Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Korede James Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees believes Nigeria’s Super Eagles can be beaten in Uyo in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier later this month. Nees and his side will be guests of the Super Eagles on March 25 in a matchday 6 qualifying Group C clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Their first meeting on matchday 2 in Zimbabwe’s adopted home ground in Kigali, Rwanda in November 2023 ended 1-1 with Kelechi Iheanacho drawing the Super Eagles level. “Everybody knows Nigeria are better than their current position and our positions are similar,” Nees, a 57-year-old German, said…
By Korede James Arsenal put behind them their recent struggles as they thumped PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie in the Netherlands on Tuesday night. With the dominant display, the Gunners became the first team in Champions League history to score seven goals away from home in a knockout stage match. Incidentally, Mikel Arteta’s men had failed to score in back-to-back games heading into Tuesday night’s fixture. But all that changed as a brace from captain Martin Odegaard and goals from Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino and…
By Korede James Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika returned to fitness for Club Brugge on Tuesday but could not help the Belgian side avoid a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie at the Jan Breydel Stadion. Onyedika sustained an injury in Club Brugge’s league clash against Standard Liege last month and the 23-year-old Nigeria international missed the clash with KAA Gent last weekend due to the knock. He was back in the starting line-up on Tuesday before being replaced in the 90th minute for the Belgian champions. Leon…
By Korede James Super Eagles new head coach Eric Chelle on Tuesday released a 39-man provisional squad for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Notable names on the list include Victor Osimhen, African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, Ola Aina, Stanley Nwabali and William Troost-Ekong. Other regulars who made the cut are Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Kano Pillars forward Ahmed Musa is making a return, along with Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo. There are first-time call-ups for defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders…
By Korede James Super Falcons and Tenerife forward Gift Monday has been named the Spanish Women’s Liga F Player of the Month for February. Monday was announced as the winner on Liga F website on Monday, with the 23-year-old Nigeria international beating off competition from six others to land the award. The other nominated players were Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona), Alba Redondo (Real Madrid CF), Ane Azkona (Athletic Club), Ariadna Mingueza (Granada CF), Elba Vergés (SD Eibar) and Ainhoa Marín (Deportivo Abanca). Monday played three matches for Tenerife in the month in review and scored two goals. This season she…
Nigeria is set to host the 13th Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) African Wrestling Tournament in Abuja. The tournament, which will be held from March 6 to March 8, is part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the West African regional body. In collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), the event will take place at the Velodrome, Package A, of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, which will bring together top wrestling talents from across the West African sub-region. NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, welcomed the opportunity for Nigeria to host the tournament, assuring that the…
Super Eagles stars Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi were in action as Nottingham Forest reached the quarter-finals of the English FA Cup courtesy of a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Ipswich Town on Monday night. Defender Aina featured for 90 minutes while striker Awoniyi was replaced by Chris Wood with eight minutes left of normal time. Matz Sels was the hero for Forest, as he denied Jack Taylor after the first nine penalties were all converted, sending Forest through to the last eight for the first time since 2022. The tie was taken to penalties after the scores were…
By Korede James Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Rivers United played out a 0-0 draw in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) week 27 fixture in Ibadan on Monday. The result means 3SC and Rivers United are 11 points behind leaders Remo Stars in the league table after 27 of 38 rounds of matches. Rivers United, handled by former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George, remain in the second position, ahead of Shooting Stars on goal difference. 3SC have now played three straight draws and Rivers United have managed one win and two draws in their last three games.…
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has played down Victor Boniface’s furious reaction against a teammate during the team’s Bundesliga win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Super Eagles striker Boniface lashed out at Argentine winger Emiliano Buendía after they got in each other’s way during stoppage time in Saturday’s 4-1 victory, and he had to be calmed by teammates. Jeremie Frimpong tried reasoning with Boniface, who was also followed closely by Alonso as he left the field after the game. “I spoke with Boni,” Alonso said at the post-game press conference. “I don’t have all the details, but Boni wanted to shoot, it…
By Nurudeen Obalola Fulham have issued an official statement following racist abuse directed at their centre-back Calvin Bassey after the English FA Cup match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Super Eagles defender Bassey was one of Fulham’s standout players in the FA Cup fifth round clash, scoring their goal in the 1-1 draw before they advanced 4-3 on penalties. The Nigeria international revealed afterwards vile racist messages he received on social media, including being referred to as a ‘monkey’, the ‘N’ word and being told to ‘go back to your country’. “Fulham Football Club is utterly appalled…