Author: SportsIntel

Nigerian music superstar, Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems has joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer club, San Diego FC as a partner. Tems is signing up to the Sandiego FC group through her company The Leading Vibe. Ownership Structure of San Diego FC The Love Me Jeje crooner joins a distinguished group of Club Partners including actress Issa Rae, footballer Juan Mata, retired U.S. Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, and founding partner and San Diego Padres’ perennial MLB All-Star Manny Machado. The GRAMMY-winning, Oscar-nominated artist Tems makes history as the FIRST African female involved in MLS ownership.  Speaking about…

Flying Eagles head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has called former Golden Eaglets captain, Cletus Simon, Enyimba winger, Clinton Jephta, and 28 others to camp as Nigeria’s U20 boys, prepare for a two-match tour of Egypt later this month. Clinton Jephta starred, scoring four goals as Nigeria won the WAFU B U20 championship to retain the title and qualify for the CAF U20 AFCON. According to the NFF, the seven-time African champions will clash with their Egyptian counterparts in Cairo, in friendly matches scheduled for February 25th and 27th. Furthermore, this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations will be held in Cote…

Team captain, Ike Nwamu, Agada Caleb, and 22 others made the 30-man D’Tigers preliminary roster for 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers. The 2025 FIBA Afro Basket Qualifiers set to take place in Tripoli, Libya, from February 17-24, 2025 is the third window. Preparations will be in two phases. Home-based players are expected to report to camp at Bentley Hotel, Abuja, on Monday, February 10th to 16th. On February 17, foreign-based players will join the selected home-based players in Tripoli, Libya, for the final camp phase. Abdulrahman Mohammed Leads The Coaching Crew Head Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed, who successfully guided the team in the…

Coach Bankole Olowookere has called up 30 players to begin the camping for the two-leg FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash with the U17 girls of South Africa. Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, will kickstart preparations on Sunday at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo. The 2022 World Cup bronze medallists drew bye to the second round of the African qualifiers. Goals Hungry South Africa Meanwhile, the Bantwana fired from all cylinders to steamroll their counterparts from Gabon 21-2 on aggregate, winning 12-1 in Gabon and 9-1 in South Africa. Head Coach of the Bantwana, Ntombifuthi Khumalo warned the South…

Flying Eagles star Daniel Daga made a scoring debut for FK Molde in a 1-0 win against Hammarby in a friendly game. Daga’s goal came in the 84th minute via a header to register the only goal of the friendly match. The former Enyimba midfielder joined Norwegian top-flight side FK Molde on a three-year deal, his parent club, FC One Rocket. The Benue-born defensive midfielder came into the game as a substitute before getting the only goal of the friendly. Daga made a post on X, formerly Twitter after the game expressing his delight at getting a goal. “First Goal…

The Nigeria men’s U-17 team, Golden Eaglets will not participate in the expanded 2025 CAF U17 AFCON in Morocco. Despite the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to increase the number of participating teams from 12 to 16, Nigeria didn’t make the cut. The continental football governing body increased the number of teams by four at its recently held extraordinary congress. These spots are filled by WAFU-A, as the tournament holder; UNAF Zone, as the host zone; CECAFA; and COSAFA, completing the 16 teams for the tournament from 30th March to 19th April 2025. The Central African Football…

By Akeem Busari Super Falcons striker Folashade Ijamilusi has signed a 2-year deal with top Chinese Women’s Super League side Liaoning Baiye. Folashade Ijamilusi last played in the Nigerian Women’s Football League for FC Robo, where she was the highest goalscorer. The prolific striker was the highest goalscorer in the NWFL last season, before joining Edo Queens to earn a fourth-placed finish in their debut in the CAF Champions League. Ijamilusi ended the 2023/2024 season as the top scorer of the NWFL with 9 goals and 6 assists in 14 games for FC Robo Queens. The deal, facilitated by FIFA-licensed…

Nigeria is set to return to the FIBA U19 after being drawn in Group B alongside Portugal, Canada, and China. The junior D’tigress will Portugal, which placed fifth at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket; Canada, a powerhouse that secured silver at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup; and China, the silver medalist at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup. The second African team, Mali is arguably in the toughest group of the tournament. The Malian girls will compete against Australia, France, and Brazil in Group C. First Participation, Second Qualification For Nigeria This will mark Nigeria’s second official…

The January Transfer Window has finally closed with a flurry of activities on the transfer deadline day by teams seeking to improve the quality of their squad. £1.8 billion spent across top-flight clubs, the winter market was still crucial for teams looking to address specific needs or Injuries. Nigerian players made big moves on the transfer deadline day. Sportsintel takes you through the list of Nigerians involved in the transfer deadline day move. Dennis In Search Of Playing Time Blackburn Rovers has agreed to sign Emmanuel Dennis from Nottingham Forest on loan for the rest of the season. Dennis fell…

Kelechi Iheanacho returns to England for a second stint in the English Championship. Middlesbrough has announced the signing of Kelechi Iheanacho, 28, who will be on loan from Sevilla until the end of the season. Iheanacho joined the La Liga club after the expiration of his Leicester contract in the summer but only started five league games. The Super Eagles star endured a tough start to life at Sevilla after a free transfer in the summer. The forward could only muster 401 minutes in La Liga this season due to his failure to adjust to Garcia Pimienta’s style. He has…