Author: Nurudeen Obalola
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed its sadness at the death on Saturday of another member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Green Eagles squad, Charles Bassey. He was 71. Bassey died after a protracted illness in his native town of Eket, Akwa Ibom State, hours after it was confirmed that the captain of that team, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, had passed on in Enugu. “This has been a day of double tragedy, and the NFF and the entire Nigeria football fraternity are deeply saddened by the turn of events. We lost ‘Chairman’ Chukwu earlier in the day; now,…
Teenager Gout Gout has reinforced his growing reputation as one of the best young sprinters in the world by clocking a wind-assisted 19.84 seconds to win the Australian 200 metres title. His blistering run on Sunday was the second fastest ever by an athlete below 20 years under all conditions, surpassing Usain Bolt’s 19.93 in 2004 and Justin Gatlin’s 19.86 in 2001. It followed the 17-year-old storming to the 100m crown at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth on Friday in 9.99 seconds. That too was achieved with a tailwind slightly above the permitted limit, so it will not…
President Bola Tinubu and his major opponents during the 2023 general election, Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi, as well as the Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and the Confederation of African Football, have all hailed the impact Christian Chukwu had on Nigerian and African football. Chukwu, who captained the Green Eagles to win Nigeria’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and later coached the Super Eagles, was confirmed dead on Saturday at the age of 74 after a brief illness. Tinubu, who is currently in France, praised Chukwu for his commitment to the Nigerian cause. “Christian Chukwu…
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will be grouped with another set of opponents in the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations following the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to conduct a new draw. The seven-time African champions had been drawn in Group B with Egypt, Morocco and South Africa before Cote d’Ivoire pulled out as hosts. Egypt, who hosted the 2023 edition, stepped in as Cote d’Ivoire replacement, and a fresh draw will now be done. “The final draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Egypt 2025 will be conducted on Sunday, 13 April…
Yoane Wissa scored late in the second half as Brentford and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday that leaves the second-placed Gunners 10 points behind English Premier League leaders Liverpool. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made five changes from the side that so impressively beat Real Madrid 3-0 in midweek in the UEFA Champions League, and the Gunners thought they had taken the lead in the 26th minute when Kieran Tierney headed in Ethan Nwaneri’s cross. However, a video assistant referee (VAR) check showed the left-back was clearly offside. Thomas Partey then scored the opening goal in the 61st…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has described the death of former national team captain Christian Chukwu as a great loss. The legendary central defender, who captained the Green Eagles to win Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980, passed away on Saturday at the of 74. “The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep sorrow after it was confirmed that Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, who captained Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad and later coached the team, had died in his native city of Enugu on Saturday,” the NFF stated. “Nicknamed ‘Chairman’ because of his imposing presence and…
By Nurudeen Obalola Christian Chukwu, the legendary central ddefender who captained the Green Eagles to win Nigeria’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980, is dead. The former Rangers of Enugu star died today aged 74. The death of Chukwu was confirmed by his old teammate and friend Segun Odegbami today. “My Chairman has passed on. I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and team mate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s football history, former captain and coach of Nigeria’s national football team,…
Manchester City, led by the departing Kevin de Bruyne, battled back from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 5-2 in a thrilling English Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. England international with Nigerian roots Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards put the visitors into a comfortable lead inside the first 21 minutes, but City hit back after Palace had a third goal ruled out by a close call from the new semi-automated offside technology. Captain De Bruyne, who recently announced he will leave City at the end of the season, played a key role in his side’s stunning…
A Chilean derby between Universidad de Chile and Colo Colo scheduled for Sunday has been postponed after two young fans were killed on Thursday in a crush at a Copa Libertadores match at the Monumental Stadium. Security Minister Luis Cordero said the match between Chile’s two most popular teams had been postponed after a report by the local police cited unsafe conditions for Sunday’s match. The crush occurred when home fans tried to enter the Monumental stadium in Santiago before Colo Colo’s Group E Copa Libertadores match against Brazilian side Fortaleza. The victims, a 13-year-old boy and an 18-year-old female,…
By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen sealed a crucial victory for Galatasaray on Friday as the Turkish Super Lig champions defeated Samsunspor 2-0. Galatasaray’s last Turkish Super Lig result was a 2-1 defeat at Besiktas on March 31, and they needed victory on Friday to fend off Fenerbahce in the title race. Osimhen doubled Galatasaray’s lead after Yunus Akgun had opened the scoring, but it was not all plain sailing for the champions and league leaders. Hosts Samsunspor had the ball in the net early on but the goal was disallowed, to the relief of Osimhen and his…