Author: Nurudeen Obalola
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…
Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and had a hand in two more goals as Argentina crushed Bolivia 6-0 in South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday in front of raucous fans at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium. Making only his second international appearance since recovering from an injury sustained at the Copa América in July, Messi capitalised on a mistake by defender Marcelo Suarez to open the scoring in the 19th minute. “We enjoyed this, we are happy to be here playing in Argentina,” said Messi, who once again refused to say whether he will play…
Super Eagles and Kano Pillars star Ahmed Musa handed out N200,000 to workers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo after they celebrated him on his birthday on Monday. Musa was in action for Kano Pillars at the stadium on Sunday when they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Akwa United on matchday 6 of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The wide forward recently rejoined the club for his third stint after becoming a free agent in the summer. In a video posted to X by Kano Pillars, staff working at the facility gathered to sing a birthday song…
Nigeria’s Flamingos will be aiming for the full points when they face New Zealand on Wednesday night in the first match of this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. Although the game between host nation Dominican Republic and Ecuador (the other fixture in Group A) is billed as the opening match, Nigeria and New Zealand will do battle at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros from 4pm local time (9pm in Nigeria), while the hosts and Ecuador will begin their battle from 9pm local time (2am Thursday in Nigeria). Bronze medallists in the last…
Enitan Oshodi was unanimously elected as the President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), at the 2024 Annual General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Tuesday. Oshodi, a former Commissioner of Sports and Youth Development in Lagos State, is now the only Nigerian currently presiding over a continental sports body. He has been a key stakeholder with decades of involvement in table tennis, both locally and internationally. During his time as commissioner, Lagos became a major destination for table tennis, hosting high-profile events attended by high-ranking players. Oshodi previously served as Deputy President of ATTF and is currently an Executive…