Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Nurudeen Obalola Nigeria’s Edo Queens have been drawn in the same group as the defending champions, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, in the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League. The draw for the competiton was held in Morocco on Friday, with the North African country also scheduled to host the tournament. First-timers Edo Queens and two-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns are in Group B with Tutankhamun (Egypt) and CBE FC (Ethiopia), who are both debutants. Hosts and 2022 champions ASFAR of Morocco lead Group A, where they will face TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal) and University…
By Kayode John German coach Bruno Labbadia has explained the main reason why he turned down the opportunity to become the Super Eagles head coach. On August 27, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the appointment of Labbadia as the new Super Eagles coach, in preparation for the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after Finidi George’s resignation. However, the deal collapsed four days later, and the NFF blamed “tax details” for scuppering its plan to appoint the former Bayern Munich striker. But according to Bild, the 58-year-old in an interview with Martin Harnik on his…
By Kayode John Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has revealed that Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi trained on Wednesday after the ordeal in Libya. The Nigeria national team travelled on Sunday to Libya for the return leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match which was due to hold in Benghazi. However, as it was preparing to land, their flight was diverted from the venue of the game to Al Abraq airport, a distance of around 150 miles. The team was held up at the airport for over 18 hours without food, water and internet. The Super…
By Kayode John Rivers United returned to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Thursday, following their 2-0 victory over Shooting Stars at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. Aniekeme Okon put the hosts ahead in the 50th minute before Ndifreke Effiong sealed the win 15 minutes later to ensure Finidi George’s side retain their unbeaten run this campaign. The defeat, their third in the campaign, leaves Oluyole Warriors 16th in the table. Bendel Insurance snapped a three-game winless run to thrash Bayelsa United 3-0 in Benin City, also on Thursday. Kayode Solomon put the home…
By Kayode John Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has insisted that he is not in Galatasaray to chase individual glory but to help the club achieve their goals this season. Osimhen is on loan from Napoli after his intended permanent move to either Chelsea or Al-Ahli from the Italian club fell through on the deadline day of the summer transfer window. He has started life in Turkey brightly, scoring two goals and registering four assists in four games. Osimhen is behind in the scorers chart in the Super Lig, with Ciro Immobile leading withvseven goals, followed by Edin Dzeko, Krzysztof…
By Kayode John The Minister of Sports Development John Enoh has said the Federal Government is still seeking answers from Libyan authorities over why the Nigerian team was put through a traumatic experience in their country after arriving there for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying game last Sunday. After winning the first leg 1-0 in Uyo last Friday, the ValueJet airline conveying the Nigerian team which comprised Super Eagles players, coaches and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for the return leg, was diverted from Benghazi, venue of the game, to Al Abraq airport. They were…
By Kayode John Former Technical Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Green, has criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for not sanctioning Libya before referring the inhumane treatment of Super Eagles players and officials to its disciplinary committee for investigation. The flight conveying the Nigerian team was diverted from Benghazi, where the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier was meant to hold, to a local airport in Al Abraq on Sunday, despite getting an earlier approval to land. The Super Eagles were locked up at the airport for more than 18…
By Kayode John Scans at AC Milan have revealed Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze did not sustain any serious injury while on national team assignment in Nigeria. Chukwueze was among the 23 players invited for this month’s back-to-back 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Libya. The winger came from the bench in Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over the North Africans at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo last Friday. According to Sempremilan, the 25-year-old returned to Italy early from international duty due to fears that he had sustained a hamstring injury. The publication said Milan were worried as…
By Nurudeen Obalola Nigeria’s Flamingos eased to a 4-1 victory over New Zealand on Wednesday night in the first match of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. Shakirat Moshood, Taiwo Adegoke, Faridat Abdulwahab and Taiwo Afolabi struck for the Flamingos before Hannah Saxon pulled one back for New Zealand. Moshood got the Nigerian girls on their way with one of the fastest goals ever in the competition, slotting home inside the first 80 seconds at the CFC Stadium. Defender Adegoke doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 13th minute as her long-range shot was…
By Kayode John Ahmed Musa starred for Kano Pillars again as they defeated Rangers 4-3 in Enugu on Wednesday, the Super Eagles forward having a hand in all of his side’s four goals. The former Leicester City star scored one of the goals, assisted another and won two penalties as Pillars took a 4-0 lead in the first half at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. Musa scored his third goal in three league matches this season with a strike in the 45th minute, with Rabiu Ali netting a brace from the penalty spot and Zulkifilu Rabiu scoring the other goal. Rangers…