Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has told the press that ‘comeback’ has been the most used word in the dressing room over recent days, as they face the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final in need of a three-goal comeback against Arsenal. Los Blancos have authored many dramatic comebacks, but coming from three goals behind would be first for them. “Remontada (laughs). I’ve probably heard it a million times in the last week. This motivates us a lot. It’s a night made for Real Madrid. I don’t think we can add anything more special to that,” Bellingham said.…
Galatasaray are hopeful of persuading Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen to remain at the club beyond this season, while his parent club Napoli do not want to sell him to their rivals Juventus. Osimhen is on a season-long loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, who are reportedly ready to sell the Nigeria international for €75 million. While the asking price is believed to be beyond Galatasaray and Osimhen is reportedly eyeing a move to a bigger league, the Turkish champions are not giving up just yet. “There are always rumours about me, but I live in the moment,” Osimhen said in…
Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk are in talks to fight at Wembley Stadium on 12 July. The rival heavyweight champions, who have both recorded victories over British-Nigerian Anthony Joshua, hold all four major world titles between them, with Dubois the International Boxing Federation champion and Usyk the World Boxing Association (Super), World Boxing Organisation and World Boxing Council belt holder. Usyk, 38, is undefeated in 23 fights and has a win over Dubois, stopping him in August 2023. Their rematch would be for the undisputed heavyweight title as well as offer 27-year-old Dubois the chance of revenge. While talks are…
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has taken quick action and sanctioned Nasarawa United following Sunday’s stabbing incident during their match against Plateau United in Lafia. Nasarawa United fans invaded the Lafia Township Stadium pitch after the match and one of them stabbed Plateau United’s Vincent Temitope in the neck. Although Nasarawa United won the home fixture 3-2, the fans apparently targeted Temitope because he scored one of Plateau United’s goals and also won a penalty. The club will now have to play their home matches in Gombe, almost 500 kilometres from the Nasarawa State capital. “Nasarawa United have been…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied claims that the body is owing the late Christian Chukwu some of his entitlements. Chukwu, who captained the Green Eagles to win Nigeria’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil in 1980, died on Saturday at the age of 74 after a brief illness. The former Rangers of Enugu central defender worked as Super Eagles head coach from 2002 to 2005, leading them to bronze at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia. Upon Chukwu’s demise, there were claims that the NFF owed him up to $128,000 in salaries and allowances. However, in…
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that a Nasarawa United supporter is in custody after he stabbed Plateau United player Vincent Temitope in the neck after a pitch invasion in Lafia on Sunday. The stabbing occurred after hosts Nasarawa United defeated Plateau United 3-2 in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match at the LafiaTownship Stadium, in which Temitope scored one of the visitors’ goals. The suspect, whose name has not yet been made public, was taken into custody for his role in the bloody post-match attack on the visiting team. According to Sahara Reporters, the Nasarawa State Police…
Rory McIlroy ended his long wait for a Masters title with a birdie on the opening hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Justin Rose and claim the career Grand Slam after a nerve-wracking final round on Sunday. After missing a five-foot par putt at the 18th in regulation that forced the playoff, McIlroy made sure he did not let his latest chance at major glory slip away and returned to the same hole in the playoff and put his approach two feet from the cup. When the winning putt dropped, McIlroy raised his arms toward the clear sky and…
Newcastle United continued their quest for a UEFA Champions League spot with a 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United at St James’ Park on Sunday. Assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones took charge of Newcastle in the absence of Eddie Howe, who was unavailable due to ill-health, and the players responded with a fine performance as they recorded a first league double over Manchester United in 94 years. United manager Ruben Amorim dropped first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana after his two errors against Lyon in Thursday’s 2-2 UEFA Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw, but replacement Altay Bayındır was guilty of a serious mistake of…
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will be facing Tunisia, Morocco and Kenya in the group stages of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. A fresh draw was held in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday following the withdrawal of Cote d’Ivoire as hosts, with the 13 teams placed in three groups. The U-20 AFCON will now be held in Egypt from April 27 to May 18. New hosts Egypt are seeded in Group A, which has five teams – with Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania as the other teams. Holders Senegal are seeded in Group C, with Central…
Liverpool moved to potentially one win from the English Premier League title as captain Virgil van Dijk’s late header helped them beat West Ham United 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday. Victory means that if Arsenal lose at Ipswich next weekend, the Reds can wrap up the title by beating Leicester. Mohamed Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool this week, provided the assist with a splendid pass for Luis Diaz to open the scoring on 18 minutes. But Liverpool failed to build on this and West Ham deservedly equalised when Andy Robertson turned the ball into his…