Author: Oladimeji Adeoye

We had earlier reported that the Super Falconets had stayed over 24 hours in the Istanbul airport waiting to get a return flight to Abuja following their exit from the ongoing U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. Reacting to this news, Nigeria Football Federation explained through their Facebook page on reasons why the girls have stayed beyond time at the airport. The Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday explained that a number of factors, including the inability to secure transit visas for players and officials of the U20 Girls National Team, Falconets, at the Istanbul Airport, led to the team…

The Ukrainian Premier League kicked off last night despite the unending war ravaging the country through attack from Russia. Yesterday, Shakhtar Donetsk and Metalist 1925 Kharkiv kicked off the new season with a 0-0 draw in Kyiv at the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex. The stadium was without fans and players are mandated to wear bomb jackets as a measure to protect its civilians from Russia’s ongoing attacks. Still the same Tuesday, Ch. Odessa were defeated by Veres Rivne to a 0-1 score. FK Zoriya triumphed over Vorskla Poltava by 3-1 and the last game was between Kolos Kovalivka and Kryvbas…

Super Falconets who crashed out from the ongoing U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica after suffering a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, have been sleeping in the departure hall of the Istanbul airport. According to the report, they have been there for over 20 hours and would have spent 30 hours by 6:30 pm when they are scheduled to depart. According to Vanguard, they departed their hotel in Costa Rica at 6.30 am local time on Monday, they were to travel via Colombia to Istanbul for the flight to Abuja. That simple journey has turned into…

It’s been two years since former assistant Remo Star Captain Tiyaminu Kazeem AKA Kaka was killed by an Officer of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SAS) in Ogun State. Tiyaminu and his friend were stopped by the SAS officer who labelled them as Internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo boys” in the local parlance. Despite both players showing the SAS officer their ID cards as Nigerian Professional League players, the officer insisted on taking them to the nearest police station. A club statement released via the club’s website reads: “The SARS officers stopped Tiyamiyu Kazeem insisting that he was…

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has described newly recruited Brazilian Casemiro as the cement between the stones and that the club is delighted to have him. Casemiro switched club allegiance from Real Madrid to English outfit Manchester United in a deal worth €70m plus add-ons. The 30-year-old was not due to play against Liverpool on Monday night but was paraded for 10 minutes before kick-off against Liverpool, briefly stopping to embrace United legend Roy Keane – who was on punditry duty for Sky Sports – on the sidelines. Casemiro’s move is still subject to UK visa requirements, but the…

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in his post-match conference said his side was the favourite to win last night. Liverpool lost their first game into the season after two consecutive draws in the first and second game. Manchester sought reprisal last night, and they got it against a Liverpool side they suffered 9-0 to last season in both legs. Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford brilliance helped Manchester United edge Liverpool at Old Trafford, although Mohammed who has now scored in Manchester for the fifth time in a row pulled one back for Liverpool but wasn’t enough to salvage a point for…

Chelsea and Manchester City dropping points today means Arsenal are the only club with a 100% win record into the start of the season. Chelsea were humiliated today when they visited Leeds United at Elland Road by a 3-0 score line. Aaronson Brenden took advantage of Mendy’s blunder to give his club the lead at the 33rd minute. Rodrigo and Harrison scored in Leeds’s triumph over Chelsea. Koulibaly was sent off in the 84th minute via a horrible challenge. Chelsea has only four points from three games and sits in 12th position on the log. Manchester City dropped two points…

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Beloved, God has promised to make all things beautiful in its time. Trust in Him and let Him unfold the pleasant surprises He has prepared for you. He’s the one who sets the stars and planets in their precise orbits. He’s the one who times the tides and the waves. He’s the one who hears every beat of your heart. No detail escapes His care. So trust in…

Anthony Joshua went emotional in tears moments after losing his heavyweight world title rematch to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia last night. It was a hard one for Joshua to get past him as the Briton could not control his tears. Joshua, who lost to Usyk on points last year in September, was defeated by split decision last night. After his first professional 22 title win in the Olympics gold medal in 2012 in London, Joshua has lost three of his last five fights. In a video of post match conference on BBC when the 32-year-old Briton was asked about…

Demarai Gray helped Everton to rescue a point against resilient Nottingham Forest during their fourth EPL encounter. Three Nigerian players were involved in the intriguing game at Goodison park. Alex Iwobi who made his 100th appearance in Everton’s colour played full time, Taiwo Awoniyi was replaced at the 61st minute by Gibbs White, while Emmanuel Dennis was an unused substitute. Johnson B set Forest ahead in the 81st minute, barely seven minutes later Damarai Gray equalized for Lampard’s Everton to salvage a point at Goodison Park. Everton who picked their first point of the season pushed to 16th place with…

