Author: Enitan Obadina
On the 11th of June, 2023, the Nigeria Premier Football League for the 2022/23 season climaxed with Enyimba FC of Aba winning a record ninth league title. While the People’s Elephant also picked up a CAF Champions League ticket alongside Remo Stars with Rivers Utd gaining an entrance into the CAF Confederation Cup, joined by Bendel Insurance, teams are required to beef up their squad in the transfer window, which officially opens on the 1st of July and ends 1st of September, for the new 2023/24 season. For the continental teams, their business is expected to come in fast as…
The Super Eagles are now the 39th-best team in the world, according to the latest FIFA World rankings. In Africa, the Super Eagles are the 6th best team according to FIFA’s ranking after booking their spot in the upcoming 2024 AFCON. Victory against Sierra Leone in Moronvia ensured the Eagles moved up one spot in the FIFA ranking and are closer to returning to the Top five in Africa. With the AFCON happening in 2024 and few international matchdays available, the Eagles will need to be a part of the top five in Africa to earn a favourable draw. The…
In a dissenting judgment with the three judges’ 2-1 decision, the Akinkunmi Amoo rape case ended in a one-year prison term in Denmark. Reports from Danish media revealed no evidence or witnesses in the three cases, and it was just word-of-mouth accusations. Akinkunmi Amoo Rape Charges Rape in a sexual relationship other than intercourse, attempted rape, and violations of two more women. The case revolves around the accusations by the three ladies involved. The Judgement The magistrates, in their ruling, couldn’t agree on the same judgment for all three counts, leading to a 2-1 decision. An unconditional prison sentence for one…
The Nigeria rugby national 7s team is back on the international scene like they never left, picking up a slot in the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier in Mauritius. Popularly called the black stallions, they delivered a 5-1 record to finish as the second-best team at the pre-Olympics qualifier. The Nigerian rugby federation has been out of the international rugby scene as a result of government interference. The interference led to a ban by the world rugby federation which lasted three years. Upon the lifting of the ban in May, the board appointed a new coach to lead the national team.…
From Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, to Giant of Africa, to Hungary, to Barcelona, to the NBA, 18-year-old James Nnaji is living his dream. James Nnaji, who turns 19 on Aug. 14, 2023, is among the youngest players in the draft class. Standing at 6-foot-11, 226 pounds with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Nnaji is a rotational center for FC Barcelona. James Nnaji: Late Start With Brave Heart Nnaji first picked up a basketball in 2016 in Markurdi, where he started learning about the game. A video showreel composition made by his mum went viral in 2018 on Facebook. The viral video changed…
Barcelona is interested in signing 17-year-old Nigerian youngster Ibrahim Afolabi Oseni. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Nigerian playmaker Ibrahim Oseni has been on trial at Levante. Now he will also do trials at Barça and Villarreal before a final decision will be made on his future. The attempt is coming on the heels of the earlier capture of Mikayil Faye by the La Liga champions. Oseni started his football development at the Barça Academy in Lagos before moving to Flexy football academy. Currently, Ibrahim Oseni is a free agent after having parted ways with his former team Joy Cometh Football…
In a strange move, the Nigeria Football Federation says Nigerians will determine if the current super eagles’ coach, Jose Peseiro, will stay on the job or go. The contract of Jose Peseiro is up with the Portuguese seeking to continue on his job as super eagles coach. Jose Peseiro took over from interim coach Augustine Eguavoen after the world cup qualifiers. Results have not been going his way, as his records show he has won four while losing five in nine games in charge. Speaking during an interview, the president of the NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, says the NFF will push…
Czech giants Slavia Prague have announced the signing of Nigeria forward Muhamed Tijani on a five-year contract. The 22-year-old Muhamed Tijani joins Slavia Prague from another Czech club, Banik Ostrava. Tijani’s humble beginning dates back to when he was discovered by a journalist in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. Subsequently, he moved to 36 Lions FC in Lagos before joining the national U20 team for the 2019 world cup. Speaking on his journey, Gafaar Liameed, owner of 36 Lions FC, believes the patience is paying off. “We are incredibly thrilled that a young man scouted in Badiko Kaduna State by a renowned…
Adebayo Adeleye made his long-awaited debut for the super eagles in an AFCON 2023 qualifier match against Sierra Leone. The Super Eagles came out tops, winning 3-2 as Adebayo marshalled the defence in Moronvia. Sportsintel.ng shares the views of Veteran sports journalist Kayode Ogundare on his performance on the day. A goalkeeper is as good as his defence. So before reaching a definite decision on how good or bad a goalie is, we should be focusing more on the back four. How good, consistent, comfortable in their skins and compatible with one another are they? How does the midfield formation…
Bendel Insurance won the Nigerian Federations Cup without losing or conceding a goal in all five matches. A late first-half penalty kick converted by Bendel Insurance’s prolific striker, Imade Osarenkhoe after a suspected handball incident gave the team the only goal of the game. The win ensured Insurance went through the Federation Cup campaign without conceding a goal in five games. The Benin Arsenal’s first attempt at going unbeaten ended after 21 matches in the NPFL playoffs, but while that unbeaten run ended, they were building another in the Federation Cup. The team did not lose a game in the…