Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Arsenal smashed West Ham 5-2 at the London Stadium on Saturday to climb to second place in the English Premier League table. The Gunners were ahead after just 10 minutes as centre-back Gabriel headed home Bukayo Saka’s corner at the near post after escaping his West Ham markers. The lead was doubled in the 27th minute when Leandro Trossard finished a flowing Arsenal move from close range. Saka was again the provider, played in by a chipped Martin Odegaard through ball before squaring to Trossard to finish. Four goals were then scored in six minutes, two by each team, started…
Two key players will be missing as Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, as well as the Chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, Aisha Falode, and the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, will be in Angers to watch the Super Falcons take on France in a friendly match on Saturday night. The match will be played at the 18,000 -capacity Stade Raymond Kopa – home ground of Ligue 1 side Angers. Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu will be without captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Turkey-based centre-back Oluwatosin Demehin, who sustained an injury after being named in the squad.…
Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid received a higher technical score from FIFA than the 2026 joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico even though the Middle East nation has yet to construct several stadiums proposed for the tournament. FIFA released its bid evaluation report and said the 2034 bid received an overall average score of 4.2 out of 5 even though eight stadiums are still to be built. All venues — including the planned 92,760-seater King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh — will not be completed until 2032 but three new stadiums are expected to be finished…
Super Eagles star Wilfred Ndidi will play under former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has been appointed as the new manager of Leicester City. The Dutchman replaces Steve Cooper who was sacked this week after a run of poor results. “We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester City’s new First Team Manager,” the club said in an official statement on Friday. “The Dutchman will take charge of the team following Saturday’s trip to Brentford “He has previously enjoyed managerial success with PSV Eindhoven “The 48-year-old Dutchman joins us with a wealth of…
By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles of Nigeria pair Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong as well as Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala have earned nominations in different categories of The Best FIFA Football Awards. The nominees were revealed in the early hours of Friday, with Lookman looking to earn a spot in the attack of the Best XI and Troost-Ekong vying for a place in the defence. Lookman scored three goals as the Super Eagles reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in February this year and bagged a historic hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final in…
Lionel Messi, Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Vinicius are among the nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2024. Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Paul Onuachu is also nominated, but for the Puskas award for a goal he scored while on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor. FIFA announced the shortlists of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards on Thursday night, saying the ceremony will “recognise the leading lights in another thrilling year of women’s and men’s football at both club and national-team levels”. Messi, who has been voted the world’s best player a record…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles have dropped eight places in the FIFA ranking following dismal displays in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November. In the latest world ranking released on Thursday, Nigeria slipped from their previous position of 36th to 44th, losing 21 points (from 1,503 to 1,482). The Super Eagles struggled in the AFCON qualifiers in November despite sealing their spot in the tournament scheduled for Morocco in December next year and January 2026. First, they had to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Benin Republic in Abidjan, then they were embarrassed 2-1 by Rwanda in…
English second-tier club Coventry City have appointed Chelsea great Frank Lampard as their new head coach. “Coventry City are delighted to announce the appointment of Frank Lampard as the Club’s new Head Coach,” the Championship side said I’m an official statement on Thursday. “The 46-year-old has signed a two and a half year contract with the Sky Blues and will take charge of City for the first time this Saturday against Cardiff City at the Coventry Building Society Arena. “Frank will be supported by two new coaches, Joe Edwards and Chris Jones, who he has worked with extensively previously.” Lampard,…
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) head coach Gbenga Ogunbote has been invited by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to explain his comments after a fixture. The coaching veteran will face an investigative hearing over an interview he granted to the media at the end of 3SC’s Matchday 12 fixture in Lagos against Ikorodu City. The Ibadan side lost 2-1 to their hosts, and the league body considers some of the positions Ogunbote expressed as a breach of the code of conduct for the NPFL coaches. “Honestly, it’s unfortunate,” Ogunbote said in his post-match interview with 3SC Fans TV, insinuating…
Super Falcons of Nigeria players and officials started arriving in Angers on Wednesday, ahead of Saturday’s friendly game with France’s Les Bleues. It is the second time both teams will face each other in a friendly, after France thrashed the nine-time African champions 8-0 at Stade Marie-Marvingt in April 2018. Only France-based goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Mexico-based defender Osinachi Ohale remain from that Super Falcons team routed by France over six years ago, as head coach Justine Madugu seeks to build a new squad. That 8-0 defeat equalled the Super Falcons’ biggest-ever losses – by Norway at the 1995…