Author: Nurudeen Obalola

Super Eagles of Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards Best Men’s Player prize along with some illustrious names. The 27-year-old Atalanta star will vie with 32 others for the award, including legenday pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as well as Ballon d’Or holder Rodri. Others in contention include Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Lautaro Martinez, Lamine Yamal, Toni Kroos and Harry Kane, who all finished in the Ballon d’Or top 10. The annual Globe Soccer Awards ceremony is hosted by the Dubai Sports Council in the United…

CAF President Motsepe faces no opposition in re-election bid Dr Patrice Motsepe is set to cruise unopposed to a second term as Confederation of African Football president. The 62-year-old South African, as at Tuesday’s deadline for indicating interest, is the only canditate for president in the African football ruling body. No other person picked up nomination forms, giving the Mamelodi Sundowns owner a free run to retain the position. Motsepe, a billionaire businessman with interest in mining, took over from Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad in March 2021 and will now secure another four-year term. The elections will be held on March…

By Nurudeen Obalola Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong is looking forward to more success for the team when they face Benin Republic in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday. The Super Eagles defeated Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Cameroon at the same stadium during the 2023 AFCON in February as they reached the final. Although the three-time African champions suffered a shock defeat to Benin Republic at the same stadium in a World Cup qualifier earlier this year, Troost-Ekong expects a positive outcome on Thursday. “The stadium is a familiar one for us…

South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan has been arrested and charged with fraud after allegedly spending R1.3 million (about N129m) of the association’s money for his personal benefit. Jordaan and his two co-accused, SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and journalist-turned-businessman Trevor Neethling, are set to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Palm Ridge on Wednesday. Earlier, the Hawks confirmed that two executives and a businessman were expected to hand themselves over after arrest warrants were issued. In March this year, the Hawks raided SAFA’s offices in Nasrec, Johannesburg. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said it…

By Nurudeen Obalola There are 22 players in the Super Eagles camp in Abidjan, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, as they get set for Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic in the Ivorian city. Only Spain-based striker Sadiq Umar was being expected on Tuesday evening ahead of the Nigerian side’s first training session at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny. “We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday. It has been a particularly great atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive…

Nigerian footballer Gift Atulewa has died at the age of 38. The forward was a former youth international who represented Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005, when they reached the final, with Mikel Obi and Taye Taiwo also in the squad. The spokesperson for the Delta State Football Association, Azuka Chiemeka, confirmed Atulewa’s passing on Tuesday, stating that he died in the morning due to complications from high blood pressure. “We just buried the wife last month, that may have contributed to this development. He has blood pressure issues but he has…

Ecuador international Marco Angulo has died at the age of 22 following injuries sustained in a devastating car crash. Angulo is the third person to have died following the crash in Ecuador’s capital city Quito on October 7. Independiente Juniors footballer Roberto Cabezas Simisterra and Victor Charcopa Nazareno had died last month. Angulo had been rushed to hospital and underwent surgery to release pressure inside his head. He also sustained a lung contusion which required a chest tube. The footballer had been in a car which struck a metal structure on the Ruminahui highway in Quito at around 4.30am. Angulo had been playing…

By Nurudeen Obalola The Black Stars of Ghana have been severely depleted ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with eight players pulling out. Among the players who have withdrawn from the matches are Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams. Ghana, who are third in Group F and need to win both games to finish in the top two and qualfy, are away to Angola on Friday and home to Niger Republic next Monday. The other Black Stars players out of the matches due to injuries are <span;>Jonas Adjetey, Tariq Lamptey,…

English Premier League referee David Coote was suspended by the referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) on Monday pending a full investigation after a video circulated on social media showing the official allegedly abusing Liverpool and former manager Juergen Klopp. The video allegedly shows Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and German Klopp, who left Anfield in May. The video has not been verified by Reuters, it is unclear when it was filmed or its authenticity. “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is…

Bendel Insurance and Plateau United have been heavily fined and punished by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for breaking the rules of the competition in matches over the weekend. Fans of both clubs attacked visiting teams and match officials during matches at the weekend, as Bendel Insurance were beaten 1-0 at home by Kano Pillars on Saturday and Plateau United drew 0-0 with visitng Enugu Rangers on Sunday. Some of sanctions include fines, playing behind closed doors and deduction of points. “Bendel Insurance have been charged for breaching the NPFL Frameworks and Rules during the course of their Matchday…