in the club’s history.

They defeated Manchester United 11-10 on penalties after both teams settled for a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time.

Despite their European success and with the signing of Senegal’s Boulaye Dia from Reims who has boosted Villarreal’s attacking options, 62.3 percent of Goal readers are not backing them for the La Liga title while only 37.7 percent believe they are capable of upstaging Atletico Madrid as the league champions.

Villarreal's best finish in the top-flight was in the 2007-08 season when they were runners-up behind champions Real Madrid and Barcelona trailed in third spot.

Chukwueze, meanwhile, is set for his fourth season in La Liga after he made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Levante in November 2018.

The 22-year-old's best scoring campaign was in 2018-19 when he provided five goals and two assists in 26 matches.

Chukwueze faces a race to be fit for the 2021-22 season-opening fixture with Emery's side scheduled to battle Champions League winners Chelsea for the Uefa Super Cup on August 11.

Everton midfielder Fabian Delph has suggested the Covid-19 vaccine is not needed after the Premier League ruled all players need it to play this season.

The England international shared a post on Instagram that complaiend that "it is now 'a conspiracy theory' to believe that the immune system is capable of doing the job it was designed to do".

His comments come despite a recent study from Yale Medicine that showed vaccines have been up to 95 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19 in those without prior infection, while also minimising serious infection in those who do experience cases.

What has been said?

The coronavirus has continued to cause havoc amongst top-flight English sides, with Arsenal cancelling their pre-season tour of the United States due to positive tests within their ranks, and Delph revealed his scepticism on social media.

"It's now 'a conspiracy theory' to believe that the immune system is capable of doing the job it was designed to do," read the story Delph shared to his 381,000 Instagram followers.

Premier League rules on vaccines

Players and other match-day personnel are expected to require proof of vaccination to take part in Premier League action in 2021-22.

Decision-makers are also considering a requirement for all fans at games to need both doses when the season is set to begin on August 14.

UK Covid cases

As of Wednesday, there has been a seven-day average of more than 32,000 cases in the UK per day, according to official data. Among people in the UK, 70 per cent have received at least one vaccine jab and 56 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Further reading

Ajax director of football Marc Overmars has revealed he was livid by their ultimate wild goose chase of Ghana winger Kamaldeen Sulemana. 

The Dutch giants made the 19-year-old their top summer transfer target, launching a strong bid to sign him from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland. 

However, it ended in disappointment for the Eredivisie fold when the attacker eventually decided to join French Ligue 1 club Stade Rennes. 

“At Stade Rennes, there was no competition for him in that area. He thought that was very important and that choice is of course up to the player," said Marc Overmars to Voetbal International. 

"We can't blame ourselves, but I certainly hated it for a few days. A lot of time and energy has been invested in the possible arrival of the attacker.

"We have followed him extensively, have been there, he has been with us. But at the same time, we couldn't guarantee playing minutes."

For the most part, Ajax were believed to be the front runners for Kamaldeen, with the side reportedly ready to meet a €20 million asking price. 

So close they came to signing the wideman that he arrived in Amsterdam ahead of an anticipated medical before changing his mind. 

"We gave him [Kamaldeen] the idea that he would play a lot with us, but we do not give a guarantee on playing minutes. An alternative to Sulemana? If David Neres does not go, the need is not immediately present," Overmars added.

"And even then, that good option has to be there. We're not going to force anything. So at the moment, there is nothing concrete as plan B for Sulemana."

On Monday, Rennes unveiled Kamaldeen, where he told the press his final decision was ultimately largely decided by his desire for playing time.

“With Rennes, I get to play in Ligue 1 which is one of the best leagues in the whole world, so that’s enough of my reason,” the player told pressmen.

“And I think I chose here based on my playing time and I think there’s a better chance of me playing more here than any other place, and I’ll play against great teams here as well.”

Ajax were hoping to reunite Kamaldeen with former Nordsjaelland teammate Mohammed Kudus whom they signed last year.

U.S. men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter explained why the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Mexico will be played in Cincinnati as he reflected on the mistakes in scheduling during the last qualifying cycle.

The U.S. is set to take on El Tri in Cincy on Nov. 12, shifting away from the usual location of that particular match: Columbus.

Having already announced locations for several World Cup qualifiers so far, Berhalter stressed the importance of getting those decisions right as his team looks to maximize its chances of sealing a return to the World Cup.

