Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Nigerian-British boxer, Anthony Joshua, has admitted that the pain he has experienced in his career has fuelled his desire to seek improvement. The 34-year-old two-time world heavyweight champion is facing 27-year-old Daniel Dubois in an International Boxing Federation world title fight at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Joshua is looking to join an elite group of fighters in becoming a three-time heavyweight champion in the all-British bout against the much younger Dubois. “I’ve worked hard and been through a lot of pain, and I’ve worked hard to get better,” he told BBC Sport after Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. “Hopefully those…
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi has hailed Ademola Lookman for his decision to switch his allegiance to Nigeria early. FIFA approved Lookman’s application to represent Nigeria in 2022, after playing for England’s U-19s, U-20s and U-21s respectively. He made his debut for the Super Eagles in March 2022, in the World Cup playoffs against the Black Stars of Ghana at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. “Players have to wait for a while before they decide to represent their African roots. I genuinely don’t think it should be that way,” Mikel said on beIN Sports in…
Nigerian striker, George Ilenikhena, scored a historic goal for Monaco as they produced a 2-1 UEFA Champions League upset victory over 10-man Barcelona at Stade Louis II on Thursday night. The 18-year-old substitute raced on to Vanderson’s long ball over the top of the defence in the 71st minute and blasted his shot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Consequently, he broke the record previously held by Kylian Mbappé, who was Monaco’s youngest scorer in the UEFA Champions League. Mbappe scored in a match against Manchester City in 2017 at the age of 18 years and 63 days. Man-of-the-match Ilenikhena, who also…
Nottingham Forest are ready to offer Super Eagles full-back Ola Aina a new contract, according to reports. Forest triggered the optional 12-month extension in his contract in the summer to keep him at the club for this campaign, following an impressive debut season. However, it is now being reported that the Reds want to tie him down to a longer contract at the City Ground, after a brilliant start to the 2024/2025 Premier League season. Aina has started all of Forest’s opening four matches in the top flight this term, helping the club to an unbeaten start so far. The…
The Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Lagos SWAN) has expressed deep shock and sadness following the death of one of its members, Adeyinka Adebayo, the head of sports desk at Eko FM/Radio Lagos until his death. “The news of his death as announced on Tuesday night, has left the association and the wider sports journalism community in shock and mourning,” the association said in a statement on Wednesday issued by its acting secretary Oni Afolabi. “Until his passing, Adeyinka Adebayo was a Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Information and an unwavering member of…
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona, believes interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has what it takes to lead the national team as the substantive coach. Eguavoen took charge of the Super Eagles for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against the Republic of Benin and Rwanda. Nigeria recorded a 3-0 victory over the Cheetahs at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, but the team was forced to a 0-0 draw by the Amavubi in Kigali. The assertion by Oboabona, who won the 2013 AFCON with the Super Eagles in South Africa, comes hours after the…
Former Arsenal striker, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, has been charged in connection with an alleged attempt to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through Stansted Airport. The 33-year-old, who currently plays for Scottish Championship club, Greenock Morton, was arrested by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers on Wednesday in Gourock, Inverclyde, and risks 14 years behind bars. According to The Telegraph, Emmanuel-Thomas, who also played for Ipswich Town, Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City before moving to Scotland, was detained and questioned by officers, and has been remanded in custody ahead of an expected court appearance on Thursday. Emmanuel-Thomas played for Arsenal and England at youth…
Coco Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert after more than a year and one Grand Slam title together, the pair announced on Wednesday via separate messages on social media. The end of their partnership comes just over two weeks after Gauff’s defence of her 2023 championship at the US Open unravelled amid 19 double-faults during a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Emma Navarro in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. That September 1 loss was the latest in a series of disappointing-for-her results in recent months for Gauff, a 20-year-old American who recently dropped from No.3 to No.6 in the…
By Kayode John Host Delta has emerged as the overall winner of the 8th National Youth Games tagged Asaba 2024. The state won the Games with 41 gold, 27 silver and 30 bronze, totalling 98 medals. Lagos finished second in the table with a total medal haul of 62, comprising 25 gold, 19 silver, and 18 bronze respectively. Edo State placed third with 17 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze medals to pick up a total of 53 medals. Bayelsa finished in fourth place with 14 gold, 17 silver and 21 bronze for a total haul of 52 medals at…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles of Nigeria did not move up or down from their previous position in the latest global FIFA ranking released on Thursday. Despite beating Benin Republic and drawing with Rwanda in their two matches of the last international window, Nigeria have kept their 39th position from the last ranking in July. The Super Eagles had a slight adjustment in their ranking points, though, dropping from 1,499 to 1,498. They are, however, out of Africa’s top five spots, their place taken by Tunisia, who rose from 41st in the world to 36th, after improving their points…