Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Korede James Police have clarified that Nigerian forward Abubakar Lawal, who played for Uganda Premier League side Vipers Sports Club, died after falling from a building, and not in a traffic accident as earlier reported. This is according to a statement by the Uganda Police (via independent.co.ug). There were reports on Monday that the 29-year-old, who joined Vipers from Rwanda Premier League side AS Kigali in 2022, died in a traffic accident. It was reported that the former Kano Pillars, Wikki Tourist and Nasarawa United player was on his way to training when the accident happened. However, the Police…
By Korede James Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club Lobi Stars have appointed Mohammed Baba Ganaru as interim head coach to replace former Super Eagles striker Daniel Amokachi. The experienced Ganaru, who has handled several NPFL club, will take charge until the end of the season. “Lobi Stars have appointed Mohammed Baba Ganaru as head coach in interim capacity until the end of the season,” NPFL announced on Monday. “He replaces Daniel Amokachi who left the role last week.” Amokachi had reportedly first quit his position in December, a claim that was later dismissed by the club. Ganaru would have…
By Korede James Former Kano Pillars forward Abubakar Lawal, who played for Uganda Premier League club Vipers Sports Club, died in a traffic accident in Uganda on Monday. The 29-year-old Nigerian, who also featured for Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United, was reportedly heading to Vipers’ training ground at St. Mary’s Stadium in Entebbe, Central Region of Uganda, but got involved in a crash on Entebbe Road that claimed his life. Abdul Wasike, the Vipers SC head of communications confirmed to Xinhua about the sad news on Monday. “It is a sad day as we communicate the death of our player…
By Korede James Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has been included in the unofficial Ligue 1 Team of the Week compiled by football facts and statistics website whoscored.com. Simon is one of two Nantes players who made the team released on Monday. The Nigeria international is placed on the left of a three-man forward in a 4-1-2-3 formation for the best XI. The 29-year-old Simon was on target for Nantes in their 3-1 home win against Lens in a league match on Sunday. He converted a 60th minute penalty to put Nantes 3-1 ahead as they gave their fight against…
By Korede James Former Turkish international Tümer Metin has identified Black Stars of Ghana defender Alexander Djiku as the player Fenerbahce should assign to stop Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in Monday’s Super Lig derby with Galatasaray. Osimhen has been in superb scoring form since his loan move to Galatasaray, scoring 14 goals in 18 league games and 20 goals in all competitions this season, including four goals in his last five appearances. Metin, who starred in midfield for Fenerbahce in his playing days, named Djiku as the ideal player to neutralize the threat that would be posed by Osimhen.…
An awkward moment in the Sky Sports studio on Sunday saw Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge check former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher after he appeared to disregard the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The trio were analysing Liverpool’s impressive 2-0 win away to Manchester City in which Mohamed Salah scored one goal and set up another. That took him to 30 goals and 21 assists in all competitions this season, on course for his best campaign in a Liverpool shirt as the Reds moved 11 points clear at the top of the English Premier League table. Salah, 32,…
By Korede James Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman put behind him his issues with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to score twice in Atalanta’s 5-0 win at Empoli in Serie A on Sunday night. Lookman’s clash with Gasperini dominated headlines in the past few days following his penalty miss against Club Brugge in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash. The Italian tactician slammed the Nigeria international for the miss during his post-match presser, a statement Lookman described as disrespectful. Atalanta lost the second leg play-off encounter 3-1 and crashed out of the competition 5-2 on aggregate. But all that was cast…
By Korede James Nigeria’s D’Tigers defeated Cape Verde 77-62 in their final Group B game at the second window of the FIBA Men’s AfroBasket qualifying tournament in Tripoli, Libya on Sunday. The result means the D’Tigers have qualified for the 2025 AfroBasket tournament in Angola. It is D’Tigers’ third win in the group after overcoming Libya and Uganda in their opening two games. They finished top of the group on nine points after three games while Cape Verde are second. Other teams who have already booked their place at this year’s edition are DR Congo, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt,…
Mohamed Salah played a pivotal role as Liverpool cemented their position at the top of this season’s English Premier League, extending their lead to 11 points with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Manchester City on Sunday. The leaders had already been given a massive boost in the title race when Arsenal lost 1-0 at home to West Ham on Saturday before moving into what looks like an unassailable position with a superb display against the fallen reigning champions. Liverpool went ahead at the Etihad Stadium with a brilliant corner routine after 14 minutes, Salah scoring his 30th goal of the…
By Korede James Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ralph Onyedika and Semi Ajayi have emerged as injury doubts for the Super Eagles ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March. Dele-Bashiru suffered an ankle injury in Lazio’s 0-0 draw with Venezia in Serie A on Saturday, the 24-year-old midfielder spraining his ankle in a coming together with Alessio Zerbin. The Nigeria international tried to run it off and even took a shot which made it worse, before he was carried off by two members of medical staff with five minutes left in the first half. Speaking after…