What was said?

"For the Mexico game, we took a hard look at all the venues," Berhalter said, "and I think one thing that was important was that we're going to need every venue that we play in to have an absolute rocking crowd.

"We feel like we made some mistakes in the last qualifying cycle, particularly the Costa Rica game, not having a crowd that was 100% U.S., and that's going to be extremely important.

"When I look at you know some of the venues we've chosen already and will continue to announce, I think it fits perfectly into what we're talking about. Cincinnati in particular has a good capacity stadium, brand new stadium, and I think it's gonna be a fantastic venue to compete against Mexico."

What happened against Costa Rica?

One of the biggest setbacks of the USMNT's 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign came against Costa Rica on September 1, 2017.

After opting to host the match at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, the U.S. was met by a split crowd of USMNT and Costa Rica supporters, taking away any possibility of a home-field advantage.

The U.S. went on to lose the game 2-0 before then dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Honduras in their next match that severely damaged their World Cup qualifying hopes.

A win over Panama in Orlando nearly salvaged their ticket to Russia before hope was tossed away in that now-infamous loss to Trinidad & Tobago.

The venues so far

The U.S. already has the first part of the team's schedule set as they look ahead towards qualifying this fall.

Up first will be a September 2 trip to El Salvador before the U.S. hosts Canada in Nashville three days later and visits Honduras three days after that.

In October, Berhalter and Co. will host Jamaica in Austin on the 7th before visiting Panama on the 10th. After that, they'll host Costa Rica in Columbus on October 13 to complete the October international break

They'll finish off the year with the clash with Mexico and then a visit to Kingston, Jamaica, on November 16.

Further reading

Nahuel Guzman made history this week by surpassing former Tigres team-mate Juninho to set the club's Liga MX appearance record for foreign players.

The Argentine goalkeeper, who joined in 2014, established the record in a 2-1 win over Tijuana.

Guzman has won nine major club trophies with Tigres and a host of individual honours.

Guzman's record at Tigres

The goalkeeper has now made 329 career appearances in Liga MX - one more than former centre back Juninho.

After joining Tigres from Newell's Old Boys, Guzman has won four league titles, three Campeon de Compeones trophies, a Campeones Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League.

He's also been named to the Liga MX Best XI three times and made the save of the season in 2015-16.

Key foreign-born Tigres players

Tigres rely on several stars born outside of Mexico, with French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac a crucial force in recent years. Florian Thauvin will join his compatriot Gignac from Marseille after the Olympics.

Guzman and co will play Toluca on Sunday in their second Apertura match.

Further reading

Angel Zaldivar says Chivas are "very angry" following their 2-1 defeat against Atletico San Luis on Saturday, in a match they were favoured to win to begin their Liga MX campaign.

The season-opening Apertura result caused frustration in the dressing room, the forward admitted, and cast a troubling aura over the return to club action.

However, Zaldivar views the outcome as an early opportunity to correct problems in the squad and learn from mistakes when Chivas face his former team Puebla later this week.

What has been said?

"We are very angry, filled with that frustration, anger," Zaldivar told TUDN.

"It is something that we all said to each other, we did not like it at all, and of course there is always that self-criticism, what was done wrong, what could be improved and also what it was done well. We cannot hide because of all the negative, we have to be balanced in that aspect.

"Those of us who can take this forward and stand up are the players needed to do so."

On his penalty, the forward said: "As everyone knows I am a specialist in penalties. I have already shot several and I have that confidence to be able to score them. The pressure you have to put them in, it motivates me."

Different tone than teammate Brizuela

Zaldivar's comments come after fellow Chivas attacker Isaac Brizuela had been calmer in his assessment of the Atletico defeat. Both players, though, will hope to contribute to a better result on Friday against Puebla.

Further reading

Union Berlin forward Taiwo Awoniyi said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described his permanent switch to the Bundesliga as a ‘good thing’ after it brought an end to his six-year struggle in England.

Awoniyi completed a £6.5 million move to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei where he penned a five-year contract last Tuesday.

The permanent transfer ended the Nigeria forward’s struggles at Anfield after he was loaned out to six clubs in six years and he failed to make a competitive appearance for the Reds.

The 23-year-old was training with Klopp’s team at their Austria training camp before the move, and he has disclosed the last words the German coach shared with him.

Awoniyi also added the reason behind his decision to return to the Iron Ones.

