Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen registered his second assist in two league matches for Galatasaray as they swept aside Fenerbahce 3-1 in the Turkish Super Lig Derby on Saturday night. Osimhen, who featured for 90 minutes in the game as he did on his debut last weekend, however, failed to get on the scoresheet again. Like against Rizespor, the 25-year-old provided the assist for Galatasaray’s second goal in the 28th minute. The reigning African player of the year found<span;> found former Napoli teammate, Dries Mertens, who put Galatasaray two goals up in the fiesty encounter. In-form Gabriel…
By Kayode John Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi, set a new assist record by a Nigerian in the English Premier League as Fulham defeated Newcastle United 3-1. Iwobi bagged his 30th assist in the English top flight in the win, surpassing Nwankwo Kanu’s 29 in the league. The 28-year-old made the assist for Fulham’s second goal, which was netted by former Arsenal star Emile Smith-Rowe. Earlier, Raul Jimenez gave the home side the lead after just five minutes. Harvey Barnes halved the deficit at the start of the second half but Reiss Nelson sealed the points at Craven Cottage in…
By Nurudeen Obalola Chelsea were imperious on Saturday, easing past West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium. Nicolas Jackson scored twice and assisted Cole Palmer for the third goal as Chelsea secured a third straight away win in the English Premier League this season. With the victory, Blues boss Enzo Maresca became <span;>the first manager to win each of his first three away Premier League games since Pep Guardiola in September 2016. Also, Chelsea have won five consecutive away top division matches for the first time since December 2021 under Thomas Tuchel. Jackson opened the scoring for Chelsea in the…
By Kayode John Enyimba have promised to make the country proud by securing a ticket to the CAF Confederations Cup group phase, when they take on Etoile Filante in the return leg of the second preliminary round on Sunday. Enyimba and Etoile Filante played out 0-0 draw in the first leg last week at the Stade Mamadou Konate in Mali. The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) outfit will host the Burkina Faso side at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, with the tie still open. “Hustle, sweat, repeat! Na this hustle we de! Enyimba FC training hard to make…
Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina, has hinted he could stay at Nottingham Forest beyond this season, amid reports the club are planning to offer him a fresh deal. Aina is having an impressive start to the 2023/2024 English Premier League season, starting all the matches for Forest so far. The Nigeria international was brilliant for club in their 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield last weekend. According to Nottingham Post on Friday, BBC Radio Nottinghamshire asked the versatile defender whether negotiations are ongoing between him and Forest following reports of an offer. “All I can say is I am really…
By Kayode John Rivers United will hope to stay unbeaten in these early stages of the season as they face a tough test away to Lobi Stars in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash on Saturday. Under new head coach, former Super Eagles boss Finidi George, Rivers United have managed one win and a draw in their first two NPFL matches so far. The Pride of Rivers played 0-0 against Bendel Insurance on matchday 1, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, and recorded a 3-1 victory over Heartland at home last week. Their hosts, Lobi Stars, will…
By Kayode John Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has suggested that Kevin de Bruyne could be fit for the club’s English Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday. De Bruyne did not return to the pitch for the second half of City’s 0-0 draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday in their first UEFA Champions League fixture of the season at the Etihad. The Belgium midfielder appeared to have suffered a groin injury, and there were fears he would miss Sunday’s high-profile clash. Guardiola had promised to provide an update on De Bruyne’s condition, and he did on Friday during his…
By Kayode John After making his debut in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday night, Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface, has recalled how he paid N30 to watch the competition back in Nigeria as a football fan. Boniface was in action for 62 minutes in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-0 win against Feyenoord at De Kuip in Holland. The 23-year-old, however, missed the opportunity of joining the exclusive list of Nigerians who marked their first game in the top European club competition with a goal. After the game, the Nigeria international expressed delight over how far he has come. “From paying 30…
Nigerian-British boxer, Anthony Joshua, has admitted that the pain he has experienced in his career has fuelled his desire to seek improvement. The 34-year-old two-time world heavyweight champion is facing 27-year-old Daniel Dubois in an International Boxing Federation world title fight at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Joshua is looking to join an elite group of fighters in becoming a three-time heavyweight champion in the all-British bout against the much younger Dubois. “I’ve worked hard and been through a lot of pain, and I’ve worked hard to get better,” he told BBC Sport after Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. “Hopefully those…
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi has hailed Ademola Lookman for his decision to switch his allegiance to Nigeria early. FIFA approved Lookman’s application to represent Nigeria in 2022, after playing for England’s U-19s, U-20s and U-21s respectively. He made his debut for the Super Eagles in March 2022, in the World Cup playoffs against the Black Stars of Ghana at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. “Players have to wait for a while before they decide to represent their African roots. I genuinely don’t think it should be that way,” Mikel said on beIN Sports in…