Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Former Arsenal striker, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, has been charged in connection with an alleged attempt to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through Stansted Airport. The 33-year-old, who currently plays for Scottish Championship club, Greenock Morton, was arrested by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers on Wednesday in Gourock, Inverclyde, and risks 14 years behind bars. According to The Telegraph, Emmanuel-Thomas, who also played for Ipswich Town, Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City before moving to Scotland, was detained and questioned by officers, and has been remanded in custody ahead of an expected court appearance on Thursday. Emmanuel-Thomas played for Arsenal and England at youth…
Coco Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert after more than a year and one Grand Slam title together, the pair announced on Wednesday via separate messages on social media. The end of their partnership comes just over two weeks after Gauff’s defence of her 2023 championship at the US Open unravelled amid 19 double-faults during a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Emma Navarro in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. That September 1 loss was the latest in a series of disappointing-for-her results in recent months for Gauff, a 20-year-old American who recently dropped from No.3 to No.6 in the…
By Kayode John Host Delta has emerged as the overall winner of the 8th National Youth Games tagged Asaba 2024. The state won the Games with 41 gold, 27 silver and 30 bronze, totalling 98 medals. Lagos finished second in the table with a total medal haul of 62, comprising 25 gold, 19 silver, and 18 bronze respectively. Edo State placed third with 17 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze medals to pick up a total of 53 medals. Bayelsa finished in fourth place with 14 gold, 17 silver and 21 bronze for a total haul of 52 medals at…
By Nurudeen Obalola The Super Eagles of Nigeria did not move up or down from their previous position in the latest global FIFA ranking released on Thursday. Despite beating Benin Republic and drawing with Rwanda in their two matches of the last international window, Nigeria have kept their 39th position from the last ranking in July. The Super Eagles had a slight adjustment in their ranking points, though, dropping from 1,499 to 1,498. They are, however, out of Africa’s top five spots, their place taken by Tunisia, who rose from 41st in the world to 36th, after improving their points…
By Kayode John Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, has confessed that Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, gives him great concern ahead of the club’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Atalanta in Bergamo on Thursday. Lookman was named the man of the match last weekend after inspiring Atalanta to a 3-2 Serie A victory over Fiorentina. The 26-year-old provided the assist for his side’s equaliser and scored the winning goal.Speaking on his Wrighty’s House podcast, the 60-year-old former record goalscorer for Arsenal expressed admiration for the Nigeria international. “Oh gosh, did you see his (Lookman’s) first assist with the way he just…
By Kayode John Victor Olatunji made history in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night by becoming the third African to score and assist on his debut in the competition and the first Nigerian to achieve such feat. He achieved the milestone for Sparta Prague as they beat Salzburg 3-0 in Prague. Sparta Prague grabbed the opening goal when Lukas Haraslin’s shot ricocheted off the back of the Salzburg goalkeeper into the path of Kaan Kairinen, who poked the ball home. Filip Panak’s precise pass found Olatunji inside the box and he fired a first-time effort past the goalkeeper into…
By Kayode John German coach, Bruno Labbadia, has dropped a cryptic hint that suggests a possible agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to become the new Super Eagles coach. In a post on his Instagram handle on Wednesday, Labbadia wrote: “New chapter”, adding the Nigerian flag. This comes after the initial effort by the NFF to bring him as a replacement for Finidi George, who resigned as Eagles coach in June, failed. The football federation had announced Labbadia as the substantive coach on August 27, days to Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against the Republic of…
Roma have sacked manager Daniele de Rossi just four matches into the new Serie A season. Roma, who hired De Rossi to replace Jose Mourinho at the Stadio Olimpico in January, have been unable to win any of their Serie A matches this season, drawing three and losing at home to Empoli last month. Roma are currently 16th in the Serie A standings following their 1-1 draw at Genoa on Sunday. A club statement read: “The club’s decision is taken in the interest of the team, to be able to promptly resume the desired path at a time when the…
By Kayode John AC Milan contacted Napoli over interest in Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, during the summer transfer window, Area Napoli reported on Wednesday. Osimhen was linked with several clubs but he eventually joined Turkish giants, Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli. Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Saudi Peofessional Football League side, Al Ahli, were all said to be interested in the 25-year-old. Despite the decision by Napoli not to sell Osimhen to any club in Serie A, Milan were said to have communicated their interest to the 2022/2023 Serie A champions. “Milan, on the initiative of Zalatan Ibrahimovic, director of the…
Former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial will make £7.5million including bonuses over three years at new club AEK Athens, it has been claimed. Martial completed his move to the Greek club on Wednesday as a free agent, after spending nine years at Manchester United. French forward Martial, 28, left United when his contract expired in June. He had played more than 300 times for the Premier League club since joining in 2015, scoring 90 goals in total. His deal in Greece represents a pay cut compared to his hefty wages at Old Trafford. However, by AEK’s own standards, the pay-packet…