Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Korede James Gent defender Jordan Torunarigha has been called up to replace the injured Nathan Tella for the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The Super Eagles visit Rwanda next Friday and host Zimbabwe four days later in Uyo as the three-time African champions seek to get their qualifying campaign back on track. “Camp Update: Joshua Torunarigha has been called up to replace injured Nathan Tella. We wish Nathan quick recovery,” the Super Eagles announced on social media on Thursday. Both Tella and Torunarigha were included in the 39-man provisional squad before the…
By Korede James Real Madrid continued their dominance over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night as the holders eliminated their city rivals via a penalty shootout in the round of 16. Atletico won the second leg 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano, which ended the fixture 2-2 on aggregate and took it to penalties, with Real Madrid winning 4-2. There was something controversy during the shootout as Atletico’s Julian Alvarez initially converted his spot kick, but VAR checks showed he touched the ball twice while slipping, and the goal was chalked off. Real Madrid have now eliminated…
The draw for this year’s President Federation Cup national competition has produced a heavyweight pairing, with previous winners Rangers of Enugu and Kano Pillars pitted against each other. The draw was announced on Wednesday by the Nigeria Football Federation, with Enyimba set to face El-Shama and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to battle Zamfara United. In the women’s competition, Bayelsa Queens are up against fellow top flight side Naija Ratels in the earliest national stage possible – the round of 32. The men’s round of 64 matches are scheduled for next Wednesday, according to the NFF, who did not confirm…
By Korede James Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen says Nigeria will be driven by desperation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month as he does not want to end his career without playing at football’s biggest tournament. The Super Eagles have struggled in Group C in the World Cup qualifiers, having drawn three of their first four matches, leaving them fifth out of six teams, with only one guaranteed ticket available. Osimhen is yet to feature in the qualifiers after missing the previous fixtures due to injury. Three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Nigeria will be back in…
By Nurudeen Obalola Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has failed in his bid to retain his seat on the FIFA Council. The election for African members into FIFA’s highest decision-making organ was held in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday, with Pinnick favourite to retain his seat. However, he received 28 votes, one shy of the 29 obtained by Souleiman Hassan Waberi of Djibouti, who took the fifth and final African spot on the Council. Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa led the election with 49 votes, followed by Hani Abou Rida of Egypt with 35, Djibrilla Hima Hamidou of Niger Republic…
By Korede James Liverpool have been eliminated from this season’s UEFA Champions League after losing to Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 on penalties on Tuesday night. PSG secured a 1-0 win at Anfield, thanks to Ousmane Dembele 12th minute strike in the round of 16 second leg clash, to bring the aggregate score to 1-1. After both teams failed to find the winner, the game went to penalties shootout with the Ligue 1 champions converting all four of theirs. Liverpool’s attention will now be on the English Premier League, where they are 15 points clear at the top of the table. Arne…
The long-awaited trial of medical staff who treated the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has started in the capital, Buenos Aires. Maradona was convalescing when he died of a heart attack at his home in 2020, aged 60. He had been recovering at home from surgery on a brain blood clot earlier that month. Prosecutors allege that Maradona’s death could have been avoided and accuse the hospital staff of medical negligence. The defendants say Maradona had refused further treatment and should have stayed in hospital for longer after his operation. They risk prison terms between eight and 25 years…
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has released his final squad of 23 players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, cutting 16 players from the provisional list. The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday that Chelle dropped veteran Kano Pillars forward Ahmed Musa, Middlesbrough striker Kelechi Iheanacho, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Celtic striker Cyriel Dessers from the 39-man provisional squad. The final squad includes goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Kayode Bankole, defenders William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen.…
By Korede James English Premier League clubs Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a move for Viktoria Plzen’s Nigerian forward Rafiu Durosinmi in the summer. According to Football Insider, Leicester and Wolves had scouts in attendance to watch Durosinmi in action in Viktoria Plzen’s UEFA Europa League clash with Lazio last Thursday. Durosinmi scored Viktoria Plzen’s only goal in the 2-1 round of 16 first leg home defeat to nine-man Lazio. Aside from the 22-year-old Nigerian, it was reported that the Premier League clubs also watched Viktoria Plzen defender Sampson Dweh. It is believed that both players…
Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick is expected to retain his seat as one of the 37 members of the FIFA Council – the supreme governing organ for world football. The election will be held at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday. The former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president is in the race alongside Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa and Egyptian Hany Abou Rida, with 10 candidates seeking the available five seats at the election scheduled for the Marriott Mena House on Wednesday morning. Africa has seven seats on the FIFA Council, with the…