Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has insisted that he is not in Galatasaray to chase individual glory but to help the club achieve their goals this season. Osimhen is on loan from Napoli after his intended permanent move to either Chelsea or Al-Ahli from the Italian club fell through on the deadline day of the summer transfer window. He has started life in Turkey brightly, scoring two goals and registering four assists in four games. Osimhen is behind in the scorers chart in the Super Lig, with Ciro Immobile leading withvseven goals, followed by Edin Dzeko, Krzysztof…
By Kayode John The Minister of Sports Development John Enoh has said the Federal Government is still seeking answers from Libyan authorities over why the Nigerian team was put through a traumatic experience in their country after arriving there for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying game last Sunday. After winning the first leg 1-0 in Uyo last Friday, the ValueJet airline conveying the Nigerian team which comprised Super Eagles players, coaches and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for the return leg, was diverted from Benghazi, venue of the game, to Al Abraq airport. They were…
By Kayode John Former Technical Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Green, has criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for not sanctioning Libya before referring the inhumane treatment of Super Eagles players and officials to its disciplinary committee for investigation. The flight conveying the Nigerian team was diverted from Benghazi, where the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier was meant to hold, to a local airport in Al Abraq on Sunday, despite getting an earlier approval to land. The Super Eagles were locked up at the airport for more than 18…
By Kayode John Scans at AC Milan have revealed Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze did not sustain any serious injury while on national team assignment in Nigeria. Chukwueze was among the 23 players invited for this month’s back-to-back 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Libya. The winger came from the bench in Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over the North Africans at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo last Friday. According to Sempremilan, the 25-year-old returned to Italy early from international duty due to fears that he had sustained a hamstring injury. The publication said Milan were worried as…
By Nurudeen Obalola Nigeria’s Flamingos eased to a 4-1 victory over New Zealand on Wednesday night in the first match of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. Shakirat Moshood, Taiwo Adegoke, Faridat Abdulwahab and Taiwo Afolabi struck for the Flamingos before Hannah Saxon pulled one back for New Zealand. Moshood got the Nigerian girls on their way with one of the fastest goals ever in the competition, slotting home inside the first 80 seconds at the CFC Stadium. Defender Adegoke doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 13th minute as her long-range shot was…
By Kayode John Ahmed Musa starred for Kano Pillars again as they defeated Rangers 4-3 in Enugu on Wednesday, the Super Eagles forward having a hand in all of his side’s four goals. The former Leicester City star scored one of the goals, assisted another and won two penalties as Pillars took a 4-0 lead in the first half at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. Musa scored his third goal in three league matches this season with a strike in the 45th minute, with Rabiu Ali netting a brace from the penalty spot and Zulkifilu Rabiu scoring the other goal. Rangers…
Serena Williams says she had a benign branchial cyst “the size of a small grapefruit” removed from her neck and “all is OK.” The retired tennis star, who turned 43 last month, posted Wednesday on social media that she found a lump on her neck in May, had an MRI exam, and was told she didn’t need to get it removed if she didn’t want to. So she didn’t then, “but it kept growing,” Williams said. After more tests, including a biopsy that was negative for cancer, Williams said, her doctors said she should have a procedure. She showed video of herself…
By Kayode John The 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League will be held in Morocco in November, with Nigeria’s Edo Queens one of the contesting clubs. The Confederation of African Football announced the hosts and dates on Wednesday, with eight clubs set to feature from November 9 to November 23. Edo Queens become the third Nigerian club to qualify for the competiton, following their 3-0 victory over Benin Republic’s Ainonvi FC in the WAFU B Championship final in August. Edo Queens will be making their debut in the continental women’s club competition, following in the footsteps of Rivers Angels and Bayelsa…
By Kayode John Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is reportedly available to leave Atalanta in the January transfer window and could be sold for €30 million. Lookman had allegedly wanted to force an exit from the club in the summer after reportedly agreeing personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain, but Atalanta blocked the move and opted to open contract extension talks instead with the winger. The Nigeria international was a key figure for the Italian club last season, scoring 17 goals, including a hat-trick in the final of the UEFA Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen to help them lift their first-ever…
Thomas Tuchel has been named England head coach, taking over from Lee Carsley, who took temporary charge after the resignation of Gareth Southgate in July. “The FA has announced that UEFA Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel is the new England senior men’s head coach and will be assisted by internationally renowned English coach Anthony Barry,” the Football Association announced on Wednesday. German Tuchel, 51, signed an 18-month deal and becomes the third foreigner to handle the Three Lions on a permanent basis, after the late Swede Sven Goran Erikssen and Italian Fabio Capello. “Tuchel returns to English football after a…