Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles defender, Ifeanyi Udeze, has said the team should focus on securing the three points in their next 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, rather than the venue of the game. Libya hosted Rwanda in their first game of the qualifying campaign at their iconic 11th June Stadium—their main venue for FIFA World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifying matches, capable of sitting 45,000 spectators. The North Africans have, however, selected the Martyrs of February Stadium — a 10,000 artificial turf facility in Benina — for the return leg of their back-to-back…
By Nurudeen Obalola Christopher Nkunku was the star of the night on Tuesday as he bagged a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 5-0 win over lower league Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round. Manchester City, Wilfred Ndidi’s Leicester City and Aston Villa also defeated lower league clubs to complete a winning night for Premier League sides in the third round of the competition. Frenchman Nkunku spearheaded the attack for a much-changed Chelsea side and made his case for regular playing time with his first treble for the club in the rout of the fourth-tier Barrow at Stamford Bridge. He struck in…
Former Hungarian fencer Laszlo Csongradi has been left so distraught by the theft of his Olympic gold medal that he has offered to leave it to the thief in his will if it is returned. Csongradi, 65, won the Olympic gold in the men’s team sabre competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Yet his most precious possession was taken from him when his home was broken into late on September 10 as the former athlete was sleeping. “For two weeks, I can’t calm down and be happy, because everything reminds me of my stolen Olympic gold medal,” Csongradi…
By Kayode John Nigeria defender, Benjamin Tanimu, says his target is to help third-tier Crawley Town FC secure promotion to the English Championship at the end of the season. Tanimu joined the League One club from Tanzanian outfit, Singida Black Stars, on transfer deadline day in August on a three-year contract. The Super Eagles defender recently linked up with his new teammates after a delay caused by issues surrounding his visa and was officially unveiled on Monday. “I’m very, very happy to be here because when playing at a very young age, we all watched England Premier League, so coming…
Daniel Dubois would “love a rematch” with either Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk — depending on which boxer “pays me the most”. Dubois retained his IBF world heavyweight title with a brutal fifth-round knockout of British rival Joshua at Wembley on Saturday, flooring the two-time former world champion four times in total. Joshua has insisted his own boxing career is far from finished, with a potential rematch against Dubois as well as another all-British clash with Tyson Fury possible options for future bouts. Dubois’s promoter Frank Warren, meanwhile, has said while there is no specific clause in his fighter’s contract…
By Kayode John Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said he regretted not buying Premier League club Arsenal. Dangote, who is one of the biggest fans of the London club, had a few years ago expressed the desire to acquire the 13-time English top flight champions. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg on Monday, the billionaire businessman explained why he did not insist on purchasing the club. “I regret. Actually, I regret not buying it before but my money was more needed in completing my project (Dangote refinery) than buying Arsenal,” Dangote said in…
Galatasaray vice-president Ibrahim Hatipoğlu insists Victor Osimhen won’t leave the club in January, while reports in Italy suggest Juventus are interested in the Napoli loanee. Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on a dry loan deal until the end of the season and has provided two assists in two league games, including one against José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on Saturday. Galatasaray will pay Osimhen €6m during the 2024/2025 campaign, and the player’s release clause at Napoli has been lowered to €75m from €130m. The Nigeria international signed a one-year contract extension with the Partenopei before joining Galatasaray earlier this month. His convincing start to the season at Galatasaray…
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles defender, Efetobore Sodje, has explained why he feels Victor Boniface has not been prolific with the national team. While Boniface has thrived at Bayer Leverkusen since joining them in 2023 and has already scored three goals in four matches this season, the 23-year-old has only one goal in eight Nigeria appearances. Sodje, who won 12 caps for the Super Eagles and represented the country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, said the way the national team is set up could be hindering Boniface. “The guy is a good player, all the Nigerian…
Manchester City are expecting to be without star midfielder Rodri for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old limped off during City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, after going down holding his right knee. ESPN and Marca reported that tests revealed an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear for the Spain midfielder, which would rule him out for around eight months. Rodri’s loss would be a huge blow to City’s hopes of winning a fifth consecutive league title and ambitions of reclaiming the Champions League. The former Atletico Madrid player has been touted as a potential…
Anthony Joshua insists his career is “far from over” following his devastating knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley, which raised doubts about his future in boxing. Joshua was aiming to become a three-time world champion by claiming the International Boxing Federation world heavyweight title on Saturday but was knocked out in the fifth round in front of a record-breaking official attendance of more than 98,000. The 34-year-old Nigerian-Briton was floored four times by Dubois and many people called for Joshua to retire afterwards. But the British former Olympic champion released a video on X on Monday saying his journey…