Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Nurudeen Obalola Austin Eguavoen will take charge of the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya in October, while Justin Madugu has been named as the caretaker head coach of the Super Falcons. The Nigeria Football Federation announced the appointments on Thursday after its Executive Committee approved the recommendation of the Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Former Super Eagles captain Eguavoen, who is the Technical Director of the NFF, led the team in the first two matches of the qualifying series in early September, stepping in as the deal to appoint German Bruno Labbadia fell through. The…
By Kayode John The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been handed a tough draw in the 2024 WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship scheduled to take place in Togo. Nigeria are in Group B alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso in the draw released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday. The Nigerian U-20s will kick off their campaign in the competition against Burkina Faso on October 17, before their last group clash with the Ivorians six days later. Hosts Togo are in Group A, which has Niger Republic, Ghana and Benin Republic. The top two teams from each group…
By Kayode John Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has insisted that his assists have been crucial for Galatasaray despite his lack of goals. The reigning African Player of the Year has a reputation of being a prolific scorer but is yet to get off the mark since joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli early this month. Instead, he has registered three assists in three games, including on Wednesday night in the 3-1 UEFA Europa League victory over PAOK. Osimhen suggested that the Turkish Super Lig is tougher than how people perceive it. “In the Turkish league, they play with high…
Accomplished journalist and the Group Managing Director of Complete Communications Limited, Dr Mumini Alao, has been named as the Chairman of a committee set up to investigate Nigeria’s failure and administrative inefficiency at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France. Sports minister John Enoh inaugurated the seven-member committee on behalf of the federal government on Wednesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. Victor Okangbe will serve as the secretary of the committee, with Godwin Enakhena, Aliyu Mohammed, Rakiya Muhammed, Abubakar Ango and Nnene Akudo the other members. Apart from a poor outing by athletes at the Paris…
By Kayode John Super Eagles midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, scored his first goal for Lazio in their 3-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv on matchday 1 of the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday night. The Nigeria international also registered the assist for Lazio’s third goal in the game. He netted the club’s second goal in the 33rd minute after Boulaye Dia had put them in the lead after four minutes. Two minutes after his goal, Dia completed his brace, with Dele-Bashiru providing the assist. Both sides were reduced to 10 men each in the second half. Manchester United continued their unimpressive start…
By Kayode John Enyimba defeated Lobi Stars 2-1 in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash on Wednesday, days after advancing to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. The People’s Elephant played their continental game in Uyo last weekend but returned to the Enyimba Stadium in Aba for the league fixture. Ufere Chinedu put Enyimba in front after 13 minutes on Wednesday, and Eze Ekwutoziam doubled their lead from the spot two minutes later. Adebayo Waheed pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 36th minute, and neither side could further find the back of the…
Pep Guardiola will continue to rotate his Manchester City squad in the Carabao Cup and is prepared to use more academy players in the fourth round. Guardiola handed a debut to 16-year-old Kaden Brathwaite and gave a home debut to Nico O’Reilly, while Jacob Wright came off the bench and James McAtee made his first City start at the Etihad in the win over Watford on Tuesday. He made nine changes in total, and a half-time substitution between Jeremy Doku and Savinho was pre-planned. A farcical set of circumstances meant City had to play their Carabao Cup tie with Watford…
By Kayode John Sevilla have expressed pride and excitement about Chidera Ejuke’s goal against Real Valladolid on Tuesday night. The Super Eagles winger came off the bench to score the winner five minutes from time in the 2-1 LaLiga victory, thus becoming the first Nigerian to ever score for the club, where Kelechi Iheanacho also plays. In a post on their verified X handle on Wednesday, Sevilla wrote: “Our first-ever Nigerian goalscorer. Men mount,” and accompanied it with the Nigerian flag and a picture of the player applauding the fans at the Ramon Sanches Pizjuan Stadium after the game. It…
Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and France defender Raphael Varane has retired from football at the age of 31. Varane joined Italian side Como on a free transfer in July but suffered a knee injury on his debut against Sampdoria last month. The centre-back says he will stay at the club in a non-playing role. “I hold myself to the highest standard, I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game,” he wrote on Instagram. “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct.” Varane began his career at French…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he has to be “trusted” over his reasons for dropping Marcus Rashford to the bench for Saturday’s 0-0 Premier League draw with Crystal Palace. Prior to the match Ten Hag said the England forward was returning to his best form after taking control of his career, scoring three times in two games. But the Dutchman then unexpectedly left Rashford out in favour of Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, with the 26-year-old replacing Joshua Zirkzee after an hour. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed “there’s obviously something that’s happened” for Ten Hag to leave Rashford out.…