“He said it was a good thing because he felt like everyone at Union wanted to sign me at the club. He said it was the most important thing for a young player,” Awoniyi told Kicker.

“If I had stayed in England it would have been good for me too. But I always wanted to find a club where I'm welcome, where I'm an integral part of the team that really wanted me. That is what my decision to come back to Union was about.

“I am convinced that Union is the best move for me at the moment. Maybe one day I'll go back to England. Who knows?”

Last season, Awoniyi scored five goals in 16 Bundesliga outings for Union Berlin who finished seventh in the league table.

He reflected on his transfer to Liverpool from Nigeria’s Imperial Soccer Academy back in 2015, after the Golden Eaglets’ success at the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup.

“To be honest: I never knew I wasn't allowed to play in England,” he said. “I never knew how the work permit would go.

“When you go to England as a young guy from Nigeria and make your dream come true, you don't know so much about how professional football is. It took time for me to understand that I have to wait to get my work permit.”

Having confirmed his new home, Awoniyi will be looking to build on his last season’s form when Union Berlin begin their 2021-22 season with a German Cup fixture against Turkgucu Munchen on August 8.

Urs Fischer's men will later kick off their Bundesliga campaign with a home match against Bayer Leverkusen the following week.

Long-serving Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande has penned an emotional farewell to the club after his exit on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Zimbabwean was among the players released by Amakhosi as they continued to beef up their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Other players who were let go by the Soweto-giants include Kgotso Moleko, Philani Zulu, and Brylon Petersen.

Katsande, who managed 308 appearances for the Glamour Boys and joined them in July 2011 from Ajax Cape Town - now known as Cape Town Spurs - has confirmed in his farewell message that Chiefs will remain his family and will always, be in his heart.

What has been said?

“It is with a heavy heart that I must leave my beloved Kaizer Chiefs family, I am honoured and eternally grateful to the chairman of the club, Kaizer Motaung, for granting me the opportunity to represent this great institution over the past 10 years,” Katsande said in a statement on his Instagram page .

“To the peace-loving fans of Kaizer Chiefs, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your support and encouragement over the years, you have consistently been the 12th man lifting our spirits, during the good times and difficult phases.

“I trust that I represented the badge and brand with the respect and dignity that it deserves. 

"Respect the badge in front and the faithful will forever remember the name at the back.”

“I am blessed beyond imagination, having represented my childhood dream club over 320 games, lifted four trophies, and participated in the Champions League; Kaizer Chiefs is my family and will always be in my heart.”

On his next move, Katsande said: “The journey continues and the next chapter of my life commences, to my wonderful children, thank you for accepting Kaizer Chiefs, as an integral part of our lives.”

Known as a midfield workhorse, Katsande was handed a short-term deal by Amakhosi to feature in the Caf Champions League final against Al Ahly, which they lost 3-0.

During his time at Amakhosi, he helped the giants clinch two PSL titles, the Nedbank Cup and the MTN8.

Chiefs are currently strengthening their squad, and have already signed goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, defenders Njabulo Ngcobo, Sfiso Hlanti, Sibusiso Mabiliso, and Austin Dube, midfielders Phathutshedzo Nange and Kgaogelo Sekgota.

Further PSL reading

Paul Pogba was among the stars to speak out in support of Simone Biles after the American gymnast opted to take a step back and withdraw from events at the Olympics.

Biles announced on Thursday that she would not be participating in the individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Games to focus on her mental health.

Her announcement came shortly after she opted to remove herself from the team competition, earning her praise from several top athletes for valuing her own well-being in a time of immense pressure.

What was said?

"After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health," USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritising her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many."

Support from Pogba

Many in the sporting world were quick to rally in support of Biles, who has established herself as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time throughout her career.

Pogba, in particular, stepped in to praise an athlete that he called the GOAT for having the bravery to put herself first.

"A moment of undeniable strength from @simone_biles," Pogba tweeted. "We always focus on the physical aspect of health but the mental aspect is just as important. When you take care of both, you will flourish in life!"

Further reading

England-born of Ghanaian descent Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has earned praise from Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira after impressing in a pre-season friendly fixture.

Largely a member of Palace's academy side, the 18-year-old was on target in what ended in a 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic on Wednesday.

He was deployed on the right-wing in the starting XI, alongside academy colleague Malachi Boateng, another England-born player of Ghanaian descent.

