Sports

Eintracht Frankfurt Lifts Europa League Title, Wins ₦3.73b Prize Money

Glasgow Rangers Wednesday night lost the Europa League final to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt 5-4 on penalties after former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey missed the decisive spot-kick in the shoot-out, reports Prime Business Africa.

Frankfurt thereby picked up the €8,600,000, (₦3.73b) prize money as winners of the Europa League which is UEFA’s second tier competition while Rangers who will now negotiate qualification to the UEFA Champions League next season through the qualifying series will bank €4,600,000 just above half that amount.

Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo put the Gers ahead with a perfect finish after a sloppy defensive play from the Germans in the 57th minute while his Nigeria international teammate Calvin Bassey put up a magnificent performance in defence.

The third Nigerian at the club Leon Balogun was an unused substitute in the final.

Rafael Santos Borre restored parity for Frankfurt and despite both sides’ chances to win in regulation time, the game went to extra time and ultimately to penalties.

Ramsey who was introduced just before the start of second half of extra time took Rangers’ third kick and his effort was saved by the outstretched leg of Kevin Trapp in goal for Frankfurt.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.