Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Nurudeen Obalola Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has returned to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to sign for Enyimba, years after he left the country to play in Europe and other parts of the world. Two-time African champions Enyimba confirmed Ideye’s signing on Monday, two days after they appointed Stanley Eguma as head coach to replace the sacked Yemi Olanrewaju. “We are delighted to officially announce the addition of former Super Eagles Striker, Brown Ideye to our fold,” Enyimba said in a statement on their X account on Monday. “We are expectant of the experience and professionalism…
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah says he is “far away” from signing a new deal at the English Premier League club. Salah, 32, is out of contract at the end of the season and can enter negotiations with non-English clubs on January 1 over a free transfer once his deal expires. The Egyptian scored his 20th goal of the season as Liverpool beat West Ham 5-0 at the London Stadium on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points. Asked about his future following the victory, Salah told Sky Sports: “No, we are far away from that…
By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze was forced off with an injury on Sunday as AC Milan drew 1-1 with AS Roma at San Siro in what turned out to be Paulo Fonseca’s last match in charge. The Nigeria international, making his ninth Serie A start of the season, limped off in the 62nd minute and was replaced by England striker with Nigerian heritage Tammy Abraham as Milan’s injury crisis worsened. Chukwueze suffered a thigh strain and will miss the Supercoppa Italiana clash against Juventus on Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, joining Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek,…
Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the English Premier League to eight points as they thrashed a poor West Ham United side 5-0 at the London Stadium on Sunday night. It was another capital goal-fest for Arne Slot’s irresistible side after the 6-3 win at Tottenham seven days previously, the outcome never in doubt as a first-half masterclass left a desperately passive Hammers well beaten. Liverpool had already missed several chances before Luis Diaz gave them the lead with a powerful finish on the half-hour mark. Cody Gakpo was then the beneficiary of Mohamed Salah’s brilliant footwork to…
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has put a positive spin on Atalanta’s 1-1 draw at Lazio on Saturday night, although the result ended his side’s 11-match Serie A winning streak. Lookman was voted Man of the Match after another excellent performance in which he set up Atalanta’s late equaliser for Marco Brescianini. Lookman’s Nigeria international teammate Fisayo Dele-Bashiru beat the offside trap on a Nicolò Rovella ball over the top to give Lazio the lead in the 27th minute, but Brescianini tapped in Lookman’s pass in the 88th minute to equalise. “It was a tough match, the first half was very…
By Nurudeen Obalola Nigeria’s Super Eagles B have secured their ticket to the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after beating Ghana 3-1 in Uyo on Saturday. The Nigerian side won the tie 3-1 on aggregate, the first leg in Accra last Sunday having ended 0-0. An excellent first-half showing propelled Daniel Ogunmodede’s side to the victory, with the Super Eagles B netting all three goals before the break. Ghana pulled one back in the second half, but it was too little, too late. The key period of the match for the Super Eagles B was a seven-minute stretch in which…
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka is set to be sidelined for more than two months after an operation on a hamstring injury, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday. “He had a procedure, everything went well but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” the Spaniard said on Friday night after Arsenal defeated Ipswich 1-0 to go second in the English Premier League table. Pressed on a more precise timeline, Arteta added: “I think it will be more than two months. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so of mobility … let’s see,…
Coaches Daniel Ogunmodede and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani of Nigeria’s Super Eagles B and Ghana’s Black Galaxies respectively have made confident statements ahead of Saturday’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying clash in Uyo. The first leg ended 0-0 in Accra and Saturday’s battle at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium will decide which of the fierce rivals proceeds to the 2025 CHAN in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. At the pre-match press conference on Friday evening, Dramani insisted his boys had the better opportunities in the first leg in Accra and will not be easy targets for the Eagles in Uyo. “We created far more…
Kai Havertz scored the only goal of a tight encounter on Friday night as Arsenal defeated a brave Ipswich Town side 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium to rise to second in the English Premier League. The hosts netted the winner in the 23rd minute when Leandro Trossard crossed the ball for Havertz to tap in from close range. Arsenal dominated and had 83.5% of possession in the first half as Kieran McKenna’s side, who rarely left their own half, looked to frustrate them. Declan Rice curled over from the edge of the box, before Gabriel Jesus thought he had doubled…
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr should have won this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award instead of Rodri. Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Ronaldo said Vinícius deserved the prize over Manchester City’s Rodri, after the Brazil forward and his Real Madrid teammates boycotted the ceremony in Paris hosted by France Football magazine. Vinicius has since won The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year prize and the main Globe Soccer Awards honour. “In my opinion, he [Vinícius] deserved to win the golden ball [Ballon d’Or award],” former Real Madrid star Ronaldo said. “It was unfair in my opinion. I say here in…