"I think what was really important today was improving from our last game," Vieira told Palace TV.

"I think tonight gave us an opportunity to see some of the young players from the Academy. And I learned a lot from them today. Some of them showed character, desire to compete at this level and that was the positive side of the game today.

"Jes [Jesurun] showed a lot of desire and he got rewarded by the goal. He showed fantastic talent - he’s been working with us for quite a while now. He’s one of the young players who shows that he’s excited to be around the first team.

"I want this kind of spirit from these young players, showing determination and today he and some of the other ones did really well."

Last season, Rak-Sakyi came close to making his competitive senior fixture for Palace as he made the bench for Premier League matches against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

That was after he signed his first professional deal at Selhurst Park.

"The performance [2-2 draw] is massively important because winning games and scoring goals gives you confidence," Vieira remarked.

"As well I think tactically the football we tried to play allowed me to see how players understand what I ask them to do and we are getting there.

"It’s always difficult when you manage to have a couple of [first-team] players and a lot of young players from the Academy to find the right balance.

"But I’m quite satisfied with where we are tactically. There’s a really good understanding from the players about what I want and now we have all the players available to perform."

Rak-Sakyi was born to Ghanaian parents in the UK, and, thus, remains eligible to represent the West Africans.

The U.S. men's national team has chosen Cincinnati to host its CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against rival Mexico on Nov. 12.

TQL Stadium, where the match will be played, just opened in May and will be the first venue outside of Columbus, Ohio, to welcome El Tri in a qualifier since 1997.

The neighboring nations have been busy dueling, with the USMNT triumphing in the Nations League final in June and a Gold Cup final clash possible for this Sunday if the USMNT defeats Qatar and Mexico overcomes Canada in the semi-finals.

What has been said?

“When you talk about great rivalries in our sport, USA-Mexico is one of the best,” said USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter. “We are fortunate to have so many great venue options in this country, and for this match Cincinnati ticks all the boxes.”

“This is a special game that requires a special atmosphere, and we know it’s one that Cincinnati will provide.”

What does TQL Stadium look like?

Which other World Cup qualifiers have been announced for the USMNT

It has also been announced that the USMNT will face Canada on Sept. 5, Jamaica on Oct. 7 and Costa Rica on Oct. 13.

Further reading

You may not be too familiar with the way that Mexico's Liga MX splits itself into two seasons: the Apertura and Clausura.

Deviating from the traditional European football season where a single campaign stretches over the better part of the year, Liga MX has a completely different structure and crowns not one winner, but two.

So how exactly does Liga MX work, and why does it split itself into two seasons? Goal takes a look.

On this page

What is the format of Liga MX?

In Liga MX, the season is divided into two league tournaments - the Apertura (meaning 'Opening') and the Clausura (meaning 'Closing').

The Apertura runs from July to December and the Clausura runs from January to May.

Each league competition is exactly the same in format, with 18 teams competing and playing each other once. The league section is then followed by play-offs - known as La Liguilla, meaning 'short league'. 

The top four teams automatically qualify for the Liguilla quarter-finals, with the other four places decided through another mini-tournament involving the eight teams that finish 5th to 12th in the league.

Each season, therefore, the Liga MX crowns a champion twice - the Apertura champion and the Clausura champion. The winners of each then face off in the Campeon de Campeones game in July.

Over the course of the two tournaments the host team is flipped so that every team plays home and away against every other team. 

Relegation from the top flight is still in play in Liga MX, though it is severely limited by league rules. Few of the lower-league sides meet the lofty standards required to play in Liga MX. 

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How is CONCACAF Champions League qualification decided?

Four Liga MX teams qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League. The general rule is that the Apertura and Clausura champions along with the runners-up qualify.

However, it is not always so straightfoward since occasionally the same teams will contest both the Apertura and Clausura play-off finals.

In order to ensure two teams qualify from the Apertura section and two teams qualify from the Apertura section, Liga MX follows a number of approaches:

It is a little bit complicated, but it works.

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Why does Liga MX split into two sections?

The thought process behind the split season is to create a better product and, in turn, generate more revenue.

The draw of the shorter tournaments is that more is left riding on each match, in theory creating more excitement and buzz, which leads to larger audiences and, in the long run, more money.

Since the 1996 season, Mexico has used the split-season system that confirms two winners – but in different formats.

