Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John Super Falcons midfielder, Ngozi Okobi, has given birth to her first baby. Okobi confirmed the news in a post on X on Tuesday without mentioning the baby’s gender. “Congratulations to me, I am in my new season,” she wrote on the platform, adding hashtags #godbepraised #iamamother #newmom #NSPPD, and attaching pictures of herself when heavily pregnant. Okobi got married in December 2017, in Delta State, and the baby is coming almost seven years after that union. She rose through the ranks in the national team, representing Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and 2012…
By Kayode John Former Nigeria international, Joseph Yobo, is optimistic the Super Eagles can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles are having unusually poor performances in the race to reach the United States, Canada and Mexico in two years’ time. Nigeria have only three points from four matches, which leaves them in fifth place in a group of six teams, with only the group winners guaranteed a World Cup ticket. But Yobo, who represented Nigeria at three World Cups, believes the three-time African champions still have a chance to pick a ticket, with six matches…
By Kayode John Atalanta central defender, Berat Djimsiti, has revealed that players in the team advised Ademola Lookman to “stay calm”, amid speculations linking him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Lookman reportedly agreed personal terms with PSG in what looked like an imminent move to the Parc des Princes after Atalanta completed their pre-season. The Super Eagles forward requested to be left out of the squad for their opening game of the new Serie A season against Lecce and was also not included in the matchday squad at Torino. Djimsiti explained that the players never doubted the…
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has revealed that he could have joined Italian giants AC Milan, instead of Ajax Amsterdam, where he featured alongside his compatriot Tijjani Babangida. Oliseh moved to Ajax in 1997 from FC Koln in Germany and won the Eredivisie title with the Dutch club in the 1997/1998 season and back-to-back KNVB Cups. The former Super Eagles captain turned 50 last Saturday, and in a special publication by Ajax to celebrate him, he recalled his time at the club between 1997 and 1999. Oliseh revealed that the unique project presented to…
By Kayode John Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has said the club must replicate their performance in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday in their next game as they search for their first win of the 2024/2025 English Premier League season. Ndidi registered two assists in the Premier League encounter, first setting up veteran striker Jamie Vardy in the 21st minute to put Leicester ahead. He helped double the Foxes’ lead in the second half when he located Stephy Mavididi one minute after the restart. However, Leicester City blew their two-goal lead to share the…
By Kayode John Former Besiktas forward, Nihat Kahveci, has assured that Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will score a lot of goals for Galatasaray. Osimhen made his debut for Galatasaray in their 5-0 thrashing of Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday, after completing his loan move from Napoli before the international break. However, the 25-year-old could only register an assist in the game for the club’s second goal—with many expecting him to score. Kahveci has defended the Nigeria international, saying he did not get scoring opportunities in the game. “I didn’t see Osimhen as lacking in physicality. He…
Kayode John Four of the five Nigeria Premier Football League matches on Sunday ended in draws as Shooting Stars Sports Club, also known as 3SC, failed to earn their first victory of the campaign and Bayelsa United drew 1-1 at home to Kano Pillars. 3SC hosted the final match of the evening with a 1-1 draw against Plateau United at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Victor Dawa put the visitors in the lead in the 39th minute but Uche Onwuasonoya pulled the Oluyole Warriors level in first-half added time as they played their second draw in two matches. In…
Team Lagos has won three more medals in the swimming event at the 2024 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State. The state’s swimmer, Chioma Kanu, won gold in 50m girls’ freestyle while Sokunbi Tobi won gold in 200m boys’ individual medley. Ezumba Chidelu, another Team Lagos swimmer, earned silver in boys’ 200m swimming event. Also, Sunday Emmanuel added another bronze medal in weightlifting after a total lift of 111kg. Emmanuel, in the boys’ 49kg category, lifted 50kg in snatch and 61kg in clean and jerk, bringing the total lift to 111kg. Speaking after the medal presentation, an elated Emmanuel…
By Kayode John Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, scored the winning goal for Atalanta and also registered an assist in the club’s 3-2 win over Fiorentina in the Serie A on Sunday. Lookman, who was making his first league appearance of the season for Atalanta, got his side out of trouble after they went behind twice. Lucas Martinez Quarta put Fiorentina in the lead after 15 minutes at the Gewiss Stadium, but Lookman delivered an inch-perfect cross for Mateo Retegui to level up six minutes later. Former Juventus striker, Moise Kean, restored the visitors’ lead in the 32nd minute and…
By Nurudeen Obalola Arsenal continued their dominance over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Sunday with a 1-0 English Premier League victory. Gabriel scored the only goal of the feisty encounter with a second half header that silenced the home crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The victory is Arsenal’s third in a row at Tottenham, the first time since 1988 they have put together such a run. It was a bit of a smash-and-grab victory for Mikel Arteta’s side as they ceded 64 percent of the possession and looked to hit the hosts on the counter-attack. While…