Sports

The Nigeria international was expected to join 'Real Madrid, PSG or some Premier League team', but he's once again stuck in limbo Victor Osimhen's time in Turkey couldn't have gone much better from a sporting perspective. The Nigerian scored 37 times in 41 appearances across all competitions as Galatasaray won a domestic double. Usually, Europe's top clubs would be queuing up sign such a prolific No.9, particularly as there are so few proven goal-scorers on the market right now - and yet, at the time of writing, only Al-Hilal have expressed concrete interest in acquiring the Napoli-owned attacker, with the Saudi Arabian outfit willing to make him one of the highest-paid players on the planet. So, what on earth is going on with Osimhen? Why is a world-class forward who dr...

By Ali Elias Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has revealed he deliberately substituted star striker Victor Osimhen early during their emphatic 4-1 win over Sivasspor—despite the Nigerian being on a hot streak in front of goal. Osimhen netted a brace in the match, taking his season tally to a personal best of 32 goals. However, fans and pundits alike believe he was on course for a hat-trick—or more—until Buruk decided to pull him off the pitch. “I prevented him from raising his career record a little bit,” Buruk said in a post-match interview. “I took him out of the game early, considering his next match. There was also the risk of injury and card.” The coach admitted with a chuckle that the move was partly protective, partly tactical. “He could have easily scored three goals toda...

Photo courtesy: Score Nigeria By Els William Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie delivered a parting gift to Paris FC by leading them to a historic Coupe de France Féminine victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on May 3, 2025. In a tense final that ended 0–0 after regulation time, Nnadozie's exceptional performance in the penalty shootout secured a 5–4 win for Paris FC, marking their first major trophy under the club's current identity. The 23-year-old Nigerian international saved two crucial penalties during the shootout, denying PSG's Korbin Albert and Jade Le Guilly, and ensuring Paris FC's triumph. This victory not only dethroned the defending champions but also underscored Nnadozie's reputation as a penalty-saving specialist. Nnadozie's heroics in the final capped ...

By Ali Elias  In the rich tapestry of Nigerian football, few figures are woven as deeply or as proudly as Christian Chukwu. When the news of his death broke on a quiet Saturday morning, it shook the nation to its core. A hero, a leader, a patriot—Chukwu was not merely a man of football; he was football itself, in a country that breathes the game.  A Brief Profile Name: Christian Chukwu Okoro  Born: January 4, 1951 – Died: April 13, 2024 (aged 74)  Hometown: Enugu, Nigeria  Position: Defender  Clubs: Enugu Rangers International FC  Roles:  - Captain, Green Eagles (1974–1980)  - Head Coach, Super Eagles (2002–2005)  - Coach, Harambee Stars of Kenya  - Administrator, Mentor, Patriot  A Captain B...

By Ali Elias Adrian Mutu’s time at Chelsea was brief but packed with both promise and controversy. Arriving from Parma, he showcased flashes of brilliance but quickly fell out of favor, particularly following a rift with manager Jose Mourinho. However, his career took a dramatic nosedive when he tested positive for cocaine, leading to an eight-month ban from football and a disgraceful exit from the Premier League. Reflecting on his downfall, Mutu admits that his choices were catastrophic. In an interview with The Telegraph, he confessed, "Taking cocaine during my time at Chelsea was the worst decision I could have made in my career. I was alone and sad, but neither depression nor anything else justified my actions. Zero tolerance – that was Chelsea’s policy regarding drugs. And I thi...

By Ali Elias The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially introduced Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. The unveiling ceremony took place on Monday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium conference room in Abuja.  Chelle, a 47-year-old Franco-Malian, was presented alongside his backroom staff, which includes first assistant Hadi Taboubi, fitness trainer Thomas Gornourec, and goalkeeper trainer Jean Daniel Padovani.  A Familiar Team  Chelle’s assistants bring a wealth of experience and an established working relationship, having collaborated with him previously at Algerian club MC Oran.  Hadi Taboubi, a French-Tunisian, will serve as Chelle’s first assistant, continuing a partnership that dates back to their time coaching the Mali na...

Photo by Fauzan Saari on Unsplash By Ali Elias CNN — Amnesty International has called on FIFA to delay awarding Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup until the nation enacts major human rights reforms. On Monday, Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) released a report citing serious human rights concerns linked to Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup. The report also urged FIFA to establish a "credible human rights strategy" for the 2030 tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. FIFA, the global governing body for soccer, is expected to announce the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups next month. So far, Saudi Arabia is the sole candidate for the 2034 tournament. Courtesy: CNN/Getty Images FIFA’s bidding guidelin...

Championship side Luton Town has announced the signing of former Nigerian international Victor Moses on a permanent deal, pending international clearance. The 33-year-old winger joins after leaving Russian club Spartak Moscow earlier this summer following the expiration of his contract. Moses brings a wealth of experience, having played for top European clubs such as Wigan Athletic, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Inter Milan. He was also a key part of Chelsea’s 2012/13 UEFA Europa League-winning squad under Rafa Benitez. Expressing his excitement, Moses said, “I’m looking forward to it. I had a few offers from Europe, but I told my agent I set my mind on staying here, and here we are. I’m very pleased and honored to be at this club, and I just can’t wait to get going.” He also revealed that di...

Victor Boniface By Ali Elias Boniface, who made his debut for Nigeria under Jose Peseiro and later played under Finidi George, is set to compete in the upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers under another home-based coach, Augustine Eguavoen. Despite Nigeria's AFCON 2013 triumph under the late Stephen Keshi, many fans remain skeptical about having a home-based coach lead such a talented squad, believing that a foreign coach might better harness the team's potential. However, Boniface disagrees with this perspective, dismissing the criticism of coaches, whether local or foreign. “The truth is even if we bring Guardiola, Nigerians will still have something to say, but I’m a type of person that doesn’t care about what people think, because we’re they’re not here with the team. Our job is to ...

Olympic javelin gold medalist Arshad Nadeem received a total of 250 million rupees ($897,000) on Tuesday as Pakistan continued to celebrate his record-breaking throw at the Paris Games. Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced 150 million rupees ($538,000) for Nadeem at a special ceremony to honor the star athlete in Islamabad. Sharif’s announcement came hours after Punjab’s chief minister Mariam Nawaz visited Nadeem’s house in a village in the Mian Channu district and presented him with a check for 100 million rupees ($359,000). Nawaz also handed him the keys to a new car which has a special registration number of “PAK 92.97” to commemorate Nadeem’s throw of 92.97 meters at Paris, which was an Olympic record. Nadeem’s coach Salman Iqbal Butt was also given 5 million...