Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Jannik Sinner secured the year-end world No.1 men’s tennis ranking by beating Czech 30th seed Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5 in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals on Saturday, capping a year where the Italian has won two Grand Slam titles. Machac made a promising start by winning the opening two games before Sinner got on the board, with the top-seed turning the set around before closing it out in 44 minutes as his opponent begun to rack up the errors. Machac stepped back up and provided an even sterner examination in the second set, but Sinner proved too solid for his…
By Kayode John Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has warned his teammates against complacency and encouraged the team to go for victory always following the hard-fought 1-0 win over Libya in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying clash in Uyo on Friday. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru came from the bench to score the only goal of the game in the 86th minute to help the Super Eagles maintain their lead at the top of Group D with seven points from two matches. “It’s never done until the fat lady sings, they say. It’s a good start for us. We knew…
By Kayode John Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen has promised to address Victor Boniface over his goal drought in the team following the 1-0 win over Libya in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo on Friday. It took substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to rescue Nigeria from playing back-to-back draws in the qualifiers with his late winner at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Eguavoen had on Thursday backed Boniface to score against the North Africans, and the Bayer Leverkusen striker got the nod to start in the game in the absence of Victor Osimhen. Boniface however failed to score…
By Kayode John Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen has described the narrow 1-0 win over Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo on Friday as a relief for him and his players. The Libyans deployed defensive and time-wasting tactics in the game to the frustration of Nigerian players, coaches and fans at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, but substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the only goal of the game in the 86th minute. “It’s a huge win for me and the boys obviously. Three points was important and we got it, I wanted us to score…
Mohamed Salah was on target to help Egypt maintain their 100% record in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Mauritania, but Tunisia slipped to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Comoros in their fixture on Friday. Salah added to an opener from Trezeguet in Cairo as Egypt toiled for almost 70 minutes before they broke down the Mauritania defence to move six points clear at the top of Group C at the midway point of the qualifiers. Tunisia were heavy favourites after starting their campaign with two wins, but despite 15 goal attempts…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles secured a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Libya in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on Friday. The visiting Mediterranean Knights frustrated the three-time African champions for 87 minutes until substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru popped up with the backbreaking goal. The Lazio midfielder, who replaced Alex Iwobi on 73 minutes, latched on to a low cross from Simon Moses to find the back of the net, sending the tense Godswill Akpabio Stadium into loud cheering. The Libyans had sought out to limit the Super Eagles with their ultra-defensive tactics, and were largely successful…
By Kayode John Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has described compatriot Victor Boniface as a world-class player. Boniface has been under scrutiny over his inability to score for the national team as he does at Bayer Leverkusen. He has six goals in nine matches for his German club this season but has not found the net in any competitive game for Nigeria as well as in his last six matches, including in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda last month. The Eagles will take on Libya on Matchday 3 of the qualifying campaign…
Chelsea pair Cole Palmer and Enzo Maresca have been voted English Premier League Player of the Month and Manager of the Month respectively for September. England international Palmer led the Premier League for both goals and goal involvements in September, scoring five goals and making one assist in four appearances. Four of his goals came in one devastating 21-minute period against Brighton, as he became the first player in history to score four times in the first half of a Premier League match. Palmer has won the Player of the Month award for a second time, with his first coming in April 2024,…
By Kayode John Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has said the team must do everything possible to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco. The three-time African champions are set to face the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in back-to-back fixtures in the 2025 AFCON qualification series. The Super Eagles, who are on top of Group D on four points from two games, will host bottom side Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday in Benina, Benghazi. During a chat with reporters on Thursday at the team’s…
By Kayode John Chidera Ejuke has expressed delight over his return to the Super Eagles. The Sevilla winger last featured for the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon. However, he is back into the reckoning once again, following his impressive performances for Sevilla this season, earning a place in Austin Eguavoen’ 23-man squad for the 2025 AFCON qualifying double-header against Libya. “I’m just happy to be here, I’m really excited to be back. It’s always like a good feeling to get the opportunity to represent your country and also to see some of the…