Author: Nurudeen Obalola

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…

Manchester United have announced plans to build the biggest stadium in the UK – an ‘iconic’ new £2bn 100,000-seater ground close to Old Trafford. Once construction is complete, the club’s existing home will be demolished. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said he wanted to build the “world’s greatest football stadium”, which the club hopes could be finished in five years. United’s announcement comes after an extensive consultation process around whether to develop the existing stadium or build a new one. Old Trafford has been Manchester United’s home since 1910. The club would continue to play at Old Trafford until the…

By Korede James Super Eagles stars Maduka Okoye and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru returned from injuries as Lazio and Udinese settled for a 1-1 draw in Monday night’s Serie A encounter. While Okoye was back in goal for Udinese, midfielder Dele-Bashiru was an unused substitute for hosts Lazio. Okoye had been out since December 2024 after sustaining a wrist injury that required surgery, while Dele-Bashiru suffered an ankle injury which kept him out of action since February. After being passed fit both Nigeria internationals were included in their respective clubs’ matchday squads for Monday’s clash, with Okoye reclaiming his number one spot.…

Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to be involved in a tense training ground altercation ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. The two Liverpool players were caught on camera exchanging words, with Salah laughing and joking but Alexander-Arnold looking exasperated. The pair’s team-mates intervened to keep them apart. Liverpool are in a good position ahead of their second-leg encounter against PSG, having snuck a 1-0 lead away from the Parc des Princes last week. A late Harvey Elliott goal did the damage on a night where Arne Slot’s men were indebted to…

Chelsea are reportedly ready to go all out for Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigeria international Victor Boniface this summer. Chelsea are in need of another forward who can compete with the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu. Injuries to both Jackson and Guiu have forced manager Enzo Maresca to use Pedro Neto as a false nine in recent weeks. Now according to CaughtOffside (via TEAMtalk) Chelsea are doing everything possible to sign Boniface in the summer. The report stated there is growing competition for Super Eagles striker Boniface, but Chelsea are determined to ensure he moves to Stamford Bridge. English Premier…