Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Nigerian footballer Gift Atulewa has died at the age of 38. The forward was a former youth international who represented Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005, when they reached the final, with Mikel Obi and Taye Taiwo also in the squad. The spokesperson for the Delta State Football Association, Azuka Chiemeka, confirmed Atulewa’s passing on Tuesday, stating that he died in the morning due to complications from high blood pressure. “We just buried the wife last month, that may have contributed to this development. He has blood pressure issues but he has…
Ecuador international Marco Angulo has died at the age of 22 following injuries sustained in a devastating car crash. Angulo is the third person to have died following the crash in Ecuador’s capital city Quito on October 7. Independiente Juniors footballer Roberto Cabezas Simisterra and Victor Charcopa Nazareno had died last month. Angulo had been rushed to hospital and underwent surgery to release pressure inside his head. He also sustained a lung contusion which required a chest tube. The footballer had been in a car which struck a metal structure on the Ruminahui highway in Quito at around 4.30am. Angulo had been playing…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Black Stars of Ghana have been severely depleted ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with eight players pulling out. Among the players who have withdrawn from the matches are Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams. Ghana, who are third in Group F and need to win both games to finish in the top two and qualfy, are away to Angola on Friday and home to Niger Republic next Monday. The other Black Stars players out of the matches due to injuries are <span;>Jonas Adjetey, Tariq Lamptey,…
English Premier League referee David Coote was suspended by the referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) on Monday pending a full investigation after a video circulated on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and former manager Juergen Klopp. The video allegedly shows Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and German Klopp, who left Anfield in May. The video has not been verified by Reuters, it is unclear when it was filmed or its authenticity. “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is…
Bendel Insurance and Plateau United have been heavily fined and punished by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for breaking the rules of the competition in matches over the weekend. Fans of both clubs attacked visiting teams and match officials during matches at the weekend, as Bendel Insurance were beaten 1-0 at home by Kano Pillars on Saturday and Plateau United drew 0-0 with visitng Enugu Rangers on Sunday. Some of sanctions include fines, playing behind closed doors and deduction of points. “Bendel Insurance have been charged for breaching the NPFL Frameworks and Rules during the course of their Matchday…
Jayson Tatum scored 31 points with 12 rebounds and six assists to help the visiting Boston Celtics overcome a 17-point deficit and defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-107 on Sunday. Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 18 points for the Celtics, who trailed 49-32 with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter. Pritchard made 5 of his 8 3-point attempts. Milwaukee scored 40 points in the first quarter, but was held to 38 points in the second half. The Bucks trailed by three late in the game, but Jrue Holiday made two free throws with 1:35 to play to extend…
Pedro Neto drilled in a fine equaliser as Chelsea and Arsenal both missed the chance to make up ground on English Premier League leaders Liverpool following an entertaining 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The result leaves the two teams on 19 points, nine adrift of top spot, and Arsenal without a win in their past five games in all competitions. The visitors opened the scoring when Gabriel Martinelli slammed the ball past Blues keeper Robert Sanchez at his near post after collecting a back-post cross from the returning Martin Odegaard. Chelsea’s leveller was deserved. Neto ran on to…
Edo Queens kicked off their debut campaign in the CAF Women’s Champions League with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Commercial Bank of Ethiopia on Sunday in Casablanca, Morocco, shortly after champions Mamelodi Sundowns were beaten. Emem Essien, Folashade Ijamilusi and Chukwuamaka Osigwe struck for the Nigerian representatives against the Ethiopians in a one-sided encounter. Edo Queens, who won the WAFU B title to qualify for the continental competition, got on the scoresheet early, with Essien netting in the fifth minute off an assist by Ijamilusi. The Nigerian side extended their lead 10 minutes after the break, with Ijamilusi, hat-trick heroine…
Manchester United signed off Ruud van Nistelrooy’s temporary stint in charge with a 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday as Ipswich stunned Tottenham 2-1 for their first English Premier League victory in 22 years. Third-placed Nottingham Forest’s fine run came to an end in a 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle. Ruben Amorim will be in charge for the first time when United return from the international break. But Van Nistelrooy was able to hand over the reins with a four-game unbeaten run since stepping up to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag. Bruno Fernandes marked his 250th United appearance in…
Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was once again the hero for Galatasaray on Sunday as they defeated Samsunspor 3-2 in the Turkish Super Lig. The Nigeria international, on loan from Napoli, struck twice, once in each half, to lead the champions past the resilient visitors. Osimhen got the home crowd off their feet early in the contest, heading home in the third minute off Lucas Torreira’s cross. Samsunspor were back level early in the second half, Olivier Ntcham scoring a penalty five minutes after the restart. Osimhen put Galatasaray back in front five minutes after the equaliser with…