Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has nominated Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman for the best footballer award in the world in 2024. Osimhen and Lookman will battle Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, Harry Kane, Rodri and 24 others for the award. The Nigerian duo are the only two Africans on the list of 30 players released on Tuesday. Lookman has had an incredible year for both club and country. He scored 17 goals for Atalanta last season, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final of…
By Kayode John Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe has given an assurance that the body is looking thoroughly into the treatment of the Super Eagles team in Libya last week and will take action soon. The Nigerian contigent had flown to the North African country for the return leg of the matchday 3 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but were subjected to inhumane treatment by the Libyan authorities over claims that their players were also mistreated in Nigeria in the first leg days earlier. The plane conveying the Nigerian contingent was first diverted from Benghazi, venue…
By Kayode John Victor Osimhen’s overhead kick goal for Galatasaray against Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday has been ranked as one of two overhead kick goals in world football history to exceed 2.30 metres in height. According to Turkish newspaper, NTV, Osimhen’s stunning goal at the Corendon Airlines Park Antalya Stadı over the weekend in Galatasaray’s 3-0 win came from a height of 2.32 metres to rank second to Cristiano Ronaldo’s overhead kick effort from a height of 2.38 metres for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash against Juventus in 2018. The Super Eagles…
By Kayode John Ikorodu City recorded their second win in three Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matches and inflicted the first defeat on Lobi Stars under Daniel Amokachi in their matchday 8 fixture on Monday with a 4-2 victory. Going into the clash, Amokachi was searching for his first win since his appointment, having recorded back-to-back draws. Salau Yusuf put the hosts into the lead after just two minutes at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. Ikorodu City doubled their lead in the 19th minute through Emmanuel Solomon, but the visitors fought back in the first half with two goals…
By Kayode John Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen says he had been longing to score a goal from an overhead kick for years. Osimhen scored a stunning goal in Galatasaray’s 3-0 victory against Antalyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig over the weekend, on his return from injury. The 25-year-old had been out with a muscle problem he picked up in the club’s 3-3 draw with Kasimpasa in the league on September 28. But he came on to replace Mauro Icardi in the 78th minute of the win to put the cherry on the icing for his team. “I wanted to…
By Kayode John Sevilla have confirmed that Super Eagles forward Chidera Ejuke has suffered a hamstring injury. Ejuke was replaced at half-time of the club’s 5-1 defeat to Barcelona in LaLiga on Sunday night. Speaking after the game, Sevilla coach García Pimienta confirmed the news about the Nigeria international. “Ejuke is injured, he has felt a twinge in his hamstring and we will see how long it lasts,” he said at the post-match press conference. The 26-year-old won the Sevilla Player of the Month award for September after impressive performances, including scoring the winner in the 2-1 victory over Real…
By Kayode John Remo Stars returned to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table on Sunday after their 1-0 win over Bendel Insurance in Ikenne. Dela Akorli’s goal in the 43rd of the game helped preserve the club’s 100 percent win rate in their home matches this season as they took their points tally to 18, one more than Rivers United, who have a tricky trip to Niger Tornadoes on Monday. Bayelsa United, handled by former Flying Eagles coach Ladan Bosso, recorded their second win of the season by edging out Emmanuel Amuneke’s Heartland 1-0 at the…
Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has named a mixed squad for two friendly matches against Algeria this month in Lagos. The coach, who has replaced Randy Waldrum, has included Spain-based captain Rasheedat Ajibade, France-based goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Turkey-based Tosin Demehin to the largely home-based squad of 25 players. The matches are scheduled for the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island this Saturday and Tuesday next week. It is the first time that the Super Falcons are playing international friendly matches on home soil since the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament which was held at the same venue three years ago.…
Liverpool returned to the top of the English Premier League with victory over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday as manager Arne Slot’s outstanding start continued. The Dutchman is the first Liverpool boss to win 10 of his first 11 games, this latest triumph sending them a point clear of Manchester City following the champions’ dramatic stoppage-time victory at Wolves earlier. Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead from the spot after 29 minutes following Levi Colwill’s foul on Curtis Jones, though a second penalty awarded on the stroke of half-time for Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s block on the same player was overturned by the…
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has expressed gratitude to God after revealing that he survived a road accident on Saturday night. The Nigeria international was on target for his club Bayer Leverkusen in their 2-1 Bundesliga victory over Eintracht Frankfurt but the night could have ended differently. The 23-year-old shared on Instagram a short video of a wrecked car, apparently the one he was travelling in, and captioned it ‘God is the greatest’. Boniface then shared a picture of himself in hospital, writing on it ‘Na so una for hear say my enemy don die’ in his usual cheeky online…