Author: Promise Oluwarotimi
Stand-in Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede has invited 26 players to begin closed-camping exercise at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo on Monday, January 6, ahead of the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals. The list includes NPFL stars like captain Nduka Harrison Junior, goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena, defenders Sadiq Ismail and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielder Saviour Isaac, and forward Sikiru Alimi. Other invited players include goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defenders Imo Obot and Stephen Manyo, midfielders Musa Zayyad, Rabiu Ali, and Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Adamu Abubakar and Emmanuel Ogbole. The Super Eagles B qualified for the CHAN finals after defeating Ghana’s…
Nigerian striker, Sadiq Umar has taken his search for playing time to Laliga strugglers, Valencia with a loan move. The first half of the season was disastrous for Valencia, and their poor form meant they occupied a place in the La Liga relegation zone. New head coach Carlos Corberan has been tasked with guiding Los Che away from trouble, although he will require help on the transfer front. On the second day of the 2025 winter transfer window, Valencia has already agreed to their first deal – and it’s for Umar Sadiq. As per Diario AS, Real Sociedad has allowed…
The January transfer window has officially opened, and several Nigerian stars are at the center of potential blockbuster moves across Europe’s top leagues. Victor Osimhen is a prime target for Manchester United, which is eager to address its goalscoring crisis. The Napoli striker, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has been in impressive form, netting 12 goals and providing five assists in 14 appearances. United’s new manager Ruben Amorim is keen to trigger Osimhen’s €75m release clause, but the move faces hurdles, including Galatasaray’s desire to retain the striker and Arsenal’s emerging interest. Ademola Lookman, African Footballer Of The Year On…
Rangers International FC has been crowned the best team in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for the 2024 season. The Flying Antelopes had a remarkable campaign, accumulating a record-breaking 79 points from 42 Matches. The 42 matches combine all games in the 2024 calendar year including the 23/24 and the ongoing 24/25 season. According to data from Opta Nigeria, Rangers FC dominated the NPFL statistics, boasting the most wins (23), best goal difference (25), and highest points-per-game average (1.88). They also conceded the fewest goals per game (0.67) and recorded the best win percentage (0.55). Additionally, the Enugu-based team…
Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens are gearing up to make their debut at the second edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s U-19 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to take place in Malaysia from January 18 to February 2. Nigeria, along with hosts Malaysia, Nepal, and Samoa, will be making their first-ever appearance at the tournament. The Junior Female Yellow Greens secured Africa’s sole ticket from the qualifying series in September 2024. The 16-team tournament will feature four pools of four teams each, with each team playing the other three teams in their group. The top 12 teams will advance…
New Enyimba striker Brown Ideye has disclosed that several Nigerian players abroad are eager to return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), following in the footsteps of Ahmed Musa, Shehu Abdullahi, and himself. Ideye, a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, joined Enyimba on a deal until the end of the 2024/25 season, becoming the third foreign-based player to return to the league this season. The 36-year-old made his NPFL return as a second-half substitute in Enyimba’s goalless draw against Bendel Insurance on Tuesday. Ideye last played in the Nigerian topflight for Ocean Boys in 2006 before representing…
AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze will be sidelined for approximately a month due to a hamstring injury sustained during last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Roma. The Nigerian international fell to the ground clutching his hamstring in the first half and was subsequently replaced by Tammy Abraham in the 62nd minute. An MRI scan revealed a lesion of the left femoral biceps, and Chukwueze will undergo re-examination in ten days. He is expected to miss the entire month of January, which includes several crucial matches for AC Milan. Chukwueze’s injury will likely keep him out of the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final…
Super Eagles B stand-in coach Daniel Ogunmodede is eager to begin preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from February 1 to 28, 2025. Nigeria secured their spot in their the tournament on Saturday, defeating Ghana 3-1 in the second leg of the final qualifying fixture at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Ogunmodede, who worked alongside Rangers International counterpart Fidelis Ilechukwu to assemble the team, expressed his desire to replicate the successful preparation strategy used for the qualifiers. “We had early preparations for the qualifiers with three phases…
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s goal against Atalanta on Saturday evening has helped Lazio set a new Serie A record for the most goal scorers with more than three goals this season. The Nigerian midfielder’s strike was his second in the Serie A and fourth in all competitions, making him the sixth Lazio player to score more than three goals this season. The Nigerian became the sixth player from the club to score more than three goals this season “Dele-Bashiru (four goals) is the sixth Lazio player to score more than three all-comps goals in 24/25: a record among Serie A teams,”…
KRC Genk chairman Peter Croonen has reaffirmed the club’s commitment to holding onto Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare, despite reported interest from several top-tier clubs. Arokodare has been in sensational form this season, netting 14 goals and providing six assists in 22 matches across all competitions. His impressive performances have caught the attention of English Premier League clubs, including Fulham, as well as Turkish giants Trabzonspor. However, Croonen has quashed speculation surrounding Arokodare’s potential departure, stating unequivocally, “The intention is absolutely to keep him. And that will happen.” Genk’s history as a selling club, having parted ways with players like…