Author: Nurudeen Obalola

Manchester United pulled off a late comeback to earn a dramatic and controversial 2-2 draw at Everton in their English Premier League clash at Goodison Park on Saturday. Everton’s resurgence under their returning manager David Moyes — formerly of Manchester United — looked set to continue as they took total control in the first half to earn a deserved 2-0 lead. They exposed every United flaw in that opening half, Beto turning in his fifth goal under Moyes in the 19th minute after Ruben Amorim’s side failed to clear the ball, before Abdoulaye Doucoure headed them two ahead in the…

Liverpool have set their sights on Atalanta’s Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman as a possible replacement for Luis Diaz. Lookman have been impressive for Atalanta since joining them in 2022, cementing his status after bagging a hat-trick in last season’s UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen. Unfortunately, things have gone south between the African Player of the Year and his coach Gianpiero Gasperini following a penalty miss against Club Brugge in midweek. After pulling a goal back for Atalanta, Lookman had the chance to make the score again in the UEFA Champions League clash but saw his penalty saved…

By Korede James Pep Guardiola has promised that his Manchester City side will give leaders Liverpool a tough time in Sunday’s English Premier League heavyweight clash at the Etihad Stadium. City got dumped out of the UEFA Champions League after losing to Real Madrid 3-1 in the play-off second leg thanks to a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick. The English champions’ attention is now focused on finishing in the top four of the Premier League,  which would secure a Champions League spot. “We can compete with any team. We have two central defenders out for two to three months. The Premier League…

By Korede James Nigeria’s D’Tigers defeated hosts Libya 75-70 in their first game of the second window of the  2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifying tournament in Tripoli on Friday night. Despite losing the opening two quarters, D’Tigers battled back to emerge victors. The Libyans led the first quarter by 15-14 and went into half-time up 35-32. The Nigerian team then bounced back and led 52-51 at the end of the third quarter and held on to win by five points. D’Tigers will be back on Saturday to take on Uganda. The Ugandans also got their qualifying campaign off to a bright…

By Korede James Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has passed Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi fit to play against Newcastle United on Sunday. Concussion protocols ruled Awoniyi out of last Saturday’s 2-1 English Premier League defeat at Fulham after he was involved in a nasty collision during Forests’ FA Cup win over Exeter City. The Nigeria international is expected to wear a protective mask at St James’ Park after he also suffered a broken nose in the fourth round tie against Exeter which he was on target. However, Awoniyi has now been given the green light to feature in…

By Korede James Manchester United will take on LaLiga outfit Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League round of 16, according to Friday’s draw. There are Nigerian interests in the round of 16 as Viktoria Plzen, with Rafiu Durosinmi, will face Lazio who have Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Rangers, the club of Super  Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun will battle Nigeria right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel’s Fenerbahce. Olympiacos, who signed Bruno Onyemaechi in the January transfer window, are up against Bodo/Glimt and it will be AS Roma against Athletic Bilbao. Other ties are FCSB against Lyon, AZ Alkmaar versus…

By Korede James Holders Real Madrid have been drawn against ity rivals Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. In another mouthwatering tie produced during Friday’s draw, English Premier League leaders Liverpool will take on Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. It will be an all-German affair as Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella’s Bayer Leverkusen will square off with Bayer Munich. Club Brugge, with Raphael Onyedika, will battle Aston Villa while it will be Barcelona vs Benfica. In other round of 16 ties, Borussia Dortmund will be up against Lille, Feyenoord will battle Inter Milan, and…

Daniel Dubois’ International Boxing Federation heavyweight showdown against Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia on Saturday is off, with the British champion having been taken ill and replaced by Martin Bakole. Dubois was set to put his title on the line for the first time since knocking out Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September when he was scheduled to take on New Zealander Parker in Riyadh. However, the 27-year-old Londoner was not able to attend the scheduled pre-fight press conference on Thursday, with promoter Frank Warren confirming Dubois’ health was being assessed. “Unfortunately at this moment in time Daniel is being…

By Korede James Viktoria Plzen head coach Miroslav Koubek has praised Nigerian forward Rafiu Durosinmi after his brace helped the Czech Republic club reach the UEFA Europa League round of 16. Going into Thursday’s second leg clash, Viktoria Plzen needed to overturn the 1-0 first leg deficit. Durosinmi broke the deadlock in the 27th minute to bring the aggregate scoreline to 1-1 before Pavel Sulc made it 2-0 with 10 minutes left in the first half. In the 38th minute  Durosinmi got his second goal and Viktoria Plzen’s third. “Rafiu is excellent in the penalty area. He has a goal…

By Korede James Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was on target for Galatasaray who were eliminated from this season’s UEFA Europa League after playing a 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar in their play-offs second leg clash in Turkey on Thursday. It was Osimhen’s sixth goal in seven Europa League appearances this term and also his 20th in 25 matches across all competitions. AZ Alkmaar qualified for the round of 16 6-3 on aggregate. It was a return to action in the Europa League for Osimhen who missed the first leg last Thursday due to suspension. Needing to overturn the 4-1…