Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Manchester City have reportedly rejected a request from Manchester United for Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo to join their stars on the club’s chartered flight to Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. United pair Mainoo and Garnacho are nominated for the Kopa Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in the world aged under 21. The current holder of the trophy is Jude Bellingham, who left Borussia Dortmund for Real Madrid last summer. Mainoo and Garnacho had superb individual seasons despite the Old Trafford club’s notable struggles. The Red Devils did win the FA Cup with a shock victory over Manchester…
Newly appointed National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko, has promised to take the right steps to take Nigerian sports to new heights. Dikko made the pledge after a closed-door meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the immediate past Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, on Friday in Abuja. “The meeting is part of early groundwork to establish a robust framework aimed at transforming Nigeria’s sports landscape into a sustainable sports economy,” Dikko said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. He stressed the need for all stakeholders to rally behind the NSC so…
By Kayode John Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has revealed that players in the national team, particularly Victor Osimhen, aided his integration into the national team by showing him warmth and ensuring he speaks Yoruba language. Born to Nigerian parents from the Yoruba-speaking South West in Wandsworth, England, Lookman switched his allegiance to the African country in 2022 after representing his nation of birth at U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels respectively. Since making his debut during the play-offs of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 27-year-old has been brilliant for the three-time African champions. He cited the friendly atmosphere as…
Arsenal will host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the season. However, they are in the midst of an injury crisis with several key defenders unavailable for the match. William Saliba is suspended, and now Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt through injury. Diogo Jota will not feature after Arne Slot confirmed that he is injured. Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the fitness of Calafiori, Bukayo Saka and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber ahead of their Premier League match with Liverpool on Sunday. He revealed that they are all doubts, but…
By Kayode John Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel remains uncertain about his future at Fenerbahce, while talks reportedly continue with the club about a contract extension. The Nigeria international was impressive in Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, featuring for 62 minutes before limping off with an apparent injury. In a video posted by Fanatik on Friday, Osayi-Samuel was asked by a reporter as he walked out of the stadium if he would be wearing the colours of the club next season. “I don’t know, it’s not up to me,” he replied.…
By Kayode John An official of the Libyan Football Federation has threatened a lawsuit against Tunisian pilot Abdellatif Merchergui over his damning testimony to the disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football, regarding the Libya-Nigeria fiasco in the recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Merchergui was the pilot of the ValueJet plane which the Super Eagles flew in to Libya for the return leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header in Benghazi on October 13. However, the Libyan authorities redirected the plane to a remote airport in Al Abraq, about three hours drive from…
Former England international Glen Johnson has urged Chelsea to go all out to sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen. Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli in the summer after he failed to secure a permanent move from the Italian club. The 25-year-old was linked with Chelsea and Al Ahli in the later part of the transfer window but neither of the clubs were able to reach an agreement with the Italian club on a fee. The Premier League club are reportedly still interested in signing the reigning African Player of the Year and monitoring his progress at Galatasaray. Johnson,…
Paris Saint-Germain will refuse to comply with an order by the league to pay Kylian Mbappe 55 million euros ($59.5 million) in back pay, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday. A French league appeals committee has attempted to mediate in the increasingly bitter row between Real Madrid forward Mbappe and the club he left this year. Mbappe has demanded the figure which he says is made up of the final three months of his salary plus several bonuses. But Qatar-owned PSG argue that the 25-year-old had agreed to waive the sum in August 2023. With PSG…
By Kayode John Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru provided an assist in Lazio’s 2-0 victory over FC Twente in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, to make it two assists and one goal for him in three matches in the competition. The 23-year-old Nigeria international featured in the game for 90 minutes and set up Gustav Isaksen for the club’s second goal in the 87th minute. Hosts Twente were reduced to 10 men after just 11 minutes into the game when goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall was given his marching orders for bringing down Boulaye Dia. Nigeria defender Bright Osayi-Samuel impressed…
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria recovered from a goal down to beat Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in Lome, Togo on Thursday to advance to the semi-finals of this year’s WAFU B U-20 Championship. Burkina Faso’s Young Etalons were therefore eliminated on inferior goals scored against those of the Flying Eagles and the Young Elephants. Nigeria scored two goals and conceded two, same for the Ivorians, with all three teams in Group B finishing with three points each. The Burkinabes scored one and conceded one, in beating Nigeria and losing to the Ivorians by the same 1-0 score. Victory handed Aliyu Zubair’s…