Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Korede James Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has been voted the best player in Southampton’s 2-1 win against Ipswich Town in the English Premier League on Saturday, according to an official poll on the league’s website. The 28-year-old Nigeria international put Southampton 1-0 ahead in the 21st minute of the clash, taking his tally in the league this season to three. His Nigerian teammate Paul Onuachu scored the winning goal in the 87th minute. After votes by fans, the Premier League announced Aribo as the Man of the Match after he polled 36.8 percent to finish ahead of nine…
By Nurudeen Obalola Nigerian striker Chuba Akpom has completed his loan switch from Ajax Amsterdam to Lille, the French club have confirmed. “A new offensive asset joins the Dogues squad! The versatile striker, Chuba Akpom (29 years old), signed today with LOSC on loan (with option to buy) until the end of the 2024-2025 season. He arrives from Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands),” the former club of Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama stated on Sunday. Born in London to Nigerian parents 29 years ago, Akpom began his football career at the Arsenal Academy at the age of six, signing his first professional…
By Nurudeen Obalola Manchester United have sealed the signing of Patrick Dorgu from Serie A club Lecce. The left-back joins the Red Devils for a reported £25 million transfer fee and £4m in add-ons. “Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Patrick Dorgu has joined the club, subject to visa and registration,” the club stated on Sunday. “The Denmark international has signed a contract until June 2030, with the option of an additional year.” “Dorgu, 20, has played 57 games for Lecce, contributing five goals already. The versatile defender has enjoyed an excellent season so far, having won the second-most…
Marcus Rashford is due to have a medical at Aston Villa on Sunday as he closes in on completing his loan move from Manchester United, according to Daily Mail. The English outlet reported that the deal will be an initial loan until the end of the season but it will also include an option for Aston Villa to sign Rashford permanently for a pre-agreed fee, which is understood to be £40 million. Various outlets have also claimed that Rashford, 27, has already agreed personal terms with Villa for the duration of the loan. The 60-cap England international is reported to…
By Korede James Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong was on target for Al Kholood in their 4-3 away loss to Al Ittihad in the Saudi Professional League on Saturday night. It was the Nigeria centre-back’s second goal in 18 games in the league this season. Troost-Ekong, the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, gave Al Kholood the lead on 15 minutes and they went 2-0 up eight minutes later thanks to Myziane Maolida. Al Ittihad reduced the deficit with 10 minutes left in the first half through Abdultahman Al-Oboud and former Tottenham Hotspur forward Steven Bergwijn…
Israel Adesanya fell to his third straight loss in the mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on Saturday night against Nassourdine Imavov. The former middleweight champion was sent tumbling to the canvas by a huge right hand and then finished on the floor by some heavy ground and pound midway through the second round Adesanya, the 35-year-old Nigerian-New Zealander, had put his demons to bed in April 2023 by knocking out Alex Pereira at the fourth time of asking to regain the UFC middleweight strap before Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis handed him back-to-back defeats. Heading into his fight with Imamov he needed…
By Korede James Remo Stars defeated Sunshine Stars 2-1 in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday 22 fixture on Saturday. League leaders Remo Stars are nine points clear of second-placed Shooting Stars in the table with the Oluyole Warriors having played two games fewer. Although Sunshine Stars were the home team, the match was played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, the Akure-based temporary home ground, with the Akure Township Stadium not fit to stage NPFL fixtures. The coach Daniel Ogunmodede-led Remo Stars have now won five consecutive NPFL matches. Remo raced to a 2-0 first half lead…
By Korede James Super Eagles stars Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu got the goals that earned struggling Southampton a 2-1 win at Ipswich in Saturday’s English Premier League clash. It was Aribo’s third goal in 23 league appearances while Onuachu bagged his second in 14 games in the English top flight this season. Southampton went into the game on the back of six straight league defeats but took the lead through Aribo in the 21st minute before Liam Delap equalised for Ipswich 10 minutes later. With three minutes left of regulation time, Onuachu struck what proved to be the winner…
Super Eagles pair Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi were involved on Saturday as Nottingham Forest thrashed Brighton 7-0 in their English Premier League clash at the City Ground. While wing-back Aina was as usual in the Forest starting line-up, Awoniyi was a late substitute for hat-trick hero Chris Wood. The huge win was an emphatic response from Nottingham Forest, who were trounced 5-0 at Bournemouth last weekend. The loss at Vitality Stadium was Forest’s first since early December but they were back to winning ways in front of their own supporters on Saturday, registering their biggest-ever Premier League victory against…
By Korede James Manchester United have completed the signing of young defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal on a four-and-a-half-year contract. The Red Devils confirmed the signing in a statement on Saturday, with Heaven to join the senior squad. “Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Ayden Heaven has joined the club,” the club stated. “The 18-year-old centre-back made his Arsenal debut earlier this season and has featured for England up to Under-19s level. “Heaven has signed a contract until June 2029, with the option of an additional year, and he will immediately join United’s first-team squad.” Speaking after completing his…