Author: Nurudeen Obalola
England striking legends Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney have showered plaudits on Chido Obi-Martin after his performance for Manchester United against Fulham in the FA Cup fifth round at Old Trafford on Sunday. Obi-Martin, who has Nigerian blood but plays for Denmark at youth international level, made his third senior appearance for United when he replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the second half on Sunday. The 17-year-old forward looked far more threatening and livelier and could have scored with a close-range effort, but Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno denied him. United went on to lose the tie 4-3 on penalties after regulation…
By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles stars Umar Sadiq and Samuel Chukwueze were both on target on Sunday night, but with mixed fortunes. Valencia striker Sadiq struck twice as his side drew 3-3 at Osasuna in their LaLiga clash, while winger Chukwueze scored AC Milan’s only goal as they fell to a third straight Serie A defeat, losing 2-1 at home to Lazio. Sadiq, on loan at Valencia from Real Sociedad, scored in each half at Osasuna, the first goal to give his side a 2-1 lead, the second three minutes from time to rescue a point. The 28-year-old Nigeria international…
By Korede James Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey was on target on Sunday as Fulham defeated holders Manchester United 4-3 on penalties at Old Trafford to progress to the quarter-finals of the English FA Cup. Full-time and extra-time of the fifth round clash ended 1-1. Also in action for Fulham was Bassey’s fellow Nigeria international Alex Iwobi, who was replaced by Ryan Sessegnon in extra-time. Danish youth international with Nigerian roots, Chido Obi-Martin, made his first appearance in the FA Cup for Manchester United after replacing Rasmus Hojlund on 68 minutes. Bassey opened the scoring one minute into first-half added…
By Korede James Remo Stars edged out Plateau United 1-0 in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) week 27 clash in Ikenne on Sunday to take a step closer to winning their first-ever title. Samson Olasupo was the hero for the league leaders as his 74th minute strike secured the three points. Remo Stars are now 12 points ahead of both Rivers United and Shooting Stars Sports Club, who are closest to them in the league table. Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) will entertain Rivers United in Ibadan on Monday. The defeat leaves Plateau United in 16th, just one place…
By Korede James Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was back among the goals on Sunday, scoring twice in Galatasaray’s 3-3 draw at Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig. Osimhen striker had failed to score in his last two matches for Galatasaray before Sunday’s brace. With the result, Galatasaray missed the chance to extend their lead over second-placed Fenerbahce in the league table, while Kasimpasa are 10th. A win against Kasimpasa would have temporarily taken Galatasaray nine points clear of their rivals who will host Antalyaspor later on Sunday. Osimhen broke the deadlock in the 11th minute from the penalty spot…
By Korede James Algerian Adel Amrouche has been confirmed as the new head coach of the Rwandan national team. The Rwanda Football Association (RFA) announced on Sunday that Amrouche, 56, would take over from German coach Torsten Spittler. Amrouche’s first assignment will be to handle Rwanda’s Amavubi against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on March 17 in Kigali. Rwanda currently top the group with seven points, four points ahead of the Super Eagles. Amrouche began his coaching career in 1988 with the youth ranks of local club OMR El Annasser while playing for…
Tadese Takele claimed his first major marathon victory and Sutume Kebede retained her title to complete an Ethiopian double at the Tokyo Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on Sunday. Takele, who finished third in the Berlin Marathon in 2023, ran a world lead of 2:03:23 to improve his PB by one second. He won by 28 seconds ahead of his compatriot Deresa Geleta (2:03:51), while Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi was third (2:04:00). Kebede set a Japanese all-comers’ record of 2:15:55 when winning in Tokyo last year and this time she ran a world lead of 2:16:31 to triumph,…
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a new law whereby a goalkeeper holding the ball for more than eight seconds will be punished with a corner for the opposition from this summer. According to BBC Sport, the new law was unanimously approved by IFAB, the body that makes football laws, at its annual general meeting in Northern Ireland on Saturday. The new law will be in place at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which takes place in the USA from June 15 to July 13. Under the current law keepers should be punished if they hold the…
By Korede James Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers was on target again on Saturday but it was not enough as his Rangers side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox. Dessers went into the game on the back of netting a brace in Rangers’ 4-2 victory at Kilmarnock last Wednesday. The Nigeria international has now registered 11 goals and two assists in 26 appearances in the Scottish top fligt this season (18 goals and four assists in 40 matches in all competitions). Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun was also in action for Rangers after he…
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho’s four-match suspension has been halved by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following a review of the club’s appeal. Mourinho was handed a fine and the ban over his comments about Turkish referees after a game at rivals Galatasaray, where he criticised the match officials in a press conference following the 0-0 Super Lig draw on Monday. The TFF fined the 62-year-old Portuguese 1.6 million Turkish lira ($43,963.89) but that was reduced to 558,500. The penalties were due to “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish referee” and accusations of chaos and disorder in Turkish football, according to the TFF. The…