Author: Nurudeen Obalola
Flamingos head coach Bankole Olowookere is confident his team will have another impressive outing when they face Ecuador on Saturday in their second Group A match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. The Nigerian girls cruised past New Zealand 4-1 in their opening match on Wednesday night, and Olowookere is demanding a similar performance on Saturday night. “Our tournament strategy is to focus on the next match, take it one match at a time. We need not look farther than the next match, and now, we have Ecuador in our sights,” the coach said. “The…
By Kayode John German coach Bruno Labbadia has hailed Super Eagles attacking force, describing it as the best in the in the world. Labbadia had agreed to become new Super Eagles head coach in August but the deal fell through after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had announced the 58-year-old as a replacement for Finidi George. As a former top striker, Labbadia is particularly impressed by the talents in Nigeria’s attack, which include Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface. Speaking on Martin Harnik’s podcast, “Flatterball”, Labbadia revealed why he had wanted to take the job. “I was tempted to play in…
By Kayode John Former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie has said both Nigeria and Libya deserve punishment for their role in the boycotted 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier slated for Benghazi last Tuesday. The Super Eagles won the first leg 1-0 in Uyo but pulled out of the return leg in Libya, following their harrowing experience in the North African country, when they were held up at an airport for about 18 hours without food or water. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed that its disciplinary committee is investigating the matter. However, speaking on Thursday with…
By Nurudeen Obalola Nigeria’s Edo Queens have been drawn in the same group as the defending champions, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, in the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League. The draw for the competiton was held in Morocco on Friday, with the North African country also scheduled to host the tournament. First-timers Edo Queens and two-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns are in Group B with Tutankhamun (Egypt) and CBE FC (Ethiopia), who are both debutants. Hosts and 2022 champions ASFAR of Morocco lead Group A, where they will face TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal) and University…
By Kayode John German coach Bruno Labbadia has explained the main reason why he turned down the opportunity to become the Super Eagles head coach. On August 27, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the appointment of Labbadia as the new Super Eagles coach, in preparation for the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after Finidi George’s resignation. However, the deal collapsed four days later, and the NFF blamed “tax details” for scuppering its plan to appoint the former Bayern Munich striker. But according to Bild, the 58-year-old in an interview with Martin Harnik on his…
By Kayode John Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has revealed that Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi trained on Wednesday after the ordeal in Libya. The Nigeria national team travelled on Sunday to Libya for the return leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match which was due to hold in Benghazi. However, as it was preparing to land, their flight was diverted from the venue of the game to Al Abraq airport, a distance of around 150 miles. The team was held up at the airport for over 18 hours without food, water and internet. The Super…
By Kayode John Rivers United returned to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Thursday, following their 2-0 victory over Shooting Stars at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. Aniekeme Okon put the hosts ahead in the 50th minute before Ndifreke Effiong sealed the win 15 minutes later to ensure Finidi George’s side retain their unbeaten run this campaign. The defeat, their third in the campaign, leaves Oluyole Warriors 16th in the table. Bendel Insurance snapped a three-game winless run to thrash Bayelsa United 3-0 in Benin City, also on Thursday. Kayode Solomon put the home…
By Kayode John Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has insisted that he is not in Galatasaray to chase individual glory but to help the club achieve their goals this season. Osimhen is on loan from Napoli after his intended permanent move to either Chelsea or Al-Ahli from the Italian club fell through on the deadline day of the summer transfer window. He has started life in Turkey brightly, scoring two goals and registering four assists in four games. Osimhen is behind in the scorers chart in the Super Lig, with Ciro Immobile leading withvseven goals, followed by Edin Dzeko, Krzysztof…
By Kayode John The Minister of Sports Development John Enoh has said the Federal Government is still seeking answers from Libyan authorities over why the Nigerian team was put through a traumatic experience in their country after arriving there for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying game last Sunday. After winning the first leg 1-0 in Uyo last Friday, the ValueJet airline conveying the Nigerian team which comprised Super Eagles players, coaches and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for the return leg, was diverted from Benghazi, venue of the game, to Al Abraq airport. They were…
By Kayode John Former Technical Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Green, has criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for not sanctioning Libya before referring the inhumane treatment of Super Eagles players and officials to its disciplinary committee for investigation. The flight conveying the Nigerian team was diverted from Benghazi, where the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier was meant to hold, to a local airport in Al Abraq on Sunday, despite getting an earlier approval to land. The Super Eagles were locked up at the airport for more than 18…