Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Iga Swiatek booked her second Australian Open semi-final with another spectacular display on Wednesday while Americans reached the last four of the men’s and women’s singles at Melbourne Park for the first time in 16 years. Defending champion Jannik Sinner was also at his impressive best as he dismantled local favourite Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 for his 10th victory over the eighth seed in as many matches and returned to the last four at Melbourne Park. Polish world number two Swiatek mowed down eighth seed Emma Navarro 6-1, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena and faces another American in…
By Korede James Although they lost to South Africa in their final Group C fixture on Wednesday, Nigeria have qualified for the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Super Six round. The Nigerian Junior Yellow Greens, who had made history by beating New Zealand dsys before, lost to South Africa by 41 runs in Malaysia on Wednesday. However, the team finished second with three points to advance to the next round. South Africa topped the group with six points after recording their third win, while New Zealand also advanced after beating Samoa. In the Super Six, Group 2, Nigeria will…
By Korede James Spanish women’s second division club Deportivo La Coruna Abanca have signed Super Falcons of Nigeria forward Blessing Nkor. Deportivo, also known as Deportivo Abanca, announced the signing of the 21-year-old on their website on Tuesday. “Dépor ABANCA strengthens its offensive part with the arrival until the end of the season of Blessing Nkor,” the club stated. “She arrived from Pyramids FC and in the 2023/2024 season played in Turkey’s top flight with Gaziantep Asya Spor, where she scored 12 goals. “An international with Nigeria in the youth categories, she made her debut last November with the senior…
By Korede James Victor Osimhen has said Galatasaray deserved more from their UEFA Europa League tie with Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday. The Super Eagles striker was on target but Galatasaray surrendered a 3-1 lead at home to draw 3-3 with Dynamo Kyiv. Osimhen scored from the penalty spot to put the Turkish giants 3-1 before a brace from Andriy Yarmolenko drew the Ukrainian’s level. “We are disappointed. We thought we deserved more,” Osimhen, who is on loan from Napoli, told the Galatasaray website. “We need to take responsibility as a team. I think we all made mistakes. They also fought…
By Korede James Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman scored and also provided an assist on Tuesday night as Atalanta thrashed Sturm Graz 5-0 to boost their chances of progressing into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League. Current African Player of the Year Lookman came on at the start of the second half and got Atalanta’s fourth goal in the 90th minute. The Nigeria international then provided the assist for the fifth goal scored by Marco Breschianini in the 94th minute. Other scorers for Atalanta were Mateo Retegui, Mario Pasalic and Charles De Ketelaere. Atalanta are now fourth on…
By Korede James Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was on target for Galatasaray who were held to a 3-3 draw in Turkey by Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Europa League on Tuesday. Osimhen has now scored in back-to-back matches for the Turkish champions. He netted in his side’s 1-1 draw with Hatayspor in the league last week Friday. His goal against Dynamo Kyiv was his fourth in five games in the Europa League this season. The 26-year-old has taken his tally in all competitions this campaign to 15 goals in 19 appearances. Davinson Sanchez and Abdulkerim Bardakci scored on six…
Manchester City have announced the signing of Vitor Reis from Brazilian club Palmeiras. The English Premier League champions confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the 19-year-old Brazilian youth international moved to the Etihad Stadium on a four-and-a-half-year deal, keeping him at City until the summer of 2029. “A classy centre-back and regular captain on his journey through Palmeiras’ youth ranks, Reis made his senior debut in June 2024 and went on to be a key part of the team as they finished runners-up in the Brazilian Serie A,” City stated. “He played 22 times for his boyhood club, including…
Ten-time champion Novak Djokovic came from a set down to beat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and reach a 12th Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday. The 37-year-old 24-time Grand Slam men’s singles winner has now reached a remarkable 50 Major semi-finals, and will face No.2 Alexander Zverev on Friday. Zverev, a two-time runner-up at majors, beat No. 12 Tommy Paul 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 to reach the last four. The other men’s quarterfinals are on Wednesday, with No.1 Jannik Sinner battling No.8 Alex de Minaur, and No.21 Ben Shelton up against unseeded Lorenzo Sonego. This was the eighth Djokovic…
By Korede James Premier League club Brentford are closing in on a deal with Fiorentina for their Italy-born Nigerian defender Michael Kayode, according to European transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The report on Tuesday added that negotiations at final stages after Kayode gave his green light, with key details being sorted out by the club’s. Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino decided to leave Kayode out of the squad for their Serie A clash against Torino on Sunday reportedly due to the impending Brentford move. The 20-year-old was one of Fiorentina’s revelations last season when he made 26 Serie A appearances. Unfortunately, he…
By Korede James Leon Balogun has clarified that he has not retired from international football and remains open to a Super Eagles call-up. The Rangers of Scotland defender told Brila FM that an injury he sustained between November 2022 and March 2023 prevented him from honouring Nigeria call-ups. Balogun, 36, said the injury, which was initially expected to heal within weeks, took much longer due to complications with his recovery. His absence since then has fueled talk of retirement from international football. But Balogun has come out to address his injury issues and his absence from the Super Eagles. “It’s…