Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Trent Alexander-Arnold has ended months of speculation and confirmed that he will leave English Premier League champions Liverpool at the end of the season. The 26-year-old England right-back, who has been at the club since he was six years old, is out of contract on June 30 and is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent. “After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season,” Alexander-Arnold announced on social media on Monday. “This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made…
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria and Morocco played out a boring 0-0 draw in their second group match of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Sunday. Midfielder Divine Oliseh’s effort in the first half was the only notable chance created by the Flying Eagles in the drab affair as they earned a point. The seven-time champions are up against against Kenya on Wednesday with a quarter-final spot at stake. The draw took both Nigeria and Morocco up to four points, but the North Africans are in the first position as a result of having scored more goals…
Chelsea strengthened their quest for a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 victory over newly crowned English Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot made six changes from the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur to clinch the title at Anfield, resulting in a display lacking some of their traditional intensity until it was too late. After giving Liverpool the traditional champions’ guard of honour before kick-off, Chelsea went on to secure a crucial win that moves Enzo Maresca’s side level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle United — who they…
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman scored his first Serie A goal since early March and set a new personal mark as Atalanta defeated Monza 4-0 on Sunday. The Nigeria international, who went six matches without scoring, struck Atalanta’s third goal in the away win, taking his tally this season to 14 goals in the Italian top flight, the most he has ever scored in a league campaign. Mateo Retegui set up the 47th minute goal, the Italy striker flicking on a long ball for Lookman to skip past Stefan Lekovic and beat the goalkeeper at the near post as Atalanta…
Aaron Gordon scored 22 points, Christian Braun had 21 and the host Denver Nuggets used a big third quarter to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in Game 7 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Saturday night. Denver advances to face the top-seeded Thunder in the conference semifinals. Game 1 is Monday night in Oklahoma City. Nikola Jokic finished two assists shy of a triple-double, posting 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists along with three steals. “In the playoffs, we know that everybody needs to step up,” Jokic said. “Is it offensive? Is it defensive? Really, whatever. Energy-wise,…
Arsenal’s hopes of building momentum before their crucial UEFA Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain in midweek were hit as Bournemouth came from behind to win at Emirates Stadium and boost their own European ambitions. The Gunners head to France on Wednesday looking to overturn a 1-0 loss in the first leg and reach the final of Europe’s premier club competition. Mikel Arteta resisted the opportunity to rest his key players for the game but despite naming a strong Arsenal side against the Cherries, they were undone by a second-half fightback by the visitors. Declan Rice had marked his 100th…
By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was once again the star man as Galatasaray took another step towards retaining their Turkish Super Lig title on Saturday. Osimhen, on loan from Napoli, struck twice in the 4-1 home win over Sivasspor to add to his previous braces for the champions, taking his impressive tally this season to 33 goals and eight assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. In the Super Lig, the 26-year-old Nigeria international has registered 24 goals and five assists in 27 matches as Galatasaray lead the table, eight points ahead of second-placed Fenerbahce, whose game…
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has declared that the late former Green Eagles captain ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu is a man that will forever live in the memory of Nigerians. Chukwu, who captained the Green Eagles to Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, passed away in Enugu on April 12 at the age of 74 after a brief illness. Gusau spoke on Friday in Enugu when a delegation from the NFF and FA Chairmen from the South East zone paid a condolence visit to Chukwu’s family. Gusau, who spoke through the NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, described Chukwu as a diligent and patriotic leader who served…
Arsenal have become the latest club to show an interest in Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, according to reports. The Nigeria international is expected to end his successful three-year spell at Atalanta at the end of this season, particularly following a mid-season row with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, which has led many clubs to closely monitor his situation. According to Sky Sports Germany, Arsenal have added the 27-year-old to their shortlist ahead of the upcoming transfer window. The UEFA Champions League semi-finalists reportedly see Lookman as a potentially valuable addition to a forward line they are aiming to…
Ghana and holders Senegal were both held to 1-1 draws by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic respectively in their opening matches at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt on Friday. The Black Satellites faced DR Congo in a Group C clash under the floodlights at the New Suez Stadium, after Senegal had battled CAR at the same venue. Four-time champions Ghana had to come from behind to earn a point after Samuel Ntanda’s header gave DR Congo a surprise 16th-minute lead. Ghana responded through Musibau Aziz eight minutes later but despite sustained pressure in…