Author: Nurudeen Obalola
By Kayode John Ahmed Musa has promised to deliver more goals for Kano Pillars in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) this season after his scoring twice to help the club to a 2-0 victory over Sunshine Stars on Sunday. Musa began his third stint at the club with a brace on matchday 5 of the 2024/2025 NPFL campaign after another return. He was close to bagging a hat-trick but his penalty hit the post. His outstanding performance ended Kano Pillars’ back-to-back defeats in the league. “Back in familiar colours, and it feels so good! Grateful to the entire backroom…
By Kayode John Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed he will return from injury after the international break. Osimhen sustained a thigh strain on September 28, during Galatasaray’s 3-3 draw against Kasımpaşa in the Super Lig at the RAMS Park. The 25-year-old watched from the stands on Sunday, as the club continued their unbeaten start to the 2024/2025 league season with a 1-0 win over Alanyaspor 1-0 at home. According to Fanatik, Osimhen said: “after the international break,” when asked about a possible return date. Osimhen has made an impressive impact at Galatasaray since joining on loan this summer.…
By Kayode John Former Atalanta coach Cesare Prandelli has drawn a comparison between Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman and Udinese legend Antonio Di Natale. Lookman has had a good time since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022, and last season registered a personal best 17 goals and 10 assists, including a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, to earn the club their first-ever European title at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen. He was subsequently named the club’s Player of the Year. The winger picked up a nomination for the 2024 Ballon d’Or as the only African on the…
By Kayode John Nigerian football icon Daniel Amokachi has been appointed by Nigeria Professional Football League club Lobi Stars as their new technical adviser. “In a major shakeup, the Board of Lobi Stars FC has officially relieved Coach Eugene Agagbe of his position as Chief Coach with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement on Sunday night. “This decision follows the Board’s review of Agagbe’s failure to meet a five-match win target, managing only one victory while losing three. “In a bold move, the Board has appointed former Super Eagles coach, Daniel Amokachi, as the new Technical Adviser of…
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa missed the chance to score a hat-trick upon his return to Kano Pillars for his third stint, but his two goals helped the club defeat Sunshine Stars 2-0 in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash on Sunday. Musa made the starting eleven days after the confirmation of his return to the club and put Pillars in the lead after just four minutes, doublling their advantage six minutes into the second half. He was denied his third goal by the post in the 70th minute after his penalty failed to go…
The Flying Eagles will have their final camping programme in Ikenne, Ogun State ahead of their participation at this year’s WAFU B U-20 Championship in Togo. The Nigeria Football Federation said on Sunday that the 2023 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists will camp at the high-grade Remo Sports Institute for a week before departing for Lome. The Nigeria U-20s will face Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire in a three-team Group B at the WAFU competition as they seek to defend the title they won in Niger Republic two years ago. Hosts Togo will battle Ghana, Benin Republic and Niger Republic in…
Galatasaray fans have been banned from wearing Victor Osimhen’s iconic mask to stadiums in Turkey on matchdays. Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli last summer and has enjoyed a bright start to life in Turkey. He immediately built a passionate connection with the fans, who besieged the airport to welcome him in the early hours of the day he flew in from Italy to complete his move in September. The club’s supporters in large numbers wear a replica of his face mask to match venues in league. But according to Fanatik, the club has informed the fans to leave…
By Nurudeen Obalola Manchester United played out a scrappy 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in their English Premier League clash at Villa Park on Saturday, while Super Eagles full-back Ola Aina helped Nottingham Forest to a 1-1 draw at in-form Chelsea. In a game of few chances and little fluidity, United had the better chances and more shots on target than the hosts, but they could not end a winless run that has now stretched to five matches in all competitions. In those five matches, four have been drawn, while the other one was a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home…
Malawian Godfrey Philip Nkhakananga has been named the centre referee for Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. The Confederation of African Football has also appointed Nkhakananga’s compatriots, Clemence Kanduku and Joseph Nyauti, as assistant referees 1 and 2 respectively, while Botswanan Keabetswe Dintwa will serve as fourth official for the Matchday 3 clash scheduled to kick off at 5pm. Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana will be the match commissioner, while Issaka Boubacar from Niger and Mayowa Akingbemisilu will be in the roles…
World number six Coco Gauff dominated unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova to win the China Open final 6-1 6-3 on Sunday and become the first player to win each of their first seven WTA hardcourt finals in the Open Era. Gauff fired off 24 winners in a strong performance to add the Beijing trophy to her win in the Auckland Classic this year and win the second WTA 1000 title of her career after her 2023 victory in Cincinnati, where she also beat Muchova in the final. Gauff, who improved her head-to-head record against Muchova to 3-0, has won eight of…