Cardiff City has confirmed that Super Eagles defender Jamilu Collins has sustained a severe injury that will keep him out from the rest of the season. The 28-year-old Nigeria international suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and was subbed off early in the first half during the team’s 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Wednesday. Jamilu joined Cardiff City from CS Paderborn and made three appearances for the club before this severe injury. Cardiff manager Steve Morison confirmed the update on the injury sustained by the Nigerian via the club website: “We won’t see Jamilu again…

The arrival of Gibbs White from Wolves to Nottingham Forest in a club record deal makes Forest the second highest spending club in the entire Europe, after Chelsea FC. Forest splashed £42.5m on their 16th summer signing. The arrival of Matheus Nunes implies Gibbs playing time will be in doubt. Gibbs was identified last season during his loan spell at Sheffield United, when he represented the club in their play off game, they were eliminated by Forest. The deal means that Nottingham Forest are now the second-highest spending club in Europe during the transfer window, overtaking the likes of Barcelona,…

Real Madrid veteran midfielder Casemiro will have his medical done today at Manchester United per multiple sources. Manchester United convinced the 30 years to join them at Old Trafford with an attractive deal which could see the Brazilian be among EPL top earners. Real Madrid has granted Casemiro the opportunity to make the move and will finalize the deal in a few hours. According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal is a long-term one until 2026 and has a fee of around €60m plus add-ons of €10m. Many questions have been raised on how Manchester United have been able to convince…

Emma Raducanu defeated Victoria Azarenka in the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. Raducanu defeated her counterpart 6-0, 6-2. The Briton played Belarusian veteran Azarenka just 18 hours after beating Serena Williams, who hinted about her retirement soon after the US Open, 6-4 6-0 on Tuesday. Raducanu has now won against two former world number one Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in Cincinnati. The Briton, ranked 13th in the world, will face Jessica Pegula next. Raducanu to BBC Sports said: “I was playing a great match for sure and to play Vika I had to stay focused throughout,” “In the…

After two victories with the latter coming against South Korea, Falconets retained a perfect start in the group stage following their 3-1 victory over Canada in the early hours of this morning. They gained all nine points in the group C and ended as the group toppers. They will play Netherlands next in their quarter-final game on Monday at exactly 1am Nigeria time. The Falconets were charged to keep the winning momentum alive despite securing a quarter-final spot after the first two games against France and South Korea by head coach Danjuma Musa. Africa’s best team conceded their first goal…

Victor Osimhen hit a bizarre celebration following his goal against Hellas Verona at Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi Stadium, where he had suffered a racial chant. Osimhen scored and assisted in Napoli’s 2-5 triumph over the home side. The celebration the Napoli forward displayed after his goal is a mocking expression used mostly in Nigeria, which is referred to as ‘Ntoor’ in the local parlance. Napoli’s led at first half through Victor Osimhen 45+3 goal, they netted four more in the second half against one Verona scored. Napoli took all three points away from home after the 2-5 victory. Victor Osimhen…

Crystal Palace held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield last night in the last game of round two of the Premier League. Liverpool is yet to win a game since the season began, with two points only achieved. Liverpool will seek their first victory when they travel to Old Trafford this week. After round two of the EPL, only Everton, Manchester United and Westham are yet to pick a point with only Manchester City and Arsenal with 100% win. Wilfred Zaha set Anfield in chaos when he took advantage of Nath Philips’s blunder to put Palace ahead during the…

Head coach Mike Brown has invited 15 players to camp ahead of the FIBA World Cup qualifier which is scheduled to hold between 26 and 28th of August. The team’s opening game will be against host-Cote d’Ivoire on Friday, 26, before facing Guinea a day after. On Sunday, 28 August, the team will square up against Angola. Currently, fourth on the table in Group E after two wins in four games, the team will hope to hit the ground running in its quest to book a successive World Cup ticket. The 2023 world cup will take place from 25 August…

Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah are arguably among the best Africans to have played their football career In Europe. Both have been outstanding since they joined Liverpool in 2016 and 2017 respectively. They soared with the Liverpool badge until after the end of last season when the African best player Sadio Mané switched his club allegiance to Bayern Munich. There have been a sequel of divergent opinions among football enthusiasts on who is better between both players. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has been able to manage these two great players, playing down comparison interviews on several occurrences. Many fans see…

Chelsea hosted former boss Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge in their second game of the season in the English Premier League. Both teams jostled for their second victory following their first triumph. Chelsea got control of the first half and second half with 68% and 62% possession against 32% and 38% that  Tottenham had. Kalidou Koulibaly scored Chelsea’s first goal in the 18th minute following Kai Havertz’s attempt on target. Loftus Cheek missed an opportunity to extend Chelsea’s lead to 2-0 from Joeginho’s delivery just one minute to end the first half. Chelsea returned into the second half spirited, starting…

Arsenal picked their second victory today at the Fly Emirates Stadium over Leicester City in a six goals thriller match. Arsenal ransacked Leicester to 4-2 to level on points with Manchester City, who are also on six points. Gabriel Jesus hit a brace for Arsenal at 23rd and 35th, Gabriel Marinelli and Xhaka made it four for Arsenal, although Madison’s strike and Saliba’s own goal helped Leicester cancel two goals. Arsenal head to the south coast on Saturday, August 20 for a meeting with Bournemouth, before hosting Fulham at the same time a week later back at Emirates Stadium.

Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Dennis has completed his move from relegated Watford to newly promoted side Nottingham Forest in a four year deal worth £20m, according to Fabrizio Romano. BBC sports writer Simon Stones also confirmed that the Nigerian striker moved to Forest. Dennis will partner with his compatriots Taiwo Awoniyi, who had moved earlier in a club record deal to the club from German outfit Union Berlin. Nottingham is still strengthening their squad after they lost their English Premier League opener game to Newcastle United. Dennis hit 10 Premier League goals last season in his 35 appearances for Watford.…

Four African players have been shortlisted for the 2022 Ballon D’or. Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mané of Liverpool, Ryad Marhez, and Sebastien Haller. The list came with many surprises as the last holder Lionel Messi missed out on the list. PSG teammate Neymar Jr also misses out on the list. Real Madrid forward, Karim Benzema, seems to be the favourite to win the most prestigious individual award after the French forward helped Real Madrid lift the UEFA Champions League and La Liga with two other trophies this year. The winner of the award, which is voted on by international journalists,…

Today is a dark day in Nigeria’s Football history, the Nigerian Football Federation lost two players to heart failure while actively playing on the pitch, this day being 12 August. On 1989 August 12 Samuel Okwaraji slumped and died in Surulere, Lagos. On August 12, 2006, Boniface Danjuma also had a cardiac arrest while in active action for Keffi United during a Nigeria Professional league game. It’s been 33 years on this day since Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraja slumped and died while on duty with the Nigeria National Football team, the Super Eagles. Exactly on this day, 1989 Okwara collapsed…

Former Tottenham and Three Lions forward Jermain Defoe has been appointed by Tottenham as part of the coaching staff of the club’s Academy. The 39-year-old joined Tottenham from Westham in 2004, he departed the club after four years and returned a year after. Defoe, despite making most of his caps with Tottenham, also played in other clubs’ colours. He scored 287 career goals, with 143 of those goals scored as a Tottenham player. Tottenham on their website officially announced his return to the club as part of the Academy coaching staff: We are delighted to announce that Jermain Defoe has…

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has inferred the possibility of him running for a third term during the NFF election which is scheduled for next month. The 51-year-old succeeded Aminu Maigari as the President of NFF following his victory over his predecessor. Aminu Maigari lost the 2014 election to Pinnick which would have made him first Nigeria to serve as president twice at a bounce. Amaju Melwin Pinnick became the first Nigerian to be reelected for a second tenure as NFF President, returning in 2018 after a 2014 victory. The former first CAF vice president in an exclusive…

Los Blancos the reigning UEFA Champions League winner triumphed over Frankfurt who won the UEFA Europa League this year. Madrid edged the German outfit by 2-0 last night at Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Carlos Ancelotti won his fourth trophy with Real Madrid since joining them from Everton this year. David Alaba and Karim Benzema scored the goals in 37th and 62nd minutes respectively as Real Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup for a record-equalling fifth time. This was how both teams lined up for the Super Cup final last night. Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal (Rüdiger 85), Éder Militão, Alaba, Mendy; Modrić…

Newly promoted Serie A side Cremonese has announced the signing of Super Eagles forward Cyril Desser from KRC Genk in Belgium. Desser last season joined Feyenoord on loan from Genk, and was part of the club squad that lost out on the UEFA Europa League final last season. Desser made 41 appearances for Feyenoord, where he had netted 21 times with 4 assists to his name. Cremones on their website briefly gave a biography and record of Desser: Born in Tongeren (Belgium) on 8 December 1994, a forward, Dessers is the top scorer of the 2021/22 edition of the Conference…

Nigeria private Radio group has reached an agreement to broadcast live English Premier League matches for 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25 seasons. According to Nigeria Info, The live matches and commentaries would also be available in Kano on Cool FM and Nigeria Info’s all-Hausa-speaking counterpart, Arewa Radio. Info Nigeria also disclosed that the exclusive broadcast right, courtesy of TalkSPORT, the Global Audio Partner of the Premier League, will see the radio group run live commentaries in English, Pidgin, and Hausa. All the 100+ matches scheduled for radio would be broadcast on Nigeria Info and Wazobia FM across the country. The CEO…

Former Super Eagles and Spartak Moscow forward Victor Moses suffered Achilles tendon rupturing during his involvement for his club against Ural on Monday, the club has disclosed. The club further said, Moses, will undergo surgery and will be sidelined for a period of half a year before he can return to action. Moses was subbed off at the 33rd minute of the encounter. Spartak won the game by 0-2 through Quincy Promes and Ignatov goals, both goals coming in the first half. Spartak on their Facebook page confirming his six months out of action said the examination has revealed Achilles…