Initially, Liga MX played a separate winter and summer tournament, but the league now observes the Apertura season from July to December and Clausura season, from January to May.

The opening tournament is played at the end of the calendar year and the closing tournament at the start of the year keep Liga MX in line with the FIFA calendar.  

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Do other leagues split into two sections?

The two-season format is popular across many Central and South American countries, with Mexico far from the only one to adopt a split league.

Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay are all nations who either currently do or have in the past observed a split-season format, though how the competitions are carried out may differ from country to country.

Argentina no longer uses two seasons with the Primera Division having switched to a single-table format.

The two-season format was also used by two of Asia's biggest leagues, with both Japan and Korea having used it at various times, though the format is not currently being used by the top flight in either country. 

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Liga MX news

Leon Balogun has called out the Nigeria Football Federation over the quality of infrastructure provided for the Super Eagles and the non-payment of their match bonuses.

Balogun, who made his Nigeria debut in 2014, has been a regular fixture in Gernot Rohr’s squad with appearances at the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Rangers centre-back criticised the NFF for not making provision for facilities that will enhance the development of football talents in the West African country.

“You hear about other players, and why can’t they perform in the Super Eagles? We have to be honest, the infrastructure, we are not being provided with the best minerals to do our job,” Balogun told the Beautiful Game Podcast.

“It starts with pitches or it starts with accommodation but it goes on to pitches and all these kinds of things.

“If you say you want to see the next Messi coming out of Nigeria or the next Cristiano Ronaldo or whatsoever, if you want to see us so then you need to make sure that back home in Nigeria we have the best possibilities.

“Like why don’t we have a base in Nigeria where we meet up like St. George’s park in England? We don’t really have something like that.”

Another struggle for the Super Eagles after their international assignments is the difficulty in getting their bonuses and allowances alongside Rohr and goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu.

Balogun confirmed the financial challenge but NFF President Amaju Pinnick claimed they are working to pay off the debts back in January.

“About the bonuses, it’s not even a secret, I’ve read something recently where people in charge contradict themselves saying things have been paid then they admit they haven’t been paid,” he said.

The German-born defender added that his upbringing in the European country has helped him in expressing his opinions without any fear of oppression from the authorities.

“And as I said I’m always quite outspoken, probably I know if some people hear that they might come after me but I don’t care because that’s just how it is,” the 33-year-old continued.

“I think it’s also a matter of the culture, it’s a cultural thing to show respect in this kind of thing, also that’s something where I clash probably because I’m not afraid to speak my mind even if it’s with the coach or the manager if I feel like something is wrong I might at one point just talk about it and then it’s always like this boy is a troublemaker.

“I’m not a trouble maker, because at the end of the day I stand in for my teammates, I do that with pleasure and if I have to take the fall well, I probably did in the past.”

After signing a one-year contract extension in April, Balogun will begin the 2021-22 Premiership season with Rangers on Saturday when they welcome Livingston to the Ibrox Stadium.

Bruno Fernandes has backed Manchester United to challenge for major trophies next season.

The Red Devils have not lifted any silverware since their Europa League success in 2017, though they reached the final of the tournament last season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team head into the 2021-22 campaign looking to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title and go far in the Champions League.

What has been said?

Fernandes is confident they will be among the contenders for the top prizes this time around, saying: "I think, as always, we have a chance to win whatever we want or whatever we try to win.

"Last season, unluckily for us, we didn't win any trophies. We got to the final of the Europa League, but unluckily we didn't win. Still, with or without transfers, Manchester United will always be a tough opponent who will try to win every competition we are included in. 

"As I've always said, for me being at this level and at this club who wants to win, is because of that. Because I know we have the chance to win everything we are included in.

"After that, you can win or not, but we have the chance. We should and we will do our best to win something, of course."

Who have Man Utd signed this summer?

United have already bought England winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £73 million ($101m).

They are set to bring in another big name this summer, having reached an agreement with Real Madrid for defender Raphael Varane. The club will pay an initial fee of £34m ($47m) for the France international. 

When does Man Utd's season begin?

The Old Trafford side have three more preseason friendlies to navigate, with fixtures against Brentford, Preston and Everton scheduled.

They will kick off their Premier League campaign with a home game against Leeds on August 14, followed by a trip to St Mary's to take on Southampton a week later.

United will find out their Champions League group stage opponents when the draw is made on August 26. 

Further reading